In This Chapter- The twin test is put into effect, only it doesn't quite get the result either Fred or George where expecting, The twins have a fight, Hermione tries on an eye-popping dress robe, and the trio have a sleepover together in the Weasley living room.
~*~
"Hermione, Ginny, wake up! We're going to Diagon ally!" Hermione opened her eyes and looked into the emerald eyes of Harry, and she pulled the covers off herself.
"Ah." Harry said, turning away and blushing. Hermione was still half asleep but then blushed as well when she noticed that she had worn a very revealing silky summer night dress Parvati had bought her last Christmas. Hermione giggled at Harry's discomfort.
"Oh Harry, it's just me." She giggled again and stood up, but only coming to his shoulder. "Yea, Mione, a very naked you." He was still blushing, but turned around to face her. "Not that I am complaining, minds you." He added with a grin, getting over the embarrassment.
"Harry!" Hermione said in mock surprise. She flung her arms around her friend and grinned. "Now you get out of here before you see what Ginny's sleeping in!" Harry quickly exited, and Ginny got out of her bed, wearing a baggy shirt and boxers.
"Aw Mione, you had to scare him off." She and Hermione laughed at Hermione's little joke to get Harry out, and they quickly set to making themselves look presentable.
Every now and then
You find a special friend
Who never lets you down
It was a few weeks after Ginny's makeover and Hermione's talk with George, and Ginny had become an expert at applying her makeup the way Hermione had. Hermione pulled her long brown hair up into a messy bun with pieces hanging down around her. She was going for a skirt, but then opted for a pair of blue jeans and a white tee shirt,
"I need to hide all this fat until I can get rid of it." She thought bitterly. She put on some light makeup and made her way down to the breakfast table, followed by Ginny.
At the breakfast table Hermione was cheerful and flirty, but she didn't eat a whole lot. Ron, who had his plate piled high with bacon and sausage, noted that all she was eating was a piece of toast and a banana.
"Why aren't you eating, Mione?" Ron asked.
"I'm eating, Ron, I just don't eat as much as you." She answered, trying to cover-up the sharpness in her voice.
"Ok, ok, just wondering." He said quickly, not wanting to have an argument.
"Ok everybody!" Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen and was her jolly self. She had a pouch of floo powder ready.
Ginny and Hermione went first, followed by the twins and Ron and Harry. They all got to Diagon Ally without any detours, which Harry was thankful for, and they set off to get their school supplies.
"Ok," Hermione said to Harry, Ron, and Ginny,
"How about we go to Flourish and Blotts and get out books first?" Harry and Ron rolled their eyes but agreed.
"Ok." Ron said.
"We're going to go get some new robes." Fred said to the younger people, and George nodded his head.
"All right, we'll meet you later for some butterbeers." Ron told his brothers, and the group split up.
~*~
"We need to get some things for the shop." George said to his brother.
"Let's go in here for a sec." Fred said, gesturing to Madam Malkins Robes for all Occasions. Fred loved clothes.
"Those blue robes would have looked great on Hermione." George said quietly out loud, thinking of a very clingy low-cut dress robe he had seen.
"What was that?" Fred said quickly, hearing his brother comment about his crush.
"What?" George said, trying to cover it up.
"Nothing, nothing. You're hearing things."
"No, I don't think I am George." Fred had stopped walking and was looking at his brother angrily.
"You like her don't you?" He said accusingly.
"So what if I do?" George said with a smirk that would rival Malfoy's.
"You know damn well what! I told you I already liked her, Hermione's mine and you can't go after her." Fred was fuming, but that comment got George even madder.
"What do you mean Hermione's 'Yours'? She's not anyone's, and I daresay, that after our little walk a few weeks ago, she's quite smitten with me." He paused, then added just for spite.
"She said my eyes where alluring, dear brother." Fred was furious, this isn't happening!
"Excuse me, George." His eyes filled with anger.
"We shall see whom Hermione likes better." George just stared at him coldly as they headed to the apothecary in silence, which was definitely a first for the Weasley twins.
~*~
"Oh! Gin! Look at these!" Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry were now in the robe shop, picking up new school robes. Hermione was looking at new dress robes, as their letter informed them they would need them again this year. Hermione had in her hands a beautiful green robe that was glittering with gold.
"Oh!" Ginny said, looking at it. "Its very pretty Mione." Ginny showed her approval.
"Hey Herm!" Harry called from the end of the isle. "What?" "Here Herm, wanna try this one on?" Harry said it innocently, but he had a mischievous grin on his face. Then Hermione saw why. Harry was holding a gorgeous red dress robe, but from what Hermione could see, there wasn't much of it. The neckline was plunging down to where her navel would be, but the colour was fantastic, a blood red made of satin and a sheer gold fabric over it. Hermione decided to humour Harry just for kicks and took the robe from him, which made the grin fade. "You're actually going to try it on?" He asked stupidly.
