Helllllo, welcome welcome welcome. Quick note: Voldemort will NOT be a main antagonist in this story, and Harry will not be a 'featured' Character. The main characters will be Hermione, Bellatrix Black and Severus Snape. Not saying they won't be present, the story just will not revolve around them.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the Harry Potter universe
Also thank you to Laurel Vincent for being an absolute darl and Beta
Hermione Granger was an above average eleven year old, commonly known by her classmates as a 'little miss know it all'. Not that the constant name calling and bullying annoyed her. She was stronger than that.
Pushing a strand of her medium black hair behind her ear, Hermione continued reading the book she had been working on since last night. It was a book about a young girl who has many expectations of her from those around her. She was expected to be the young, pretty girl who stayed home and does wifely duties when all she really wants to do is play football. A book one wouldn't expect an eleven year old to be currently reading but Hermione did care for other people's opinions much.
She was a kind young girl, always willing to put others before herself. Although these qualities made the young one stand out from the rest, it did not deter from the fact that she was incredibly mischievous. Pranks were her favourite thing and often at times she didn't even get caught, a secret kept all to herself.
Suddenly her eyes darted up when her mother walked into the study, limping slightly on her left leg.
"What have I said about leaving your books around?" Mrs. Granger groaned as she walked over to where Hermione was laying down on the couch. "I just tripped."
"Sorry mom." Hermione grinned behind her book knowing full well that she left it there on purpose. She always has a little fun riling her parents up since it was so easy, I mean who would expect the sweet and innocent Hermione to be so mischievous.
"What are you up to today?" Her mother asked as she started picking up Hermione's scattered reports on her desks.
"Reading."
"Again?" She sighed. "When are you going to get out more, make some new friends?"
"I like reading." Hermione argued before correcting herself. "No, I love reading."
"I understand that but you are going to need social interaction at some point in your life."
"What's wrong with talking to you and dad?"
"We are your parents."
"So? It's still interacting."
"I just can't win with you." Her mother sighed, making them both let out a careless laugh. "Anyway, I was thinking about going to do the grocery shopping and then going to Mar-"
Mrs. Granger didn't get to finish her thought when a loud bang came from just outside the window. Both females looked in that direction and saw a few feathers fluttering towards the ground.
"What was that?" Hermione asked putting her book down and looking over at the window.
"I'm not sure." Her mother replied walking over to the window. "Stay there." She unlocked the window and pulled it up. Poking her outside she saw nothing until she jumped back and a white owl flew inside the house, perching itself on the edge of the desk across from the youngest Granger girl.
"I-Is that an owl!" Hermione laughed jumping up from the couch.
"Stay away from it." Mrs Granger tried putting herself in front of her daughter. "It could be dangerous."
"It's holding something." She pointed out moving around her mum and walking over to it
"Hermione!"
"It looks like a letter." When she reached the down she gently put her hand out and the bird nuzzled into it "See, she's friendly."
"What is all this racket?" A voice came behind them and they both turned to see Mr. Granger. "Is that an owl?"
"She's friendly." Hermione repeated before turning back to the owl. "Now let's see what this is..." She reached down and grabbed the note that was attached to it's leg.
Addressed to Hermione Granger
"It's for me." Hermione said taking it and turning to her parents.
"What is it?" Mrs. Granger asked.
"Let's find out." She gently opened the letter and folded out the piece of paper inside.
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 necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July
Yours sincerely,
Minerva Mcgonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hermione carefully folded the note down after reading it out loud and looked up to find her parents looking dumbfounded.
"There's an address." Hermione stated but her parents didn't reply out of shock. "W-We could go there, see if it's real or not."
"I-I...That sounds like a wonderful I-Idea" Mrs. Granger stuttered and turned to her husband. "Honey?"
"I-I-" He struggled to get the words out at he looked between the owl and his daughter. Hermione had first started showing signs of magic when she sneezed and accidentally made everything metal float to the roof. Bloody bugger of a time to get everything down, but they managed after a few weeks "Sounds like a-a great idea"
The letters just kept on coming in the Dursley household and Harry Potter was getting severly punished for it. Harry was an orphan, left on his aunts doorstep when his parents died in a car accident. It had not been an easy childhood. Sure, he was grateful that they took him in but did they care about him? Of course not. He was forced to sleep in a cleaning cabinet under the stairs, treated like a common slave in the household and was constantly ignored. Petunia Dursley was a tall and slim woman, Wife to Vernon Dursley and mother to their son Dudley Dursley.
