Hey everyone, I got the idea for this story about two weeks ago, and I'm excited to see if it will actually spike people's interests. The pairings are Hermione and Snape, and be prepared for a slow burn! Snape is still going to be the terror that the students run from, and Hermione isn't going to instantly fall for her teacher. That being said, please enjoy this first chapter and give me some feedback (if reviews were a drug, us writers are addicts, and the crave is real).
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Her first encounter with magic was nothing short of extraordinary to her parents, both of whom were regarded as muggles in this mysterious wizarding world. Unlike most children Hermione seemed to have unusually good control over her emotions which is why her magic never showed itself until she turned nine years old. Magic that a young child contained usually emerged when the child had a sudden spike of emotion, joy, anger, fear, or sadness, something that Hermione never really had, she had a plain life with her whole future set out in front of her. Her simplistic life changed when she encountered her first run in with a bully in the fifth grade, he had started making fun of her hair and teeth, which triggered an anger she didn't know that she had, it took the form of fire that licked the surface of her balled up hands. The bully called her a freak, her parents on the other hand saw a miracle. So when an old witch showed up at her doorstep two years later with an invitation to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, her parents were ecstatic and ordered that she immediately prepare for her new life outside of the comfort of her home.
A month later she found herself thrown in a magical world that by scientific terms, shouldn't have even existed. A normal day in the magic world (which was presently Diagon Alley) included gravity defying objects swirling amongst witches and wizards outfitted in robes and the occasional pointy hat, Goblins (which kindly exchanged her pounds for galleons), flying broomsticks, and other unexplainable things. It was all a bit overwhelming, but she didn't let it show on her face, her clothes alone told people that she wasn't from this world, but she didn't want to be looked down on because of where she came from. She could do just as well as any other witch, she just needed the chance to prove herself (of course she had already started to memorize that years textbooks).
She took some time to fully examine her supply list for that year, she almost thought that she would have had to carry a cauldron around with her until she made it to the school, but the heavier items were shipped directly to the school, which was a relief. Thus far she had everything, including her half-kneazle cat (which because of his rather squished face, she called Crookshanks), but she was lacking a wand.
She allowed herself to wander around Diagon Alley a while longer, she sometimes couldn't help but look in awe at world around her, paper birds floated around in the air, boys (particularly a young boy with a mop of red hair) stared longingly at screens displaying people flying on broomsticks with bats clenched in their hands, and the bookstores displayed books that were unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Her short walk brought her to the front of Ollivander's wand shop, she took in a breath and headed through the front doors. She batted her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden darkness of the dimly lit room, her nose twitched as she breathed in dust. Once her eyes adjusted she turned her attention to an old wizard seated behind a cluttered desk, on his head sat a helmet equipped with magnifying glasses, he turned the object in his hands as he examined its every detail. The wizard was so invested in the object that she had to clear her throat to get his attention.
With a jolt the wizard dropped the object and pulled his helmet off, he met Hermione with a blue eyed stare and offered her an apologetic smile.
"I apologize for my being occupied young miss." He picked the object up once again and held it up to her view. It looked like a stick with knobs running along its length, she realized then that he was really holding a wand, she let a grin find its way to her face. "I assume your here for one of these." He gazed at the wand at his hand before placing it back on the desk.
"Yes sir, my name is Hermione Granger." She smiled lightly and stuck her hand out to the wizard, who took it with gentle rough hands.
"Well Miss Granger please allow me to take a minute to fish out some wand candidates. The wand does indeed choose its master, but I'd like to believe that I make the process a little more bearable." With that Ollivander released her hand and whisked off and disappeared amongst the tall shelves of wands.
As time passed on Hermione started to get a little bit restless, the only thing indicating the Ollivander was still present was the occasional crash presumably caused by an avalanche of falling wands. To occupy her time Hermione tried to pick up on the quirky details that the shop contained: The flickering flames that lit the room belonged to no candle, instead they were simply suspended in the air, and the wands occasionally moved to a different shelf. The wands. Everything about them beckoned to Hermione, each box seemed to contain a little secret that she had yet to unfold, and the solitary wand on Ollivander's desk nearly drove her insane with the crave to touch it. She felt different in this room, and every moment alone increased her bond to the boxed wands, and her crave to wield the wand on the old wizard's desk.
So she did. For the first time in her young life Hermione invaded a strangers privacy and ran her fingers along the welcoming surface of the wand seated on Ollivander's desk. The bond was immediate, she felt a rush of warm air fighting its way through her, her lips pulled into a smile as she felt butterflies dance in her chest, and she felt a joy that she had never known lodge its way into her heart. She wanted to close her fingers around the wand, but Ollivander's noisy shuffling cut her short, she yanked her hand away and scrambled away from his desk.
Oblivious to the flustered witch, Ollivander dropped an armful of boxes onto his desk with a wide smile. "My dear young witch I believe your wand is in one of these boxes.' He cheered. He winked at her and picked up a gray box from his pile, he gently removed the top and plucked the wand out of its cushioned resting place. It was light in color, and was engraved with delicate vines. "This one is made from Vinewood with a core of dragon heartstring." He held the wand out to her and waited patiently as she hesitantly took the wand in her hand.
She felt the bond again, her heart raced, the blood in her veins seemed to have warmed, and a honey glow emitted from the wand which washed the room with a gold hue. Hermione let out a gasp that was considerably quiet compared to the woop that Ollivander let out.
"My dear that wand has chosen you! It is a rare event that one leaves this shop without trying at least three of my wands. You should be proud child." Ollivander gleamed at her
"Thank you Mr. Ollivander" Hermione said breathlessly, she retrieved seven Galleons from her pocket and placed them into Ollivanders's awaiting hand.
"Your welcome child, I expect great things out of you Miss Granger. Treat the wand well." Ollivander said, he turned away from the girl and took his seat back at his desk. Hermione once again stared longingly at the wand on his table, she was about to ask him about it, but was interrupted when the door to the shop swung open revealing a young boy with black hair and striking green eyes. Hermione politely smiled at the boy (who was too distracted by the shop to smile back) and made her leave, with the wand on the table still lingering in her mind.
That's it for the first chapter, let me know what you think about it and if you have any theories about Hermione's experience in Ollivander's. Also expect a minor time jump in the next chapter. Thank you for reading!