Hermione hid in her room for the remainder of the weekend, not even bothering to leave for meals. The curtains on her bed were drawn most of the time, and she went in and out of sleep, tired from crying in the interim. The few times she had peaked her head out of her sheets, there would be a muffin or cookies and some tea left on her nightstand. She assumed, and correctly so, that it was from Luna.

She eventually opened the letters from her brother and mother. They had found out about the article a few hours before the post arrived and wrote immediately. The letter from her mother was a lot to say the least.

Hermione,

I never thought you would do this to me and our family. First, you deny being in the spotlight. A fate I accepted for you at first, but then I needed you- we needed you to step up and you won't do it. You had your poor mother begging and you still won't. So, was it out of spite that you posed for the cameras at this party?

Not only, were you dressed very inappropriately, but you were also throwing yourself all over that young man. I do not care what you do behind closed doors, however I will not have you parading around in public like this. At least you picked someone that comes from a family with a good background. You should bring him to the holiday gala if you have a serious interest in him. If not, I will have to find you a suitable date.

If you care about your family, you will first off change your hair back at once. Secondly, you will start acting like you are a woman of stature. I love you very much, but we all want what is best for the whole family.

Think about your actions,

Mother

HRH Maria Grimadli, Princess of Monaco

Her brothers letter however, was slightly more understanding:

'Mione,

Mother thinks that you landed yourself in the newspaper with that boy on purpose. I however do like to think I know you a bit better than that. I'm sorry they infiltrated the school to find you. I know how much you value your privacy, and your world at Hogwarts must be flipping over right now.

Whatever the intentions, I appreciate you for putting yourself out there for me, and for our family. You are the best sister and I hope you know that I only want what's best for you. That being said I am unsure if this boy is that. I do not know much about him besides his well off family, and mediocre quidditch skills, but I have heard rumors about him, and I'm sure you know them so I won't bother you with the details. I trust your judgement of his character, if he proves himself worthy of a princess, I hope to meet him soon.

Just be careful,

Alex

Hermione did not know how to move forward. All she knew was she did not want to be seen. Even going to the bathroom was a challenge. When she forgot to change her hair the first trip to the toilet, all the girls stopped and stared at her, as if she were a lion in the zoo. If she changed her looks to something unrecognizable, she would still hear the girls in the Ravenclaw bathroom talking about her.

Hermione returned to her room, after being in the bathroom, where she overheard Padma and Mandy commenting how they thought Draco must have known she was a princess because it was the only way someone could be interested in someone like her. She slammed the door with tears filling her eyes. When she turned around, there was Luna, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"You can't listen to them" Luna said, already knowing what had upset her.

Hermione shrugged, "Are you still mad at me?"

"Never" Luna smiled, "I just thought I was going to have a night with Ginny… and you too of course."

"Well we can have a girl's night anytime as long as its in this room, seeing as I'm never going to be able to leave."

"Unfortunately, you have to" Luna said, "Professor McGonagall asked me to tell you she requests your presence in her study."

Hermione sighed, "well there's no way I can get there unnoticed."

"Go as me."

"What?"

"Well everyone saw me walk in here" Luna explained, "so take my outfit and become me, they won't look at you twice."

"You're smarter than you let people believe" Hermione said, "thank you Luna."

"Anything for a friend."

Luna gave Hermione her clothes, and Hermione turned herself into Luna.

"Well now I can say I know what its like to have a twin" Luna said.

Hermione smiled, and before leaving said to Luna, "Forgive Ginny too. She cares about you lot, but she isn't always good at showing it."

Draco couldn't keep in mind focused all weekend. At quidditch practice he couldn't keep his eyes on the snitch let alone his ass on the broom, as he was almost knocked off several times. He knew there was no way that the reporter found out who Hermione was without any help. His first thought was that it was Harry- the only other "socialite" the column focused on besides himself and Hermione.

Saturday after the Slytherin practice, the Gryffindor team was getting ready for their practice, when Draco grabbed Harry as he exited the locker room.

"What the bloody hell do you want, Malfoy?"

"Did you do this to Hermione?" He questioned immediately, leaving no room for small talk.

"What?"

"Did you tell the expose her to the prophet because you're mad at her"

"No, why would I do that?" Harry asked.

"Well it's not a little-known fact that you hate me, Potter. So, I don't doubt that you hate the fact that Hermione likes me even more."

"Despite my feelings about you, Malfoy, I would never expose someone like that, especially Hermione" Harry answered truthfully, "The prophet has done things to me" he paused, "to us, that we wouldn't wish on our worst enemy, let alone a friend."

Malfoy nodded, "okay Potter, I believe you" he said distancing himself from his enemy, "get in a good practice you're going to need it when Slytherin kicks your ass after the holiday."