See when Harry received his first letter the Dursley's wouldn't even allow him to read it and they threw it away. Much to their dismay, the letters just kept on coming. It started out as one or two a day but turned into almost thirty a day. Mr. Dursley even resulted in bolting the letter box shut.
But one day while the Dursleys were lounging around while Harry was working a letter came flying through the fireplace. Then another. And another. And another. Hundreds of letters addressed to Harry pouring into the house.
Evenly the Dudleys got sick and tired of the letters and decided to move to a remote rock island in the middle of nowhere. Today was Harry's birthday and he was currently on the floor drawing a birthday cake with his fingers in the dust on the floor. Suddenly there was a large bang on the door, and then another and another. Harry's eyes darted towards the stairs when he saw Mrs. Dursley and Mr. Dursley running down towards them, Mr Dursley holding a shotgun.
In the blink of an eye the door came crashing down and there stood a tall, dark and mysterious figure. Dudley let out an un-manly scream as the figure stepped into the home.
"Sorry about that." He said motioning to the door. He walked back over to it, leaned down and picked it up before putting it back in place.
"I demand that you leave at once!" Vernon growled. "You are breaking and entering!"
The man looked towards Vernon before walking over to him."Dry up Vernon you great prune." He said before grabbing the gun and bending it with his bare hands. He then proceeded to walk over to the smallest member of the 'family'.
"Boy, I haven't seen you since you were a baby Harry." The man said. "I got something for ya. 'fraid I may have sat on it at some point but…" He reached into his robes and pulled out a wrapped box. "Ah, made it myself, words and all."
He handed the box to Harry who proceeded to unwrap it. Inside was a cake that was covered in icing and in green it said 'Happy Birthday Harry'.
"Thank you" Harry said enthusiastically.
"It's not everyday a young man turns eleven, is it?" The man grinned. He turned around and sat on the couch, pulling out an umbrella. Suddenly Harry's eyes went wide when he pointed the umbrella at the fire and sparks shot out igniting the fireplace.
"Excuse me?" Harry tried. "Who are you?"
"Rubeus Hagrid" The large man replied. "Keeper of keys and graves at Hogwarts. Of course you know all about Hogwarts."
"Sorry, No."
"No? Blimey Harry didn't you ever wonder where you mom and dad learned it all?"
"Learnt what?"
"You're a wizard Harry."
"I-I'm a what?"
"A wizard. And a thumping good one at that, I'd wager. Once you train up a little."
"No, you've made a mistake. I can't be...a-a wizard. I mean, I'm just... Harry. Just Harry."
"Well, Just Harry, did you ever make anything happen? Anything you couldn't explain when you were angry or scared?" Harry nods. "Ah." Hagrid stood up again and reached into his robe, pulling out a letter that was all too familiar.
Dear Mr. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July
Yours sincerely,
Minerva Mcgonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry's eyes went wide as he read out the letter.
"He'll not be going! We swore when we took him in wed put an end to this rubbish!" Veron growled.
"You knew?! You knew all along and you never told me?" Harry tried.
"Of course we knew. How could you not be? My perfect sister being who she was. Oh, my mother and father were so proud the day she got her letter. We have a witch in the family. Isn't it wonderful? I was the only one to see her for what she was. A freak! And then she met that Potter, and then she had you, and I knew you'd be just the same, just as strange, just as ... abnormal. And then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up! And we got landed with you." Petunia spat.
"Blown up? You told me my parents died in a car crash!" Harry almost yelled.
"A car crash? A car crash kill James and Lily Potter?" Hagrid scoffed.
"We had to tell him something!" Petunia replied.
"It's an outrage! It's a scandal!"
"He'll not be going!" Veron growled.
"Oh, and I suppose a great Muggle like yourself going to stop him, are you?" Hagrid remarked.
"Muggle?" Harry questioned.
"Non magic folk." Hagrid muttered before turning back towards the Dursley parents. "This boy's had his name down ever since he was born! He's going to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world, and he'll be under the greatest headmaster Hogwarts' has ever seen: Albus Dumbledore."
