Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything but the plot…


Hermione was in a bit of a crisis. She checked herself over a couple of times in the mirror, then looked through the box that a Hogwarts owl had brought for her that morning. Her stomach made a weird noise. The nervousness wasn't exactly jiving with the scrambled eggs and fruit she had for breakfast. The whole problem started with Raya.

"I've taken up a couple of more classes with no time in the morning. Hermione, you're sixteen for god's sake, I think you're able to put on make-up by yourself now."

"But Raya…" Hermione had whined. She sure didn't sound like she was sixteen. Raya made sure Hermione wrote a letter to her mom telling her of her slight crisis and how she needed make-up. God, it was embarrassing. Hermione could just picture her mom squealing and saying to her father, "Our little Hermie is all grown up!" Hermione sighed but was intrigued when she found the little brown box for her. She took it up to her room.

"So what's in here any way?" she murmured to herself. She rummaged through and sighed. She should just experiment. If it doesn't look good, she could always take it off and go back to being au natural. She spritzed her face with some Aveda™ toner and found the sensation of the liquid mist over her face quite pleasant. Then she carefully lined her eyes with a glittery, purple Anna Sui™ eyeliner. She was a bit nervous about the color at first but when put on, she was relieved to see that it was just dark.

"Hermione?" There was a knock on her door also. Hermione jumped, messing up her eyeliner.

"Crap," she muttered and looked for a tissue.

"Ginny? Is that you?" she called as she hopped around. Where was that damn tissue box?

"Yeah, can I come in?" Hermione finally spotted it and dove for it. It was half hidden beneath her bed. How on earth did that get there?

"Sure, it's open, I think." Hermione heard the door handle turn and Ginny step in, perplexed to find Hermione on the floor.

"Um, Hermione? What are you doing?" Hermione rolled her eyes, now smudged.

"God, I look like a mess and I'm going to be late!" Ginny's copper eyebrows moved together so fast Hermione could almost hear the click.

"Nuh uh," said Ginny, shaking her head. "It looks good."

"You're always so nice, Gin," said Hermione. But when Ginny steered her to a mirror, she found that maybe Ginny was right. The smudged eyeliner didn't look that bad. Kind of that stay-up-all-night-and-party look…

"You're crazy," Hermione announced. "And I'm crazy. I wouldn't be able to go out like this, I'd feel too noticeable." Ginny shrugged and turned Hermione so she could face her. Ginny rummaged through and found a Stila™ compact and spread some powder over Hermione's face to even out her complexion.

"When did you get good at this?" asked Hermione. Ginny shrugged.

"Mom was always bugging me to make myself more noticeable? I really dunno. I thought it was a girl thing."

"Well, obviously this girl got cheated." Ginny was quiet and looked through the box some more until she came up with the Tirish McEvoy™ blush and brushed it across the bridge of Hermione's nose and temples to give her a sun kissed look.

"Well," said Ginny. "I have to compliment your mom on her taste. This all works well with your complexion." Hermione checked the clock hanging on the wall behind Ginny.

"Oh no!" she yelped. "Gin! I'm gonna be late!" Hermione pulled on her black pleated skirt and black sleeveless shirt and put her robe over it. Ginny calmly put together all of Hermione's books.

"Here," said Ginny, putting the shoulder strap over Hermione's shoulder.

"Thanks Ginny!" Hermione called. "You're a lifesaver." Hermione turned to wave to Ginny…and fell right out of the portrait hole.

"Ouch," said Ginny. She shrugged. She had homework to do.


Step Three: Make the first move (if he doesn't make it first!)

"Well, well, well, looks like this one's just falling for me," said a cool voice. Hermione felt her face burn as she picked herself up. She looked up to face Draco. She groaned inwardly. She couldn't back down now. She couldn't play this down…. So she could play it up….

"You know me, Draco," murmured Hermione, moving up close to Draco. "I've wanted you since first year and I've watched you since." Hermione could see the veins in Draco's neck pulse as if he was just about to yelp. He seemed to regain his composure.

"Well, a lot of girls can't resist me, that's a fact," said Draco, with an irresistible smirk. But obviously it was a lot more resistible than he had originally thought because that didn't faze Hermione. In fact, it just heightened her adrenaline.

"Well, then maybe you'd like to meet me, at midnight," purred Hermione, looking at him. Draco seemed taken aback.

"So maybe I can meet you in front of the portrait hole?" Hermione caught sight of Harry and Ron coming down the hall.

"Save it," she snapped and turned around, leaving Draco to eat her dust. Hermione grinned inwardly at Draco's surprised expression.

"Hermione, what were you doing, talking to Draco?" asked Harry. Both Ron and Harry were subtle enough to not mention her new look.

"It's a long story," said Hermione, rubbing her temples. "Eurgh, it's a looong day."

"Hermione," said Ron. "It's only nine."

"Exactly." Hermione walked up faster leaving Harry and Ron behind. They exchanged a look.

"Don't look at me," said Harry. "I dunno wants up with her."

"Well, don't look at me either, I don't know what's up."

"I never looked at you. I thought your ugly face would blind me."

"Harry, you bastard!" yelped Ron. Harry laughed, punched Ron in the arm and walked up to catch up with Hermione and Ron sulkily followed.

It was midnight and Hermione had forgotten all about the fact that she was going to meet Draco. Actually, that's what she would have liked to think. She just ignored it and it was awfully hard. She really did want to see Draco at midnight. Then she ended up studying with Ginny into the late hours and the librarian kicked them out, telling them they needed sleep. Ginny sleepily made her way to the kitchen in search of a midnight snack and Hermione headed for the portrait hole to find Draco waiting for her.

"You had said twelve, right?" asked Draco, eyebrow raised.

"It's too late, Draco, get a life and get out of my way," said Hermione. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"What are you saying, Hermione? That you accidentally forgot our meeting and now have other pressing things to do? I see, completely innocent."

"Nooo," said Hermione, slowly, lips starting to curve into a smile. "I'd rather like to think of it as ditching you." She blew him a kiss and fluttered her fingers, grinning sarcastically to balance out the sugary sweetness of that action. She climbed in through the portrait hole. Draco stood there, stunned for the second time that day.

"Oh, wait," said Hermione, popping her head back. "I forgot, you owe me something." Draco looked up.

"What?" Hermione grabbed Draco's tie and pulled him close and kissed him, then left him standing there like an idiot, for the THIRD time that day.

"You better go before your mommy starts to miss you," said Hermione. She disappeared and Draco shook his head. He ran his fingers through his fine hair and started to walk off…feeling strangely elated.