Okay, you guys. I wasn't planning to update so soon, but I wasn't planning to get so many reviews so quickly. Of course, after this, you might have to wait. Evil laughter.
Chapter 2- Invitation
Harry beckoned for Hermione to sit down. It could be Harry. *No, he's with Ginny, fifteen-year-old slut that she is.* It wasn't Harry. One down…
"What's the matter, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I was thinking about my dress. I wish I had a good occasion to wear it." She sighed longingly. "Well, let's eat."
Ron was already in the process as he spoke. "What took you so long up there?"
"I didn't want to take it off," Hermione answered. Which was true, though it was not the reason. She didn't want to tell anyone about the mysterious gifts until she knew who they were from.
Hedwig chose that moment to land on Harry's shoulder gracefully. She gazed sharply at the table, where Harry's miniature phoenix pranced. "Thanks, Hedwig." He took the letter from her beak. "It's from Hagrid. He wants us to meet him at the front door tonight. Ah, you'll love this, Hermione. He says, 'Formal dress required'. I wonder what this could mean?"
"It means Hagrid in his brown suit and orange tie again, that's what," Ron shuddered. He really did not like Hagrid's suit.
Hermione was having a hard time thinking about anything but her dress, until she remembered the necklace and the love note. "What time?"
"Seven o'clock, not sharp," Harry read.
"I'll meet you guys down there. I have to go to the library."
"The library! Hermione, it's Christmas."
"I know that, Ron, but I have to look something up."
"What, 'Rituals of Half-Giants that Require Formal Dress'?"
"Ron, shut up. I'm sure it's important. I'll walk you there, Hermione," Ginny said as she stood.
They left the Great Hall together. "I'm sorry about that," Ginny said. "I don't know what's gotten into my brother."
"He's always like that," Hermione dismissed it. But she wondered. *Could* it be Ron?
"So what are you looking up?"
"Well…okay, you promise not to tell anyone?" Ginny promised, crossed her heart and hoped to choke on her pumpkin juice. "Okay, when I went to change out of my dress I found something." She described each to Ginny, whose eyes seemed to widen with every word. "I am sure there's a spell that can help me figure out who sent it. But promise you won't tell anyone."
"I swear," Ginny whispered. "Do you have any idea who it could be?"
"Not really," Hermione lied. She had a few ideas, each as unlikely as the last. She said goodbye to Ginny at the entrance to the library. Hermione went straight for the section on love spells. She and Ginny had spent an hour there last Valentine's day, so she knew exactly where it was. They had not found anything good for her situation, but she thought she had seen…well, she would know when she found it.
Love potions…not, a potion would be too complicated. Twitterpation…make a human fall in love with and animal…*Ew*…Instant Love…Love for a week, love for a month, love for two months, love for a year… Hermione screamed mentally. (It was, after all, the library.) There was nothing- wait! What was that? Love revealer. This was the one she wanted.
"Only one book?" Madame Pince remarked. Hermione shrugged and urged her to hurry. Madame Pince raised an eyebrow as she signed the book out.
"Thank you," Hermione said, and hurried back up to the common room.
"That didn't take long," Ron said, not looking up from the chessboard, when the portrait hold swung open.
"Well…yeah." Hermione ran up to her room to put the book away and joined them. Ron's queen was just taking a swing at Harry's bishop.
"Hey!"
"Honestly, Harry, if you aren't going to learn to play better, you can't complain," Ron yawned.
"He's right," Ginny agreed. She was curled up in the same armchair as Harry. He gave her a sad puppy face. She laughed and kissed him. "Queen to D5," she said to the board.
Ron struggled to speak as Harry's queen took his. "If Harry had made that move, it would count. No fair, Ginny."
"Well, you can quit if you want."
Harry grinned. Hermione could not see how that armchair could be comfortable with two people, but Harry and Ginny seemed to be enjoying themselves. Deciding against sitting down with them, she went to the window. The sun reflected off the lake and the snow. The forest actually looked inviting. Sighing, Hermione sat on the window seat.
************************************************************************
"Hermione! It's six o'clock, you'd better start getting ready!" Ginny's voice penetrated her thoughts. Hermione jumped, realizing that it was six o'clock, and rushed up to her room. Fortunately, it was empty.
She slid into the green silk and white bodice carefully but quickly, then stood in front of the mirror for a few minutes. With a start, Hermione realized that she had about forty-five minutes until seven. She quickly pulled on a pair of black stockings to keep her legs warm. She dug in her trunk for the black leather boots she had convinced her parents to buy for her. They had no heels, but that was half the appeal. They were a medieval style, with a row of buttons running almost all the way to her knee. She put them on. This took approximately ten minutes.
