Hermione's Makeover -

After jogging for almost two hours Ginny was finally feeling cleansed. Her run was exactly what she needed to help her sort out all the jumbled thoughts within her head. She couldn't continue to hope that Harry would see her as anything more than just a friend. She felt a twinge of sadness, but she couldn't do this to herself any longer. She would always love Harry, but she had to accept friendship as all she'd ever have. He would always have a hold on her heart, how could he not? She resolved to make this an enjoyable year at Hogwarts and let come what may. No more what ifs, no more wasted thoughts. Ginny snorted mockingly to herself. 'Now if I could only keep him out of my dreams,' she thought. Rounding the last bend to her home a wave of unease settled over her. Ginny came to a stop in the middle of the country road and looked around. The air became chilled and the feeling of cold fingers slowly sliding up her spine made her shiver.

"Ginny. . ." a haunting voice whispered as a light breeze swirled past her. Ginny whipped around to look behind her. Her eyes scanned the area surrounding her but she saw no one. The cold sensation that has come over her disappeared as quickly as it had come. Frowning, Ginny took off running back to the Borrow.


Arriving at the front of the house Ginny slowed down and decided to walk to the back yard. She noticed Hermione sitting at the back patio table, a pitcher of iced lemonade and glasses sitting in front of her. Taking a sip of her drink, Hermione turned to see Ginny approach. Ginny stopped in front of the table and looked around the back yard. Hermione's eyes roamed up and down Ginny's frame, taking in her appearance. Ginny's hair was tousled and her cheeks were slightly flushed. The younger girl's arms and exposed neckline glistened with perspiration. Ginny reached up swiping the back of her hand across her damp brow before wiping her hand off on her shorts. Hermione glanced at Ron and Harry, who were now flying low to the ground, before turning back and smiling up at her friend. "Hi Ginny, would you like some lemonade?" asked Hermione, reaching for a glass and the pitcher.

"Yes thank you, please," Ginny said distractedly. Hermione looked back up at Ginny as the petite red head frowned looking out into the distance.

"Anything wrong?" Hermione asked, holding up the filled glass. Ginny accepted the beverage with a quick thank you. Putting the glass to her lips Ginny took a long sip and she sat down beside Hermione. Ginny caught Hermione's expectant expression and tried to decide if she wanted to confide in her.

"Hey Hermione, what'cha doing?" Ron shouted from a ways off, saving Ginny from needing to say anything further.

Ginny took another sip from her glass as Ron and Harry jogged up to the table. Hermione frowned at Ron before giving Ginny another quick glance. "Can we talk later Hermione?" Ginny said under her breath.

"Sure," Hermione said quietly, giving Ginny one final searching look. Both girls turned their attention to the boys as they approached. Harry and Ron pulled out patio chairs and sat down heavily across from girls before pouring themselves each a glass of lemonade. Harry looked over at Ginny and watched her as she looked out over the distance. Hermione glanced at Harry and then to Ginny before reaching for her glass.

"What do you girls think about the four of us going out and having some fun tonight?" Ron said sitting back into his chair. Ginny brought her attention back to the table as both girls raised their eyebrows and looked at Ron.

"What do you have in mind?" Hermione asked, wiping a bead of sweat from her drink and rubbing her fingers together.

"Harry and I were talking. Since we're heading back to Hogwarts in a couple of days we thought it might be fun to go into muggle London and enjoy some sites," Ron said, sitting back in his chair. Ginny's interest was perked with this idea, it wasn't often they went to London, much less the muggle section. "Since you and Harry are familiar with everything muggle, we thought it would be fun for the two of you to show Ginny and I some of the sites," Ron said, smiling proudly.

"What about Mum?" asked Ginny.

"We'll leave a note, everything will be taken care of," answered Ron.

"Well Ginny, what do you think?" Hermione said, turning to her.

"I think I might want to go shower first," Ginny said with a smile.

"Well," said Ron clapping his hands together, "Why don't we all get ready so we can be there for an early supper."

The four stood from the table and made to head into the house. Ginny felt a tug on her arm as Hermione and Ron stepped inside, glancing back to she saw Harry holding onto her elbow. Electrical shivers went coursing through Ginny beginning at the point of his touch. "Did you have a nice run?" he asked.

Ginny blinked at him looking mildly startled, she didn't believe anyone noticed she was gone. "Yes, thanks," Ginny answered with a half attempt at a smile.

