Note: Compared to some of the previous chapters, this is really quite long and things start to heat up more and more! All characters and settings copyright of JKRowling.
Hermione woke with a thud, knowledge dawning on her in an instant. Her first thought on every birthday was always the same... yesterday, she'd been one year younger, yet she felt exactly the same. Still- now she was seventeen! Jumping to her feet and pulling on a denim skirt with her favourite red sweater, she just glanced at the clock as she hurried down the stairs. It was 9am which was quite late for Hermione, especially as it was her birthday.
As soon as she set foot in the common room, there was instant uproar and every Gryffindor began cheering and letting off party poppers. Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Neville, Colin, Ginny, and of course Ron and Harry jumped on her, smothering her in hugs and screaming "Happy Birthday". Flushing with pleasure, she managed to sit down when everyone had let go (which took a while, as Neville seemed to be having trouble removing his arms).
"Thanks," she grinned gratefully, cheerfully accepting the green party hat Ginny had passed her..
"No problem," laughed Harry. "Happy Birthday, Hermione. But don't expect your presents yet- you're getting them tonight!"
"Tough luck," Ron laughed, seeing Hermione's face visibly fall at the disappointment of having to wait. "But it'll be worth the wait."
"I was hoping to see them now," she said, putting on puppy eyes and shaking them both beseechingly. "Pleeeeease I want my presents!" she whined, but they shook their heads.
"You're getting them at the party," Harry said obstinately, before pulling her into a hug. "All grown up now aren't you? You're of age and everything!"
"I know, where have the years gone?" Ron said in disbelief. "C'mon, let's go down to get some breakfast, I'm starving."
"Wait Hermione!" Dean called from across the room. "Seems like some owls have arrived for you, with presents and cards it looks like."
The childish delight she savoured when opening her presents was one she'd always had since she was a little girl; presents excited her and she thought of presents both giving and receiving very fondly indeed. It took ten minutes as she liked to unwrap them slowly (Ron was practically malnourished by the end of it) but her presents were even more thoughtful and beautiful than usual. The first was a huge card that sang Happy Birthday with a moving picture of herself on the front, signed by all the Gryffindors; next was books from Hagrid, a necklace from Dumbeldore and the staff for "services to the school and being an all round excellent pupil, a stunning new dress and some chocolates from her a parents, a pile of Chocolate Frogs from pretty much everyone and a lovely pale pink chiffon scarf from her two best girl friends, Lavender and Parvati. By this time Hermione was absolutely delirious to find out what Harry and Ron had bought her but they wouldn't budge.
"Hurry up Hermione, I'm so hungry I could eat an elephant!" Ron cried, and Hermione reluctantly left all the cheerful Gryffindors and her presents. They rmade their way down to the Entrance Hall and were just crossing it to enter for breakfast, when they encoutered Professor McGonagall.
"Happy birthday Miss Granger," she said, giving a rare smile that lit up her wrinkled face. "I trust you received the necklace? I realise that some may consider it 'favouritism' but with the amount of extra prefect duties and work you put in, I consider it well deserved."
"Yes thank you Professor," Hermione said breathlessly, blushing deeply and glowing with pride. It was so unusual for McGonagall to praise anyone that it made it all the more special when she did.
After a warm breakfast of porridge and mountains of toast dripping with butter, Harry, Ron and Hermione were just going to walk around the grounds for a while, when she spotted someone hiding behind a bookcase. Glancing around, Hermione saw it was Draco and her heart skipped a beat- he was beckoning her to go over.
"I'm off to the library for a while, see you two later," she told them, without even thinking about it.
"On your birthday?" they both cried in disbelief.
"Well, it's no excuse to stop studying," Hermione said defensively..
"Nutter," Ron said, shaking his head. They both left through the door, and Hermione waited before they were both out of sight before she turned to Draco. He was even paler than usual, and there were still faint pink scratches across his cheek- an all too unneeded reminder of their fateful encounter before.
"What do you want?" she demanded, keeping her voice low and trying to hide her emotions. Her face was as masklike as possible, her expression undetermined.
"Shut up a minute," he said, and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into a spare classroom nearby; his grip was firm, not bullying, though she still tensed at his touch.
"What do you want?" Hermione repeated. "Want to beat me up again?"
"I didn't beat you up," Draco said coolly. "And you've healed up all right." He eyed her up and down, making Hermione's cheeks flush again and again. Why did he have to do that?
"Only because of Madam Pomfrey," she said angrily. "I had to lie! Anyway, my wrists still hurt a little." She held them out, where a faint blue circle twisted the full way around each wrist, though they were dramatically smoothed compared to before.
