Chapter 19: no more miss nice Granger

It was Saturday, a Saturday they were allowed to go to Hogsmeade. It was also the Saturday of the Slytherin vs Gryffindor Quidditch match. Harry woke up with the nervous feeling in his stomach he always had when there would be a Quidditch match, only this time, he wouldn't participate. Instead, he was going to Hogsmade and he was not even bothering to look at the match that evening.

Harry had already made his preparations for it. He and Ginny would meet at the Three Broomsticks. He actually hadn't spoken to Ron or Hermione anymore. Somewhere he didn't want to either.

Hermione was sitting in her room. Because she was a Prefect, she had her own room. She really liked it; this way the other girls wouldn't bother her with questions. She was still angry with Harry. She was still angry with Snape. She was still very angry, with everything. She needed something to distract her from all the sorrow. She looked around. Large piles of books and bags where lying everywhere. Suddenly she stopped thinking about Harry and all the troubles. She watched herself in the mirror.

When did she became this dull? her hair was still frizzy and she looked,. normal. She wasn't really pretty or ugly. Though a lot of girls said she was ugly. Was she ugly? She took another good look in the mirror and sighed. Something had to change.

Ron and Luna were having breakfast already when Hermione walked in, with a bit vague smile playing around her lips.

"What are you so happy about?" Ron asked.

Hermione gave him a warning look "Oh, don't mind. You'll see soon enough"

Luna frowned "Don't do stupid things. You're too smart for that".

Hermione wanted to reply, but suddenly realised that Luna was right. She was too smart. Everyone saw her as the smart girl. Everyone relied on her having the right answer on every question. So she just kept her mouth shut.

After breakfast, Luna asked Ron if he wanted to go to Hogsmeade with her. Ron didn't really know how to reply, so Hermione just said to Luna it was alright and Ron gave her a very depressed and hopeless look. Hermione stuck out her tongue and walked towards the library.

Once again she had second thoughts. She was going to the library. She was always going there. Doing what? Reading books and learn,. she saw herself in the reflection of a window. She was dull. the books made her dull. She turned away and walked towards the exit instead.

It was time for something different.

Usually, only Slytherins went outside on Saturdays, because they were the only ones who never went to Hogsmeade. Not that they were forbidden to, but they just didn't want to. It was uncool. Hermione watched the green with silver robes walk by, she didn't know the faces of the Slytherins. She never ever talked to one either. She didn't want to, because it would ruin her reputation. Yeah, her reputation of good girl. Of good girl Granger. Once again she sighed and made her way to the lake.

Draco made his was outside. Away from the stupid people. He hated Crabbe and Goyle. They just couldn't understand him. He was way too complicated. But Crabbe and Goyle were like his followers. He grinned. Once he thought he could become as mighty as his dad if he just got loyal servants. Now he knew he was wrong; stupid servants didn't get him anywhere. He was still the one to do all the work. His eyes looked around.

He saw Hermione sitting at the lake. What was she doing? Didn't she had to go with Potter and that red-haired Weasley boy?

Hermione watched her reflection in the water. She hated herself. She hated everyone. Especially Ginny. A few times she thought Ginny could be her best friend, but now? She was just a little evil witch, just like Luna said. Luna was a great girl. She was so,. free. So different than she was ever going to be.

She saw Draco. What was he doing? Why wasn't he with Crabbe and Goyle?

She shook her head. Never mind. There had to change something or she would die in boredness. Was that a word?

What could she do to change? Just avoid the books wasn't going to do it. She watched her reflection in the water closer. She had to do something about her looks too. Like her hair,. how would it be in black? O my god. Was she actually thinking about colouring her hair black?

She had a bit disturbing feeling in her stomach. Somewhere she wanted to do different, somewhere not. Maybe boys would like her better if she would change? She wondered. But did she wanted to have boys around her? She didn't know how to act,. yes, surely Harry, Ron and Viktor had been around her, but they were,.. friends. Even Viktor was more of friend than her boyfriend. She sighed, but it was more as a relief. She stood up. She would be different before Ron and Harry would return.

In her room again, Hermione gave the books a disgusting look. In her mind she smiled. This was going the right way. She was going to hate books. But before she could really turn her back from them, she had to look up some transformation charms.

After a while, Hermione had collected all the charms she needed. With a smile of victory, she stood in front of the mirror. 'Infusco!' she said, while pointing her wand at her hair. Her hair began to change. It turned black.

With a bit of surprised but satisfied look she turned around. Perfect. Now for the curls,. it had to be straight! 'Derigo!' she said, while pointing at her hair again, which immediately straightened.

She moved closer to the mirror. It was time to get rid of her freckles. With the tip of her wand she slowly removed them with a removing-spell.

After two hours, Hermione's looks had really changed; she had turned into a straight, black-haired, freckle-less, elegant but a bit though girl. She looked disgusting at her robes. Red was so not her colour. She just decided that. And she had decided to throw away the books as well. She wouldn't need those anymore. She wasn't going to study anyhow.