Chapter 13: Getting ready
"So, you are the one who has been sending me all this nice stuff?" Luna asked, still not
believing what she was seeing.
Hermione just smiled.
"I......I don't know what to say." Luna whispered.
Hermione shrugged.
"Don't worry about it." Hermione said, and before Luna could say anything, "Now, I need
to know the password to your dormitory. I already know where it is."
Luna immdiately grew suspicious.
"What for?" she said suspicously.
Hermione's attitude did not change.
"Because," she answered, "If you want to go to the ball tonight, then I will need it."
"How do I know this isn't a trick?"
That did the trick. Hermione's eyes narrowed into tiny slits.
"Ok," she said angrily, "I know you want to go to the ball, but since it sounds like you
don't, I better get going. As Head Girl, I need a lot of time to get ready. Bye Luna!"
Hermione turned and started walking away.
"Wait!" Luna called.
Hermione stopped.
Luna felt her face go hot.
"I.....uh........I'm sorry." she said quietly. "I didn't mean to make you mad. I was just
wondering. I bet you can tell why I was suspicious. It's just that..........everyone likes to
play jokes on me. I don't know what to believe anymore."
Hermione turned around. Her face was still angry, but Luna noticed a glint of sympathy in
her eyes.
"I have defended you, sent you nice things, and you still suspect me of being a idiot like
Cho?" she snapped. Hermione frowned, then smiled. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said
that. Your life has been crap, and if I could just have your password, I swear by your
Hinklydinklies or whatever they are, that I will never tell a soul, and I will make your life a
little better tonight."
Luna frowned. "They are Hinkledinks not Hinklydinklies."
"Yeah them."
Luna thought for a moment and finally gave in.
"The Christmas Password," she said slowly, "is Sappy Mint."
Hermione beamed at her.
"Thanks so much!" she cried, as she pulled a small hourglass thing out of her robes.
"What is that?" Luna asked.
"It's a Time Turner. I used one when I was a third year and I have been saving up for
years so I could get my own." Hermione smiled at her treasure. "It will help us later on
tonight. But you must meet me at quarter to midnight in front of your portrait hole.
Understand?"
"One problem," Luna said, "Cho will be putting a Blocking Charm so I won't be able to
leave the Ravenclaw Tower."
Hermione thought about this.
"Ok, since it won't be blocking me, I will meet you in your dormitory at quarter to
midnight. Ok?"
Luna was confused, but said "Yes" anyway.
"Good!" Hermione cried. "See ya then!"
Luna watched, dazed, as Hermione skipped out of the Owlery.
========================================
Luna could hardly conceal her excitement as she helped Cho. Exactly how was Hermione going to help her go to the Ball anyway? Luna wasn't sure,
but she knew that being the smartest kid in school, Hermione would find a way with her
Time Turnie or whatever it was called.
"Hurry up!" Cho was somewhat different this evening. For one thing, Luna noticed that
her voice carried an urgent tone hidden between the normal snappy voice.
Luna hurried as she pulled Cho's silky, black hair into a French bun.
"Ouch!" Cho screeched. "Do be careful, slut!"
Luna pretended she didn't hear Cho's insult and continued styling her tresses.
Finally, Cho was done, and after Luna had placed her slippers on Cho's feet (Luna had to
hold her nose while doing this, for Cho's feet did NOT smell delightful), Cho said rather
stiffly, "Now you know what to do. I want my whole dormitory in perfect condition when
I return. No excuses. Good bye, and do enjoy your......little party."
Luna glared as Cho and her friends heartily laughed as they walked off.
"Hermione said I had to meet her in my dormitory at quarter to midnight." thought Luna
as she began the tasks Cho had verbally set out for her. "I wonder why."
Luna rushed through her chores and by 11:30, was finished and was waiting for Hermione.
Luna laid her head down on her pillow. Oh how she wished she could have gone to the
Ball!
===========================
"Luna, wake up!"
Luna raised her head.
"You fell asleep." Hermione groaned.
"Sorry," came Luna's sleepy reply.
"No time to talk Accio clothes!"
