AN: PLEASE READ! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT REGARDING THE CONCEPT OF THE STORY!!!
This story used to be called Harry Potter Through Another's Eyes. It has now been changed to be more Hermione-centric. This is a thoroughly rewritten first chapter. The next chapter will be posted in less than a week.
I am very, very sorry for the incredibly long lapse in posting. Everyone probably though that I abandoned this fic. I will not offer excuses that no one wants to hear, only a promise for greater consistency in the future. However, I must say one of the reasons that it has taken so long is because I have been struggling with the outline and concept of the story. I thought that it would be boring for everyone if I basically rewrote the books and changed a few things so that they're from Hermione's perspective. Then I thought it might be a nice idea to do a "missing moments" kind of thing. Within the past year I have become increasingly interested in the mentor/student relationship between Minerva and Hermione, also MM/HG has become one of my favorite ships. I believe that I may have this story head in the MM/HG direction later – as in way, Way, WAY later in the story (i.e. when Hermione isn't a student anymore). BUT WAIT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA DON'T STOP READING YET. Initially, I do want to focus on that mentor student bond, and if readership is there I will make divergent endings/chapters. I know I have said in the past that I won't beg for reviews, but this is a situation in which you will have to let me know. I am willing to write for both types of readers if I know the fan base is there. AND YES I WOULD WRITE A DIVERGENT ENDING FOR JUST ONE PERSON. However, that won't be for many, many chapters to come. Until then, enjoy Hogwarts life through Hermione's eyes and enjoy Minerva-Hermione mentorship interaction we never got to see in the books.
The summer sunlight glinted off Hermione Granger's hair and a gentle breeze ruffled a few curls as she passed through the oak front doors of her primary school for the last time. The summer holidays had begun exactly seven minutes ago, but instead of whooping with jubilation like the multitude of children around her, Hermione felt her heart sink further. She didn't like summer and wished that school could stay in session all year. Books, essays, exams, being the top of her class- that was what Hermione enjoyed. Not only was summer devoid of Hermione's favorite intellectual pursuits, but it also meant that she was faced with the fact that she had no friends with whom to pass the balmy days of July and August.
Heaving a sigh and clutching her books more tightly, Hermione braced herself for the walk across the playground to her mother's parked car. If she could only leave without being harassed by David Jones and his group of bullies, then maybe this day wouldn't have been a complete waste. Next year she was moving on to secondary school, to a whole new group of people, and she certainly wasn't sorry to leave Jones and his cronies behind her.
Hermione had made it halfway across the schoolyard when her books were suddenly wrenched away from her. "Hey Granger, did you think you were going to leave without saying goodbye?" smirked David Jones a hefty boy of mediocre intelligence and lacking in all forms of courtesy and manners.
"More like good-riddance," muttered Hermione under her breath.
"What was that Granger?"
"I said give me my books back Jones."
"What these?" said Jones, holding Hermione's books just out of her reach. "You can't possibly want these over the summer hols. Oh wait, I forgot," he sneered "you'll be reading the whole public library over break since you haven't got any friends." Laughing cruelly, he did a high-pitched impression of Hermione's voice and, sticking out his front teeth in imitation of her slightly over-large ones, shouted, "Look at me! I'm the buck-tooth, know-it-all! I think I'm so smart because I read a million books, but I really only do it to hide from all the people who don't like me- which is everyone! HA!
Hermione was so angry that she felt there must be steam pouring from her ears. Why couldn't these idiots just grow up? Fists clenched, she stood there until she could take no more of the burning behind her eyes or the pressure in her skull. Not able to stand one more second she shouted "leave me alone" at the top of her voice.
Perhaps it was the force of Hermione's scream or something else altogether that knocked David Jones hard onto his backside and caused him to drop the stack of books he had been holding aloft. Whatever the reason, Hermione didn't stop to contemplate it as she scooped up her books and mad a mad dash for her mother's green mini-van.
"Hello Hermione, did you have a nice-" Jean Granger's greeting died in her throat as she saw the tear stained cheeks of her daughter. "Honey, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing" said Hermione, wiping the tears off her face with the sleeve of her jumper. "Just a couple of immature boys, that's all. Nothing new."
"If you say so." relented Jean as she pulled away from the curb
Hermione was glad her mother hadn't pressed the topic. As she gazed out of the window, she felt a little ashamed for having burst into tears over a little teasing. It really wasn't a big deal. However, David Jones had touched a nerve. She had no friends and even though she would be starting a new school in the fall she thought it would be unlikely for her to make any there. Even if someone could get past her bushy hair, her big teeth, and her bookish, know-it-all personality there was still the fact that strange things seemed to happen around her. It wouldn't be long before she had the title of "freak" to go along with that of "bookworm".
Hermione snapped herself out of that train of thought. It never brought her to any conclusions and if there was one thing that she couldn't stand it was being unable to come to a conclusion about something. To distract herself she turned and asked her mother about how her day at the office had been. Soon she was laughing over the funny thing that Linda the receptionist had said at lunch.
Hermione's mood was much improved by dinner that evening. In celebration for Hermione's top marks Mrs. Granger had cooked Hermione's favorite meal. The weather was so beautiful that the family was able to enjoy the deliciously prepared spaghetti parmigiana at the table in the back garden.
During a lull in a conversation about which famous sites would be best to see during the family trip to Italy later that summer Mr. Granger decided to change the topic.
"So Hermione, I'm surprised you haven't said anything yet."
"Said anything about what, dad?"
"Your annual, beginning-of-summer trip to the London Library where you check out as many books as they let you and max out my library card as well. I thought you might like to go tomorrow?"
Rather than make his daughter's face shine with glee, as such a pronouncement had been calculated to do, Hermione's fell, and where a delighted smile should have been there was a frown.
"Hermione, princess, are you alright?" Mark Granger looked at his wife in concern. This wasn't quite how he'd planned this conversation to happen.
"I'm fine. I mean… I'd love to go to the library tomorrow" said Hermione, trying to put on a happy face. "It's just… well… I… Do you think I'll ever make any friends?" blurted Hermione. She hadn't meant to say it, but was suddenly glad she did. David Jones' words had really had quite an effect on her.
"Of course you will, Sweetheart" said her mother, coming around the table to embrace her. "Kids can be so mean sometimes. The truth is, your knowledge probably intimidates them. Once they're a little older and wisher they'll see what a wonderful young lady you are."
"That's right" said Mr. Granger "and the ones that don't will be sorry when you're the CEO of the company they're working for." This statement made Hermione giggle quietly. "That's better" chuckled Mark as he picked up his daughter and swung her in a circle making her giggles turn into outright laughter. "So, is it a date for the library tomorrow?"
Hermione threw her arms around her father's neck. "I'll go make a list of books to get right now!"
On her way to bed that night Jean couldn't help the maternal instinct to check on her daughter. Poking her head just inside the bedroom door she could see that Hermione was sleeping peacefully with a contented smile on her face.
As Jean softly closed the door she guessed that Hermione was probably dreaming about tomorrow's trip to the library. This, however, was not the case. Snuggling more deeply under the covers Hermione dreamed of going to a new school in the fall, but what she found there was even more wonderful than a big library or challenging coursework. She dreamed of having friends.