"I will not pay for some crackpot old fool to teach him magic tricks!" Veron yelled and instantly, he found an umbrella pressed against his chest.
"Never insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me." Hagrid warned.
A muffled sound of munching from across the room drew everyone's attention back towards the fireplace, where they all saw Dudley digging into Harry's cake. Harry could see Hagrid roll his eyes as he redirected his umbrella towards the other eleven year old boy. A very quick gust of wind shot out of the tip and hit Dudley directly in the rear. His head shot back and a ear piercing squeal filled the room. Dudley started running around the room like a mad man while his parents desperately chased after him, secretly cringing at the pig tail that he had sprouted.
"Oh, um, I'd appreciate if you didn't tell anyone at Hogwarts about that. Strictly speaking, I'm not allowed to do magic." Hagrid whispered to Harry.
"Okay." Harry nodded and Hagrid checked his watch.
"Ooh, we're a bit behind schedule. Best be off. Unless you'd rather stay, of course. Hmm?" Harry turned towards Hagrid and grinned.
"What can you tell me about my parents?" Harry asked while he sat down with Hagrid after gathering all his things.
"Well there was Lily, your mother of course. She was very beautiful, smart, loved by all, she was even head girl. Your mother was a muggle-born, unlike your father who was a pure-blood, which makes you a half blood. Your father was a powerful wizard, always out ranked the others but he was always finding ways to get himself into trouble. They made a lovely couple, your father was an auror, so he was well known."
"A-And their death?"
"Well, there was a very powerful wizard who was hell bent on ruling the wizarding world."
"Why would he want to do that?"
"Never got to find out."
"Why not?"
"That's where your parents come in. When you were still a baby, your home was attacked by said wizard and some of his followers."
"Why?"
"Your father was the main target as he had put away many of his followers and he had a large influence on the ministry. Your mother and father fought well but they were no match for him and his followers. Your mother ran up to your room in order to rescue you, unfortunately, she didn't get there in time and she was killed trying to protect you. That's how you got that scar. You are the only person to ever survive a killing curse."
Harry's hand shot towards the zig zag scar on his forehead. "How?"
"The curse rebounded and hit the wizard."
"I-I killed someone..."
"Not intentionally of course."
"Who was he?"
"His name was Tom Riddle, an ex hogwarts student."
"What happened then?"
"Dumbledore showed up along with other aurors. All of the followers were caught and they took Tom's body to Azkaban."
"Why? Why not just bury him?"
"Magic works in mysterious ways. If Tom had found a way to bring himself back he would use it. Dumbledore couldn't take any risks, Azkaban is the safest place."
"What is Azkaban?"
"A prison for the worst of the worst."
"Sounds bad."
"Trust me, it is."
"Okay you are sure you have everything?" Mrs. Granger fussed as she looked Hermione over.
"I'm sure." She replied nodding.
"Got all your books?"
"Yes!"
"Not that she needs them." Mr. Granger laughed. "She has already read them over a dozen times."
"I wanted to be sure I was ready." Hermione argued.
"You do realize you will learn it all at Hogwarts anyway."
"I'll just be better than the other kids." Hermione grinned.
"That's my girl."
"I'm going to miss you so much." Mrs. Granger pulled Hermione into a hard hug .
"Okay, okay" Hermione laughed managing to wiggle out of her moms grasp. "I am coming back."
"But not for ages."
"Remember kiddo," Her father said. "Just have fun."
"I will try." She grinned before turning towards the wall with her trolley. "Well, here I go."
"I love you." Her mother smiled.
"Love you too." And with that, Hermione ran straight into the wall, disappearing not a second later.
Harry pushed his trolley up the ramp as he made his way onto the platform. As he looked around he could see platform 9 ¾ but he did see a person who worked there who he walked over to him.
"Excuse me?" Harry tried. "Can you tell me where I might find platform 9 ¾?"
"9 ¾? You think you're being funny do ya?" The man scoffed and walked away. Harry let out a huff but then turned towards a woman's voice
"It's the same year after year. Always packed with Muggles, of course." The person said.
"Muggles?" Harry questioned as he followed them and they stopped in front of a wall.
"Come on. Platform 9 ¾ this way! All right, Percy, you first." A boy stepped forward and ran into the wall disappearing. The woman then turned to two boys who Harry could see were twins. "Alright Fred, you next."