"Of course Harry, it's very nice, you have excellent taste." She laughed inwardly at the shocked _expression on Harry's face. Their conversation brought over Ron from the other side of the store, and his jaw just dropped at the site of the robe Hermione was holding, he said to Harry,
"She's trying that on?" Harry just nodded his head as Hermione headed towards the dressing rooms. "What are we waiting for then?" He cried and the two boys quickly followed Hermione to the dressing room to get a front row seat.
Hermione was in the small dressing stall, looking at herself in the mirror. She shook her head at the sight she saw she hated her body. "Why can't I be as skinny as Ginny?" She thought miserably. She was just about to take the dress off and pretend she never saw it when she heard Ron's voice. "Come on Herm! We're waiting to see how hot you look!" Hermione grimaced, but decided to, just this once.
Hermione stepped out of the dressing room with her arms folded in front of her stomach. She cringed waiting for the sounds of disgust, but was met with a few very audible gasps.
Harry couldn't believe at what Hermione had turned into, and by the look on Ron's face, he couldn't either. Harry was staring at Hermione, who looked quite self-conscious. The dress was very revealing, to say the least. It was a dark red with a plunging neckline that was lined in gold. The neckline was narrow, but you could distinctly see the outline of Hermione's breasts. Harry could see Hermione's belly button as well. The material was soft looking and flowy, and had bell sleeves that flared out at the elbow. Hermione looked hot, and Harry was afraid that, well, his thinking so would become, ahem, apparent.
"My God Hermione, when did you grow those?" Ron said loudly. Harry smacked him. "What?" Ron said, half annoyed. Hermione giggled, and she relaxed, letting her arms drop. "Grow what?" Hermione asked her friend sweetly. Ron's eyes grew wide. "Err, uhhh, um, you know, those girl things." Hermione laughed again. "These?" She pointed to her chest. Ron merely nodded dumbly, and Harry decided to save him. "Hermione, you look great! Damn!" Harry's cheeks where a little red. "Wow Mione." Ron's eyes where roughly the size of dinner plates. "How do I really look?" Hermione asked. "Harry and Ron both said at the same time. "Beautiful." Then Ginny piped up. "Gosh Hermione, you should really get that dress, its fits you so fell, and obviously the boys like it." She jerked her thumb at her brother and Harry.
"All right Gin, I will." "Yesss!" Ron and Harry said, then quietly blushed at their own out burst.
Half an hour later the four friends made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, and discovered Fred and George arguing quietly in a corner. "Hey guys." Hermione said uncertainly and the two heads shot up, startled that the person that they where arguing about was now standing right in front of them.
"Hi Mione." George said smoothly. Hermione barely caught the death glare Fred was sending his brother. "Umm? You guys ok?" She asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "Yea, yea, fine, here, come sit down." Fred said, patting a seat next to her. Ron, Harry and Ginny also joined the table, and they ordered butterbeers and various lunch items.
Hermione ordered a small side salad, and was carefully scraping excess dressing off the lettuce when George said, "Mione, that's all you're eating? You gotta be kidding me!" Hermione looked at his plate, which was similar to everyone's- A large, greasy double bacon cheeseburger surrounded by fries and globs of catsup. She wrinkled her nose. "I am trying to eat healthy…and well, that's not." She nodded to his plate. "There's a difference between eating healthy and not eating, Herm." Ron said gently. Hermione's eyes flashed at him. "I know how to take care of my own body Ron." She snapped. "Ok, ok, I was just making sure." The young redhead said, flushed. "I got a broom." Hermione said proudly, breaking the tension. "My first big purchase with my money, and probably my last until school ends." "What model?" George asked, interested. "Light racer X-10." Hermione said simply then smiled with pride at the looks of awe the twins gave her. "Damn Mione, you'll definitely make the team with a broom like that! It's even better then the firebolt!" I know, thanks to Harry and Ron's help in the world of brooms, but I do not want to make the team based on what broom I fly." "Don't worry Herm." Harry said. "You have plenty of talent to back that broom up." Hermione smiled at him and quietly finished her small lunch.
A few hours later everyone was back in the burrow, relaxing and, in Hermione's case, doing homework. She was currently finishing up her seventh foot of a 3-foot assignment when Fred came over and put his arm suggestively around her. "Hey Mione." He said, in a silky voice. "Hi Fred, was there something you needed?" Hermione asked, slightly bewildered at Fred's actions.
"Want to go for a walk?" He asked innocently. "Um, sure Fred, just let me finish this up, I'll meet you in the garden, ok?" Hermione looked at Fred, who nodded and left, and she finished writing the rest of her report.
About ten minutes later Hermione walked softly out into the garden, when a pair of soft hands covered her eyes from behind. She was startled but was quickly calmed when she heard Fred's deep voice. "Guess whom?" Hermione giggled and turned around. "Hi Fred." She said, still chuckling. "Was there something you wanted to talk about?" "Nothing in particular." He said grinning. "Let's go for a walk." "All right." She said, and she followed him down to the lake.
