Again, a huge thank you for all of the reviews. Right, sorry but this chapter is a little uneventful (in my opinion) but it takes me quite nicely to the next chapter and, for further chapters. But I'll let you guys decide for yourselves. Thanks for reading Kate

It was Sunday already, and thanks to Fred and George I had spent the most part of the weekend confined to the common room or to my dorm.

I had ventured out for a while, but people gave me strange looks, passing comments or sniggered behind my back, which I really wasn't too fussed about, I mean, if the shoe was on the other foot and all, well, I would have done the same thing. I did even laugh with them, it was I suppose, quite amusing.

But that all changed when I bumped in Pansy Parkinson, and lets just say a world war nearly erupted. So, I thought the best course of action was to stay hidden, just for that day anyway, I was after all, still quite touchy of the whole subject. However, today was a new day and I really didn't give a damn as to what people thought, in fact, it had kind of grown on me and I was beginning to quite like it. It was different at least!

After one almighty row late Friday evening, I finally got the truth out of the twins. They told me they had brought some sweets from Zonko's a few weeks ago and were desperate to try them out on someone, but hadn't found anyone worthy enough.

"And then we saw you sleeping Anna, so innocent and peaceful, well, we just couln't help it could we George?" Fred had said to me with huge puppy dog eyes.

But I was having none of it, no amount of puppy dog eyes would be getting around me, well not just then anyway.

Anyway as it so happens, Fred and George decided to finely crush up one of the sweets and slowly feed it to me while I was sleeping soundly. The sweets as you can guess, being from Zonko's, were no ordinary sweets, they were in fact hair colorant! But again, being from Zonko's they were not your nice "normal" hair colours like chocolate browns, or soft blonds, oh no that would have been far to simple. No these were bright vibrant ones that changed colour whenever they bloody well felt like it!

So far it had been a number of colours; I'd had yellow, blazing fire red, electric blue, bright pink and a lovely shade of lime green. Yes, Fred and George had done a great job, I most definitely owed them one, and would not forget to return the favour one day!!!!

I had stared the day by finishing off homework that needed doing, and to my surprise I had done it by lunch time. I grabbed a quick bite to eat, proudly showing off my lovely cerise locks to all that laughed at me in the Great Hall, then made my way down to the quidditch pitch to meet the others.

I wasn't on the team myself and just like Hermione, I much preferred to keep my feet firmly on the ground, thank you very much. I wouldn't call myself a huge quidditch fan, I could take it or leave it really, and the only time I ever really got excited about it was when Gryffindor were playing (Oh, and not forgetting some of the best matches were when we had our old captain and keeper Oliver Wood. I wouldn't take my eyes off the game then, or should I say take my eyes off him!! Now there was dish if I ever did see one, very yummy indeed.)

I spotted Hermione, sitting on one of the many benches. Her head buried firmly into a book; I made my way over and sat down beside her.

Looking up she smiled "Get all your homework done?"

"Yeah" I said dully as I got myself comfy.

"So" she said a little excitedly as she placed the book down on her lap "did you see the notice this morning?"

"No, what notice?"

"There's going to be a Halloween ball, for fourth years and up, isn't that great?"

Nope, that was not great and was definitely news to me.

I narrowed my eyes slightly as I pondered on why I did not know about this. Last time there had been a dance, it was all the girls could talk about for weeks and weeks. The common room would usually be in a state of panic because they didn't know what they were going to wear or who they would be going with.

I groaned inwardly, oh flipping great!!

I turned to Hermione who beamed with delight.

"I never saw any notice and I most definitely haven't heard all the fuss the girls usually make over this kind of thing. So why don't I know about this?"

"Did you actually look on the notice board?" she asked knowingly

"Um...well no but..."

"Then there you go. All the girls have been talking about it Anna, but as you know yourself you do quite often live in your own little word, and only hear things that you want to hear."

I looked at her thoughtfully before shrugging "S'pose" I said a little gloomily at the thought of nearly all the girls in school talking of noting else up until the ball, then for weeks afterwards.

You see I really was nothing like them. There were girls and there were boys, and then there was me! I didn't really fit into either category. Like my oh so lovely grandmother (note the sarcasms) used to pride herself in telling me "You're a strange one Anna, a strange one indeed. Whatever did your parents do to deserve such a child? Only Merlin knows Anna, only Merlin knows" It was such a shame when the old bat died!

I sat there listening to Hermione get all excited about the ball and couldn't help the small smile that crept on my lips. Just because I couldn't see what all the fuss was about didn't mean I should spoil all the fun for Hermione.

"What do you think Anna, a nice rich blue, or a deep red dress? I mean it would be nice to look the part, its not every day you get to dress up like this and make a good impression now is it."

I raised an eye "A good impression huh!" I said teasingly "So who are we trying impress then? It wouldn't happen to be a certain redhead now would it? Someone who just so happens to be playing a friendly game of quidditch over there with his best friend, brothers and sister?"

She opened her mouth to protest but nothing came out, instead her cheeks went redder than my hair was yesterday. She broke eye contact and started to fidget nervously.

