Chapter Eight

"Hermione! Wake up!"

Hermione's eyes shot open as her twin brother burst into her room and jumped onto her bed. "Are you always this cheerful in the morning?" she questioned sleepily, "And don't you knock?"

Blaise nodded as he ruffled his sleep worn hair. "Sorry. I've always been a morning person I suppose," he said, placing a small parcel on her bed next to her, "Happy Birthday!"

Hermione smiled sweetly at him and climbed off the bed. She walked over to the lavish desk and pulled a package out of a drawer. She held the package out for Blaise as she climbed back onto the bed. "Happy Birthday, Blaise," she said, "I didn't really have any time to actually buy you a present so I um…"

Blaise shrugged. "There's no need to explain. I wouldn't have cared if you didn't get me anything," he said gently, taking the package from her.

"Oh, honestly, what kind of sister would I be if I didn't give my twin brother something for his birthday?"

"One who'd just found out yesterday she even had a brother," Blaise said with a smirk as he opened his present.

Hermione's mouth dropped open as she opened her own present. "Oh, Blaise it's wonderful!" she exclaimed softly, lifting a beautiful box away from the brown paper.

"I figured you might like it," Blaise said, turning a bit pink, "You can keep whatever you want in there; jewelry, letters, personal trinkets…"

Hermione fingered the black granite box encrusted with a jeweled lion, much like the lion of Gryffindor. "It's absolutely beautiful, thank you," she said, glancing at him questioningly, "Do you like your present?"

Blaise grinned happily as he began flipping through the book she had gotten him entitled, 'Magical Mysteries: A Look at the Unsolved Crimes through the Years'. "Yeah, I do. I love reading," he said, glancing up at her, "Mysteries are my favorite."

"Really? I didn't know."

His handsome face saddened a bit. "Well, you wouldn't would you?" he said quietly, "We're really only just now getting to know each other, and soon we'll both be married and probably won't have time for each other."

Hermione placed her hand on his knee. "Blaise, you're my brother, I'll always have time for you," she told him.

Blaise smirked. "Nah, you'll be too busy doing your homework and hanging out with your Gryffindor friends to have time for me," he said softly.

Hermione's heart went out to him as she noticed the slightly sad look in his blue eyes. She wasn't exactly sure of what it was, but she felt a connection with him that made it easier for her to talk to him than she had thought she'd be able to. Probably the whole "twin" thing, she thought.

She cleared her throat. "Blaise, I promise you that I will always have time for you, no matter what," she said, "I want us to spend time together and get to know each other."

"Me, too," he agreed, smiling.

They sat silently for a moment. Blaise gave her a shy sort of look before saying, "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

He was quiet for another moment. "Since yesterday I've had this intense feeling of connection with you. I can't explain it, but it's like I'm finally whole," he gave her a questioning look, "Does that make sense?"

Hermione thought about that. "You know, oddly enough, it does," she told him, "I've kind of felt the same way. I mean; we hardly know each other and yet, I feel like I can trust you and tell you anything as though we've known each other our whole life."

Blaise nodded. "Exactly!"

Hermione fidgeted. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

She worried her bottom lip as she struggled with how to ask her question without being too rude. In the end she decided the best way to get an honest answer was to just ask. "Can I trust Draco?"

"Draco's not really the guy everyone at Hogwarts sees, Hermione," Blaise stated, "He's perfected the emotionless mask that hides what he's really feeling or thinking, he's had to. Lucius Malfoy basically drilled it into him that emotions make a person weak."

He paused, picking at a piece of lint on his pants. "I know you've got your concerns when it comes to Draco, and I don't blame you. You two have a bad history," he took her hand and squeezed it, "Believe me when I tell you; he's the most trust worthy person I've ever known."

Hermione nodded, satisfied with his answer, but still cautious. Blaise's attention was then drawn to the window. "Oh look, you've got mail coming!" he said, running over to one of the windows and throwing it open.

"I've got mail?"

Four owls swooped into the room and dropped notes and packages onto her bed in front of her. "How do all of these owls suddenly know where I am?" she asked in amazement.

"How do they know where anyone is?" Blaise asked, "It's one of life's magical mysteries."

Hermione smiled. "I suppose so," She said, reaching out and picking up the note and package on top. She ripped open the note.

Hermione,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Can't wait to see you tonight!

