Chapter 1 Some Nagging Questions
At the Grangers home, the usual things were happening: Mr. Granger was at work, and Mrs Granger was the usual Astay at home mom. She loved it. Tending to their only child, a daughter by the name of Hermione. She was a very precocious child, very smart, never getting into trouble, always letting her mother know where she was, and she ALWAYS had her nose in a book. But there were those times . . . Times that things happened that her mother just could not explain.
"Mommy, mommy look what I can do," little Hermione said to her mother, running up to her one day. There were a set of candles on the table and little Hermione reached up to one of the candles, touching them, and then, the most amazing thing happened! A small flame appeared on the candle wick!
"Hermione," said her mother shocked, almost speechless, "how did you do that?"AI dont know, I just think of a flame appearing on the candle and it does, said little Hermione.
"Hermione, just be careful, I have been watching you, and I know that you're very smart. But, still, be careful."
"Ok, mommy, I will," replied Hermione.
There were times, that little Hermione had questions, questions about herself, thoughts that she had, that made her think of another life, somewhat stranger than this life. But, still, it seemed to her, at least, that it was a life that she liked, was used to, and most strangely, wanted to return to.
With this thought and that small Atrick she can do, lighting candles without touching them, Hermione continued studying and learning. She knew she must learn, but not just why.
Chapter 1A THE STRANGE LETTER
One day, Hermione, now just 10, but in the next couple days shell be 11, was at home when there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Granger answered it.
"Hello, my name is Minerva McGonagall. I'm the assistant headmistress of a very private school, in Scotland. I'd like to talk with you, about your daughter. I've been told that she's very bright," she said.
Hogwarts Seal
"Of course, come in, come in and sit down," Mrs Granger repliedHermione was there, next to her mom, but didnt say anything. She noticed that the strange lady was very 'old fashioned looking', for use of a better word. But, there was something – familiar – Strangely Familiar – Comfortingly so.
Professor McGonagall went into the front living room, followed by Mrs Granger and Hermione, sat down on one of the chairs.
"I'm the headmistress of a very private school, in Scotland. It is for exceptionally bright and gifted students. Admission is free, there is no tuition, that has already been taken care of. The cost to you and your family is nothing. Our purpose is to educate the chosen students to use their innate talents and gifts, with which they were born with." Professor McGonagall said this while looking directly at Hermione. She noticed that Hermione was looking directly at her, not flinching, not seemingly afraid, as others might be. Hermione was smiling!
"I've been expecting you," Hermione stated, in a matter of fact type voice. "I knew the time was approaching that I'd be receiving contact from the school. I can't wait to go. I've been anticipating it for a rather long time now." Hermione said this in a regular voice, as if she were saying something that was normal, not even realizing the shocked looks on the faces of both the older ladies.
This reaction, was NOT lost on Professor McGonagall. For she had been interviewing many such prospective students for many generations now, and this was the first time, EVER, that this type of reaction had been displayed, especially since this was a Muggle family with NO KNOWN MAGICAL ABILITIES in their family! Where this young lady got her information, was beyond the Professors knowledge, but it was something to remember for later.
"There are other memories I've been having. I remember a large Castle and it had towers that I lived in. One of the rooms was decorated in Red and Gold. I seem to remember a dungeon where a lot of students sat in a room that had lots of chemicals and stuff that smelled bad. There were small pots there, too. But, I do recall a teacher, rather short, and he had a stick in his hand that he waved around, trying to teach us – something. I do recall him saying I was his best charms student he'd ever had.
Professor McGonagall put her hand to her mouth to stiffel a sudden gasp of surprise.
"Miss Granger, I – I – uh – where did you get this information? May I ask?"
"It's just something that I've always known. Sometimes I can see these places more clear than at other times."
"Is there anything else that you recall?" Professor McGonagall asked nervously. Afterall, all this COULD be a coincidence.
Hermione got up and walked around, stopping by the window and looking out. She was holding her hands, trying to get a grip on herself, her emotions were causing her to suddenly tremble, her voice was wavering, quivering, shaking.
"There - is – another - memory – a bad one – really bad. And it really bothers me, it seems so real." Hermione turned to look at her Mum and the Professor. Her lower lip was trembling. "It IS real, all this happened, I KNOW it did!"
"My baby. My son. Where is he?" Hermione asked. Tears were beginning to stream down her gentle cheeks unchecked.
"?" Both women looked at her and turned to look at each other, shaking their heads.
"I remember I was in my home, in my son's room. It was evening. There was a man there, with red eyes and a stick in his hand. My husband was downstairs protecting us. The man with the red eyes wanted to kill my son, I refused to move. I screamed and pleaded with him, I begged him for my son's life, but he refused. I offered him my life but he just wanted to kill my son, my only son!" Hermione was crying, tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably. "My husband was already dead, I could FEEL it!" Tears were running down Hermione's cheeks uncontrollably.
