So I was looking through old stuff, and realized "oh shit" Secrets of Riddle Manor was supposed to have a PROLOGUE! Oopsie. So I'm posting it now. If this is your first time reading, then I'm sure you don't care, but yeah. Also, chapter 2 is up too, so yay! Double post!
Prologue: Snape's Soliloquy
There was something odd about the young Hermione Granger. The frizzy haired, muggleborn first year girl had studied her way into many a teacher's good graces, but Severus Snape remained suspicious.
Like any good spy would, he monitored the behaviors of all his students, and looked for anyone who might be a threat to other students or themselves. Thus far, this habit had trained his eyes on Harry Potter, who no doubt would attract trouble of the darkest kind; Draco Malfoy, who likely already had his father whispering in his ear at every opportunity; and Neville Longbottom, who was burning through cauldrons and ruining potions as if he were allergic to passing potions marks.
By that same method, he had set his eyes on Hermione Granger, new friend to savior of the Wizarding World.
The problem?
She was just too good.
Her marks were perfect, her work matchless. She practiced magic with a finesse that made all others look inferior. In fact, the only student to compete with her was Draco Malfoy, and he had been trained in the magical arts since the moment he could say "Accio" coherently.
It was hard to believe that she had simply picked up a wand a few months ago- that she was so naturally brilliant.
He wouldn't be concerned if she had belonged to a magical family, but every record plainly stated that she was the first witch in her family.
After months of tracing her history, he was forced to concede. There could be no denying that Hermione Jean Granger was a 12 year old muggleborn girl, with stellar intelligence and perfectly normal, muggle dentists for parents.
But he remained suspicious.