(A/N: Hello everyone! If you haven't read the description yet, this is my very first story ever! It may not be very good, but I'm gonna try my best to make this story good! As I am a new writer, I am open to constructive criticism, so please don't hesitate to post a review. I hope you guys enjoy :D)
Chapter 1: Unexpected Changes
The first ten years of Hermione Granger's life were perfect. Her parents, Richard and Jane Granger, enjoyed watching their little girl grow up and mold herself into a young lady with a bright future. However, her perfect life changed the day she got her Hogwarts letter.
"Hermione, can you fetch the mail," asked Mrs. Granger "I need to finish preparing supper."
"Of course, Mum," replied Hermione. She put her book down and leaped off her bed in pursuit of the mail. Hermione walked down the stairs, hearing the frustrated yells of her father.
"DAMN IT, AMOS, YOU HAD ONE JOB. CAN'T YOU BLOCK A BLOODY GOAL," shrieked her father.
Must be a horrible football game today, she thought. The bushy-haired girl shook her head, tuned out her father's bellows, and continued her trek towards the mailbox.
Once outside, she felt the warm summer breeze brush past her face. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed in content, wishing that summer could last forever. She was awakened in the middle of her reverie by the sound of her tummy rumbling and the smell of her mother's and decided she needed to eat. Quickly, she retrieved the mail and ran back into the house.
"Must you continue with your incessant shouting, Richard? Blimey, it's just a game," cried Jane.
"Sorry, darling. I'll try to control myself," replied Mr. Granger.
Jane could only smile and shake her head. With a final pinch of pepper and a dash of salt, she declared, "Supper's ready!"
Almost immediately, Richard Granger scurried into the dining room. Hermione came into the dining room a few seconds later with the mail. She handed the mail to her mother, sat down, and began to serve herself.
Jane rummaged through the mail one by one, until she found a letter addressed to Hermione. "Hermione, this one's for you," she informed her daughter. She handed Hermione the letter and watched her as she read.
After reading the letter a few times, Hermione's chocolate brown eyes grew wider. She stood up and she hollered, "I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, I'M A WITCH!" Hermione took to jumping up and down while squealing as means of celebration.
Richard eyed his daughter with skepticism. "Hermione, sweetheart, I'm not sure going to this school is a good idea; I've never even heard of it before."
"But Daddy, at least give me a chance. I promise I will study hard and be the best I can be. Pretty please," Hermione begged. She wanted to convince her father to let her attend the school, so she imitated the puppy dog face from the cartoons she used to watch.
"Richard, give her a chance. You know she's an intelligent girl, she can handle it," reasoned her mother.
Although still wary about this new school, Richard knew he wanted his daughter to be happy. "Oh alright, you may go, but I expect you to be the top of your class," said Richard.
"Thank you, Daddy. I won't disappoint you," cheered Hermione. She hugged her father tightly.
Though he wasn't in love with the idea of his only child deserting him, he couldn't help but smile. Mr. Granger and the rest of the family tucked into their food.
After Hermione left for Hogwarts, Richard Granger fell into a deep depression and turned to alcohol to cope. Every night after he got home from work, he would go down to the basement, open whatever alcoholic beverage he could get his hands on and drink. His wife tried to make him cut down, but was met with drunken outbursts instead. Mr. Granger's drinking habits worsened, by the time his daughter's 6th year at Hogwarts came around.
Concerned with her husband's new habits, Jane asked, "What if Hermione see's what you are doing?"
Richard looked up from the bottle of vodka in his hand, rolled his eyes and drunkenly shouted, "S-s-so what if she do-o-oes?" He grabbed a bottle of vodka and took a large swig of the beverage. "People drink aaaall the time. I'm not going to stop drinking for anyone's benefit, so leave me alone," he continued.
Mrs. Granger moved closer to her husband as a way to reason with him. She came face to face with him, a look of anger gracing her face. Jane opened her mouth to speak, only to back away and cover her nose, the acrid fumes of her husband's alcoholic breath irritated her nostrils.
"I have nothing more to say to you, Richard," she concluded. Hermione's mother shook her head, trying to figure out when things started to go wrong and left her drunken husband alone. Deciding she had enough drama for one night, she went upstairs and into her room.
