Disclaimer: I really don't own any Harry Potter characters.

Authors Note: Thanks to all you readers who reviewed the last chapter:

Trapped-in-a-dream: You'll see.

Rockergurl13: Yah, that was a bit screwed up. Sorry.

Mysteriouscharm: They're together a while in this chapter…

Heartluv: People are really mean…here's the update.

Call me brit: Meh.

PacerChic: Thanks!

JCAL: I hope you like this chapter just as much!

Darkness-ninja: Yah, Snape's a bastard! J

Hermione Graner Potter: Thank you!

Tamar-Shakira: Thanks!

A Cinderella Story

Chapter 7

Fighting The Change

Hermione was up in her room getting ready for her night in Hogsmeade. But was finding it hard. She needed to find something to wear that didn't say 'smarty pants' or 'loser' or something else that she didn't want to called and recognized for.

Walking over to her chest of drawers, she pulled the drawers out and emptied all her clothes onto her bed. Sifting though it, she couldn't find anything that was worth putting on without her being disgusted in herself.

Making a disgusted noise, she flopped onto her bed.

"Am I interrupting anything?" a voice came from the doorway.

Hermione looked up and saw a girl standing there, looking a little stunned at the mess that she had made. It was Lavender Brown. Her shoulder length black hair was in a ponytail. She had on a black tank top and a pair of low-rise blue jeans.

"No...I'm just trying to find something to wear..." Hermione trailed off.

Lavender smiled, "And you can't find anything?"

"No..." Hermione sighed.

Lavender set down her schoolbooks then sat down on her bed. She seemed to be thinking, "Do you want some help?"

Hermione pondered for a while. Should she accept Lavenders offer for help? Would she actually help? Or would she give her all the wrong clothes? Well, maybe it was worth a try.

Deciding to accept, Hermione replied, "Would you?"

Lavender smiled, "Of course! What do you need? Clothes? Shoes? Makeup? Do you need me to do your hair?"

"I think I'll need the full job," Hermione laughed.

"We'd better get started!"

About two and a half hours later, Lavender stepped back to admire her work. Hermione stood in front of a full-length mirror and gasped.

Starting from the bottom, her shoes were black, with two-inch heels. She was wearing a black mini skirt with chain hanging down the sides. She was wearing a light pink tank top that had a little wispy tie up think at the top. Her hair was bone straight, just lying loose. She had on black eyeliner, and a bit of mascara that made her lashes longer. Her eye shadow was a dark was a dark brown color, making her eyes look big. Over all, it was a major change for Hermione, and mental alarms started going off, telling her to take it all off.

"So...what do you think?" Lavender queried.

Get used to it Hermione. You don't want to be called a nerd or a geek; this is your way out. Show 'em that you're capable of having fun. "Yah, its great!"

"Are you going somewhere tonight?" Lavender asked.

"Yah, Hogsmeade," Hermione replied.

Lavender grinned, "Are you going with a special someone?"

"Nah...Just with Ron," Hermione explained.

"Where are you going in Hogsmeade? Are you just going to shop, or are you going out?" Lavender asked curiously.

Just then, Hermione realized that she didn't know where she wanted to go. She had been thinking some kind of place where all the cool people went. Like a club or something. "Do you know any good places?"

Lavender thought for a moment and then spoke, "Every night, at the Three Broomsticks, there's a dance party sort of thing. Everyone goes there. It's the hot spot. I think I'll be going there tonight with Seamus. Maybe we'll see you there?"

"Yah, sure," Hermione agreed.

"I guess you should go meet Ron now...its almost nine..." Lavender trailed off.

Hermione glanced at her watch and gasped, "Oh my gosh, I was supposed meet Ron already." With that, Hermione took off.

Seeing Ron sitting on a couch in the common room and walked over to him. "Hey Ron," she called, "You like?" And she twirled around.

Ron's eyes widened, "H-Hermione?"

