A/N: Hi, this is my first fanfic. It's essentially Harry Potter from Hermione's point of view. My hope is to do the entire series like this.

Please Read and Review

Chapter One: Magic

Hermione Jean Granger was excited. She felt happy at the thought of what awaited her. It was finally the end of the day. Her last day, she had to keep reminding herself. After a few years at this terrible school, she was finally leaving. Leaving Bramcot Primary for St. Helens Prepatory School, her mother's Alma Mater.

It excited her to no end. She would be free. Free of the bullying and name-calling. Perhaps she'd make some new friends. She didn't know. She didn't have any friends here, did she? But even so, there were still two whole months of summer before her. She could read some books, perhaps even get some of her school books and read ahead.

When the day ended, she went home and got out her book, Pride and Prejudice and read it. When her mother called her down for dinner, she went down and tuned into her parent's conversation.

'Oh, that poor boy, what was he thinking?' her mother demanded of her father.

'Said he was riding a skateboard and fell off and chipped his tooth' her father replied.

'Hmph' her mother answered.

Hermione tuned out, her parents discussed their work every night. Both Richard and Helen Granger were dentists and had their own private practice along with a third partner, Mrs. Carrs. Hermione had met her many times before and liked the woman. She was kind and good-natured, and it was no wonder her parents enjoyed having her as a colleague.

Hermione loved her parents. They had been young when they married, almost fourteen years ago, but even after this time, they still loved each other, even through their struggles.

The truth was that Mrs. Granger had had a miscarriage just two years after Hermione was born. It had been hard for the then-twenty-four-year-old woman. Hermione knew and understood these things, having had the 'talk' the previous year, and then later researching some of it, though for once, her parents had stepped in and told her to stop.

But now she was bored, with no homework to do and no one to hide from.

The next two weeks passed by quickly and it was soon a scorching mid-July in London. Thankfully, the Granger household was kept cool with the aid of an air conditioner. The big problem, of course, was that they would soon be leaving for their usual summer trip to the coast. Though Mr. and Mrs. Granger were already planning their trip to France in two years time, they were currently going to go to the coast at the end of July for two weeks, when the dental clinic closed for its annual summer break.

It was an unusually hot morning on the Wednesday before they were meant to leave. Hermione was up by nine and was just watching television, when the doorbell rang.

'I'll get it!' she shouted down the hall. She went towards the door and opened it. She was greeted by the sight of a rather stern-looking woman, wearing deep green trousers and a sweater of the same colour. It seemed strange, given the heat, but the woman seemed to not be bothered at all by the heat.

'Can I help you?' asked Hermione.

'Yes. Are you Miss Hermione Granger?' asked the stern woman, in a voice which would have quieted an entire classroom.

'Yes' replied Hermione, now slightly confused.

'May I please come in? I need to speak of something important with you and your parents' the woman said.

'Hermione darling, who is it?' called her mother from the kitchen.

'Er-one minute, Mum!' she called down the hall 'Come in then Ms?'

'Professor Minerva McGonagall, I will explain a bit more once we go into your sitting room' she replied, stepping over the threshold and walking into the sitting room, with the air of someone who knew the house back to front.

Hermione closed the door and followed the professor into the sitting room. The professor was already sitting on the armchair, and adding sugar to a cup of tea. Hermione stared. She had never seen any of that china in her house.

Her parents came in, after hearing the noise of the door slamming. They too, stared at the professor with a look of astonishment.

'Would you like some tea?' offered the professor.

Hermione was struck dumb by the absurdity of the situation. Here she was, in her own home, been asked if she wanted a cup of tea by a complete stranger.

'Yes-er-not to be rude, but what did you want to discuss?' asked Hermione.

Professor McGonagall looked up from her tea. 'Oh, yes, of course. Perhaps we should start with your letter' she said. From her sweater she produced a letter of thick parchment. She handed it to Hermione.

Hermione took it and looked it over. On one side was what seemed to be a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a beaver, an eagle, a lion and a snake. On the other was an address.

Miss H. Granger
The Second Bedroom
15 Lanchester Lane
London

Hermione broke the wax and opened the letter. Two pieces of parchment fell out. She picked up the first and read it aloud for her parents benefit:

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 owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Hermione looked up at the confused faces of her parents. Hogwarts, Witchcraft, Wizardry. But that was impossible. Magic didn't exist. It simply wasn't logical.

'Er-what does this mean?' asked her father.

'Oh, it simply means that your daughter was enrolled to attend Hogwarts ever since birth, when the Magical Quill detected enough magic in her' answered the professor.