"Everything ok Ginny?" Harry asked, frowning in concern. Ginny thought back to her run and the distant voice but quickly dismissed mentioning it to him. Harry had been through so much in his life; he didn't need to have any unnecessary worry added.

"I'm fine Harry, thanks for asking," said Ginny, glancing down again where Harry held onto her elbow. He let go of her arm and put his hands down in his pockets.

"I guess we better go and get ready", he said turning his eyes to the back door.

"Yeah, I want to make sure I get the shower first otherwise it will be forever before I'll be ready," said Ginny giving Harry a quick smile before making her way to the door, using all of her will power to not look back.


Ginny was in her room getting dressed after her shower. She had slipped on a matching emerald bra and thong panties. She giggled to herself, yet another muggle wonder that she grasped quickly. Hermione had been a dear to take her shopping not too long ago. Ginny remembered the look on her mother's face once she saw Ginny's purchases. "Well, these are – interesting," Molly Weasley said before putting the items back into the shopping bag. "Just make sure the twins don't find these. Merlin only knows what sort of spells or charms they would attempt to do if they got their hands on them," Molly said making her way out of Ginny's room with a hidden grin.

Ginny looked down into her dresser before closing the drawer and realized she had only shades of green, black, red and gold-toned undergarments. "God I need a life," she muttered to herself, noting that yet again something in her world some how reminded her of Harry. After drying her hair she decided to pull it back into a loose french braid. Leaning in towards the vanity Ginny grazed her fingers over bangs, checking to see if they were styled properly. Giving one final glance Ginny stepped back from the vanity and began to walk towards her wardrobe.

A light knock on her bedroom door let her know that it couldn't be the twins who took pleasure in pounding the door off of its hinges. Her mother and father always called her name when knocking, as did Ron, and she knew that it would never be Harry so that only left one obvious choice. Turning away from her wardrobe she walked to the door instead and opened it. Hermione stood on the other side of the door waiting. Taking one look at Ginny standing there in her undergarments, she cocked an eyebrow up. "Are you going to let me in or are you waiting for someone else?" asked Hermione. Stepping back behind the door, Ginny allowed Hermione to enter.

"So what can I do for you?" Ginny asked closing the door.

"Can you help me out with tonight?" said Hermione, a mild blush colored her cheeks. Ginny gave her a look of surprise. It wasn't every day Hermione asked for help.

Ginny put her finger in her ear, wiggled it and said, "Speak again?"

Hermione laughed and took a playful swat at Ginny as she walked past to get her cloths.

"Really, Ginny, would you help me out with my hair tonight? And I don't just mean some sort of temporary charm, I want to tame these wild locks once and for all," Hermione asked. She picked up a piece of discarded clothing on Ginny's bed and half heartedly folded it before tossing it back down onto the bed again. Ginny pulled out a pair of faded jeans that fit her form well and looked them over before putting them on. Reaching into her wardrobe Ginny removed a jade green top with a v-neck and pulled it over her head before tucking in the hem.

"If you would like, I can," said Ginny, slipping a black belt through the loops of her pants. Hermione sank down onto the edge of Ginny's bed, smoothing out a rumpled spot. With the growing threat of Voldemort on the rise, the ban for underage magic had been lifted for Hogwarts students, so Ginny didn't have to fear getting into trouble for simple spells. Ginny pulled on a pair of socks before slipping her feet into black lace up boots. Ginny finished the last knot of her laces and looked up at Hermione.

"You love my brother don't you?" Ginny said, sitting up. It was clearly meant as a statement more than a question. Hermione's eyes grew large.

"I. . what. . I. . ." Hermione spluttered, her cheeks growing very red. Ginny grinned and walked over to Hermione.

"Trying to deny it?" asked Ginny.

"No," Hermione said looking down at her clasped hands on her lap. "Am I that obvious?" asked Hermione, she lifted her head up and bit her bottom lip worriedly.

"Let's say I have a special view on things. Hermione, I want to tell you something just between the two of us," said Ginny, sitting down beside her friend. Hermione nodded and waited for Ginny continue. "I think -- No, I know Ron loves you. I think he fell for you the first time he saw you in the train compartment door your first year and told him he had dirt on his nose," said Ginny. She smiled watching Hermione. The older girl stared out at nothing, lost in her memories. "When you went to the Yule ball with Krum I thought Ron was going to pop a blood vessel he was so beside himself," said Ginny, she wrapped her arms around Hermione's waist. "You have to be careful with my great prat of a brother. He won't admit it, but he's scared. I believe he's afraid you'll never feel as much for him as he does you," said Ginny giving Hermione a squeeze. "I think what he needs is a nice swift kick to give him the nerve to do what his heart already feels," said Ginny, laying her head on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione tilted her forehead against Ginny's.

