"Sweetie! It's almost time to go, are you ready?"
A bushy-haired youth came around the corner a few moments later, tears streaking down her cheeks. Hermione would miss her parents so much. She was frightened about being alone at her new school, but she needed to brave… She had to be.
"Mum-" Hermione broke before she could tell her mom everything, from her fear of leaving home to how much she loved them. She ran into her mothers arms, shaking violently as her sobs overcame her resilient need to stay strong.
Hermione heard her father round the corner from the kitchen and then felt herself sandwiched in her parents' embrace, giving her all the reassurance she would need to know that this was one of their proudest moments for their daughter.
Hermione was clinging to everything she knew. Everything that was simple. She had always been thirsty for knowledge and enjoyed a vigorous challenge, but this was just all so new and so sudden that Hermione could not help but doubt.
How am I going to get through this year without my parents by my side every step of the way? What if I don't make friends? What if- what if this world isn't cut out for me and I- I fail? What if I become such a disappointment that- that no one will want me anymore?
"Hermione, you will do great. You have always succeeded in every endeavor that you have set your heart to. You are a brilliant girl and I am sure that you will be meeting many wonderful people, who will accept you for you," her dad said, halting her thoughts.
"Mum… Dad… I will make you proud! I- I l-love you, s-so much!" Hermione said as Mrs. Granger kissed the top of her head, making her cling tighter to her mom's waist and dad's arm.
The small family shuffled over to the couch before cuddling together in the front room of their home. Hermione's parents were trying to cheer her up with stories from their vacations and other funny happenings that took place in their family, when-
Ding Dong
Hermione sat up from the couch, knowing this was the scariest, yet most desired path for knowledge she was ever to embark on. This is it…
Her dad squeezed her knee before standing to answer the door, while her mom rubbed her back and gave her an encouraging smile. The mother and daughter stood as the door opened, revealing the pleasant Professor Minerva McGonagall.
"Good afternoon! How lovely it is to see you all again. Miss Granger, I hope that all is well and that you were able to acquire all of your school supplies without too much hassle?"
"Yes, thank you Professor McGonagall. We were able to get everything I would need for the coming school year," Hermione said politely with a small smile.
"It truly is nice to see you again, Professor. My wife and I are extremely proud of our daughter and happy that she has been given this amazing gift and opportunity," said Hermione's father, beaming with the pride of having such a wonderful daughter. "Hermione? Why don't you go and get your bags from your room and put them by the door?" A small smile graced Hermione's face as she complied to her father's request.
She climbed the stairs to the first landing and stopped at the window there. The view of the street Hermione has called home was the cause of a single tear, running down her cheek as memories came to the forefront of her mind.
Their driveway was where Hermione first learned to ride a bike. It was the same color as her bedroom. Pale green. Her father had held onto her from behind because she was skeptical about the training wheels he had attached. Her father was not the good little mechanic he liked to believe he was; most of the things he built or fixed almost always fell apart shortly afterward. Eventually, the 5-year-old Hermione told her daddy to let go and she rode in circles on the driveway for an hour before being called into the house for lunch.
Hermione looked away from the window and continued her trek up the stairs, not wanting to cry again. She smoothed down her skirt before picking up her trunk and suitcase, which were tightly packed with her school clothes and supplies. She had already read Hogwarts, A History, which Hermione had received with her acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She thought she may need it for a class, however, it wasn't so. She had read the book once already, as well as a few other books that would help her with her studies in Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The books showed her how amazing magic could be and she had tried a spell one evening while her parents were preparing dinner. The spell was called the Mending Charm, which repairs inanimate objects and is fairly easy to cast. Hermione took a pencil from her writing desk in her room and snapped it in half, pointed her wand at the broken pencil, and uttered the incantation, Reparo. To the young witches surprise and delight, the halves sealed themselves together and the pencil was good as new.
Hermione was intrigued by the magic she could produce with just simple wand movements and words. This pulled at something inside of her that she did not know was there and she knew her chance had finally arrived; she couldn't back out now, even if she wanted to.
Hermione carried her trunk and suitcase down the stairs, noticing how her parents were easily engaged in conversation with her new Professor, putting any worries about how her two worlds would connect to rest, at least for now.
"Hermione, what took you so long?"
