Summary: Looking at her, he thought that the war heroine needed a savior. "I'm not a hero." Hermione said in a choked voice. "In fact, I don't even know who I am anymore." "I'm here for you. If that helps." "You know what… I decided not to be Hermione Granger anymore. So you better move fast and confirm the rumor that the missing heiress, Amelia Jane Zabini is back." A grin crossed his face as she stood up in a regal fashion showing every bit of a pureblood that she really is.
From a different Angle
iloveapplejuice
Pansy Parkinson stood in front of a mirror in a clothing shop in Hogsmeade wondering if this dress compliments her figure that well. Pushing aside the curtains of her dressing room, she stepped out and modeled the dress in a confident manner in front of her shopping mates. She couldn't call them friends for she barely knew their names. All she knows is that they were all here because they are suck ups. Their sole purpose in this world, she believes, is to make sure that she stays on top of the social ladder so they could worship her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the golden not-so trio anymore. Potty and his sidekick were with their girlfriends and she pondered upon the words of Draco at the last meeting. She scanned the area for the bookworm and saw her sitting by a chair that was almost hidden by a rack of robes. She squinted her eyes at how the bookworm's 'bestfriends' seem to be ignorant of her presence. She smiled wickedly as an amusing thought came to her mind.
She made a show of beckoning three salesladies to her side to carry the stuff she purchased and paid nonchalantly the amount needed. Lavender Brown and Ginny Weasley scoffed at her while she just gave them a patronizing smirk. She turned her head towards her target and saw that Loony Lovegood or whatever her name is, was chatting animatedly at her. 'Atleast, she's not completely alone.' But then as sooner as she thought this, Loony went outside the shop and Hermione was left pathetically alone again.
She didn't want to acknowledge the situation that she was in a tight spot and that her conversation with Draco at the meeting kept replaying in her mind. 'Whatever…' she thought, 'Draco owes me big time for this.'
"Go back to Hogwarts." She ordered the suck ups and then slowly walked towards Hermione when they were gone. "Let's go Mia." Pansy took her hand and dragged her outside of the shop. It was time for a makeover.
"Hermione! Where are you going with that slut?" Ginny Weasley shouted at their back and even if a nerve was threatening to pop at Pansy's head she still continued on walking.
Suddenly Hermione was spun around by Ginny as she gripped her other arm. At this, Pansy turned around and glared at the redhead. "In case you haven't noticed Weaselette…"she hissed menacingly, "She's going shopping with me. Since your crew are a bunch of losers who have no inkling of logic in your stupid minds." She gave her a withering look and then smiled while refusing to let go of the speechless Headgirl. She looked at Ginny up and down with a raised eyebrow. "I'd invite you to join us in our shopping spree but then again you'd be of no use to us because you have no sense of fashion and you can't afford our taste because you're poor." She gave Hermione a tug and they walked away.
Pansy walked in a leisurely manner while Hermione tried her best to fasten up their phase because she knew that Ginny wouldn't let them get away just like that without having either one of them sporting a black eye. But then again, she admired Pansy for standing up for her.
"Well… I'll see you around." Hermione was about to go the other way when she was yanked back to face Pansy.
"We're going shopping, remember?" Pansy said as she dragged her towards another but more expensive shop.
"But… I thought you were kidding!"
"Do I look like I'm kidding." She flipped her straight blonde hair and went inside the shop.
After going to numerous shops and a trip to a spa and salon center, Hermione walked side by side with Pansy Parkinson as they headed back to Hogwarts. It irked her that she was in a situation that, never in her wildest imagination, made Pansy and her almost like… friends.
"Do you have a date for the upcoming ball?" Pansy said while checking her French-manicured nails. She casted a sideways glance at Hermione. She thought that she looked pretty. Her hair fell in elegant waves, her cheeks were rosy, her lips were pink, she had milky complexion and her eyes were brown and seemed to be sparkling. She approved of her new clothes that she expertly chose.
"No. I don't need one. I'll just be there for a couple of minutes. You know, open the ball with a short speech and then have the first dance with Justin since it's a tradition for the Head students. After that… I'll…"
"Hide in your room." Pansy finished for her. They were already on Hogwarts grounds. They stopped walking at the same time and faced each other.
"No… I."
"Oh right!" Pansy clapped her hands as if she remembered something. "You'll hide in the library!" she was about to walk away when Hermione shouted.
"What's up with you Slytherins? You act so nice towards me and then what? You find me boring so you start insulting me again!"
Pansy turned around, anger welling up inside her. Her patience was gone and she wanted to get through the girl's thick head. "Look, Mia, I'm not here to be your enemy. I'm here to teach you a lesson. And that is to stop acting like a scared little Hufflepuff and start acting like the war heroine that they say you are." She jabbed her finger at her repeatedly.
