Chapter Three
A Plan and A New Look ====================
Hermione's sleep had been fitful and restless. She had kept thinking about the bet Harry had made with Lavender and feeling rather sick in her stomach that she had agreed to go along with such a crazy plan. Hermione awoke at 3am to find her mind drifting to thoughts of Professor Lockhart. It was true that in second year she had had a crush on him. But then so had half the girls at Hogwarts. The fact was that she didn't feel that way anymore, hadn't felt that way about any male since Krum she reflected. Hermione realised that she hadn't even taken any notice of how Lockhart looked now, or really anything about him. Not that she had seen him properly since last week when he appeared in the charms lesson.
"Charms again tomorrow morning" though Hermione " and I'd better make sure I'm on time this time".
====================
Hermione opened her eyes. The room seemed very bright. She looked over at Lavender's bed and saw that it was neatly made. Usually Lavender was running around at the last minute looking for her perfume or lipstick in order to impress whatever male teachers she had that day. Hermione felt a terrible feeling of dread as she snatched her clock off the table. It read 9:15am.
"Oh no! Not again!" she groaned to herself as she climbed rapidly out of bed, feeling like she was in some sort of nightmare. Hermione was sure she had the alarm set for the right time, she used a special charm she had learnt and it never went wrong. "Why is this happening to me" she thought as she dressed as quickly as possible, this time making sure her shirt buttons were done up properly. Not having time to brush her hair or check in the mirror she pulled her curls back into an untidy bunch at the back of her head and put an elastic band around her hair, praying it would stay in place.
"Some impression this is going to make on Professor Lockhart" Hermione thought racing towards the charms room. Taking at deep breath outside the door she pushed it open and walked in.
"Miss Granger" said Lockhart in an extremely icy voice "You may not care about learning courage charms, but I can assure you they will be appearing on your NEWTS. Maybe we need to have a chat about your punctuality. Meet me in my office at five o' tomorrow. And DON'T be late!"
Hermione gulped and nodded.
"Yes Professor Lockhart" she said meekly sliding into her seat, catching a glimpse of Lavender whispering and giggling into Parvati's ear.
"Now class" said Lockhart "Courage charms are quite complicated. Before we practice them can anyone tell me their origin?"
Usually Hermione would have been the first with her hand waving in the air, but she was so upset by the morning's events that she couldn't even look up from her desk.
"Yes, Miss Brown?"
"Courage charms originate from Norway where they were first developed by the wizard Achar Hendrique in the sixteenth century in order to help him capture Norwegian Ridgeback Dragons" said Lavender with a smirk in Hermione's direction.
"Excellent" said Lockhart "Ten points for Gryffindor. I'm glad that at least some people in your house take an interest in what I have to teach".
Hermione didn't say anything for the rest of the lesson. As she got up to leave she saw Lavender floating around Lockhart's desk attempting to talk to him. Lockhart didn't seem particularly pleased Hermione noticed with a vicious feeling of pleasure. She gathered her books together and quickly made her way to the door, trying to remain inconspicuous, which became rather difficult when Harry and Ron caught up with her and started both talking at the same time.
"What happened Hermione?" Ron asked "You look awful".
"Thanks Ron" replied Hermione, "Using your charm again I see" she added sarcastically.
"Ron didn't mean it like that" said Harry looking meaningfully at Ron "We were just wondering where you were".
"My alarm didn't go off again" said Hermione.
"Ok well don't worry about that now" said Harry in a falsely cheerful voice. "We've got to get to that meeting with McGonagall".
"What meeting?" asked Hermione confused.
"Oh Lockhart told us at the start of class that all the seventh formers have to meet with McGonagall at 10:30am to discuss something" Ron explained.
====================
Wondering what it was about the seventh formers all crowded into one of the meeting rooms near the astronomy tower.
"Good morning everyone, I have called this meeting to advise you all of some new ideas we are looking to implement this year." Professor McGonagall said when everyone had quieted down.
