What You See Is What You Get...

Hermione walked slowly back up to her room, thinking to herself. Wow. I've stayed at Ron's for a couple weeks at a time, but never this long. But I guess it'll keep me occupied so I don't get into the studying mode too early. And --

"HERMIONE!!! Please come HERE!!"

She was interrupted from her thoughts, turned around and went back into the kitchen. "Yes, Mum?"

"I set your appointment for this coming Tuesday. And luckily for you there was an opening at 2:15. You think you can be up and have your eyes ready by then?"

"I suppose so," she muttered. "So what's going to happen the rest of the evening tonight?"

"Would you like to go shopping? I got my paycheck last Friday. Maybe you can get some new robes or something for school. Or maybe a new book would interest you?" she laughed.

Hermione smiled and replied, "Ha ha, very funny Mum. Actually, there is this new one, its about the history of fairies..."

--

Thursday morning, Hermione woke up to a very hyper Perry and Pig swooping around her room. What a horrible combination of animals. "Yes yes, what do you two want?" They sat down restlessly on her bed while she went to get her glasses off of the bureau. She took the letter off of Pig's leg and the package from Perry's. "There are some owl treats down in the den if you'd like a rest Pig. Perry can show you. Now off with you!" she pushed them slightly, and they flew away excitedly out of the room.

Hermione started to open the package, which was from Mrs. Weasley, and found a small, home made pillow stitched with, 'Work is for people who are easily bored!" and a pink flower. The letter was from Ron. It read:

Hey again,

Sorry I don't live up to your standerds of letter writing I guess I am just to used to not being in school and plus I dont have you to copy off of. HA I'm glad your coming to stay and so is Ginny to. Harry is coming to, but he wont be here right away he's got some big meeting thing with his nayber lady remember her? Mrs. Fridge or something like that? and Dumbledore is gonna be there to. So he won't be coming until 2 weeks before school starts. Mum says then we can go to diagon ally. I should probably tell you Percy is at home he's still a prat but at least he's finally apologised for him being a bigger prat before it took until after Vold........emor..........t was defeeted for him to admit he was wrong and dad was right. SO stay away from him because he's all.. Percylike. Sorry about the pillo mum sent its dorky I know but you know mum I couldn't perswade her otherwize. This is getting long so I think I will stop now. Ginny says hi and mom says take it easy and Fred and George say do you want some candy or pranks to help you laugh (I think they just want to make a sale and plus youd probably just be sorry in the end) Percy says I'm a big headed prat and dad says nothing because he is at work but I bet he would say bring a new muggle machine so I can brake it and the gnomes say woooooooah and Ron says man my hand is tired.

From Ron

PS- OH YAH! Why don't you Floo powder over here on friday that would be conveenyent for us owl back and say if it is for you or not.

"That boy is going to take some grammar lessons whether I'm supposed to think or not!" she cried out to herself. "...some private lessons maybe..." Hermione smirked to herself over how she'd like those to go. "Oh my goodness!! That's TOMORROW! PIIIIG!!!! Come in here now!" She quickly scribbled a response.

Dear Ron,

I believe Friday (which is tomorrow) will be just fine. It's earlier than when Mum and Dad leave, but that's all right. I must pack my trunk now. And say 'Hello' to everyone for me!

Love from,
Hermione

She rolled it up, gave it to Pig and rushed him out the window. "I hope it arrives before I do. Oh well, if it doesn't, they're expecting me anyhow. Better get packing." She began pulling various outfits out of her closets and throwing them in the suitcase. Then because she couldn't stand it, she took everything out, folded it up neatly, then placed them in the suitcase once again. Just because I can't study doesn't mean I can't be organized.

She then let out a sigh and studied herself in the full length mirror she had found in a thrift shop. She had shot up a good three inches since the beginning of the year. Plus she couldn't help but notice that she had also grown a little bit bustier in the past few months. She had had her hair chemically straightened, and added in red highlights. All that along with her new glasses made her look very sophisticated indeed, much older than when she had left school, and definitely older than a seventh year at Hogwarts. She wondered, as she turned to consider her profile, if Ron would notice her intense changes.

Hermione gave an awkward, anxious smile to her reflection, then walked back over to her suitcase to lug it downstairs and set it by the fireplace.

"Hello there dear," Mr. Granger said, kissing Hermione on the forehead. "That anxious to be getting away from us?"

"What?"

"You're already packed and ready to go, but we don't leave until Monday."

"Oh! Ron sent a letter saying I should just come tomorrow. I hope that's all right with you and mum."

Her father cracked an odd, supicious sort of smile, that disturbed Hermione a little, and said, "Of course it is. Now I'm going to go get washed up for dinner. Your mother has made a delicious meal for us this evening." Mr. Granger walked off to the bathroom, leaving Hermione to herself again.

She couldn't help but shudder, then found her way to the dining room for dinner.

That night while Hermione was getting ready for bed, she noticed she felt a little bit like she did on the night before Christmas when she was younger; jittering with excitement. She wouldn't admit it to even herself, but she knew that this was because she was going to see Ron. You know that old quote, 'absense makes the heart grow fonder'? Well, Hermione believed that one to be true now. She hadn't seen him in over a month, and she could hardly bare it anymore. Not only that, but she knew she was more attractive now. She wasn't sure how Ron would react.

She crawled into bed with a book (A College Of Magics, by Caroline Stevermer, she wanted to see how realistic it was), and tried to calm herself. But that excited nervousness wouldn't go away. She gave up reading after a few pages and just lay in her bed. It was after a lot of thinking and roleplaying in her mind, and around 4:30am, when she dozed off into an uneasy sleep.

Hermione suddenly awoke the next morning, right in the middle of a dream. She realized the phone was ringing. "Musta been what woke me up," she mumbled to herself. After picking up the receiver, she yawned, "He- hello?"

"Hermione, this is your mother. I figured you would still be in bed."

Hermione looked at the clock, squinted, then said, "Of course I'm still in bed. It's only just past eight Mum."

"Well yes, but I don't want you to keep the Weasley's waiting. And it would be nice of you to show up before tea time."

"O-"

"I've got to go Hermione, another patient has been called in. See you at Christmas! We'll be sure to write, and send you some souvineers."

"Thanks Mum."

"Oh and Hermione, remember to stay calm. Don't stress over anything that's not important. I've got to go. Love you."

"Bye." She set the receiver in the cradle and plopped herself down onto her bed again. She was trying to recall the dream she was having before she was rudely, and unnecessarily, interrupted. She knew Ron had been there. He had been involved in her dreams in one way or another quite frequently lately. But what was going on? They had been on some water-street in Venice, in one of those authentic Italian boats. He was wearing a white and black stripped shirt, tucked into tight black pants, and one of those flat straw hats with a red ribbon around it; rowing them down a deserted passage between old, stone houses, lit only by moonlight. She had looked down at her reflection in the water, but to her surprise, the face she had seen wasn't hers.