There All Along

Hermione Granger gave a loud, unladylike snort into her pillow as she started awake. Fumbling her hand around, the sleep gluing her eyes shut, she slammed her hand down onto her enchanted alarm clock. The incessant buzzing ceased, and she rolled over onto her back, moaning. The soft, melodic chirp of some blue birds outside her window filled her ears, and the light peaked through her shut eyelids. Defeated, she yawned and stretched, blinking frequently as her opened eyes adjusted to the light. She gave a loud sigh and swung her legs around the side of her bed. Giving another wide yawn, she looked to her left to see Parvati and Lavender still sound asleep.

Hermione smiled amusedly at Lavender's position. Her head was limp on her shoulder, her mouth wide open, and she was seated upright. By the looks of it, Hermione assumed she had fallen asleep reading her Teen Witch magazine. Her sleek, brown hair mashed against the headboard, and Hermione knew the squealing that would occur once she looked into the mirror.

Wanting to avoid this at all costs, Hermione made her way towards the lavatory. Seizing her blue toothbrush among the purple and pink, Hermione brushed her teeth vigorously, staring into space, her mind reflecting on the night before.

The Hogwarts doors had opened wide with hospitality, welcoming her and her classmates to the start of their sixth year. The feast had been exceptionally good, she recalled. Everything was alight and alive and exactly the same as always. Well, almost the same. She smiled to herself with amusement and surprise.

She hadn't realized how much her two best friends had changed over the course of the summer. Harry had grown taller and filled out, his once lanky form more built. His hair was still a black mess, though slightly longer. His eyes seemed to have gotten greener if that was possible, and he appeared more like a man than he had the previous year. Of course, there was a perfect explanation for that.

She recalled their vacation season. She and Ron and the whole Order had spent the summer comforting Harry, giving him the love he needed. Losing Sirius was hard on everyone, but no one was in a lifetime of a thousand years more depressed and lonely than Harry. He seemed to have matured beyond his years and finally, but slowly accepted his godfather's fate. He was appreciative and thankful toward them all, and Hermione was thankful he didn't lose his mind.

Hermione spit a mouthful of toothpaste under the running water, her brow furrowed. She hoped they could all move on. Which brought her to...

Ron. Sweet, infuriating, loyal Ron. He had changed too on his level of maturity. He was still taller than everyone and a little gawky, but had maintained his fiery red hair and hot-headed ways. It was true, he had become more physically in shape, but Hermione always pictured Ron as a child. He never really opened up like she or Harry did, but was understanding and loving at the right times. The ordeal in the Department of Mysteries seemed to have changed him for the better, and he seemed intent on repairing his relationships.

Placing her toothbrush back in the holder, Hermione wiped her mouth, smiling to herself. She was so lucky to have two such wonderful best friends.

Somewhere in the room, another enchanted alarm clock sounded, causing Hermione's two roommates to stir. She heard Parvati snickering as she prodded Lavender awake. Their conversation was muffled, but the squeal from Lavender was prominent, and Hermione knew that within a few seconds, the girl would burst through the bathroom door.

She hardly had time to place her toothbrush in its proper place before the door swung open, banging loudly against the wall. A frazzled Lavender Brown, breathing heavily, shoved her aside and stared, horrified, in the mirror.

"Why me?" she shrieked miserably, attacking her wild mop of hair violently with a comb. "Why me? First day of school and I have to look like this!"

Parvati appeared in the doorway clearly torn between pity, empathy, and amusement.

"Morning," she laughed, greeting Hermione. "You may want to clear out soon."

Hermione nodded, squeezing past the drama queen and heading for the door. "Right."

She made her way back to the room, her eyes seeking the clock.

"7:00," she muttered softly to herself. She would have to hurry if she wanted to make breakfast.

She scurried over to her wardrobe and grabbed her school uniform and robes. Stripping out of her pajamas, she threw on her robes, and folded her pajamas nicely. Once her bed was made, she made her way back towards the bathroom. She had forgotten to grab a hair band, and she needed to get her curls out of her eyes.

"'Scuse me," she said, peeking into the bathroom.