"The staff have been discussing it for some time and we have decided that it would be very helpful to elect a seventh year student to be a representative for each teacher. Their role will be to assist the teachers in passing on any information pertinent to your studies and to act as a liaison between students and teacher over any issues which might arise in your important seventh year."
People started talking at once.
"Who will the students be?" called out a Slytherin girl.
"The staff will be meeting on Wednesday night to elect a student to each teacher. We will be choosing students that we feel are reliable and of course who we feel have shown an interest in the teacher in question's subject matter."
Hermione looked over at Harry and saw that he was grinning widely and giving her a thumbs up.
"Uh oh" she thought. When Harry smiled like that it couldn't mean anything good.
"Now, any questions?" Professor McGonagall asked.
====================
As they walked out of the meeting Harry said to Hermione
"Right! Meeting at seven tonight, common room to discuss our plan of action".
"Um Harry..." Hermione began, wanting to tell him that he had to call this whole stupid bet off.
"Don't be late!" yelled Ron winking at her over hi shoulder as Harry pulled him off down the corridor to their next class.
====================
Harry and Ron sat together in a quiet corner of the common room waiting for Hermione to appear. Precisely at seven she walked in and made her way over to the two boys.
"I know the old Hermione is back when you aren't a second late" said Harry with a grin.
Hermione didn't reply but just sat down in one of the chairs.
"I don't think I can do this" she said. "It's crazy. Lockhart will never like me, not in a million years".
"Hermione of course he will. You're smart and funny and nice" said Ron.
At these unexpected compliments from Ron Hermione looked up in surprise to see if he was being sincere. She had long since become used to Ron's teasing. This time however, he appeared to be serious.
"And don't forget that letter he sent you in second year" chimed in Harry brightly looking at Ron with an approving expression.
"Hermione I know you can do this. Please...for me?" said Harry looking at her from beneath his messy fringe of hair.
"Aww, stop it Harry" said Hermione throwing a cushion off her chair at him. She could never resist Harry when he looked at her like that.
"Ok what's this fantastic plan then." She asked resignedly.
"Things couldn't be more perfect" said Harry brightly.
"That meeting you have to have with Lockhart tomorrow will be the perfect opportunity to get him to notice you" Ron said.
"I think he's noticed me already" Hermione said. "In a bad way".
"Well he'll see you in a whole new light tomorrow" said Harry nudging Ron.
"Right and why's that?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Tomorrow afternoon we are going into Hogsmeade, you have an appointment at Mirificus" said Ron.
Mirificus was the most expensive and popular wizarding hair and beauty salon that Hermione knew. It was also almost impossible to get an appointment at.
"Oh no, really...I can't" Hermione said. "How did you get an appointment there?" she couldn't help asking.
"Our little secret" said Harry. "And don't worry, we're paying for it too".
"You know this is crazy don't you?" asked Hermione. But for some reason she couldn't stop smiling.
====================
"There you go, have a look" said the hair stylist tucking her wand behind her ear and turning Hermione's chair around to face the mirror. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The hair stylist used a colour charm o her hair to bring out it's rich chestnut highlights. Instead of a bushy bunch her hair cascaded in soft waves down her back. A long fringe parted at the side fell over one eye. Hermione didn't recognise herself "It's not me" she thought gazing at her reflection in embarrassment, but for some reason she couldn't look away. Since the Yule ball with Krum Hermione hadn't even thought about how she looked, because as she had told herself countless times in the past two years "It's not going to make any difference anyway".
Hermione self consciously walked out of Mirificus. Harry and Ron were standing a few feet away talking in low voices about something while they waited for her. Ron glanced over at her briefly and then went back to talking to Harry.
"Hi you two" she said, wondering why Ron was ignoring her.
"Hermione?!" Ron said in a shocked voice "Oh wow! I didn't recognize you".
Hermione looked at his face to see if he was joking but again it appeared he was serious. "Everyone seems to be changing at the moment Hermione thought suddenly. She looked up t Harry who was gazing at her with a look she couldn't quite read.
"Hermione you look amazing." He said quietly. "Gorgeous".
