Chapter One:
Feeling Differences
The grounds were quite. Nothing made a sound, not even the trees. No rustling of leaves, no birds, no howls, no nothing. This was strange. Hogwarts had never been so quite. Almost every student was inside the Great Hall at this very moment, but one person was not there at all. This person had no intention of attending.
A muggle born witch named Hermione Granger sat silently on one of the benches in the courtyard. She was reading one of her books, like always, and determined herself to not go to dinner. It was the start of a new year, their sixth year. Hermione had only one thing planned, to not face Voldemort at all this year.
She actually tried to stay away from Harry and Ron. Harry, who was with Ginny twenty-four seven, always seemed to bring trouble to them. She wanted nothing else of it. She also wanted to stay clear of Ron, and his girlfriend Lavender, for hopes. She got annoyed by them easily.
She noticed one thing in their relationship status, Hermione happened to be the only single one. She didn't really care that much, but she felt a little left out. Harry was off with Ginny and Ron was always with Lavender. Could she actually be jealous that she wasn't dating?
No, she couldn't be jealous. It was just lonely. She turned herself and put her feet on the bench with her. Hugging her knees, she sighed. She buried her head into her knees and began thinking to herself. When she got aggravated with thinking, she sighed and began to talk out loud.
"Why do I have to be so different?" She asked herself quietly. She didn't want anyone to hear, though she knew they wouldn't. "Do people hate me all that much that I don't deserve love?" She asked herself before covering her mouth.
She said it, she knew it, and she didn't deserve love at all. She started fiddling with her wand. 'Maybe if I was prettier' shethought She tried changing her hair color, her eyes, her face... but nothing worked. She sighed, giving up; she tried one last time and turned her hair a golden blond color. She sighed again, and started curling the ends of her hair.
She wasn't even aware that she was looking actually good. She was too busy fooling around to notice what she was beginning to look like. She tried one last thing, her clothes. She said a small chant and turned her clothes from their original jean and shirt to something a little more, well, sensational.
She stood up, now in a long white skirt and a bright blue shirt. Her skirt was made of the finest lace and it swished like a bell when she moved. Her shirt was a simple baby blue color that showed her torso more then usual. It had a large cut down the front of her shirt, it stopped just above her cleavage, and it made it in the shape of a "V."
She looked rather pleased with herself when she looked down at her feet and seeing a pair of open toed, black, four inched heeled sandals. The strings on her sandals tied up and around her ankles. She sat back down, looking at herself in the reflection of a puddle of water.
She didn't even know why it was there either. It hadn't rained, there was no ponds or rivers around, she hadn't spilt anything, and she was most defiantly sure that no one else had either. She looked around, nothing to be seen, she sighed again. Why was it only this year that everything seemed so well, boring?
She looked around once more after hearing a gentle 'crack' sound from the forest. She stood up and began walking towards the sound. She laughed gently when she was half way across the grounds and nearing the forest.
"It's probably just an animal." She giggled as she guessed what was making the sound. She watched her feet as she walked.
"Not quite." A manly voice said from behind the foresting trees. Hermione jumped and looked around.
"Who said that?" She asked, looking around in the darkened forest. Nothing answered but she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around quickly, she smiled. "Hello Fred." She laughed. "You scared me."
"Actually it's George." He smiled, and she blushed.
"Sorry, it's rather difficult to tell you two apart." She pointed out and he laughed.
"Don't worry, it's happened before." He said circling her. Hermione started to feel rather uncomfortable. "But how do you know I, or my twin, when I don't know you?" he asked, still circling her.
"You know who I am." She laughed and he only shook her head. "Oh, the spell... sorry I forgot." She laughed. She quickly brought her wand to her head and her hair changed to normal. George's mouth dropped.
"Hermione?" He asked, astonished.
"Aye," she said before turning her hair back to the long, curly golden color. "I didn't know I was that horrifying." She said, judging by his face expression.
She started walking away kicking stones in every direction as she walked. She sighed and jumped a little as she felt the cold hand of George Weasley touch her arm. She turned around, stopping herself from walking any further.
"Wait don't go, you looked different is all. I was beginning to think you were a new girl." George said and they both laughed.
"Nope, just plain old me." She said sadly with a sigh. George smiled.
"Don't be so hard on yourself." He smiled "Hey, would you like to take a walk?" George asked, rather excited actually.
"Sure." Hermione shrugged. As they began walking Hermione looked at George with confusion. "So where is Fred, usually you guys are inseparable." She laughed.
"Well we didn't want to go to dinner so we were exploring the forest for animals that we could use our pranks on, but we couldn't find any. I ditched Fred because I was starting to get annoyed about him going on and on about Angelina." He rolled his eyes. "I hate how people brag about their girlfriends and boyfriends."
"I know what you mean." Hermione laughed as she played with the curls in her hair. "It's always about Ginny with Harry, and with Ron it's nothing but Lavender." She sighed.
