Chapter two: The perfect dress

'Oh hell Ginny I don't know what to wear!! This is awful, maybe I just shouldn't go!'

Hermione whined desperately and plopped herself down on her bed. Ginny laughed and looked down at her best friend.

'Hermione Granger quit being a drama queen and look up at me. Trust me it's not awful at all! How can you not find "the perfect dress" when you've got twenty dresses hanging in your closet just waiting to be worn?'

Hermione looked over to her closet and blushed very lightly. True, she had just about twenty dresses hanging there, but none of them seemed fit to be worn on a date with Wes.

'I know Gin but I want to wear the perfect one for him. I haven't been on a date since Ron di- left."

She still refused to pronounce the word. She frowned and looked back down, then heard Ginny sigh and sit down next to her.

'Listen, I know it's hard moving on, but you have to. Ron would want you to. Tell you what; why don't you wear the dress that you prefer. Don't even think about what Wes is gonna think. If you feel beautiful, everyone else around you will approve.'

She gently placed a hand on Hermione's back, who looked up at her. She smiled weakly and leaned her head her head on Ginny's shoulder.

'Thanks Ginny, I'll take you as my example.'

Her best friend grinned brightly and placed her hands over her belly.

'I do feel beautiful like this and I could stay this way for ever.' She laughed. 'When I told Harry that I wanted a family as large as mine, he said that it was probably the best thing he'd heard me say since the day I said "I do". I think he wants our child to have the complete childhood he did as a 'single child', in a sense. That Dudley bloke really ruined his early years…'

Hermione laughed a bit and sighed. She and Ron had talked about it too once, and they had both agreed on having a large family also. She quickly shook the thought out of her head and stood up. She entered her walk-in closet and looked through her dresses; she knew exactly which one she wanted to wear. It was a knee-length, burgundy red dress with tiny sparkles all over it. It had spaghetti straps and the bottom was wavy and layered. Not only was it her favorite dress, but it was also the last gift she had received from Ron before he passed away. She took it carefully off it's hook and walked out of the closet.

'I, I think I found it.'

Ginny smiled at her, knowing exactly where that dress came from, and nodded.

'Good. Now get back in there and put it on. You've only got and hour left to get ready!'

'An hour left?! Dammit!!'

Hermione ran back inside her closet, closed the doors and quickly started changing. She came out less than two minutes later and hurried towards the bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and gave herself a desperate look. Her hair wasn't all that bad, but it still definitely needed work. Forty-five minutes after, she was finally ready. She had taken the time to transform her hair from bushy and curly to slick, shiny and flat. Her eyes were decorated with a light gold eye-shadow to match her chocolate eyes, a very small line of black eye-liner and mascara. And for her lips, a simple light, almost transparent, pink lip gloss. Ginny, who had been flipping through the pages of old witch weekly editions, almost gasped when she saw her best friend come out of the bathroom.

'Hermione you look great! Look at you! Your hair, it's flat! And your make-up –'

Hermione laughed, blushing lightly.

'It's not all that great, but thanks.'

She turned towards her full length mirror and breathed in deeply, almost nervously. She noticed Ginny standing behind her with a confident smile.

'Don't worry Hermione, it'll be great. Stop worrying and just have fun alright?'

Hermione nodded. Just as she did, her door bell rang making her jump in surprise. Ginny laughed and headed towards the kitchen.

'I'll get the door; you do last minute check-ups.'

She walked out of Hermione's view, who glanced towards the mirror. Hermione heard the door open, Ginny talk and the door close again. She heard her laugh and finally recognized Wes's voice. "Oh gosh". So took a deep breath and walked out of her room. As she entered the kitchen, both stopped talking and looked towards her.

'Hermione, you look absolutely stunning!' Wes exclaimed.

Hermione felt her cheeks burn uncontrollably. Ginny beamed at them and put her jacket on.

'Well, it's time for me to leave. I'll see you tomorrow Hermione. Bye guys, have fun!'

She winked at Hermione and left. Wes, who hadn't noticed this, grinned at the beautiful girl before him. He took her long jacket and held it up to help her put it on. Hermione smiled shyly, walked over to him and let him put her jacket on.

'That dress you are wearing is beautiful on you, Hermione. You wear it wonderfully.'

He whispered in her ear as he slipped her arms through the sleeves. Shivers ran down her spine. Not exactly knowing what to say, Hermione turned towards him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek as a thank you. He realized it of course and grinned brightly, showing off his perfect white teeth. He reached down, took her soft hand in his and opened her apartment door.

'Shall we go off to dinner now?'

'Yes we shall.'


Wow, I've already got a reader!! Thanks a bunch BrennaM!!