I leaned over towards her and whispered, "You don't need a fancy dress to impress him Hermione, I think you do that already."

Her head shot up and she looked at me wide-eyed "Do you really think so?"

"I know so. Come on Hermione, its so obvious you two are crazy about one another, but your both too bloody stubborn to admit it."

She looked at me slightly shocked "Is it really that noticeable?"

"Yes, to everyone else except you two that is."

She lowered her head and stared playing with her fingernails "But...b-but what if h-he doesn't like me, in that w-way I mean."

"Ha, are you kidding me" I shouted, not meaning to "He's crazy about you"

She lifted her head and looked around slightly embarrassed "Shush, keep your voice down."

"Sorry" I whispered, "Look Hermione, Ron is absolutely crazy about you, as I know you are about him too. So get and ask him to the ball before someone else does."

"Me, ask him!"

"Yes you. This isn't the eighteenth century you know, girls nowadays can actually ask out boys."

I paused at the sheer look of terror on her face "Ok, how about if I have a word? Just a few subtle hints here and there, or maybe even get Harry to have a chat with him."

"Oh I don't know" she said nervously as she still absentmindedly played with her fingernails,

I sighed heavily "Hermione, I really don't mean to be rude or anything, as you know I love Ron to bits, but lets face it, he's not exactly the quickest off the mark when it comes to girls now, is he? And unless you do something about it or let Harry and I help...well, lets face it, he wont."

She nodded then silence followed for a minute before she spoke again "You know Anna, I envy you sometimes"

"WHAT" I chocked out in astonishment "You, Hermione Granger envies me...why!" I said completely puzzled

She shrugged "Oh I don't know...you, you just seem to have this extraordinary confidence. I don't just mean with with boys either, it's in every thing you do. You don't seem to care what anyone thinks, you always hold your head up high no matter what. I mean just look at what Fred and George have done to your hair, if that had happened to me I would not have dared to go out. Ok, so you were angry, but today you couldn't careless and here you sit with lilac hair."

I frowned "Lilac?"

Hermione nodded "Yeah it turned lilac a few minuets ago"

Lilac, great!

I shrugged it off for now as she carried on "...you talk to anyone and always have a laugh and guys just seem to love you...I know I go on sometimes and usually disagree with your behaviour, but, but there's a part of me that wishes I could be just like you"

Wow that was deep!!

I didn't reply straight away. Her words had taken me aback, but after a few seconds I soon found my tongue.

I chuckled dryly "Believe me Hermione, being me, isn't so fantastic. I'm always in trouble...well nearly always, though you don't need telling that. I can never seem to keep my extremely larger than average mouth shut, again you don't need telling that either! Yes, I do have confidence but far too much...believe me, it really isn't a good thing at times. Boys only love me, as you put it, because basically I act like one of them. They see me more as a mate, a buddy, one of the lads. When they think of me they don't think, ohh Anna De'lore she's hot or, I'd love to date her, it's more along the lines of, yeah Anna De'lore, she's always up for a laugh, she's one of us...so you say there's a part of you that wants to be like me...well there's a part of me that wants to be like you. I'd love to be a good student and a hell of a lot quieter...I'd love to be able to hold my tongue. Merlin I'd even like to have a few more female friends...you know, you and Ginny are the only girls I can stand to be around for loner than a few minuets? But that's what makes us who we are. I am who I am, and you wouldn't be the Hermione I know and love if you were anything different." I finished, quite surprised at myself for actually having a serious conversation for once.

Yeah, go me.

She smiled sweetly "I suppose your right, and thanks Anna...you know for, for just listening."

"Your welcome,"

"Oh and by the way" she said while raising an eye "You may be interested to know that not all guys see you as one of the lads, I've seen a fair few give you the look Anna."

I stared at her wide-eyed, a little shocked "Well I'll be buggered"

The two of us giggled.

XXXX

The friendly game of quidditch had been going on now for quite a while. It was Fred, George and Dean against Harry, Ron and Ginny and the score was even at 40-40, and was far from the most exciting game in the world.

Although I still wasn't talking to Fred and George, I really couldn't help but laugh at the underhanded tactics they used to wind up poor old Ron. I couldn't hear what they were saying to him, but Ron was giving them death glares and had lost total concentration on the game. But that was as eventful as it got and I had had enough.

"Right that's it, I'm off, you coming?" I asked a rather tempted looking Hermione.

"...Um, I...no, I'll wait for them."

"Sure?" I asked, knowing that she would love nothing more than to come with me. But knowing that she was a lot nicer of a person than I, she would stay no matter what.

"Yep, I'm sure" she said, just as I had predicted.

I stood up and shrugged "Ok then if your sure. Um if they ask tell them I..."

"Tell them you got bored and will meet them back in the common room later" she said cutting me off "I think we all know that off by heart now Anna" she smiled

I smiled back "See ya later."

I headed for the nearest exit and trudged down the hundreds of steps as quickly as I could. Unbelievably, I managed it without doing my usual trick of tripping over and breaking something, namely me.

