A Wizard's Debt

Hermione.



‘Luxury Cosmetic Company’s

Medusa Curl-Taming hair tonic.

Apply to freshly washed hair and leave to dry naturally.’



The assistant at the exclusive store was more than happy to help me gather the list of gifts I wanted to give Severus as a wedding present, Draco and Narcissa had proved very informative on that front. But when it came to finding the potion to turn my frizz into ringlets it took two hours of soaking little sections of my hair and rubbing in the various brands to find the one that worked.



It cost twenty-four galleons for a litre and a half of ‘Medusa’, as well as three hours sleep. My hair took five hours to dry naturally; thus to be ready for the noon wedding, I had to be up for five o’clock in the morning. And as it was half-past-midnight when I went to sleep, I wasn’t the happiest bunny on hearing my alarm.



I wandered out of Minerva’s spare room to the lounge, to find the other witch already awake and reading ‘Transfiguration Monthly’ with a cup of tea in her hand. “Good Morning, I’ll let you have the bathroom.” She smiled, nodding in the direction of an already run bath.



“Thank-you.” I said, hugging her and grabbing another mug of tea to drink before I bathed. I washed my hair quickly before adding the Jasmine scented, ‘Cleopatra moisturising bubble bath’, it was milk-based and so luxurious and softening to my skin that I knew a lotion wouldn’t be required. I could have soaked in the bath for an hour, but in reality I had thirty minutes.



I reluctantly got out of the bath, wrapped in a towel and dressing gown; then Minerva, armed with a new (and scourgified) weed-killer spray bottle containing the ‘Medusa tonic’ began to thoroughly spray all the layers of my curls. Once saturated, my hair was wrapped in the strange membrane that was provided with the product, it activated the ingredients in the potion and had seventy-five separate patents on it. Well, for the price, it had better work.



The hours it would take for my hair to dry gave me the opportunity to catch some more sleep, Molly and Narcissa (who had called a truce and become friends during the planning of the wedding) would be arriving at ten o’clock to do my hair and makeup, Ginny at half-past-ten for the same treatment; Marcia would arrive at eleven to get everyone dressed; then apparate to the temple from outside the Hogwarts gate before noon.



But it was currently five-past-six, and time for some sleep.



***



“Hermione, Dear… wake up, dear.” Molly said gently shaking my shoulder.



“I’ve only been asleep a minute.” I mumbled, opening my eyes to see Molly and a pale pink blur that was Narcissa running to the bathroom.



“Oh goodness! Are you unwell?” Minerva asked, listening to the blonde woman who was retching violently.



“No, morning sickness.” She gasped, “Sorry about this.” The bathroom door closed and a silencing charm initiated.



“I didn’t think the Malfoys could have any more children! Oh what good news!” Molly said, smiling.



“Whoever named it ‘morning sickness’ was quite clearly lying; a more accurate term would be morning, noon and night sickness!” Narcissa said, an interesting shade of green.



“Oh definitely!” Molly smiled, “I used to eat salted crackers to keep my stomach contents in my stomach.”



“That was what just came up.” Narcissa said, rubbing her tummy, “I will be fine, but you may have to keep excusing me from this make over.”



“Right, Makeup for Hermione, and I’ll do Minnie’s hair while you work your magic.” Molly said, grabbing combs and brushes from the pocket of her pink apron.



“I hope it is magic, I look like death warmed up.” I said, noting the bags under my eyes and pasty appearance.



“You should have seen me at half-past-three this morning!” Narcissa chuckled, enlarging a makeup case from her minute handbag and opening it up into six concertinaed layers of foundation, blush, eye shadows and other makeup items that I didn’t know how to use. A Dozen different brushes popped up from the top in a holder at the tap of her wand.



“What colour foundation do you normally wear?” she asked me, pulling out three different glass bottles filled with various pinks and peaches.



“I don’t.” I said, shaking my head.



“Ah – this may take a little longer…” she chose darker shades and streaked them onto the side of my face. “Definitely a pink base, yellow is too fake, brown too dark.” The streaks were wiped away and replaced with an all over, lighter covering.



I looked at my monotone face in the huge mirror that had been produced from the Mary-Poppins-makeup-box, I knew there was a reason I didn’t wear foundation.



“It gets better, but you need a good base… excuse me.” And with that she was another blur in the direction of the loo.



I turned to see Molly expertly pinning Minevra’s fine, waist length silver hair into an intricate knot with tendrils curling gently around it. It looked wonderful, and took ten years from her appearance in an instant.



“I’m ever so sorry about that… oh that looks wonderful!” Narcissa said, walking around the other two witches.



“I feel like you have used a sticking charm on it! Its hardly moving!” McGonagall said with a smile.



“That’s because I did, a mild version, your hair is so fine it wouldn’t stay in otherwise.” Molly laughed, pronouncing her finished.



“A handy charm, and one my husband exploits frequently.” Narcissa said with a light giggle.



“I wonder if I can catch Harry before the temple – his hair is a permanent mess!” Molly clucked, sitting down just as Ginny walked through the door, “Speak of the devil! Here he is!” Harry was grabbed and dragged into the room, shoved into the chair and attacked with combs.



“What’s going on?” he asked, trying to get free.



“Sit. Still.” Molly hissed, charming his hair flat and keeping it there.



“Wow, Mum! That’s great!” Ginny said, kissing Harry gently before shoving him out of the door.



