Chapter 5- Reunion

Harry sat at the dinner table, half listening to the conversations around him. He couldn't concentrate properly. His mind weaved in and out of daydreams. Daydreams of his family at the beach, and playing games in the back garden. Every now and again he would poke his head out, and look down the table for Erin. She hadn't turned up for lunch.

Harry was just about to leave, when a flick of red hair made him jump.

'Hey bro!' Erin called, as she walked by him, wearing what Harry would imagine was her usual smile.

'Hey!' Harry called back, before turning with a smile to Ron.

'You alright Potter?' Dean asked.

'Yea.' Harry smiled. 'I was just worried about her earlier. I was using the Marauders Map, and I couldn't find her name on it.'

'Oi! Erin!' Dean called down the table.

'Hmmm?' Came his reply.

'Where were you earlier?' Dean questioned.

'That's private business.' Erin said, tapping her nose. 'Why? Did you miss me?'

'Hardly.' Dean said, and added to Harry. 'She was probably at Hogsmeade.'

'Yea.' Seamus agreed. 'Ever since you showed her that passage to Honeydukes, it's the only place she goes.'

'She does love her sweets, our Erin.' Dean grinned, and continued with his lunch.

'Well I'm going for a walk.' Harry declared, and left the table.

For the rest of the daytime, Harry spent his time outside. He wandered around alone at first, but was soon joined by many admirers. Harry had never liked attention before, but was finding that he didn't mind it anymore. These people liked him for him, and not because he had a scar on his forehead.

After socializing, Harry spent the rest of his time before dinner flying. He had a friendly game with some Ravenclaws, and a few Slytherins too. Harry expected the Slytherins to play dirty, but they actually played a very clean game. Harry was surprised to find that they were really very nice, and he even managed to have a friendly conversation with Derrick about keeping.

After that, he did a few laps of the field, to keep the girls happy. They applauded after Harry did a sharp dive, and made Harry feel really special. He even tried to help a few of them to fly, and took Hannah Abbot for a ride.

By the time it came to dinner, Harry was thoroughly worn out. He slouched in his chair, and rested his head on his shoulder, until Ron poked him.

'What?' Harry groaned.

'Look!' Ron whispered. 'It's Hermione!'

Ron was right. It was Hermione -but not the one they remembered.

Hermione wore a pleated denim skirt, which was far too short to be anything that Hermione would usually have worn. She wore a powder pink gypsy top, which flashed her stomach, and powder pink sandals. Her hair was almost the same as usual, the only change was that it looked a lot neater, and shinier. Another shocking thing was that she wore make up.

She wondered down the gap between the two tables, and appeared to be looking for somebody.

'Shall I call her over?' Harry asked Ron.

'No, it's probably not a good idea.' Ron said, thinking back to what Hermione had said about them not being friends.

'It's fine Ron.' Dean said, honestly. 'Hey! Hermione!'

Hermione noticed the group of boys, and made her way over to them, choosing a seat next to Ron.

'Hey.' She smiled, prettily.

'Hiya Bookworm.' Seamus grinned.

'You alright, Hermie?' Dean asked, casually.

'Never been better.' She smiled sweetly, and picked up a roll.

'What have you been up to then?' Ron asked.

'Just wondering around with Lav and Pav.' Hermione said simply. 'Enjoying the good weather.'

'We should all make the most of it.' Ron said, nodding. 'Winter will be here quicker than you think.'

'Tell me about it.' Hermione sighed.

Ron was about to cut in with something witty, when he noticed some girls staring daggers at Hermione.

'Have you fallen out with them or something?' Ron asked, pointing down to the girls.

Hermione shook her head, confused.

'They keep giving you evil looks.' Harry elaborated.

'Oh.' Hermione said, and turned round to look. 'Well they look ok now.'

Dinner gradually cleared away, and was replaced with dessert. There was apple pie, strawberry cheese cake, chocolate gateau and more.

The Marauders helped themselves to pie, while Hermione chose a chocolate éclair.

'That's a tiny éclair.' Ron said, looking at Hermione's bowl. 'Aren't you hungry?'

'I'm on a diet.' Hermione said shrugging her shoulders.

'You don't need to go on a diet.' Ron said, outraged.

'Oh no.' Seamus and Dean chorused, making it clear that this was a regular argument in this world.

'Well I like to watch my weight.' Hermione said, plainly.

'But you really don't need to.' Ron argued.

'But I like to.'

'You'll make yourself sick of you don't eat enough.'

'What right do you have to tell me what I eat!'

'I'm just looking out for you.'

'Well don't.'

'Let me get you a bigger éclair...'

'No!'

And without warning, Hermione stuffed the whole chocolate éclair into her mouth, and swallowed it. It was amazing how she managed to do it in such a ladylike manner. Any other person would have got it everywhere. The only mess she made was a tiny bit of cream, which was sitting on the tip of her nose.

Ron chuckled when he saw the cream, and wiped it off the end of Hermione's angry little nose with his finger. She saw what he was doing and smiled. He smiled too.

Dean and Seamus were rolling their eyes, over the other side of the table. Harry didn't understand why.

After dinner was finished, the group headed back to Gryffindor common room. They all slouched in chairs around the fire, and made lazy conversation. They played games and read magazines, without a care in the world. Harry wished that it would stay like this forever. He was just about to fall asleep, when he heard Dean making a suggestion.

'As we have nothing better to do.' Dean said. 'I propose we have a game or truth or dare.'

