Hermione enjoys a birthday breakfast with her parents and science class with her friends, but watches as something strange happens to a boy who has insulted her.

The Grangers and Dumbledore drive to the British Museum, where they enter a special room. Dumbledore invites the Grangers to relive his memory of a day at Hogwarts by using a magical book, Memories of Hogwarts. They see Hagrid, the Great Hall, and Dumbledore's Transfiguration class. Afterwards Dumbledore tells Hermione and her parents about courses at Hogwarts and about careers in the magical world.

Hermione and her parents visit Diagon Alley for the first time. They enter Flourish and Blotts, where they are helped to find books on magical history by Mr. Libfilius Thicklens. This chapter begins to explain how Hermione could know so much about the wizarding world by the time she boarded the Hogwarts Express for the first time. Thicklens also tells Hermione and her parents about little Harry Potter's surviving the attack by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Hermione and her mother return to Diagon Alley to buy a wand and more books. Mr. Ollivander learns about Hermione's character so that he can show her wands most likely to be compatible with her. Hermione performs her first spell. Hermione and Harriet also visit Gringotts Bank to exchange pounds for galleons. Their final stop is at Flourish and Blotts, where they buy three books.

Hermione and her friend Susie go Christmas shopping. The animated displays in the shop windows inspire Hermione to try animating a family Christmas decoration. She and her parents discuss how some people might react to this bit of magic. Hermione gets a wonderful present from her parents and endures a bit of good-natured teasing from her father.

Hermione and her dad Alfred return to Diagon Alley to buy her Potions text and potion ingredients. Back home, Hermione follows the book's detailed instructions for brewing a Tanning Draught. Hermione tests her potion a bit at a time, with her father taking photographs to help them determine whether the potion really works. Hermione's mom, Harriet, is still skeptical that the potion is really magical, so she plans to brew a Tanning Draught herself. How scientific they are about her magic!

Hermione and her mother return to Diagon Alley, where they witness a Chinese New Year-like celebration of St. George's Day, complete with the slaying of a dragon by St. George. (Well, of course it's not a real dragon or the real St. George!) Hermione makes friends with Eric Barker, who will also be going to Hogwarts for the first time in September. Hermione buys a new cauldron, so that she won't have to use the pots and pans in the kitchen at home.

Hermione's friend Susie announces that she'll be going to Kent College Pembury the next school year and is disappointed to learn that Hermione will not be going there also. Hermione tells Susie the cover story that she and her parents had agreed on: she'll be taking a gap year and living in the U.S. with her grandparents. Hermione is unhappy that she can't share the real story with Susie. That evening Hermione wonders if she would have to give up science to pursue magic. She also begins to read about the history of wizards' abuse of their fellow magical creatures and resolves to stop it.

Hermione becomes furious with her parents when they will not commit to letting her go to Hogwarts. Harriet and Alfred discuss the matter privately and make their difficult decision. At last Hermione and Harriet go to Madam Malkin's to buy school robes. After being fitted, Hermione gets one more book from Libphilius Thicklens at Flourish & Blotts. Mother and daughter have lunch at The Bubbling Cauldron and learn how the soups are magically made.