Heaven Sent
No Mermaid
We went down to the edge of the water
You were afraid to go in
You said there might be sharks out there in the ocean
And I said I'm only going for a swim
I was swimming around in a circle
I wasn't always in view
You said we might get into red flag danger
And I am alone when I'm not with you
But I am no mermaid
I am no mermaid
And I am no fisherman's slave
I am no mermaid
I am no mermaid
I keep my head above the waves
We were swinging from the centre of the ceiling
You were afraid to give in
I said I know I'll always live for this feeling
And you closed your eyes you said never again
We were dancing in the middle of the desert
You said we'll burn under the hot sun
I said I'd rather be the colour of pleasure
Than watch like you from under the thumb
But I am no mermaid
I am no mermaid
And I am no fisherman's slave
I am no mermaid
I am no mermaid
I keep my head above the waves
We went down to the edge of the water
You were afraid to go in
You said there might be sharks out there in the ocean
And I said I'm only going for a swim
I was living around in a circle
I wasn't always in view
You said we might get into red flag danger
And I am alone when I'm not with you
But I am no mermaid
I am no mermaid
And I am no fisherman's slave
I am no mermaid
I am no mermaid
I keep my head above the wave
No Mermaid- Sinead Lohan
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"Wait – what are you doing with scissors?"
"Would you stop being such a pain?! I'm just giving you a trim!" Elle said, the silver scissors a healthy snap before she brought them to the back of Lydia's head.
Lydia looked quite vulnerable in this situation, hunched over in the small chair, a white sheet covering her from the neck down. Her long hair hung lank, dripping wet. She looked miserable as Elle hovered around her like a bee, flicking to and fro.
"I don't need a trim!" Lydia protested causing Elle to snort.
"Lydie, when was the last time you had a hair cut?"
"Well, my mother used to cut it-"
"Exactly. The ends of your hair are a massacre no one should have to suffer looking at, especially that fox Remus."
"You did not just call him a 'fox'."
"Be quiet- I need to concentrate."
"My hair is fine."
"No, it isn't. Now stop moving so I can get a straight cut."
Lydia frowned, but remained silent as Elle moved about her, watching with some bitter sentimentality as her hair fell to the ground. Occasionally, Elle would stop and step back, staring intently at her new project and each time she would, Lydia would pray that she was done.
She never was.
Lydia hated getting fuddled with like this. She wasn't in control, and she didn't like that feeling. She felt like Elle was taking over her hair, and she didn't like it.
Never again.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, Elle backed away, this time not returning with scissors, but with her wand, casting a simple drying spell. Elle looked at Lydia for a second, stroking her chin, before breaking out in a grin.
"Lydie! You look fabulous!" she said, grabbing her by the shoulders and pushing her towards the mirror.
And she saw herself.
She looked different- much different.
And it wasn't just her hair; it was the whole manner of her face. It didn't so long now, not so pale. Her eyes stuck out more. You could actually see they were that certain blue gray. Her hair seemed darker. She supposed it was the special shampoo Morrie had given to her. The length was almost the same as before too, just cut more angular, making her hair look thicker.
She liked it.
And it was official- Elle was a genius… well, in some respects.
"Well? Do you like it?"
"Yes… I really do, Elle. Thank you."
Elle squealed and pulled Lydia into a hug, "Oh, I knew you would like it! You just had to trust me! Oh, Remus is going to be so impressed!"
"Wow, Elle- you really outdid yourself." It was Morrie, leaning against the bathroom's doorway, "And I see my shampoo worked."
"Doesn't she look great?!"
"She does look great… but, we are going to need an outfit to back it up." She said with a smirk.
"Oh! Yes!" Elle grabbed Lydia's hand and dragged her out into the main dormitory, "Come on, Lydie, we'll find you something spectacular!"
Morrie went over to Lydia's trunk and flipped in open, carelessly rummaging through it, "Lydia, this stuff is atrocious," she held up a very large looking skirt, "Oh, wait, this is your camping gear, right?"
"Be quiet, Morrie. I didn't ask for your opinion."
"And I wasn't giving it. It's a real fact that your clothes do absolutely nothing for you. Let's use some of mine. They should fit, don't you think, Elle?"
"Yeah, you two are about the same size."
"Well, then- I'm thinking something nice, but not too nice, still casual. A sweater maybe?" Morrie flung open her own trunk, shifting through the materials inside.
"Oh, yes… how about that blue sweater you have- the one with the grey argyle? That would look nice." Elle suggested.
