~ Minerva ~

"I donae know how on earth I get myself into these situations." The tall woman muttered with her Scottish accent as she fought her way down the muggle street against the whipping wind and rain, thankful that she had put her long, pitch black hair in its customary tight bun at the nape of her neck. "Oh that's right, that bloody man convinced me being Deputy Headmistress to a school full of magical children would be a brilliant idea, just plain teaching was much simpler." Now where is that house? Ah there it is. Spotting a rather ordinary looking medium sized house, mid way down the street.

She made her way past the simple white picket fence and up to the porch, sharply rapping on the door. She heard a muffled yell and a scurry of feet before the door was opened barely enough to see a small, pale face with large, deep brown eyes and surrounded by pretty brown ringlets, the safety chain still intact on the door. "Good Morning, my name is Professor Minerva McGonagall. I am from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I was hoping to talk to Mr and Mrs George and Anna Granger regarding Miss Hermione Jane Granger. Are they home?" Minerva introduced with a slight smile to the child that she assumed must be a young sibling. "I apologise ma'am, one minute please." Came a quiet reply and with that the girl was gone and the slightly confused professor was staring at the white door again, fighting the chill in the air. Thankfully she didn't have to wait long til the door opened once more, fully this time, to reveal the same child, though she looked slightly nervous. She must be shy; I am a rather intimidating presence I must think, especially when she is knee high to a grass hopper Minerva mused. "Mother and Father are in the sitting room, if you will follow me please."

With that said, the child turned and led Minerva down a chilly hallway, noting with puzzlement that the girl was clothed in only muggle jeans and a thin purple long sleeved t-shirt that had obviously seen better days. I suppose it is not like they were expecting me, they must be her play clothes, but it doesn't explain why she is not wearing a jumper, it's much too cold for this. The walls were lined with family photos that the woman found odd, considering not one contained the child that she was following. The girl in question came to a stop next to a door on the left, waiting for Minerva to halt beside her before opening the door and allowing the older woman to precede her into the room. Inside she found a spacious area, completely opposite to the cramped hallway, pale yellow in colour, with two lounges facing each other either side of a coffee table, fresh flowers placed in the middle and a fire crackling in the hearth on the far wall. On the left lounge sat a couple that Minerva deduced must be the Grangers.

"Good Morning, I am Anna and this is my husband George, Little Miss here said that you were from some school that we received an obscure letter from, by owl no less, yesterday which we passed off as a prank, what is this all about?" Asked the woman, whom had stood to greet Minerva while her husband stayed seated, looking mildly perturbed. "My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall. I am the transfiguration professor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, perhaps we should retrieve Miss Granger so that I can explain to her simultaneously."

George pipped up before his wife could reply. "Retrieve Hermione? She's the one that led you in, or didn't she bother with introductions? She can be so rude sometimes. Hermione come and introduce yourself." The girl that had been standing off to the side before now glanced at her parents before coming to stand in front of the witch, whom had a look of mild shock on her face, She's so small! She barely looks eight, let alone eleven! Stating, "Good Morning Ma'am, my name is Hermione and I am eleven years old, it is a pleasure to meet you!" with a smile, before turning to the other woman, "Should I fetch some tea, Mother?" Merlin, it was like she could tell what I was thinking! and what impeccable manners too! "If you would, dear, biscuits too please." "Of course, Mother." With that she was off out the door. "Please, Professor... is it? Have a seat." Anna motioned to me as she took up her seat next to her husband.

"You have a beautiful home, what is it you do for a living?" Well I might as well make small talk. "We're dentists, we own and run our own little practice in the centre of town." Anna replied. "That is rather interesting, the wizarding world does not have dentists." "Yes what is all this about the 'wizarding world'? Magic does not exist." George interjected. Before she could reply she saw Hermione walking through the door, attempting to balance a tray that was quite full. But before she could reach the coffee table to set it down, it seemed to Minerva like her arm spasmed and the tray was suddenly tumbling to the floor. Hermione's head shot straight up to look at her parents. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me!" George stood up, "Must you be so clumsy Hermione? Go clean it up." Well that's slightly odd... "Wait, allow me." she said while sliding her wand out of her robes. "Wingardium Leviosa" and the tray and its contents righted themselves on the coffee table, "Scourgify" and the mark on the cream carpet disappeared.

"Does that answer your question, Mr Granger, regarding if magic is real?" He spluttered, "Ah yes, yes I think so, but why does that have anything to do with us?" "It has everything to do with you, Mr Granger, because young Hermione here is a witch, like I am" "I am really quite confused right now" spoke Anna. "Neither of us are 'magical' so how can Hermione be?" "Hermione is what is called a muggleborn magical. We do not completely understand how this happens, just know that it does. Hermione," she called, turning to the child, "have you ever had strange things happen around you when you were excited, scared or angry? Things that you could never explain?" A slight nod was her reply, "All of that was your untrained magic coming in to effect." "Wait, so you're telling us that all of the strange things that happen around our daughter is a result of magic? And her magic at that?" "Yes Mr Granger, that is exactly what I'm telling you. I'm also here to offer her a place at our school, to teach her how to control and harness her magical abilities, reduce the number of outbursts; if that is what you and, of course, Hermione wishes." Minerva proceeded to tell the family all the details of attending Hogwarts and the necessities of the wizarding world.

All was quiet for a time. It is a little bit strange that Hermione hasn't said a word about this, usually most muggleborns are full of questions. Maybe it hasn't fully sunk in yet. "May we have some time to think about this?" "Of course, Mrs Granger, it is a big decision to make. However, term starts just shy of two weeks from now on September 1st and Hermione will need an escort to get her school supplies, I shall be back in two mornings time to hear your decision and collect her if you are amenable." "Yes, yes that should be plenty of time, come, I'll walk you to the door." After Minerva said goodbye to Hermione and her father, Anna continued, "Thankyou for coming to talk to us about all of this, however odd the explanation is, it's nice to know that your only daughter is not just completely strange." "I'm sure it is, Mrs Granger, have a good day, I shall be back soon." With that Minerva was out the door and walking down the street, fighting the wind and rain for a second time that morning, thinking about her other tasks for the day and not about the little girl back in the house anxiously waiting to see her parents' true reaction to the mornings events.