The return journey on the Hogwarts Express was a mirror of their departure: a quiet, studious trip for two. When they arrived back at the magically scrubbed and certified-safe castle, the atmosphere was one of immense relief. The students, returning from their unexpected two-week break, filled the halls with a renewed, boisterous energy, the fear of the Basilisk now relegated to the status of a thrilling, legendary tale they had all survived.
Before they even unpacked their trunks, however, Ariana had a plan.
"Come with me, Hermione," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Instead of heading towards Gryffindor Tower, she steered her friend in the direction of the hospital wing.
"The hospital wing?" Hermione asked, confused. "Are you feeling alright? Was it the train ride?"
"I am perfectly fine," Ariana replied. "This is about optimizing a variable we discussed over the holiday."
They found Madam Pomfrey in her impeccably clean and orderly domain, restocking potions and tutting to herself. The matron looked up as they entered, her expression immediately shifting to one of concern.
"Miss Dumbledore, Miss Granger. Is everything alright? No lingering effects from your adventures, I hope?"
"We are both in excellent health, Madam Pomfrey," Ariana said politely. "We are here to request a cosmetic procedure."
The medi-witch looked surprised. "A cosmetic procedure?"
"Yes," Ariana continued smoothly, stepping aside slightly to give Hermione the floor, though her presence was a clear, supportive pillar. "My friend, Hermione, would like to inquire about a minor dental restructuring charm. Specifically, to reduce the marginal length of her two front incisors to be more in proportion with her maxillofacial structure."
Hermione blushed furiously but, bolstered by Ariana's clinical and confident framing of the request, she found her voice. "Yes, ma'am," she squeaked. "If… if it's not too much trouble."
Madam Pomfrey bustled over, peering into Hermione's mouth with a practiced, professional eye.
"Trouble? Not at all, dear," she said kindly. "A simple Shrinking Charm, precisely applied. Your parents are Muggles, aren't they? Dentists, I recall. They probably use those dreadful metal braces. Magic is so much more efficient."
She had Hermione sit on the edge of a bed, brandished her wand, and murmured a short, complex incantation. There was a faint, painless tingling sensation in Hermione's mouth. The entire procedure took less than five seconds.
"There now," Madam Pomfrey said briskly. "All done. Take a look." She conjured a small, handheld mirror.
Hermione took it with a trembling hand and lifted it to her face. She gasped. Her teeth were still her teeth, but her two prominent front ones were now perfectly sized, aligning beautifully with the rest of her smile. The change was subtle, yet transformative. It balanced her features in a way she had never imagined.
"Oh," she whispered, her fingers tracing her lips. "They're… perfect."
"Of course they are," Madam Pomfrey said proudly. "Now, off with you both. I've got enough restocking to do without students asking for vanity charms." But her smile was warm.
As they left the hospital wing, Hermione couldn't stop looking at her reflection in the polished suits of armour they passed. A new, shy confidence was already beginning to bloom on her face.
"Thank you, Ariana," she said, her voice full of genuine gratitude. "I can't believe I never did that before."
"There is one final adjustment," Ariana said, stopping in the middle of the corridor. "Hold still."
Before Hermione could ask what she meant, Ariana drew her own Elder wand. Hermione trusted her friend so implicitly that she didn't even flinch.
Ariana's focus was absolute. She wasn't thinking of a simple grooming spell. She was thinking of the underlying structure of the hair itself, of cuticle alignment and moisture balance. She envisioned Hermione's bushy, frizzy hair not being flattened or straightened, but… tamed. She pictured each strand coalescing into soft, defined, glossy curls that would frame her face rather than obscure it, cascading down her back in a way that was both beautiful and practical.
She didn't use an incantation. She simply wove her will, a complex tapestry of intent, into Hermione's hair. A soft, silvery light enveloped Hermione's head for a moment, swirling like a gentle mist. It was a silent, intricate piece of weaving, far more advanced than any simple styling charm.
When the light faded, Hermione's hair had been transformed. The frizz was gone. In its place was a cascade of shining, healthy, perfectly defined brunette curls. The style had body and life, but it was controlled, sweeping away from her face to reveal her high cheekbones and intelligent, expressive eyes.
The change, combined with her newly perfected teeth, was staggering. The pretty girl that Ariana had always seen was now visible to the entire world. The bushy-haired, slightly awkward bookworm was gone. In her place stood a genuinely beautiful young woman.
Ariana smiled, a rare, brilliant smile of pure satisfaction. She conjured the same handheld mirror Madam Pomfrey had used and held it up for her friend.
Hermione looked at her reflection, and this time, her gasp was one of utter, profound shock. She didn't just look neat; she looked stunning. She touched her soft, manageable curls, her eyes wide with disbelief. For the first time, she saw herself not as the 'clever one', but as someone who could also be beautiful.
"Ariana…" she breathed, speechless.
"Confidence is a key strategic asset," Ariana said softly, making the mirror vanish. "It is important to align one's external appearance with one's internal capabilities. Now they match."
With that, she linked her arm through Hermione's. "Come on. I believe we are late for the welcome-back feast."
They walked into the Great Hall together. And the effect was instantaneous.
Heads turned. Conversations faltered. Whispers broke out. Ron's fork, halfway to his mouth, clattered onto his plate. Harry stared, his jaw slack. Seamus Finnigan actually choked on his pumpkin juice. Even from the staff table, the professors looked up, surprised.
It was not just Hermione's transformation that caused the stir, as dramatic as it was. It was the combined image they presented.
Ariana, with her ethereal, blonde beauty and serene, untouchable grace. And now Hermione, her own brilliant, brunette beauty finally unveiled, radiating a new, glowing confidence. They walked side-by-side, two girls at the absolute pinnacle of their generation in both intellect and power, now revealed to be striking beauties as well. They were no longer just the 'smart girls'. They were a force. A vision of elegance, intelligence, and untapped power that was frankly intimidating.
They took their seats at the Gryffindor table, ignoring the stunned silence and the flurry of whispers that followed in their wake. Ariana simply began to serve herself some shepherd's pie, her composure as perfect as ever. But inside, she felt a quiet sense of triumph. She had helped her friend find a new level of self-assurance. And in doing so, she had subtly but irrevocably altered the social dynamics of the entire school. They were no longer just two students. They were an alliance, and they had just announced, without saying a single word, that they were a power to be reckoned with.