Her eyebrows lifted in mild surprise when she spotted Lavender. Her hair no longer stood up like tangled vines. Instead, it flowed down her back long, smooth, and soft. She was fully dressed in her tight uniform, her face home to a full amount of makeup. She stood mere inches away from the mirror, her brow furrowed, as she plucked away at her eyebrows with silver tweezers. Parvati copied her, also fully ready to go. Hermione was impressed. In just a summer, these beauty queens shaved almost an hour off their prep time. Hermione's chocolate brown eyes scanned the tiled floor, taking in the heaps of pink and purple pajamas. Makeup, lotions, soaps, brushes, and nail polish scattered the counters, and the cloud of perfume was so thick, Hermione felt a little lightheaded.

"Wow!" she said, grabbing her hair band from under a pile of brushes. "You guys work fast."

"Well, we've become much more efficient," Parvati said, wincing when she plucked a particularly tender spot. "We can't always take up the bathroom too long. It's not fair to you."

Hermione's eyes grew wide, startled and touched. "Wow. Well, thanks, Parvati."

"Plus, if we're too late for breakfast, we won't get the seats next to the really gorgeous boys!" Lavender said seriously, lathering her lips with an extra coat of lip gloss. Smacking her lips, she turned to give Hermione a smile, which Hermione returned tiredly. Typical.

"Anyway, we should get going, Pav," Lavender said to her companion. "Hermione, we'll see you la...Oh my gosh!"

Hermione started, glancing over at her as she gasped. "What?"

"Hermione, please do me a favor," Lavender said exasperatedly. She looked at her tragically.

"Sure" Hermione agreed.

"Look in the mirror!"

Sighing, slightly confused, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Staring back at her was a slender 16-year-old girl with an incomplete ponytail. She too had matured and grown over the summer into a beautiful and vibrant young woman. However, this reflection looked rather older than a girl of only sixteen. Though her warm, brown eyes filled with wisdom beyond her years, they had little purple circles sleeping under them. Her new dress robes were a size larger than she was and hid her nice figure and well-proportioned curves. Her frizzed and messy brown hair stuck up like a bush in the ponytail. Even her face, usually rosy and alight, looked pale and dull.

"What?" Hermione repeated impatiently, pulling a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"What?" Lavender said, clearly repulsed. "Hermione, think this through. Is this what you want to look like for your sixth year? Look, you're a modest and down to earth girl. You're smart and brainy and everything, but news flash. It's not a crime to look your age."

Ignoring Hermione's embarrassed protests, she rummaged around the countertop and picked out one of the makeup kits. Meanwhile, Parvati led Hermione to the sink and shoved her head down, pulling out the band. Lavender muttered to herself as her best friend soaked Hermione's hair.

"What are you doing, Parvati?" Hermione demanded, surprised at the girl's strength.

"I'm making it easier to tame your wild brown curls, of course!" Parvati responded in the same exasperated tone as her friend. "We can't let it stick out like that anymore!"

Hermione saw Lavender nodding profusely in the mirror, surveying numerous tubes and sticks. Without warning, Parvati dragged Hermione up and began to scrub her head with a towel. Hermione's neck began to ache at the pressure, and she had to close her eyes. Somewhere to her right, Lavender began to talk again.

"Now, Hermione, I'm making you your own makeup kit. I don't have time this minute to explain it all to you, but sometime this week, I'll give you a short session about tones and combinations and such. It'll be like Femininity 101." She laughed to herself.

Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes. In lessons, Lavender was almost never prepared. But talk makeup, and she was the most organized person on the planet. After another five minutes of drying and chatting, Parvati advised her to check out her hair.

Hermione obeyed.

"Wow," she said softly, once again astonished. Her untamed curls had dried into soft, shiny and flowing brown locks. She smiled in spite of herself. "Er...thanks, Parvati."

"Yeah, yeah," Lavender spoke up suddenly. "But hair is only one part."