Much love,

Ginny

Hermione looked at the second line curiously. "Tonight? What's happening tonight?" she asked Blaise.

Blaise looked shocked. "Blimey Hermione! Didn't Mum and Dad tell you anything?" he asked, "There's a party for us here tonight."

"And my friends have been invited?"

"Well you didn't think it would just be my friends did you?" he asked, "Mum and Dad wouldn't dream of you being unhappy on your birthday."

Hermione smiled. She was pleased to know that her friends would be celebrating her seventeenth birthday with her. She then tore open the small parcel. Wrapped in the brown paper was a palm-sized compact mirror with her initials engraved into the back of it.

After examining the mirror for a few moments, she set it next to the granite box Blaise had given her and reached for the next note and parcel. This one was from Mrs. Weasley.

Hermione darling,

Happy seventeenth! Seems like only yesterday you were starting your first year at Hogwarts with Ron and Harry. My, how time flies!

Arthur says hello and Happy Birthday. We've all received an invitation to your party tonight so we'll see you then!

With love,

Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny Weasley

Hermione opened the lumpy parcel and smiled warmly as she lifted a neatly, hand-made sweater with a lion stitched into it. She quickly put it on and looked up at Blaise, who was chuckling softly. "What?" she asked.

"Does Molly Weasley always send home-made sweaters?"

Her honey brown eyes narrowed a bit at her brother. "Don't poke fun, Blaise! Mrs. Weasley's been like a mother to me over the times I've stayed at the Burrow and I won't have you being mean about her!" she said, "She's a lovely woman with a kind heart, wonderful skills in magic and…"

Blaise ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude," he interrupted, "I was only chuckling because I got one too."

"You did?" Blaise nodded as Hermione picked up her next note and parcel, "Well, I hope you'll wear it. They're really comfortable."

Hermione,

Happy Birthday! Hope you like your present…

See you tonight…

Harry

She lifted a lovely book about owls out of the wrapping and chuckled. "He must have known I'd need a bit of knowledge on owls," she said softly.

"And that you love reading," Blaise teased.

"Well if he didn't know that after six years, he'd be quite a dunce," she said lightly, setting the book with her other presents.

The next note was written in a sloppy manner. Hermione smiled as she recognized the writing of the beloved groundskeeper of Hogwarts, Hagrid.

Hermione,

Happy birthday! Hope you like your present. Made it meself. Harry told me yer news… Blimey, engaged to Malfoy… Don't know what to make o' all that. Guess congradulations are in order…

See you when you get to Hogwarts…

Hagrid

Hermione grimaced slightly as she opened Hagrid's present, lifting out a large iced cupcake. Not one that was a fan of Hagrid's cooking, or baking; she set the cupcake aside and made a mental note to toss it away. Picking up the second to last note and parcel, she ripped open the note.

Hermione,

Happy Birthday…

Ron

The package Ron had sent contained sweets from Honeydukes. She popped a piece of candy into her mouth and picked up the final note and package.

Hermione,

Seems strange, me using your actual name instead of calling you "Granger", doesn't it? Strange as it may be, I like it. I never understood how pretty your name was until I actually said it a few times.

Yesterday must have been a whirlwind for you; finding out your true identity and that you're betrothed to a "foul, loathsome, evil, little cockroach", and all. I hope today goes better for you, it being your birthday.

I honestly didn't know what to get you for your birthday so I hope this small token will suffice. I would also like to request that you accompany me to dinner in Hogsmeade (since you're of age now, we can apparate there) on Saturday.

I feel it necessary for us to get to know each other a bit, at least, before school starts. I will understand if you'd prefer to spend the time we have before school getting to know Blaise and your parents. Please, however, keep my request in consideration. Happy Birthday…

Yours,

Draco

Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she finished reading the letter. She had never known that Draco Malfoy could be so kind, or funny. The reference to the words she had spat at him in their third year before she had punched him had caused her to laugh. She set his letter aside and picked up the heavy parcel. As the wrapping was torn away, Hermione's eyes widened.

A very old looking book with curvy, old fashioned writing on the cover stared up at her from the bed. There was certainly nothing "small" about this book. From the look of the cover and the leather binding, it was a very old, and possibly rare, spellbook.

She ran her fingers over the cover of the book delicately, staring at the gold writing in awe. It was the most wonderful gift she had ever received. She couldn't believe that it was Draco that had given it to her. A soft whistle escaped Blaise's lips and Hermione tore her eyes away from the book to look at him.

