Yeah, I know the last chapter was weird, but, remember I was suffering from writers block so whatever. Oh, and that whole author note about Sirius, I meant I was pointing out that everyone thought Sirius was guilty and people witnessed it, so the witnesses were like evidence but they were mistaken. So that's like false evidence you know. Well, I know its confusing, but this chapter won't suck because I had my wonderful editor edit it! Thankies Sam! Now enjoy a well edited chapter!

Disclaimer: No sue, no sweat!

Hermione smiled to herself smugly. Harry and Ron didn't realize who she was yet. Not only that

she was starting to twist their minds about how the Hermione they knew was so much more then

just a bookworm. Or, so she hoped. But she wanted other people to see herself differently and

she knew that if she didn't make a good impression, they wouldn't. It was still too early for her

to reveal herself. However, she knew that soon Harry, Ron and perhaps even Luna's curiosity

would make them press her for questions.

"Excuse me. I have to...use the restroom." Hermione started to get up, but then she

remembered: there were no stairs. Hermione had quite a fear of heights. She swallowed hard,

but didn't move. Harry and Luna looked at her questioningly, but Ron just grinned mockingly.

"Need a hand?" he asked, still grinning broadly. Hermione turned bright red, but she nodded.

"Don't feel bad, one of my friends, Hermione, is afraid of heights, too. " Ron got up, and she

grabbed his hand, and the magical wind started their descent.

I wonder how he knew I had a fear of heights. Was it that obvious?

Hermione clutched onto his arm for dear life.

"I take it you don't play Quidditch?" he said still wearing his grin.

Hermione turned an even brighter shade of red, but smiled.

"Why do you ask?" she questioned, eyeing the ground that still seemed miles away.

"Because its obvious you have a tremendous fear of heights." Ron said. He stopped smiling but

started laughing.

"What gives you that idea?" Hermione said with a wavering smile as they reached the ground.

"Just a guess." he said, after he had stopped laughing. "You know where the bathroom is, right."

he said. For a moment Hermione could have sworn he smiled slyly. "Ye—no." she said

suddenly.

He's starting to figure out that I may go to Hogwarts.I have to keep him on his toes.

"No?" he asked surprised. "Well—"

"I'll show you." Ginny said, coming toward Ron and Hermione. "Hi, Ron!" she said smiling at

her big brother.

"Ginny?" Ron asked, looking at her closely, not sure if she was indeed his little sister.

"No, the Bloody Baron. Yes, Ginny, you twit!"

"Your dress." Ron said, indicating Ginny's beautiful dress, "It's too low."

"Oh, grow up. By the way, who is this gorgeous girl you have here tonight." Ginny gave

Hermione a wink.

"This is...well, actually, I'm not sure myself. I'm trying to figure that out." Ron said, casting a

hopeful look at Hermione as though she would tell him who she was now.

"I see. Oh, well. I'll see you later." and with that Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand as they

headed to the castle.

"Wow, Hermione you are doing a fantastic job! No one knows who you are! Most people are

guessing you're in Beauxbatons.Who knew you were that good an actress? I watched you diss

Malfoy and Parvati. The look on their faces was priceless! I knew you had it in you!You know,

you could reveal who you are now, and I bet no one will ever call you a bushy-haired-know-it-

all ever again! The impression you're making is just fantastic!" Ginny squealed, beaming at

Hermione.

"But Ginny, I hate to admit it, but I think that's just because I look nice and everything."

"Congratulations. You have won the award for biggest understatement of the century."

Hermione smiled.

"But, I mean I'd rather I make an impression that had nothing to do with the way I look. I'm

starting to think that, that might not be possible. So I'm not going to take off my mask quite yet."

They came to the entrance hall and turned a corridor heading for the girls bathroom.

"Well, there is one way you could make an impression like that. Yes, I just think that would

work!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly.

Hermione looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, perplexed.

Ginny gave her a sly look that could mean no good for Hermione.

"Oh, no. I don't like the way that you're staring at me. What do you have planned Ginny

Weasley?" Hermione demanded.

"Well..." she said in a slow, but very sinister voice, "I suggest that you talk to people. You

know, give them an impression of you, not your looks. Let them get to know you. Most people

are more keen on you, so it won't be so difficult." she said, giving another sly smile to Hermione.

"Well, that's a wonderful idea with just one minor flaw, how do I get to talk to people? I'm not

just going to go up to random people and start talking !"

"Oh, no. You won't have to go to them. They'll come to you." Ginny said as they entered the

girl's bathroom.