Hermione didn't know how to react to compliments like these from her two best friends. She laughed somewhat nervously.
"Ok thanks, really, thank you for doing this for me. But I have to tell you that it feels weird".
"Well you don't look weird" Said Ron looking at her in a way she had never really seen him look before "You look bloody great".
Harry gave Ron a scathing look and hooked his arm in Hermione's.
"Come, on" he said "Let's go get him".
====================
As the trio made their way back to Hogwarts a bitterly cold wind whipped around them and small snowflakes started to emerge from the darkening sky. Hermione shivered and pulled her cloak around herself tightly.
"It's so cold" she said shivering as she tried to keep up with the two boys who were striding ahead quickly. Harry dropped back beside her and suddenly put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione felt a sudden jump in her stomach as his strong arm touched her.
"Harry!" she said half laughing and pushing his arm off "I don't need an escort you know".
Harry replied but the worsening wind pulled his words away from her.
"What?!" she yelled as Harry ran to catch up with Ron.
"I said we better hurry or you'll be late for Lockhart" he yelled back at her. But for some reason Hermoine didn't think that was what he had said a moment ago. Feeling strange in a way she couldn't work out she put her head down and walked faster to catch up.
====================
They arrived back at Hogwarts and Hermione rushed off to her room to get ready, avoiding looking at Harry. She knew Lavender wouldn't be there as this was the time she was always floating around the corridors with Parvati in tow trying to run into some male teacher to impress.
Hermione stood in front of her mirror staring at herself. She slowly brought one hand up to smooth her hair which had become disheveled in the wind. Glancing at Lavender's bedside table she saw a lipstick. "Why not?" she thought and quickly picked it up before she could think any more about what she was doing. All of a sudden the old Hermione determination returned.
"I can do this!" she whispered to herself. "I'll get him to go on a date with me and make Lavender eat her words".
Hermione marched out of her room and in the direction of Lockhart's. It wasn't until she was standing outside his door that what she had to do fully dawned on her. But there was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath she rapped hard three times.
====================
A Plan and A New Look ====================
Hermione's sleep had been fitful and restless. She had kept thinking about the bet Harry had made with Lavender and feeling rather sick in her stomach that she had agreed to go along with such a crazy plan. Hermione awoke at 3am to find her mind drifting to thoughts of Professor Lockhart. It was true that in second year she had had a crush on him. But then so had half the girls at Hogwarts. The fact was that she didn't feel that way anymore, hadn't felt that way about any male since Krum she reflected. Hermione realised that she hadn't even taken any notice of how Lockhart looked now, or really anything about him. Not that she had seen him properly since last week when he appeared in the charms lesson.
"Charms again tomorrow morning" though Hermione " and I'd better make sure I'm on time this time".
====================
Hermione opened her eyes. The room seemed very bright. She looked over at Lavender's bed and saw that it was neatly made. Usually Lavender was running around at the last minute looking for her perfume or lipstick in order to impress whatever male teachers she had that day. Hermione felt a terrible feeling of dread as she snatched her clock off the table. It read 9:15am.
"Oh no! Not again!" she groaned to herself as she climbed rapidly out of bed, feeling like she was in some sort of nightmare. Hermione was sure she had the alarm set for the right time, she used a special charm she had learnt and it never went wrong. "Why is this happening to me" she thought as she dressed as quickly as possible, this time making sure her shirt buttons were done up properly. Not having time to brush her hair or check in the mirror she pulled her curls back into an untidy bunch at the back of her head and put an elastic band around her hair, praying it would stay in place.
"Some impression this is going to make on Professor Lockhart" Hermione thought racing towards the charms room. Taking at deep breath outside the door she pushed it open and walked in.
"Miss Granger" said Lockhart in an extremely icy voice "You may not care about learning courage charms, but I can assure you they will be appearing on your NEWTS. Maybe we need to have a chat about your punctuality. Meet me in my office at five o' tomorrow. And DON'T be late!"
Hermione gulped and nodded.
