Note: Hey! So, it seems you guys were nice enough... and here is the second chapter already! I think I'm too good for you ;)Anyway...on with it! Oh... no I don't own Harry... but I do own the plot! (I made some small corrections... thanks to Firnoviel!)

Chapter 2: Beware, the Ball Will Take Place

Two hours.

Hermione had two hours until the ball started in her honour. No, scratch that; in the honour of any pureblood guy's father who would want their son to marry her.

Hurray.

At least some of them were excluded. The Crabbes, Goyles, Malfoys on this earth wouldn't want any business to do with her considering what they thought she was for 6 years now. She had been a mudblood to them for six years. Even if the truth was to be revealed now, they would surely not accept it in a day and decide that they wanted her to marry their beloved soon-to-be-death-eater son.

She stood still in front of the dress she and her mother had bought soon after her brother had announced the news. It was green and black, with complicated designs in the back that won her the instant she saw them. They seemed to reflect light in different colors. Gorgeous!

Now she had to prepare herself for the ball. To put on the dress hadn't been difficult. But everything else, she thought, would be a mess. She wasn't good with cosmetics, and she didn't have the courage to redo her hair the same way she had in her fourth year at the Yule Ball.

She heard a soft 'pop!' and a house-elf appeared before her. She hadn't thought worth it to continue her activities in S.P.E.W. as she finally understood house-elves didn't want freedom, but she made sure every time she saw one, to be as polite as possible, like she would be with her family or friend.

That one's name was Farray. She was an energetic female house-elf, acting like a ball full of electricity. She was the one in charge for her mother's toilet; Hermione hoped Farray would do something splendid on her as well.

Happily, it was magnificent. She hardly recognised herself in the mirror. The hair... the hair! It was what she had dreamt of all her life. The hair she had always wanted.

Maybe the ball idea wasn't so bad after all, if it was an excuse good enough for Farray to do her hair so wonderfully. Hermione was glad of the result. She thanked Farray like mad, and continued looking at her reflection when the house-elf disappeared from her room. She was amazed. And every guy would be amazed too, (especially if he knew what she normally looked like). Like Harry. At least Harry was invited to the ball. She hoped greatly he would come, even if the invitation was somewhat strange. What would she do if a complete stranger invited her to a surprise ball in honour of her best friend?

She slowly got up from where she was sitting, sighed, and looked outside one of the windows in her room. People were coming already. She saw Blaise Zabini first, with his dad and sister. Then Neville Longbottom (she asked herself what was wrong in the world if even him was looking forward to marry her) and his grandmother came in view. And she saw Harry too, with all the Weasley family. Yes! Even if it meant she would see Ron, she was in heaven. She wouldn't be forced to talk to snob I'm-too-good-for-you pureblood boys and their mighty fathers all night long if her friends were with her.

She quickly went downstairs –with her shoes on, luckily– and saw people coming in. She waited some time before seeing Harry and Ginny entering the house, with a surprised look on their face. They're probably asking themselves why they're here, she thought. She smiled playfully before coming to great them.

"Hey, guys," she simply said, twinkles in her eyes.

"Hermione! Why did you ask us to come to this ball? We don't even know the girl who's gonna be introduced tonight," said Harry first.

"Wow, Hermione! I like your dress! Where'd you get it?" asked Ginny.

"Oh well," she said. "Seems like you guys are gonna have a fit when I tell you everything... but first, let me introduce you to the kitchens, where we won't be bothered!"

She led them to the kitchens as rapidly as possible (she didn't like to be rude, but social issues were not the most important thing here, so guests would have to wait if they wanted her to greet them) and closed the door when Harry and Ginny were inside with her. She took a big breath before starting:

"First, let me tell you it wasn't my fault if you didn't know. My parents forbade me to tell anyone about it, and I didn't have the heart to do otherwise."

"Hermione, what are you talking about?"

"I'm not... I'm not Hermione Granger, muggleborn. My name's Hermione Granger Vandemoortele, and I was adopted. I'm a pureblood. I learned about it when I was 5 or 6 years old. I'm sorry guys, I couldn't tell you, but..."

"Hey, it's okay. Maybe it explains some things..." tried Ginny.

"Explain what?" she stopped playing with her hands and looked up to her girl friend in surprise.

"Well... I mean, even with your nose in a book every second, you couldn't know everything about the magical world like you do, Mione..."

"Oh, was all she could answer. Then... you're not mad at me for lying to you for 6 years?"

"Nope. You had good reasons," said the two others.

Oh, happy, happy day! The biggest fear of her day was erased now that she knew they accepted it greatly. Even if the moment was awkward (because it was), she was glad anyway. Alas, Ron had to come in to see what they were doing.

"Hey, hum, Mione... Are you still mad at me, or..."

"Yes, I am," she replied through gritted teeth. All good feelings had fled her mind the second she saw him. If she still couldn't forgive him when she was so glad, how could she later? Serious issues were coming their way... She eyed him as furiously as one could possibly do, said to Harry and Ginny she would see them later, and walked past Ron to go talk to her brother.

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Hey folks! Hope you liked this one! I am soooo sorry that the explanation still hasn't been made about the "19th Law"... but please, stick with me... it's coming in the next one! So... you know what to do: reviews please!

Featherstrike

... and D