A/N: Okay here another chapter. I'm sorry, but this weekend, I'm not in town, I will be in Belguim with my family. Only this weekend though, you can expect another chapter from me on Sunday/Monday and maaaaybe tomorrow, if I can make some time before we leave. I hope you understand. And for those who also read my Chobsession story; my beta-reader is almost finished (I hope) and I'll be updating that story Monday/Tuesday. - Nanja (btw, while editing this chapter, I was listening to Shiina Ringo, real good rockmusic... she reminds me of how Hermione's looking now)

Don't forget to review! - Nikki

Chapter 20: Nice to be different

Ron and Luna entered the Gryffindor common room. Laughing, Luna grabbed Ron's arm and yelled something that sounded like "Weasley is my king!"

Ron's eyes looked around the room and saw a girl sitting in a chair next to the window. She wasn't wearing school robes, but a black, short dress and two leather boots. He was pretty sure he hadn't seen her before. The girl looked up and Ron clapped his hand in front of his mouth in disbelief. Luna followed his gaze and her jaw dropped, followed by a quick smile "You are Hermione Granger!"

Hermione greeted them with a quick "hey" and paid attention to the window again.

"Wha-what did you do to yourself? What did you do to your hair? Where are your books?" Ron overloaded her with questions.

Hermione just shook her head "I can't answer that in one sentence, so I'm not going to answer at all" she stated.

Luna frowned "You act like me"

Hermione grinned "Well, that's cool"

"Cool?" Ron gulped 'You just said that like you would never say . you never say that!" he quickly shook his head "No... no offense or anything!"

Hermione quickly gave him a "It's okay" and stood up.

"Where are you going? Are you going like that? I mean ... don't you need to change clothes, wash the black out of your hair and . " he tried.

Hermione began to laugh and Luna just smiled. "Did you think I was doing this for fun? Haha! This is the new me Ron!"

Ron gulped. "New ... you? I'm sorry, but this doesn't look like you at all,... in any way!"

Hermione sighed hopelessly and gave Luna a stare "How DO you keep up with his intelligence?"

Hermione just wanted to leave the room, but when the Fat Lady's painting moved away, she stood eye in eye with Harry.

Harry swallowed. "Hi, can I walk on? I'm kind of in a hurry." He frowned "I haven't seen you before ."

Hermione smiled a bit sarcastic "Oh, that's strange, I'm pretty sure we have breakfast every morning... together."

Harry's eyes grew larger and his jaw dropped "No,." He said in disbelief.

Hermione let out a laugh "Yes!"

"You aren't ... I mean you can't be ... and,... no,... she's probably in the library,...' he stated.

"Harry,. I AM Hermione,." Hermione said while raising one eyebrow.

Harry immediately closed his mouth and shook his head. "I'm dreaming again, come on, let me walk on"

Hermione stepped out of the way and watched him climb into the common room. She walked away and Harry threw her one more look. She wasn't... right?

Every student looked at her when she walked into the Great Hall for dinner. She smiled a bit bored. Bored. That was the way to be. She noticed Draco recognized her and he almost choked in his potato.

With proud, she sat down at the Gryffindor table. Across Ginny. Ginny was looking at her with great interest "Are you a new student? Are you from another school? Wow! I've heard about transferstudents!"

Hermione smiled wickedly. "You could say I'm pretty new,... but no, I've been here even a year before you did"

Ginny looked at her, trying to examine her face "You know ... there is something familiar about you,. I just can't remember-" she dropped her jaw "NO WAY!"

Hermione grinned with a feeling of victory and crossed her arms "Yes way!"

Ginny stared at her, still in disbelief "You CAN'T BE!"

"Oh yes I can!" She said with a bit of arrogance in her voice.

"NO! NO NO NO!!!!" Ginny flipped. The girl across her was way too pretty and too outrageous to be Hermione Granger.

Ginny stood up, making fists so her knuckles turned white. She was about to scream again, when Harry came walking towards them. His face was trying to hide the surprising feeling, but he did enter his smile a bit.

"H-hey! How are you doing?" he tried.

Hermione gave him a destroying look "We aren't straight yet, mister Potter, we still have an argument running, I forgot that when we met at the portret, but that was just because it was so damn funny"

Harry tried to find the sarcasm in her answer, but soon discovered there wasn't any. She was serious. Harry swallowed his sadness. He was a bit turned down that Hermione hadn't forget it already. "So... uhm,... I'm sorry" he tried.

Hermione raised an eyebrow "You are? Then say it like you mean it or keep it shut" she answered brisk and stood up, walking passed him and out of the hall.

Ginny and Harry were left confused.

"Wait a second GRANGER!" a voice yelled after her and someone grabbed her arm tightly.

Hermione turned around and stood eye in eye with Draco. "So it IS you ." he said brisk while observing her. "You look a lot better this way" he added more subtle.

