A house, its inhabitants far from ordinary, sits on a dark hill. It is more like a castle, really. Us humans can't see it; we don't even know it is there. The reason? The family that owns it is family of witches and wizards. In this house, in a tall tower, sat a boy and a crystal ball. "Crystal ball, crystal ball. From my class, show the most beautiful of all."
A gray mist appeared in the ball, and cleared. In the picture, there was a girl, reading on her bed. As if she sensed someone watching her, she lowered the book. Long, silky brown hair was spread around a very tan face. Large hazel eyes, framed by long, dark lashes stared straight at the boy. He took in a startled breath, and stared closer. Who is this gorgeous girl? Is she new? Deep in his mind, he recognized her, but not enough to place the person exactly. She stood up and stretched, showing nice curves and a proud posture. "Sonolourin" He cast a spell on the ball, so he could hear, as well as see. He heard a voice coming from within the ball, "One more day!" It was a voice the watcher could spend an eternity listening to. Another voice sounded, a grown-up's voice. "Dinner! Come down now… Hermione."
The mysterious figure let out a small scream and stuttered, "No! It-it c-can't be. Sh-She's t-to b-beaut-tiful! What happened to her over the summer?" A voice came from outside the room, on the stairs. "Is Master alright? Does Master need anything from lowly Vinoli?" His master called back through the door, "No, elf. Return to the kitchens. Do not disturb me again." After the house elf left, he scribbled a note on a piece of parchment and sent that, with his owl, out the window. Only after it disappeared, swallowed by the night, did he call it back. But it was too far away to hear and reply.
Hermione Granger was sitting on her bed in her muggle parents' house, reading. She stood up and stretched, before walking over to a hanging calendar. She checked off a box. "One more day!" This girl was also a witch and was traveling to London to catch the train to her school, Hogwarts School For Witches And Wizards. She could hear her mother calling her for dinner. She walked down the stairs and sat at the bare table. Her parents beamed as she set the table without being asked to. Her parents were very proud of having a witch in the family. The rest of her relatives were muggles, or non-magic folk. They ate dinner in silence, speaking only to ask for dressing, or food. As the family started washing the dishes, Mr. Granger said, "Hermione. Your mother and I have an errand to do Friday, the day you leave. Would you mind sending your friend Ron and his family an owl, asking for them to pick you up?"
"I'll do it as soon as I can, Dad. Is that all?" Her mother looked at her fondly, "That's it, Hermione dear." Hermione ran up the stairs and found an unfamiliar owl perched next to Drana, her birthday present from that year. The snowy owl was sharing her food with this clearly hungry stranger. "Oh good! Victor finally responded!" Krum was her former boyfriend. Mid-summer, she traveled to Bulgaria to visit him, Victor Krum, the wizarding world's favorite player.
While there, he said that it wouldn't work out, them being so far away. Hermione was crushed, but they continued being owl pals. She walked up and took the letter from the owl. He hooted and started on Drana's water. She unrolled the scrap of parchment. It wasn't in Krum's large loopy writing, but a small neat scrawl. It read:
Hermione.
We haven't been quite friends, but I wish we were. We could be owl pals, even though we go to the same school. I admire you, being so smart, and I wish for you to know that.
P.S. Send your answer back with the owl that delivered it. He knows where.
Sincerely,
A hopeful friend.
There was no signature to tell Hermione who her unknown friend was. She scribbled on the back, "Of course, I will be your friend. Could you tell me who you are?
Hermione"
She tied it back onto the owl's leg and tossed it back out the window. Then she wrote a hasty note to Ron and told Drana who to deliver it to him. She zoomed out and away. Her father and mother had a meeting to discuss a job for a man and his wife who hoped to join their staff of dentists. She walked into the bathroom and washed her hands of the ink stains from her quill.
As she stared at herself in the mirror, she noticed how much she had changed from the bushy haired, big-toothed girl. Her hair was smooth and straight, her teeth were smaller, and she was quite taller. She smiled, and then went down stairs. After the people had gone home, Hermione sat down and was talking with her mother. She explained about her mysterious letter and about her reply.
Mrs. Granger smiled and said simply, "Sounds like you have a secret friend," and went to clean up the kitchen and family room. Hermione went up the stairs to her room and read and re-read the note. Suddenly, a furry thing smacked into the side of her head. She snatched a feathery lying ball out of the air. She dropped it in surprise as it started hooting. "Pigwidgeon! Come here."
The hyper little owl zoomed up and she caught him just in time. She pulled a note of his leg. She read out loud, " 'Dear Hermione, we will come and pick you up on Friday around eight thirty. We will be coming by Floo powder, so I suggest you have your fireplace unblocked. And clean. You wouldn't believe the amount of soot I've seen in some. And once Harry had his fireplace blocked off. It wasn't fun being squeezed in there. Oh, and guess what! Fred and George are going to be captains for the Quidditch team this year! Anyway, Percy just ate Fred and George's Canary Cream that I hid in his dessert. Gotta run before Mum starts walloping me with her broomstick. Gotta dash! Bye. Sincerely, Ron.' Mom! Dad! Ron's going to pick me up Friday!" With that she started packing very fast.