"Hermione, dear, maybe we should talk about this some other time, you're getting very upset." Mrs. Granger, Hermione's Mum, asked.
"No, Mum, it's alright, I need to tell someone this, it's alright, this lady is the right person to tell this to. She KNOWS I'm telling her the truth, I can FEEL it," Hermione placed her hands on her chest, next to her heart, "right here, in my heart. I know it, Mum." Hermione continued talking about her long suppressed memory:
"The last thing I remember was seeing a green beam of light hitting me. That's the last I remember." Hermione just laid her head down in her lap and cried and cried.
"I tried to protect my son, I really tried, but I failed. All I wanted was to be a Mum to him, just a Mum, that's all. He really needs me."
Professor McGonagall was shaking – badly!
Mrs. Granger went over to her daughter, trying to comfort her, not really knowing what to do.
"How long has your daughter remembered this? Is there any chance she picked up this information from someone else?"
"No, no way. This is the first time she's ever said this."
"Mrs. Granger, I'll have to talk to my Headmaster. What your daughter has just said is remarkable in that no one in your world knows about it." She got up, walking to the fireplace and threw in some sparkly powder. A large green flame, burst up suddenly. "Albus, Albus! Are you there? Please respond, this is an emergency."
A head appeared in the flames, that of an elderly man with a long beard. "Minerva, I'm here, what is it? And why are you communicating through a Muggle fireplace?"
"Albus, I'm at the Grangers, interviewing Hermione Granger for her first year, and, . . . , Oh, Albus, I just can't tell you this over the floo network. It's very serious. Something I've never heard of before and it's - Oh, Albus, I've got to bring her to you or have you come here. Please?"
"I'll be there immediately." Dumbledore disappeared from the fireplace and there was a gentle movement next to Minerva.
It was Dumbledore. He apparated to her that quick.
"How can I help you, Minerva?"
"He's the one! I remember him! I remember him!" Hermione looked up at Dumbledore and went to him and put her arms around him, hugging him and not letting go.
Surprise on everyone's face's was a definite understatement!
"I'm sorry, but I forgot your name, but I remembered what you look like, Professor. You're the one person at school I could always depend on." Hermione was smiling and happy.
"Who are you?" Mrs Granger asked, shocked and surprised by her daughters' actions.
"I'm Albus Dumbledore, professor and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. And I'm here to answer your questions as to who your daughter really is, or at least who I think she is." Albus held onto Hermione, stroking her hair and head gently and rubbing her back. Minerva could see the faint glow and stars coming off the two of them, a very faint white light emitting from where the two of them stood together.
Professor McGonagall's eyes got bigger, and she emitted a faint 'Oh!' in complete surprise, her hand going up to her mouth to cover her surprise.
Albus looked down on his youthful charge – Hermione- and had his eyes closed and was just shaking his head and smiling. 'I thought I'd never see you again, Lily, never. You were the most valuable of all of us, your compassion. I should have known then, I just should have known.'
"Who she is? Why, she's my daughter!"
"True, in THIS life she is, but she had a former life, a previous one."
"Let me sit back down. I think this is going to take a while." Mrs Granger was quite flustered.
Releasing Hermione, just a little, but still keeping his arm around her shoulders, for Hermione just didn't want to let go of him, Dumbledore told Mrs. Granger the complete story.
"Just about 10 years ago, there was a wizard, a very dark one, he was one of my former students who went as bad as you can get, and he wanted power in our world. He had a group of followers who went after those who opposed him. Anyone who crossed his path were killed outright, but there were exceptions and you're looking at one of those exceptions, right here." With that said Albus indicated Hermione.
"Her name, then, was Lily, Lily Evans Potter and her husbands name was James Harry Potter. They were one of the most loved and respected couples ever to have come out of Hogwarts. They were, in our world, what you'd call 'Aurors' or kind of policemen, law enforcement officers, people who go after our kind who are dark wizards. Lily and James were among the best that we ever had, especially Lily, here. She opposed Tom three times, with James, her husband, beside her. Only the Longbottoms, another couple, opposed Tom that many times. But, like Hermione remembered, about how she died, all she said, is correct. It really happened. No one in your world knew then, or now, what happened, and when Professor McGonagall just told me, I knew, without a doubt who your daughter really is."
"But, how? She could be making all this up."
"No, she's not. I have other ways of being sure." Albus looked into Mrs. Grangers' eyes, and held that look for a while. "I have other ways of detecting the truth that are absolute, that Father has provided."
Hermione looked up at Dumbledore, "Father? You know Him?" The happiness she felt in her heart was now apparent in the look she had on her face. Happiness of utter and profound joy.
"Hermione, we'll talk more later about all this, but right now, I just want you to know that I believe everything you've said. It's all true. You can relax now, all the pain you endured, the sacrifice you made, was not in vain! Your son, Harry, is alive and well. Tom has not been found for all these years. Your Master Charm Work did its' job just the way you intended it to."