Luna gasped as she felt her clothes part from her body.
"Hermione!" Luna tried to hide under her bed covers.
"Sorry," said Hermione, "but how else are you going to take a bath? Washimindo!"
Luna felt something pleasant sooth upon her body. She looked down and saw that she
was placed in a bath of warm bubbles.
"They will clean you, no matter how scummy you are." Hermione said proudly.
Using Luna's shampoo and conditioner, Hermione washed, rinsed, and dried Luna's hair.
Luna truly had never felt such smooth, shiny, hair before, including Cho's.
In a matter of minutes, Hermione had combs tailoring her hair, brushes polishing her face
with makeup, and towels drying her body.
"I...I" Luna tried to say but Hermione shushed her.
"Work will go faster will less talk." she said.
"But Hermione, I don't have good shoes or a dress!" Luna cried, as her clothes returned
to her body.
Hermione smiled at her.
"I figured you didn't." she said. "Dressina!"
Luna looked down and cried at her garments.
What were once hideous, patched up, soiled jeans and T-shirt, was now a creamy, gentle,
sky blue, strapless ball gown. Pink and plum colored ribbons ran down the dress, landing
at the bottom, where Luna's peeling tennis shoes were now cozy, sapphire tinted, velvet
slippers. The jewelry Luna had gotten for Christmas, somehow found their way on her
neck and arm.
"Oh you look so good in blue!" Hermione gasped. "Crownalino!"
Luna felt her hair fly up and tighten. Luna looked into the neighboring mirror to see that
her new hair had been elevated and turned into a high ponytail. Corkscrews bobbed on
her back as they were curled into her hair.
Hermione glanced at her watch.
"11:55" she said. "Right on time."
Luna was amazed. "We did all that work in such a little amount of time."
Hermione nodded.
Luna giggled before flinging her arms around Hermione's neck.
"Thank you so much!" she whispered.
Hermione beamed at her.
"Everyone deserves a little freedom." she said.
"Even house elves?" Luna teased, remembering Hermione's club, S.P.E.W, that was
supposed to save house elves from their work.
Hermione looked away. "If Professor Mcgonagall hadn't threatened to suspend me for
my work against the school servants, I would still be doing it today."
"Now listen," Hermione ordered a giggling Luna.
"I will be giving you my Time Turner," she said in a commanding sort of way, "You are to
turn it three times to the left. That should take you to seven 'o' clock. I will meet you
there. MAKE SURE YOU GET BACK HERE AT MIDNIGHT OR YOUR DRESS
AND SHOES WILL TURN BACK INTO YOUR REGULAR CLOTHES. I have
already disarmed the Blocking Charm, so you can get out of here, which I highly advise
you to. Any questions?"
Luna had the sudden urge to tell Hermione that she sounded a lot like Professor
Mcgonagall, but decided not to.
"No, I think that is it." Luna said softly.
"Good." Hermione pulled off her Time Turner and placed it over Luna's head, noticing
something else while doing it.
"Luna," she asked, "Where did you get that ring?"
Luna glanced at the gray ring on her right index finger.
"It was my mother's." she said sadly, "She gave it to me the day she died. She told me to
take care of it. That emerald in the middle of it? It was the stone from her engagement
ring."
"Oh." Hermione looked at Luna with sincere compassion filling her eyes and heart. "I'm
sorry, I.......I never knew."
"Well now you do."
They were silent as their feet lead them outside the portrait hole.
"You better go," Hermione advised her, "It's one minute to minute. The ball starts at 8,
the feast starts at 7. If you Time Turn now, you should get there a few minutes before 7.
Good Luck."
"Thank you!" Luna cried happily.
"Oh and wear this mask. It should disguise you from Cho." Hermione handed her a mask
that fairly resembled her dress.
As Luna slipped the mask over her head, running footsteps could be heard.
"Go!!!" Hermione hissed.
"Ok! Good bye!" Luna turned the Time Turner three times to the left and shut her eyes
for the ride of her life.
Whoa!!!! That was long!!!! But I think it was worth it!!! Hope you enjoyed it!!!