"Let me fix your mask." Ginny took it off and Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. She

received an unwelcome surprise. With the mask, she was unrecognizable. Without it, it was

possible, very possible, to tell who she was despite all the makeup she had on. Hermione

realized how much of an asset the mask was, and for the first time was grateful that Christmas

Ball was a masquerade. However, before Ginny put her mask on, she couldn't help noticing

how pretty she looked.

"But, Ginny," Hermione said, after her mask was put on "Why will people come to me?"

"Because," Ginny said as she was brushing a few of the stray locks that fell from her hairdo,

"you are going to dance with them."

"But Gin, I don't think—what did you say?"

"You'll dance with some of the people and then while you're dancing you can talk to them. I

dare say that means you'll be talking to a lot of people."

"Ginny! Are you crazy!" Hermione hissed. Hermione may have had her girly side, but dancing

wasn't part of it.

"I can't dance!" she exclaimed, "I don't know how!"

"Oh, calm down Hermione. You know how to dance, and don't deny it. You danced quite well

with Viktor Krum at the Yule Ball. In fact, I didn't know you could dance so well." Ginny

added, with a musing look on her face.

"I... well... Alright, my parents made me take ballroom dancing when we were in France. But that's beside the point!" she stopped upon seeing Ginny laughing.

"Ginny! It's not funny! I mean I can't dance with a bunch of guys!" "Oh, why not?" "Because!"

Hermione cringed at her lack of defense, and Ginny jumped on it. "

Not a good enough answer! Don't worry, you wont need to dance with twenty guys. Just like

seven or eight. That should make a good enough impression. Just talk to them and be yourself.

That should be the greatest impression ever." Ginny said, smiling a genuine smile. It took

Hermione a moment to realize that Ginny had just complimented her.

" But, how do I talk to them when I'm dancing? I mean its physically impossible!"

Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, well I suppose its possible I guess. It'll be kind of odd though."

"But you'll do it. Right?" Ginny asked.

Well...I mean...oh, fine." Hermione sighed.

"But will they just start coming up to me once the dancing begins or--"

"No. See, first you need to dance with one guy. Sooner or later they'll come up to you. So just

dance with a certain guy when the dancing starts."

"Oh... alright. Who should I first dance with?" Hermione asked stupidly.

"Well your date of course." Ginny said, the corner of her mouthing twitching erver-so-slightly.

"Ron? I'm supposed to dance with your brother?"

"Well he is your date isn't he?"

"Well then, go and dance with him. Why are you so nervous?" Ginny was positively grinning

from ear to ear now.

"I'm not nervous!" Hermione said defensively. "Its just kind of hard to believe that in a few

minutes I'll be dancing with one of my best friends, who just happens to be my date."

"Right. That's it." Ginny said in a skeptic voice. "Oh well, I'm ready lets go."

"Ok. No wait hold on let me just spray some perfume on. I don't want to start smelling like a

rotten cabbage in the middle of a dance." Hermione opened the little glass vial, that was on a

long, thin chain that she wore around her neck, and poured a little bit of the perfume that was

inside and gently patted it on her neck.

"Alright, let's go." Hermione said when she was finished.

"Nice necklace. Is that the perfume your wearing?" Ginny asked.

"Yes. Why, does it smell bad?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"No. It just has a really unusual smell. Like roses and lemonade. A little strong, but don't worry

it won't be quite so strong once we get outside." Ginny said in a reassuring voice.

The two girls went outside to the Quidditch Pitch.

"Well, I have to go find Dean. Good luck." And with those parting words, Ginny left Hermione.

Hermione looked around and saw her table. Sadly she saw that it floating up high. She took a

great big gulp, bracing herself.

"I take it you would like me to help you?" She turned around and saw Ron wearing a smug grin.

"Oh shut it, you. But yes, you're right. I hope you don't mind." Hermione said, blushing

furiously.

"It would be my pleasure." Ron said in a fake charming voice, which caused her to laugh. She

took his arm and the magical wind lifted them up. When they arrived she let go and gratefully

took her seat.

"Thanks." Hermione muttered.

"No problem."

"Oh look the dancing's about to start! There are the Weird Sisters." Luna said excitedly, but still

in her dreamy voice.

"Oh, wonderful." Harry muttered.

Hermione turned and saw that Ron didn't look so excited either.

Well tough luck, Ron Weasley.

A lot of the people began to stand and float down to the dance floor once the music started.

Hermione took a huge gulp.

"Would you like to dance?" she asked Ron.

"I—what?" he said not sure he heard her properly. "

Would you like to dance. Its not that bad, you know."

Yeah, right.

"I... um... sure." He said, more out of shock than anything else. Ron took her hand, and they

floated down.