Chapter 1: A Bad Idea
Hermione Granger sat in her family's library, staring absentmindedly out of the window. It was a warm summer's day, and a fresh breeze moved swiftly through the window. She rested her head on her hand, wondering what she could possibly find to do with herself. Her parents were gone, and she'd finished her chores.
She sighed, blowing a few small pieces of her bushy hair out of her face. The thing that was bothering her the most lately, though was the fact that she had nothing to read. She'd read everything in her parents library. There was nothing else to suffice her hunger for knowledge. There has to be something, she thought to herself, pushing herself away from the desk and moving out of the room.
She wandered pointlessly into her parent's bedroom. There had to be something in here, some bit of literature that her parents had stashed away. She moved into the closet, and pulled out a box. She looked inside. It was her parent's wedding pictures. Although they were nice, she'd already seen them. She glanced around the room hungrily. Suddenly, something on her mother's nightstand caught her eye.
It was a muggle magazine, called Health & Beauty. Rubbish, Hermione thought to herself. She never had quite understood what had attracted her mum, as well as other girls in her school, to try to alter their appearances. She didn't see anything wrong with them, and she also didn't believe in magazine's trying to tell her how to dress, or wear her hair. She would much rather be herself.
She searched the room for anything a little more sensible, or worth her time. But there was nothing. She sighed. She had so much time, and nothing to do with it. She shrugged. Maybe it would give her a good laugh. She picked up the magazine and walked to the library (which was her favorite room in the house) to read.
She opened the glossy cover only to be bombarded by make-up advertisements. Women were posed as beautiful, and flawless. She flipped through them quickly, to the index. The articles had titles like, "Ways to Make Him Crazy" and "Ask Tina: Life's most annoying questions." There was also, "Lipstick Tricks You'll Love!" Hermione couldn't believe how sad the people who wrote these were. She'd have to be sure to write to Harry and Ron about this stuff, they'd have a laugh.
She smiled at the thought of Harry and Ron. Especially Ron. She'd liked him forever. His blue eyes were gorgeous, and she loved how his ears turned pink when he was embarrassed. But mostly, she really loved how he was so unafraid to stand up for what he believed in, and for her. But he didn't like her, that was the only problem. She sighed and flicked her eyes back down to the shiny page. A headline caught her eye.
"Your Worst Hair Problems Solved." Hermione stopped breathing. She couldn't help but feel a little interested. She's always disliked her hair. Sometimes, she wished it weren't there. She thought that maybe the reason Ron didn't notice her was because of it's ugliness. But she didn't believe in altering her appearance. But the idea dragged on her. She turned to page 84.
"Problem #1: Curly or Frizzy Hair
"The answer to this is several things. If you would like to go for a more permanent change, get a perm. No, not the type that makes your hair curly! Believe it or not, there's now a type that makes your hair straight! And results have been better than ever! Now if you're not as permanent…"
Hermione looked up from the page. She could permanently make her hair straight. She smiled. What a perfect idea! All she needed was approval from her mother. She hugged the magazine to her chest and fell back into the cushion of the chair. It would make Ron like her, after all, didn't guys like girls with pretty hair?
"Mum," Hermione said, closing in on her mother after dinner. She'd offered to clear the dishes, and that would give her quality time with her mum, since her father had gone upstairs to his study. "I want to ask your approval of something?"
"Yes, what is it?" Her mum dried her hands on the towel hanging from the cabinet and looked at her. Her mum was pretty. Her hair was in tight, brow curls. She had chocolate eyes with dark eyelashes, and naturally darker lips. Her features were young and girly. She wished that she'd had her mother's hair, but instead ended up with a mix. Her father had straight, thick hair that was uncontrollable. So she got the half-curly, bushy hair.
"I was wondering… if - if I could, possibly-" Hermione stuttered. She'd never asked her mother something like this before. She didn't know how she'd react. Her mother, unfortunately, was the type who would only alter her appearance by the slightest dusting of make up.
"If what, Hermione?" Her mum said softly, placing her hands on her hips.
"If I could p-permanently straighten my hair."
"Well, I guess so," Her mother replied, turning back to the sink to wash the dishes. Hermione smiled. "But the thing I don't get is, that you've always been one to never want to change your appearance, you thought it was fake. What's gotten into your head Hermione?"
"I don't know, I guess it's just time for a change, you know," Hermione lied. The real reason she was straightening her hair was to, of course, impress Ron.