She seized Hermione's chin and turned it so she faced her. With astonishing speed and explanation, Lavender worked and primped and prepped Hermione in a whirl of blush, mascara, and lip gloss. Once she was done, she demanded to know Hermione's opinion. Once more, Hermione stared into the mirror, taken aback at what she saw.

She looked the same, but looked completely different at the same time. The light pink blush accented her high cheek bones and took away the pale tinge of her skin. The clear lip gloss made her lips appear full and shiny, and the mascara widened her eyes, so they were big and alight. Somehow with the make up base, the purple bags were gone, and her teeth looked whiter than usual.

"Well? What do you think?" Lavender demanded, her arms crossed as she surveyed her work.

Hermione turned shyly, a small smile coming to her lips. "It's nice," she said softly. "Thanks."

Lavender smiled while Parvati giggled. "I told you. Your pretty, Hermione, but you need to learn to show it once in a while."

"Well, I guess I'll see you later, then," Hermione said. "Thank you. It was...interesting."

Hermione left the bathroom and went to pick up her bag filled with her textbooks. Making sure she had everything, she headed for the door. Who knew what time it was? She didn't want to be any later than she already was. She was very proud of her punctuality. Just as she began to turn the knob, Lavender raced out the bathroom, Parvati on her tail.

"Wait!" she squealed. "We're not done!"

"What else is there to do?" Hermione asked, now annoyed. "Look, I'm going to be late. Harry and Ron are waiting for me, and we still have to eat and get our schedules, and..."

"Just go and change and we'll let you go," Parvati told her, grabbing her bag.

Hermione looked down to observe her outfit. "I can't change. We were uniforms. Look, this has been fun and everything, but..."

"Hermione, you're swimming in your robes!" Lavender exclaimed. She ran to Hermione's wardrobe and threw it open, searching through the clothes.

"Hey!" Hermione cried out. "What are you doing?"

"Here!" Lavender said, the glow of triumph on her face. She pulled out another set of robes and uniform. "These are your robes from last year, right?"

"Yes," Hermione said cautiously. "They're extras in case I run out before the laundry."

"Not anymore," Parvati said, starting to pull of Hermione's robes. "You have to wear clothes that actually fit you, Hermione. Honestly."

Clearly the thought of wearing new robes mortified the both of them. No longer willing to waste any more time arguing, Hermione sighed, defeated, and held out her hands. Lavender beamed and handed her the outfit. Hermione shook her head as she quickly changed her outfit. She had to admit, the clothes fit her much better, and she didn't feel as weighed down. She picked up her bag and swung it over her shoulder.

"There," she said, widening her arms. "Can I go now?"

Without waiting for an answer, Hermione swiftly exited the room, Parvati and Lavender smiling in satisfaction behind her. As she descended the stairs, Hermione couldn't help but feel a small sense of new beginning. She felt a little better, she had to admit. Maybe it was a positive thing. She supposed she'd have to see. Until then, she needed to move if she was going to make breakfast.

Entering the Gryffindor common room, Hermione spotted Harry sitting by the fireplace in one of the large cushy chairs.

"Is that you Hermione?" asked Harry's deep voice behind a copy of The Daily Prophet. "We were waiting for you."

"Yes," she replied, fastening her bag tightly. She scanned the room. Something, or rather someone, was missing. "Hey, where's Ron? We have to go to breakfast and get our schedules."

"He's coming. He got up a little late," he replied, turning the page and not looking up.

"Ok," she mumbled. Ron always got up late. She tapped her foot on the floor and glanced at the clock. She let out an impatient sigh which made Harry chuckle.

"You're still as impatient as ever Hermione. When will you ever become..."

He stopped in mid-sentence. Hermione glanced over at him. His sparkling green eyes stared at her and grazed over her, up and down. He grinned slowly and knowingly and looked at her face, which was smiling hesitantly back. She self-consciously widened her arms, waiting for his opinion.

"Look who finally came out of her cocoon."

"What are you talking 'bout Harry?" came a sleepy voice behind Hermione.

Hermione lugged her bag and turned around to find a sleepy and scruffy-looking Ron standing there, his shirt un-tucked and his tie untied. He rubbed his eyes, groaning loudly, his red hair standing up.

