Author's note. Just a random story I came up with, about different Hogwarts characters sending letters, starting with a First year Hermione.

A couple of classic book references as I can see Hermione quoting them. Do you recognise them?

I'm assuming that Professor McGonagall was the one who introduced Hermione to the Wiazrding world but even if I'm wrong, lets just go with that.

Enjoy and please review.

Dear mum and dad

First off, I'm really missing you guys, it feels to strange to go to school but not take the bus home when lessons are over. Honestly, I feel like the twins of St Claire's or like George and Ann going off to Boarding school. I know you'll be wondering just what it's like here but I barely know where to start. This place is so huge, so exciting and of course, magical.

First things first, I've been Sorted into Gryffindor, remember I told you about the Houses? We actually get Sorted by a Hat, called the school Sorting Hat, I couldn't believe it. You get called up in front of the school and sit on a stool and Professor McGonagall (you remember her) placed this really old hat on my head. And he spoke, he actually spoke inside my head and started talking about where I should go.

He was actually considering Ravenclaw because the really brainy people go there but I'd heard so much about Gryffindor that I really wanted to go there. And in the end, he decided that's where I could go and I'm really happy. And you'll never believe who else is in Gryffindor, Harry Potter, that boy who defeated that Dark Wizard as a baby.

I met him on the train and he seems quite nice although he was very surprised when he heard he was in several books. I hope we can be friends although he's made friends with a boy called Ron Weasleys who's alright but he's a bit loud and obnoxious for me. I haven't really gotten to know the other girls in my year yet but I'm sure I will. There is a nice boy called Neville who lost his pet toad on the train and I helped look for it.

I'm not sure if I'll end up being his friend, he seems quite friendly with some of the kids from Hufflepuff but its early days yet. Anyway, we had an opening feast on the first night which was really good although there were a bit too many puddings for my taste. Of course I've always eaten healthily, hard not to with dentists for parents but I'm very proud of the fact I have no fillings.

Each House has its own Dorm and ours is in a Tower and it's really cosy. There's a roaring fire in the Common Room and loads of comfy armchairs to sit in. It is a bit rowdier than I'm used to, all the boys seems really loud but I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough. I do love my bed though, it's a beautiful four poster bed with red curtains that help give you some privacy.

But here's the things I've been looking most forward to and it's the classes. Frankly, they are brilliant, I'm honestly enjoying them so much. In Transfiguration, we had to turn matches into needles and I was the only one who managed to and Professor McGonagall was really pleased. Oh by the way, she's my Head of House so you can imagine how happy I was at doing well in her class.

Herbology is a bit messy and smelly but it's still very fascinating although some of the plants look like they want to eat you. But in First year, we don't deal with those kinds of plants so you don't have to worry about that and Professor Sprout keeps a close watch on them. We also have lessons at Midnight sometimes, studying the stars and apparently, Wizards set a great deal of store by them.

I don't know if I shall but it's still very interesting even if we're up a bit late. I also enjoy Charms a lot although we haven't done any spells yet, we're just learning the theory and wand movements at the moment. We also have History of magic and while the subject its self is great, the teacher is a little bit boring. Which is odd because he's a ghost and you'd think that would be really exciting but it's not.

I think it's the way he talks, you know a little like Mr Williams from down the street? What he's talking about is interesting but he says it in such a droning voice that everyone falls asleep. Well, most of my class anyway, I don't know about the other Houses. All my classes are with my fellow Gryffindors, there are only a couple of classes where we're mixed with other Houses. It's a bit strange but I suppose since there's so many of us it makes sense.

Don't worry about me falling asleep in Professor Binn's class, I still pay attention and take lots of notes. I just wish he was a bit more engaging because his class is definitely one of the harder ones. But I will study as much as I can, Hogwarts has a magnificent library and I just know there are plenty of History books there.

Oh mum, remember how you told me not to crush on any male teachers? Well, I don't think you have to worry about that at all because the only male teacher who isn't over sixty is Professor Snape who I think might be in his thirties. But he is not a very...friendly teacher you could say and he teaches Potions. I enjoy the actual Potion making, you know I always loved cooking at home but Professor Snape isn't very pleasant.

He's also not very handsome, he's very dark and brooding but not in a good way. In our First class, he started asking Harry really hard questions about Potions. And poor Harry couldn't answer, although I think I was the only one who actually knew the answers but Professor Snape wouldn't ask me. He wasn't happy when Harry suggested that he 'do' ask me and took a point from Gryffindor for cheek.

I think Harry was really cut up about that but from what I've heard, a single point if nothing, it's like a really mild warning. And things didn't get much better, poor Neville managed to melt his cauldron and Harry got blamed for it. This was really unfair because Harry was working on his own Potion and by that logic, I should have been blamed. Along with everyone else in class so I think you've got an idea of what Professor's Snape's like. The only students he's nice to be the Slytherins, he's their Head of House.

It's funny but in a ways, Professor Snape reminds me a lot of Miss Hardbroom. Except thankfully, he can't Apperate inside the school or turn invisible. You remember what Apperation is, it's where you disappear from one place and pop up in another place. Since Professor Snape seems to dislike Gryffindors the most, you can see why it's a good things he can't Apperate.

A lot of students are saying that Slytherins are a bad bunch but I'm not sure. I haven't really spoken to any of them although apparently Harry and Ron really dislike this Slytherin boy called Draco Malfoy and he does struck me as a bit stuck up. But like I said, I haven't really spoken to him so I can't really say if he's really that bad or not.

So, that's my first week so far, I'm using a school owl to send this letter and you can just use the owl to send me a letter back. I'll ask the owl to stick around long enough for you to reply, but could you give it a bit of water and maybe some bacon? Harry has an owl called Hedwig and she always loves to help herself to some of his breakfast bacon.

I'm really messing you guys, especially as it's my birthday in two weeks, I've never had a birthday away from you. I've heard that at dinner time, a special little birthday cake appears on your plate so that'll be nice. If it's bigger than fairy cake, I'll share it out, I know Ron will happily scoff anything that goes in front of him.

I know I normally ask for a book for my birthday but could I have a camera? I really want to document my years here because I can barely believe I'm here and I want you guys to be able to see it too. I'll have to find a way to make it work as Muggle technology doesn't work here but it is possible to use cameras here as long as you use a certain spell. The best thing about this spell is that the pictures will be able to move, so you'll be able to enjoy the pictures even more.

I shall write more soon, I've got a Potions essay to finish but I do really miss you guys and can't wait for Christmas.

Love from Hermione

Author's note. Well, I hope you enjoyed this, suggestions about other letters are very welcome.