"Hmmm," Her mother said, placing a dish in the rack. "If I'm not missing something, I'd say there's some other reason. Is some certain redhead on your mind again?"
"Mum," Hermione whined. She wished her mum wouldn't read her mind like that. She couldn't keep anything from her.
"Don't 'Mum' me Hermione. I know what this is. I'm not objecting to you doing changing your hair, but I just want you to hear one thing I think you should consider before rushing into this," Hermione sighed at her mother's words. Of course, she had to go get all motherly. "I just want to say, that if you really want Ron to like you for who you are, then you should just, you know, be yourself."
Hermione didn't say anything. Her mum was right. But she didn't want to listen. Ron could like her personality too, she just wanted him to be attracted to her physically. That wasn't a crime, was it? She sighed and left the room. She wasn't going to change her mind, no matter what her mum said.
"Ah, look who it is, Miss Hermione," Hermione's hair dresser, Donna, said when she greeted her the following week. Hermione had butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't believe what she was going to do. "So the usual before school trim, I suppose?"
Hermione looked to her mother, who from the waiting chairs just raised her eyebrows at her. She stepped into the chair and swallowed hard.
"No, actually," She replied, looking at her reflection in the mirror before her. "I was going to go for something more permanent."
"Permanent, sweetie?" Her hairdresser laughed, wrapping the plastic around her front and pulling the bush behind her. Her breath smelled strongly of fruity gum. "I don't think there's any haircut that's permanent."
"I-I mean," Hermione said, looking to her hands. Why did saying something like this make her so uncomfortable? "I want to get a perm. To straighten my hair."
"Oh my goodness, are you serious - is she serious?" Donna said, looking from Hermione to Hermione's mother.
"Yes, I'm afraid she is."
"Well then, let's get started."
An hour and a half later, Donna was blow drying Hermione's hair. She refused to look in the mirror, afraid of the outcome. She swallowed hard. She couldn't believe what she'd done. How stupid could she get? She was supposed to be smart, a top student, and she goes and does something she's so unsure of? What if it looked bad? What if Ron didn't like it?
"As much as you don't want to Hermione, I'm afraid you'll have to look in the mirror," Donna said into Hermione's ear. "It's not nearly as bad as you're afraid it is. Come on - 'atta girl."
Hermione opened her eyes. Her heart jumped to her throat. It actually looked good. She looked normal, pretty almost. She liked how it was so straight, flawless, with a shine. She turned to her mum, beaming, and her mother smiled back.
"You look gorgeous, Hermione."
"I know it! Isn't she a fox?" Donna said, looking from Hermione's mum to Hermione's reflection in the mirror. "I just want to ask you something, and you probable won't agree, but just listen."
Hermione's mum looked at Donna intently, as if telling her to spit it out.
"I just want to add another simple touch - it won't cost any money," Donna said, brushing Hermione's new sleek hair aside. "Is it alright if I just put a small amount of make up on her?"
Hermione's mother frowned. Hermione swallowed. She'd never worn anything on her face but chap stick, or Halloween make up when she went trick-or-treating when she was younger. She had had her hair changed, but she didn't want to look completely different. But what if she turned out looking good? She looked to her mother, waiting for a reply. Whatever her mother said would be good, right?
"I suppose, but just a little. I never really believed much in changing how you look, and Hermione's already bended the rules," Her mother replied, with a strong look on her face.
"Oh thanks, Ari. You won't be sorry," Donna opened a drawer full of many different colored products. They were different shapes, sizes, and substances. She'd seen this sort of thing in Parvati and Lavender's trunks, but had never thought of putting them on herself. Hermione felt sick with nervousness. Was all that stuff going to go on her face? She smoothed her knee-length jean skirt.
First Donna applied concealer to Hermione's few blemishes. She dusted her cheeks lightly with blush, and used some light eye shadow and mascara to brighten up her eyes. She finished with some tinted lip gloss. Again, Hermione was afraid to look in the mirror. She felt awful. Why had she gotten herself into this? She'd end up just like everyone else, and she didn't want that!
"There," Donna said, blending the blush carefully with a tissue, then backing away so Hermione could see her reflection. "I think you look absolutely gorgeous. All the boys will be after you! Anyone in specific you'd prefer?"
Hermione blushed darker than the dust on her face.
"Oh I see," Donna smiled, and turned to Hermione's mother. "So Ari, whaddya think? And please remind me, where does Hermione go to school again?"
