Hermione Granger wasn't one of the popular girls when she was in Primary school. She was always top of the class and had the nicest clothes but she could also make things disappear, reappear and then change colour without even thinking about it. She was always an outsider, but she didn't mind that. She didn't need anything other than her books to make her happy, but she was always curious as to what was going on with her. Her parents didn't look worried however, they looked as if this was the inevitable as if this happened with every child. They made her feel special, they made her feel as if she was the most important girl in the world. She was well raised, and loved, and what more could a girl wish for.

On a chilly July evening, Hermione was playing Scrabble with her father when the doorbell rang. There was a tall man with a long beard there when she answered the door.

"Mom, Dad there is an odd man at the door looking to talk to me. What the hell should I do?" She called to her parents, she sounded scared, what normal ten-year-old wouldn't?

"Don't let him stand there in the cold, Hermione. Let him in." Her father told her.

Her parent's looked neither worried nor scared as she allowed the man, who looked about one hundred into her home.

"Hermione my name is Albus Dumbledore and I am here to tell you that you're a witch." The old man told her, and after one conversation with the old wizard, her life suddenly fell into place.

"Hermione, Hermione, wake up. You're gonna be late." Ron Weasley whispered into my ear. He and Harry weren't pleased because it was our last year at Hogwarts and no one knew what was happening. They had been given absolutely no information on what was going to happen, not that I minded, it gave a new challenge. There was nothing at this point that we couldn't do. It had been a hard time for everyone, the Ministry made sure that there were enough mind healers around that whoever needed to go to one, there was one at hand for them, especially Ron, Harry and herself. There was a week before we returned to Hogwarts, and I've spent the whole time in the Burrow, and my parents needed me home, plus, they didn't really understand why I did what I did, and I had tried to explain to them, but they almost didn't want to hear it, as if they already knew why I'd done it.

"Ronald. It won't take me that long to get sorted as I pack the day before! Unlike some people!" I told my boyfriend accusingly. I wasn't sure if I really loved Ron or if I was just with him because everyone expected me to. I'm coming of age this September and I have heard rumours that Ron is going to propose to me on my seventeenth birthday. If I'm honest I'm not sure if I want to be a Weasley, Ron's family is fond of having a lot of children and I don't know if I want any. Fleur's already pregnant and she and Bill have only been married a couple of months so that should tell you how good breeders they are. Honestly, I don't even know if I can trust the bloke, which in itself sounds horrible to admit but the things I've heard horrible things about Ron and Pansy Parkinson. Ginny said that Lavender said that Panama, said that Millicent Bullstrode, saw Pansy and Ron snogging.

Even the idea of this really angered me, because I've wanted to extend an olive branch for so long. In our fifth year when we were all appointed prefects and I had tried to get along with Malfoy and Zabini. For that reason and that reason only! Of course, not that I liked Malfoy that year at all, never. For a week Malfoy hadn't called me 'mudblood' and I had started to think that he had changed. Ron and Harry didn't seem to think so and they went mental and asked where their friend had gone. As if it was crazy that Malfoy could put all of that aside. I really did see a different side of him, even if it was only for a week.

"Do you know if Ginny is ready?" I asked him after being in a daze for a minute or two.

"Yes 'Mione she's been ready for an hour," Ron replied sharply. He didn't like it when I called him Ronald. I did it to get him all riled up. It made him snappy and put him in a bad mood. Apparently when I do this, because we're dating and it made it seem (to him) that didn't want to be with him in that way. Which in all fairness I'm not sure that I do!

"I'll get her to come up" he added and kissed me on the cheek.

"Thank you," was all that I managed to say to him before he left the room. The door closed with a loud bang and I could hear Mrs Weasley's faint yells. Again I sniggered to myself, thinking about how Ginny was gonna wind him up over that one. I really didn't understand why Ron was so protective of his little sister; after all she is dating the-boy-who-lived. He isn't going to let anything happen to her. He loves her and I amcertain she loves him too, however, if a certain Italian Slytherin had his way, who knows what would happen.

I got dressed in my muggle clothes and went downstairs where I was greeted by Percy, Fred, George, Charlie and Bill. Harry was apparently up in his room along with Ron. With Harry and I spending so much time at the Burrow, Mrs Weasley had given us our own beds in Ron and Ginny's rooms. When I arrived in the kitchen I noticed the post had arrived. All of us seventh years last year didn't do our NEWTS so we were eighth years this year, and would have a slightly more lax set of rules. We're all of age, so we don't need permission for weekend visits to Hogsmeade, that kind of a thing, and because there isn't a whole year returning, we'll probably share a common room, and become advocates for inter-house unity. Which makes sense, because there are a lot of Slytherins returning, so they'd be extremely ostracised.

