Hi, Reader(s), just a little info about this. This first oneshot takes place as a Muggle Liason drives Hermione to Diagon Alley after she learns that she's a witch. I hope you enjoy it, Airy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I gaining anything from writing this fanfic other than personal saticfaction.

Magic. Could it really exist? I had my doubts. Out of every book I had read in my 11 years of life (and that is quite a long list of books, mind you) not one of them had mentioned the slightest possibility that magic could possibly exist. Books didn't lie did they? No they don't.

So I had come to the conclusion that this was some elaborate joke planned up by someone too cruel for words. I so desperately wanted this to be true. It would mean that all of the times that I had done strange things, my being shunned by anyone who was my age, my inability to keep my nose out of a book, none of it was my fault.

I mulled this over as the "witch" drove my parents and I through London. I kept my eyes trailed on a poufy grey cloud shaped like a thunderbolt. The "witch' would glance at my parents or me and it was very unnerving. The stiff and disbelieving silence was thicker than a bog. The "witch" cleared her throat.

"So, Hermione, are you looking forward to going to school?"

The question startled me. I hadn't given the elusive Hogwarts much thought.

"I suppose."

At this point, my dad decided to give his two cents. "She will not be going. She was already accepted at a school. Hermione is very smart." He proudly ruffled my bushy hair.

"But, sir!" the 'witch' said earnestly. "Hogwarts is the finest school one could go to. Why, I went there myself, not to long ago. I spent my years studying hard and getting Os and Es. Why, you could've knocked me over with a feather when I got accepted as prefect! I didn't make head girl, though. That went to Della Greengrass. Such a show off, that one, she never shut up about being pureblood."

My curiosity sparked. "Pureblood? What do you mean, miss?"

She frowned. "Oh, don't call me miss, it makes me feel old. I'm Jamie."

"Okay, Jamie, what did you mean about purebloods?"

Jamie gave a nervous twitter. "Oh, I keep forgetting how little you know! Purebloods are people that don't have muggle blood running through the veins. They think they're better than everyone, especially muggleborns. Of course, we all know that's as ridiculous as a phoenix doused in water. It doesn't matter what your blood looks like, so long as your magic is strong enough. But those people, they get that insane notion in their poor, dim heads and then they start to go bad. About a decade ago the worst one yet was defeated! It was such an exciting time."

My parents exchanged anxious looks; they didn't like were this was going.

"Who was it/ The really bad one?"

A shudder rippled through Jamie like a stone in a pond. She glanced around as if expecting the bad one to pop out from behind a crossing pedestrian. Whoever this person was, he must have been terrifying.

"His name was... and don't make me say this more than once, so listen closely, his name was Lord Voldemort." Jamie choked on the name and covered her mouth.

"What did Lor-"

"NO!" the eccentric young woman stomped on the breaks and narrowly avoided jostling someone's automobile. "Don't say that name. Whilst you are in my presence you shall refer to him as You-Know-Who, just like everyone else does. Do you understand?"

She gave me such a glare that I was forced to agree. "So what did this You-Know-Who do? What happened to him?"

"He terrorized muggles and muggleborns and anyone who sided with them. You-Know-Who killed, tortured, and manipulated his way into infamy. I don't think there is a soul who he didn't find him scary. Except Dumbledore, of course." I recognized Dumbledore from my letter, he was the headmaster of Hogwarts.

"You-Know-Who was steam-rolling the wizard community. Lethal and unstoppable, we all feared that he would never be defeated. And then, on Halloween night, You-Know who went after the Potters. James, Lily, and little Harry Potter lived in Godric's Hollow -- I believe there's some sort of memorial where their house stood. From what I understand, they were decent people and he had no reason to go after them (except for the fact that Lily Potter was muggleborn). He broke into their house and murdered Lily and James. Then, he turned his wand on their baby boy,"

Jamie paused dramatically. I found myself leaning forward in my seat, staring avidly at her.

"Harry Potter survived. He was the first wizard or witch to ever survive the killing curse. And on that night You-Know-Who was vanquished. No one knows where he is -- I reckon he's dead or in hiding. But, who cares?! The war is over at last! Harry Potter, who represents all things good, triumphed! I don't think anyone knows his location. I heard that he's about your age. Perhaps you'll get to meet him! But don't get your hopes up, there's no guarantee that he'll even go to Hogwarts." Jamie's eyes lit up as she sang Harry Potter's praises, she made him sound like a hero.

I truly hoped that I would meet this Harry Potter. He sounded fascinating.