I walked in the direction of the castle without any real clue of where I was going or what to do with myself when I got there. You see, that was one of my biggest problems, I got bored very, very easily, which quite often resulted in me entertaining myself, mostly doing things I shouldn't be doing, hence why I was in trouble more often than not.

I had a short attention span, both in and out of the classroom and how on earth I managed to get O's and E's in my OWLS was a complete mystery, I mean, I never listened half the time!

I decided to take the long way, and walk right around the castle to occupy myself and to pass the time. I cut along the grass in the direction of the small dirt path that stretched from one side of the castle to the other.

I walked slowly, enjoying the warm sun that heated up my body and soon found myself once again, in my own little word, oblivious to all around me.

My thoughts were on the damn dance and all the excitement surrounding it, and wondered if I could really be bothered going. I'd be quite happy and contented up in the common room by myself, but I knew Hermione would never stand for that and would insist that I go.

The other thing that I dreaded was finding a bloody dress. Number one: I hated shopping and number two: I hated dresses.

Maybe I could write a letter to my mother and she could go find me one, she loved all that rubbish, and would spend hours and hours shopping until she found the perfect one. I on the other hand, positively hated it and would pick up the first thing I came to and be done with it. I just hoped that she wasn't too angry with the letter that was sent home, but then again, I don't suppose she expected anything else from me. They had in fact grown immune to my bad and mischievous behaviour!

XXXX

Draco Malfoy lazed on the grass along with Blaise and his two minions Crabbe and Goyal. It felt good not to be stuck in the castle, and to take full advantage of the sun while it lasted before winter finally took over.

He and Blaise had found this quiet spot back in second year. It was farther away from the main part of the castle and a lot quieter.

Not many people ventured around this far, preferring to take the much shorter routes or, to stay by the lake. A few students passed by now and again, mainly couples desperate for a quite spot to make out without getting caught.

He and Blaise had been talking animatedly about his favourite subject, girls. They had been desperately trying to out do one another, and of course Draco was the clear winner though Blaise was not too far behind.

The conversation had faltered as the four of them sat in a momentary silence. Draco stretched out and placed his hands beneath his head.

"Fancy some quidditch practice?" asked Blaise hopefully "It's getting rather boring."

Draco simply grunted a response "Later perhaps." For some reason he couldn't quite find the energy, even for quidditch!

He lay there, blankly looking up at a clear blue sky with not a single thought in his head. It was surprisingly nice and relaxing to have absolutely nothing going on up top for a change. But that all changed when Blaise spoke again.

"Hay Draco, look who's coming."

Draco sighed and rolled his eyes, irritated by the interruption but lifted his head and looked in the direction Blaise had indicated.

He frowned slightly as he saw a small figure with bright lilac hair, walking along the small dirt path in their direction.

He squinted slightly to get a better view, then suddenly it dawned on him as he remembered what Pansy Parkinson had told him yesterday.

"Her hair Draco, I am not kidding you it was yellow! Can you believe it? The stupid mudblood lover, actually came out looking like that. Just shows how pathetic and common she is. No decorum what so ever, filthy blood tratior."

He chuckled inwardly to himself; only she, would go around like that and not give a damn. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Pansy had been wrong, it had nothing to do with decorum she was just simply, different.

Completely forgetting all the anger he felt days ago, he couldn't help the huge smirk that played on his lips, "De'lore" he muttered quietly to himself, before turning to Blaise.

"You said you were bored Blaise. Well, lets change that shall we?" he said cockily.

Blaise smirked back and nodded.

Draco studied her as she waked up the path, in a complete world of her own. Absolutely oblivious to anything or anyone around her.

She looked slightly different, well who wouldn't with lilac hair! But aside from that, being in her muggle clothes made a big difference. A pair of faded jeans rested lightly on her hips, a white fitted t-shirt showed off the shape of her body (which from what he could see didn't look all that bad!). Her jumper had been tied around her waist, which covered up the little bit of exposed flesh that would have been visible where her top and jeans didn't quite meet.

Her hair was loose for once, not tied back in the usual manner and not in the terrible state it was in on Friday. Today it was neat and tidy, like hair should be. It was just a shame really that it was lilac!

He called over to her a number of times, but as normal she had zoned out clearly immersed in her own thoughts.

"DE'LORE" he shouted again with an aggravated sigh, still nothing.

Blaise tried too, but still the words did not penetrate through that extremely thick head of hers.

He shook his head in dismay "Bloody dumb Gryffindor" he said before smirking at an idea that had just struck him.

"Watch this," he said in amusement as he picked up a nearby stone and studied it with a deep smirk. He aimed it perfectly and threw it as hard as he could, hitting its target with deadly precision.

"OWWWWW" she screamed placing her hand on the upper part of leg and rubbing it.

She looked all around to find the cause of the sudden pain, then spotted them all laughing at her expense.

Draco looked at her smugly and noticed her hair was slowly changing from lilac to a bright shade of red.

He smirked even deeper whan he saw her brow furrow, her nose flare and her lips press firmly together.

He chuckled drolly "Get ready for the explosion boys"

Then slowly he began to count "Three...two..."

BANG...and there it was.