Hermione Granger had just found out she was a witch.
She stood alone on Platform 9 ¾ (having left her parents on the other side of the barrier) and wondered why she had never figured it out before. Obviously she wasn't half as bright as everyone had always told her if she couldn't even decipher such a simple fact.
Hermione had always been something of a precocious terror (or so her parents liked to tell her when she corrected their grammar), but had simply chalked it up to the fact that she was a few years ahead of others her age, mentally at least. She also possessed an unshakeable logic in most things and had therefore come up with various acceptable reasons for the strange things that seemed to happen around her.
When the hair of her next door neighbour had turned a vibrant green after he had made fun of her own bushy locks, she had thought it the physical manifestation of karma and dismissed any involvement on her own part, but she now realised that her 8 year old self had been so hurt by his words that she had subconsciously lashed out and wished that he had to suffer the taunts of others just as she had. A few plates whizzing around the room and smashing when she had a tantrum at the age of 5 (over not being able to read a particular book her parents had deemed too 'old' for her) had been ignored in a similar fashion; however Hermione was starting to realise that all these things had foreshadowed the news that had been delivered by a kindly old man only days ago.
Dumbledore, she thought his name had been. He had been an odd sort of fellow, dressed in long robes and sporting a slightly ridiculous beard, but the twinkle in his eyes had eased her nerves somewhat. She almost laughed aloud as she recalled the shocked faces of her parents when they had learned of their daughter's powers, especially her mother who had in fact looked rather faint at the idea of such a thing as magic existing.
Breaking free from her inner musings, she looked around at the horde of children and parents currently occupying the platform around her. As intelligent as she was, she couldn't help but be slightly terrified at the thought of being away from her parents for so long, especially in a school where she knew no one and nothing about how to act or what to do. Making friends had never come easily to her and she could only hope that things would be better with other people like her. However, before that could happen she needed to figure out where on earth she was meant to be. Feeling lost had never been one of Hermione's strong suits so she quickly chose a respectable looking adult at random to ask about exactly that.
The small girl walked up to an older lady with flaming red hair who was currently trying to corral a large group of equally red headed children.
"Excuse me." She said quietly, tugging on the sleeve of the woman she could only imagine must also be a witch gently.
The woman looked down at her with a motherly expression on her face, sensing the girl's distress.
"What is it dear? Are you new, are you?"
Hermione only nodded, starting to feel more than a little bit overwhelmed as she took in all the people rushing around and shouting to one another.
"Oh that's alright love, you'll get used to the commotion. My name is Molly Weasley and this unruly lot are my wonderful children." Mrs Weasley said, smiling and ruffling the hair of one of the boys closest to her. The boy, who she deemed to be a few years older than she just went along with it all, a long suffering smile on his face at his mother's attentions.
"My name's Fred." He said grinning at her and pulling another brother, identical to him, forward. "And this here's George."
"I'm – I'm Hermione. I only just found out I was a witch and I really have no idea what it is that I'm meant to be doing."
"Oh that's alright, me'n George will help you out right Georgie?"
The other, quieter twin grinned at her and grabbed her hand.
"Yeah Mum, don't worry about this one we've got it."
Molly just shook her head, smiling as she watched her boys drag the poor girl off toward the train. Well, she supposed, at least she'd be taken care of, though she knew Hermione had no idea what she was in for with those two.
With a weary sigh she went back to shooing the rest of her brood toward the Hogwarts Express, making sure that they had everything they could possibly need.
"I'll see you at the end of term!" She called, sniffing slightly as she waved them off.
On board the train, the twins were still dragging Hermione along, one holding each hand. She wasn't sure how she felt about being manhandled in such a way but at least she wasn't alone. They went from compartment to compartment, finally stopping at one that already housed another boy their age who seemed to be asleep.
"Lee!" The boys said in unison, startling the dark haired boy from his slumber.
"Look!" Exclaimed the one she thought might be Fred.
"We brought you a present!" Finished the other, the one she was certain was George. His tone of voice was lower, calmer and his hair a minute fraction darker. She was determined not to get them mixed up and she'd never failed at solving a puzzle yet.
"Well, well, well, how'd you know I was looking for a pretty girl?" Lee replied, winking at her.
She flushed, unsure of herself. At least they all seemed friendly, she supposed.
"This is Hermione – "
"And we promised Mum we'd look after her – "
"Plus we know a few people on this train who wouldn't be so nice to a muggleborn so we've decided to keep an eye on her." Finished Fred, a more serious look in his eyes.