"She attends Stony Brook Ridge, it's a private boarding school in Scotland," Ari replied, once again lying about Hermione's education.
"Oh, I see. But what do you think?"
"She looks nice. I think she's beautiful without make up, to be honest. But I guess a little doesn't hurt. How does it feel Herm?" Ari asked her, gazing intently into Hermione's eyes.
"I - uh -" Hermione looked into the mirror. She did admit, it looked pretty nice. She smiled. Maybe Ron would like it, too. "It looks…. Nice. It's different."
Donna beamed.
"Well if you want to continue wearing it, I'll give you the products I used for free, you deserve it," she said to Hermione, pulling out the concealer, blush, eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss. She put them in a small bag that read, "Donna's Beauty Parlor."
"Oh, thanks," Hermione said, blushing even more than before.
"Well I'll see you again next year!" Donna said smiling, as Hermione rose from the seat and for the first time touched her hair. It was smooth. Wonderfully smooth. "Enjoy the last week of vacation! Good luck with that boy you're after!"
"Thank you for your help, Donna. I'll see you again soon." Ari waved, and turned to open the door for Hermione.
"Bye Donna," Hermione ducked out of the store, fingers still entwined in her hair. She couldn't believe how smooth it was. She opened the door to the car and waited for her mother. She couldn't get her fingers out of her hair the whole ride home.
Dear Ron and Harry, Hermione wrote, later that evening. It was after dinner, and her parents were in the front room watching television. She could hear the echoes of the news through the closed door in her room. She lay on her stomach, her bed bending to fit her curves. The night was dark, but the light from the stars made it more tolerable. By the light on her nightstand, she continued, listening to the rhythmic scratch of her quill against the parchment.
I hope you both are having a good time at the Burrow. I'm sorry I couldn't come. My parents wanted to see me before my sixteenth birthday, which is, as you know, next month.
Ron and Harry were both at The Burrow. Hermione missed it there, it was like home. Her and Ginny used to stay up late into the night, talking about boys and school. She didn't really have any other close girl friends. That's because no one takes the time to get to know me, Hermione thought sadly. She wished that other people had considered her as a friend besides Ron and Harry. She loved them dearly, but a girl needed her female ties, they were different than constantly spending time with boys. Maybe they'd better accept her this year, because she looked different. She hoped they would, even though it would be a pretty superficial way to like someone.
Hermione continued, I can't wait to get back to school, and see you guys. I've got a surprise for you. I hope you'll like it. I was a little unsure of it before, but now I think it's alright.
I can't believe the summer's flown by so fast. It seems like yesterday we were getting off the train at King's Cross. But I'll be happy to see you two next week, I've been pretty much dying without any friends. It's kind of annoying I don't know anyone in the neighborhood anymore. They all think that I'm weird, seeing as how I suddenly left the school when I was 11.
So how is Harry? I do hope he's dealing well with the death of Sirius. I've had a Grandmother die once, and it's a tough thing to go through with. Of course, I didn't see her die, so it wasn't as scarring. But I hope he's doing alright. And let him know I'm sorry that things didn't work out with Cho. He'll find someone else.
Well enough of that morbid stuff. Have either of you finished your summer work? I finally finished that History of Magic essay. It took so much research I thought I was going to die. But of course, I read each book through, you pick up a lot of extra information that way. You never know when it could come in handy, do you?
Well I must be going. My parents are turning off the lights in the other room, so they must be getting ready for bed. I have a big day tomorrow. We're going to Diagon Alley for school supplies. We're going to have to get an early start. Well I"ll see you soon, have a good rest of summer. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Best Regards,
Hermione J
Hermione smiled. It was perfect. She went over to the cage that was the home of her new owl, Nebula. Her parents had gotten it for her at the beginning of the summer, so she could talk with her friends. Nebula looked at her, blinking his large yellow eyes. His face was brown, framed with white.
"Come on Nebula, I need you to deliver this to Ron and Harry at the Burrow," she said to him, opening the cage and tying the letter to his leg. She opened the window and set him free, watching him take off into the night. She watched as he disappeared into the sky. The stars were bright tonight. Just then, she wished upon a star.
"Starlight, star bright. The first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, get this wish I wish tonight," she started, gazing at the brightest star in the sky. "I wish that Ron Weasley would see me as more than a friend."
Hermione smiled, wondering if Ron was looking at the same star she was. She slid under her covers, and turned off the light.
"Goodnight Ron," she muttered softly with a yawn, before she dozed off to sleep.