Chapter 1: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

A young girl, 10 or perhaps 11 at the most, sat in the library on a cold, dreary London day. Not quite a month before, her house had burned down while she, along with her parents, had been visiting her Grandmother Jean. It was fortunate that her parents had already contemplated moving several times in the past weeks, and had already found a house they quite liked. The house had burned completely to the ground, leaving them no choice other than to move. After staying with Grandmum for the past month she was relieved, to say the least, to be leaving. So the young girl would be spending her last day here in Kent before going to Surrey tomorrow. She would be moving to 18 Magnolia Crescent.

With a small sigh, and a flip of her page, the girl got up, stretching her legs. She blinked her eyes a few times, surprised at the passage of the day outside. Well, it was to be expected. She did get rather absorbed while reading, and it was winter after all. To the shelves she then went, replacing the empty gap in the shelf with her book, and turned to leave the building. With a last, longing look towards the books, she pulled her emerald hat over her mess of hair before retreating into the cold winter night.

By July, the girl had quite adjusted to her new home. She finished up her final year of Primary School, graduating first in her year. However, while her classmates were all excitedly talking about their secondary schools, comparing schools with each other, she still felt a twinge of worry, afraid that it was still all an elaborate ruse.

It was just days after her eleventh birthday. Eager to get home to open her newest book, which she had just acquired from the library, she did not notice the unusual garb of the woman in her sitting room back home, nor the slightly worried looks upon her parents faces, as she rushed towards her room. Nor did she hear her parents calls, until her mother came up to her room.

"Sweetie?" Her mum had an ever so slightly worried look on her face. "We have a visitor downstairs. She's from a prestigious boarding school, and they're offering you a spot for Secondary School.

Her interest was instantly piqued. Of course, she had already completed application forms for several Secondary Schools, including Sevenoaks School. It was in Kent, and nearby, so she would be able to be a day pupil, in lieu of boarding like she would have to in another grammar school. Placing her book on her bed, she said "Coming Mum," following her mother down to the sitting room.

There, she set her eyes upon a tall woman, with a slightly severe expression on her face. Instantly, she knew that she would not want to cross that woman. As the young girl observed the woman sitting in front of her, the woman out down her cup of tea and looked up.

"No need to stand, sit down child," commanded the woman, in a caring, though strict voice.

With a slight blush on her cheeks, the girl sat down besides her parents. "O-of course Miss," she stammered. "Not to be rude, ma'am, but who are you? My mother only said that you were from a school."

"Miss Granger, my name is Minerva McGonagall. You may call me Professor McGonagall. I am the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"B-but there's no such thing as magic. It's simply illogical, and it defies the laws of science."

"Miss Granger, I assure you that magic is very real. Allow me to demonstrate." And then, with a flick and swish of her wand, Professor McGonagall made the teacup in front of her into a pocket watch.

"If magic is real, why doesn't everyone know about it then? Shouldn't it be publicized?" Hermione thought she had a valid point. Magic couldn't be real, if no one knew about it.

"Think about it, Miss Granger. If everyone knew about magic, everyone would want a magical solution to their problems. Magic would be abused, considering that not everyone can become a witch or wizard. Magic is typically inherited from parent to child, although it is possible, although rare, for a non-magical child- a squib- to be born to a magical parent. Likewise, a magical child can be born to muggles- non-magical humans. Those children- like you- are muggleborns, are far more common than squibs."

"So-so I'm a witch? I can do magic just like you?"

A small smile threatened to appear on the woman's face. "Not yet, Ms. Granger, but in a few years. That is why I've come to offer you a seat at Hogwarts."

Noticing that her parents were still in the room, she turned to them and asked "Mum, Dad, can I? Oh, please, can I?"

With a smile, her mother replied "Of course you can if you want to."

Her father added in "We want this to be your choice, Hermione. We will support your decision."

Turning back to the woman, Hermione said "I'd like to go to Hogwarts," with a large smile quivering from excitement.

With a rare smile, Professor McGonagall replied "Excellent, Miss Granger." before handing over a letter. "Here is your acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Sometime in late July, you will receive an owl with your school supply list. Owls are used in the wizarding world to send letters. I will arrange to have someone meet you, at your convenience, over the summer to bring you to a wizarding city, Diagon Alley, over the summer to buy your supplies."

Here, Hermione's father interjected. "Diagon Alley? I've never heard of that… And how are there wizarding cities?"

"There are multiple enchantments set on wizarding cities and certain other areas, such as Hogwarts, so that they cannot be found by any muggles. It is in order to preserve the secrecy of the wizarding world."

"If non-magica- err, muggles, I believe that's the word, can't see Hogwarts, how will Hermione get there? Where is it?"

"Hogwarts is in Scotland. All students are required to get the by train. On September 1st, at 11am, the Hogwarts Express departs from Kings Cross Station in London. It is on Platform 9 ¾."

"Platform 9 ¾? But there's no such thing." frowned Hermione's mother.

"There is. It is just hidden magically, and accessible to just wizards and witches. To get to the platform, you simply need to run through the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Now, do you have any more questions? I must be going back to Hogwarts soon."

"Oh, no Professor McGonagall. I don't have any more questions." Hermione answered, looking at both her parents for confirmation.

"Very well. I must be off. It was a pleasure meeting you, and Miss Granger, I hope to see you in Hogwarts come next September."

However, Hermione knew that it had to be true. There was a deep-set belief in her, that said that magic was real, and that she truly was going to Hogwarts come September. After all, there had to be an explanation as to why all those odd things had happened to her throughout the years. She remembered one such day when she somehow managed to find herself with the entirety of the Sherlock Holmes stories, after having wanted them desperately. Of course, they were her school's copies, and she, much less anyone else, had absolutely no idea how they had appeared in her house in the middle of the summer holidays. She simply couldn't wait for the new school year to begin.

Suddenly, a small figure darted towards Hermione. A small boy, buried in clothes simply too big for him, went to sit at the table she was sitting at, previously alone. From across the room, she could see a large brute of a boy glaring at the smaller boy. She recognized the larger boy as Dudley, someone she had the misfortune of sharing a class with, and the smaller boy as his cousin- Harry she believed his name was.

"Excuse me, mind if I sit here. Everywhere else is a bit full…"

"Of course I don't mind. I don't think I've met you, I'm Hermione."

"I'm Harry."

And thus began a short-lived friendship- or so it seemed.

Author's Note:

Hello! I am Seaking. Polar. Bear. I may or may not be sane, but I am the author of what you've just read. Granted, I don't own very much. Sounds like the perfect place for a disclaimer now...

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING. I have a few ideas here and there along with a number 2 pencil. Not even a number 1 pencil...

Now, this is my very first fanfiction ever. I have a few ideas for how this will turn own, but I suppose we'll get through this together...
I'll update when possible. School and work and the real-world (as scary as it seems) must come first...
I will not abandon this story. Worst-case scenario, I will end the story earlier, but not before tying up loose-ends.

Now, this will not be according to canon. I will play around. Additionally, I will go through some areas quite quickly, as they aren't the most important to the plot.

Rated T for future content.

Let's see how this goes.

Enjoy. Read and review...

(Surgeon General Warning: May cause anger, loss of sleep, befuddlement, joy, happiness, or laughter.)