"Ladies and Gentleman, Monica Granger!" a man said over the speakers of a pub.
Monica Granger was a muggle-born witch and a gifted singer. Almost every night, she would sing for everybody and they would cheer her on all the time.
Out of the corner of her eye, her 10 year old daughter, Hermione Granger, was sipping a cup of milk where the bar was.
After minutes of performing, she felt a little dizzy. A man in the crowd remarked that she was drunk again. The music stopped.
"Come on sugar, help your mama out!" she said to her daughter.
"Everybody, that is my daughter over there!" she said proudly. "She's gonna be a really big star one day. Come on, sugar. Come on, baby. Don't be shy, come on."
Hermione was hesitant to get up and sing. She felt her little tummy ache.
"You guys are in for a real treat. This little girl can sing. Ain't that right, John T.?"
"Yeah!", he replied.
Hermione finally got up and started to slowly walk on stage, everybody's eyes were on her.
Monica smiled, "All right. Give her a hand, come on."
The crowd applauded. Everybody's gazes turned to smiles and she felt complete.
"That's my sweet pea!" her mother said.
"Do it, baby!" a man shouted.
Hermione made it up the stage.
"Take your time, girl" said a woman.
Her mother gave her the microphone and kissed her forehead. "Come on baby. Anybody ever hands you a mike you sing. Come on. Just pretend it's you and me. From the bridge."
Without hesitating, Hermione poured her heart out into the song. Vocalizing and singing every note perfectly. Everybody seemed to be astonished by how little Hermione had a big voice. Once the song ended, everyone in the pub applauded.
"Told you she could sing, didn't I?" her mother laughed. "Y'all can do better than that! Come on, come on, come on!" The audience roared with applause.
They later walked home and stopped outside the house. "You remember what mama told you?"
Hermione nodded, "Mm-hmm"
Monica knocked at the door and a man came out. "What are you doing here, Monica?"
"Look, I got fired. I can't even feed her!" she said.
"I told you never to come by here" he said rather harshly.
Monica crossed her arms. "She's your child too."
He took out money from his pocket and gave it to Monica and soon, they left.
Back home, Hermione watched her mother sleep in the couch with a cigarette in her hand. She took it out of her hands and pulled a blanket over her. Hours later, Monica lights another cigarette.
Hermione soon woke up to smoke and started coughing.
"Hermione!" Monica shouted. She ran to her mother and in seconds, they were outside. There was a big fire and the firemen were on the move. Hermione cried at the sight of their home burning down.
When the fire ambulances left, Monica and Hermione sat on an old porch when a car stopped in front of them.
Monica hugged her daughter tearfully. "I love you, oh God."
As soon as Hermione and her pet cat went inside, her mother crouched beside the car window. "I'm gonna have to say good-bye to you, baby."
Hermione began to tear up. Her mother continued. "I don't know how I'm gonna do that. Gimme your hand. Gimme your hand."
Hermione couldn't hold in her tears. "I don't wanna go mom."
"I know baby. But I will come and get you as soon as possible. I promise. Okay? I love you Hermione. They're taking you away just till I get better. I don't have a choice. I'm sorry."
The driver soon took her away from Monica as she looked back.
As soon as they arrived at the foster care home, the lady led her into the play room. "I think you'll feel at home here. Welcome to Eaglebrook. Hermione, come on over here with me for a moment."
Hermione took a seat at an empty table. In the distance, two other girls stared at her.
"Look, Angelina. There's a new girl."
The lady with Hermione patted her, "Okay, baby, you stay here. I'll be back in a minute."
The two girls approached her, "You a Pureblood?" the redhead asked.
Hermione shook her head, "I'm mixed."
"This one here's Pureblood" the brunette remarked.
"But I don't care!" the redhead protested.
"I'm Angelina, this is Ginny. What's your cat's name?"
"Crookshanks."
"Can I pet it?" Angelina asked.
Hermione nodded and smiled. "Yeah, sure."
Angelina giggled, "He's so cute."