886CHAPTER ONE
Summary: Hermione's recently discovered she's a witch and is off to attend the prestigious Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, she meets a strange family of redheads, the famous chosen one - Harry Potter, a tight-knit group of pranksters and Quidditch players, along with meddling professors and ghosts. All of who, change her life. What will happen when long-kept secrets are finally revealed? Will the new bonds of friendship and love that develop at Hogwarts create the saviours that are needed?
Disclaimer: All canon/original characters, plotline and rights belong to the author J.K. Rowling. Non-canon events and characters belong to me. I am not making a profit from posting this story. Some of the characters may be OOC and the plot is a mixture of both canon and non-canon with some of the main events from Rowling happening differently to canon. Rated M for violence, bad language and sexual situations, this is my only warning.
AN
Just a quick note, I am a Northern Lass (for viewers that reside in England and understand what I mean) and although I try very hard to reign that side of me in, it does tend to show in my writing style and the slang, phrases and terms I use.
This was the first-ever fanfic I wrote and it was very, very, very, rough around the edges, but I've finally found some time to go back and edit it, and it's been given a big makeover. It was difficult for me to only edit the fic and not re-write it completely, too, but then I'd have to start from scratch and I don't have the energy to do so.
I know a lot of people tend to read reviews before deciding whether to read a new fanfic, so I just thought I'd mention that this was first written three years ago, and since then my writing style has improved massively.
Chapters that have been edited and updated will be noticed by the change in format.
I do reply to reviews, however, when I'm editing and revamping my work, I tend to remove Author's Notes and replies as to not spoil anything for future readers. I promise, I'm not ignorant.
Also, I know some have noticed that I wrote the trip to Egypt the summer before second year, when in fact it happened the summer before third year, but it wasn't a mistake, I wrote it in that order on purpose. As I've written in the disclaimer above, this is a mix of canon and non-canon events, and some of the canon events may happen a little differently or in a different order, as I intended them to be.
So, to all those that read this fanfic and reviewed when I first started writing and posting, thank you for all the support and comments, both lovely and kind, and harsh and critical as they've helped me to become a better writer. And to all those that are reading this for the first time, I hope you all enjoy, though I won't be offended if you don't, not all things can appeal to the tastes of everyone.
Updated
Page count: 5
Granger Residence – Wednesday 14th August 1991
Hermione sat still, gaping at the strange lady wearing the tweed suit. Correction, she was gaping at a tabby cat that used to be a strange lady wearing a tweed suit. The lady identified herself as Professor Minerva McGonagall who teaches Transfiguration at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. At first, she believed this woman to have a few screws loose, but when she turned into a tabby cat in front of her eyes, she was so surprised she was speechless, and that wasn't a common occurrence as most would agree.
Professor McGonagall transformed back into a woman with a slight smug yet stern look on her face.
That never gets old, thought an amused Professor McGonagall, as she sat waiting patiently for the news to be digested by the eleven-year-old witch sitting opposite her.
Hermione was brought out of doing a rather impressive impression of a fish when her parents, Jean and Richard Granger walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of tea and a saucer of biscuits. Hermione noticed that they were the biscuits that are reserved for visitors and visitors only, and she learned that lesson the hard way when she had been six-years-old.
You eat one biscuit and get your favourite book taken away for a week, but what do you expect when both your parents are dentists? Hermione mused to herself.
Finally, the silence was broken once Jean and Richard took their seats on either side of their only daughter, wearing proud yet apprehensive expressions on their faces.
Jean was the first to speak. "Hermione's a Muggleborn? What does that mean?"
Hermione was glad her Mother had asked this question as she was curious and wanted to know herself.
"It simply means that Miss. Granger is a witch that is not born from magical parents, but rather muggles. Muggles are what magical beings call those who do not possess magic, such as yourself," Professor McGonagall explained.
"I'm to assume there are other types of witches and wizards?" This came from Richard. All eyes were trained on the Professor as she answered.
"Yes, there are four, to be exact; Squibs, Muggleborns, Half-bloods and Purebloods. Squibs are born from magical parents but they hardly possess any magic or a magical core, as such, they generally live their lives in this world, without magic. As I've previously explained, Muggleborns are born from two muggle parents; however, it is believed that the magic gene that is in a Muggleborn has been passed down from a Squib, meaning it's highly likely that you have a Squib as one of your ancestors on either the side of the family tree."
"Half-bloods are born to one muggle parent and one magical parent, or two magical parents that aren't both Purebloods; and this has led to the outcome of there being a rise in the population of Half-bloods, meaning the majority of witches and wizards are Half-bloods these days. Finally, Purebloods are born to both magical parents that have a lineage of magic that can be traced back to multiple generations for at least the last couple hundred years and they don't have any muggle ancestry in their bloodline," she finished, taking a delicate sip of her tea.
