The Makeover - COMPLETED

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
*******************************

Chapter 10 ~ The First Date


With Sybil’s sudden departure, Albus found himself without a teacher for Divination class, and had to rotate teachers until he found a replacement. Sybil didn’t keep a lesson plan and winged it for the most part, so the substitutes had nothing to work with and had to wing it as well, using books for ideas.

Every teacher taught at least one class, of which Severus was by far the worst instructor. In his class he had the students try to predict how many points he was going to take from them when they got the answer wrong. A catch twenty-two if there ever was one, but at least Albus took him off the rotation which was what the snarky Professor was aiming for in the first place.

Hermione’s new look soon grew old, and the witch was able to return to her spell work with some slight changes. Now when she walked the corridor loaded down with books, usually several older male students would come to her assistance, fighting over the tomes and the winners carrying them, pages all askew, down to her lab for her, then trying to lounge about. She sent them straight off, the young wizards protesting heartily as she told them she had work to do.

The witch set about getting her notes and research in order. Since she had to work with Severus, she thought it would be easier to do if the wizard had some idea what she had accomplished and what she hoped to accomplish with a living test subject. Dead limbs couldn’t describe what they were experiencing. She needed someone who could react to her experimentation and give her information about those reactions. More than that, she needed someone who could answer a summons.

The Professor was going to absolutely love that, she was sure.

*****************************************

Severus tossed and turned in his sleep. He was dreaming, but gods he hadn’t had a dream like this in a very long time. He was fucking the shit out of someone against a dungeon wall. He couldn’t see who it was but the witch was shrieking like a banshee. In reality, the wizard had a death grip on his cock and was working it to a frenzy in his sleep. Suddenly he came with a groan, but didn’t wake up just then.

In his dream, the witch slid down off the wall and looked up at him with glistening amber eyes…

“Gods, Professor…” she said in a husky but horrifying familiar voice.

The Potions Master sat straight up in the bed, blinking and looking wildly around the room.

“Wha…?” he began, then felt the stickiness all over his loins and looked down.

He had come all over himself. He hadn’t done that since he was a student at Hogwarts. Severus scowled and slid over, discovering as he reached for his wand on the nightstand that his hand was all sticky too.

“Circe,” he hissed, grabbing his wand and scourgifying himself then the bed sheets. He put the wand back and slid back over into the bed, lying down on his back and staring up at the ceiling. He hadn’t had sex in quite a while, but still…he shouldn’t have dreamed what he dreamed. He shouldn’t have. There was no reason to.

“No, that couldn’t have been who I thought it was…it’s madness,” he said to himself, “Pure unadulterated madness.”

He rolled over and tried to push the dream out of his mind.

Sleep was a long time coming.

*****************************************

Friday evening rolled around and Justice picked Hermione up promptly at seven. He was dressed in a striped brown and white dress shirt, a brown blazer, belt, brown Dockers and brown shoes. Hermione was dressed in a knee length, long sleeved slightly flared cream print dress, covered in autumn leaves. She wore brown low heeled shoes and a brown cloak. No jewelry. She hadn’t yet purchased any. It was actually autumn and the nights were getting cooler. Her curling hair fell softly around her shoulders and smelled of Jasmine. Justice looked at her appreciatively.

“Wow, you look absolutely lovely,” the Auror breathed, offering Hermione his arm as she blushed at his compliment.

“Thank you,” she said shyly.

Justice walked her up the corridor and into the main hall. Marcus Delaluci came striding from the DA corridor just in time to see Hermione leaving with Justice. His violet eyes narrowed. So the witch was dating now, eh? He checked Justice out. Handsome bloke. Ah well, Marcus could bide his time. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t first, as long as he was in line.

Marcus was on his way out to hit the Knock-Knock club. He wanted to get there early while ladies were still drinking free. He could hit on them without having to spend any money for at least two hours. If he were lucky, he would have seduced one before the drinks started costing galleons again. He let Justice and Hermione precede him, then followed them out.

“So where are we going tonight, Mr. Forall?” Hermione asked him, trying to make small talk. She felt awkward being out with a strange wizard she knew next to nothing about.

He looked down at her, thinking how pretty she looked in the moonlight.

“It’s a surprise,” he said, patting her arm.

They exited the gate and Hermione turned to him, expecting them to apparate, when the wizard reached in his pocket and pulled out a tiny broom. Then he pulled out his wand.

“It’s such a lovely night, I thought we’d fly there,” the wizard said, flicking his wand at the broom. It grew to proper size. It was a third generation Firebolt.

“I…I’m not completely comfortable with flying,” Hermione began.

Justice smiled at her as he mounted the broom and offered her his hand.

“I’m an Auror, Miss Granger. I am trained in transporting people on brooms. You’ll be fine,” he said persuasively.

