Disclaimer-I don't own Harry Potter.
Introduction
Once upon a time there was a girl called Hermione Granger. She lived in number two, Sherwood lane. She wasn't normal. She could do things no one else could.
Once upon a time there was a boy called Ron Weasley. He lived on the outskirts of Ottery St. Catterpole. He wasn't anything special. He was the same as every other Weasley.
She wasn't perfect.
Neither was he.
Hermione's POV-
A girl sat in a huge egg shaped chair using her mother's laptop. She sighed. No new e-mails. Of course, this wasn't strange. For Hermione Granger never got e-mails. She simply didn't. It was not as if she did not want to talk to anyone, to be frank, nobody wanted to talk to her! She shut down the computer and quietly slid off her chair. She took the book she was reading from the table beside her bed and smiled slightly. She loved books. They never hurt her or teased her. They were always there for her. Never betraying her secrets to anyone. Sometimes she found herself wishing she could just fall into one of her books and never come out again but then she would think of her parents, how sad they would be and the thought would seep out of her mind as quickly as it had come. Her parents, both dentists, were always very busy so Hermione was usually sent to a child minder but recently they had started to let her stay home by herself for short periods of time which Hermione was glad of. For one, she loved to be independent. Of course every now and again she would steal a cookie from the jar her mother kept hidden in one of the cupboards. They were sugar free but they still tasted alright.
"Hermione, honey, dinner's ready"' Her mum called from downstairs, disturbing her from her book 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'
"Down in a minute!" She yelled back, folding the corner of the page down. She started to make her way downstairs, the smell of roast chicken overwhelming her as she opened the kitchen door.
"Smells good." She commented, smiling gratefully at her mum.
"Tastes good too." Said her dad, Jonathon from across the table. He looked like he was just back from the office.
"How was work Dad?" Hermione asked, taking her plate to the table.
"Excellent," he replied. "How was your day, Sweetie?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at her Dad's nickname for her. "Fine." She replied dully as she thought back to what had happened that day.
"Those girls aren't giving you trouble again are they?" He asked sternly.
"No." Hermione lied, knowing her Dad wouldn't believe her. He always knew when something was wrong.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go in? I'm sure if I just talked to-" he started but Hermione interrupted him.
"No Dad, we've been through this. I just ignore them for another month and then I'll be off to that school in France we were talking about, remember?" Hermione urged. This happened about every two weeks so she was used to her Dad's argument and had devised a strategy. It had been working up until last week when it seemed, her Dad had come up with a new tactic.
"I still don't like you going away for so long, Sweetie. When you come back you'll be all grown up." Said her Dad, parent style.
"I can come over for Christmas and everything." She said trying to convince her Dad as much as herself that this was a good idea.
"Its France though honey, and plane tickets are expensive that time of year. " Reminded her mum, always the sensible one. Hermione's stomach turned over as she realized she might not even see her family at Christmas. Suddenly her roast chicken didn't look half as appetizing as it had before.
"I'll miss you." she whispered. And looking up she saw she wasn't the only one with tears in their eyes.
Ron's POV-
A boy sat perched a top of his brother Fred's new broomstick. He had borrowed it for the day seeing as Fred and George had gone to meet one of their friends. He flew past one of the fruit trees, grabbing an apple ad he went. He loved flying. He wasn't very good at it though. Rubbish, really. He sighed in content. Just being in the air was enough to make him happy. He didn't have a broom but he was saving up for one. He had six galleons, thirteen sickles and one knut. All he needed now was another seven galleons and he could buy a broom. It wasn't a very good one but it was a broom and that was enough. He reckoned by the end of first year he'd have enough, as long as he kept helping Mrs. Brown with her gardening and other odd jobs at Hogwarts that was. He was really nervous about going to Hogwarts, that is if he got the letter. George reckoned he was a Squib once. Maybe he was right? But maybe he would get his letter but as soon as he got to Hogwarts one of the professors would come hurrying down the front steps and tell him it was a mistake, or worse, that he was in Slytherin! He hoped he wouldn't be in it, from what Fred and George had told him all the Slytherins were gits. He didn't want to be a git. He started to head towards the ground as it was nearly lunch time and Ron hadn't eaten in an hour. His stomach rumbled loudly when it saw, or rather, smelled the delicious scent of Lamb Chops. He grinned at the sight of food and dived for the nearest plate. After he had filled his plate with lamb chops and potatoes he started shoveling it in his mouth.
"Ronald, manners!" His mum scolded.
"Yes, mum." Ron said when he finally swallowed the gigantic mouthful.
"Someone's hungry." Bill noted. Ron turned to look at his eldest brother.
"Ill ooh ack!" Ron exclaimed throwing little pieces of food in his sibling's face.
"Ronald Weasley! Manners!" His mum shrieked.
"I feel so loved." He said dryly, wiping the food off his face.
"Sorry." Ron mumbled going slightly red.
"S'okay," He answered grinning. "Now I know where your loyalties lie."
"Oi." Yelled Ron, but when he saw he was joking he grinned as well.
"How long till your going?" He asked eagerly.
"You want me gone already?" Asked Bill, feigning hurt.
"Three days." He said, seriously this time.
"That soon?' Ron whined, pouting.
"Knew you loved me." Bill said laughing at his brother's face.
"What's so-hey Bill, you're back!" Exclaimed George, coming through the back door with Fred.
"See! It didn't take him long to notice I was there, did it Ron?" Bill teased. Ron just stuck his tongue out.
Hermione's POV-
"MUM! Look at this!" Hermione screamed as she opened her letter.
"Very funny honey. Now finish your breakfast and you can go down to the village." Her mother chided after looking at her letter.
"But Mum, it's true! This place, Hogwarts is real. When have I ever lied to you?" Hermione cried hysterically.
"Don't be silly dear. I'm sure it's just somebody playing a joke." Said her Mum, not really paying attention anymore. Hermione frowned. She hadn't thought of that. She flopped down on the sofa, discouraged.
"Anyway, Alexandra sounds far nicer than this Hogwash place." Continued her mother.
"It's Hogwarts Mom, and I thought you said it didn't exist." Hermione said. Her Mom pursed her lips.
"Your father will be home late this evening." Her Mom informed her. Hermione nodded in acknowledgment. "He's meeting a friend in Manchester, Mr Hamsher, you've met him before." Her mother pressed on.
"The one with the face like a hamster?" Hermione questioned, her own face scrunched up.
"I don't think Mr Hamsher would like to hear you say that about him," her mother frowned. "Even if he does look a bit like a hamster." She added as an afterthought. Hermione grinned. All thoughts of the mysterious Hogwarts vanished from her mind.
Ron's POV-
"MOM! DAD!' GUESS WHAT? I GOT IN! I'M GOING TO HOGWARTS!" Ron shouted, grinning.
"Well done Ron," his Mom praised, hugging him. "We're so proud!" Ron beamed.
"I always knew you'd get in." Arthur, his Dad, responded, patting him approvingly on the back. Addressing his wife, he mentioned, "I suppose this means a trip to Diagon Alley."
"I suppose it does." She agreed, frowning, all traces of happiness at Ron's acceptance demolished. Ron's smile turned into a frown and he sighed. He never got much attention and when he did it wasn't for long.