'But magic doesn't exist!' demanded Hermione.

Suddenly the walls, couch and carpet changed to a green colour which matched the colour of the professor's clothes. The table broke apart and the fridge set aflame.

Her mother screamed. As quickly as the Grangers house had changed, it changed back. The walls, carpet and couch changed to their normal colour. The fridge stopped burning and the table picked itself up from the floor and put itself back together.

Hermione looked around at the professor. She had a long, thin stick out. A wand, realized Hermione.

'Do you believe me now/' asked the professor.

'Yes, but how can I be magical. I'm not a witch' said Hermione.

'Yes, you are' answered professor McGonagall. 'You are a witch. A muggle-born witch. Someone of non-magical descent' she said at Hermione's confused look. 'Hogwarts is a school of magic and is deemed, by many, to be the best in the world. The problem is that you have no idea where to go or what to do to get to Hogwarts. This is why the school sends members of the staff to muggle-borns and helps guide them in preparation for Hogwarts.'

Hermione was excited at the very prospect of this school. But her parents were wary.

'How do we know this isn't a hoax? And what are the requirements for Hogwarts?' her father asked.

'I have already proven this isn't a hoax. The requirements are simply magical ability. But I shall tell you a bit about Hogwarts now' said Professor McGonagall.

'Hogwarts is a school of magic. It was founded some thousand years ago by two witches and two wizards. Helena Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin. Hufflepuff was the hard-working and loyal one. Ravenclaw was the intelligent and smart one. Gryffindor was also loyal, but primarily brave and courageous. Slytherin was the cunning and sneaky one. The four houses of Hogwarts are based around them and their qualities. You will be sorted into a house at the start of term.'

'You will spend seven years at Hogwarts, learning various subjects. There are three sets of holidays. Christmas; from mid-December to the beginning of January. Easter; around Easter. Summer in July and August. For Christmas you may choose to stay at Hogwarts, or go home. For Easter, very few leave. For summer, you cannot stay at Hogwarts..'

'There are five core subjects, which are compulsory until sixth year. They are charms; where you learn simple charms. Transfiguration, my subject' she added. 'Transfiguration is the subject of transfiguring one object into another. Then there is Herbology, which is dealing with various magical plants. Some harmless, others are relatively dangerous. There is also Potions. Then there is Defence Against the Dark Arts. Oh and also Astronomy.'

'From third year onwards, you can take more subjects, such as Divination, Ancient Runes etcetera. In your fifth year, you take your Ordinary Wizarding Levels, or O. W. L. s for short. In seventh year you take your Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, or N. E. W. T. s for short. Then you continue on into the Wizarding world.' She finished.

Hermione sat there, stunned. 'But where can we get books and equipment for everything' she asked. 'And what does it mean, we await your owl?' she added, looking back down at the letter.

'At Diagon Alley. We can go there today, if you wish' she answered. 'You have the supplies list in your hand' she added.

Hermione looked down and saw the list; it had stuff like pewter cauldrons, robes and dragon-hide gloves.

'I'd love to go today!' said Hermione. Professor McGonagall smiled at her.

'As for the owl bit. Well, wizards use owl post, sending their letters with owls, sort of like pigeons being used in wars' she said, answering Hermione's other question.

'But what about money?' asked Mrs. Granger, reverting back to the more important topic of discussion.

'We use Galleons as our medium of exchange, along with Sickles and Knuts. Twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle and seventeen Sickles to a Galleon. It is about five pounds to a Galleon' she said. 'Let's go!'

Still slightly stunned, Mr. Granger went to the car and turned it on as everyone piled in. They drove into central London, with professor McGonagall giving directions. They parked in a parking building and walked down a street. There sat a shabby black pub.

'The Leaky Cauldron' read Hermione.

'Yes, now Mr. and Mrs. Granger, you probably cannot see the pub so grab onto me and we'll take you in' said Professor McGonagall to Hermione's parents.

Hermione's parents took hold of Professor McGonagall, who led them into the pub.

'Ah! Professor! Nice to see you again! Anything to drink?' asked the barman.

'No, thank you Tom. Hogwarts business replied Professor McGonagall, walking over to Tom.

'Ah, yes. Hagrid was in here earlier, complaining that his charge isn't getting his letters' replied Tom the barman in a whisper.

'Hmm, wouldn't surprise me. Harry Potter's muggle relatives didn't strike me as very liberal' said Professor McGonagall. 'Well, anyway, I best be going.' Professor McGonagall walked out the back door into a small courtyard. The Grangers followed behind. Hermione saw the Professor get out her wand and tap an odd pattern onto the brick wall. Suddenly, the wall began to move and collapsed apart, revealing a twisting, cobbled street.