"So, you are the one who has been sending me all this nice stuff?" Luna asked, still not
believing what she was seeing.
Hermione just smiled.
"I......I don't know what to say." Luna whispered.
Hermione shrugged.
"Don't worry about it." Hermione said, and before Luna could say anything, "Now, I need
to know the password to your dormitory. I already know where it is."
Luna immdiately grew suspicious.
"What for?" she said suspicously.
Hermione's attitude did not change.
"Because," she answered, "If you want to go to the ball tonight, then I will need it."
"How do I know this isn't a trick?"
That did the trick. Hermione's eyes narrowed into tiny slits.
"Ok," she said angrily, "I know you want to go to the ball, but since it sounds like you
don't, I better get going. As Head Girl, I need a lot of time to get ready. Bye Luna!"
Hermione turned and started walking away.
"Wait!" Luna called.
Hermione stopped.
Luna felt her face go hot.
"I.....uh........I'm sorry." she said quietly. "I didn't mean to make you mad. I was just
wondering. I bet you can tell why I was suspicious. It's just that..........everyone likes to
play jokes on me. I don't know what to believe anymore."
Hermione turned around. Her face was still angry, but Luna noticed a glint of sympathy in
her eyes.
"I have defended you, sent you nice things, and you still suspect me of being a idiot like
Cho?" she snapped. Hermione frowned, then smiled. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said
that. Your life has been crap, and if I could just have your password, I swear by your
Hinklydinklies or whatever they are, that I will never tell a soul, and I will make your life a
little better tonight."
Luna frowned. "They are Hinkledinks not Hinklydinklies."
"Yeah them."
Luna thought for a moment and finally gave in.
"The Christmas Password," she said slowly, "is Sappy Mint."
Hermione beamed at her.
"Thanks so much!" she cried, as she pulled a small hourglass thing out of her robes.
"What is that?" Luna asked.
"It's a Time Turner. I used one when I was a third year and I have been saving up for
years so I could get my own." Hermione smiled at her treasure. "It will help us later on
tonight. But you must meet me at quarter to midnight in front of your portrait hole.
Understand?"
"One problem," Luna said, "Cho will be putting a Blocking Charm so I won't be able to
leave the Ravenclaw Tower."
Hermione thought about this.
"Ok, since it won't be blocking me, I will meet you in your dormitory at quarter to
midnight. Ok?"
Luna was confused, but said "Yes" anyway.
"Good!" Hermione cried. "See ya then!"
Luna watched, dazed, as Hermione skipped out of the Owlery.
========================================
Luna could hardly conceal her excitement as she helped Cho. Exactly how was Hermione going to help her go to the Ball anyway? Luna wasn't sure,
but she knew that being the smartest kid in school, Hermione would find a way with her
Time Turnie or whatever it was called.
"Hurry up!" Cho was somewhat different this evening. For one thing, Luna noticed that
her voice carried an urgent tone hidden between the normal snappy voice.
Luna hurried as she pulled Cho's silky, black hair into a French bun.
"Ouch!" Cho screeched. "Do be careful, slut!"
Luna pretended she didn't hear Cho's insult and continued styling her tresses.
Finally, Cho was done, and after Luna had placed her slippers on Cho's feet (Luna had to
hold her nose while doing this, for Cho's feet did NOT smell delightful), Cho said rather
stiffly, "Now you know what to do. I want my whole dormitory in perfect condition when
I return. No excuses. Good bye, and do enjoy your......little party."
Luna glared as Cho and her friends heartily laughed as they walked off.
"Hermione said I had to meet her in my dormitory at quarter to midnight." thought Luna
as she began the tasks Cho had verbally set out for her. "I wonder why."
Luna rushed through her chores and by 11:30, was finished and was waiting for Hermione.
Luna laid her head down on her pillow. Oh how she wished she could have gone to the
Ball!
===========================
"Luna, wake up!"
Luna raised her head.
"You fell asleep." Hermione groaned.
"Sorry," came Luna's sleepy reply.
"No time to talk Accio clothes!"
