A/N: When I originally wrote this, I just wanted to write. The story grew out of control for me. When I found the time, I rewrote it. I hope it gets the same feedback as the original copy did. Though when rewriting, it seemed things couldn't fit. So forgive some of the incorrectness that came out of the desire to make the story more correct.
Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to JK Rowling, who I admire very much.
Chapter One: The Beginning of Novelty
Welcome to the life and times of a Miss Hermione Granger. This said teenage girl is not a normal teenage girl, really. Unless, of course, a normal teenage girl can do magic and knows almost all of their textbooks by heart before the year starts. Then, maybe, Hermione is a normal teenage girl, for she could do that type of thing; she could do magic.
Hermione lived in a muggle word, with Muggle parents, and a fair share of Muggle friends (the word "Muggle" means "non-magical folk"). Despite this teensy detail, Hermione Granger was one of the smartest (or, maybe the smartest) students in her year. She was always the first to raise her hand and never dozed off during class.
Hermione and other young witches and wizards attended schools; just like any other teenager. Their schools are a bit different, though. Magic is, of course, involved tremendously. She attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry along with her friends Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.
Harry Potter is a legacy. His parents were killed by a Dark Lord called Voldemort (except, everyone is afraid to say his name, so people mostly just call him "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named"). Harry was sent to live with some muggle family members, who treated him like nothing. At the age of eleven, he found out what he was, who he was, and started his life as a wizard. He is, and will forever be remembered as, the Boy Who Lived.
Ronald Weasley is the youngest brother out of six children. His siblings include Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred, George, and Ginny. All of the Weasleys had amazing red hair that could be spotted a mile away. Though poor, the Weasleys always managed to get by. Hermione met Ron on the Hogwarts Express while looking for Neville Longbottom's lost toad during their first year at Hogwarts. It was a rocky start for the two, but they eventually became very good friends.
Together, the "Golden Trio" do their best to keep Hogwarts safe. They follow their instincts, and that usually always ends up getting them into trouble. Their good deeds are sometimes recognized, and other times they are seen as troublesome teenagers.
As Hermione recalled the events of the years past, she wondered what adventures awaited her and her friends in their fifth year. She wondered what would become of Voldemort, and would this year be his final? Painfully, she doubted it.
Hermione stayed with the Weasleys for the majority of the summer at Grimmauld Place with the Order of the Phoenix. She was grateful for a summer full of magic instead of a summer without. The only pressing matter was that Harry was stuck at the Dursley's house. In each letter he begged for just an ounce of what Hermione and Ron knew. No matter how much they wanted to tell him what was going on, they were sworn to secrecy. Not that either of the two knew much of anything, except for what Fred and George, who used Extendable Ears to listen in, had told them.
When Harry finally arrived at Grimmauld Place, he was beyond angry with them. Hermione didn't blame him at all. She imagined it would be frustrating to be left in the dark, especially when Harry had every right to know. Add that on to the fact that Mundungus Fletcher left his "watch-Harry" shift, causing Harry to be attacked by Dementors, and you have one angry teenage boy. As time went on Harry began showing signs of happiness and eagerness to fight, but the adults heard none of it. His place was at Hogwarts.
When the time came to go to Diagon Alley, Hermione was excited. If Harry wasn't happy at Grimmauld Place with his friends and family, then surely Diagon Alley would do the trick…
To Hermione, Diagon Alley always made things better. Being from a Muggle family, she scarcely saw magic during her normal summer vacations. Magic was apart of her, and she yearned to grab her wand and fix things when they got out of hand. But during the summer it was against the rules. Diagon Alley was magical, and after months upon months of waiting for magic she was finally surrounded by it. That's why this place made her feel so happy inside.
But this year she would be unconsciously robbed of this trip because of Harry's hearing at the Ministry of Magic, which he earned by casting the Patronus Charm on a Dementor. Harry was almost expelled from Hogwarts, but seeing as it was self-defense, Hermione concluded they could not. Instead of going themselves, Mrs. Weasley took it upon herself to get the books while Harry, Ron, and Hermione packed for school.
