Disclaimer: JK Rowling still owns everything. I own Lori Kendrick though, which I mentioned in Chapter 1.

A/N: Sorry about the lame title. I'm totally not creative when it comes to making those up. Reviews would be lovely, too. :)

Chapter Two: Hair of a Different Color

"Ginny! Oh, I've missed you!" Lori cried as she bounded towards her vibrantly red-haired friend.

Ginny looked at her friend in surprise. "Lori! Where were you on the train?"

"Stupid train. I missed it…lateness is my trademark, after all." Lori winked.

Lori Kendrick and Ginny had been friends ever since they had served detention together after accidentally melting their cauldrons and the shoes of many people in Potions. Lori was sixth year in Gryffindor, which meant the two spent a lot of time together.

Lori had shimmering dark brown hair and deep chocolate eyes. Her skin was porcelain-like, though dotted with the occasional freckle across her nose. She did not have full lips – no, they were rather thin, and had the likeness of Professor McGonagall when she was angry – but Ginny thought she was lovely all the same.

"What on earth did you do to your hair?" Ginny gasped, touching Lori's locks with shock.

Lori's hair used to be long – very long. It used to cascade down her back in shiny brown rivers. Over the summer, apparently, Lori had chopped off the mass of hair.

"I got bored," Lori replied simply.

Ginny laughed as she and her friend took seats at the Gryffindor table for the feast. Ron and his friends were already seated next to them.

"Oh, Lori, I love your hair!" Lavender Brown said, leaning over a few people to look at Lori.

"Thanks," Lori replied, flashing a warm smile. She was pleased with herself and accepted to compliment graciously.

Dumbledore silenced the Great Hall a few minutes later, after the Sorting and proceeded to entertain them with announcements. Of course, the last announcement was grim and had to be said.

"You all know that Voldemort," he said, noticing that many people shivered at the sound of the name, "has been rising in power for three years. It is still unclear whether or not he is at the height of his power, but I can assure you that you are safe here. It is my duty to protect all my students, and I will uphold that duty." He looked around at the pupils. "So, enough said. Let the feast begin."

With many solemn faces, the babble broke out again.

"So you think he is, then?" Ron asked, shoveling food into his mouth.

"Is what?" Harry replied, though he knew what Ron was talking about.

"Do you think that," he dropped his voice, "You-Know-Who is at the height of his powers again?"

"Oh, Ron, you can call him by his name now. Voldemort," Hermione snapped impatiently. After Harry's last run-in with him, they had all tried to use his name to lessen the fear.

Ron shuddered. "I'm sorry. Years of upbringing tells me not to. A lot of people don't like it, you know."

"They have to get used to it. Dumbledore said, 'Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself,' or something along those lines. It's just his name, anyway," Harry remarked.

"I know, but you don't understand. You both weren't brought up to fear him." He paused, gulping his pumpkin juice. "Ginny knows," he added.

Ginny looked up. "Yea…" she said. Why did he bring her into the conversation? She turned back to Lori, shrugging.

"Gin, did your list tell you to bring dress robes?" Lori asked suddenly.

"Yea, I thought that was strange. The last time we needed dress robes was back in third year, remember? Well anyway, what did you get?" Ginny asked excitedly. It was the first time she could actually afford pretty dress robes – her father was given an unexpected raise at work and her mother treated her to nice dress robes. She was ecstatic when she got them.

"Ooh, they're so pretty. I'll show you when we get back to our dormitories. What about you?" she replied while chewing.

"Chew with your mouth closed!" Ginny said, laughing. "And you'll have to see when we need them. I'm keeping them a surprise," she added mischievously.

"You're evil."

"I know."

Silence crept upon them as they hungrily ate their food. After all, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny hadn't had a chance to eat because of the fiasco earlier on the train.

Lori was just about to say something to Ginny, when she shrieked and pointed at her.

"Ginny!"

"What?" she asked, bewildered. "What's the matter?" She looked around frantically.

Everyone at the Gryffindor table turned to look at her – some burst out laughing, others' eyes widened as they saw her. She was completely baffled. Why were people staring at her?

"Your hair!" Hermione gasped. "Oh my, Ginny, your hair…"

"What?" Ginny asked, taking a lock of her hair and looking at it. What she saw was definitely not normal. Her normally blazing red hair was now bright neon green. She instantly screamed, attracting the attention of everyone in the Great Hall. Nearly everybody burst out laughing, some pointing. "Who did this?" she screeched.

Lori stood and tried to drag Ginny out of her chair. "Gin, let's go to the infirmary. Come on, get up."

She stood, though hysterical. Lori took her straight to the infirmary where Madam Pomfrey was. Ginny quieted down when Madam Pomfrey said her hair could be easily fixed. In an instant her hair was back to its natural shade of red.

When Lori and Ginny returned to the common room, the entire House stared at Ginny.

"I wonder who did it," Seamus asked as Lori and Ginny sat down by the fireplace.

"I don't know, but I'll find out," Lori said menacingly. "No one messes with my friends."

Ginny already knew who did it. She wasn't going to say anything, but she knew. Draco Malfoy. She had gotten him back on the train; surely he was going to try and restore his pride. It was childish prank, but it was still mean. She had been humiliated for the second time in one day, and this was in front of the entire school. She'd be tormented for having green hair for awhile.

"Don't worry about it. I don't care," Ginny said quietly.

Lori sighed. "Ginny – come on, someone changed your hair green. With magic. That's got to be against rules."

Ginny stared at her and said seriously, "Don't, Lori. I mean it."

Lori sighed. "Fine, I'll leave it up to you."

Seamus turned to the two girls. "It was probably one of the Slytherins. Green is their color, after all."

"Yea," Ginny said, chuckling. "At least it isn't that horrid shade anymore. I think I like it better red, don't you think?"

"Yes, definitely red," Seamus replied.

"We'd better get to bed, Gin. We've got an early Transfiguration class, and you know McGonagall." Lori pointed at her watch.

Ginny yawned. "I'm tired anyway. All right, see you all in the morning."

"'Night, Gin. Lori," Seamus said, winking.

As they walked up to their dormitory, Ginny caught Lori throwing her odd glances. Ginny disregarded it right until Lori pounced on her bed as Ginny was preparing to sleep.

"What?" Ginny exclaimed, startled.

"Seamus."

Ginny stared. "Yea…?"

"He likes you."

Ginny just laughed. "Okay, sure."

"He does, though. You can't deny that," Lori said. Ginny caught a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"No, he doesn't. We're friends, that's all," Ginny argued. Lori "secretly" liked Seamus, though Ginny knew from the glimpses Lori threw at him daily.

"Uh-hmm." Lori jumped off the bed and went to her own. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Ginny rolled over and let the nightmares begin.