Worried now, Hermione used her wand to put her hair up. She drew it back into a ponytail, then took a section from underneath and twisted it around the rest. As an afterthought, she added a gold ribbon. She only spared a moment to examine the result before she looked through the jewelry from her admirers. The earrings she chose were diamonds, hanging form the stems of silver roses, and a silver rose on a delicate chair rested in the hollow of her neck. *There* she smiled as she modeled for herself. *Only one thing left.*
She fastened the two hooks at the neck of her cloak. It was then that she discovered the inside pocket, and the black gloves of the same material lying within. She was relieved to find that they were not invisibility gloves.
Frowning, she pointed her wand at her face. Her eyes were suddenly decorated with pale green shadow, lined underneath in a dark brown. Her lips sported a subtle pink lipstick, and her cheeks held a rosy glow.
Her look complete, she daintily stepped down into the common room, where Harry, Ron, and Ginny waited. As usual, Harry and Ron were formal only to the extent of their robes, though they seemed to have combed their hair. Harry did look good in his green robes, while Ron was surprisingly handsome in a blue so dark it was nearly black.
Ginny, however, was as made up as Hermione. She wore a red strapless gown and long black gloves. A necklace with a unicorn pendant hung between her breasts. Harry had given it to her last Christmas. Silver eyeshadow shone on her lips, and deep scarlet lipstick filled out her mouth. Harry, who had been staring at Ginny, now turned to stare at Hermione. Seamus, Neville, and the Creeveys turned to stare as well. She heard a camera as Colin flashed a picture.
"I have never seen anything more beautiful," Ron said, his voice a mix of playfulness and sincerity. Hermione gave him a small smile.
"Ginny, you look great."
"So do you. Wow."
They all left the common room about five minutes before seven. Laughing and speculating about the night ahead, they stood in from of the door before they knew it.
The great doors slowly opened, and Hagrid stepped inside.
End Chapter 2
Hmm. Sometimes stories look even better after you type them out. Please review. :)
Teaser:
Without warning, she grabbed Ron's waist and spun. She ignored his shouting and kept on until he was laughing with her. Then she let go and twirled and moved as she never had before. Ron, apparently, had taken her advice, and he was not doing too badly. This went on for three song changes before they stopped to rest.
"I've never seen humans dance like that," a satyr said to them. They exchanged pleased glances. "It was excellent."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione smiled. His gaze swept her body before moving on.
"Oh, there's one more thing," Hagrid said.
Sorry, no more teaser for you!!! I decided against using a spoiler this time, but I might later on!!!!!!!
Chapter 2- Invitation
Harry beckoned for Hermione to sit down. It could be Harry. *No, he's with Ginny, fifteen-year-old slut that she is.* It wasn't Harry. One down…
"What's the matter, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I was thinking about my dress. I wish I had a good occasion to wear it." She sighed longingly. "Well, let's eat."
Ron was already in the process as he spoke. "What took you so long up there?"
"I didn't want to take it off," Hermione answered. Which was true, though it was not the reason. She didn't want to tell anyone about the mysterious gifts until she knew who they were from.
Hedwig chose that moment to land on Harry's shoulder gracefully. She gazed sharply at the table, where Harry's miniature phoenix pranced. "Thanks, Hedwig." He took the letter from her beak. "It's from Hagrid. He wants us to meet him at the front door tonight. Ah, you'll love this, Hermione. He says, 'Formal dress required'. I wonder what this could mean?"
"It means Hagrid in his brown suit and orange tie again, that's what," Ron shuddered. He really did not like Hagrid's suit.
Hermione was having a hard time thinking about anything but her dress, until she remembered the necklace and the love note. "What time?"
"Seven o'clock, not sharp," Harry read.
"I'll meet you guys down there. I have to go to the library."
"The library! Hermione, it's Christmas."
"I know that, Ron, but I have to look something up."
"What, 'Rituals of Half-Giants that Require Formal Dress'?"
"Ron, shut up. I'm sure it's important. I'll walk you there, Hermione," Ginny said as she stood.
They left the Great Hall together. "I'm sorry about that," Ginny said. "I don't know what's gotten into my brother."
"He's always like that," Hermione dismissed it. But she wondered. *Could* it be Ron?
"So what are you looking up?"
"Well…okay, you promise not to tell anyone?" Ginny promised, crossed her heart and hoped to choke on her pumpkin juice. "Okay, when I went to change out of my dress I found something." She described each to Ginny, whose eyes seemed to widen with every word. "I am sure there's a spell that can help me figure out who sent it. But promise you won't tell anyone."
"I swear," Ginny whispered. "Do you have any idea who it could be?"
"Not really," Hermione lied. She had a few ideas, each as unlikely as the last. She said goodbye to Ginny at the entrance to the library. Hermione went straight for the section on love spells. She and Ginny had spent an hour there last Valentine's day, so she knew exactly where it was. They had not found anything good for her situation, but she thought she had seen…well, she would know when she found it.
