Did I just get a date with Draco "I'll sleep with anything in a skirt" Malfoy?
Bloody hell.
Hermione leaned against her door and groaned a long groan, releasing all the misery and pain she felt at the moment. A date with Malfoy. An ankle injured by Malfoy. Sanity stolen by Malfoy. It was all his fault. Well, this was turning out to be a lovely week, wasn't it?
The girl growled and beat her fists on the door. "It's not fair!" she cried. "Why me? Why, of all Hogwarts girls, did it have to be me?" Moaning, she beat her head on the door until she realized that particular method of releasing anguish gave her a headache. Then she moved to her bed and used her pillow instead of the door.
"A date. With Malfoy." The words made her gag. "My first date. Ever. With Malfoy."
She groaned again, covering her face in her pillow. Perhaps she could smother herself unconscious and avoid the date that way. Or hide in some little corner of Diagon Alley, where he couldn't find her. Or just refuse to come out when he came to pick her up.
But then he'd probably break down the door, and then Hermione would have to pay for a new one… which her wallet was decidedly not thick enough for.
Screwing her eyes shut, she pushed all thoughts of him away. Let's think about something nicer. Something less Malfoy-ish.
Like cleaning.
Like chocolate.
Like going on a date.
With Malfoy.
"Argh!" she yelled, covering her eyes (as if that would help any). "Go away, you nasty bugger! It's enough that you torment me in real life!"
But apparently, Malfoy was there to stay. Images were tossed before her tightly shut eyes like photographs, each showing a snapshot of what a date with The Bloody Malfoy might be like. Hermione and Malfoy walking down a street. Hermione and Malfoy eating dinner. Hermione and Malfoy looking happy.
Yeah. Right.
Slumping over to the mirror hanging on the wall, Hermione studied the reflection peeking back at her. Why was Malfoy so keen on her? She wasn't egotistical enough to presume he fancied her looks. Heck, he probably didn't even fancy her. So why did he keep coming back? He was like The Boy Who Would Not Leave. Staring into the mirror, she pictured Malfoy standing next to her. He was everything she was not: smooth, stylish, Slytherin… and blonde. The Mental Malfoy smirked at the mirror and slid his arms around Hermione's waist, whispering something incredibly romantic into her ear, while the annoying owl flapped its wings outside the window…
Owl? Window?
Frowning into the mirror, she noticed the reflection of a winged creature buzzing outside of her room's window. Oh, so that's where that came from. Limping over to the window, she opened it, allowing the bird to perch on the windowsill. Slung around its fuzzy body was a bag filled with letters.
"For me?" Hermione asked the owl, who fluffed its feathers in an affirmative sort of way.
Reaching into the miniature purse, Hermione dug out a fat bundle. With delight, she noticed at the top of the stack were letters from Harry and Ron. Following those was a letter from her parents, and then a parchment from Hogwarts. With a dreamy sigh, she stopped perusing the mail, drifting away into La La Land. Hogwarts… her home away from home. Hogwarts, where she would be presiding as Head Girl. Hogwarts, where you—ow!
The nasty owl had grabbed a piece of her frizzy hair and tugged. The result was a sharp scream from Hermione and the frantic flying backwards of the owl. "There are better ways to get humans' attention," she snarked at the owl. "You'll lose your customers if you continue behaving like this."
Meekly, the owl flew back and stuck its leg out.
"Oh, all right," Hermione grumbled, "but you won't be getting a tip from me." Scooping some change up off the table, she deposited three winking sickles into the tin container attached to its leg. Hooting in an apologetic manner, the owl soared into the air, a caramel colored strand of hair still in its beak.
Painfully making her way back to her bed, Hermione arranged herself on the quilts, plumped the pillows, and generally made herself ready to devour her precious letters.
She'd do anything to get her mind off of Malfoy and the inevitable date.
The top letter was a simple white envelope, addressed in Harry's familiar scrawl.