"What's a muggleborn?" She piped up, curious at the phrase she'd never before heard.
"You are." All three boys chorused together.
"Obviously – "
"What a silly question."
She rolled her eyes, realising she would have to get used to this twin speak of theirs. She could tell already that these boys were people she wanted as friends, despite the fact that they were more jokers than studious bookworms such as herself. Maybe they would balance each other out.
"Seriously Fred." She said, looking at the last boy who'd spoken and deciding to go with her instincts about which twin he was, not noticing his eyes widening slightly as she chose correctly. "What does that word mean?"
He cleared his throat, still looking at her in amazement.
"Well, a muggleborn is someone who was born to muggles."
"And a muggle is someone who has no magic." Finished George, who also looked at Hermione in awe. It must he been a lucky guess.
"There are some people – some purebloods, more specifically – that look down on people who were born into a world with no magic."
Hermione frowned.
"That's incredibly racist." She said in disgust.
"Race – what?" The two red heads said.
"Yeah, it is." Lee replied, shaking his head.
"In the muggle world, people get looked down on for the colour of their skin. It's like the whole muggleborn/halfblood/pureblood thing." He explained to the twins.
"That's just stupid."
"It's the same as what happens in the wizarding world. Not like they can choose who gives birth to them after all."
They sat down with Lee and proceeded to chat away as though they had all known each other for years, the conversation slipping into an easy rhythm as they got to know each other and told Hermione all about Hogwarts. Hermione sat back and enjoyed the ride, listening to the three friends talk and occasionally asking about things she didn't understand in their world such as 'quidditch'. 'Hogwarts: A History' only went so far after all and she'd never really understood sport even in the muggle world. She smiled to herself, hardly able to believe that she had made friends before even arriving at the school.
There was a soft knock on the door and a boy her own age poked his head in, nervously chewing on his lower lip.
"Has anyone seen a toad?" He asked shyly.
They all shook their heads and he sighed, about to shuffle away.
"Did you need some help looking?" She asked, and his face visibly brightened. She knew what it was like to be alone.
"Please."
They wandered around the train, asking everyone if they'd seen a toad, whose name turned out to be Trevor. As she made her way down the carriage she stumbled across two young boys who looked to be around her year, one with his wand at the ready as though he were about to cast a spell.
"Has anyone seen a toad?" She asked, smiling at them in what she hoped was a friendly manner.
"I already told Neville we haven't seen a ruddy toad." The red headed one said briefly, looking as though her mere presence irritated the crap out of him.
The smile on her face dropped. Maybe things weren't going to be different at all. The other boy shook his head to and shot her a small smile. She managed a weak, watery smile back at him before walking away, fighting tears.
"You didn't have to be so mean to her Ron." The dark haired boy said reproachfully.
Ron grunted and went back to furiously muttering a spell.
The other boy sighed and ate a chocolate frog, hoping the girl hadn't taken it to heart. From what he could tell from their brief acquaintance, Ron was slightly oblivious to other people's feelings.
Hermione wandered back to her compartment slowly, not wanting her new friends to see her in a state. She looked down at herself, dressed in unfamiliar robes and looking decidedly witchy. Peering out a window at the lush green hills and tranquil sky, she finally let herself feel excited for the year to come. No one would know her as the boring little bookworm, no one would make fun of her and maybe she would make some new friends, ones that were worth keeping.
"Right Firs' Years!" Came a gruff voice from the platform as the train came to a halt and students began streaming out the doors.
Fred and George scooped Hermione up in a hug as she went to leave and promised her they would find her later, telling her to think courageous thoughts and they'd be together soon enough. It didn't make much sense but at least she knew they cared. Lee gave her a cheeky wink and a wave that she returned in kind, turning before she could see a slight blush on his cheeks.
She made her way over to the voice, coming face to face with a large, rough looking man who had the look of the proverbial gentle giant. He looked down at the assembled first years and grinned, putting at least some of them at ease.
"I be Hagrid, th' Groundskeeper of Hogwarts and I'll be takin' yer there now. To th' boats!" He exclaimed, leading the way.
Approaching the enormous castle from the water was a surreal experience and Hermione could do little more than look on in awe. She had been assigned a boat with Neville and the two boys from before but after a quick smile to Neville she lost herself in the beauty all around her. The serene night helped calm her nerves and she felt her earlier excitement rising back to the forefront.
The new students assembled outside the great hall, a stern looking lady waiting for them there.
