Hermione Granger hated school. In all her short ten year old life, she had never been called stupid, there was a certain restlessness about her that made it impossible for the bushy-haired girl to get decent marks. Strange coincidences followed her from classroom to classroom. All of which were blamed on the girl's excessive energy. Her parents thought sports might help her contain herself, but just as her hair refused to follow the guidelines of the ponytail, Hermione had even less interest in "kicking a sphere around a field" than she had in fractions.
Tonight she sat slumped at the kitchen table, staring at her scuffed knees.
"What are we going to do with you kiddo?" Mr. Granger sighed, staring at yet another bad report card.
Hermione shrugged.
"It's alright sweetheart," her mother began. "Next time we'll just have to-" Hermione never got to know what they'd 'just have to do' because at that instant, an enormous black and grey owl swooped in the window. Everyone jumped, stepping back from the intruder.
"Everyone stay calm," instructed Mrs. Granger, her own voice forcedly so.
"Look what it's got!" Hermione grinned, pointing. In its pointed beak the bird clutched a yellow envelope that read:
MISS H. GRANGER
THE ROOM WITH THE BIG WINDOW
LUDLOW, ENGLAND
In her ten year old mind, she wondered briefly if this was another letter from the principle, or even the lady at the green grocers, reporting on her bad behavior. But snooty ladies like that with their pointy noses and short heels would never send tattle-tale letters by owl.
"Could I have my letter please?" She asked the bird as if it were a person, and before her parents could bat an eye, the owl had dropped the envelope in her open palm, and swooshed its way out the window and into the night.
"Open it darling!" Her mum breathed excitedly.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore..."
"Have you seen our daughter lately?" asked Mr. Granger one evening three weeks later.
"She's up in her room, reading." His wife replied.
"Again?" He exclaimed, "We haven't seen her all summer! Shall I call her to dinner then?"
"No dear," Mrs. Granger was beaming, "let her be. I'll bring her up some on a tray when we're done..." She trailed off, wrapping her arms around her husband. "I'm so proud of our little girl."
"Yeah. We always knew she was special." Tears flooded Mr. Granger's eyes as he said, "She's gonna do great things for this world, I know she is."