"Well don't think we're fighting again Granger, because you know next time I won't stop at pushing you to the ground. Anyway, that's not what I want."
Hermione rolled her eyes. She supposed that would be the best apology she'd ever hope to gett- not that she would ever accept it. "Is it about my party?"
"How did you guess?" Malfoy said sarcastically. "I was thinking of turning up anyway. What do you say?" She hated the tone of his voice, but she had a grudging respect- at least he was actually asking before turning up. Most Slytherins wouldn't even bother. Still, she kept her gaze averted and her voice devoid of any feeling.
"Everybody's allowed to go Malfoy," she said softly. "I'm not going to stop you, no matter how much I'd like to."
"Oh. Well that's all right then." He was brisk, and opened the door. "Hurry up, we don't want teachers seeing." She left through the door and turned to see him making his way down the corridor, his shoulders swinging in that masculine way that made Hermione's stomach twist in a not altogether unpleasant sensation. .
"See you later," she said.
"Bye… Hermione." And as he walked away, she realised for the first time in her life he hadn't called her Granger.
It was 8:45pm and fifteen minutes before the party was going to start. Hermione, Lavender and Parvati were getting ready in their dormitory, adding the finishing touches to their make-up and hair- both of the other girls particularly fussing around Hermione.
"This is your birthday, you want to look special," Parvati said, Hermione yelling in pain as Lavender tugged at her hair.
"Almost done," Lavender confirmed, adding a dash of more lipstick. Parvati finished with draping the new necklace from the staff around Hermione's neck. As they hurried around her, Hermione looked at what they were wearing. Lavender looked remarkably pretty in a lemon halterneck dress with a frilled hem that revealed a lot of shapely leg, whilst Parvati was wearing a pale pink strapless top and denim miniskirt. Both of them looked pretty with roses of appropriate colours matching their clothes stuck in their elaborate hair.
"Now you can look in the mirror," Parvati confirmed, and led Hermione to the full-length mirror next to the bed. Hermione could only stare in wonder- her reflection was unrecognisable.
The hair that had always caused Hermione so much aggravation had been curled into ringlets that hung in chocolate brown tendrils down her back, and her eyes had been outlined, her lips defined with shocking scarlet lipstick. The face descended into a smooth swan neck, slender shoulders and a surprisingly voluptous figure for a girl her age; swelling breasts, a petite waist and curvaceous hips above long, slim legs. Though Lavender and Parvati had developed, they still retained thinness, whereas Hermione, though not fat, had a fully mature figure. The red dress her parents had sent her that morning fitted like a glove; it clung to her cleavage, ruched at the waist and finished at her creamy thighs. The earrings Ginny had lent her and the necklace Dumbledore had sent her also enhanced her features and gave Hermione a truly angelic glow, though she was anything but. Hermione was no longer an angel, or a girl, or a "child"... she was a woman.
"You look absolutely amazing!" Lavender sighed, and led her dazed friend to the Common Room. It was empty- everyone was waiting downstairs for her in the Great Hall, and it was Lavender and Parvati's job to lead her down. Hermione felt very nervous; she had been waiting for this for ages and didn't want to make a fool of herself. They reached the corridor, which was completely empty, and the sound of their variously coloured stilettos echoed reverberated off the walls.
"Everyone must already be in there," Parvati whispered and squeezed Hermione's hand nervously. All three of them pushed the doors and entered the Great Hall.
Screams and cheers erupted from all around them and Hermione was dimly aware that everyone was applauding and whistling. As she looked around she realised the whole place had been decorated in festoons of balloons and draperies, and people from all Houses were laughing and clapping merrily.The Hall had been transformed so long tabled enveloped one side covered in food, enchanted balloons and other party delights danced around the ceiling and the whole room had been made into a dancefloor. She even spotted a karaoke machine, DJ box and muggle dance mat but before she could say anything, Harry and a sullen Ron grabbed her. They were both wearing smart clothing (poor Ron's looked slightly frayed and chewed up, but he still managed to look dashingly handsome) and it seemed Harry had even managed to tame his hair.
"Hi Hermione," Harry beamed. "You want your present?"
"Well- yes- but-" Hermione said wildly, glancing around her. Harry and Ron were in line with Neville and seemed to be disguising something behind their backs.
"Okay- I know you'll love this!" Harry said happily. "It took me ages, honestly, the travelling was the worst thing, you know how expensive it is nowadays-" Harry stepped aside, as did Ron and Neville. Hermione gasped as she came face to face with Harry's present.
"'`Ello, Herm-own-ninny," said a familiar voice. It was Viktor Krum.
Was that a cliffhanger? Lol I am evil aren't I? Nah, there's always the next chapter which you can read! Oh, and please review, I'd really appreciate it.