"Oh, nothing, mum. I was just reminiscing a bit while I was upstairs…" Hermione's voice faded away as she looked at her parents and knew that she would not see them for a while.
"Little bird, don't be sad. You know that you will see us every holiday. And we will write back and forth often. Don't worry," her father said as she sat between him and her mother, who stroked her back. Hermione's dad always knew the right thing to say and her mom always knew the right thing to do. They made the perfect team.
"Well, I know that there is no convenient time to announce that we need to leave, but we do need to go now to make sure that Hermione will not miss her train. I will grab your bags, dear, and meet you outside. Thank you for the tea and cucumber sandwiches, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. They were delightful and it was lovely getting to know you both a little better. Good evening."
Professor McGonagall walked to the door and shrunk Hermione's trunk and suitcase to place in her pocket, before opening the door and walking outside to give the small family some privacy.
They all stood and Hermione looked at both of her parents. Their last moments together were filled with tears, "I love you's", and dreaded farewells. Hermione hugged her father goodbye and he kissed her on the top of her head as she sobbed hysterically into his chest. Hermione then turned to her mom and gave her a firm hug and a kiss before leaving.
Goodbyes were never an easy feat for Hermione, but she knew they were inevitable. They had given her a small, black, velvet box and told her not to open it until the morning of her first day of classes. And, most importantly, they told her to write to them about anything. Whether she was happy, sad, angry, or scared, they would be there for her and give her advice just as they would if she were sitting right in front of them.
Why didn't I say more before leaving? There has to be something I can do to let them know all the things that I couldn't say when saying goodbye…
"Professor, could you enlarge my suitcase for me? There is something I need to do."
"Yes, I can."
"Thank you." Hermione smiled at her new Professor as she enlarged the bag and Hermione retrieved a quill, a bottle of ink, an envelope, and some parchment, and began to write.
Dear Mum and Dad;
I cannot believe that I left with so much unsaid… I will just miss you both so much… I promise to make you proud and I promise with all my heart, I will return to you. I will make the best out of all the challenges I face and will write to you every week.
Mum, I will strive to be a proud example of you. I will work hard to always do the right thing. I will be kind and caring to others and not sway under peer pressure. Dad, I will show everyone who I got my brains from and I will not back down from any challenge.
I will think of you everyday and write every week. I will send a second letter tomorrow, along with an owl with which you can reply. I love you both very much and do not know how I could ever do thing without your love and support.
Love Always,
Little Bird
Tears were dripping from the tip of her nose, staining the parchment with tiny droplets. She sealed the letter and asked her Professor to give it to her parents because she wanted them to receive it tonight.
"I can deliver the letter to them myself after dropping you off at the train station, Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall shrunk Hermione's suitcase again after she finished her letter and gave Hermione her trunk to keep both safely in her pocket.
"Thank you, Professor." Hermione gave the woman a small smile and handed over the letter before looking out the window. The image of her parents standing just outside the door and waving goodbye to their beloved daughter was imprinted in Hermione's mind as they drove to King's Cross Station in London.
Before long, they pulled up to the train station and paid the driver, whom Hermione discovered was a wizard. They walked into the large building known as King's Cross Station and made their way through the crowds. The further they went, the more Hermione's curiosity grew about which train she would board and what it would be like with all the other students.
"Okay Miss Granger, I want you to listen carefully. I will stand by this wall over here to make sure that you get through alright before leaving. Now, see that divider there, between Platforms 9 and 10? I want you to run straight into that wall. Everything will be alright and I will see you at the school shortly. Do you have everything?" said Professor McGonagall, stopping Hermione.
"Yes, Professor. Thank you for making my luggage easier to carry and thank you again for your willingness to deliver the letter I wrote in the cab to my parents."
"It was and is my pleasure Miss Granger. Now, get going. Here is your ticket. Good luck." The smile that the Professor flashed the young girl of only 11 years was encouraging and hopeful. Hermione returned the smile before running towards the wall, her last thought being, I hope I make my parents happy, before all went black.
What's going on? Why is everything still dark? Shouldn't I already be through and boarding the train?
Hermione tried to open her eyes, but nothing happened. It felt like she was paralyzed.
Oh God… Oh God… What's going on? Did it not work? Why can't I move? Oh no… Am I dead?
"What's wrong with her?"
"What's going on?"
"Who is she?"
"Where did she come from?"
"Where is her family?"