While getting ready for bed, her thoughts wandered to Hermione. Jane missed her daughter immensely and decided to write to Hermione in the morning. Where did things go wrong? If only things went back to normal, she thought. As Mrs. Granger was lying down in her bed, the blankets enveloping her in warmth, she let her thoughts circulate in her mind until she fell asleep.
And so, at the end of every year, Hermione met up with her father at Platform 9 3/4. Mr. Granger would cause a scene while in his drunken stupor; it was embarrassing, to say the least. Her best friends, Harry Potter, Ron and Ginny Weasley, were reluctant to leave her side.
"'Mione, are you sure you don't want to come to the Burrow with me and Harry? You could sure use a break from all the yelling," inquired Ron, helping his sister with her trunks.
"You know we love you like a sister, Hermione. We don't want anything bad to happen to you," Harry added. Out of both of her best friends, Harry knew the kind of pain she was going through. Almost every summer, he went to Privet Drive with his abusive aunt and uncle and his spoiled cousin. Every so often, Harry would seek refuge at the Burrow. Although the Dursleys, were the only family he had left, he refused to acknowledge them as family.
"'Mione, please come, I can't take another summer surrounded by a bunch of boys," complained Ginny, with a pleading look.
Hermione took the invitation into consideration, but she did not want to start another problem with her father. The Gryffindor knew of her father's drinking problem, so she politely declined the offer and continued walking with her best friends. Besides, she only needed to survive one more summer filled with drama in her house, right?
"I'm sorry, Gin. I can't. You know how my father gets, I mean, he doesn't get to see me all that much. I don't want to make him angrier than he already is," replied Hermione, picking up her trunk.
From around the corner, a blonde-haired Slytherin overheard the conversation among the members of the Golden Trio and wanted to get under their skin. He walked up to the trio and sneered, "Oh yes, wouldn't want to disappoint 'Daddy' now would we, Mudblood."
"Shove off, Malfoy. We don't need a bloody ferret like you around here," shouted Ron with his face turning a deep shade of red.
"Ignore him, Ron. He's just being a prat. You wouldn't want to lose your temper in a crowded place like this," said Harry. The shaggy-haired Gryffindor led Ron away in hopes of preventing a physical altercation.
Draco Malfoy always loved causing aspersions upon those he deemed unworthy (ie. mudbloods, blood traitors, half-bloods, muggles, and squibs). Seeing Weasley's bright red ears made him want to instigate more trouble. "Awwww isn't that sweet. Weaselbee needs his boyfriend to protect him," Draco teased.
Ron lunged toward Draco, but to no avail. Harry and Hermione held him back, but Ron tried to use his muscles as a way to escape his friends' grip.
It was then that Mr. Granger walked up to the group and shouted in a guttural fashion, "HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? I DID NOT ALLOW YOU TO ATTEND THIS SCHOOL SO YOU CAN FIGHT. GET YOUR DAMN TRUNK, WE ARE LEAVING THIS INSTANT!" He couldn't believe what he was seeing, his daughter taking part in a fight, with boys out of all people.
The tumults of the drunken man were loud enough to stop the fight between Malfoy and the Golden Trio. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin git, walked away for he did not want to be near the Mudblood and her drunken muggle for a father when they argue.
"Just so you know, 'Mione, you are welcome at the Burrow anytime," said Ron. Hermione smiled and nodded.
She watched as her best friends walked away, leaving her with her father. Little did she know, a sly blonde boy was watching her from a distance, looking at the muggleborn Gryffindor with interest. She is rather good-looking from this angle. Well all angles, actually. What the bloody hell am I doing? I can't be developing feelings for the Mudblood, Draco mentally berated. Horrified at his emerging romantic feelings for the brunette, he shook his head and apparated away.
Every morning, during the summer, Hermione woke up from her slumber to the noise of her father's roars echoing inside the house. Her day consisted of receiving clamors from her father, being consoled by her mother, hanging out with her neighbors, and going to bed in tears.
After a week, her neighbors moved away and Hermione had no other means of solitude. The bookworm tried resorting to her passion for reading, but she wanted to try something new. It was then she decided to start singing. With the problems occurring at home, stress from her upcoming N.E.W.T.s, and loneliness, singing lifted her spirits, as if all her problems went away.