Harry rolled his eyes, before stalking off to where Ron was waiting for him to start practice.

On Sunday Morning, Draco laid in bed still staring at the paper, looking for something to point him in the right direction. As he looked at the group picture that's when it hit him, Pansy. He stalked into the common room where she sat in the corner reading a book.

Draco threw the paper down on the table, "talk" he demanded.

Pansy picked her head up and looked and him, "Good Morning, Draco."

"Don't good morning Draco me, after what you did."

She sighed closing her book, "enlighten me, what did I do?"

"Don't deny it Parkinson I know you ratted out Hermione to the prophet."

"I did no such thing."

"Oh, so you being the only other student in the picture named and talked about is just a per coincidence?" he questioned.

"Okay look", Pansy explained, "your mother owled me." Draco groaned knowing exactly where this was going. "She said that your family hasn't gotten good press in a while and wanted to know if there was anything going on with you that she could give to the prophet to drum up a bit of a stir. I did not know that Hermione was a secret princess!"

Draco sighed, "why did you even respond to her?"

"Because she's your mother Draco, and you know she wouldn't stop at me if I didn't answer! All I said was that you were seeing Hermione Granger, and going to the Halloween dance together. I guess she know Hermione's little disguise and took care of the rest herself." Pansy looked genuinely sorry as she reached for Draco's hand, "look Hermione isn't my favorite, and I'm sure I'm not hers, but I would never have done that intentionally. If I knew I would've just tried to make her my friend, which I'm sure is out the window now."

"Well between everything going on I'd be surprised if she even talked to me anymore."

"Wait why? It's not like you planned this to happen."

"It's not just this" Draco ran his hands through his hair, and leaned into whisper, "I'm pretty sure she saw it Friday night."

"It?" Pansy questioned.

"It" Draco said gesturing to his arm.

"Oh, bloody hell. Did she say anything?"

"No, but I could tell in the way she rushed out in the morning, and then she didn't let me touch her at breakfast yesterday. I don't know it seemed like she was trying too hard to act normal you know?"

"Well maybe the chaos of everything will make her forget" Pansy said.

Draco nodding, hoping that Pansy was right.

Hermione knocked lightly on Professor McGonagall's door in the hopes that she wouldn't hear, and Hermione could turn around and return to her bed.

Unfortunately, the door creaked open, and Hermione was greeted by a rather casual Minerva, dressed in a velour track suit, red of course. "Come in miss Granger. You make a very convincing miss Lovegood."

Hermione chuckled, "I did think it was time Luna's long-lost twin come join her at Hogwarts."

"Unfortunately, we only have room for one Lovegood at a time here. Sit." She said pointing at the chair across from her desk, "Tea?" she asked, but less of a question and more of a statement as she slid the full mug in front of Hermione. "and I'd hate to agree with your mother, but it's about time we put to rest these series of blondes you've erected for yourself, mhm?"

Hermione changed her looks back to her signature, father look alike, dark features.

"Now I know this is not how you wanted things to go"

"That's to say the least" Hermione mumbled.

"But you cannot let it deter you" McGonagall said firmly.

"It's easier said than done, you don't have people staring at you for something you were just born into."

"Very true, but you cannot keep hiding."

"I'm not hiding I'm just- "

Hermione was cut off by McGonagall's glare, she could clearly see right through Hermione. "Look at Potter. He's not perfect, but you don't see him hiding his scar every day. You need so summon up some courage."

"I'm not a Gryffindor for a reason."

"You may not be a Gryffindor, but you are a Forte- maybe not in whatever last name you or your family chooses, but very clearly in more ways than just this look." McGonagall gestured towards her, "your father would not let you hide like this, we both know that. Not in the same way your mother wants you out and photographed. He would not want you to hide away and stop your life because of this. Quite frankly he would be outside mooning all the photographers, like when they found out he was dating your mother."

Hermione chuckled at the mention of a story she had heard quite a lot, "I know I just can't put myself out for everyone to see like my mother wants me to."

"So, don't do it how she wants you to. It's your life, Hermione, do it your way. Take control of the narrative."

Hermione sighed knowing she was right, "I'll try professor, really I will."

"Good, now write your mother back and tell her I gave you great advice and didn't make fun of her once" McGonagall took a sip of her tea, "that woman does not know how to leave someone alone until she gets what she wants."

"You're preaching to the choir" Hermione said standing up.

"Oh, and Granger" McGonagall added, looking up at Hermione over her glasses, "do be careful with Malfoy. He's a good boy, just needs better people around him."

Hermione wandered through the empty halls, wondering what taking control of her own life would look like.