"He's not Fred, I am." The boy tried.
"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother!" The other boy said stepped up towards the wall.
"Oh, I'm sorry, George." She replied.
"I'm only joking. I am Fred." He grinned as he ran into the wall followed by his twin.
"Excuse me?" Harry said stepping up to her. "C-could you tell me how to…"
"How to get on the platform?" She asked and he nodded "Yes, not to worry, dear. It's Ron's first time to Hogwarts as well." Harry looked over to see a red head boy about the same age as him. "Now, all you've got to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous."
"Good luck." A girl said. She didn't look much younger than Harry himself.
Harry nodded and lined himself up. Though he had watched the other red haired boys run straight through, part of him nagged inside, saying that it wasn't a good idea. He briefly turned his head back around his shoulder and much to his surprise, he saw the mother smiling at him and urging him to go. Harry then ran at the wall with his trolley and found himself going straight through it. When he emerged out the other side he saw another platform, he looked up to where is read 9 ¾.
"Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full." Ron asked as he stepped into the carriage that Harry was currently in.
"No, not at all." Harry replied
"I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley."
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
"So-so it's true?!" Ron gasped. "I mean, do you really have the...the…"
"The what?"
"Scar?..." He whispers.
"Oh, yeah." Harry grinned as he pulled back his hair to show Ron.
"Wicked." Suddenly they both turned when they heard someone walking to the isle ways.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" A woman asked as she poked her head in
"No, thanks, I'm all set" Ron replied holding up a sandwich but he then turned to Harry who pulled out a bunch of coins from his pocket.
"We'll take the lot."
"Whoa!"
"Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?" Harry questioned as he looked over the sweets.
"They mean every flavour! There's chocolate and peppermint, and there's also spinach, liver and tripe. George sweared he got a bogey-flavoured one once!" Ron replied grinning. Harry reached up and took the bean out of his mouth before wrapping it in an unused rapper. He then leaned down and grabbed another pack, looking at the front of it.
"These aren't real chocolate frogs, are they?" He asked showing it to him.
"It's only a spell. Besides, it's the cards you want. Each pack's got a famous witch or wizard. I got about 500 myself" .Ron replied. Harry proceeded to open the packet but suddenly the frog jumped out and onto the window
"Oh, that's rotten luck. They've only got one good jump in them to begin with." Ron said as they watched the Frog jumped out the small window.
"Hey, I got Dumbledore!" Harry grinned showing the card.
"I got about 6 of him." Harry looked back down at the card shocked.
"Hey, he's gone!"
"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day, can you?" Ron then motioned to the cage he had sitting on the ground. He leaned down and opened it, pulling a rat out. "This is Scabbers, by the way. Pitiful, isn't he?"
"Just a little bit."
"Fred gave me a spell as to turn him yellow. Want to see?"
"Yeah!"
"Ahem. Sun-" He began, but they were interrupted when a girl arrived at their carriage .
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." She questioned.
"No." Ron replied.
"Oh, are you doing magic?" She asked, genuinely excited to see but for her own reasons. "Let's see then"
Ron shrugged his shoulders and turned towards his rat. Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" Nothing happened.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" She asked, and Ron shrugged again. "Well, it's not very good, is it? Of course I've only tried a few simple spells myself, and they've all worked for me. For example…" She walked into the carriage and sat across from Harry. She pulled her wand out and pointed it at his broken glasses. "Oculus Reparo." The small piece of tape that had been wrapped around the bridge shot off and vanished into the air, revealing the perfect state that the glasses were now in."That's better, isn't it?" She asked, but then something clicks in her head. "Holy Cricket, you're Harry Potter. I'm Hermione Granger." She turns to Ron. "And you are...?"
"I'm...Ron Weasley."
"Pleasure. You two better change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon." She got up and went to walk out but then turned to Ron again. "You've got dirt, on your nose, by the way, Just there." She pointed before turning and leaving.
"Right, then! First years! This way, please! Come on, now, don't be shy! Come on now, hurry up!" Hagrid called out as the train came to a stop. The two boys quickly got off the train and walked over to Hagrid.
"Hello, Harry." Hagrid greeted.
"Hey, Hagrid." Harry replied.
"Whoa!" Ron grinned staring up at the tall man.
"Right then. This way to the boats! Come on, now, follow me."