'Welcome' said Professor McGonagall 'to Diagon Alley. The small party walked down the street.

'Professor' asked Hermione 'I'm sorry, but who's Harry Potter?'

The Professor sighed. Her face looked heavy with a mix of emotion and a long-winded-story. 'Harry Potter is, perhaps, the most famous wizard in the world' she answered.

'Why? What did he do? Who is he?' Hermione demanded.

'I'll tell you later. Right now we should get your things' answered Professor McGonagall.

They walked towards an old, white marble building at the end of the street. Stepping in, Hermione was stunned into silence by the sight of twenty or so creatures behind two long benches on either side of the marble hall.

'Goblins, they love and guard their gold jealously. But they are immensely honest when it comes to others gold. It is why we wizards have trusted them with our gold for centuries' Professor McGonagall answered the confused looks on the Granger's faces. She walked up to the far end of the hall, to a high counter.

'Hello, I'm here to help a muggle-born witch with her Hogwarts items' said Professor McGonagall to the goblin at the counter.

'Do they wish to open a new account?' asked the goblin.

Professor McGonagall looked at Mr. Granger.

'Er-yes. Yes, we would' he said.

'How many pounds do you wish to convert?' asked the goblin.

'Forty Galleons worth' answered Professor McGonagall.

After sorting out the galleons, along with a ten galleon bonus, 'Courtesy of Gringotts, ma'am' said the goblin, the Grangers walked around Diagon Alley and bought various items such as a cauldron, gloves, robes, a bunch of books, which included books that were not even on the list, such as Hogwarts: A History. They then bought a wand, something Hermione was exceptionally excited about. They then went to have lunch at The Leaky Cauldron.

'Now then, to get to Hogwarts, you must take the Hogwarts Express from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on September first at 11am. To get onto the platform, you must get through the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. You must be absolutely sure, no doubt in your mind that you'll get through, otherwise you will crash into the barrier.'

'Professor, you said you'd tell me about Harry Potter' said Hermione.

Professor McGonagall sighed. 'Yes, I suppose I did' she said. 'But you will have to bear with me.'

'Some twenty years ago, James Potter and Lily Evans began their time at Hogwarts. At the same time a dark wizard, styling himself as Lord, well Voldermort' she whispered the name 'or You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was slowly rising to power. Today, he is considered to be the darkest wizard of all time. No, don't interrupt' she said as Hermione opened her mouth to say something. 'You-Know-Who terrorised the Wizarding world. He and his followers, known as Death Eaters believed in pureblood supremacy.'

'Meanwhile, James Potter and Lily Evans finished Hogwarts as Head Boy and Girl, got married and joined the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation founded by Dumbledore to help against the fight against You-Know-Who. The Ministry of Magic was slowly being infiltrated by Death Eaters and Dumbledore feared the worst.'

'In nineteen-eighty, James and Lily Potter had a son named Harry, Harry Potter' McGonagall sighed and took out a handkerchief. 'Sorry, it's just both James and Lily were in my house and were two of my favourite students ever. I was also in the Order of the Phoenix. But anyway, ten years ago, You-Know-Who found the Potters. He killed James and Lily and then he used the Killing Curse on Harry, but for some reason, it didn't work. Harry survived, all apart from a scar, while You-Know-Who fled, essentially broken somewhere. Some think he's dead, but I doubt that. But anyway, that's why Harry Potter is famous, he survived the Killing Curse on that Halloween night, where no one has ever survived the Curse, and as well as that, he bought about the downfall of the Dark Lord' she finished.

Hermione and her parents sat there, stunned at this revelation about the Wizarding world.

'So, he's, er, starting Hogwarts as well' asked Hermione.

'Oh, yes, he may even be in you classes' said Professor McGonagall.

When the Grangers went home that evening, Hermione went straight up to her room and begun reading the new books she had gotten. Many of them were immensely interesting and told her much more about this new world she had never known. She would often talk about it with her parents and tell them about the new world. Her parents were also interested in this new world that their daughter was suddenly a part of. They would listen with interest as Hermione told them about Dumbledore, or about some town called Hogsmeade, or the Shrieking Shack or some foreign school by the name of Durmstrang.

I hope that this was a good first chapter. I hope to be able to update regularly. The next chapter is already up, so that's there.

I would appreciate any suggestions or comments about this. Thanks.