Disclaimer: Not mine, don't own it, just borrowing.
Author's Note: Alright, here is the edited version of the first chapter, which is still the same minus a few errors. Just a reminder, I'm sorry if the language is OC but I'm an American. This story is also going to fall into the realm of AU, for future reference because I find myself unable to write a fic with out containing Albus Dumbledore.
Hermione stared at the group of girls gathered in front of the fireplace with a surprising sense of longing, surprising at least to her. Logically, she usually found the topics girls her age spoke of boring and slightly foolish, but that never stopped her from wishing she could some how fit in with her peers. Sighing softly, she turned her attention back to the thick book on her lap, tucking a riotous lock of hair behind her ear, but another peal of laughter caught her attention once again. Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and Luna, who had been invited into the Gryffindor common room, were all leaning over a glossy paged magazine, which Hermione correctly guessed was the newest copy of Witches' Weekly. Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes amusedly, probably contains amazingly insightful articles, like '10 Easy Ways to Please Your Man.' Still, if someone looked close enough, they would have been able to detect a wistful gleam in her deep chocolate eyes.
However, even though Hermione had correctly identified the magazine as well as the theme of the articles within, she would have been surprised if told the girls' conversation had very little to do with the magazine in front of them. In fact the magazine had been an idea of Ginny's, who could out-Slytherin the most devious Slytherin of them all, to discourage any one from interrupting them. And by any one, Ginny mostly had the mind to keep the boys of Hogwarts away, who would need more courage than Godric Gryffindor himself to interrupt a group of girls while they were discussing whatever girls talked about. Ginny's main goal for secrecy, as she was undoubtedly the leader even though she was the youngest, was that she had a plan.
As Voldemort had been defeated at the end of the Dream Team's sixth year, those closest to the action, although supremely relieved that the Dark Lord himself was currently food for the daises, were suffering from the acute symptoms of boredom. And while the seventh years should be worrying about their N.E.W.T.s, even Hermione would agree that there was only so much studying one could do. Which all ultimately lead back to Ginny's mastermind of a plan, which the redhead herself could admit was quite brilliant.
The Plan, Ginny was beginning to think of it as just that, something that deserved capitalization as it was that grandiose of an idea, came to her as she was sitting staring into the fire one day, brooding over the fact that the Boy-who-lived-to-ignore-her, was doing just that, seeing her only as Ron's little sister. As she thought of all the times she had wanted to do something about her Harry Situation, which also deserved capitalization, only to back out of it at the end, the Plan began to develop. The Plan was complicated, it was risky and might just break a million and one Hogwart's rules, but the Plan was still bloody brilliant.
Steeping her hands together and lost in thought, Ginny looked very much like a muggle mad scientist, and if any of the Hogwarts boys knew what she was planning, they probably would agree with that assessment. However, the first step of the Plan was to some how convince one Hermione Jane Granger to not only be part of the Plan, but also become a fellow mastermind. And that was a potential problem, a big potential problem. Still, Ginny knew that Hermione often could be tempted to do something that was often outside the realm of logical Hermione actions. She was friends with Harry and Ron after all. Plus, Ginny knew the one thing that would make Hermione join the Plan, she knew her secret.
Turning once more to the girls in front of her, who knew the basics of the Plan, but not the details, a smile graced her lips that Mona Lisa herself would have been proud of. "Listen up, girls," Ginny couldn't help the rush of excitement that bubbled through her system. "If you are still interested in joining the Plan, then meet me at Honeyduke's at 3 sharp this weekend, alright?" The girls nodded excitedly, before dispersing, correctly identifying the meeting as over.
Taking a deep breath, and quickly going over the practiced speech in her head, Ginny Weasley stood up and moved to take the next step of her Plan, convince Hermione that it was a brilliant idea. The bushy haired girl, whose hair had honestly settled down quite prettily over the years, looked up from her book to watch her red headed friend as she headed toward her resolutely, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Hey 'Mione." Ginny settled her small compact body on the couch next to her friend, studying her nails with a practiced air of nonchalant boredom.
Hermione, quite familiar with this unpracticed air, closed her book with a soft snap. "What are you planning, Ms. Weasley?" Her voice was the perfect pitch of the suspicious professor.
Letting a mock shudder run through her slim frame, Ginny looked over at her friend with dancing brown eyes. "Who says I'm planning anything, Professor Granger?"
Hermione laughed, although she was still just as wary of what her friend had in mind. Last time Ginny was glowing with excitement, Hermione had to undergo an excruciating girls' night full of spa treatment and juicy gossip. Of course, Hermione didn't have the worst night of her life and it did end in her finally being able to somewhat tame her hair, but on principle she had to be suspicious of an excited Ginny. "Don't play innocent with me, Ginevra Molly Weasley."
Ginny continued to studying her innocently, making Hermione finally give in to the redhead's unrelenting stare. Dropping her eyes to her book before slowly standing up and smoothing her pleated skirt with one hand, she turned her eyes heavenward. "Let's go to my room." Hermione didn't even have time to blink before Ginny was pulling her up the stairs to her room.
Ending Notes: In the next chapter all (or most of it) shall be revealed…