Another Point Of View.
A note:
I am certain this has been done before, yet I think it is a fun experiment. I'm going to try and get inside Hermione's head as much as possible and start at the beginning. Who knows how far I will get.
Disclaimer: Cheers to you, JK Rowling
Chapter One: The Letter
On a particular golden afternoon in May, Mrs Granger and her daughter sat at the kitchen table. Hermione, busy studying for her end of year exams, noticed this glorious stroke of weather just as much as her mother. Mrs Granger, who was going over the dental history of Miss Amelia Bouquet, did not notice the weather at all. Both Hermione and her mother would have been alarmed, however, had they been in the right mindset to go about noticing anything. The housecat, who was constantly noticing everything, was the only one who saw the unusual golden glow that emitted from the telephone before it started ringing. To the housecat, it was not alarming- just something new.
Upon ringing, the telephone did its job to rouse the Grangers from their fastidious taskwork.
"Hermione, dear," said Mrs Granger, "Could you get that please? Your father might be held up at the office again."
"Yes, mum." Hermione walked quickly to the phone. Her head was spinning with dates she had just memorized, and it was in a slightly airy voice that she said, "Hello?"
"Hello, is Mr or Mrs Granger available?" The voice was a pleasant one, but not recognizable to Hermione.
"Yes, Mrs Granger is here right now, may I ask who is calling?"
"My name is Charity Burbage."
"One moment, Ms Burbage." Hermione walked the phone over to her mother, announced the name and only reluctantly picked up her history book while her mother took the phone call.
"Hello, this is Anne Granger. No I am not busy, as long as you aren't trying to sell me something. Oh I see. For Hermione?"
Hermione now was not reading her book at all. Her attention was captured.
"Well, Miss Burbage, Hermione is already enrolled in a secondary school for next year," her mother continued. "It is already arranged." There was a lengthened silence on her mother's part, but Hermione could see Anne's cheeks flushing before she said "And how could you possibly know that her admission has been cancelled- Hermione has perfect marks."
Hermione was worried now.
"And what school do you represent again? I see. Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear what you have to say, though I have never heard of your school. Tomorrow afternoon will be just fine, I will make sure Mr Granger is home as well. Do you need directions to our home? Oh I see. Tomorrow then, yes." Mrs Granger hung up the phone, with an expression that conveyed both vexation and confusion. "I suppose," she said to her daughter, "you have as little an idea of why your admittance has been cancelled as I do."
Hermione simply looked at her mother, tears beginning to brim in her eyes.
"Oh Hermione, dear." Her mother stood and walked over to Hermione, giving her shoulders a warm squeeze. "I know there must be a logical explanation for all of this. Besides, Ms Burbage told me that the school she teaches at is adamant about you going there. I am not sure about the school, I have never heard of it. It is called 'Hogwarts,' I think, and she seemed to believe it to be very prestigious."
"But Mum," said Hermione, who couldn't imagine why her mother was not more wary of the mysterious phone call, "How do you know what she has to say is legitimate? You invited her to our house! And we don't know if she's telling the truth, or anything!"
"Don't worry, dear." Said her mother, "Although I am annoyed at your Secondary School, I can't help but trust Ms Burbage. Something about her voice was very soothing, and I think we can at least her what her and her school has to offer. She is coming tomorrow for Saturday tea."
Hermione still looked skeptical at her mother. This was not at all like her - to simply agree with an illogical occurrence and not question it further?
"Shouldn't we at least… call my secondary school and find out why they turned me down?" was Hermione's final attempt at speaking reason to her mother.
"No, dear. I am quite convinced. We shall hear all about it tomorrow afternoon. Now get back to your studying. You want to keep ahead for your new school!" Her mother returned to her paperwork, looking now contented with the entire situation. There was no trace of any wariness that had previously been on her mind.
Hermione took her book upstairs to her room, and her cat followed her up the steps. Strange things certainly had been happening to her recently - incidences that didn't follow the normal organized sameness that was her life. 'For instance,' thought Hermione, 'at school the other day, when my book had mud on it.' She was recalling the mysterious and sudden cleanliness of her book that had been dropped in the mud. She could have sworn it had been ruined, even after she wiped it off with paper towels. Yet, when she took it out of her bag after arriving home, it was in perfect condition.
Another incident had occurred when her father had broken his glasses. He spent hours fiddling with them, trying to make the tiny pin stay in place. He hadn't succeeded, and when Hermione gave it ago, the glasses seemed to snap back into place. She had just touched them, and then they were mended! She accepted the thanks from her father without explaining that she hadn't done anything at all, for she could not trust her own perception.