"Wow, Draco must like you more than I thought," he said, "He really went all out, getting you a book like that."

"It looks extremely rare," Hermione stated, examining the old book a little more carefully, "What kind of spell book is it exactly?"

"I don't know," Blaise said with a shrug as he opened the book Hermione had given him and flipped through the pages, "Knowing Draco, he searched for the oldest and rarest spell book he knows about and bought it for you."

Hermione nodded with confusion spread across her features. She then remembered something Blaise had said just moments before. "Dr… Draco likes me?" she asked, looking at her brother questioningly.

Blaise cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair as he stood up. "We'll be expected down at breakfast in a bit," he told her, glancing at the clock on her fireplace mantle, "Dad likes to see freshly showered 'children' in the mornings."

"Blaise, you didn't answer my question."

Blaise looked extremely uncomfortable under her questioning stare. This must be what Potter and Weasley feel like when they try to lie to her, he thought, "I uh… uh…"

"Blaise!"

"It's not really my place to say. Draco never actually told me whether or not he likes you," he pleaded when she shot him a look of prying curiosity, "All I can tell you is what I think."

"Well then, what do you think?"

"I… I think he has feelings for you," he told her, "Feelings that he might not really know about."

"You really think so?"

"It's what I gather from being friends with him for practically my whole life."

Hermione nodded blankly as she placed the book with her other presents. Could it be true? Could Draco Malfoy really, possibly, have feelings for her, Hermione Granger?… Zabini. She then climbed off the bed and headed to her bathroom. She looked in the waterfall mirror and screamed.

Blaise ran into the bathroom, worry written all over his face. "Wha…?" he began to ask, but his words got stuck in his throat. Standing in before him was a girl he didn't recognize, yet she was a girl who he would know anywhere. Gone was the mousy haired bookworm he had grown to hate and in her place stood the raven-haired sister he had always loved.

He watched in awe as her fairly small frame shot up a few inches, thinning to reveal the toned body of a Goddess. Her modest sleep shorts and tank top shrank in length and tightened around her chest and butt slightly, allowing for a perfect view of part of her tanned midriff. He couldn't believe the difference in her already.

The jet black hair she was now sporting hung just past her shoulder blades, not a single wave to be seen in its silky mass. Light freckles appeared across the bridge of her nose, accenting her skin tone nicely. Finally, he noticed a pair of bright, emerald green eyes, highlighted by a set of thick, dark eyelashes.

Hermione, open mouthed and shocked, moved closer to the mirror. The thing that held her attention the most was her eyes, they were the most brilliant green she had ever seen. They'd put Harry's to shame, she thought, gently touching her cheek. She was surprised by its softness and the smoothness of it. Suddenly, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she slumped to the ground.

Blaise launched forward, managing to catch her just before she hit the hard floor. "MUM!" he yelled, "MUM! COME QUICK!

He scooted Hermione into a more comfortable position and reached up to turn on the sink faucet. Just as he was about to reach for a wash cloth, Mrs. Zabini breezed into the room. "Goodness! What happened?" she asked.

"I don't know!" Blaise told her, "She was staring at herself in the mirror and then she just… fainted. Mum, did you and Dad put some kind of spell on her to change her appearance?"

Mrs. Zabini grabbed a washcloth and wet it before kneeling next to her children and dabbing Hermione's face. "Well, we had to do something so that she wouldn't be found out. I thought she knew."

Blaise chuckled and shook his head. "Well apparently she didn't," he said, "Either that, or she was just really shocked at what she saw."

"I'm sure it's the later," his mother replied off handedly as Hermione stirred.

"Are you all right?" Blaise asked when Hermione opened her eyes.

She furrowed her brow and sat up, looking around. "I um… I fainted."

"A forgotten side effect of the spell your father and I cast on you when you were a baby," Mrs. Zabini stated apologetically, "I can't believe we didn't discuss that last night when we were discussing everything else."

Hermione gave her a small smile. "No, no… Don't worry," she looked at Blaise, "Thanks for catching me."

He smiled at her. "You're sure you're all right?" Mrs. Zabini questioned.

"Yes, I'm fine. Please, you don't need to worry."

Mrs. Zabini stood and put the washcloth in the sink. "Hermione, you're my daughter; I'll always worry."