"Yes Professor Lockhart" she said meekly sliding into her seat, catching a glimpse of Lavender whispering and giggling into Parvati's ear.
"Now class" said Lockhart "Courage charms are quite complicated. Before we practice them can anyone tell me their origin?"
Usually Hermione would have been the first with her hand waving in the air, but she was so upset by the morning's events that she couldn't even look up from her desk.
"Yes, Miss Brown?"
"Courage charms originate from Norway where they were first developed by the wizard Achar Hendrique in the sixteenth century in order to help him capture Norwegian Ridgeback Dragons" said Lavender with a smirk in Hermione's direction.
"Excellent" said Lockhart "Ten points for Gryffindor. I'm glad that at least some people in your house take an interest in what I have to teach".
Hermione didn't say anything for the rest of the lesson. As she got up to leave she saw Lavender floating around Lockhart's desk attempting to talk to him. Lockhart didn't seem particularly pleased Hermione noticed with a vicious feeling of pleasure. She gathered her books together and quickly made her way to the door, trying to remain inconspicuous, which became rather difficult when Harry and Ron caught up with her and started both talking at the same time.
"What happened Hermione?" Ron asked "You look awful".
"Thanks Ron" replied Hermione, "Using your charm again I see" she added sarcastically.
"Ron didn't mean it like that" said Harry looking meaningfully at Ron "We were just wondering where you were".
"My alarm didn't go off again" said Hermione.
"Ok well don't worry about that now" said Harry in a falsely cheerful voice. "We've got to get to that meeting with McGonagall".
"What meeting?" asked Hermione confused.
"Oh Lockhart told us at the start of class that all the seventh formers have to meet with McGonagall at 10:30am to discuss something" Ron explained.
====================
Wondering what it was about the seventh formers all crowded into one of the meeting rooms near the astronomy tower.
"Good morning everyone, I have called this meeting to advise you all of some new ideas we are looking to implement this year." Professor McGonagall said when everyone had quieted down.
"The staff have been discussing it for some time and we have decided that it would be very helpful to elect a seventh year student to be a representative for each teacher. Their role will be to assist the teachers in passing on any information pertinent to your studies and to act as a liaison between students and teacher over any issues which might arise in your important seventh year."
People started talking at once.
"Who will the students be?" called out a Slytherin girl.
"The staff will be meeting on Wednesday night to elect a student to each teacher. We will be choosing students that we feel are reliable and of course who we feel have shown an interest in the teacher in question's subject matter."
Hermione looked over at Harry and saw that he was grinning widely and giving her a thumbs up.
"Uh oh" she thought. When Harry smiled like that it couldn't mean anything good.
"Now, any questions?" Professor McGonagall asked.
====================
As they walked out of the meeting Harry said to Hermione
"Right! Meeting at seven tonight, common room to discuss our plan of action".
"Um Harry..." Hermione began, wanting to tell him that he had to call this whole stupid bet off.
"Don't be late!" yelled Ron winking at her over hi shoulder as Harry pulled him off down the corridor to their next class.
====================
Harry and Ron sat together in a quiet corner of the common room waiting for Hermione to appear. Precisely at seven she walked in and made her way over to the two boys.
"I know the old Hermione is back when you aren't a second late" said Harry with a grin.
Hermione didn't reply but just sat down in one of the chairs.
"I don't think I can do this" she said. "It's crazy. Lockhart will never like me, not in a million years".
"Hermione of course he will. You're smart and funny and nice" said Ron.
At these unexpected compliments from Ron Hermione looked up in surprise to see if he was being sincere. She had long since become used to Ron's teasing. This time however, he appeared to be serious.
"And don't forget that letter he sent you in second year" chimed in Harry brightly looking at Ron with an approving expression.
"Hermione I know you can do this. Please...for me?" said Harry looking at her from beneath his messy fringe of hair.
"Aww, stop it Harry" said Hermione throwing a cushion off her chair at him. She could never resist Harry when he looked at her like that.
"Ok what's this fantastic plan then." She asked resignedly.
"Things couldn't be more perfect" said Harry brightly.