"Hello everybody. My name is Professor Mcgonagall and I am the Head of Gryffindor house. I would like you to make your way in an orderly fashion toward the front of the hall, in preparation for the Sorting Ceremony where your house for the remainder of your time here will be decided." She peered down at them all as she spoke as though sizing them up.
"I'm gonna be in Gryffindor." She heard the rude boy from earlier whisper. "Weasleys always are."
The quieter boy just smiled at his friend and she looked away, hoping she would be wherever the twins were. The nerves were working their way back in full force as she considered the prospect of being away from them and shuddered. Just think courageous thoughts, she told herself, squaring her shoulders.
Hermione watched as various first years underwent the test, confused at how a tatty old hat could decide their futures – not to mention the fact that it spoke. She knew it wouldn't be long before her name was called and sure enough, there it was. She made her way up to the dais, her palms slick with sweat as the hat was placed on her head.
'Ahh… A good mind you've got there girl.'
She flinched before realising it was the hat speaking to her. Into her mind no less - how very odd.
'You'd do well in Ravenclaw with those brains. Kind too, but Hufflepuff would be a waste. Slytherin on the other hand… I can see your ambition girl, practically taste it. I think you'd do very well there, though your blood might be a problem. Hmm, now which will it be, green or blue?'
She stilled, trying to be as courageous as possible.
'Oh I see. Your mind will be wasted there, but who am I to deny a lovely young lady such as yourself…'
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled and she looked down, grinning when she saw the twins at that very table.
Hermione practically skipped toward them and they clambered over the bench to engulf her in another hug. She sat between them, oblivious to the curious glances their group was receiving from the rest of the table, happy to be back with the boys who, in such a short time, had wormed their way into her life. She really could get used to this.
She focussed her attention back to the sorting that was still taking place in time to see Neville and the quiet boy, Harry it seemed was his name, also get sorted into Gryffindor. Unfortunately, so was that rude prat from earlier, though her face flushed as she heard his last name again and realised he must be related to Fred and George. In fact, the Head Boy looked suspiciously similar to the rest of them as well. She wondered just how many siblings they had.
"Oi did you see we have Potter?" Fred said to George gleefully, leaning round Hermione.
"Slytherin'll be fuming." George replied, snickering.
"Why?" She interrupted.
The boys looked down at her and sighed.
"Oh Hermione, you have such a lot to learn."
"He's only the Boy Who Lived."
She rolled her eyes, waiting for them to explain.
"There once was a despicable wizard – "
"Who we shan't name – "
"That decided he didn't much like anyone who wasn't a pureblood."
"So he killed them."
"– and he tried to killed Harry, used the killing curse and all, but he survived – "
"He was only a baby but he's been famous ever since, no one's ever survived it before."
At that the twins clapped her on the back and went off, presumably to say hello to everyone on the face of the earth (or at least, that's how it seemed). Everyone seemed to know them and to want to talk to them, at least for a moment. Especially girls, she noticed shrewdly. She followed the rest of the Gryffindor's as they rose and made their way through winding corridors and trick stairs to a painting featuring a large woman, who seemed to be trying to sing, that swung open at the right words.
An arm slung over her shoulders pulled her from her thoughts and she turned, seeing Lee and giving him a smile.
"What are you doing over here all alone?"
She shrugged.
"Those two are off doing who knows what and I haven't really met anyone else."
"Hermione?" Came a small voice from behind her. It was Neville, a sheepish smile on his face.
"What's up?" She said, noting that Lee's arm was still wrapped around her as they sat down on one of the couches and she looked around her new common room.
"Well – you see – I don't really know many people either –"
She patted the seat next to her and smiled reassuringly. He sat down with a sigh of relief and the three proceeded to talk easily, excitement from the new students overflowing as they peppered an obliging Lee with questions.
From the opposite side of the room, two identical red headed boys were looking at the trio and frowning, unable to justify their dislike of the scene before them. They had only just met the girl, but both of them agreed that if any trio action was going on it would be with the two of them.
"Is his arm –"
"Yes Fred, I'm afraid to say that our lovely mate will be losing the use of that arm if he doesn't move it snappy."
Fred snorted, glad to see his brother agreed. They may have looked alike but their temperaments could be rather different. For instance it was usually Fred talking about chopping people's arms off and losing his temper so to see George saying that, even with such a calm look on his face, meant he knew his brother was more upset than it seemed. Strange, he wasn't sure why but it seemed they were both feeling rather protective.
"Should we –"
"- go over there? Probably not to be honest."
"I know we should be happy that she's making new friends –"
"- but we want her to ourselves."
They looked at each other, knowing this couldn't end well.