Hermione hesitated, then mounted the broom side-saddle, Justice pulling her back so she nestled against his strong body. Hermione felt all fluttery inside as she felt his warmth and his arms on either side of her protectively as he gripped the broom. The Auror pushed off smoothly, but Hermione still gasped and leaned back against him even harder.

Justice grinned. Going by broom gave him an opportunity to get close to her. As they flew, he sniffed Hermione’s hair surreptiously. It smelled wonderful…like flowers. Jasmine.

“Now, this isn’t so bad, is it?” Justice asked her as they flew past the full moon. It was beautiful and Hermione felt as if she could reach out and touch it. She felt safe surrounded by the Auror’s strong sure arms.

“No, it really isn’t,” she agreed. She wasn’t cold either. Justice must have cast a warming spell as well.

Presently they came to an area filled with tiny lights…a town. A large lake bordered it. Justice angled the broom down and they landed in front of a little rustic looking restaurant right on the edge of the lake. Justice reduced the broom as Hermione read the name of the restaurant.

Charlie’s Seafood

It was a quaint little place, rather small, but had a large deck with picnic type tables and torches ringing it. There was a pretty view of the lake, lights twinkling on the other side of the water. There were a few patrons eating. It smelled wonderful.

Justice led her to a table and helped her sit down on the long bench, then sat opposite her. There were menus already on the tables. Justice picked his up and smiled at Hermione, encouraging her to do the same.

Hermione browsed the menu. Yum, fried shrimp…but she couldn’t have those. Her skin was cleared up completely, smooth and even for the first time since she was fourteen. She wasn’t about to ruin it.

“Do you see anything you like?” Justice asked her.

“Yes. I’d like the shrimp cocktail and the crab legs, if that’s all right with you?” she said to Justice, feeling odd that he was buying food for her. But this was a date. She couldn’t expect to split the tab.

“Anything you’d like is fine with me,” Justice replied. He hadn’t stopped smiling since he picked the pretty witch up. He felt like he had won the Wizarding sweepstakes.

Suddenly the Auror let out a loud whistle, startling Hermione.

“Why did you do that?” she asked him.

A brown haired waitress walked up. She wore jeans with an apron over it that read “Charlie’s Seafood.”

“Hello Justice,” she smiled at him, then she looked at Hermione. “Good evening, Miss.”

Hermione smiled a hello.

“I was just calling Charlie Jr. here. This is her dad’s place,” Justice said looking at the waitress fondly. Charlie smiled back.

“What can I get you tonight?” she asked politely.

“The lady will have the shrimp cocktail and crab legs. “I’ll have the fried flounder, if you have it,” he replied.

“We’ve got it,” Charlie said writing everything down. “And this comes with small potatoes, boiled corn and a small salad.”

“Fine,” Justice said, his eyes on Hermione, who blushed for absolutely no reason.

“She blushes quite a bit,” Justice thought as he looked at her. He wondered…no…no, not at her age. She had to be at least twenty-five.

They sat in silence for a little while…the curse of the awkward first date upon them. Presently Hermione said, “I like this place, Mr. Forall. It’s quaint and open. I especially love the view of the lake, with the moon reflected off the water.”

“Yes, it is nice. Not too snooty, good food, good people,” he said, looking at her. It was time to get acquainted. “I guess this would be a good time to tell you a bit about myself.”

Hermione looked at the handsome Auror, interested.

“Well, I attended Hogwarts, graduated in 1990. I was in Hufflepuff house and a decent student. I’m a half-blood My father is a muggle American and my mother an English witch. He was in the military when they met, and fell for my mum like a ton of rock cakes. Fred Forall and Irma Goodall. I still catch them snogging to this day,” he said with a fond smile. “My dad has an awful sense of humor, and he is proud to be an American, hence my name, Justice Forall.

“As in ‘Justice For All,’” Hermione said smiling.

“Right in one,” Justice said. “No need to tell you how much teasing went on behind that name, but it’s all right now. When I graduated Hogwarts, I joined the Aurors immediately. I’ve got a few years under my belt now, good security, good position and a good wage. Now, I’m just looking for a good wife.”

Hermione’s eyes widened at this. Justice Forall certainly didn’t pull any punches…he was looking for a wife? Good gods.

Justice saw the deer-in-the-headlights look on Hermione’s face. He laughed.

“Oh, don’t let me frighten you, Miss Granger. I haven’t set my sights on anyone yet. Just interested is all. I still date casually. It’s just that I’m getting older and would like a wife and little ones somewhere in the near future,” he said smiling. “I won’t be whipping out a ring at the end of our meal.”

Hermione sight with relief. The witch could imagine her mother turning somersaults all over the restaurant’s deck if she could hear this conversation.

