A/N: Wahoo! My very first author's note for this story. -Cheers Wildly- The idea for this story was rammed into my mind who knows when and has been floating around in there ever since. Hope you all have as much fun reading it as I have had while planning and writing it.

Disclaimer - Anything you recognize doesn't belong to me, otherwise you wouldn't recognize it then would you. Also I would like to point out the fact that I have a terrible memory therefore if you see something that is very similar to another fic. that you've read, it is possible that I've read the story that had whatever it is that you've seen and had it stick in my mind even after I've forgotten that actual story. If that's the case I beg forgiveness as I'm only human, and a forgetful one at that, just let me know! Ok now that all that is done with, ON WITH THE STORY!

~ Chapter 1 ~

Hermione Granger was annoyed. She was also tired and irate. Now as anyone who knows Hermione knows, an annoyed Granger is a dangerous Granger. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, Krissy Granger didn't know this momentous fact, otherwise she might have rethought her plans for her older cousin and not decided to try and drive her out of her mind in an hopeful attempt to make her mom see that she was too old to have a babysitter. Alas this was not to be.

"Krissy Lorene Granger give me back my book this instant!"

Hermione was going to kill her cousin when she caught her, she had graciously agreed to watch Krissy for the week so that her Aunt could go on a well deserved spa retreat, had thought at the time of her agreement that it would be no problem, after all the last time she had seen Krissy she had been a perfect angel and they had gotten along splendidly.

"No problem my magical ass, no wonder Aunt Sophie sounded so grateful when I agreed, I can't believe that I'm doing this for free. And now the little brat has stolen my book, it's the last straw I swear to Merlin." Hermione's inner rant was interrupted as the book in question hurled past her head accompanied by childish laughter, "Gods that child must be part demon or something!"

Hermione knelt down and carefully scooped up the books, sighing angrily as the front cover fell off and slipped between her fingers. "Oh now you're going to get it you little snot, this book was a gift from a good friend of mine and now look what you've done!"

As she grabbed the fragile cover her fingers traced over the worn red leather and she thought back to the day she received the book.

~ Flashback ~

Seventh year had only just ended and she had gone to visit her parents in Australia to take a vacation from the ever stressful Wizarding world, first with the war and then with the celebrations and mourning that followed it. After a month or two she was expected to return to Hogwarts where she had been accepted as an apprentice of Arithmancy under Professor Vector. Though she was quite excited about the job, along with the private research lab that came with it, courtesy of Professor McGonagall, she was less excited by the fame that had been shoved upon her at Voldemort's demise, not to the extent of Harry, or even Ron, but still. It seemed like she couldn't get any time to herself these days, so a long stay in the Muggle world had seemed the perfect solution.

After spending the first week just laying around the house in her pajamas and eating copious amounts of ice cream she was delighted to receive a letter from her muggle penpal in America.

Her mother had suggested the program during the summer after third year and told her that it would be a fun way to learn about other cultures. Always willing to learn something and as a way to feel normal after the overwhelming events of the school year she had quickly filled out the questionnaire and waited eagerly for the network to match her up with someone. When the address finally arrived she had wasted no time in writing up a long letter and mailing it off. Despite the fact that, at first, the other girl, Sarah, had slightly reminded Hermione of Lavender Brown she had been pleased to discover that the other girl was deeper then she appeared and soon enough letters were being exchanged with regularity, even during the school year, albeit going through her parents first.

So when the small package arrived Hermione was understandably eager to see what it was. She quickly tore through the paper and couldn't help but grin in delight when the small leather book fell into her hands. Restraining the urge to immediately begin reading it she swiftly opened the letter that came with it.

Dear Hermione,

I hope that this letter finds you well and that school hasn't been to hard on you, (as if that could ever happen with your brains.) I'm glad to hear that the "Big Thing" that has been stressing you out lately is finally over, and maybe now you'll tell me what it was? And knowing you, you're probably freaking out about that big graduation test thingy that you were telling me about, stop it, you did great.

As for this Ron guy I hope that by now you've taken my advice and just grabbed him and kissed him silly, or snogged as you Brits call it, and that you're not still on about that. Unless of course you've finally listened to what I said in the first place and gotten over him already, in which case you /have/ to tell me who the lucky guy in your life is now! Perhaps Harry, he always sounded cute, or maybe even that Malfoy fellow you're always on about.

As for me, well… you wouldn't believe me if I told you. It's funny to be the one to say that for once. Suffice it to say that I'm not the same person I was when I wrote you last, I guess you could say that I've grown up and Lord was it a bumpy ride. Looking back at myself I honestly don't see how you put up with me all these years, I mean my family has but they're sort you required to you know, and it's really made me realize how important friendship really is.