Tears were falling down the elderly Headmaster's Cheeks, from both eyes. "Oh, Lily, you just don't know, but maybe you do, maybe you do, the happiness you've given me, that you're back."
Looking at Mrs. Granger, "She was the best student that ever came out of our school. She was the best at charms and had a heart of gold. She was always most compassionate towards others. She was literally, One of a Kind."
"But, right now, we can't tell anyone who you really are. You'll just have to stay as 'Hermione' until you've grown, and completed school. Minerva and I are the only ones who know your true identity and will keep it a secret until we both feel that you're ready and able to tell our world who you are."
"Professor Dumbledore, will I get to see my son?"
Albus looked down at Hermione, with the softest eyes that were twinkling, BOTH of them, "Yes, my dear, Yes, you'll get to see him every day. Just be close to him, be friends with him, help him along in a gentle way, but do not tell him you're his Mum. Harry won't understand. It'll take a long time to prepare him for this, but the day will arrive when you can reveal yourself to him. Understand?"
"Yes, Professor, I understand."
"I'll be leaving now, going back to school. Professor McGonagall, here, will continue to help you and give you some general instructions, in case you've forgotten, and, Hermione, I want you to trust her. She loves you as much as I do and has missed you so much. Please, believe me when I say this."
"I believe you, Professor. Thanks, thanks for being here for me when I needed you."
"That's why I'm here, Hermione. "
"It is? But, why, who, how? There's just so much I don't know."
"Don't worry, Hermione, all in due time, just continue your education, stay close to Professor McGonagall and myself and in time, all your questions will be answered."
"Ok, and thanks, I've been waiting for this for a long time. You just don't know . . . . ,"
Dumbledore disapparated back to Hogwarts, leaving Professor McGonagall to continue.
"Well, Ive not encountered this reaction before, but since youre fairly comfortable with me and my purpose being here, what, if any, questions, do you have, the professor asked.
AWhat do you teach at the school? And, what is the name of the school again? asked Mrs. Granger.
AThe name of the school is Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardy, replied the professor. AWe teach the students, who have shown a talent for magic, how to use it, in ways that are good, not harmful. We have an excellent faculty, who have been there for many years. When I say Amany years, I mean generations. I myself am 70 years old and have been there for 50 years. Other faculty have been there for a lot longer. Experience is one aspect that we value.
With this said, Mrs. Granger asked many questions, and together, the three of them went over the instances that Hermione had. Instances where events happened, that her mother just could not explain Ahow or Awhy. Professor McGonagall mentioned all this and how these events occurred. Mrs Granger sat there in awe and wonder, especially when Professor McGonagall demonstrated some of the very same things that Hermione did on occasion. This one afternoon convinced Mrs. Granger that Hogwarts was the special school that Hermione needed. After all, there were going to be many other students there, just like Hermione. At last, she will be in a comfortable setting, among her own kind, people just like herself. She will be able to stretch and grow into the person she was meant to be. This bit of comforting knowledge helped Mrs. Granger; It was as if Hermione was "Meant to be there. Mrs. Granger could not explain "Why" she felt this way, but she did. It was very comforting.
Professor McGonagall could see the relaxing look on Mrs. Grangers face and saw her composure and demeanor soften and relax. She knew that all was well here and that Hermione would be attending Hogwarts - again.
AMrs. Granger, youll be receiving a letter from the school, by owl, shortly. The letter will explain what youll need for Hermione to have to get, prior to school starting and where to get it at. Well have someone come here to assist you in getting to Diagon Alley so the proper school books, clothes and other items can be easily purchased., Professor McGonagall said.
With that covered, they arose and politely saw the kindly professor leave, but not in the usual way, for Professor McGonagall disapparated, waving and smiling kindly!
Mrs. Granger was now a believer!
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One day, an Owl came to the Grangers home. Hermione having been told to expect contact from the school was overjoyed, to say the least.
"Mom," Hermione yelled out, "We've got a letter from Hogwarts!""Well, sweetheart, open it and see what it says," her mom said, walking to Hermione, with curiosity painted on her face.
"It says that I've been accepted into Hogwarts, that I'm to bring this letter with me. Also, I'm to catch the train at Kings Crossing Station on September the first at 11 a.m. sharp, from platform 9 and ¾. If I have any problems getting through the barrier, whatever that is, that there'll be someone there to help me since this will be my first time there. Also, there's another letter; It contains the list of books, and other supplies I'm to get prior to my going to the train station. Oh, it says that there'll be someone coming here this afternoon to take us to Diagon Alley to help us get my school supplies, Hermione read the letter several times, with a great big smile playing across her face. She looked up at her Mum, obviously very happy.
"Well, Hermione, I guess you should get dressed properly, so you'll be ready for when this person get's here," Mrs. Granger said.