Love potions…not, a potion would be too complicated. Twitterpation…make a human fall in love with and animal…*Ew*…Instant Love…Love for a week, love for a month, love for two months, love for a year… Hermione screamed mentally. (It was, after all, the library.) There was nothing- wait! What was that? Love revealer. This was the one she wanted.
"Only one book?" Madame Pince remarked. Hermione shrugged and urged her to hurry. Madame Pince raised an eyebrow as she signed the book out.
"Thank you," Hermione said, and hurried back up to the common room.
"That didn't take long," Ron said, not looking up from the chessboard, when the portrait hold swung open.
"Well…yeah." Hermione ran up to her room to put the book away and joined them. Ron's queen was just taking a swing at Harry's bishop.
"Hey!"
"Honestly, Harry, if you aren't going to learn to play better, you can't complain," Ron yawned.
"He's right," Ginny agreed. She was curled up in the same armchair as Harry. He gave her a sad puppy face. She laughed and kissed him. "Queen to D5," she said to the board.
Ron struggled to speak as Harry's queen took his. "If Harry had made that move, it would count. No fair, Ginny."
"Well, you can quit if you want."
Harry grinned. Hermione could not see how that armchair could be comfortable with two people, but Harry and Ginny seemed to be enjoying themselves. Deciding against sitting down with them, she went to the window. The sun reflected off the lake and the snow. The forest actually looked inviting. Sighing, Hermione sat on the window seat.
************************************************************************
"Hermione! It's six o'clock, you'd better start getting ready!" Ginny's voice penetrated her thoughts. Hermione jumped, realizing that it was six o'clock, and rushed up to her room. Fortunately, it was empty.
She slid into the green silk and white bodice carefully but quickly, then stood in front of the mirror for a few minutes. With a start, Hermione realized that she had about forty-five minutes until seven. She quickly pulled on a pair of black stockings to keep her legs warm. She dug in her trunk for the black leather boots she had convinced her parents to buy for her. They had no heels, but that was half the appeal. They were a medieval style, with a row of buttons running almost all the way to her knee. She put them on. This took approximately ten minutes.
Worried now, Hermione used her wand to put her hair up. She drew it back into a ponytail, then took a section from underneath and twisted it around the rest. As an afterthought, she added a gold ribbon. She only spared a moment to examine the result before she looked through the jewelry from her admirers. The earrings she chose were diamonds, hanging form the stems of silver roses, and a silver rose on a delicate chair rested in the hollow of her neck. *There* she smiled as she modeled for herself. *Only one thing left.*
She fastened the two hooks at the neck of her cloak. It was then that she discovered the inside pocket, and the black gloves of the same material lying within. She was relieved to find that they were not invisibility gloves.
Frowning, she pointed her wand at her face. Her eyes were suddenly decorated with pale green shadow, lined underneath in a dark brown. Her lips sported a subtle pink lipstick, and her cheeks held a rosy glow.
Her look complete, she daintily stepped down into the common room, where Harry, Ron, and Ginny waited. As usual, Harry and Ron were formal only to the extent of their robes, though they seemed to have combed their hair. Harry did look good in his green robes, while Ron was surprisingly handsome in a blue so dark it was nearly black.
Ginny, however, was as made up as Hermione. She wore a red strapless gown and long black gloves. A necklace with a unicorn pendant hung between her breasts. Harry had given it to her last Christmas. Silver eyeshadow shone on her lips, and deep scarlet lipstick filled out her mouth. Harry, who had been staring at Ginny, now turned to stare at Hermione. Seamus, Neville, and the Creeveys turned to stare as well. She heard a camera as Colin flashed a picture.
"I have never seen anything more beautiful," Ron said, his voice a mix of playfulness and sincerity. Hermione gave him a small smile.
"Ginny, you look great."
"So do you. Wow."
They all left the common room about five minutes before seven. Laughing and speculating about the night ahead, they stood in from of the door before they knew it.
The great doors slowly opened, and Hagrid stepped inside.
End Chapter 2
Hmm. Sometimes stories look even better after you type them out. Please review. :)
Teaser:
Without warning, she grabbed Ron's waist and spun. She ignored his shouting and kept on until he was laughing with her. Then she let go and twirled and moved as she never had before. Ron, apparently, had taken her advice, and he was not doing too badly. This went on for three song changes before they stopped to rest.
"I've never seen humans dance like that," a satyr said to them. They exchanged pleased glances. "It was excellent."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione smiled. His gaze swept her body before moving on.
"Oh, there's one more thing," Hagrid said.
Sorry, no more teaser for you!!! I decided against using a spoiler this time, but I might later on!!!!!!!