Yes, there had been many strange occurrences in her life these days, and Hermione soon grew to understand that Charity Burbage's visit might be the resolution to them all.
Hermione's father was the first to wake that morning, and he greeted Hermione with eggs on toast as she came down the stairs. Hermione knew that he was as concerned about the whole ordeal as she was, for his nerves wouldn't let him sleep when he was worried.
"Thank you, dad." Hermione accepted her plate of breakfast and joined him at the table. After a few minutes of slightly uncomfortable silence, Hermione offered to get out the crossword and both were happy to engage in such a distraction.
Anne came down the stairs just as they were finishing up, and presently they all began to discuss the various chores that had to be done.
The morning ebbed away, and the afternoon progressed. Before long, it was time to put on the tea, and await Ms Burbage's arrival. Hermione's heart was fluttering, and she had no idea what to expect. She could see that her mother and father were behaving more formally than usual, and guessed that they were getting in the right mindset. As the clock chimed four, a loud CRACK was heard from outside, making the Grangers' already tense nerves strain even more.
"Good lord, what was that!" Said Mr Granger in alarm. But before the other two could reply, the doorbell rang, and Mrs Granger was on her feet ready to greet the new arrival.
"Hello, Charity Burbage?" her mother's voices sounded from the entrance passage.
"Yes, my dear Mrs Granger, how lovely it is to see you. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to meet with you, under such suspicious pretenses." She arrived in the room, looking quite friendly and pleasant. "I realize I must have given you all a lot to ponder over, and regret I couldn't come straight to the point. However, here we are, and the cat will soon be out of the bag." She looked at Hermione, who could feel her skin tingling with pent up suspense and wonder.
"The- the point?" Sputtered Mr Granger, still standing upon her entrance in the room, "Oh yes. Do tell us, Ms Burbage. I mean, heavens, what on earth could more important than our daughter's admittance into the most prestigious school in Kent. I do say, Ms Burbage, that this acceptance to this…. Hogy-whatsit or whatever you call it... must be quite something indeed for me to even consider permitting my daughter to attend."
His cheeks were starting to flush, and his voice began to rise in pitch a bit as he continued, "Yes, I'm quite sure you have an excellent reason for your intervening with our daughter's future and happiness. I can't understand on what grounds you can make such assumptions that your school is better for our daughter than any school we choose. I know the politics behind it all! You want Hermione all to yourself, because she is a valuable asset to your no-name school! But it just isn't done, madam!"
He promptly sat down, and picked up his cup of tea.
Hermione was only slightly mortified. Her father had a bit of a temper, and it wasn't' usual for it to surface amongst guests. A quick glance at Charity Burbage informed her, however, that the woman was not phased at all. She had seemed to be expecting it and, after taking a seat besides Hermione, she helped herself to some tea.
"Yes, Mr Granger," she said while stirring in her cream and sugar, "Hermione is a very valuable asset to our school. In fact, her particular talents can really only benefit our school, and I am afraid that she won't be able to develop her talents at any other school in Great Britain." She took a sip of tea, watching for any more outbursts from Mr Granger. Mr Granger remained tight lipped, seemingly done with his fit and ready to hear it all. Mrs Granger remained still quite at peace with the situation.
"I say that her talents are only appreciated at Hogwarts," continued Charity Burbage, "Because Hogwarts is a school of Magic, and Hermione is a witch."
Hermione's first reaction to this was disbelief and wonder. She knew perfectly well that witches and magic didn't exist. It defied every law of reasoning her brain had ever processed. She was almost disappointed in Charity's words. She had expected something astonishing, yes, but also expected it to be true!
Mr Granger's eyes widened, and he slowly glanced at his wife for confirmation of what he had heard. His wife merely raised her eyebrows and asked politely, "A witch you say? And yet, I was almost certain that they didn't exist, Ms Burbage."
"Of course that's what you were taught, Mrs Granger," said Charity, still smiling. "But you see, now you have the opportunity to learn the truth because of Hermione's abilities. Had she not been a witch, you would still go on not believing in magic. Now you get to learn about another world that co-exists within the one you know so well. I know you won't believe me, and I am going to offer you some proof in a moment, but I must ask you all to broaden your minds while I speak. Pretend it is a story, if you will, and allow yourself to believe for the time being that everything I tell you exists within a book. It will make everything a little less shocking." And then Charity began to tell them about the Wizarding community. She told the Grangers about the ministry of magic, the different magical creatures, examples of magic that is done, and all about Hogwarts.
"So you see, my dears," finished Charity, "It is quite overwhelming. But it is true. Hermione is part of both worlds, and is therefore encouraged to take her place in the new one."