They all smiled at each other and Mrs. Zabini excused herself to make sure things were being started for breakfast.

Blaise inched toward Hermione. He was just as shocked as she was. Although he had known Hermione's appearance would change, he'd had no idea just how much. He placed his hand gently on his sister's shoulder and turned her to face him.

He examined her face. Thin cheeks, full lips, freckled nose, there was no doubt about it; she was his twin. Their cheekbones and jaw structure were like that of their father, but the rest of their facial features were their mother through and through. He smiled brightly at her. "Well it's nice to see you've got my good looks," he teased.

Hermione hit him on the shoulder and gave him a playfully angry look as she stood up."If I've got anyone's good looks, I've got our mother's, I think," she retorted, turning back to the mirror and looking at her reflection again.

Blaise grinned widely. "Hey, we can both do magic at home now!" he said excitedly. "I'm gonna go get ready for breakfast," and with that, he disappeared with a loud pop. Hermione jumped a bit at the sound and then giggled.

Remembering what she had actually walked into the bathroom for, she stripped her pajamas off and stepped down into the bathtub. She turned on the water and lowered the sheer green curtain. Once the curtain touched the edge of the pool-sized tub, the water suddenly began raining down on her from a puffy cloud.

As the warm water ran over her new body, she reveled in the feel of her new figure. She allowed her fingers to run along her tight stomach and buttocks. It seemed strange to feel the toned muscles beneath her skin whereas before, there had been just a slight pudge. A girl could definitely get used to this, she thought, smiling to herself.

After quickly showering, Hermione toweled herself off and stepped up onto the cool floor. She wrapped the soft towel around her body and walked over to the waterfall mirror. She turned herself around to get a look at the birthmark she knew would be there.

Her green eyes fell to her left shoulder where, sure enough, a small crescent shaped mark was etched into her skin. In all actuality, it looked more like a freckle with the light coloring of it, but it was much larger. She made a mental note to make sure she kept her birthmark covered, just in case there were any Death Eaters that had listened at the door when the Prophecy had been revealed to her father. With a small sigh, Hermione turned herself back around and began setting to work on getting dressed and fixing her hair.

About ten minutes later, Hermione was staring at her reflection trying to figure out what to do with her hair. She wasn't used to being able to manage her hair easily so she was having quite an issue. Just then, a loud pop sounded a few feet behind her.

Hermione spun around with her hand to her heart. Smiling up at her with watery eyes was Gripa. "Sorry Mistress, Gripa didn't mean to scare you Miss," she squeaked, her voice filled with tears.

Hermione smiled kindly and knelt down close to the tiny elf. "It's quite all right Gripa," she said, "I'm just not used to apparation just yet."

Gripa wiped her large blue eyes and sniffled. "Gripa is sorry," she said.

"It's nothing to be sorry for," Hermione told her gently, rubbing her tiny head softly, "There now, I'm glad you're here actually. I was wondering if you would help me with my hair. I'm not used to it yet."

Gripa beamed brightly and nodded her head, making her bat-like ears flap. "Gripa would be ever so pleased," she said.

Hermione stood and held out her hand for the elf. The two walked over to the vanity where Gripa made two stools appear. She patted one of them and motioned for Hermione to sit down, which she did. The other stool, Hermione quickly realized was for Gripa to stand on while she worked.

Blaise had been right the previous night when he had told Hermione that Gripa was gifted at doing hair. She had expertly styled Hermione's hair into a long braid, adding a small sprig of Baby's Breath at the top. Hermione smiled as she looked over her reflection happily and then headed down to breakfast.

As she padded down the carpeted stairs, her thoughts began to wander to the letter that had accompanied Draco's lovely gift. The words he had written had been so unlike the Draco she'd known for the past several years. Although it was a nice change to the nasty words he had always spat at her, it was unexpected and confusing. Maybe there's a heart deep down in that pale body of his, she thought, quickly angering at her insult. Of course he has a heart you stupid girl. You've always known deep down that he's not a bad guy!

In truth, she hadn't known he wasn't a bad guy, she had secretly hoped it but his actions toward her and her friends had ripped that hope from her. Every foul word that had escaped his lips over the years had torn at every shred of hope she had had of his being a kind person. However, every action and word he had spoken since the previous evening caused that hope to flicker once again.

Author's Note- So what did you all think of Hermione's transformation?