MissHardToPlease, must find it HardToRead, because this, my dear I-need-to-use-sarcasm-tags-I'm-that-crap-at-it, is a challenge fiction and is stated as one too. Also, mepsychology student, I think I know abit about projecting characteristics on to others. It is a rather popular way of repression. I am pushed to say that you are projecting your self as Hermione as a way to escape what ever it is, so you are putting your feelings on to me in means of repression. Then it is I who must suggest you seek help, hey if you wait for 4 years I will be able to offer you legal advice. You could come down to my office and everything, wouldn't that be great?

Ooo, it's not until your late teens you develop your identity fully, this means you're bound to differ from the 14/15 year old gal you once were.

So just for you, dear lass, I shall put the rules of the challenge and point out certain information you might find useful. And I won't bother putting gaps in between each one because you've wasted enough space already.

Has to be Hermione's last year. She is normal self, busy hair and what not (nothing was said about character). Draco and co tease her, (ok, you're being teased still going to be happy, maybe? That's do able). Ron, Harry and Ginny don't care about her (still happy, normal self?), Overhears Ron and Harry bitching about her (feeling depressed yet?), (this one you will like) she loses the will to live (I know I wouldn't throw myself of a tower just because of a few words, there has to be at least something else).

There is more but it doesn't really matter because I'm going in a different direction.

Daygonna, Elli, ghzowy, Innogen, katarina drew, DiscordantHarmony, Dark Secret1, JTBJAB, WannaBArtist, Dru, future movie maker, Dawneb, Transylvanian, BabyRuth15, kiss-of-cuteness, Taste's Like Home and Celi. Thanks a lot for the reviews. They mean a lot. jagnic233, thank you too.

Chapter 3

The wind numbed her skin, her hair fluttering widely behind her, torn clothes wiping around her. Hermione closed her eyes and embraced the peace she felt elope around her. No more, she would suffer no more. Her ears where ringing from the cold harsh wind. Her body falling towards the ground.

But was it worth it? Where they worth her life? She was weak. She was no Gryffindor. She was no strong minded witch. She was, Hermione, pain Jane Hermione. Death was all she had going for her.

"It doesn't have to be that way."

What the fuck? Snapping her eyes open, Hermione saw the face of what she assumed was a ghost. Would she be a ghost? She tried to speak but the wind was too harsh. Seeing this, the ghost stopped her falling. Hermione was terrified, she was hanging well over 100ft from the ground, wait a sec the ghost was talking, what was she saying?

"-I can change you, for a price. It doesn't have to be this way."

Working her mouth Hermione final question. "What? How? Why? Who are you?"

The ghost chucked. "My name is Bess. I can change you, to be what you want to be, for a price."

"A price?" Hermione was finding it hard to listen to what she was being told. She was plunging to her death only seconds ago. What was happening, was she already dead? Had she passed out and was now dreaming? It didn't make sense. "How?"

"I'm a trapped sprite and quite frankly, I don't want to be here. So I'm going to offer you a deal before you top yourself. You teenagers are so ungrateful, if I was your mother, god, you wouldn't behave in such a way." The woman's beautiful and fair face contorted as she began ranting, each new word changing her face into one of a beast. Her figure, once slim, growing to become large and disfigured. What sort of ghost was this? "Anyhow, I want to trade."

The woman's face and figure changed back to its original from, Hermione was reminded of Dr Hide and Mr. Jackal. "What do you mean? Who are you?"

"I'm Bess. I will make you how you want to be. For a price." Bess smiled a spoke softy, from her looks she was close to her forty's.

"What price?" Hermione felt as if she would welcome death even more so if the bloody woman didn't answer her.

"A swap, your life for my death." She spoke her voice manic.

"You stopped me for this? What do you mean you could change me?"

"I'm not allowed to just swap places with you, it has to be won. So I shall make you who you want to be, but to keep your life and your appearance you must fall in love and have that love returned and not for your looks either, this must be before the next full moon or I shall take your place and you shall take mine."

"The fall moon was the other night, its not enough time. Who could I fall I love with? No body will love me." Hermione felt her muscles begin to cramp, it wasn't everyday that she was stopped mid-free fall. It was like, time had frozen but the wind still passed over her and noises of the night was still heard.

"Then you have noting to lose and everything to gain. You are trying to kill yourself now aren't you? Why?"

"None of your business." Hermione Snapped, she could still feel the cold hands of Malfoy run across her skin. She was still willing to die, she had nothing to live for.

"You will be able to live as you wish to appear. Your feelings will not change, you will still want to kill yourself. This way, you won't die completely unhappy." Bess smiled widely, sharp razor teeth showed through. "After all you always have your looks. Have we got a deal?"

"I still want to die." Hermione said somberly. What difference could a month make. She would be able to look like who she thought she could be, if she did fall in love, she could keep it, if not it was a good experience. She had nothing to lose. "But you have a deal."

"That my dear, was the right answer." The ghost laughed a high pitched laugh that seemed to get louder and louder. Screwing her eyes shut and pulling her hands as to her ears. Hermione willed the noise to stop. It did and when she opened them, Hermione found that she was back in the astronomy-tower. Her robes were repaired and as she looked over herself to check to self if the marks were still there. They wasn't, but to Hermione's horror, on her left forearm was a countdown timer. It read…

'28 days, 2 hours, 15mins, 36 secs.

Not in love.'

Hermione spent the next few seconds watch the tattoo like numbers change. Thinking it was all some wild dream Hermione stood up and moved towards the door, she pulled back on the handle and there before her was Professor Snape. "Sorry Professor, I didn't mean to be out after curfew."

Professor stared dumbly at Hermione, a look completely unknown o her across he's face. "Who the fuck are you?"

"It's me, Hermione Granger." Hermione was shocked at what he had said, why didn't he recognize her? Then she remember what Bess had done, she didn't look like the old Hermione now.

"Bullshit." Pulling out he's wand Snape put a body blind on her before she had time to react. He then cast her to levitate, flosting her out of the tower and towards Professor's Dumbledore's Office. Snape was careful not to injure the girl as he made her way, she was rather easy on the eyes.

A/N so…how'd do you like it. Any body saw that coming? And ideas on what is going to happen next? This might be my last update until after Friday the 13th may, because that is my 18th birthday party and I've got so much to organize before. Thanks for reviewing.