“Now, tell me a bit about yourself,” Justice said as Charlie returned with two glasses of water and some plastic wrapped crackers.

“Me?” Hermione said, not knowing where to begin.

Justice nodded encouragingly.

“Well, both of my parents are muggles,” she began, “I was eleven years old when I found out I was a witch. It explained a lot of strange things that would happen around me when I got upset or excited…”

As they were talking, two people strolled on to the deck.

“I tell you, Bozo, I’m just dying for some oysters,” Rita Skeeter said to the chubby photographer following her. “Things are so dull in the news area these days…nothing to sink my teeth into since Voldemort’s gone. Oh, there’s the occasional deatheater attack here and there, but they are so far between and the angles are all used up. I need something fresh…something the will entertain the public.

The blonde, heavy-jawed witch sat her ample bottom on the bench of a table quite close to Justice and Hermione. She picked up the menu with her mannish hands.

“You’re paying for your own meal, Bozo. Things are tight enough to choke a basilisk,” the reporter said, scanning the menu.

“I was and remain a good friend of Harry Potter…” a voice drifted over. Rita stiffened immediately. She knew that voice…and hated it. Hermione Granger.

“Bozo, switch seats with me,” the reporter hissed.

The photographer stood up and walked around the table as Rita did the same. She looked over at the table at Justice and Hermione.

“Dear gods, what’s happened to the unibrow and bucked teeth?” she whispered. Bozo started to turn around to look.

“Don’t look you idiot. I don’t want her tipped off,” the witch said as she studied the new and improved Hermione Granger.

“My, my. Isn’t she looking scrumptious, Bozo? Obviously she’s had some kind of face job…well, well. Do you think the public might be interested in this, Bozo? Interested in seeing the beast turned to a beauty? Yes, yes I think so. I think so. Do you think we have any old pictures of her, Bozo? We must…she was in the news quite a bit a few years back…with Harry Potter. We could cut her out and show a before and after of her. Yes…yes that sounds good. Come on,” Rita said, rising from the table.

Hermione was telling Justice about attending university when suddenly she was blinded by a bright flash. Justice turned around scowling. He scowled even more when he saw who it was. Rita Skeeter and her little roach of a photographer.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Justice demanded.

“Oh, the public just wants to know,” Rita said, looking at Hermione hungrily as the witch’s eyesight came back.

“Rita,” she hissed, frowning at the witch.

“In the flesh, and speaking about flesh…yours is looking quite delectable, Miss Granger. Muggle facelift? A little nip and tuck? A glamour? You can tell me,” she said.

Justice looked at Hermione strangely.

“What’s she talking about Miss Granger?” he asked the witch.

Embarrassed, Hermione decided to tell him the truth.

“I…I recently had a makeover, Mr. Forall. I didn’t used to look like this,” she said, her voice wavering a bit.

“I’ll say she didn’t,” Rita said, overjoyed that Hermione’s date didn’t know he was out with the wizarding world’s own ugly duckling. “She was a real piece of work. I doubt if you would have looked at her twice.”

Justice’s brows furrowed as he looked from Hermione to the reporter and back.

“I don’t understand,” he said.

“Don’t worry…you will tomorrow. There will be a before and after picture in the Daily Prophet,” Rita said.

“No,” Hermione said weakly.

“Oh yes, Missy. You are like a living miracle. The public will want to know about this. The best thing you can do is tell me where you got the makeover,” Rita said.

“At Lovebites Beauty Shop, I won a contest,” the witch said with a defeated voice.

“Ah, you went to the vampire, Adam Sweetmeats. He’s a real miracle worker. If no one believed it before, they’re going to take one look at you and believe it now,” Rita gushed as her quick-quotes quill wrote down the information quickly.

“So, have you been checking out the assortment of beefcake since your transformation? Getting on the shag wagon?” Rita asked Hermione who blushed furiously.

“Now hold on there. That’s no question to ask a witch, particularly in mixed company,” Justice growled, standing up. “I think you should go, Miss Skeeter.”

Rita frowned up at the wizard.

“And who do you think you are that you can order me about?” she asked the wizard. He certainly was a looker.

Justice reached in his pocket and flipped out his Auror badge. Rita read the name on it and blinked up at him.

“Well, Mr. Forall, I’m done anyway and…”

Just then there was a loud crack of apparition. Both looked at the place Hermione was sitting. The witch was gone. Rita smiled up at the shocked Auror.

“Looks like you’re done too,” she purred.

****************************************
A/N: Man, what a way to have a date end. Rita is a real bitch isn’t she? Poor Hermione. But what about our Severus…gunking up his bed with wet dreams. Ooh. It starts. Anyway, please review.