When Hermione Granger was five years old, she read her first novel all by herself. It was a story her mom had found that a patient had left at their dentistry. She had brought it home to give to them at their next appointment. Curious as ever, Hermione asked her mom what it was.
"Its a book of fairytales, darling."
"They're just stories about pixies? That doesn't seem that interesting…"
"No, darling, these stories are not just about fairies. They're about all kinds of magic; witches and princesses and goblins and far off places and love…"
"Love? But love is real. You aren't a princess and daddy isn't a goblin but you still love each other!"
Hermione's mother sighed and motioned for Hermione to sit with her on the couch. She consented with a puzzled look on her face. Her mother reached for the book and opened up to a page with a picture of a handsome couple delicately illustrated. The princess was staring at the prince like he had just promised her one million dollars she was so happy. Hermione suggested this idea to her mother.
Mrs. Granger laughed, "See that is exactly what makes love magical. Love can make you feel better than things. It is like happiness, only better. You can't touch love because it isn't a physical thing. It flows through the air until it finds two living, breathing things that connect on a magical level, and then binds them together forever. One day you will look at a guy like that, and you will feel magic ignite between your souls. I promise you, darling."
"Can I read these stories?"
"Sure, darling, but you have to read them before Andrea comes in for her next appointment. That should be in about a month."
Hermione looked at her mom with a new form of adrenaline. It was an excitement Mrs. Granger had never seen before. Whether it was all the talk about love, or the idea of reading, or a little bit of both, she did not know, but it made her daughter even more lovely. Hermione gave the side of her mother a quick but deep squeeze and then ran off book in hand to her bedroom.
An hour later Mr. Granger came home from a tennis match.
"Oh you're home, darling. Did you win?"
"No, but it was close. Next time I'm going to get her!"
"Darling, if you can't beat your twelve year old niece now you're never going to be able to."
Mr. Granger came over and kissed his wife on the lips, "Well, princess, I'm just going to have to prove you wrong."
Mrs. Granger reached up and pulled him down until he was sitting on the couch with her. He let out a shriek and lightly punched her in the arm. She just looked happily at him and started heavily kissed him. When she pulled away she had a look in her eye that he had not seen in a long time. He smirked, "What's gotten into you, princess?"
She laid her head down into his lap, and looked up, "I just had the most wonderful discussion with our daughter. It was about magic and love, and oh! I just think I started a new part of her life."
"Woah woah woah. She is five years old. That's less years than I spent in college. What the bloody hell are you doing talking to her about love?"
"Darling, we were just talking about stories and love. Nothing is happening. I have a feeling I just introduced her to her first love- reading. She won't meet her second true love until she is much older."
Mr. Granger looked at her fiercely, "That better not be for a long long LONG time, princess."
Mrs. Granger laughed and went to go make them some tea, "Don't worry, she won't meet him until she's at least 23."
Mr. Granger breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, "Well I'm going to go check on the lovers. Making sure there's no snogging going on in that room."