DISCLAIMER: All characters within this story are not mine. I am using them without permission.

A/N: Well, here it goes, the first chapter in my Harry Potter fanfic. I could explain the details to you, but I figure that anything I could explain here should be obvious enough while reading. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Hermione Granger and The Solemn Vow

Hermione Granger is a rather bright girl if she dares say so herself. She was quite excited to be attending her new school, where she will be surrounded by others just like her. She can finally get away from those rude children that resent her brilliance. With the exciting things that she will be learning in her new school, there was no doubt in her mind that even the dullest of her new classmates will be enraptured by their studies.

Hermione did worry though. Most of the students she will be joining have known about these subjects for their entire lives. They've had plenty of time to study so much material that she would never be able to catch up. Hermione isn't one to give up though, she will learn everything there is to learn and become the most knowledgable witch in the world!

As she made her way down the train, she peeked into each compartment, but most of the faces she sees were either unfriendly or just suggested that she finds some other first years. She finally came upon a compartment with just one person in it. A girl about her age was reading a book titled, "A Muggleborn's guide to Hogwarts". A book that despite her extensive search of Flourish and Blots she was unaware of. She was aware of similar sounding titles, and had read several thoroughly, but none detailed Hogwarts from a muggleborn's perspective. Her only source on the subject was her trusty "Hogwarts, a History."

After entering the compartment she took a good look at the girl. Her most notable feature at first glance was the long red hair pulled back in a ponytail with short bangs covering her forehead. The girl glanced up at her with intense green eyes. Hermione was prepared for the girl to tell her to get lost, but instead the girls eyes just went back to the book. She ignored Hermione completely. Hermione has had to put up with a lot in dealing with kids her age, but simply being ignored is not something she's used to.

Unsure whether to be insulted at being ignored, or thankful that she wasn't outright hostile, she did the only thing she could in this situation, she talked.

"Hello there, I'm Hermione. I'd guess based on that book that you're reading, that you're a muggleborn too? We'll have to put in a lot of work to catch up with everyone else, don't you think? I didn't see that book when I was shopping in Diagon Alley, do you think they were out of stock when I went or did you get that someplace else?"

She was prepared to continue a seemingly endless string of questions before she noticed that the girl was looking at her again with an unreadable expression. Unreadable to Hermione anyways, she was never one for understanding other people. That's why she read so many books, words are so much easier to deal with than trying to decipher the intricacies of social interaction. Having already halted her line of questioning, she waited with hope that the girl would respond, and she did.

"Hi."

Then the girl of few words went back to reading her book. Hermione, unable to decide if the girl was simply being rude or just didn't talk much, decided that since talking didn't work, she'd just have to do what she does best, read. So, she sat down on the other side of the compartment and started rereading her favorite book.

After several minutes of intense reading Hermione heard the other girl sigh, causing her to look up from the book.

"Sorry."

This thoroughly confused Hermione, she couldn't remember the last time anyone apologized to her. The other kids her age certainly wouldn't have, and as adults are always right, they have nothing to apologize for.

"What?"

The redhead sighed again, "Sorry for ignoring you like that. I really should give you a chance before I decide I don't like you."

Hermione was a little put off by the insinuation that she was going to be disliked in the future, but was happy enough at the apology to forgive her.

"No worries, I'm not quite myself today either, it's so exciting. I could barely believe it when I learned I was a witch. The whole thing seems so farfetched, but here I am on my way to learn about magic."

The redhead nodded, "Yes, Magic is rather interesting, though I have been wondering how seven years at a school learning about magic is supposed to prepare us for our futures."

Hermione hesitated in responding as she was caught off-guard by tho odd statement, but she had her response ready quickly, "If we are going to be witches, knowledge of a great range of magic is only sensible."

Once again the redhead nodded, "Of course, but what about skills needed for future careers? I'm sure that a large repertoire of spells will be useful for those frequently in battles, or those few who spend their lives researching and pushing the known boundaries of magic. But I doubt most witches and wizards have the sorts of professions that require such a knowledge. There were plenty of shopkeepers in Diagon Alley who I'm sure needed naught but a few simple spells in their places of business and homes. When managing finances, a thorough grounding in mathematics is necessary, but from my observations most wizards just give all their money to the goblins and hope for the best." She shook her head as if to clear it, "Sorry that's a bit of a tangent, the point I'm making is that there are many important subjects that we won't be taught at Hogwarts, it is really is a shame. I doubt even Dumbledore himself is capable of solvin simple Calculus problems, though it is possible."

Hermione butted in, "But Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of the age! He's a brilliant researcher, having made several monumental achievements in wizarding knowledge! He must be well versed in muggle knowledge as well." She insisted.

The redhead giggled softly, "Perhaps you're right. Though I think you should remember that the Wizarding World is backwards in many ways."

Hermione was about to interject with some no-doubt valuable piece of information or perhaps a baseless assertion, but was interrupted as the door to the cabin was opened roughly by a pale faced boy flanked by two creatures that somewhat resembled young gorillas.

The boy glanced at the two occupants, "Either of you seen Harry Potter? I heard he's on the train." At their confused looks he turned away, "No? Fine." He shut the door and continued to the next compartment.

Hermione spoke up, "Any idea what his problem is?"

The redhead shrugged before giving a suggestion, "My reading suggests that Many rich pureblood wizards pay to send their children out to be raised by others until they can walk. This practice fell out of favor a long time ago in the muggle world, but I have seen research that suggests children that neglected infants develop chemical imbalances in the brain, leading to higher levels of stress and anxiety and a lack of empathy. I assume that being shipped off to some random person who is only taking care of you because they are payed to do it could trigger the same thing."

Hermione stared at the other girl for several seconds, thrown off, not only by the amount of reading that the girl must do in order to have relevant facts ready, but by the way she combined several obviously disparate sources of information. Hermione was suddenly very intimidated, regardless of the accuracy of the redhead's deduction. The idea had been thrown out casually, without the air of superiority that she herself would have used. It wasn't even an assertion, merely a suggestion. Something like that didn't seem like much of a big deal on the surface, but it triggered something within her that she had never felt before. She had never before met anyone her age that measured up to her intellectual capacity. In truth, she had met very few adults who had either, but she chose to ignore that fact as she did all offensive thoughts about adults. This girl however, not only met her intelligence, she exceeded it. Hermione wasn't one to give up though, she decided then and there, that she would become the most knowledgable witch at Hogwarts. She wouldn't let any redhead outdo her!

After making her internal declaration, Hermione quickly recovered, "I suppose that would explain it. Might I ask what your name is?"

The redheaded girl sighed as she seemed to do so often, "My name is Katie Durance, but from my limited contact so far, I am assuming that the faculty of Hogwarts will insist on calling me by my birth name, which will cause a great deal of grief and if I tell you it now, you will most likely believe that I am pulling some sort of prank on you, so I shall simply assure you that is not the case and refrain from telling you."

Hermione considered pushing the issue, but decided that she should probably not alienate the only other girl she had met who she could hold an intelligent conversation with. So instead she brought up some random piece of trivia which led to another and another until before they knew it they had almost arrived at Hogwarts.