Chapter 3 - Back at Hogwarts

Standing outside the great oak front doors of Hogwarts again made Hermione smile.

"You guys go ahead into the Great Hall. I'll meet you in there." Hermione said.

"Why, where are you going?" Ron asked.

"Oh I'm just going to to the toilet."

"Ok, well see you in a few minutes." She waved at her friends, then headed off to the girl's bathroom. On her way she bumped into Professor Mcgonagall, who was making her way to the Great Hall.

"Oh, hi Professor."

"Hello Hermione, where are you off to?"

"Just the bathroom."

"Right," Mcgonagall said starting to walk away, "Oh and Granger, when you see Malfoy tell him that you both have a meeting in my office tomorrow night at 7:00."

"I will, bye Professor." Hermione continued on her way to the toilet.

When she returned, Mcgonagall was already halfway through the start-of-term speech.

'"I'd also like to announce-" Mcgonagall was saying when the doors to the Great Hall flung open, and in waltzed Hermione. She glanced round the now silent room at everyone (they were all staring at her) and spotted Malfoy seated at the Slytherin table. She walked over to him, in a strut like manner with sass.

"Hey Malfoy? Mcgonagall said we have a meeting in her office tomorrow night at 7." She span round, one hand on her hip and began to strut off, when she felt him staring at her from behind. She stopped, without turning around, and said "Oh and Malfoy, stop staring at me. You have a girlfriend don't you..." She whipped her head round to look straight at him, "or do you see something that looks better." And she slowly turned her head back around and walked - with the whole room still staring at her - towards the Gryffindor table. She sat next to Ron and Neville, and Mcgonagall continued the speech.

When the speech was over and the feast had begun, everyone around her kept asking "Why are you dressed like that?", "What just happened with Malfoy? and "What happened on the train?". As rumors and gossip spread as fast as a cold in Hogwarts, Hermione finally gave in to her fellow Gryffindors and told them to meet her in the common room after the feast.

"So you're gonna tell them?" Ginny whispered in Hermione's ear.

"It would be worse not to."

"True." Ginny smiled.

The feast finished and the Gryffindors all quickly congregated in their common room. Hermione and Ginny were standing on top of one of the tables so that everyone could see them.

"Alright, so-" Hermione started but no one heard her over all the noise and commotion. "Guys listen up." But still nobody was listening. "Um Ginny, give me a hand?"

"OY! SHUT IT!" Ginny screamed over the din and the entire room wet silent. "Thank you."

"Alright, so you've all been asking me things and I thought this would be the best way to answer those questions. With everyone present. Ok, who's first?" Tons of hands shot up. "Umm, you in the back."

"Why are you dressed like that?"

"To shut Malfoy up. Next." Hermione wanted to get through this as quick as possible.

"Why are you trying to shut him up?" a girl at the front asked.

"Are you kidding? Are you seriously kidding?!" Ginny said.

"I was just asking."

"It's fine Gin, I'll tell them." Hermione said and told the room everything, from the train up till now. "Just don't mention this outside the common room or to anyone who isn't a Gryffindor. Thanks." Hermione concluded.

Just as everyone started to dismember, Ginny remembered something that hadn't yet been said.

"Oh and just before you leave, remember to act like this," She pointed at Hermione, "is all normal. Act like there hasn't been a change in Hermione. Ok now you can leave."

"Um Ginny?" Hermione asked, a bit confused.

"I just thought that if the Slytherins saw the Gryffindors acting like you were being a bit odd, you wouldn't get a moment's piece."

"Good thinking." Hermione smiled and hugged Ginny. She got down off the table that they were both still standing on. Ginny did the same.

"Oh Hermione, there was something else I wanted to mention - but just to you." Ginny said before Hermione scurried away to her dorm room.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I thought that on the next Hogsmeade weekend we could go clothes shopping. You know, to get you some clothes of your own. Because you're currently wearing mine…"

"Oops, sorry Gin."

"No no it's alright, I just figured you'd want some of your own."

"Yeah that sounds like a great idea. But…"

"But what?"

"There isn't a single clothes shop in Hogsmeade."

"Who said we'd be staying in Hogsmeade." Ginny stated with a wink and left for her dorm. Hermione shook her head and smiled. Ginny really was a great friend.

In her own dorm, Hermione was lying on her bed reading - as per usual. The door flung open and in came Lavender and Pavarti, talking about a new wizard band.

"But he's so cute. How can you not love him?!" Parvati was saying.

"I dunno but I think the other one is way cooler." Lavender replied.

"No because…" Hermione tuned them out, pulled the curtains around her bed and decided to go to sleep.

After lying there for about 15 minutes, she sighed. She couldn't sleep. Lavender and Parvati gone to sleep. Hermione was the only one still awake in her dorm room. She got up and decided she'd check if anyone was still in the common room.

Creeping down the spiral Gryffindor tower stairs, she discovered the common room to be empty. Hermione plonked herself down onto one of the armchairs and let her mind wander. She thought about school work at first, but that soon lead to head girl duties, which made her think about the meeting with Mcgonagall tomorrow evening. She wondered what Mcgonagall would talk to them about. Before she knew it, she'd fallen fast asleep.

Suddenly, Hermione was jetted awake by a strange poking feeling. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around her. She quickly located what had been poking her; a small house elf, who happened to be cleaning the common room, was standing on the arm of the chair staring at her.

"Hello." Hermione yawned to the little elf. The elf made an 'eep' sound and started cleaning. Taking this as a sign that the elf didn't want to talk, Hermione took herself off to bed. This time in her actual bed.

In the morning, Hermione awoke to hear Lavender and Pavarti having an argument about what sounded like a continuation of their conversation the previous night. She swung her legs off her bed and stood up. She gathered her clothes for the day (Ginny had lent her some) and scuttled into the bathroom that lead off their dorm to get ready.

5 minutes later she re-emerged, fully dressed with her hair and makeup done. All ready for the day. She slid past Lavender and Pavarti, not wanting to be drawn into their argument like had happened previously - many times. She went down into the common room, found Harry, Ron and Ginny and walked with them towards the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Mione, what are you gonna do in lessons. Like are you going to be, and I mean this in the best possible way, a Know-it-all or stay in character?" Ron asked her on the way to breakfast. She hadn't thought of that. She turned to Ginny for an answer, but Ginny and Harry were in the middle of kissing.

She glided through the doors to the Great Hall and, once again, everyone stared at her. She wasn't suppressed though, Hermione had made an extra effort today to ensure everyone would be stating at her...it would add to the effect she was going for.

She sat down at the Gryffindor table and began to butter some toast.

"Hey, um, Hermione?" Hermione turned around to see who had said her name. It was Colin Creevey, the photographer for the school newspaper.

"Oh, hey Colin. What's up?" Hermione said brightly.

"Can I get a picture of you for the school paper?"

"Oh, sure. Just make it quick."

"Cool," He took the picture. "Thanks." And he raced off out the doors. Hermione laughed and continued with her breakfast.