Dear Hermione,
It began,
How are you doing? Finally escaped from the Dursley's and made it to the Burrow. Bill and Charlie are here for a few days, along with Fred and George. It's quite the full house, but it's loads better than Privet Drive.
So, any news on the position of Head Girl? Ron and I are positive you've nagged it. There's no other witch as brilliant as our Hermione.
Hermione paused to sniffle and send a blessing Harry's way.
We'll be arriving in Diagon Alley two days before the Hogwart's Express leaves. How about we meet up and shop for supplies together? Owl us and let us know.
-Harry
God bless Harry for remembering her concerns about becoming Head Girl. While Ron had merely snorted and refused to accept any idea but that of Hermione receiving the golden badge, Harry had sat and listened to her moan and fret. She made a mental note to buy him something extra next time she ventured into Diagon Alley.
Perhaps on her date with Malfoy. Wouldn't he enjoy shopping for his arch-nemesis?
No thinking about Malfoy, she reminded herself firmly, going to the next letter.
It was a slightly crumpled envelope, addressed with Ron's familiar leaky quill. The spots of ink made it almost too messy to read. Hermione was surprised the Owling Office had been able to direct it her way.
Hermione,
Hope you're not going nutters alone at Diagon Alley.
"Nutters" didn't even begin to describe it.
We're missing you at the Burrow- I still don't know why your parents didn't just let you come stay here. You would've had to room with Ginny and Luna in the spare closet, but I don't think that would've been a problem. Bill and Charlie have been helping Harry and me practice Quidditch, and we're sure to whoop Slytherin this year.
Harry probably told you we're coming to Diagon Alley a few days early. When you owl back, make sure you tell us where we can meet you.
Miss you,
Ron
With a smile, Hermione tucked his letter next to Harry's, opening her third correspondence of the day.
Dear Hermione,
Hope your weeks in Diagon Alley have been pleasant. The weather here is wonderful! Your father has already bought five ghastly colored shirts that I am planning to hide as soon as we return home. I know you weren't excited about staying for two weeks in Diagon Alley, but I really didn't feel comfortable leaving you with your friend Ron. I've heard rumors about his two twin brothers that made me fear for you.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Fred and George weren't that bad. Sure, there was that once incident in sixth year involving a fourth year's eyebrows, but that wasn't entirely their fault.
Keep brushing and flossing daily! And don't overload on sugar just because we're not there to watch you.
Love,
Mum
Rolling her eyes, Hermione set the letter on top of Harry and Ron's. Unrolling the parchment bearing the Hogwart's crest, Hermione's stomach sank as she read the following:
Dear Miss Granger,
I would like to inform you that on September 15 you will not need to be at Platform 9 ¾. Instead, please wait in front of Flourish and Blotts at promptly 3:12. The Head Boy and you will be riding in a carriage to Hogwarts to give you time to become acquainted with each other.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall
Great, thought Hermione dully. I won't even get to ride the train with the boys. She felt her eyes watering (stop, you stupid hormones, stop!) and to distract herself, she grabbed the last envelope. It was unmarked except for the address written in a bold, slanting script. Frowning, she flipped it over and withdrew a card, blank except for a single word. Hermione stared at the card for a full two minutes, mind not accepting the word written.
It couldn't be, I would've thought of it.
She grabbed a dictionary and flipped through it, finger gliding down the page as she searched for answers. Glaring at the dictionary, she grabbed one of her new Seventh Year textbooks, opening it immediately to Chapter 10. After a few minutes of silence, she returned her somewhat moody gaze to the card. She raised it until it was eye level, as if a different angle would help her verify the word.
Then she hopped off the bed… accidentally landing on her sore ankle. Hermione "Head Girl" Granger howled in pain as she hopped around on her good foot, cradling her ankle in her hands.
"Blast you, Draco Malfoy," she cursed at him, still hopping in odd circles like a demented bunny rabbit. Limping to her desk chair, she used it as a walker and slowly made her way back to her mirror. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her wand and pointed it at her head.
"Crispulus!"
Nothing happened.
