AN: As usual…I do not own Harry Potter…no surprise there...

Chapter Three – Transformation

I had been hiding who my date was to the Yule Ball for almost three weeks. Cormac asked me and I told him no. Harry and Ron had found out from some others and pestered me as to why I told him I already had a date. After they finally determined that I actually did and I wasn't simply lying to get rid of him, then I had to endure two and a half weeks of them bothering me morning, noon, and night in order to find out who my date was. I held strong though and the boys would be surprised tonight. Not to say that it wasn't annoying as anything else but it wasn't worth it.

The boys had actually thought that I was lying and I should go with one of them. I couldn't believe that I was actually their last resort. It's as though they only acknowledge me if I am useful to them, whether it be for homework or for a last chance date. I had played in a snowball fight with the boys and they still hadn't just given up waiting until this evening to discover who my date would be.

"Ginny, they just won't give up."

"Hermione, they'll learn their lesson soon. Just relax and let us do our magic."

"It's going to take a while isn't it?"

"Well, of course it is Hermione, your hair is much too bushy to just use conditioner."

"Lavender…thank you so much for this."

"You're just lucky my hair is so wonderfully easy to deal with so that I have time for this."

"Thank you so much."

With that Ginny and Lavender began working their magic on my face and hair. I was amazed at how long it was taking them but I figured it would be worth it in the end. I was extremely nervous as to what others would say when they saw me. I looked incredibly different from my everyday wear.

"Hermione…stop stressing, you look gorgeous. Viktor would have to be insane not to like you."

"Come on; let's get you into that dress."

They slid the dress on carefully over my head and I reveled in the lightness of the fabric. I remembered when my mum and I bought the dress and I told her that it was too much for me…I would be happy with something simple. My mother ignored me though and got me this dress. I couldn't have been happier that she had ignored me when I saw myself in a mirror. I got the girls to take a picture of me to send to mum.

I cast a disillusionment charm on myself in an attempt to get out of Gryffindor tower unseen. I saw Harry and Ron coming back from their game as I headed down to meet Viktor. I hoped he wasn't running late because I quickly realized how incredibly cold the air outside was.

AN: Hope you liked today's chapter. Tomorrow is the ball itself!...2 days until we get to the reason that this story is rated M…if you get what I mean.