As the weeks passed, the Gryffindor Princess's voice grew prettier and more harmonious. By the end of June, Hermione's vocal range expanded from alto to soprano. With her newly discovered passion, she wanted to make something of it and decided to join a choir program to keep her busy as well as escape the hardships of her life.
When she signed up, she signed up for the intermediate all girls' choir; which had rehearsals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two hours each rehearsal. This particular group looked very appealing, as opposed to the other groups. Hermione knew that she was neither a beginner nor an advanced singer, so she knew she made a good decision.
During her first rehearsal, she made a lot of new friends and learned new techniques to improve her singing.
"You were great, Hermione. I wish I'd have sounded as amazing as you do when I first started. I'll see you at the next rehearsal, Hermione," called Giselle, Hermione's new friend.
"We should hang out sometime," added Rachel, her other friend.
"Of course. I'll see you guys later," replied Hermione, walking out to leave.
After a two and a half weeks, the Gryffindor's talent was improving at such a tremendous rate, her choir director took notice of the girl.
"Hermione, may I speak to you for a few minutes," asked the director.
"Sure"
"You are aware that we are having a concert on the 17th of August, right?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes."
"Your technique has improved so much and your voice sounds very beautiful. With a few private lessons, I think you will be able to perform a solo for the upcoming concert. I know you haven't been in the program very long, but I think you will do wonderful," complemented the director.
The young witch couldn't believe what her director was saying. She pinched herself just to make sure she was awake. When she realized that she wasn't dreaming, Hermione grinned from ear to ear. "Merlin's beard, thank you, Madam," cried Hermione, "I will make you proud."
"Let me know what song you plan to sing so I can order the sheet music for it," reminded the director, "once that is done, we can start rehearsals."
"Of course, and thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity," cheered Hermione. The young girl was excited, yet overwhelmed with the multitude of song options she could choose from. When she halfway home, she took out her cell phone and sent text messages to Giselle and Rachel to let them know of her solo in the concert.
Almost instantly, she got responses from both girls: Congrats 'Mione! You will be brilliant. MAKE US PROUD.
"Mum, guess what happened today," exclaimed Hermione as she burst through the door.
"What happened, dear," asked her mother, setting the table. The jubilant nature of her daughter made the matriarch of the family smile.
Hermione ran into the dining room. Her father was nowhere in sight, making the young witch sigh in relief. "My choir director allowed me to perform a solo during the next choir concert. All I need to do is stay after practice for private lessons and I'll be ready. I'd really love it if you came to the performance. It's in two weeks," inquired the seventeen-year-old. Hermione beamed radiantly.
Mrs. Granger's happy expression faded. She really did not want to disappoint her daughter by telling her that they couldn't make the performance. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," her mother began, "your father and I can't make it to your concert. We have work at the office. There are a lot of appointments that day. I'm sorry." Jane's response caused a lachrymose demeanor spread across Hermione's facial features.
The witch's sadness soon turned to glee as she figured out that she could invite her best friends to the concert. "It's okay, mum. I can invite my friends from school and I can just have someone record the performance so you can see it at any time," informed Hermione.
"That's a wonderful conclusion. Come join us for dinner," her mother bid.
Dear Ginny,
How are things at the Burrow? Hopefully, Fred and George haven't blown up the place yet. There's no telling what those two wankers are plotting. Anyway, I joined a choir program recently, and I would love it if everyone came and watched the performance. The performance is on August 17th. Owl me if you guys are able to come. Well, I have to conclude this letter. I start choreography today. Tell everyone I said hello!
Love,
Hermione
Satisfied with the letter she had written, she sealed it and called her owl to deliver the letter.
The owl hooted and playfully nipped at her hand. "Hello there, Zelda," cooed Hermione, tying the letter to the owl's leg. The brunette gave Zelda an owl treat and instructed her, "Please take this letter to the Weasleys."
Zelda gave a final hoot and flew away into the horizon. The Gryffindor watched as her owl flew away in the direction of the Burrow. When the owl was out of sight, Hermione got ready for her rehearsal.