Disclaimer- The credit belongs to Rowling and Carroll, not I.
Author Note- This is in response to the WIKTT challenge, "Hermione in Wonderland." With respect I wanted to keep the storyline similar to that of the actual "Alice in Wonderland" but with changes that suited Hermione's personality.
PROLOGUE: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
"Hermione!" It never ceased to amaze her how well Ron could twist her name into a high-pitched whine. Pince gave them a dubious look from across the room. "Is this really necessary?"
"Ron, if you aren't prepared to get serious about your future, why did you ask me to help you study in the first place?" She hissed.
"Come to think of it, I can't really remember now." He lowered his head onto the library table, amid the messy assortment of parchment, books, and what looked to be day-old chocolate frog sandwiched between a Charms essay and doodles from History of Magic. Hermione's mouth curled in disgust. Honestly. She looked at the clock; they had only been "studying" for an hour. The clock seemed to tick more loudly than normal and was slowly driving her mad. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, willing her mind into clarity. Completely absorbed in her thoughts, she started at the loud sound of some books falling to the floor.
"I'm late!" She heard someone squeak. She looked up to see Neville running frantically about the library, zigzagging back to the entrance. She stood up.
"Late for what?"
"I'm late! I'm late! Move." He muttered indignantly. Hermione noted the odd manner in which he twitched his nose, as he shoved past her. She looked back at Ron's still form. Of all the times he chooses to fall a sleep, bugger it.
"Wait, Neville, maybe I can help." She followed after him. He was moving awfully fast.
"No time, I'm late!" Something white protruded from the back of his robes. How queer. Hermione tailed after him. Neville's movements through the corridors were highly erratic, and if Hermione didn't know any better, completely random. She nearly missed him slip into Myrtle's bathroom. What in Merlin's name was he doing in there? She slowed her pace and crept in. She was just in time to glimpse Neville jumping into an exposed hole next to one of the sinks. It wasn't the fact that Neville had somehow penetrated the Chamber of Secrets that struck her first, but the utterly, strange transformation that had taken over him. Ridiculous looking white rabbit ears had sprouted from his head, and his hands had morphed into large white paws. Albeit, opposable thumbs never made the difference in his Potions abilities, as he was prone to dropping things as if he never had them to begin with. She thought about running back and getting Harry and Ron. Neville turning into a rabbit and opening the Chamber of Secrets wasn't something they should miss. She smiled smugly then. It was true, she'd always felt a little disappointed not to have been part of that adventure. After all, the scant page on the Chamber of Secrets in Hogwarts a History did little to quell her curiosity. What is better than a first-hand account? No, this was to be her adventure. She knew the boys would be jealous, when she told them about it. Besides, it was only Neville down there, no basilisks to scare her now. With one last look around the bathroom for the questionably absent Myrtle, she would have made herself heard by now; Hermione went down the "proverbial rabbit hole."
A/N- Tis only the prologue. I wanted to have it in before the challenge is closed. I'm unbetaed so please be patient. The next chapter soon.