"I guess me and you are like the outcasts I guess." George sighed.
"I guess so." She smiled gently, watching her feet as she walked.
"Say, are you doing anything tomorrow?" George asked as he stepped on a path of stones. He hopped from each one to the next. She looked to him.
"Not that I know of, why?" she asked, thinking to herself about tomorrow.
"It's because Dumbledore set a new Hogsmeade trip early this year. He thought it would be good and I was wondering if well, you'd like to go with me." He said smiling lightly. Hermione turned to him again.
"Of course." She said simply. "There's nothing better to do around here." She laughed and George nodded in agreement.
"True, and everyone else is busy." He said sadly. "But having you there would make my day." He laughed.
"I highly doubt that." She laughed, blushing a bit.
"I mean it." He said, moving a lock of her golden hair behind her ear. "I really mean it." He said brightly. Hermione turned away to hide her blush, she was smiling very wide by now. "Blushing I see." He joked.
"Not my faul..." she was cut off. She fell over sideways, landing on something. She looked up, George had caught her. She felt his hands lock on her sides. She looked up, his crystal blue eyes were pouring into her golden ones.
"Are you alright?" He asked, helping her to her feet. Hermione put her arms around his neck for support. She smiled.
"I think so, what happened?" she asked looking around.
"You weren't looking where you were going and tripped on a tree root." He laughed, Hermione blushed.
"Well that was embarrassing." She smiled. Keeping her arm around his neck, she leaned on him. Her ankle started to hurt.
"Maybe you should sit Hermione." George suggested. Hermione nodded and took George's hand.
She sat down, her ankle felt horrible. She sat on a small tree stump that looked like it was freshly cut. She was making a weird screeching noise because it hurt. George kneeled by her foot and was closely examining her ankle.
"It looks swollen, so you might have sprained it Hermione." George said, still examining it. She sighed.
"What are you, a Healer now?" Hermione joked playfully.
"Now's not the time for kindergarten games" George joked as he poked her in the stomach.
"Oh really?" Hermione asked, and smiled at him. "I'd pounce on you if my ankle didn't hurt so badly." She laughed and George laughed with her.
"Now now..." George laughed. "We better get you up to Madame Pomfrey. She might have some healing stuff." George suggested.
Hermione was still wincing with pain, she was afraid to move. Her ankle stung badly and worse then ever. She scooted herself to the edge of the tree stump, as if she was getting ready to stand. She failed.
"Can you walk?" George asked concerned, more then anything.
"I don't think so." She said as she stood for about a second and fell back into her seat.
"Well, I guess I'll have to help you then." George smiled, as if he planned this.
Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, helping him to lift her. He slid one arm under her back and the other one under her legs. He was amazed on how incredibly light she was. He wasn't calling her fat but she seemed to be lighter then he thought she would be. But thanks to Quidditch, George seemed rather strong.
"Am I hurting you?" He asked as she winced slightly. She shook her head.
"No, not at all." She smiled weakly as she securely kept both of her arms around his neck. "Thank you, by the way." She smiled and he nodded.
"Anytime," he smiled and looked at her. "Even in the face of danger and pain, you never stop looking beautiful." George joked.
Hermione blushed deeply, if she heard right, he had called her beautiful. She looked at him. His blue eyes were all she was concentrating on. She didn't even realize the pain that was still in her ankle. She just stared at him.
His deep blue eyes that were the color of the ocean, she felt happy when she looked at him. Could she really be starting to fall for him? She thought it was impossible, but something struck her. He was the kind of guy she felt like she'd been looking for, but was this for real?
They had reached the hospital wing at seven at night. George was correct about Madame Pomfrey, she had fixed Hermione up in no less then ten minutes. Hermione and George were heading back to the common room around eight, after heading down to the kitchens to get food because they had skipped dinner.
That night, Hermione noticed something. She never in her wildest dreams thought she would actually act like this with George Weasley. She somehow had thought of him as a friend, not a best friend, but a friend. She never pictured her in this position of love, not even her dreams.
They were nearing the common room when they saw Fred and Angelina entering the common room. Hermione looked up to George, he looked upset. She thought he must have been hurt when Fred barely noticed him. All Fred did was talk about Angelina and Hermione suspected it must have really hurt George.
"Night George." Hermione said as they entered the common room. She turned to him.
"Good night Hermione." He gave her a small kiss on the cheek and watched her walk into her dormitory. "Sleep well!" He yelled calmly after her.
Hermione disappeared behind the door of the girl's dormitory, smiling madly. Her cheeks were as red as freshly brewed red wine. She walked in, turning around and finding herself face to face with Ginny. Hermione smiled and let out a heavily sigh as she fell on her bed and snuggled with her blankets. Ginny blinked.
"What's up with you?" Ginny asked, amazed. Ginny sat on her bad that was right next to Hermione's.
"I think she has had a good day." Lavender said from behind the curtains that blocked her bed.
