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?"
"I don't 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 Awhy.
Chapter 1A THE STRANGE LETTER
One day, Hermione, now just 10, but in the next couple days she'll 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.
Of course, come in, come in and sit down," Mrs Granger replied
Hermione was there, next to her mom, but didn't 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. 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 stifle 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."
"You can see them?", the Professor asked.
"Yes, just like I'm looking at you now.", Hermione replied, as if it were the most natural occurrence for anyone.
"How? I mean what are you doing when you see these things?" the Professor asked.
"I've been having thoughts of these places, where they come from, I don't know. It's as if I lived there, or something. Once in a while, more so lately, when I'm in my bedroom sitting at my vanity and looking into the mirror brushing my hair, I see appear in the mirror two people; One is a woman, she has long red hair and green eyes, the greenest eyes I've ever seen, they're so bright! Next to her is standing a man, he wears glasses and has the most unruliest back hair. Both of them are smiling and looking directly at me. Oh, the woman is holding a baby. He looks just like his Dad, the man standing next to the woman, and the baby has his Mum's eyes."
"Is there anything else that you recall?" Professor McGonagall asked nervously. After all, 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 fell down onto her knees, holding up her clasped hands with tears running unchecked down her gentle cheeks she continued, " I'm begging of you, please, tell me where my son is! I KNOW he's still alive! I need to see him, to put my arms around him and tell him I'm still his Mum and I still love him! Please, tell me, oh Please!" Hermione asked. Tears were still streaming down her gentle cheeks unchecked. Her sobs were heard by both her own Mum and the Professor. They both went to her and helped her up not knowing what else to do.
"?" Both women looked at her and turned to look at each other, shaking their heads.
Hermione looked up and continued her remembrance: "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," Hermione looked up briefly, "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."
"I'll have to talk to my Headmaster. What your daughter has just said is remarkable in that no one in your world knows anything about this." 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 rushed 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 Wizardry. 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, survivors, of sorts, 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, I've not encountered this reaction before, but since you=re fairly comfortable with me and my purpose being here, what, if any, questions, do you have?, the professor asked.
"What do you teach at the school? And, what is the name of the school again?" asked Mrs. Granger.
"The 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 many years, I mean generations. I myself am 150 years old and have been there for 100 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. Granger's 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.
"Mrs. Granger, you'll be receiving a letter from the school, by owl, shortly. The letter will explain what you'll need for Hermione to have to get, prior to school starting and where to get it at. We'll 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!
One day, an Owl came to the Grangers home. Hermione was 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 say"s, 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 Abarrier, 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 gets here", Mrs. Granger said.
The next morning at mid morning, there came a knock at the Grangers' door, it was professor McGonagall coming to pick up Hermione to take her to Diagon Alley to help her with her shopping for all her first year school supplies. Hermione was ready, naturally. Her Mum had given her enough Muggle money that could be exchanged into Wizarding Money.
Hermione was quite young, only eleven years old, but quite precocious. Plus, this had not been the only time she'd been here.
Hermione was taken into Gringott's Bank to exchange her muggle money into Knutes, Sickles, and Galleons and from there proceed to Madam Maulkins' Robes for all Occasions. While there
Authors' Note: After this chapter and just before the next chapter titled: "Plans –and eventualities", There should be another chapter, titled "Dumbledore's Discovery" but I left it out and it is a separate stand alone story. It should be placed here.
Dumbledore's Discovery
Harry and the Stranger
The station was congested with people both coming and going for both magical and Muggle alike. They all had to get along and cope with each other if they were to get to their destinations on time.
Among the crowd were two people, one of whom stood out – Immensely.
It was Hagrid. He was not only head and shoulders above everyone else, but the tallest person only came to almost mid way up his chest. Hagrid, in a word, was a Giant. But he was amongst a crowd of Muggles, so he had to take his time. Besides, he had Harry with him. If Harry was to have a single person as a guardian, other than Dumbledore, Hagrid would have been the other best choice. Being of Giant Blood, many magical spells had little effect on him even including some of the unforgivables and only then you had to use them with meaning and hope it'd work. You'd not get a second chance with Hagrid.
