The Ole Switch-a-roo

CHAPTER 2

The next morning Hermione woke up extra early so she could go and see Professor McGonagall about their little...experiment. She was a bit nervous, because she figured that the strict Deputy Headmistress would never go for it.

**

"Actually Miss Granger, I think that your idea is a wonderful one," said Professor McGonnagall as she shifted papers around on her desk.

Hermione did the smallest of double takes. "Y-you do?" she said, looking at the professor with wide eyes.

"Of course! I mean, it's about time that the absolute disgrace that is the male sex learns to deal with being a woman," she said loudly to the door behind her desk. Hermione got the vaguest impression that someone was behind there.

"Professor....if you don't mind me asking...who's behind there?" she said, looking at the door curiously.

"Oh, it's just Albus. We had another fight. He said that I would never be as good as him just because I'm a girl," she said looking disgusted. "But," she added in a whisper, "we'll see who gets the last laugh." She passed Hermione a note. Don't read it 'til you get outside. She mouthed. "You have my permission, Miss Granger."

Hermione walked outside the Professor's office confused as all get out. She opened the piece of paper and read these words:

Miss Granger, would you please be so kind as to send me an owl with the instructions to perform your newly found spell? I think that Hogwarts would be a bit more interesting to have a Headmistress for a month, don't you think?

Hermione just laughed and tucked the note in her pocket.

**

Late that night in the Gryffindor common room (around 2:00 am), Hermione gathered Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, Harry, Ron, Dean, and Seamus.

"Alright, I've decided to take things a step farther," Hermione said, looking at the sleepy students, "Here are the rules," she said, passing out sheets of paper to the seven of them.

"Any questions?" she asked, when they all had read the rules.

"How are we picking the partners?" Lavender asked, looking at the boys, trying to figure who would be the best person to be partnered up with.

"The old fashioned way," Hermione said, pulling out her school hat with pieces of paper in it. "The girls names are on the paper, the guys are going to pick because I feel sorry for them," she said smiling.

The girls started laughing, and Seamus snatched the hat away from her and thrust his hand in it. He searched around for a moment and yanked his hand out, pulling out a piece of paper with it.

"Ginny," he said calmly. Passing the hat to Dean who pulled out the first piece of paper he touched.

"Parvati," he said, tossing the hat over to Harry who was half asleep in his chair.

Harry just dumped the two pieces of paper on his lap grabbed one and tossed the other to Ron. "I got Lavender. Hmm...I wonder who Ron got?" he said, looking stupid at the same time.

Ron took the piece of paper and put it in his pocket without opening it.

"Alright, are we ready to do this?" Hermione said, pulling out her wand from her nightgown. Everyone slowly got up looking a whole lot more awake than they did a few minutes ago. They all silently stood around Hermione in a circle and waited for her to perform the charm that would change their lives, for a little while at least.

"Here we go," Hermione said, raising her wand straight up in the air. "One, two, three...Interruptor do gender!"