Life Studies, By Shopgirl42
Chapter 1- Away from Home
Hermione looked at Ron and Harry, tears filling her eyes.
"It's only for three years; we can keep in touch that long," she said, her voice wavering. Snuffling silently, her best friends nodded. Feeling like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she turned first to Harry. "You're going to be a brilliant Auror someday, Harry. Even if you do have to study and take secret tests and go into training. You're the boy who lived, and no one can ever take that away from you." Grinning through his tears, Harry nodded again, and embraced his friend. Turning away then, Hermione faced Ron. "I… I mean I can't… I want to say…." Fumbling over her words, she looked into his eyes.
"I know, Hermione, I know," he said, and hugged her tightly.
"Why does this feel like the end, the end of our adventures?" Harry stated, frustrated with the situation. "We'll all be together again, I'm sure of it." The three smiled, and tried to laugh off their sadness.
"Miss Granger, it's time," called a soft voice from the platform.
"All right," Hermione answered, turning one last time toward her friends. "Owl as much as you can, you two, I know it will be difficult, but I want to know what goes on around here." Her friends nodded. She held her bag a little tighter, and took a brave step toward the train.
"We won't forget," Ron called, as she boarded. Hermione smiled. Was this the end, or just the beginning?
*-*-*
Two familiar faces greeted Hermione as she found a seat on the train. Ron's older brothers, the identical twins Fred and George, were waiting to accompany her for part of her journey.
"There's the little vagrant," one of them- Fred, she thought- commented, as she took a seat across from them. As always, the two were grinning from ear to ear. Hermione couldn't help but grin back.
"This is my first time traveling so far," she answered, fingering a small, full color brochure. Gently taking it from her hand, a twin (George?) looked at the paper, filled with pictures of smiling students and large buildings.
"Graduate school in America. Why not stay right here at home, keep our brother and Harry company?" they asked, in a way that could be construed as teasing.
"Because this school in Washington has offered me a full scholarship if I do graduate studies there. My parents were thrilled! And besides, Harry will have a full time job training and studying to be an Auror, and Ron is working in the Strategy department at the Ministry of Magic. They won't have the time to have great adventures with me." The twins nodded, and Fred grinned.
"I think our lil bro equates the Ministry's strategy against Vold- You Know Who with a well played game of wizard's chess. He's become brilliant at it." Hermione smiled, thinking of Ron's determination when it came to a challenge. "As for us," Fred continued, "we will see you get on the Ferry alright, and then it's off to London for our business permit." The twins grinned at each other, and then at Hermione. They had been planning this joke shop since at least their fourth year at Hogwarts.
The hour train ride flew by as the twins entertained Hermione. She was reluctant to leave her friends when she arrived at the entrance to the Ferry that would whisk her away to a new country and the next chapter of her life. America seemed so far away.
"Well kid, knock 'em dead," George told her, wrapping her in a huge hug. Fred hugged her next. "Yeah, show 'em how smart we make 'em over here." Grinning, with mixed emotions, Hermione waved to the Weasley twins, and boarded the Ferry.
*-*-*
New York was tall, she decided, as she arrived in New York Harbor. The ship that had carried her from England was now arriving in port, and skyscrapers did just what they were supposed to; reached up as high as they could, toward the sky. Hermione took a breath. If this wasn't magic, she didn't know what was.
After a long process that involved showing her passport to everyone three times, and being searched for illegal weapons and substances, she was allowed to continue on her journey. Swallowing a lump of fear that had become lodged in her throat, she looked for a small banner that would announce the customs booth that she was required to find. Finally she saw it, a small street vendor to the right of the customs office, with a banner proclaiming the sale of "Ice Cold Bagels." The line in front of the cart was conveniently nonexistent, and Hermione lugged her one small bag with her toward the cart. Luckily, her luggage would be arriving at American University later on, so she didn't currently have to worry about it.
"Um, I'd like to place an order," she said, to the vendor at the bagel cart.
"Would you like ketchup or mustard?" the vendor asked.
"I really fancy some relish, if you don't mind," Hermione answered, just as Dumbledore had instructed her to do.
"Right away, miss," the vendor replied. He handed her a piece of parchment, and beckoned to the back of the cart, behind a red and white striped umbrella. Stepping around the cart, and watching to make sure that no one on the sidewalks around her was paying attention, she slipped behind the umbrella, and in so doing walked right into the bustling room of a building. A banner that read 'American Wizarding Customs' was strung across the ceiling, and the familiar atmosphere of flying owls and paper airplane memos greeted her eyes. Feeling better about the journey, she walked toward a desk labeled 'Immigration.' Another five passport views later, she had been signed in and directed toward a bus that was leaving for American University. Still gripping the handle of her bag as if her life depended on it, Hermione boarded the bus and waited to arrive at her new, albeit temporary home.
*-*-*
American University was nothing like Hogwarts. Although it was a baby in terms of age compared with the ancient wizarding school, the American students seemed to think that it was very historical. Hermione reported in to the admissions office, and was then directed to an orientation for new students, that was happening in the student union. By following a large stream of students, she finally found the right place, a huge room decorated with 'Welcome Home Students' banners plastering every spare inch.
An hour later, Hermione had been welcomed by the Dean of the University, and then shuffled off to find a room assignment. She headed toward the dorm building, but was stopped by a tall woman with long hair pulled into a bun, who put a hand on her shoulder.
"This way, dear," she said, directing Hermione toward a corridor in the back of the room. Several other students were also pulled from the crowd, and they all waited for further direction from the professor. She finally rounded up everyone she wanted to, and then led them all through the corridor and down a flight of stairs. Eventually they entered a small room in what looked to be the basement of the building. The tall woman closed and locked the door behind them.
"Now," she said, "we can talk openly without the chance of any muggles overhearing." Hermione grinned. So these were all witches and wizards! A wave of murmurs passed over the group. "You are attending the graduate school here at American University," the woman stated. "From this point on, all magic will be strictly forbidden. You are here to learn, and magic only encourages laziness." The woman spoke in a sharp tone, looking around at the students with an equally sharp gaze. "That being said, we hope you will enjoy your time at American, and feel free to ask any of our staff for assistance at any time. I'd like to introduce you to the wizards here at AU. I," she continued, bringing a hand to her chest, "am Professor Kaler. I am the head of the graduate program and new wizard admissions." A man with dark but graying hair was now visible behind a podium in front of the room. "This is Professor Day, and this," she gestured to a woman now visible behind Professor Day, "is Professor Marsh." The two professors bowed to the group.
"You will notice," Kaler continued, "that you've been placed in a dorm room on the 5th floor. You will all be staying on the same floor, and will therefore be rooming with other wizards. You are not, however, permitted to perform magic at any time." Several students whispered at this declaration. "I hope to see you all bright and early Monday morning," Professor Kaler ended, and everyone then was dismissed to find the dorm rooms. Hermione sighed. This was going to be a long 3 years.