In case you're wondering, the family's great, we've grown so much closer since my "realization" that you probably wouldn't recognize us, though maybe it's just me that's changed. Anyway you've obviously seen the present that I sent you and while it's not exactly what you would probably normally pick out to read I think you'll like it, it's a very magical book, almost childish I suppose. If you've managed to read this letter before the book then I'm very proud of you! You could say that that book is what changed my life, so I really do hope you enjoy it, just… don't take it too seriously, it's only fiction after all.

All my love,

Sarah.

Hermione frowned slightly as she reread the last line, "What an odd thing to say, it's almost as if she's warning me about the book, huh."

Putting aside the letter to look back over later, Hermione picked the book back up and turned it over in her hands, examine it closely. It was a slim volume, only about an inch thick, and the red leather cover was worn and creased with use.

"Well, I can never be too careful I suppose." Fighting back how silly she felt Hermione pulled her wand from her pocket and cast a series of spells to examine the book and make sure it was safe and that there wasn't anything wrong with it. When her search turned up nothing interesting Hermione only grinned and berated herself for being overly paranoid, "I really need to stop hanging out around Moody, his paranoia is starting to get to me."

The book had no title so she opened it and started to skim through it. "Huh, this looks like it's a cross between a novel and a play, looks interesting though, I can at least give it a try, Sarah wouldn't have given it to me if she had thought that I wouldn't like it."

Hermione had set the book down long enough to fix herself a nice cup of tea and then settled down for a relaxing night with her new book.

Since then Hermione had read the book several times, it just seemed to stick with her, despite it's somewhat childish story and overly romantic plot. " At least it's has somewhat of an original story and the characters are very imaginative, and I have to admit the Goblin King sounds kinda hot."

So when her Aunt had called and asked that she watch Krissy for the week, Hermione had happily agreed and had of course taken the book with her, thinking that Krissy might enjoy the story as well. "After all, what nine year old doesn't like a magical romance"

~ End Flashback ~

"Krissy you best stop that right this instant or I'll do something bad I swear!" Hermione shouted as she marched up the steps and tried to corner her obnoxious cousin, wishing that she could use her magic now more then ever, not even Ron had ever made her this angry before. "I mean it young lady!"

"Blah, blah, blah, what are you going to do her-mi-o-ne, wish me away to the nasty goblins, oh no, save me, save me!" As the words rang down from somewhere above her Hermione found herself wishing that she had never read Krissy the damn book in the first place, because then this never would have happened.

"You better be scared, Goblins are right nasty little buggers alright, maybe I'll ask them to lock you away in one of their vaults!" Hermione took grim satisfaction in that her words rang true, despite the fact that none of the goblins she knew would want to take her cousin, much less lock her up in their precious vaults.

"Whatever you poser, you're just mad because I've got a boyfriend and you're so ugly that even that freckled freak doesn't want you!" At those words Hermione lost her temper completely, even Voldemort himself would have cowered before her to see her in such a rage. Krissy however was unaffected.

"That's it! I've tried everything but you're just too much! You say that you're not afraid of Goblins well we'll see then won't we!" Hermione had no idea what had come over her, after all it's not as if it was actually going to work and more then likely was only going to cause Krissy to only mock her to a greater degree, but it was much too late to stop now.

"I wish the Goblins would come and take you away, right now!" As soon as the words left her mouth the power went out with a bang leaving Hermione stranded in the dark. Skittering noises were heard above her and she called out her cousin's name in alarm. Hearing no reply she tried again, quickly rising panic making her voice come out as a high pitched squeak. "Krissy! Answer me!"

Still receiving no reply other then more scampering noises Hermione fought down her panic and lit her wand before cautiously climbing up the stairs. Ahead of her in the hallway she could see the pull down ladder leading up into the attic, obviously the place the Krissy had taken refuge in. Worried about her cousin, despite her bratty ways Hermione cautiously ascended the stairs, putting up her wand so that Krissy didn't see it.

Lucky for her, the attic had a large bay window on the far wall and the light from the mostly full moon fully illuminated the closed in area. Climbing to her feet Hermione carefully looked around the room, still calling out for Krissy. She was only answered by more of the skittering noises, louder now, and what almost sounded like high pitched giggling. Spooked but not afraid Hermione turned around as she saw a quick movement out of the corner of her eye but saw nothing but stacks and stacks of boxes against the wall opposite the window.

"Oh Krissy, where are you?" Muttering softly to herself Hermione begin to take a step forward intending to search behind the boxes for her erstwhile cousin when she felt a slight breeze light her hair. Slowly straightening her back, she fingered her wand before freezing at the unexpected sound of a deep masculine chuckle.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?"