"Why does it have to be so difficult?" ask Hermione with a sigh.

Chuckling, Ginny answered, "I have no clue."

Standing up Ginny gently grabbed a hand full of Hermione's bushy brunette mane. "Now, do you trust me?" Ginny asked.

Squaring her shoulders Hermione raised her chin. "Yes, yes I do," she answered confidently.

"Ok then. Here we go," Ginny said and grabbed her wand off of the dresser and gave it a sharp wave. Small bits of brown hair began to fall to the floor. Years of watching her mom cut her brothers' hair taught Ginny a quite a few tricks.

A short time later Ginny covered Hermione's eyes before walking the girl over to the full-length mirror. "Ready to see?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded her head nervously. Ginny took her hands away from Hermione's eyes and gently turned her by the shoulders to face the mirror. At first glance Hermione gasped, her once bushy and almost out of control hair now fell down below her shoulders in a multitude of long layers. Hermione turned her head slightly looking at how the cut was shaped to softly frame her face. "With your thick hair you have great body, this style should be easy enough to maintain," Ginny said while fixing little locks of hair here and there.

Hermione spun around and hugged Ginny in a tight embrace. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome. Let's go all out if we're going to do this," said Ginny, squeezing Hermione tight before pulling out of the hug and walking over to her wardrobe. "I've trusted you this far," Hermione laughed, looking once again in the mirror and touching her new hair.

Several minutes later Ginny stepped back to appraise the results. Hermione stood with her arms slightly out slowly turning in a circle, her cheeks very pink and a huge smile on her face. "I'm glad we learned that resizing charm," said Ginny, crossing her arms under her chest.

"Are you sure this shirt isn't a bit too snug?" Hermione said looking down at the lightweight, orange sweater. The low neck line revealed the soft swell of cleavage as Hermione inhaled.

"Oh I don't think Ron will mind. Orange is his favorite color," said Ginny with a giggle. Hermione giggled nervously as she wiped her palms on her blue jeans. Sitting down on the edge of the bed to put on her black boots Hermione saw Ginny walk over to the vanity. "One final touch and we'll be ready," Ginny said reaching for a small bottle.

Hermione stood and stepped over as Ginny turned around. "What is it?" Hermione asked looking at the delicate bottle.

"Personally Yours, perfume. My mum bought it for me last year for my birthday," Ginny explained. "This magical fragrance will customize itself to each individual wearer. Try it," Ginny encouraged, holding the bottle forward. Hermione took it and tipped the bottle forward. She placed the applicator to her wrists and neck. Handing the perfume back to Ginny, Hermione put her wrist to her nose. The gentle smell of lilacs and hyacinths came to mind. Ginny inhaled deeply and smiled, "You smell heavenly." After applying some of the fragrance to herself Ginny put the bottle back onto the vanity. She held her wrist up to Hermione. There was the warm scent of vanilla with the subtle under tone of jasmine.

"Mmmm, lovely," Hermione breathed.


Both girls were smiling and softly talking to one another as they descended the stairs into the kitchen. Ron and Harry were sitting at the table waiting. Both guys looked up as the girls made their appearance. Ron's chin dropped his eyes grew wide staring at Hermione. Harry noticed this with a grin and elbowed Ron. Coming to his senses as the girls approached them Ron walked up to Hermione. "Er.. Um.. Y-You look great Hermione," he said, clearing his throat after stuttering.

Hermione blushed and glanced down. Ginny looked around the two of them at Harry who was smiling back at her in amusement. Shaking her head Ginny tried to hide a smirk. "Are we ready to go then?" Harry asked, breaking up the quiet that settled over his two best friends.

"Yep, just need to stop by Gringotts to make an exchange for muggle money," Ron said. Heading into the living room the four walked up to the fireplace. "Ladies first," Ron said bowing to Hermione making her blush. She took pinch of floo powder and stepped into the empty fireplace. Giving Ron a quick smile, she threw down the powder.

"Diagon Alley," Hermione said clearly and was gone in a blaze of green flames.

Ginny stepped forward taking her own small handful of floo powder and stepped into the empty fire place. "See you on the other side. Diagon Alley!" she said and quickly vanished. After Harry and Ron arrived in one piece the group headed over to Gringotts and made the money exchange. With muggle money in pockets and excitement for the evening the four left through the front of the Leaky Cauldron into London.