Bring It On!

It was a nice and warm morning. The soft sun rays came through the window, which made Hermione wake up. She looked her watch and realized it was just the right time. She took a long and refreshing bath, put on her uniform and went straight to the common room. There were just a few third years talking in a corner; it was a very peaceful morning at the Gryffindor Tower. She took a seat and waited for her friends. Hermione was supposed to go with Ron to the library and help him finish his Transfiguration assignment. It was so typical that she, the always responsible student and very good friend, had to help Ron with this kind of thing.

She waited a couple of minutes till Ron and Harry came down.

"Morning 'Mione!" Harry said smiling.

"Morning guys!" Hermione said back. "Ron, we better go now, or else we won't finish on time your assignment."

"Stupid essay," Ron muttered, sighed and added: "All right, then. I'll see you later lad," he told Harry.

And the two friends walked through the portrait hole, all the way to the library.

* * *

"No Ron! What are you doing?! This has nothing to do with the topic. That's a terrible conclusion!" Hermione told Ron. She breathed deeply. "Sorry. Hand it to me, I'll finish it for you..."

Just a couple of minutes later, Lavender Brown walked towards their table and gave Hermione a paper that said: CHEER YOUR MATES UP, MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE STARS. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? JOIN OUR SQUAD!!!

"Hi Hermione. How are you? Look, we -the Gryffindor girls- are starting a cheerleader squad, and I was wondering if you were interested in joining us," Lavender said, beaming at Hermione.

To be truthful, Hermione wasn't interested. She had a lot more useful things to do than screaming and shaking her 'pompons' all over the place.

"Actually, n-" she started saying, but Ron interrupted.

"Wow Lavender, you really must be desperate! I mean, asking Hermione to join?!" he said, laughing.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"Come on 'Mione! You just..... don't look like a cheerleader. To be honest, it's a funny image to see you singing and dancing and that stuff," Ron answered.

"Are you saying that I CAN'T do it?!" she asked furiously.

"Well, I-"

"YOU- ARE- COMPLETELY- WRONG!!! And just to prove it: yes Lavender, I'd be happy to join you".

Ron was stunned, he'd have bet that Hermione would rather flunk in a test than to become a cheerleader.

"Great, I'll give you the uniform after lunch. We'll begin tomorrow morning at the quidditch pitch," Lavender finished, and walked away.

"Hermione... I -" Ron tried to say something, it was just that he couldn't find the right words. It wasn't his intention to make his best friend do something she didn't want to. It wasn't his intention either to start another foolish fight between them. It was just so difficult to deal with Hermione. You never know how will she react to a given situation. You never know what to say or do, because of the possible catastrophic consequences of every single of your moves.

"Here Ron, we are finished with this," Hermione said, handing back Ron's essay. Then, she stood up. "Let's go, we haven't even had breakfast yet."

* * *

The rest of the morning passed rapidly. Neither Ron nor Hermione had mentioned anything about Hermione becoming a cheerleader. Ron was too puzzled about it and Hermione, well, she couldn't believe what she had done. When lunch time came and they were having some food, Lavender walked toward them, holding a large bag in her hands.

"Hermione, here's your uniform," she said, handing it.

Hermione took it and stared at it. 'Am I going to wear this?!' she told herself.

The so- called uniform consisted of a scarlet and gold miniskirt and a scarlet, long sleeve blouse, with a 'V' shaped neck, and a huge golden G in the middle.

"Do you like it?" Lavender asked excitedly.

"This can't be my size, Lavender, it's too small," Hermione told her.

"Don't be silly! Of course it's your size!" Lavender said smiling.

Hermione was shocked. Harry and Ron as well. Specially Harry, who didn't know what was all this about. The three of them stayed silent.

Ron's eyebrows were highly raised.

Harry stared at Hermione, then at the uniform, at Lavender, and at Hermione again.

After recovering a little bit from the shock, she was able to speak. "Huh?"

"This- is- your- size. It's supposed to be this way," Lavender said slowly. She raised her eyes to the sky, begging the Lord for some patience.

"Take it or leave it," she added.

Hermione simply stayed quiet and moved the uniform towards herself.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Lavender finished, and walked away.

"'Mione, what the hell is going on?" Harry asked, a mixture of curiosity and worry in his voice.

"I'm a cheerleader," Hermione answered, a fake and almost painful smile on her face.

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