I grabbed the letters addressed to myself and Ginny and called up to her.

"Ginny, Hogwarts letters are here and we have to leave soon," I yelled. Just then one of the twins came around the corner calling at me

"'Mione, she's gone up to her room to make sure she has everything." The voice ended up being Fred's, and when there's a Fred there's always a George.

"Yeah 'Mione don't get all riled up, Ron's an idiot, but not that big of one. If Merlin forbid, the rumours are true, Fred and I give you full permission to use whatever means necessary to get back at him. We'll even do it for you want, seeing as you're the best sist- Ginny, hi didn't see you there." George said. Ginny didn't look pleased as we all knew what he was about to say.

"Nice save George. 'Mione lets go already! I wanna see what it's like in the muggle world. How they work without magic and all that." Ginny started blabbering and I knew if I didn't shut her up now I never would.

"Okay, okay I'm going. We'll take our Hogwarts letters with us shall we?" I asked.

"Yes, now let's go let's go." Ginny ushered in a tone that could go very Mrs. Weasley on a minute to spare before the floo closed, we jump right in and I yell out Granger Household. When we step out of my parent's fireplace, we dust ourselves off and hug my unsuspecting parents.

"Hermione, dear, go show your friend to her room. Then we have to talk to you." My father said in a serious tone. He looked as if he shouldn't be messed with.

"Course Dad. Come on Ginny, you're staying in my room!" I squeal in delight. "Mum and Dad said that you'd probably like a room of your own but I knew better. Let's go!" We run up to my room and I help Ginny unpack. When everything's sorted, we go back down to my parents

When Ginny and I arrive at the bottom of the staircase I hear hushed whispers and I think my parents are talking about what they're about to tell me. Ginny and I ended our conversation about Harry and Ron about halfway down so they couldn't have heard anything like that. Could they?

"Dad, you wanted to talk to me?" I ask. I think he can feel the nervousness from me. Then again, maybe not, he's not the best reader of body language.

"Hermione, your mother and I hated not being able to tell you this as a child, but pureblood law dictates that a child born in a wizarding family which has been banished from the wizarding world must think that he/she is a muggleborn. Even if they're a pureblood." my Dad explained slowly, "They can't be told until the summer closest to coming of age" He finished.

"So, you're telling me that all these years I've been teased, bullied, and tortured for my blood when actually I'm a pureblood? It was all a misunderstanding?" I asked my dad sceptically. Could you really blame me? I grew up thinking I was a freak when I should have had a childhood where I was able to explore my magic, explore that world. The torture from Bellatrix was completely unnecessary, and it was probably eating away at my parents. The brightest witch of her age, the Gryfinndor Princess, member of the Golden Trio, and I'm probably from a family with a darker heart and more of a penchant of dark magic than the Malfoys. I'm best friends with HARRY POTTER and his best friends' girlfriend for Merlin's sake. And my parents know that. How they've been so calm all these years is beyond me, but I'm so incredibly grateful that they were.

"Yes, Hermione. I'm telling you that you're a pureblood. And like all purebloods, there is a set of rules that you must abide by. You understand that now they know that you're a member of the sacred twenty-eight, you can't be seen walking around with whomever you feel fit. Every moment of your life is now going to be watched, and we've trained you for as much as we could without telling you of your true heritage. Now like most pureblood daughters, there is a marriage contract, but we're not going to hold you to it. But you must know that there will be a lot of young men looking to get you alone, but we trust that you are going to be able to tell who wants nothing but your dowry." He told me, and suddenly, the intake of information just got too much. I needed to sit down because I wasn't able to concentrate. My dad kept talking, but I wasn't processing any of it until he mentioned about family members.

"There are a few people you can trust, and while yes, Harry and Ron are two of those people, I'd stick with your cousin, he won't lead you wrong," my dad said.

"My cousin?" I asked. I was always of the impression that it was the three of us against the world, but now I suppose it is completely wrong.

"Yes dear, Theodore Nott, he's staying with a friend and wants to get to know you and Ginny for that matter. The two of you are invited to stay with them until Hogwarts starts" my Mum replied. It makes sense that Theodore was my cousin, he was always oddly protective of me, both before and during the war. I wonder if that means that I'm also a Nott…

"Mrs Granger," Ginny spoke so quietly it was almost as if she was afraid to speak. "Sorry for interrupting, I understand that this is a very personal moment between the three of you…." And then she trailed off

"Mum, where is it we're staying for the next two weeks?" I asked, knowing Ginny wouldn't be able to ask, that she'd just keep trailing off.

"Oh of course sweetie, Theo's in Malfoy Manor, I'm sure you know the place"