"You're right… that and maybe a nice pair of jeans?"
"Sound's perfect."
"Okay," Morrie shifter through her wardrobe, pulling out the sought for items- a deep blue pair of flares, and a nice ocean sweater with a stitching of blue gray diamonds on the front.
"You have that blouse I gave you for Christmas last year right?" Elle said. Lydia nodded, going to the bottom of her trunk and pulling out a neatly folded sky blouse.
"That will good under the sweater with the v-neck and all," Morrie handed Lydia the clothes, "Now, don't ruin them. Those are my favorite pants."
"I won't."
"Well, go on then, and get changed."
Lydia nodded again, and turned to the bathroom. She quickly shut the door and locked it, stripping down to put on the new outfit. She wasn't so sure about the whole ensemble. These clothes were tighter than anything she had ever worn before, but all the worry seemed to drift away when she caught a glance at her reflection.
Wow.
She looked different, and not just different, but good- pretty even. The blue in the sweater brought out her eyes even more, and she no longer looked bony or lanky. Still, she had her high cheekbones, and frowning mouth, but there was something about them now that was almost intriguing. And though she would never have curves, this new outfit fit her perfectly. She smiled.
Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
-----
Lydia stood in a circle of Ravenclaws as she waited for Remus to come down to the Entrance Hall. She felt pretty good about things, and no one seemed to have any complaints about her. And for once, she felt content with her appearance. She was no Lily Evans, or Emmaline Vance or even Elladora Edgecombe, but she thought she looked nice, and that's all that really should matter, isn't it?
"Looks like she stood you up, Moony," Sirius Black exclaimed, coming down the stairs beside his usual gang- Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, and Remus.
"Nah, I'm sure she's coming down," James said, pounding Remus on the back, who looked absolutely miserable at Sirius's last statement.
Morrie gave Lydia a little push, "Well, go on then."
Elle grabbed a strand of Lydia's hair and patted it down, then fiddling with her collar, "Now, don't talk his ear off with some boring Hogwarts: A History nonsense. Be sure to let him do the talking, and don't pick at your nails. You have a tendency to do that, and-"
"Elle, I think I've got it."
She shut her mouth and smiled, "Right, sorry… Just- good luck."
"Break a leg, dork," Morrie said.
"Thanks, for this."
"Hey, what are friends for?" said Elle.
"Annoying the hell out of you- now go get him!"
"Alright, I'm going… I'll see you later?"
"Later."
"Bye, Lydie!"
Morrie and Elle trotted away, heading out the huge carved doors to the Grounds, heading out to the town. Lydia sighed. She was on her own now…
"Remus!" she called to him. He was still on the stairs, huddled with his friends.
He looked up, "Lydia?"
Lydia walked over to them, "Hi."
Remus looked a bit taken back, "Wow," he gulped, "You look great."
She smiled, embarrassed, and looked down to her shoes, "Thanks."
"So, should we get going?"
"Oh, yeah, lets,"
Remus nodded and said farewell to his comrades, each with a gleaming smirk on their faces. The pair made their way to the door, and he held it open for her, falling in step with her as they walked down the trodden path to Hogsmeade.
"So…" Remus murmured, breaking the silence.
"Yes, so…"
"Have you read Hogwarts: A History?"
Lydia almost stopped walking at this question. She smiled a bit, "Why, yes I have."
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A/N- Yes- another short chapter I'm afraid, but I wanted to get this up quickly. Plus I sort of wanted to keep the date for one chapter, which will be the next chapter. Sorry for making you wait! It will be up, have no fear.
And I'd like to thank all my reviewers, and since I actually have some time, I'd like to give a shout out to those wonderful people who reviewed last chapter.
risi- Thanks so much for sticking with the story! Yes, I actually have someone who sticks with the story! Sorry… Voldemort, you say… I have no idea what you are talking about… … …
An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin- First off, I love your username, though I have no idea what it means or anything. It's just cool. And thanks so much for the review! Hehe… I'm such a loser…
About Lydia's new "look," I just want to say that this is the seventies, so I tried to stick with that fashion, and I hope it wasn't too much. I wanted to give off the impression that Lydia was always pretty; she just couldn't see it without a little nudge. So, it wasn't meant to be one of those extreme things that they always do in fan fictions about Ginny, where she walks in the next day with a lip ring and a tube top. It was just sort of a realization thing.
So, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I appreciate anyone who reviews!
And check out my other stories if you're interested. They're a bit different from this, I am afraid.
PLEASE GIVE ME SOME LONG RAMBLY REVIEWS!