Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.

Seven

I was late to the Hogwarts Express the beginning of my seventh year at Hogwarts. That was okay with me. I wanted to surprise them both at once, instead of having them see me before I got on the train. Somehow, I thought it would be more dramatic that way.

I was almost too late, though. I pretty much had to throw my bag on the train and jump on while it was moving or I would have missed it. I was completely flustered once I was on, but I was on. I heaved my trunk, with Crookshanks spitting at me, and tried to find the compartment in which Ron and Harry were sitting.

It took awhile to find them, because they were pretty much at the complete opposite end of the train. That, again, was alright – I wanted to build up the suspense. But inside, my heart was fluttering. How would they react when they saw the new me? Would they freak? Would they stare at me like a reject? Was it just my imagination, and I didn't really look all that great after all, and they would welcome me no less or more friendly than before? It was a mixture of angst and excitement, but I was about to find out.

I peeked my head around the corner and saw through the window a patch of flaming red. A bright light flashed in my eyes as the light from Harry's glasses and the light outside reflecting off of them. I knew I was in the right place. I took a deep breath and slid open the door to the compartment.

"Hermio –" Ron began, sounding relieved. But then he stopped and looked me up and down. Harry was doing the same. They exchanged sideways glances before Ron finally spoke. "Hermione?"

"Hey guys," I said, still standing in the doorframe.

"Wow," Harry murmured.

I pretended to be puzzled and said, "What?"

"Hermione . . . you've grown!" Ron exclaimed.

I raised one eyebrow and asked, "Is that a good thing?"

Harry was the first one to break from his trance. He shook his head slightly and said, "Come on, sit down."

I walked over and gingerly sat down next to Ron, whose eyes had followed me the whole way there. He still hadn't stopped staring at me.

"What is with you, Ron?" I asked, waving my hand in front of his face. He reached out to stop me, grabbing my hand. I jumped. This action was completely unexpected. But it was perfectly okay with me.

"Will you stop it? I'm just surprised, alright? You look so . . . different," he said. We had lowered our arms, but he was still holding my hand. I looked down, and he did as well. We looked away from each other and let go.

"Do I really look different?" I asked, waiting for a response. Either of their responses would be alright.

"Yeah, you do. You look . . ." Harry began, but stopped, unable to find the right word.

It came from beside me, but I hadn't expected it at all.

"Beautiful."

I looked over at Ron, my eyes wide. He was just staring at me. It wasn't the same stare as before – that was a stare of awe and mystery. This stare was more infatuation, amazement. I liked it.

It was Harry who broke the silence by saying, "So, how were both of your summers?"

In order to describe my excitement, I pointed to the Head Girl badge pinned to my shirt.

"You're Head Girl?" Ron asked.

"Yes, I can't believe it! The only downside is that I won't be with you guys in the dormitories – the Head Boy and Girl share a dormitory in another part of the castle."

"What?" Harry cried.

"Will you be able to get in the Common Room?" Ron asked anxiously.

"Of course I will," I said. "I'm still a Gryffindor, aren't I? I'm just a Gryffindor who happens to be Head Girl."

"Who's Head Boy?" Harry queried.

"Oh, I don't know yet. I suppose I'll find that out tonight when I go to bed."

"When you what?" Ron asked. My mouth dropped open at his insinuations.

"Oh, come on, Ron, you know what I meant."

We chatted all through the ride to Hogwarts, but I couldn't help but notice that Ron kept looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

Once we arrived there, I stepped out of the train with Ron and Harry. Instantaneously, Seamus walked by, his jaw dropping.

"Hermione?" he asked.

"Hey," I responded with a smile.

All the people who knew me from before stopped to look at me. I felt like a piece of artwork on display. People's eyes widened at the sight of me, guys jaws dropped when I passed by. Even Hagrid said something.

"Hey, Hagrid!" Harry called. The half giant turned to look at us.

"Hello!" he called back, quickly striding over to us, pretty much running over a couple first-years in the process. "How are yeh – Hermione?"

"Hello, Hagrid," I said cheerily.

"Hermione, you look wonderful!" he cried. He was just as surprised as everyone else was.

Smiling, I said, "Thank you, Hagrid." We turned and continued towards the carriages that carried us to the school.

Once we arrived at the school, we joined the huge crowd traveling towards the Great Hall. Since there were so many people in the crowd, it was harder for people to see me, so I didn't get as many compliments. Near the front, I saw Malfoy and his cronies. I smirked to myself. His reaction would be the most hilarious of all.

While we made our way down the aisles to the Gryffindor Table, I made sure to pass by Malfoy. Just as we did, I felt something brush against my leg. I looked down, disgusted to see that he was pawing at my skirt.

"Watch it, you jerk!" I said acidly, turning to look at him.

I would die to watch that again. The look on his face when he saw who he was flirting with was absolutely hysterical.

"Granger?" he shouted.

"Yeah?" I said, smirking.

"What happened to you over the summer?" he asked, his eyes traveling up and down my body. I simply scoffed at him and continued towards the Gryffindor table.

"Did you see his face? Hermione, he was playing with your skirt! He didn't even recognize you!" Ron exclaimed as we sat down.

"Not like it matters. Did you see how sour his face was when he noticed it was me?" I continued.

"Well, yes, but he thought you were some new girl or something. Hermione, you have options!" Harry said, just loud enough for Ron and I to hear.

Dumbledore stepped up to the platform, ready for the beginning-of-the-year announcements.

"Welcome to another eventful year at Hogwarts!" he bellowed, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "As usual, I would like to remind you that the Dark Forest is off-limits to all students . . ."

Dumbledore continued to speak, and after he was done, we had the amazing feast. Throughout the entire time, boys I had known since I was in my first year came up to me and said, "Looking good this year, Hermione!" or "Whoa, Hermione, is that you?" Or sometimes they didn't say anything at all – they just stared at me. Apparently Ron wasn't the only one who noticed my changes.

After dinner, I parted with Harry and Ron and headed over to Professor McGonagall. It had said in the letter I had received that I was to meet up with her after dinner. I anxiously waited to see who my partner would be. I was unpleasantly surprised at who walked over.

"Malfoy?" I shrieked as the boy came up from between the aisles, puffing out his chest to show the shining "Head Boy" Badge pinned to his robes.

"Yes, Miss Granger, you will be sharing a dormitory with Mr. Malfoy. Now, here are the directions to your room. There are two rooms - one for each of you – and a bathroom for each of you as well. You are expected to keep to yourselves at night and patrol the corridors according to the schedule."

I was completely zoning out on what McGonagall was saying. Malfoy? I was going to have to share a living space with Draco Malfoy? What was this world coming to?

On the other hand, however, I realized that this would be the perfect opportunity to put mission Ron Weasley into action.

"You got that, Miss Granger?" McGonagall said, breaking my thoughts.

"Yes, Professor."

"Alright, you two. You have no duties for tonight, but they will start tomorrow. Goodnight."