Lavender stood up, opened her curtain and walked to Ginny. Hermione was now sound asleep, hugging her blankets. Lavender looked at Ginny with a smile. Ginny looked back with the identical smile.
"Do you know what this means?" Ginny asked with a smile.
"Yes." Lavender said.
"She's in love" they said in unison. And it was true, Hermione was indeed in love.
In the morning Hermione woke up with the bright and joyful smile that she hardly ever wore on her face. She headed to the bathroom and took a long shower. She came out of the steaming hot room about an hour later. She fixed her hair again and sat in the common room where Harry and Ron were talking.
"Hey guys." Hermione said brightly.
"Hey Hermione," Harry said nicely, Hermione only smiled. She didn't want to talk to them, but she continued to be nice.
"Ginny and Lavender are going to Hogsmeade together, so do you want to hang out with us?" Ron asked, looking hopefully.
"Sorry, I have plans." She said as she tapped her wand on her head and her hair fell down her back. It was a golden blond color.
"What?" Harry asked, astonished. He and Ron exchanged looks. Why she have blond hair?
"I have plans." Hermione said simply as she began to curl the ends of her hair. A couple of loose hair drifted off her wand and she gently wiped them off her jean pant leg. Ron and Harry looked at each other.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked and Harry was wondering too.
"I'm going to Hogsmeade." Hermione informed them as she was half way done with curling her hair. She wouldn't look at them at all. She just hummed after everytime she talked.
"Oh, you must be going with Ginny and Lavender." Harry guessed and Hermione shook her head. She had a wide smile on her face.
"I'm going with someone, but it's not them." She smiled. Harry and Ron only knew one thing at this: she had finally gotten a boyfriend.
"Who is he?" Harry and Ron asked immediately. "Where is he?" they both asked again.
"It's none of your business, and if you want to know so badly then I will tell you that I am waiting for him." Hermione said with a smile.
"Waiting for him?" Harry asked and he and Ron exchanged looks again.
"He's a Gryffindor then?" Ron asked and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"If he wasn't, then I would be gone all ready." She informed them.
Ron and Harry said nothing after that. Hermione waited patiently for George, but she still kept silent to Harry and Ron about who she was waiting for. Hermione closed her eyes, she was picturing herself at Hogsmeade with George, and they were having so much fun. She couldn't wait.
"Hermione..." She heard from the steps of the boy's dormitory. She opened her eyes. "Ready to go?" he asked politely.
"Yes." Hermione said as she watched Harry and Ron's mouths fall open. She laughed lightly.
"Let's go then." He smiled taking her hand quickly and then let go. "Wait a second." He said, leaving Hermione.
"Okay." Hermione smiled
"Don't," George started as he walked slowly over to Harry and Ron. Their mouths were still hanging open. "You don't want to catch flies." He said. After hitting their jaws and making their mouths close, he walked back to Hermione. "Alright, come on Hermione." George said sweetly.
"Alright." She smiled, entwining her fingers with his. Her golden hair was curtained around her face, and she tucked it behind her ears ever so often.
They walked down to the great hall, where the people that were going the Hogsmeade were hastily pushing themselves through the door, McGonagall came around the corner. She looked rather amazed.
"Honestly, form a nice line please. No need to rush!" She said quickly, really not setting a good example.
Hermione and George walked out the door, slowing their pace so they were further back from the others. They were talking about their careers that they wanted to do after they had graduated Hogwarts. Hermione now felt more comfortable then before.
"I don't know. Harry and Ron want to be Aurors, so I think I settle as undecided." She said with a smile.
"Yeah, I'm not quite sure if I want to be part of the joke shop anymore." George said sadly. "I guess Umbridge sort of well, taught me how mean my jokes proved to be." He said, admitting defeat.
"That's so sweet. I never thought I would hear the day that either of the Weasley twins were feeling guilty about their pranks." Hermione laughed, and George gave her a slight peck on the cheek and she smiled again.
"I never thought I would be here." George admitted. Hermione had turned to him.
"What do you mean?" she wondered. He winked at her.
"Well, I never thought I would feel this way about you Hermione." He said sweetly, his blue eyes were staring into her golden eyes.
"I never thought I would feel this way about you either." Hermione smiled, she didn't feel like herself. She felt relaxed for once, she loved him. She was sure that she had finally felt what she was missing.
They were nearing the village of Hogsmeade; everyone was walking in and out of stores like it was a race. Hermione and George both found this odd, but continued to walk to The Three Broomsticks.
Noticeable figures could be seen in the Three Broomsticks from where they were standing. Hermione could have sworn it was Ron and Harry, but both of them said they weren't going to Hogsmeade, Hermione was confused.
"Strange world it is, a very strange world." She smiled.
Author's Note:
Sorry everyone. I recently received an email from a fan and they asked me if I could write a story about Hermione and one of the Weasley twins. Well, I thought it was a great idea, so I started immediately. Well tell me what you think!
Airalynn
P.S. I hope this pleased you Myst!