Frowning (she seemed to do a lot of that these past few days), she started to chew on the end of her wand, until she remembered the horror stories Moody told the fifth years about the dangers of wands.
"I've known wizards who have used their wands for toothpicks and spent the next year gluing their teeth back in!" he had roared.
So instead, Hermione just tapped the wand on her cheek as she stared in the mirror and waited.
And waited.
How long does this bloody spell take, anyway? I wouldn't be surprised if it multiplied my hair into a mass the size of Antarctica or something. Or if my hair all fell out. Or turned pink.
Hermione smooshed her face against the mirror, eyes glued to the reflection. "Come on, hair," she begged. "Do something! Please!"
But the hair remained the frizzy bush it had been before she used any kind of spell. And all the cajoling, pleading, and groveling Hermione did didn't change a thing.
"Fine!" she yelled, gathering her courage to try one last thing. She'd kill him if this actually made the spell work, but she had to try. "Draco Malfoy is hot! Draco Malfoy is a God! Draco Malfoy has the shiniest hair and the most beautiful eyes! All the girls love Draco Bloody Frickin Malfoy!"
Hermione stared, defeated, in the mirror at the fuzz decorating her head.
"Malfoy, I hate you," Hermione whimpered.
And then her hair tightened into the most beautiful curls she had ever seen.
Gone was the frizz that she had grown up with. Her hair finally accepted its destiny and spiraled into long ringlets. Definition, body, shine… all those things the commercials claimed, her hair now possessed.
Hermione didn't believe it for a minute. She stared, awestruck, into the mirror, raising a hand to gingerly pat her new coiffure. Then she shook her head lightly. Ran her hand through her hair. Shook her head a little harder. Pretty soon, she was nothing short of head banging.
More than a little winded, Hermione finally looked back in the mirror. Her new curls were as shiny, as defined, and as full as when she started her impromptu mosh pit.
"Malfoy, you're a genius," she admitted to the empty room.
Then she sighed and limped her way over to her closet.
She had a date to get ready for.
---
Author's Notes: Okay, everyone, I'm really sorry this took so long. But the fact the chapter is way longer than any of my others should make up for it. This chapter took forever because I just couldn't get the words out. Even now, I'm not satisfied with the tone (I feel like I've lost the voice of the story), but I think this is as good as it will get. Hope none of you hold it against me. Stick around for the next chapter- it'll be back, I promise.
SnugglesnWuggles – If I had Draco in my possession, I wouldn't let him go. But maybe I would loan him out, if you were really good.
Dracos_kiki – wow, maybe I somehow infected my writing and sent a bug over your way. Creepy.
Ice cristal- thank you for the get better wishes! Thank you for reviewing!
Fan- hope you like this chapter J it's certainly not short!
V son sayian- I'm glad I got better too. Yup, that date will certainly be interesting…
Draco's tootsie23- thank you! I'll update as soon as I can!
ThreeEaredBunny- aww! Your review totally made my day. So sweet of you to gush all over my story! *laughs* I'm glad you think I'm not rushing it… on the contrary, I think I'm just crawling along!
White Crow- hi, you! I'll be responding to your email after I post this! Thanks so much for emailing me and reviewing me. You're awesome!
TokyoBabe2040 – heh, if only I could just go boyfriend shopping and then return him if I don't like him. "Um, excuse me, this boyfriend doesn't like my kind of music. Do I get a discount?" Glad you liked the last chapter, and hope you liked this one, too.
Twin_v – aww, thank you! You're so sweet!
Rinaula and EvErYtHiNg4NoThInG – here's your update, hope you like it!
Blue-chick – ehh, sorry about that. *dusts you off and sets you down* thanks for your review, dude. And good idea! But as you can see, I took it in a little different direction… but I left in two memorials to you- didja catch them? Gee, you're just so impatient for them to run into Ron and Harry… in good time, m'dear, in good time…
And finally…
Kate – my most faithful follower! Your reviews always make me smile- a chapter is never complete unless I get a review from you. *throws chocolate and flowers your way* much love to you!