Disclaimer: I own nothing, JK does.

Update: I fixed this chapter because a couple people reviewed and said that Outstanding was better than Exceeds Expectations in O.W.L.s, and when I wrote this I thought I looked up every little detail, but I must have forgot that one. So, now that I've looked it up, and they are right, O is better than E, I decided to change it so you won't have to be confused. Thanx again for reading, and don't forget to review. Thanx much,
aly

Chapter one – Letters in Summer

Hermione Granger sat with her head resting on the palm of her hand, gazing out the open window, out into the warm summer night, as the sun set. She watched as the sky turned a vibrant orange, then pink, then red, and finally settling in to a deep blue/violet. She was thinking about many things, Harry, Ron, the Order, but mostly Hogwarts and how much she missed the great castle.

She almost didn't notice the figure flying toward her window, until it was practically ready to hit her. She quickly ducked to let the owl into her room. She noticed it wasn't Hedwig, so the letter that the owl was carrying wasn't from Harry. This owl was a strong looking tawny one, instead. It held it's leg out importantly, and she took the letter. The owl ruffled its feathers, spread its wings and soared out of the open window from which it came.

Hermione looked at the letter, immediately noticing the Hogwarts crest in the upper left hand corner. She opened it quickly, hoping it would be her O.W.L. results. She was right.

Dear Miss Granger:

Enclosed are the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams. They are as follows:

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding

Potions: Outstanding

Transfiguration: Outstanding

Arithmancy: Outstanding

Herbology: Outstanding

Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding

Charms: Outstanding

Astronomy: Exceeds Expectations

History of Magic: Outstanding

The Headmaster would like to congratulate you on your wonderful results, and would like to inform you that students that achieve such high marks have the option to have their own private room for their sixth and seventh years. It is completely understood if you do not want the private room, but if you would, please reply as soon as possible so we can get your new room ready.

We are also pleased to inform you that the Headmaster has chosen you to be a prefect again this year.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl until July 31.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Hermione squealed with delight as she read the letter. She had gotten an 'O' in everything except Astronomy, which was due to Professor Umbridge attacking Hagrid during their exam, and hadn't finished her star chart. Oh Well, she thought, at least I don't need Astronomy to become an Auror. AND... no more sharing a room with Parvati and Lavender! I get my OWN ROOM!!!! YAY!!!

She decided to write Harry and Ron each letters to ask them if they had gotten good grades on their O.W.L.s, hoping that they won't be offended if she did.

Dear Harry,

Hope all is well with you. I just got my O.W.L results, and I got 'O's' in everything except Astronomy, but that's okay. I would have gotten better if that horrid Umbridge woman wouldn't have attacked Hagrid! I am SOOO glad that she left last year!! Anyways, I was just wondering if you did well also, and just wanted to check up on you.

All my love,

Hermione

Hermione copied the same thing into another letter, but addressed it to Ron. She also wrote a reply to Hogwarts, stating that she would like to have her own room. Then she sat and waited for her owl, Melody, to return from hunting. Crookshanks had run away earlier that summer, and her parents bought her an owl for her birthday, to try and replace her cat. She still missed her cat sometimes, but loved having an owl. Melody finally got back, and she sent the letters off, then decided to go and tell her mum that she had gotten good grades, and her own room.

Hermione woke the next morning to Melody tapping her beak on the window. Wow, that was fast! she thought. She let the owl in, then took her letter. It looked like this one was a reply from Ron, due to the untidy handwriting on the front. She opened the letter and read:

Hermione,

Same thing in both mine and Harry's letters, huh? I would think that you would have something different to say to me than to him, but whatever. Aww, 'Mione, I'm just joking. Anyways, I got good owls, all 'E's' and Harry got five 'O's' and four 'E's'. We both got a letter asking if we wanted our own rooms, though. We both accepted, and since you did better than both of us, we figured that you got asked to. Hope you accepted too. Harry got Prefect, not me, but that's ok, I didn't really like being Prefect last year. Anyways, Harry is here at the Burrow with me and my family, and I asked Mum if you could come as well, and she said its okay. So if you want to, you are welcome to come over anytime. Just send us an owl and we will be waiting. We will go to Diagon Alley together and then back to Hogwarts. Hope you can come!

Hugs,

Ron and Harry

Hermione ran downstairs to her mother and asked if she could go to the Burrow. Her mum said 'yes', so Hermione ran back upstairs to reply to Ron. She scribbled, I asked Mum, and she said its all okay. I will floo to the Burrow tomorrow evening. Can't wait to see you and Harry. Hermione, on a scrap piece of parchment and sent it off with Melody.

Then she decided to go down to the home gym and work out. She had been doing this a lot that summer, and the result was that she lost a little weight and toned her body. She had also went shopping with some of her muggle girlfriends, and bought a whole new wardrobe, mostly consisting of a little skimpier clothes than she wore before, but she had grown into a curvy teenager and wanted to show her curves off. She had also learned a new charm that she used on her hair every morning, to stop it from frizzing. It worked quite well, and Hermione almost always let her hair fall down her back in loose, smooth, waves.

She spent the rest of the day working out, spending time with her mum and dad, since she would be leaving, and picking up all her school things that had scattered themselves over the summer. Then she went to bed. Before she drifted off, she thought, This year is going to be Great!

The next day, she kissed her mum and dad good-bye, then threw some Floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in and shouted 'The Burrow.' Her muggle parents watched as she disappeared from the green flames and traveled many miles away to the Burrow.

A/N: thanx again for reading, please review.