Chapter Two
After Hermione read the fated letter, the rest of the days were filled with a flurry of actions. Calming her parents down, and herself for that matter, was no easy task. Hermione couldn't understand how it was even possible to be a witch, magic didn't exist as it was only fiction. The Granger family might have continued to think that it was all a hoax if it weren't for the arrival of a certain individual.
Gathered in the dining room, eating dinner, the Granger family was tense from the events that had transpired a few days ago. They were still trying to understand what they should be doing and if there really was a school for Hermione to attend. Two short raps at the door brought all three of their heads straight up. Who could it be at this hour?
Mr. Granger stood up from his place at the table and pushed back his chair. "I'll get it," he stated slowly and walked to the door. Hermione tried to crane her neck to see who was at the door but all she could see was a hint of bright green clothing. Shortly after, Mr. Granger led a tall woman with graying hair and kind eyes, into the dining room. Hermione was shocked to see what the woman was dressed in. It appeared to be some kind of robe that would stick out like a sore thumb if the woman would walk down the suburban streets of Ramsgate, and to top it off the elderly woman wore a pointed hat, one that Hermione would expect a witch to wear.
"Good evening, I am so sorry if I have interrupted your dinner in any way," the woman said respectfully.
"Oh, not at all," Mr. Granger replied gesturing for them all to enter the living room. Hermione and Mrs. Granger pushed back their chairs and moved to the couch where they were joined by Mr. Granger. Mrs. Granger motioned toward the arm chair for the woman to sit.
"Hermione, this woman says she is from that school…Hobdart's was it?" Mr. Granger said with a puzzled frown as if he knew Hobdart's was not the correct name.
"That would be Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," the older woman supplied. "And I would be Professor McGonagall, I teach at Hogwart's."
"So it's true then," Hermione said softly. "There really is a school for magic?"
Professor McGonagall nodded her head, "yes."
"And you want…me? Why? I'm just a normal girl," but as soon as those words left her mouth she wished she could have taken them back. Hermione knew she wasn't a normal girl, she knew there was something strange about her but she could never put a finger quite on it. Was it possible that it was because she was a witch?
"Yes, Miss Granger, we want you to come to our school. We can teach you all that you need to know to become a witch."
"But how is it possible," Mrs. Granger spoke up for the first time. "My husband and I we're not…I mean we can't do magic. How can Hermione?"
"That is a very good question," Professor McGonagall nodded her head. "It seems that sometimes wizarding genes can skip a generation or even multiple generations. We don't quite understand how it is that witches can be born to muggles but it happens."
"Muggles?" Hermione asked confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry, muggles are what we call people who can't do magic," Professor McGonagall replied.
"Can you…if you don't mind…show us some magic?" Hermione asked softly. She really yearned to see if it was real…and what she would be able to do given the right schooling.
"Well," Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, "I suppose a slight demonstration wouldn't be out of the question." From underneath her robes, the professor pulled out a thin piece of bark which appeared to be her wand, and pointed it at the vase that sat on the coffee table.
"Geminio" and right before the Granger's eyes, the vase seemed to duplicate. There were, at the present moment, two vases that seemed identical. Hesitantly, Hermione reached out a tentative hand to touch the vase.
"It feels…real," Hermione breathed out, a slight smile curling up the corners of her lips.
"That's because it is real," Professor McGonagall replied. "It will only be around for a few hours and then it will vanish."
"Mum, Dad," Hermione turned to her parents with a huge smile and barely concealed excitement. "I want to go to Hogwarts."
Sorry this is a short chapter. I'm trying to get it underway. Once we get into the book the chapters will most likely be longer. I will rely heavily upon the book, often using the same conversations and scenes. I always thought Hermione was a fascinating person and wanted to know more about her, which is the reason I'm writing this. Please let me know what you think , whether or not you like the direction the story is headed, and if you think Hermione is in character. Thanks for reading!