"Someone call the Healers!"
"Oh Merlin! Is she going to die?"
It seemed like hundreds of voices were jumbled together.
What is going on?
"Everyone, SHUT IT!"
Thank God, someone got those people to calm down. Hopefully they can help me…
"Okay, miss, if you can hear me, wiggle your fingers or toes."
Okay… I can do that…
"Alright, miss. I do not know if you are unable to hear me or unable to move, but I am going to cast a few diagnostic spells to make sure that you are not in any danger."
A warm feeling flowed through Hermione as the she lay on the ground.
Please… Let everything be okay…
"Alright. Miss, everything is okay. You went into temporary shock and your body is just recuperating. I am going to perform a small healing charm and make sure you rest on the train, all right? We will send instruction to the school infirmary to check on you before you go to bed tonight."
Hermione felt another warm shiver flow from her heart to the rest of her body and all went silent again.
Hermione felt groggy as she opened her eyes. At first, she did not know where she was, but it slowly started to return to her. Hermione remembered running towards the wall, everything going black and silent, hearing voices around her, and finally, everything going silent again.
What happened to me?
Hermione rubbed her aching temples when someone next to her cleared their throat. She yelped and nearly fell off her seat when two firm hands grabbed her arms, preventing her from falling.
"What- Who are you?" Hermione stuttered before collecting her wits.
"I believe that I should be asking who you are. What is your name?"
"I asked first!" Hermione was almost shocked at how cheeky the young boy sitting across from her was. He had a lot of nerve.
"And I answered your question," the boy was smirking at Hermione like he had just figured out all of her secrets.
"Hmph… Fine. I am Hermione Granger, and you are?" Hermione crossed her arms and looked at the boy, waiting for an answer.
"My name is Severus Snape. Is this your first year?"
First year…? Oh! He means at the school. "Yes it is. How about yourself?"
"Indeed."
Silence fell between the two students for a few moments before there was a knock at their compartment door. The door slide open to reveal a petite woman with curly hair pushing a cart.
"Anything from the trolley, dearies?"
Hermione looked over to Severus, who was preoccupied with something outside the window.
"No, thank you, ma'am. I think that we don't want to spoil our dinner," Hermione said, turning back to the woman.
"No problem, dearie. Just holler if you change your mind." She slide the door shut before continuing on.
Hermione looked at Severus to see if he would give account for why he ignored the lady. After a few minutes of silence, she realized that he would not be explaining himself, so she, too, turned to look out the window.
They were passing a large forest at this point and there was a mountain range in the distance. The forest seemed to be filled with Sycamore trees, reminding her of her home.
Mrs. Matthews, her elderly neighbor across the street, had a few Sycamore trees scattered throughout her yard. During the months that one could sit outside without fear of frostbite, Hermione would curl up under the tree closest to Mrs. Matthews porch and read, while the elderly woman would either crochet doilies or read, while soft music played in the background. She was like the grandmother Hermione never had. She never particularly got along with people her age, so Mrs. Matthews taught Hermione the important values of companionship that comes with having friends. They would talk for hours, drinking Earl Grey tea and eating fresh biscuits.
What am I going to do without my bestfriend? Oh dear…
"We will be at the school soon. You should probably put on your school robes now," Severus said, interrupting Hermione's thoughts and she quickly wiped her eyes and nodded.
Hermione retrieved her trunk and suitcase from her pocket before realizing her little predicament… She didn't know how to enlarge her bags.
"Um… Severus? Professor McGonagall shrunk my bags before taking me to the train station and I don't know how to reverse the spell. Do you?" Hermione was chewing her lip, being a little perturbed that she needed to ask for help with something that was probably an easy fix.
"I do not. You can use one of my robes for today, but I want it back tomorrow, cleaned," Severus sighed as he stood to retrieve his trunk. He handed her the first set of robes that he set his eyes on before replacing it on the shelf.
"Thank you…" Hermione was slightly shocked that he was willing to lend her his robes, but she wasn't going to object to his kind gesture. He obviously doesn't want to linger on this…
Hermione blushed and slipped on the robes. Severus was not a large boy, he was quite slim, so his robes fit her nicely. They were made of a scratchy material that seemed to be well-worn from many years of use, but she wasn't going to tell him that. Hermione caught his eye and gave him a small smile, before looking out the window.