Later that night, the trio sat at the kitchen table at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, eating a colorful dinner prepared by Mrs. Weasley. They sat, along with members from the Order and various Weasleys. Tonks, who could change her appearance at her own will, was taking requests on which nose she should do next. Most of the members were talking about adult-things-that-"children"-shouldn't-listen-to. Meanwhile, Hermione focused on her friends and their lovely company.
Earlier that night, Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, took Harry aside to tell him that he would be giving him private lessons this year. Early that morning, Harry received a letter from the Headmaster telling him what the lessons would consist of. Apparently, Dumbledore would teach Harry about Tom Riddle in order to understand Lord Voldemort, the Dark wizard who killed many including Harry's parents.
Ron was chewing on a piece of chicken when he said, "What's there to know? He's evil. He should die. The end."
Hermione resisted the strong, motherly urge to scold him for talking with his mouth full, as it was disgusting. Also, though Ron was right, he shouldn't talk about how someone should die. He had no right to say who should live and who should die. Then again, Hermione had to agree with what he said… just a little bit. Life would be a lot more pleasurable if Voldemort was out of the picture.
"If Dumbledore thinks it's important to know, then I'm sure he's right. Don't you think so, Harry?" Hermione inquired. Dumbledore seemed to always be right… Hermione always felt like a little kid around Dumbledore, and he seemed like the adult who knew everything and was frightened of nothing.
Harry nodded and continued eating his dinner. After a short time he said, "I'm kind of excited for these lessons."
"Maybe we can take them with you. If there's something to know, I'd like to know about You-Know-Who, as well," Ron said with even more food in his mouth. He swallowed and took a gulp of his pumpkin juice, waiting for Harry's reply.
"It sounds fascinating," Hermione added. "Do you think Dumbledore would let us tag along?"
"I'm not sure. You'd have to ask him," Harry said. "I don't know why he would say no, though."
"I'll have to ask him when the term starts…" Hermione said, thinking aloud, while looking at her almost finished dinner.
Frankly, Hermione found the subject of Tom Riddle curious. How could someone so young be so evil? How could he be that way if he had no parental nudge to poison his mind in that way? She wanted to know what went on in his mind so many years ago.
She envied Harry, because he definitely could take the lessons. How she wanted to understand Tom Riddle… Though she did not doubt that Harry would pass on the information Dumbledore gave, she did not want to miss anything should Harry leave a few minor details out.
Fred and George were the first to leave the table, adding a "Good night, everyone," in unison. Hermione suddenly felt very tired, and decided she would go to bed too, if Mrs. Weasley didn't ask her to help clean up.
"May I be excused?" she asked, turning her head towards Mrs. Weasley. (Harry and Ron added in, "Us too?")
"Yes, dears; go right ahead," Mrs. Weasley said. She hardly sat down at all during the meal to eat because she was too busy making sure everyone else was set.
Ginny, who had left the table only moments before Hermione asked, was already in her room. She was sprawled across her bed reading the Daily Prophet when Hermione walked in. "Hey, 'Mione," she greeted nonchalantly.
"Hey, Ginny," Hermione said back. Her eyes felt heavy, and she would have collapsed on her bed if Crookshanks wasn't lying in the middle of it. Instead, she picked the cat up and forced him to cuddle with her as she had intended to drift off to sleep.
"So how's the love life? Meet any boys this summer?" Ginny asked, setting the Daily Prophet aside.
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows; for she was close to sleep before Ginny had spoken. "No, I didn't meet any boys this summer. I have no love life," she mumbled.
"What about Viktor?" Ginny asked. "Have you been talking with him?"
Crookshanks got up, hopped of the bed, and pranced over to Ginny. "Yes. We've been writing letters to each other."
"Do you like him at all?" Ginny asked with interest in her voice. Hermione was glad to have a girl to talk to, even though she had nothing to talk about in the love department. Being around boys all day was a trying business.
"As a friend I do, but I can't see him as anything more," Hermione said. Her eyes still felt heavy and refused to open for more than a second. As Ginny was silent for a few moments which probably seemed longer to Hermione, she allowed herself to get comfortable again.
"Hermione?" Ginny called, but did not wait for an answer. "I have a feeling that this year is going to be the year that you fall in love."
Hermione grunted in tiredness and said, "Goodnight, Ginny."
Thank you for reading.