"Yep, its me. I am now all down with style and ready to go," Hermione chirped.

Ron shook his head and the shocked look disappeared. "Sure. Lets go." They both walked out of the common room and started out for Hogsmeade.

When Hermione and Ron got to the Three Broomsticks, there were already lots of people sitting around talking, dancing, drinking, and just having a good time.

"Isn't this great!" Hermione exclaimed, "Isn't it?"

Ron looked a little uncomfortable but he nodded, "Yah, its...great."

Hermione shoved him playfully, "Oh, come on, you could be less enthusiastic!"

Ron shrugged apologetically, "Sorry. It's just...this is all so strange. You and me are going to a party...you just had a makeover to, to make you more popular. I-I just don't get this! Why does this mean so much to you! You never cared before! Why the sudden change? What happened Herm, did I miss something?"

Hermione looked shocked. Why was Ron doing this? "I don't understand Ron. I thought you'd be happy that we're going somewhere new! That we're trying new things! Your always telling me to be more bold and sure of myself...to find the real me! Well, right now, I'm doing that! I'm just trying to fit in!"

"But why! What I don't get is why! Why do you need to fit in?" Ron raised his arms in exasperation.

Hermione felt tears welling up in her eyes. Why was Ron so worked up about her trying to fit and feel like she's wanted? "B-becau-because...because I need to! I've been left out of everything all my life because I don't fit in enough! I don't fit in enough to be with other people!" she took a deep breath then continued, "I just want to fit in and be liked by others."

Ron shut his eyes, just hoping this wasn't happening. He was not at a party in Hogsmeade just because Hermione was trying to fit in. Hermione was not dressed like a slut. Hermione was not acting like this just to fit in.

"Ron? Please?"

Ron opened his eyes and looked into Hermione begging ones. She was on the brink of tears and shaking like a leaf.

Ron reached out to her, "I'm really sorry Hermione...but I just can't be around you when you're doing this. Okay?" he squeezed her hand, and then walked away.

Hermione just stood there for a minute, tears pouring down her eyes. She had no idea Ron was so affected by her looking like she was and trying to fit in with other people. She had thought that Ron would be happy for her. Hermione thoughts were interrupted by a voice, "Hermione?"

Hermione quickly wiped her eyes with her hand before she turned around. There stood Lavender, looking really beautiful in a spaghetti strap red dress. Her hair was done in curls and she had on mascara and eyeliner and a bit of sparkly eye shadow.

Hermione sniffled, "Hi Lavender."

Lavender instantly looked concerned, "Are you okay Hermione? No, stupid question, of course your not! Come on, let's go to the washroom and freshen you up. You can tell me about it if you want." Lavender took her and led the way to the washroom.

They entered then washroom and Hermione was glad to see there was no one else in there at the moment. She didn't really want people asking her about why she looked the way she did.

Hermione stood in front of a mirror and examined herself. Her clothes were still all right, as was her hair. But her makeup wasn't.

Lavender whipped out her make up bag and started pulling things out of it. Wetting a paper towel, she gave it to Hermione to wipe her face and cool her down a bit. After Hermione's puffy eyes had gone down a bit, Lavender started applying her make up.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lavender questioned gently.

Hermione shook her head quickly.

"Okay."

When they finished up, Lavender led Hermione over to a table where her boyfriend, Seamus was sitting. He was tall and had curly brown hair. His bright blue eyes shone extra bright when he saw Lavender.

"Seamus, this is Hermione. Hermione, this is Seamus," Lavender introduced them to each other.

They shook and hands and then Lavender sat down beside Seamus and leaned on his shoulder. "Would you like to sit down Hermione," Lavender asked.

Hermione flopped down on the cushy seat and sighed. This night hadn't gone to well so far. All she wanted to do was have fun and fit in while doing so. Hermione was again interrupted by her thoughts by another voice. But this time it wasn't Lavender.

"Hey. Would you like to dance?"

