Chapter Four

Five minutes later we were standing outside a little modern looking place with a pink sign that read in fancy black letters: Jean-Pierre's Posh Palace. Hermione pushed open the door and waltzed like she owned the place.

" Oh, Hermione," A woman called from the cornor where she was shampooing a young woman's hair. " Back so soon?" The tall blond french woman came running over wiping her soapy hands on her red apron. " Now do you want that pedicure?"

Hermione shook her head. " Already had one, but I brought two new customers." Me and Ginny stood up form where we were sitting and came forward. " This is Amy Ricard and Ginny Weasly. They want the full treatment." She the turned to us. " Guys, this is Madeline Jean-Pierre. She's the best of the best."

Madeline blushed. " Oh, I'm not that good." I looked up at her wall and saw several pictures of her with stars. She saw me looking. " Ok, maybe I am." She nodded to the girls and one boy waiting in the back. " And I've personally trained all my employees." She walked to her counter. " Let's get you two written down."

She pointed to Ginny and a a short brunnette came up. " Miss Weasly, Briggette will be with you." Then she looked down at her paper. " Jonathan, you take Miss. Crabtree." Then she looked at me. " Miss Ricard, I'll be helping you."

I nodded and she led me to a chair. " Now dear," she started. " What are you thinking?"

I looked at myself in the mirror. " I really don't know, Madeline. You decide."

Madeline looked at my face for awhile and then picked up my long straight brown hair.

" Here's the plan, dear, we cut your hair to your shoulders,give it some blonde highlights and flip it out at the edges."

I and Madeline told me to close my eyes. I heard her call over another girl who gives me a facial mask and another two girl who gives me a mani- and pedicure. Eventually I felt so relaxed that I fell asleep.

When I woke up I could feel Madeline taking the last pieces of foil out of my hair. " Miss Ricard." she said quietly. " You're all done." I kept my eyes closed of a few seconds, afraid of what I might see. I slowly opened my eyes ans was totally shocked at what I saw. I saw a girl with elegant brown hair with awesome highlights. The girl had a crystal clear face. Madeline had put some make-up on the girl to make her eyes look very sparkly and her face glow. It took a few seconds to completely register that that girl was...me.

" Madeline," I whispered, shocked.

"Oh dear, do you hate it!" she cried. " I'll fix it free of charge."

" No, Madeline! Don't!" I cried. I jumped out of the chair before she could do anything to the marvelous new me. " I love it. You're a genius!"

Madeline smiled in pleasure. " Really? Why,... thank you." She grabbed me by the wrist and started dragging me towards the waiting area.

Hermione was waiting with some girl didn't recognize reading a magazine. When I came in she jumped up. " Oh my gosh, Amy!" she shrieked. " You look fabulous!" She looked down at the girl reading the magazine. " Oh yeah, may I introduce you to...Ginny Weasly!"

The girl looked up and I took a step backwards. " Ginny.." I started then began to shriek." O my gosh! I didn't even recognize you!"

Ginny's hair had gone form being way too long to being just below the shoulder blades and curled softly. Her face was barely sprinkled with make-up, she looked ex-quisite.

" You look great." I said.

Ginny smiled happily. " So do you!" Suddenly she looked worried. She spun around. " Do you think Harry will like the new me?"

The boy, Jonathan, ( he might have been 19) poked his head from behind the counter. " If you ask me, Miss Weasly, You look real good." He looked like he was going to salivate.

Ginny winked at me and Hermione before walking up to the counter. " You don't look so bad yourself." Jonathan was about to sat something when she out her finger on his mouth. "

Sssshhhh," she whispered the took her finger away and kissed him gently. Before this Jonathan-Guy could deepen the kiss she broke away. " You're cute," she whispered, running her hand through his hair. " But I like someone else."

With that we all walked out of the store, having already paid, with Jonathan staring at us. Once outside we all burst out laughing. " Hermione!" I shrieked. " You've created a monster!"

All of the sudden, Hermione stopped. " Hey Gin, you told Jonathan you liked someone else," she wondered. " Who?"

I turned to Ginny dumbstruck. " You haven't told her?"

Ginny shook her head and turned to Hermione. She took a deep breath and got right to the point. " I like Harry."

Hermione screamed. " No way!" she yelled.

" Way." Ginny sighed. " Although the problem is that he probaly thinks I don't like him, so he doesn't like me."

Hermione shook her head. " Poor delusional Ginny." she sighed. " If only you paid closer attention, the you would see that Harry indeed likes you."

Ginny screeched in delight, while I raised my hands over my head and hailed a taxi.

" Well, we need to get to Diagon Alley tonight." A taxi pulled to a stop and we all squezzed in. " Hermione," I whispered. " Does your room have a fireplace? We'll need it to travel."

Hermione nodded quickly and looked over at Ginny in concern. She ahd now turned a light green and was trying not to puke." Oh dear," Hermione whispered. " Gin is the only one who isn't used to New York drivers."

I looked at Ginny too. " Dang." I whipped a bottle of Sprite out of my bag. " Ginny," I ordered. " Tilt your head back and open your mouth."

Ginny did as I said and I dribbled some soda into her mouth. When she swallowed I poured in some more. Once she turned back to her normal color. I handed the bottle to her. " It's called Sprite." I said. " It'll help settle your stomach."

When we came to a stop in front of the hotel, Ginny lunged from the car and took a few deep breaths. " Oh man, " she gasped her hands on her knees. " Am I ever glad to be outta there."

We dashed into the hotel and Hermione strode up to the counter. " Oh, Jacques. I need to cancel my rent. I'll be leaving with my friends to go to school."

The friendly old man nodded. " As you wish, Miss Granger. Just drop the key when you leave. "

Hermione bit her lip. " I'm sorry but that just won't be possible. I'll leave the key on the hook on the door."

Jacques smiled. " Of course, miss."

Hermione nodded and walked back to us where we waited. " Okay guys, Let's go!" From there we ran to the elevator.

In a few minutes we were standing in front of the fireplace. " Ready?"

" Ready!" We all exclaimed in perfect unison. With that I jumped into the fireplace and was sucked into the fire and the dark abyss of traveling.

Suddenly, I landed hard on the ground of the cobblestoned streets of Diagon Alley. Rubbing my bottom, I hopped up and looked around expectantly. I was in the Leaky Cauldron and Hermione and Ginny were coming.