Hello readers. This is my first fanfiction so could you please review and tell me how you like it.

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A Year of Surprises

Chapter 1

A/N: Before we start, I would just like to mention that it is the end of seventh year, the war has ended, and all the seventh years to come back and complete their education, t, the light side has won, and the holidays have just started – they go for two weeks.

~Hermione's POV~

As I pulled back my arm, muscles coiled in rage, I could practically feel that slimy, evil, disgusting, ferret-faced cockroach whimpering in fear.

My fist hit home, whamming into that ferret-y little nose of his. He gasped, whimpered, and fell to the ground in a pathetic heap, before his pudgy minions, as slow as sloths (and really, that's sort of a compliment!), grimaced up enough from their thought processes to help him up.

I smiled, "That felt good" -

My beautiful dream was rudely interrupted by a loud tapping on my window. I sat up groggily, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. As I looked to the window, I saw a tawny owl that looked suspiciously like a Hogwarts owl.

I opened the window and let the little owl in. it fluttered to my antique French-style dresser and held out the letter that was clamped tightly in its beak.

My suspicions were confirmed when I saw that that the letter was in a Hogwarts envelope. Opening it, I read:

Dear Miss Granger,

I send you my condolences on your parents' passing. I understand that it must be hard for you.

I would like to notify you that now, seeing as you have no place to go, professor Dumbledore has offered you a place at Hogwarts castle to stay for the two-month period of the summer holidays. Please send us your reply at your earliest convenience.

Kind regards
deputy headmistress
Professor M. McGonagall

~Normal POV~

Being reminded of her parents made the back of Hermione's eyes to prick with tears. They had been hunted down and killed by some death eaters a few days before the final battle. But she blinked the tears back. Now was not the time for waterworks. Her parents would want her to be strong.

When she re-read the letter, she actually took note of what the second part said. She could actually spend the summer at Hogwarts Castle, instead of living in this cheap, disgusting hotel room! Just think of all the library books to read! The jumped around with glee.

Hermione quickly wrote her reply, saying that she would be honoured, and that she would come as quickly as she could. Tying the note to the owl's leg, she watched it take off, flying off into the sky until it became but a speck in the distance…and then nothing at all.

She ran around the single room, picking up all of her things, cleaning up her piles of books, and shrinking everything into her pockets and apparating away.

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Constructive criticism. No Flames. Please remember that this is my first fanfic, but help me make it better. Give me a chance. This chappie has been beta'ed, but the story hasn't really started yet. Will in later chappies though…

Quote of the chappie:

"I don't suffer from insanity – I enjoy every minute of it!" ;P