Hermione decided to ask the question that had been bothering her since the professor's arrival and she squared her shoulders and lifted her head, looking Professor McGonagall in the eye and never wavering.
Professor McGonagall noticed her behaviour and let a small smile appear on her usually stern face but it was gone within moments. 'Definitely a Gryffindor,' she thought to herself.
"Professor?" Said the young soon-to-be cub. She would bet her last galleon on it. "How do you know that I'm a witch? Are you certain that you have the correct person and haven't made a mistake?" Hermione was secretly hoping that the professor was, in fact, correct, but she couldn't let go of her doubts just yet, she needed proof.
"Well, has anything ever happened that you or your parents just couldn't quite explain or wrap your mind around, leaving you confused or feeling as though you've just imagined it?" She asked. Hermione and her parents exchanged knowing looks with her parents showing laughter in their eyes. "I thought so. When you were younger you had spouts of accidental magic that was caused by certain strong feelings and emotions. All magical children have these when growing up before attending Hogwarts. Once you have obtained your wand, these bursts of magic will stop and be contained. These magical outbursts are recorded by the Ministry of Magic and a file will be made for you and you are now considered to be a member of the Wizarding World. This is how we know that you are a witch."
The professor spoke with such surety that Hermione had no choice but to trust she was telling her the truth. The conversation between the professor and the Granger parents continued. Hermione sat taking it all in, the more Professor McGonagall had explained, the more it made sense.
This is why I feel different, why I don't fit in anywhere, why strange things happen to and around me. Even at home with my parents. I've always felt like something's been missing from my life, a missing part of me. This is it, it has to be. I'm different. A good different. It certainly explains a lot, she thought to herself, letting out a snort of laughter.
All attention turned to her and she noticed, once she looked up she gave a nervous laugh. Everyone laughed or in the case of Professor McGonagall, gave a twitch of the lip.
"You mentioned the Ministry of Magic, what is that, Professor?" Hermione, always wanting to gain knowledge, couldn't help but ask.
"It is the Wizarding World's Government. They run the Wizarding World creating and disregarding laws, Aurors, lawyers, record keeping and Ministry workers and other aspects. It's all the politics in the Wizarding World. Along with the Wizengamot and the Minster of Magic, they make decisions to better the Wizarding Community," Professor McGonagall answered.
"What are Aurors and the Wizengamont?" This question came from Jean Granger.
"Aurors are magical law enforcement officers; they are the equivalent to the muggle police only they are capable of magic. The Wizengamnt help to create and disregard laws, regulations and policies. They are made up of members of the Wizarding Community just as the muggles have the Houses of Parliament." Professor McGonagall was more than happy to answer any questions posed to her; she had a feeling that her young lion cub was destined for great things.
The conversation once again continued, both with magical and muggle means. Hermione still couldn't believe it; well, actually she could. Her excitement levels were rapidly increasing and she chided herself.
Stop acting like a six-year-old on a sugar rush, soon you'll be jumping on the couch and running into walls. Schooling her features Hermione jumped into the talk about both worlds she was now a part of. Somehow she knew she would be going home soon.
The conservation began to lull thirty minutes later and Professor McGonagall stood to leave and made her goodbyes. Walking towards the door with the Grangers she stopped once outside and turned to Hermione.
"Oh, I almost forgot to give this to you," the professor handed Hermione an envelope with a seal on the back, the Hogwarts seal she presumed.
"What is it, Professor?"
"That, My Dear, is your Hogwarts acceptance letter. Inside you will find all the information you need and what you require for your first year, including your reading list."
At the mention of books, Hermione's face lit up leaving her parents chuckling behind her.
Professor McGonagall noticed and spoke. "I also recommend that we pick you up a copy of Hogwarts, a History, it will tell you everything you would like to know about Hogwarts and evidently, its History."
"Thank you, Professor."
"It's my pleasure, Dear. Now, I will see you in one week to take you shopping for your school supplies. Goodbye."
She shook Jean and Richard's hands and made her leave walking away towards the apparition point at the end of the street. She turned and looked one last time at the younger Granger, then she turned on her heel and with her wand in hand, she apparated.
Hermione and her parents -who were looking on from their doorstop- saw Professor McGonagall disappear into thin air. They looked at each other with surprised faces and furiously blinking eyes.
"Whoa," said Hermione with a wide grin on her face that could easily give the Cheshire cat a run for its money, while her parents silently nodded their heads in agreement.
Soon, Hermione, soon, she thought to herself.
The Grangers turned and walked back into their home, and Hermione stared wistfully at the spot, Professor McGonagall had once occupied.
"Not long now," she said before closing the door behind herself.