Author's note: This is my first Harry Potter fanfiction and was something bouncing around in my head for a while now. This is for my own personal amusement so I'll finish it at some point, but if I have people who like it I may update faster. I welcome comments, let me know if it is something I should continue or if therewere any mistakes or improvements I could make.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

The Beginning

"In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment."
- Thomas Carlyle

"Talyos was always a magical place, so much so that magic flowed through the veins of its people. The degree of magic within a person determined what they could become, ranging from the skills of a simple hedgewitch to the awe-inspiring and dread-filling abilities of the sorcerers.

"The most numerous of the magic users were of course the hedgewitches, or wizards if the person was male. This group is the weakest in terms of actual magical ability, but were the most gifted with herbal remedies and potions. They were the healers of Talyos, able to speed healing and to save people from what should have been certain death. It has also been noted that they were gifted with simple household charms but need a wand as a focus.

"Following them are the magicians, who are what normally comes to mind when magic is thought of. It is very common to see a magician advising a king or noble. They work mostly with rituals instead of spellwork and often have magical familiars. There is also a separate class of magician called a seer. Seers have the ability to see possible futures and sometimes have the gift of prophecy.

"And finally there are sorcerers, typically the strongest of the magic users. They are able to use elemental spells as well as summon creatures. Not much is known about them except for the fact they tend to be on the evil side of the morality spectrum, often seeking to overthrow the ruling nobility.

"However, some scholars speculate that there may be another class of magic user. Shulaman the Wise proposed-"

"Hermione!"

The call rang out through the manor, causing the girl in question to slam shut the book she was reading with a very unladylike groan. Hastily, she stood up and hid the book she had found before trying to straighten out her skirts. They has become ridiculously rumpled while she had been hiding away with her book. If her mother caught her she'd be in a lot of trouble, but honestly she didn't know what else to do. Pushing that thought away until later, she went to greet her mother.

The woman had already been ascending the stairs to find her wayward daughter. Seeing her, she placed her dainty hands on her hips, frowning up at her only child. Looking down at her mother, Hermione already knew what the woman was about to say. It wasn't as if she didn't hear it all the time anyway.

"Hermione, you are almost 17. You know better than to skip your lessons with your governess, especially when your coming-of-age party is in two days!" the older woman said with no little exasperation.

Shaking her head, she continued. "Well, it's too late now. Change out of that dusty thing you are wearing. Our carriage for the city will be leaving on the hour and I expect you to be ready!" With that the woman turned and marched down the stairs.

Hermione said nothing as she watched her mother go, noting the colored lines she could see radiating from the woman but neglecting to meddle for the moment. Those little lines were one of the reasons she was researching magic behind her mother's back. It was like nothing she'd heard about and had been hoping to find some answers in the musty textbooks her father kept, but so far she'd had no luck.

From what she'd been able to learn from personal experiments, those colored lines represented emotions and thoughts. With a little bit of tugging on the right lines, Hermione could influence the way someone felt or what they thought, though it was more difficult the stronger a will the person had. But more useful were what Hermione called matter lines. With a small tug she could bring something to herself or send it away. It also worked for people but took more work.

With just a thought, she zeroed in on the feeling of her room and reached out with a mental tug. Within seconds, her feet were deposited on the carpeted floor of her room. Eyeing what was left of her magic reserves, she gave a mental nod to herself before calling for a maid to help her dress. No sense in keeping her mother waiting.

Sitting in the carriage beside her mother, Hermione tried not to fidget in her excitement. Shooting a glance at her mother, she suppressed an envious sigh. She always acted the proper lady, something Hermione thought she may never be however hard she tried.

She honestly wasn't sure how the woman could take it. It had only been three hours but Hermione was about to be driven crazy with how stuffy her dress made her feel and how the pins holding her curls in place stuck in to her scalp. Truly it was maddening. Trying to take her mind off of how uncomfortable she was, Hermione instead thought about the City.

The City had no other name for it was the only large city in Talyos worth mentioning. It was where the king held court and where the magician's college was. Anyone who was anyone wanted to live there. Hermione's father often stayed in a penthouse they owned as he attended to the king, not quite a lord on the Council but noble enough.

There were no manors in the City, just small houses noble families kept for when they visited. Most nobles tended to live outside the city with very few taking up permanent residence. Those who did were usually very important and close to the king.

Seeing the first outpost from the carriage window, Hermione couldn't help but let a smile cross her face. In about an hour they'd reach the main gate to the City. She hadn't been since she was 10 and introduced to the king, as all noble children were when they reached a decade. Now she was to be introduced to society at the ball her parents were hosting in the palace. It was to signify she was an adult as well as a notice that she was of marriageable age, as much as she despised the last part. Thankfully her father wasn't so draconian as to marry her off to the highest bidder.

Hermione was shaken from her thoughts when she felt the carriage come to a stop. Confused, she glanced to her mother who simply smiled slightly. "Our papers must be checked over," she said by way of explanation. "You may get out for a few minutes if you wish, but do not stray far. I will get the driver to fetch you when it is time to leave."

Not one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, she hopped out of the carriage as quickly as she could, eager to stretch her legs after almost four hours of sitting. Looking around, she noted they were at a small trading post of some kind. It appeared that traffic was often stopped here to be checked over and a small community had risen up, taking advantage of travelers wanting to eat or drink after a long ride.

There appeared to be an inn as well as various other small businesses and homes. Hermione knew some people actually lived here, those who were of higher class than the poor but not quite middle class. She knew also that a lot of the family members of magicians stayed here as well while the magician was a student at the college behind the City's walls.

Meandering around the area, she eyed the odd sights and sounds while also trying to keep the carriage in sight. It would do her no good to lose it. It was then she noted a commotion farther up ahead. Hurrying, she spied a horse rearing back, its owner trying to calm it. No one seemed to notice the little boy stuck behind the cart hooked to the horse. If it backed up any more the boy could be crushed.

Glancing around quickly, Hermione realized everyone was watching the horse or the handler. Without a second thought, she reached forward for the thread attached to the boy and pulled. Bewildered, the boy ended up in her arms and out of arms way.

Heaving a sigh of relief, she looked up and met startled, bright green eyes. An icy hand gripped her heart when she realized someone had seen what she had done. Decided the best option was to ignore it and play it off, she made sure the boy was okay before turning and hurrying back to her carriage. It would be better to just wait things out. She had found enough trouble today and hoped what she did wouldn't come back to haunt her.