"Let's go to the Great Hall," he said groggily. "I'm starving."

"Again?" teased Hermione. "After the 10 pounds of food you consumed last night?"

"Shut up, Hermi..." He finally stopped rubbing his eyes and gazed at Hermione with wide eyes. He gawked, seemingly speechless. Hermione smirked, feeling pleased. She was sick of Ron treating her like she wasn't a girl. Just thinking about Ron's annoyingly expressed amazement at the fact back in fourth year made her insides burn in anger. Maybe now he'd keep his comments to himself.

"What are you staring at?" she asked, making a face at him. He didn't answer, so she changed the subject. "Well come on! Let's go before we miss our schedules."

With that, she turned her back on an admiring Harry and a speechless, somewhat dazed Ron, smiling. Whether she gave her roommates credit or not, she felt victorious somehow. As she made her way out toward the portrait hole, she knew that things were starting off on the right foot.
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Ron shook his head and blinked, coming out of his momentary trance. Harry's face came back into focus, and Ron noticed that he was smirking.

"What's up with you, mate?" Ron asked, clearing his throat loudly, trying to sound casual.

"Nothing," Harry replied, still smirking. "It's just that you looked pretty caught up in something. Are you okay?"

Ron's ears flared red with embarrassment, and Harry gave him a knowing look.

"What do you mean?" he stammered flustered.

Harry laughed softly and continued to smirk. Ron got more and more uncomfortable and angry. "WHAT?" he yelled. He glared fiercely across the room, daring Harry.

"You like her don't you?" Harry grinned, folding his arms across his muscular chest.

"Who?" Ron asked sharply, hoping to goodness he wouldn't guess.

"Who?" Harry snorted. "Hermione!"

Ron's face turned deep purple as he stammered, "Huh? I do not like... Hermione? Where did that come from? Are you touched in the head? How could you think that?" There was a long pause before he lowered his voice into a desperate whisper. "Do you think she knows?" He was utterly horrified. If Harry knew, was it possible that she had figured it out as well?

Harry laughed triumphantly and slapped Ron on the back. "No," he smiled. "She doesn't know... Oh gosh, FINALLY! I thought you'd never admit it. Now you can finally tell her and I won't have to watch you two blunder your affections to each other anymore! I have to say it's starting to become really unbearable."

Ron grabbed Harry's collar roughly. Their faces were inches apart, Ron's eyes filled with warning. "If you breathe one word to her or any soul, I will kill you!"

Harry didn't want Ron to think him untrustworthy or to kill him, so he put his hands up in mock surrender and promised. "So," he said, straightening his collar. "How long?"

"I dunno. Since about fourth year maybe," Ron replied glumly. "I mean everything was fine and then all of the sudden..." He let out a hasty scoff, running his fingers through his red hair. "But, mate, I swear! This summer she drove me crazy! Everything she did just...And when I wanted to get away, I couldn't. She was everywhere, and I couldn't get her out of my head. It's scary. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to make it go away. And now she's gone all...makeup-y and everything." He groaned longingly. "She can never find out. I don't want her to ever know."

"Why not?" Harry inquired. "She might feel the same way."

"Doubt it," Ron grumbled.

"I don't. I think you should go for it!" Harry declared.

"Go for what?" asked Hermione, re-entering the common room. She heaved the strap of her bag over her shoulder again. She was bent over by its weight, looking uncomfortable.

"Nothing. Uh, schedules," Ron muttered, turning a new shade of red.

"What's up?" Hermione asked, her brow rising suspiciously. She knew that Ron's sudden change of shades was never a good sign. But, she did not receive a response from either friend, so she shrugged and beckoned out the door. "Let's go! We'll miss schedules!"

She walked out the portrait hole again, and Ron sighed as he watched her float away like an angel. He caught a glimpse of Harry and saw that he was smirking again.

"Not a word!" he hissed and followed Hermione out to the Great Hall.

Harry followed suit and grinned to himself. Maybe this year would have a nice little twist in it after all. He exited the common room, also feeling as though the year had started off on the right foot.