Wonderful Tonight

Wonderful Tonight

By Inez Stanley

Chapter 1: The Plot

Hermione was concerned.

It was common knowledge, especially to her and Ron, that Ginny was, and had been, in love with Harry since second year and before. It was pretty plain to see. The way she was wistful around him, the way she always seemed to hang on his every word. It seemed that her schoolgirlish crush had deepened into something more than a schoolgirlish crush after Harry saved her life, as she had become more mature about the whole thing after second year. But the funny thing was, as obvious as it was, she had never said a word about her feelings for Harry. Not even to Hermione, one of her closest friends.

So, Hermione reasoned, if Ginny wasn't going to do anything about it, she would.

It was the day before the big December Hogsmeade weekend, and the entire school above third year was quivering with excitement. Dumbledore, being convinced that keeping everything as normal as possible was advisable, at least for now, had fought with his usual brilliant ferocity against the Board of Directors to allow the students the privelage of going to Hogsmeade. So they all prepared for the event.

Knocking on the door of the Fourth Year dormitory, Hermione gathered her words together. Ginny opened the door, and showed her in. The two of them were alone in the room, as the other girls had all gone off as soon as Ginny came in. If Hermione remembered correctly, they had, in fact been her friends until the events that took place at the end of second year had caused a valley of separation between them for some reason. They were apparently now too "low and unworthy" to associate with miss "high and mighty". And judging by the fact that this didn't seem to bother Ginny, it was assumed that they hadn't been very good friends to begin with.

Ginny had been sitting on her bed, counting out her meager supply of money. The coins were in neat little stacks, balanced perfectly on the coverlet, until Hermione sat atop the said coverlet and the stacks tumbled. Ginny waved her hand in nonchalance and whipped out her wand, charming them into place again. She picked up the patched-up brown burlap drawstring bag she had been keeping them in, and fiddled with the leather ties.

Hermione was the first one to speak. "So, I see you're getting ready for Hogsmeade," she began.

Ginny was startled out of her reverie. "Oh! Um, yes..." she trailed off, then stared into space again.

"Where are you planning to go tomorrow?"

"Well...I have to get something for Ron. And Charlie. I'm baking cookies for Bill. And I've made something for you...and Harry. Who've I forgotten? Oh, Percy. He's hard to shop for. Maybe a book? Colin and I were planning to look together, except he just got a letter from his mum that he isn't allowed to go. So I'll have more time to look at the places I want to look at, instead of spending the whole time in Honeydukes."

Hermione mentally noted the fact that she had said she had made something for Harry, but didn't comment. Instead, she replied, "I know what you mean. That's where Harry and Ron want to spend all their time, too. I've read that they have and excellent bookshop, Carton and Lorry's, and an apothecary to rival Snape's private stores. And even a sort of department store. You know, with robes, and jewelry, and shoes, and other little things that the boys don't even pay attention to. I've always wanted to sneak away, but I didn't want to leave the boys to whatever havoc they'd wreak if I weren't there. I think they're mature enough by now not to cause any lasting damage, don't you? What say you and I run off tomorrow and shop for girl things?"

Ginny looked around rather confusedly. "Me?"

"Who else? I'd like to go shopping with you. We'll have a girls' day out."

"Um, I haven't got much money..." was her final feeble excuse.

"Well, I have yet to buy you a Christmas present. I was going to treat you."

Ginny seemed to resign herself to the fact that she wasn't getting out of this, and said wearily, "What sort of treat?"

"Well... Is there anything that you've been dying to have, but just can't bring yourself to ask for?" Hermione asked precariously, then realized too late that that could be taken in more than one way.

Ginny didn't even seem to think of Harry's affections as a possible answer choice, though, and instead she shrugged her shoulders. "Not really."

"Well, then, just browsing would be fun, wouldn't it?"

"I suppose."

"Alright then. Girls' day out. Tomorrow."

"Alright..." Ginny echoed meekly.

Hermione stood up, as did Ginny, to show her out the door. Hermione glanced at her to take inventory of physical appearance. The girl was rather small for her age, with enormous brown eyes and pale skin. She had a few freckles left, but not many, unlike her brothers who all sported big clusters of them on their cheeks, noses, and foreheads. Her robes were well tailored-but also well worn. She had just gotten a new set before this year had started, so they weren't too short. Her boots on the other hand were much too big for her dainty feet, with round toes and laces that dragged the floor. All that was visible of her arms were her fingertips, which were surprisingly uncalloused, and fingernails that were unbitten. Her hair was a scraggly mess, but well washed, and her teeth were straight. Not impossible. This she could work with.

If Fleur Delacour had turned her into a completely different person last year for the Yule Ball, then she, Hermione Granger, could transform Ginny Weasley into a love goddess for Christmas dinner at The Burrow.