Many heads around the fire nodded.

'Make it double dare.' Ron said unsurely, but recovered by adding. 'I'm not in the mood to spill my guts out.'

'Double dare it is then.' Dean grinned evilly. 'So who's up first?'

'I'll start.' Seamus volunteered. 'Harry. I dare you to... flash the next group of girls who enter the common room.'

'Hey!' Harry objected. 'I don't show just anyone the good stuff!'

A few people laughed.

'Ok.' Dean said. 'Just moon someone then.'

Excepting the compromise, Harry chose a group of girls, and regretfully did the deed. He ran back to the fireplace, and was surprised to find that one of the girls he had mooned had fainted. He laughed it off, but was highly embarrassed.

'Ok, Dean.' Harry chose. 'Your dare is to... go and burp in Parvati's face.'

Dean jumped up with no hesitation, ran to Parvati, and did his business. He then finished off by doing a large bow.

'Now I choose...' Dean grinned. 'Hermione.'

Hermione bit her lip, and slid down in her chair.

'Hermione, you must... let me and Seamus choose you and outfit to wear, then parade around the common room in it like a muggle model.' Dean explained.

'Oh no.' Hermione protested. 'Oh no oh no oh no.'

'Oh yes.' Seamus said, as he dragged her from her seat with Dean, and took her up to her dorm.

Ron and Harry exchanged amused glances, unsure if the Hermione in this world would go along with the joke. They knew the old Hermione wouldn't have.

'Do you think she'll do it?' Harry whispered to Ron.

'No.' Ron said. 'This Hermione's a lot more up for it, but I still don't think so.'

How wrong Ron was.

Dean and Seamus emerged from the girls staircase, grinning from ear to ear.

'Ladies and Gentlemen.' Dean announced. 'I would like to introduce you to, sexy Hermy!'

Hermione stepped out from the stairs, and the crowd went wild.

She was wearing Red hot pants, with black fishnet tights, on her bottom half. On her top she wore a black boob tube, with a sort of net cardigan on top. Her hair was hanging wildly, and she wore deep red lipstick, and black heels.

The boys all wooed as she strolled, looking rather relaxed, to the fire place.

'So what do you think?' She asked the Marauders.

Seamus wolf whistled, Dean cheered, and Harry gave her the thumbs up.

'What do you think, Ron?' She asked, standing right in front of him. He looked her up and down, his face still in shock.

'Wow.' He said simply, and all the boys cheered again.

'Well I'm going to go and finish my dare, by parading my new outfit.' Hermione said, and left the group.

She went over and talked with a group of 6th year boys. Dean and Seamus looked at Hermione, then at Ron meaningfully. Ron just shrugged his shoulders, and went back to his magazine, but not before taking another peek at Hermione.

The hours passed by, and people started to head to bed. Harry and Ron were in the middle of a game of chess, so were naturally last to leave.

As they packed away the pieces, they heard someone head down the stairs.

It was Hermione, still wearing her dare outfit. She skipped over to a chair, and picked up the book that was laying on it.

'Hi.' She smiled. 'I didn't realize you were still down here.'

'Yep.' Ron said. 'Just packing up.'

'Well you'd better hurry, it's getting late.' Hermione advised. 'I bet you haven't even done your potions essay yet.'

Everyone froze. Hermione put her hand over her mouth, her face in shock.

'I mean...' She stammered. 'Not potions essay...we don't have one...I was...never mind. I don't know what I'm talking about.'

'I do.' Harry cut in. 'Your talking about the potions essay which is due in tomorrow.'

Hermione looked round, suspiciously.

'Harry, Ron.' Hermione said, thinking. 'Do you know who the Dark Lord is?'

'V-Voldemort.' Ron stuttered, and Harry lifted his hair, to show his scar.

'Oh it's really you two!' Hermione exclaimed, before pulling them both into a tight hug. 'I didn't realize. I thought I was the only one! I was getting so worried!'

'No need to worry.' Ron reassured her. 'We're both here now.'

'I'm so relieved, and look at me.' Hermione laughed. 'I would never have done this if I knew it was you.'

Hermione turned red.

'We didn't know it was you either.' Harry explained.

'We never really thought you would do such a thing as that.' Ron grinned, in admiration.

'Well the Hermione in this world is a lot more relaxed, from what I can gather.' Hermione said, sitting down. 'I thought I ought to play along. It was kind of fun as well.'

'So you've been playing a part since you go here?' Ron asked. 'We have too.'

'I noticed.' Hermione said, looking from their hair, to their sports shoes. 'I wish you didn't have to see me with all this make up on too. I must look dreadful.'

'No, you look nice.' Ron said honestly. 'What gave you the sudden change of heart?'

'Lav and Pav.' Hermione sighed, with a smile. 'Apparently the Hermione in this world lets them do her hair and make up, and choose her clothes.'

The boys grinned.

'Well they have good taste.' Harry said, to cheer her up. 'You looked good this morning.'

'Thanks.' Hermione grinned. 'Talking of mornings, we'd better go to bed.'

'Yea.' Ron yawned. 'Good night.'

'Night.' Harry said, and began to climb the stairs.

Hermione turned to Ron

'You know what you said about my dare outfit?' She asked him, biting her lip.

'Yea.' He answered, unsurely.

'Did you mean it?' She asked, in a small voice. 'Or were you just playing along?'

Ron looked Hermione up and down, then answered her.

'Oh I meant it.' He charmed, with a cheeky grin, then followed Harry up the stairs.