Fred lead Hermione to the same log she and George had sat on nights earlier, and he smoothly pulled her close. "I used to come and sit down here when I was little." He said dreamily. "It's so quiet, and peaceful." Hermione agreed, sighing. "Yes, joking around and pulling pranks is fun," Fred said, "But it can be wearisome, and being a twin…always competing, always having someone by your side, it is nice to have a place to get away." Hermione murmured a reply, and rested her head on Fred's shoulder. They sat like that for a few minutes, before Fred said. "Mione?" "Hmm?" She answered sleepily. "Do you like Ron?" Hermione shoot her head up and looked at him, then giggled. "Ron? Well, I certainly think he is quite good looking, Harry too, but a best friend is all I see in him, a great person for comfort and fun. Why do you ask?" "Oh." He said, looking slightly relieved in the dark. "Well, I was wondering, what would you think about dating me? Maybe we could get a butterbeer together once school starts." He looked at her. "Oh!" She said, surprised. "Wow Fred, I didn't realize…wow." She giggled. "Well, I'm not really sure if I want a relationship right now, maybe once school settles in, but I would love to get a butterbeer sometime." She smiled at him, he looked a little disappointed, but brightened slightly that he hadn't been completely rejected. "All right." He said, smiling back at her. "It's getting cold out, we should probably head back to the house." And they got up and left the small log, returning to the cozy little house.
Upon entering the house, Hermione was met with a few smirks from Harry and Ron, who where looking at each other, then back at her, winking. She missed the death glares George was giving his brother. "Ohh Mione, find another boyfriend? Won't Vicky be upset?" Ron teased, still lying in front of the fire. Hermione tackled him, catching him off guard. Ron started laughing when she began tickling him mercilessly, but soon got the upper hand as, being a lot bigger and a lot stronger then her, flipped her onto her back, and pined her hands above her head.
"Whooooo good show Ron, its about time you acted on all those little fantasies you had about Mione in fourth year!" Harry said, laughing hysterically at his two friends from a lounge chair. Ron blushed, then looked at Hermione, who had a mischievous look in her eyes, she nodded to him, and he nodded back, and they lunged at Harry, bringing him down to the floor with them. All three of them rolled around on the floor, laughing and tickling each other, until finally they just collapsed on one another. "Oomph! Harry! Gerroff me!" Hermione said. "You're squashing my liver!" "Oops, sorry Mione." Harry said, and he rolled off of her, onto a bare patch of floor. The three lay there, panting, Hermione in the middle of Harry and Ron. She sighed happily. "Let's always be friends." She told her companions. "Of course." Ron said matter-of-factly. "We will always be best friends." Harry said. "These next years are going to be the best of our lives." Hermione added. "Think Hogwarts is ready for us?" "They better be!" Harry laughed. "Or they are going to be in trouble." Hermione giggled. "I'm going to go change; I'll be back down so we can talk some more." "Ok." The boys chorused.
I'll make a wish for you
And hope it will come true
That life would just be kind
To such a gentle mind
Hermione went up to the room she was sharing with Ginny and looked for her trunk of clothes. Hermione opened it up, and began unshrinking all of her clothes. Hermione was a pyjama junkie; she loved all kinds of pyjamas, and had an extensive collecting. She probably has more sleep wear then regular clothes! For some strange reason, she just liked looking nice when going to sleep.
She sorted through her things and finally settled on a pair of silky long black pants, that dragged on the floor, and a matching silky red tank top, somewhat low-cut but very flattering. She brushed her silky hair and decided to leave it down. After deeming herself worthy, she went back downstairs, and as she took her spot between Ron and Harry, she noticed they changed as well. Ron was wearing a pair of baggy black fleece pants, with a Gryffindor tee shirt on top. Harry was wearing the same type of pants, but he had on a white shirt with a snitch on it, Hermione recognized it as the one she had bought him for a past birthday, and she smiled.
"Nice shirt Harry." She said, as she got comfortable between her two friends.
"Actually Hermione, it's one of my favourites." She grinned.
"You're just saying that because I'd hex you if you didn't!" Harry laughed, his green eyes flashing with mirth.
"No no, that's not it at all, I really do like it!" Hermione muttered
"Uh huh." And then she shivered. "Hmm, maybe silk wasn't the best idea." "I'll go get some pillows and blankets." Ron said. He got up and returned a few seconds later with three blankets and three pillows. Hermione and Harry grabbed their share and they all got comfortable together, Hermione, of course, being in the middle.
"Think this year will be any quieter?" Hermione said aloud in the now dark living room, the only light coming from the fire in front of them.
"No." Harry said sadly. "They might all be in the light about Voldemort, but now we will see where our classmates' loyalties really lie."
Harry didn't have to say it, but they all knew he was speaking of the Slytherin house and of Draco Malfoy in particular. He was definitely a shoe-in for Junior Deatheater of the year. All was quiet for a few minutes before Hermione said
"Think everything will work out ok?" She asked snuggling deeper under the blankets.
"It has to" Harry said sleepily, "It has to…"
If you lose your way
Think back on yesterday
Remember me this way
