CHAPTER 2: The Two Harry's

Hermione Jean Granger had just one friend, but she was content with her only friend. It was her first friendship that she could say started because of her personality and their mutual desires for friendship, and not for purely selfish reasons like so many of her other so-called friendships.

However, the rapidly arriving end of this summer may very well end their friendship as well. Hermione was off to Hogwarts, while Harry would be staying in Little Whinging. Oh well, she supposed they would have to make do with what little time they had left. Speaking of which, she wondered where Harry was. It was just the day after his birthday, and they had agreed to meet at the park. She had a present to give him, and knowing his horrid family, it may be the only present he would receive.

Suddenly, she spied a mop of unruly black hair. It was Harry, and he was racing towards her. She saw the reason why mere moments later, when she saw a few other boys chasing after him. She didn't see his cousin, but those boys were his friends.

As Harry came closer, Hermione lept up. "Harry!" she called out. "Follow me to my house!" She began to run towards her house, knowing that the boys would hurt Harry if they caught him. He had told her about what his cousin and his friends did, Harry-hunting. While it was alliterative, it wasn't exactly something you should do.

The two children soon reached Hermione's house, racing in the backyard. After a few moments to catch her breath, Hermione began to speak. "Harry! Happy birthday. Here, I've got you a present." And she gave Harry the wrapped box that she had been holding ever since she was at the park.

"Oh, wow, thanks Hermione! You really didn't have to give me anything you know."

"I know, but I wanted to. Go, open it."

Harry began to tear into the package. It was wrapped in a shiny blue wrapping paper, unlike the 'gifts' his family gave, which were wrapped in newspaper. Once he opened it. he was ecstatic to find a supply of sweets and a small dragon wind-up toy.

Hermione was a bit worried about the present. Besides including muggle favorites like Fizzy Belts, she had included a few of the more tame magical sweets, like Pumpkin Pasties and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Plus, the dragon was magical. Thankfully, the only magical element was the flame it breathed, which could easily be explained away as an illusion.

"Wicked!" Harry's look of glee took away all her worries. "Hermione, this is brilliant. Thanks so much!"

Hermione smiled, relieved. "It was no trouble at all Harry! Although, you can imagine the heart attack my parents nearly had when they saw the sweets I was buying. They're dentists, you know."

Harry became a bit worried. "I hope I didn't get you in trouble 'Mione."

Hermione's worry was instantly gone. "Oh, no, not at all. Mum and Dad understood once I explained. But, Harry, how was your birthday? Mum says she hasn't seen you aunt for the last few days at the store."

"Actually, this was my best birthday ever. Uncle Vernon was paranoid about something happening, and he took us all away. And I found out that I was accepted to a boarding school! It's the one my parents both went to, and my tuition and registration for all seven years is already paid, so my aunt and uncle can't stop me from going."

"Oh, Harry, that's wonderful! Which school is it, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, erm, it's somewhere in Scotland. I'm not exactly sure of the name though."

Scotland… that's where Hogwarts is. Hermione's mind instantly drifted towards one of the books on the wizarding world she got for extra reading. Specifically, the one about the wizarding war and how the Dark Lord Voldemort was defeated by a baby named Harry Potter. She didn't remember much about him, just that the boy defeated Voldemort on the 31st of October and his parents were both killed. But she remembered that Harry told her his parents had died in a car crash. Hermione made a mental note to learn more about the wizarding world Harry Potter.

"My school's in Scotland as well! We must write to each other. I haven't been given a mailing address from my school yet, so you can write me at my parents, and they'll send it to me once I get the mailing address."

"I'll definitely write you 'Mione."

Author's Note:

And I'm back. Short chapter, but it was updated quicker than expected. I decided to break up what I was writing into two chapters.

Updates will typically be slower than this. I'm writing out the next few chapter so that updates will become constant.

Life is looking a little too ideal for our characters. Better make it a bit crazier.
Rampaging polar bear and trolls at the welcome feast instead?
...fine. I won't.

But seriously, (stop looking for Sirius Black), I'm planning to make this a bit more crazy, And deviate a whole lot more from canon.

Oh, and I published a oneshot, Puppies, Hugging, and Killing! It's up on my profile, if you're interested.

Read and review...
Suggestions welcome. I don't bite...
(Ok, I do)

(Warning: May cause May cause anger, loss of sleep, befuddlement, joy, happiness, or laughter.)