Luna gasped as she felt her clothes part from her body.
"Hermione!" Luna tried to hide under her bed covers.
"Sorry," said Hermione, "but how else are you going to take a bath? Washimindo!"
Luna felt something pleasant sooth upon her body. She looked down and saw that she
was placed in a bath of warm bubbles.
"They will clean you, no matter how scummy you are." Hermione said proudly.
Using Luna's shampoo and conditioner, Hermione washed, rinsed, and dried Luna's hair.
Luna truly had never felt such smooth, shiny, hair before, including Cho's.
In a matter of minutes, Hermione had combs tailoring her hair, brushes polishing her face
with makeup, and towels drying her body.
"I...I" Luna tried to say but Hermione shushed her.
"Work will go faster will less talk." she said.
"But Hermione, I don't have good shoes or a dress!" Luna cried, as her clothes returned
to her body.
Hermione smiled at her.
"I figured you didn't." she said. "Dressina!"
Luna looked down and cried at her garments.
What were once hideous, patched up, soiled jeans and T-shirt, was now a creamy, gentle,
sky blue, strapless ball gown. Pink and plum colored ribbons ran down the dress, landing
at the bottom, where Luna's peeling tennis shoes were now cozy, sapphire tinted, velvet
slippers. The jewelry Luna had gotten for Christmas, somehow found their way on her
neck and arm.
"Oh you look so good in blue!" Hermione gasped. "Crownalino!"
Luna felt her hair fly up and tighten. Luna looked into the neighboring mirror to see that
her new hair had been elevated and turned into a high ponytail. Corkscrews bobbed on
her back as they were curled into her hair.
Hermione glanced at her watch.
"11:55" she said. "Right on time."
Luna was amazed. "We did all that work in such a little amount of time."
Hermione nodded.
Luna giggled before flinging her arms around Hermione's neck.
"Thank you so much!" she whispered.
Hermione beamed at her.
"Everyone deserves a little freedom." she said.
"Even house elves?" Luna teased, remembering Hermione's club, S.P.E.W, that was
supposed to save house elves from their work.
Hermione looked away. "If Professor Mcgonagall hadn't threatened to suspend me for
my work against the school servants, I would still be doing it today."
"Now listen," Hermione ordered a giggling Luna.
"I will be giving you my Time Turner," she said in a commanding sort of way, "You are to
turn it three times to the left. That should take you to seven 'o' clock. I will meet you
there. MAKE SURE YOU GET BACK HERE AT MIDNIGHT OR YOUR DRESS
AND SHOES WILL TURN BACK INTO YOUR REGULAR CLOTHES. I have
already disarmed the Blocking Charm, so you can get out of here, which I highly advise
you to. Any questions?"
Luna had the sudden urge to tell Hermione that she sounded a lot like Professor
Mcgonagall, but decided not to.
"No, I think that is it." Luna said softly.
"Good." Hermione pulled off her Time Turner and placed it over Luna's head, noticing
something else while doing it.
"Luna," she asked, "Where did you get that ring?"
Luna glanced at the gray ring on her right index finger.
"It was my mother's." she said sadly, "She gave it to me the day she died. She told me to
take care of it. That emerald in the middle of it? It was the stone from her engagement
ring."
"Oh." Hermione looked at Luna with sincere compassion filling her eyes and heart. "I'm
sorry, I.......I never knew."
"Well now you do."
They were silent as their feet lead them outside the portrait hole.
"You better go," Hermione advised her, "It's one minute to minute. The ball starts at 8,
the feast starts at 7. If you Time Turn now, you should get there a few minutes before 7.
Good Luck."
"Thank you!" Luna cried happily.
"Oh and wear this mask. It should disguise you from Cho." Hermione handed her a mask
that fairly resembled her dress.
As Luna slipped the mask over her head, running footsteps could be heard.
"Go!!!" Hermione hissed.
"Ok! Good bye!" Luna turned the Time Turner three times to the left and shut her eyes
for the ride of her life.
Whoa!!!! That was long!!!! But I think it was worth it!!! Hope you enjoyed it!!!