"That meeting you have to have with Lockhart tomorrow will be the perfect opportunity to get him to notice you" Ron said.
"I think he's noticed me already" Hermione said. "In a bad way".
"Well he'll see you in a whole new light tomorrow" said Harry nudging Ron.
"Right and why's that?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Tomorrow afternoon we are going into Hogsmeade, you have an appointment at Mirificus" said Ron.
Mirificus was the most expensive and popular wizarding hair and beauty salon that Hermione knew. It was also almost impossible to get an appointment at.
"Oh no, really...I can't" Hermione said. "How did you get an appointment there?" she couldn't help asking.
"Our little secret" said Harry. "And don't worry, we're paying for it too".
"You know this is crazy don't you?" asked Hermione. But for some reason she couldn't stop smiling.
====================
"There you go, have a look" said the hair stylist tucking her wand behind her ear and turning Hermione's chair around to face the mirror. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The hair stylist used a colour charm o her hair to bring out it's rich chestnut highlights. Instead of a bushy bunch her hair cascaded in soft waves down her back. A long fringe parted at the side fell over one eye. Hermione didn't recognise herself "It's not me" she thought gazing at her reflection in embarrassment, but for some reason she couldn't look away. Since the Yule ball with Krum Hermione hadn't even thought about how she looked, because as she had told herself countless times in the past two years "It's not going to make any difference anyway".
Hermione self consciously walked out of Mirificus. Harry and Ron were standing a few feet away talking in low voices about something while they waited for her. Ron glanced over at her briefly and then went back to talking to Harry.
"Hi you two" she said, wondering why Ron was ignoring her.
"Hermione?!" Ron said in a shocked voice "Oh wow! I didn't recognize you".
Hermione looked at his face to see if he was joking but again it appeared he was serious. "Everyone seems to be changing at the moment Hermione thought suddenly. She looked up t Harry who was gazing at her with a look she couldn't quite read.
"Hermione you look amazing." He said quietly. "Gorgeous".
Hermione didn't know how to react to compliments like these from her two best friends. She laughed somewhat nervously.
"Ok thanks, really, thank you for doing this for me. But I have to tell you that it feels weird".
"Well you don't look weird" Said Ron looking at her in a way she had never really seen him look before "You look bloody great".
Harry gave Ron a scathing look and hooked his arm in Hermione's.
"Come, on" he said "Let's go get him".
====================
As the trio made their way back to Hogwarts a bitterly cold wind whipped around them and small snowflakes started to emerge from the darkening sky. Hermione shivered and pulled her cloak around herself tightly.
"It's so cold" she said shivering as she tried to keep up with the two boys who were striding ahead quickly. Harry dropped back beside her and suddenly put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione felt a sudden jump in her stomach as his strong arm touched her.
"Harry!" she said half laughing and pushing his arm off "I don't need an escort you know".
Harry replied but the worsening wind pulled his words away from her.
"What?!" she yelled as Harry ran to catch up with Ron.
"I said we better hurry or you'll be late for Lockhart" he yelled back at her. But for some reason Hermoine didn't think that was what he had said a moment ago. Feeling strange in a way she couldn't work out she put her head down and walked faster to catch up.
====================
They arrived back at Hogwarts and Hermione rushed off to her room to get ready, avoiding looking at Harry. She knew Lavender wouldn't be there as this was the time she was always floating around the corridors with Parvati in tow trying to run into some male teacher to impress.
Hermione stood in front of her mirror staring at herself. She slowly brought one hand up to smooth her hair which had become disheveled in the wind. Glancing at Lavender's bedside table she saw a lipstick. "Why not?" she thought and quickly picked it up before she could think any more about what she was doing. All of a sudden the old Hermione determination returned.
"I can do this!" she whispered to herself. "I'll get him to go on a date with me and make Lavender eat her words".
Hermione marched out of her room and in the direction of Lockhart's. It wasn't until she was standing outside his door that what she had to do fully dawned on her. But there was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath she rapped hard three times.
====================