They were both breathing heavily and their eyes were blazing with such strong emotions.
"I'm not a hero." Hermione said in a choked voice. "In fact, I don't even know who I am anymore."
Pansy looked away knowing what she meant.
They walked towards the castle together. When they were inside, Pansy held Hermione's hand and looked straight ahead. Hermione smiled at this and breathed a sigh of relief.
'Draco was right.' She thought fondly. 'Slytherins do know when their friends are hurting.'
Blaise Zabini and Max Aurelius both stood in the sidelines and watched with amusement as the two girls passed by.
"That was unexpected." Blaise smiled as she watched their retreating forms. He raked his hands through his hair and then leaned on the wall. "All these crazy things happening for the past three months are making me dizzy."
Max leaned on the wall opposite Blaise and nodded. He was feeling the same way. "Inform the members that our next meeting will commence this coming Friday. Same time, same place."
They both scanned the area for possible eavesdroppers and then left when they were sure that it was clear to go.
Dean Thomas was the only student in the Gryffindor common room that night. The students were all in the Great Hall for dinner and his friends Harry, Ron and Seamus were in their room to finish their packing for the Christmas holidays. He was finishing up his Transfigurations essay when somebody entered through the portrait hole.
"Hello Dean." All he could do was gape at the girl in front him. He blushed when she waved her hand in front of his face and asked if he was coming down with a fever.
"Hermione?" She laughed a little and confirmed his question. "You look good." He smiled at her.
"Do you know where…"
"They're upstairs, packing." He said immediately knowing that she was looking for her bestfriends. He noticed that she had a puzzled expression on her face so he continued talking while accompanying her up to their room. "It's really bad that you couldn't join us for the holidays. You know, going to Romania with the Weasleys will be a blast so I hope you'll change your mind. But I wouldn't blame you ofcourse. Ginny said that you didn't want to go because you'll be in Paris with your parents and all. So, I hope you don't mind that I took the spare ticket you rejected." They stopped in front of a door that said 'seventh years'.
Dean looked at her hopefully and then Hermione smiled at him to show that she didn't mind. But deep inside her, she was reeling with thoughts. Breathing was suddenly difficult for her and her vision was already blurry. Dean opened the door for her and she entered first.
"Hi guys." She said warmly, trying to forget about Romania, the tickets and Ginny.
"Oh, hullo Hermione." Harry stopped his packing as if he was caught red- handed with a crime that he was ashamed of.
"Wow, you look nice." Seamus whistled and Ron threw a red sweater at him.
"Uh… I hope you enjoy your vacation in Romania." She turned around and left immediately.
She walked aimlessly in the castle. She wanted to cry but she didn't have the energy. The hollow feeling in her stomach was back again. She went inside an empty classroom and sat on a chair. She stayed there for an hour until Ginny found her and then sat next to her.
"I forgive you." The redhead said without looking at her. Her face was void of any emotion.
"Funny, I ought to be the one saying that." A tingling fire was inside Hermione and she vaguely recalls how familiar it was to her.
Ginny stood up and slammed her hands at Hermione's desk as she faced her with anger burning in her eyes. Hermione, on the other hand, remained seated.
"Really?"
"Yes, really." Hermione answered haughtily. The fire inside her started to grow rapidly and she liked it. Confidence rushed inside her veins throughout her body and she gave Ginny a defiant look.
Ginny shook her head and turned around. "What happened to you Hermione? You're not the Hermione Granger I used to know."
"Yes, you're right. But then, I wanted to remain as Hermione Granger. But all of you pushed me away just because of a simple name."
"That's not true!" Ginny shouted. She turned around and then recoiled when she saw how sad her friend was.
"Yes it is! And you know what… I decided not to be Hermione Granger anymore after I learned that you, and my so-called friends, decided to have a happy trip to Romania. So what do you think Weasley? You better move fast and confirm the rumor that the missing heiress, Amelia Jane Zabini is back."
The fire inside Hermione was overpowering and it made her feel good. She watched as Giny left hurriedly as soon as the last word left her lips. After a few minutes, she stood up and exited only to find Blaise leaning casually at the wall, with his arms crossed.
He smiled at her in a mocking way but she didn't feel any resentment towards him. "So you finally acknowledge that you're a real Zabini huh?"
Brother, what an annoying word.
Working duration: Two hours. (April 21, 2007)
Number of words: (excluding title and end notes) 1, 805
iloveapplejuice: I would like to thank you for reading my fic and hope to hear from you through a review. I would also like to notify the readers that I would be updating twice a week but in some circumstances, like writer's block or burst of plot bunnies, updates may differ. The normal and standard length per chapter is 1805 words.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and other things associated with it such as characters, places, events, etc. are owned by J.K. Rowling and other publishing houses. I gain no profit through this story.