Hermione was struck with his nice words towards her. Was he kidding her? "Look, MALFOY, If you want to waste someone's time,..."

He shook his head and let her arm go "No, no I wasn't trying to waste your time,... I was just . how do you say? Curious." he trailed his eyes off.

Hermione grinned "Well, seems you're the first one who hasn't got a look on his face like going to puke"

Draco grinned as well "Yeah, how am I going to insult you if you look this way? Pretty hard"

Hermione felt a warm feeling enter her heart. He was really meaning it! "Uhm,. so, do you know something fun to do? I'm bored as . well, as bored as hell" she tried.

Draco watched her closely, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "You mean FUN? Like in, MY kind of FUN?"

Hermione nodded determind. "Whatever you consider as fun, yeah"

Draco raised his eyebrows for a second and shook his head. "You wouldn't." He turned around and walked away "But I'll see you around, I guess?"

Hermione almost wanted to reply with an insult, but she reconsidered and just gave him a quick "sure" before heading off to the common room.

Ginny quickly ran towards her and began to shout at her "YOU DID IT TO SEDUCE HIM! I KNOW YOU WANT HIM!!!" she screamed, while pointing her wand at the surprised Hermione.

Hermione gave her a glance of boredness and yawned "Look, GIN, I'm quite tired and I want to get some sleep. I suggest you do too, you look a bit,. stressed"

Ginny became furious "OH THE NERVE!"

A view students were looking at them and Ron and Harry came walking in. "What's going on Gin?" Harry asked quickly, while shifting his eyes from Ginny to Hermione, who stood there with her arms crossed and a rather satisfied expression on her face.

Harry gave her a destroying look while opening his mouth, but he was cut off by Ron. "Hermione, we think you've gone way too far. I mean, your appearance is way,. I mean ... Harry, help?" he looked hopefully at Harry.

Harry just gritted his teeth "Hermione, you HAVE to quit your strange act . nobody likes it." He tried calm.

Hermione gave him another glare "Well, I think you've misjudged,. there are a lot of people who like me the way I am now. Just not in Gryiffindor!" she finished a bit louder, while moving towards her room "But I think you won't have to deal with me anymore, I AM LEAVING!!"

Harry closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes "You're WHAT?"

"I'm going to the Sorting Hat! He misplaced me!" she said brisk, while pushing him aside.

Angry Hermione made her way to Dumbledore's office. She was pretty sure about her decision. She was going to be replaced. She stood in front of the statue and tried to figure out the password.

"Uhm ... Lemon Lollipop!" she smiled a bit forced, but the statue didn't move.

At that moment, Snape came walking the same direction. "Miss Granger, I have something important to do, step aside!" he said bored.

Hermione threw him a filthy look "I was here first, Snivellus"

Snape grabbed his wand. "Be CAREFUL with what you say, miss Granger" he pointed his wand at her face and grinned. "I won't attack you now though, but what do you say of detention,.?"

Hermione stuck out her tongue "Deal with it Snivellus! Now tell me the pass-" the statue moved aside and Dumbledore came walking out. His blue eyes rested on Hermione's face.

"Miss Granger, care to join me for tea?" Hermione was a bit surprised he didn't mention her looks, but just invited her for tea. She had though he would be shocked.

Snape pushed her aside "I think we have more important things to do!" but Dumbledore gave him a dark look.

"I'll deal with your problems later, Severus" Dumbledore turned around and walked into his office, followed by Hermione.

"Before you say anything, I must tell you I really am amazed that I don't see you at the library anymore" he poured in tea. "I was wondering if you would like to read my biography" he added.

Hermione looked a bit guilty, while shaking her head "No, I don't really like going to the library anymore,."

Dumbledore frowned, but he didn't ask her why. "Well, tell me the reason why you are here ..."

Hermione swallowed and her eyes trailed off towards the Sorting hat. "I,. I wanted to know,. I think I don't belong in Gryffindor anymore,."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows "You don't? Well . than there's nothing to do but sort you again" he smiled "But I have a little hint that you are still a Gryffindor, don't worry"

Hermione did worry; she didn't want to be a Gryffindor at al anymore. Dumbledore waved with his wand and the Sorting head was placed on top of her head.

#I remember this girl used to be a Gryffindor at heart,

But now I see a little difference than at the start,

Something in this little girl's heart has changed these days,

Now, it's obvious; Slytherin is her place.#

Hermione swallowed. It was true. She had changed. Now she was ... a Slytherin. Dumbledore looked at her, she could see the curiosity in his blue eyes, but she could also see the disappointment on his face.

"Well,. Miss Granger, it seems you've been right. You are a Slytherin. I don't know why, I don't know how,. You'll start from tomorrow in Slytherin." He added.

Hermione nodded and walked out of the office, to meet a bit grumpy Snape outside. "Hello,. 'headmaster' Snape, I'll see you in 'our' common room tomorrow" she laughed.

He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. She was really different than she first was, because she didn't make sense at all.