“Hello Hermione! Bye Hermione! Good luck!” he shouted before the oak closed shut.



***



“There.” Narcissa said, moving out of the way. I had to blink to recognise myself. There wasn’t a single blemish; no shine on my nose or forehead; perfectly straight eyeliner; mascara that wouldn’t remind Ron of his arachnophobia; eye shadow that gave me doe eyes and wonderful pink rosebud lips.



“Goodness me!” I whispered, moving closer to the mirror that was winking at me. “Thank-you so much!”



“I’ll teach you how to do it if you like, it only takes ten minutes once you get the hang of it; musical chairs ladies.” Narcissa said, as Ginny and I were swapping places to give Molly access to hopefully tame curls.



It was time for the membrane to come off, I squeezed my eyes closed, praying that the potion was worth the galleons.



“Well! Doesn’t that look lovely! Open your eyes” Molly whispered after five minutes of finger combing the large ringlets into smaller, springy curls that cascaded perfectly down my back.



“Wow! ‘Mione, that looks brilliant!” Ginny said, having been a quick make over and finished already; Minerva took her place in Narcissa’s chair.



“Right, what am I doing with it, dearie?” Molly asked, teasing a few more curls loose.



“Severus’s Mother left him some combs, can you put them in?” I said, getting up to go to Minerva’s spare room and almost being knocked down by Narcissa running to the loo.



“Oh! They’re lovely! Don’t you think so, Minnie?” Molly said, picking up the diamond and sapphire covered combs. They were quickly placed into my hair, sweeping it away from my face but leaving a few curls to frame it.



“Something blue.” I replied.



“Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that! I remember you explaining it to me!” Molly said, I dared to pat my curls, finding them soft, silky and smooth to the touch. The galleons were worth it!



“Something old?” Ginny prompted, handing Narcissa a glass of water.



“The pearls Severus’s Mother requested I wear!” I remembered.



“Something new?” Molly said.



“Erm… the dress?” I said.



“What are you on about?” Narcissa asked, quickly styling her own hair into a perfect French knot and securing it with a spell in seconds.



“It is a muggle tradition, Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. You have to wear all of them.” I said.



“Oh, how about this, Draco and Oliver bought you it as a thank-you for being their witness and secret keeper.” She withdrew a long jewellery box from her bag and passed it to me. Within was a bracelet that matched my floral engagement ring.



“Oh my!” I blinked, “It’s too much!”



“They’d get you the moon if you asked, they owe you their relationship and future… something new.” Narcissa stated, making Molly sit while she did the other red-head’s makeup.



“Good Morning ladies!” Called Marcia, levitating four garment cases through the door.



“Good Morning!” we said back.



“Well – clothing in this order: bride, bridesmaid, Mother of bride. I hope the groom, best man and Father of the bride are capable of dressing themselves!”



“I’ll go check on the boys – goodness knows how many cravats I have tied in the past!” Narcissa said, adding a sweep of Mascara to Molly before flicking her wand at the makeup box that folded and shrank to the size of a box of matches. “I’ll see you later, ladies! And you all look fabulous!” she said, hugging us all before leaving.



The garment cases opened, and a pedestal landed in the middle of the room. “Right, I want the bride on there in her birthday suit, I’m starting at the bottom and working up!” Marcia giggled as a screen folded out from the pedestal.



***



“Well, ladies, you’re all dressed. Good luck!” Marcia said, packing up the garment cases and pedestal.



“Not quite, there is the matter of something borrowed.” Minevra said, stepping forward in midnight blue dress robes.



“Erm?” I said, looking in the mirror at the strange woman staring back. Who was she? This beauty? Was it really me? Was this mirror charmed to do anything other than grin like an idiot?



“Here.” She said, carefully unpacking an incredibly delicate lace cape from a warded box. “This was mine, all those years ago; I’d like you to wear it for the ceremony.” Minevra said, letting Marcia place it on my shoulders and tie the ribbons.



“I don’t know what to say…” I began.



“Nothing, dear, say nothing.” The older witch replied, gently hugging me close before Molly slipped the pearls around my neck and pulled up the hood of the cape.



“I think you’re ready, Miss Granger, but I’ll pack the velvet cape into the carriage for you for if it gets cool, though the weather is beautiful today!” Marcia said, smiling warmly before leaving the room.



“’Mione, y’r carriage is waitin’ fo’ ye lass.” Hagrid said, knocking politely on the door, “Don’ ye look lovely!” he sobbed, wiping his nose on a large hanky. He was in new (and first) formal dress robes, matte black with a dark purple shirt and matching tie. His hair and beard shone and were completely knot free. “Fang’s waitin’ wi’ Grawp, he’s moultin’ see, and he’d ge’ hair all over ye dress.”



“Grawp’s moulting?” Molly asked, confused.



“Nay! Fang!” Hagrid chuckled.



“Wait! You need these!” Neville dashed into the room, carrying a huge white rose and tulip bouquet and a smaller version for Ginny.



“It is quarter-to-noon, time to go, ‘Mione.” Ginny said, taking my hand and putting it in Hargid’s much larger one as he lead me out of the castle and to my pegasii-drawn carriage (the pegasii on loan from the Malfoys).



“Good luck!” Neville shouted, getting into the threstral-drawn carriage behind us with Minerva.



“Good luck indeed.” I whispered, gently touching the string of pearls around my neck.