"Are you lost?"

"Hmm?"

"You're standing in the middle of the sidewalk alone. Where are your parents?"

"Parents?" She blinked slowly breaking her stare for the first time in what could possibly be hours or mere seconds, contemplating her response. "They're somewhere I suppose. That's a funny sign."

"How so?"

"We walked past here before, many times really and yesterday I saw the sign. Mum didn't see it, couldn't see it."

"Hmm."

Blinking once more she looked up at the funny looking old man speaking to her at long last. He was very old with many wrinkles, silver-white long hair and even longer white beard. Staring down at her over his half moon spectacles, his blue eyes twinkled with amusement that only he seemed to be privy to. "Do you see it?"

"I do." He nodded once in confirmation. The pointy hat on his head barely even moved leaving the girl wondering if she imagined the nod. "Can you read it?"

"Mhmm. Leaky Cauldron." She beamed up at him, pride in her eyes for having known the answer. She stared at the sign again. "Mum taught me to read when I was little. Mrs. Smythe said I'm unusually advanced for my age."

Unseen by the girl, a knowing grin crossed his face at the sudden trepidation in the young girl's eyes. "Let me guess. You've been advanced in many areas and there are things you can accomplish which confound you and your elders leaving everyone filled with concern?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

"My name is Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."

"You're a professor?" Eyes widened and turned to view him once again. She nodded when he did feeling a bit safer, reasoned that a professor was a fancy name for a teacher and teachers were not really strangers so she wasn't really talking to a stranger. "My name is Hermione Jean Granger. Pleasure to meet you, sir. May I ask you a question?"

"Certainly."

"How is it we are able to see the sign and Mum can't?"

"It is a magical sign and only seen by those who can do magic."

"Magic." They were quiet for a moment. Staring at the sign together. "You do realize, that is an illogical response. Magic doesn't exist outside literature, film and art."

"According to muggles."

"Muggles." Dumbledore managed to keep a straight face when Hermione gaped at him. "All due respect, sir. You're speaking rubbish. That isn't a word."

"Hmm."

Hermione harrumphed and stared at the sign. Magic. Muggles. Impossible. Still, magic would explain things. Things such as the odd way her mum couldn't see the sign. How the flowers grew quickly when she was happy. How a particular book she had been searching for suddenly appeared on her desk. Her parents didn't notice always notice, but she did. "Magic."

"May I ask you a question?"

"I asked you a question, I suppose it is only fair that you're given the same courtesy."

"How old are you?"

"Eleven and a half. I'll be twelve in September."

"I look forward to seeing you at Hogwarts come fall."

"Hogwarts?" Hermione turned towards Dumbledore but he was gone leaving her to stand in the middle of the sidewalk alone. Hermione stared at the sign and grinned. "Magic."