Sorry for the long wait! Thanks a bajillion to my beta:)

He surveyed the pale, frightened muggles in front of him. The Dark Lord would reward him highly for this. Kidnapping the, he hated to say it, intelligent child's parents was a stroke of pure genius. The little mudblood would go to pieces and then she would be putty in his very capable hands. He could manipulate the girl to do many things if he got his way. And, he laughed to himself, he always gets his way. Lucius Malfoy grinned his aristocratic grin, turned on his heel, and left the putrid dungeons of Malfoy Manor.

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Three days after Hermione had been rushed to Grimmauld Place for safe keeping, she decided that she was going to put on a brave face and deal with the kidnapping. The Order was doing everything they possibly could for her parents. They decided that they were going to depend on Snape to get the information about where her parents were being held.

Around noon that day, Hermione walked into the sitting room with her book of spells for 7th year and plopped onto one of the shabby, yet oddly comfortable couches. She always felt the need to study in times of hardship, and even though it was a book from the previous year, she felt that it wouldn't hurt to look over it again.

She loved the way the rooms in Grimmuald Place felt. They were always slightly drafty and a little bit on the worn down side, but still inviting. When you mixed all of that with a book it was easy to lose track of the time.

Soon she had lost herself in the complicated lists of ingredients and intricate steps that she didn't notice when Dumbledore, trailed by Snape, strode into the room. By the looks of it, they didn't notice her either.

It wasn't until they started talking that she looked up.

"I think he is serious about it. Ever since they killed Narcissa he's been a wreck, and Draco isn't much help to him either. All either of them do these days is sit around and mope. It's obvious to me that he regrets ever following the Dark Lord in the first place," said Snape in a hushed tone. Hermione had to strain to hear most of it.

"You know that I trust you, Severus. If you really think that they have changed their ways, then I will do all that is in my power to help the Malfoy family," Dumbledore sighed.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. There was no way that the Malfoy family was actually leaving the dark magic side of the wizard world.

Without another word, Dumbledore swept uncharacteristically out of the room.

Snape was facing the door with Hermione behind him.

"Miss Granger, I suggest you wipe that look off your face before it becomes permanent," Snape said in his naturally demeaning tone. "And may I also suggest that you prepare yourself for more guests staying in the house. Pity, someone is going to steal your spotlight," he turned around to face her. "And clean yourself up."

Before Hermione could even think of a retort Snape left the room.

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How could I let that silly excuse of a man treat me like that? He has no right! Hermione thought as she furiously scrubbed her face in the bathroom.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She had to admit that she was not looking good at all. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her hair hung limply on her shoulders. She could also use a shower.

Hermione sighed and padded silently to her bedroom. She avoided attracting unnecessary attention just in case someone actually noticed the state of her appearance. Obviously she wasn't doing a very good job of it.

Maybe she should clean herself up a bit, just a bit. There was no need to do anything to crazy. She sighed once again and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill.

She could not believe she was actually going to owl Ginny. She was a good friend and all, especially when Hermione needed a bit of a pick me up, but sometimes Ginny could be a little over eccentric.

She wrote the note and only had to wait a few minutes before the owl returned. She would be over as soon as possible. Hermione rolled her eyes, what had she gotten herself into?

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Thirty minutes later, Hermione was led to the bathroom. Ginny had told her that she better keep her eyes shut and Hermione didn't think for a second to disagree. Ginny had a killer bat bogey hex.

"Okay! Open!" Ginny said in the shrill voice she used when she was excited.

"Okay, okay!" said Hermione. She opened her eyes and could not believe what she saw. She looked like a woman, not the book worm she usually did.

"How did you do that?" asked Hermione, astonished.

"Well, I knew there was a pretty girl in there somewhere! I just used a little makeup to help it come out," said Ginny, all smiles. "So, you like it?"

"Yeah! I like it a lot!"

"I knew you would," replied Ginny. "Now let's go show you off!"

"I don't think that would be the best idea," said Hermione. She didn't like the idea of showing herself off.

"Oh come on! Just this once?" begged Ginny.

"Well... oh, alright. But only this one time!" sighed Hermione, exasperated.

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Sirius was in the kitchen getting a sandwich when he heard a clamor on the stairs.

"No! I don't want to do this anymore Ginny!" Hermione said.

"You look fantastic though! And hey, if you've got it, flaunt it!"

Sirius grinned. That, of course, was Ginny.

When he heard another commotion, he turned around and was stunned to see Hermione.

She looked even more attractive then when he saw her after being rescued from the veil. He was speechless.

"So, what do you think?" asked Ginny.

Sirius couldn't speak, "Uh... uhmm..."

Ginny raised an eyebrow,"It helps if you use your words, you know."

"You look ... good," Sirius finished lamely.

Hermione nodded faintly and dashed up the stairs.

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