Hermione looked up and saw a very good looking. He had longish blonde hair and blue eyes. He was smiling at her, and all his teeth were white and straight.

He looked nice enough, "Sure." Hermione accepted his hand as he led her to the dance floor while a slow ballad played.

He put his arms around her waist and Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck. Leaning on his chest, Hermione listened to his heartbeat. When the music stopped, the guy leaned towards her ear and asked, "Would you like to go outside to we can talk?"

Hermione thought about this for a minute. All he's been is nice. And Hermione really wanted to get to know him better. "Sure."

He took Hermione's hand and led her outside. Hermione stopped at the front of the Three Broomsticks but the guy kept walking around the side of the building so Hermione followed.

On the side of the building, the only light came from a street lamp across the street. The guy leaned against the side of the building and asked, "What's your name?"

Hermione smiled, "Hermione. What's yours?"

"Devon. I'm pleased to meet you Hermione. Your a very beautiful girl," Devon

Hermione blushed, "So, what else do you want to talk about?"

Devon was looking at her in a strange way and Hermione didn't like it. She started edging towards the front of the building.

"How about we do something else instead?"

Hermione's brain started sending out warning waves that were telling her to run. "L-like what?"

Devon grabbed her hands and pinned them to her sides. Leaning forward, he crushed his lips to hers.

Hermione panicked and kicked him in the shins. He gasped in pain and let go. Hermione to this time to run, but Devon was too fast for her. He grabbed her ankle and she fell to the ground.

"Stay still bitch."

Harry was having the most boring time at the Three Broomsticks. He had come with Ginny and Draco. But the pair (Ginny and Draco) had taken off and Harry assumed that they were probably having a little romantic time together.

So here he was, sitting by himself, when he saw the most beautiful girl sitting with Lavender and Seamus. He got up to ask her to dance but saw a blonde guy get there first. The girl accepted and her and blonde guy went off to go dance together.

Harry watched them, waiting for a moment when the girl was alone so he could ask her for her name.

But after they danced together, Harry saw blonde guy take her by the hand and lead her outside. Harry waited for about ten minutes then decided to go and check out why they had been gone so long.

Walking around the side of the building he heard a voice: 'Stay still bitch!'

Devon had Hermione's arms and legs pinned to the ground by magic and was now kissing her neck. Hermione cringed uncomfortably. He had also placed a spell on her so she couldn't make any noise. Devon sat on top of her and tried to get her top off but couldn't, so he dug in his pocket for something and pulled out what he wanted, a knife.

Cutting the fabric of her top, he pulled it off and threw it away. Looking at her greedily he proceeded to kiss his way up her stomach.

Just as he was about to take off her bra, a voice came from behind Devon.

"Get the hell off of her!" Harry yelled.

Devon jumped up; looking shocked and had barley any time to react before Harry had him against the wall, two inches from the ground. "Don't you ever touch her! Or come near her again!"

Letting Devon fall to the ground, Harry walked over to Hermione, who was trying to hide herself but couldn't because of the spells that Devon had put on her. Harry did the counter curses and Hermione jumped up off the ground and looked around for her shirt but couldn't find it.

Noticing her dilemma, Harry took off his jacket and gave it to her, "Here, take this."

Hermione smiled gratefully, "Thank you."

Harry smiled at her, "Do you go to Hogwarts?"

"Yah," Hermione sighed.

"Would you like me to take you back there?" Harry asked.

Hermione was taken aback by his kindness, "That's okay. You keep saving me. First the water...now this. I wouldn't feel right making you do anything else."

"Hermione?" Harry asked unbelievingly. This beautiful girl was Hermione. She had really changed.

Hermione blushed, "Yah, its me."

"I insist on walking you back to Hogwarts," Harry said stubbornly.

Hermione smiled, and actually felt good for the first time tonight.

Hey all, I hope you like this chapter...more are on the way. Review please!