Hermione stood muttering the instructions. Over and over, until she had them exactly in her mind. She visualised the different steps in turn. As the magazine made very clear, this was a seven step process. The spell transformed the hair gradually from the natural shade to the desired colour through all the intervening tones. Hermione needed to see the final colour in her mind, then work out what the six in-between colours were, concentrating on each in turn while saying the incantation. She had decided on the perfect new shade for Ginny, it was simply a matter of association. She thought of Ginny, who loved flying, who loved being individual and wild and free, and she saw the clear, pale blue sky, on a crisp, cold day.
From golden red hair she would need to change to mousy brown, then murky brown, then black, then sludge grey, then dark blue, then faded blue, then finally the light shimmering sky blue. It would be imperative that Ginny didn't see the intervening shades, or she would freak.
"Right, close your eyes Ginny, just relax and let me concentrate"
And Ginny mutely obeyed, gulping, and deliberately trying to relax her neck.
Hermione made double sure the door was locked and there were no distractions, squared her shoulders, considered her wand for a moment, and began.
Two minutes later Ginny took a peek, opening half an eye. Unfortunately Hermione had reached the sludge grey stage and an unearthly wail escaped before Ginny could help herself. With great presence of mind Hermione clapped her hand over Ginny's mouth and without missing a beat hushed her sternly in the mirror. Ginny took a deep breath and shut her eyes again. Three minutes later Hermione paused, holding her breath, gave a final swish of her wand, then sighed in deep relief as she stood back to appreciate the effect. She had done it, without mishap or disaster. Ginny's hair fell in beautiful, rippling light blue waves, perfectly complimenting her skin.
Ginny, sensing the relief in the room, cautiously opened her eyes once more, then gasped in disbelief.
"Er, Ginny?" Hermione prompted. She was suddenly gripped with a cold wave of horror that although she'd been successful, Ginny might hate the transformation. After all it was quite daring, not exactly blonde highlights.
Luckily she was wrong. Ginny jumped up and flung her arms round her neck in a deep hug, she pulled away and Hermione couldn't fail to mistake the huge grin plastered on her face.
"It's brilliant!"
"Really? You're sure?"
"Absolutely"
Five minutes after Molly had yelled up the stairs that dinner was on the table, and four and a half minutes after the stampede of male Weasleys and one Potter rushing through the kitchen door and nosily scraping chairs, Ginny and Hermione sailed serenely downstairs and quietly sat down at the table. It was a full 30 seconds of silence before the deafening roar of voices erupted.