The Grangers looked simply aghast. Mrs Granger's disbelief in the whole thing seemed to finally over power the temporary acceptance of everything, and Mr Granger had not touched his tea for 10 minutes.
Hermione, although wary, had allowed her mind to imagine. What if it was real? What if this were the truth? It would mean all her hopes, dreams, and thoughts regarding the future would be changed. When Hermione was a little girl, she few playmates to fantasize with, and she grew out of playing make believe quickly. Yet after hearing Charity's description of Hogwarts, Hermione had traveled back in time.
It would also explain everything that was going on - it was almost logical. Could it be true?
"Allow me to demonstrate." Hermione had been waiting for this moment. Proof - something both she and her parents could depend on and respect.
Charity Burbage reached into her bag she had carried in with her, and pulled out a long wooden stick. The Grangers didn't have to be told what this was.
"Accio teacup!" Mr Granger's teacup flew across the table and into Charity's hand. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The table lifted in place, and Mrs Granger dropped her own teacup on the ground. "Reparo!" The teacup repaired itself.
"It's true!" Shrieked Hermione, unable to keep quite any longer. So many emotions were flowing through her. She wanted so badly for it to be tru e- and she knew that she would work hard to catch up on anything she missed by not being born a wizard. "Oh Ms Burbage! Is it all true? Everything you said?"
"Yes, Hermione, it is all true and very real. Here is your letter, now that you will believe it. All the information you need is in there- where to get your books, clothing, wand, and everything. I realize that you won't know how to do everything by yourself, but together we will all work on a date for you to get your belongings. I will have one of my advanced students take you around personally and show you how to do everything." Charity turned to Mr and Mrs Granger, who were now getting over the shock. Mrs Granger was almost smiling.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Granger," Said Charity, "But I confess that I had to put a spell on you when I called. You see, I knew that you would not so calmly agree to meet me if I hadn't forced you to be optimistic about the whole thing. I often have to do it."
"And what about Hermione's school?" Said Mr Granger, finally. His voice still seemed a bit annoyed. "Did you confound the school board as well?"
"Of course not!" Said Charity Burbage, laughing. "I wouldn't to that to Hermione, poor dear. She worked hard for her reputation, and can now have the pleasure of turning a prestigious school down. Of course, I suppose she has the option of ignoring her magic, but I warn you all that it would come with a price. A witch who cannot control her magic is dangerous to herself and those around her. I would strongly recommend against it."
There was silence, and much drinking of tea. Charity Burbage knew to be patient. She had done this countless of times.
"I suppose," said Mr Granger, thoughtfully, "That Hermione is going off to Hogwarts then." He looked up at his daughter, and a tired sort of smile appeared on his face. It was all so overwhelming, but proof had been demonstrated, and Mr Granger was a reasonable man. He opened his arms for the hug that Hermione bestowed on him, and rose to shake Charity Burbage's hand. Mrs Granger also hugged Hermione, while Charity pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill out of her bag.
"I am going to send a message to my student. As you will find in your letter, Hermione, term starts on the first of September. I suggest that you go get you things -"
"I'd like to get my things as soon as possible!" Hermione said, now starting to truly appreciate how behind she would be. "I would really like to read my books, I mean." She looked pleadingly at Ms Burbage, and received a knowing smile.
"Very well, Hermione." Said Ms Burbage. "How about the first day of Summer vacation? This way you will tie up your studying very nicely, and be able to start afresh?"
"Yes, that sounds good." Said Hermione, already counting the days until the end of term. Oh, if only she could get started on her reading now!
"That works for us as well," Said Mr Granger. "We are taking that week off."
"Alright. I shall have one my students contact you by owl, as I have already explained. If you ever need to contact me, here is my telephone number." Charity handed a piece of parchment to Mrs Granger, and added as an afterthought. "Of course, it is unusual for witches and wizards to have telephones. Don't expect it of everyone."
She walked to the door, leaving three very exhausted Grangers behind her. "Until I see you at Hogwarts, Hermione dear!" She walked out of the door, and with a loud CRACK vanished from sight.
Hermione opened her Hogwarts letter in her room. Then envelop was thick and yellowish in color. It was addressed to her in emerald green ink, and sealed with what sh e assumed was the Hogwarts Crest.
The letter inside the envelop read:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books, and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your reply no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minirva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress.
Hermione quickly pulled out the list of assorted supplies needed, and was filled with wonder at the absurdity of the items. It was time to accept this part of herself though. She had been hiding from it for years- ignoring signs. Now it was time to change; and in spite of herself, Hermione grinned broadly at the thought of such a promising future.