After Hagrid left Harry on the Platform and Disapparated, Harry was left to his own devices to locate platform 9 and 3/4 entrance.
"Harry." He heard a voice calling his name.
"Harry Potter." He looked around and saw a lady standing at the end of the platform he was standing on. She was smiling at him and walking towards him.
"I just wanted to see you before you got onto the train to Hogwarts."
Harry looked at her. Her blonde hair, shoulder length, her eyes a sparkling blue seemed to be 'dancing'. He couldn't place her, yet, . . , something about her he just couldn't remember. . ,
"Harry, I wanted to see you before you left for Hogwarts."
*Author's Note: This is just a small scene that I wanted to put into my story. Seems many Authors want to 'get into' their story, and since we all know who the true author of these fabulous stories are, I thought it'd be neat to see her here.
"Who are you?"
"I'm someone who knows you very well. I just wanted to tell you that you'll be making many friends, some will last a lifetime – or two. You'll accomplish a great deal, and face challenges that even grown wizards would shy away from." She bent down to Harry and looked him straight into his eyes: "And Harry, while you're there your fondest desire will eventually come true. Just stay close to your friends and meet every challenge with grace and dignity."
She kissed him on his forehead, on his scar and stood back up. "Go now, the Weasley's are waiting for you at the platform, they'll help you get through the proper gateway. They're the family with the red hair."
As luck would have it a kind family, with flaming red hair who was also going to Hogwarts assisted him in getting through the entrance.
As the train was pulling out of the station Harry was sitting in the last car and looking out of the window, watching Ginny run along side the slowly departing train, trying to get a look in the window at him. Harry waived at her and smiled. She pointed her finger to herself and saw Harry just nod his head in agreement and waved at her again. She just stopped, standing at the station, smiling and waving not believing her good fortune. 'He saw me and waved –at ME!' Ginny thought to herself as a big smile began to spread across her face.
But, Harry noticed in the background, that same lady who befriended him a few minutes earlier, the one who gave him the advice, the lady with the blonde hair and Blue eyes. She was waiving at him, and smiling. There she stood amidst a sea of magical beings and dressed like a Muggle.
No one else noticed her. He thought that very strange.
It was evening and Hagrid was in the process of bringing the First Years across the lake to see the splendor of the castle. Everyone who had seen it this way always remembered it. It was comforting and inspiring.
As the first years' students walked up the castle steps, and as soon as they set foot just inside the castles' Great Doors, something Happened!
A reaction!
The students did not know, at least not all of them, except for one: a Muggle born.
Inside the castle, a tremor was felt. Not like an earthquake, but like the gladness when a much-loved one enters into your presence – quite unexpectedly.
{Much of that day, the first of September, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, remained in his office. He tried to get his work done, but just couldn't. There seemed to be something bothering him, just what, he didn't know. It was like a memory that was almost on the edge of his consciousness. He was standing up and pacing, sometimes going to the windows and looking out. He was still standing there when he saw the torches lighting the way for the first years walking up to the Castle, approaching the Great Doors that would admit them}.
Moreover, Dumbledore felt it – at once.
He KNEW what it meant.
Down the stairs from his office he went, running, heading to the main hallway. There, in front of the Great Doors, standing, he saw a small group of first years.
Professor McGonagall was there meeting them as was the usual practice.
"Headmaster, I'm surprised to see you here. I was just about to give our first years their general instructions. Is anything wrong?"
She saw him out of breath, but the look on his face told her something – something was amiss. The only thing that she detected was that odd feeling that she just felt pass over her. Nothing like that had ever occurred to Minerva, except for that one time eleven years ago and, so she just ignored it.
Dumbledore looked at the students intently, his hand extended somewhat, his long pointed fingers extended, and moving ever so slightly.
He was looking at each one of them.
"Students – this is our Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore." Professor McGonagall announced.
Dumbledore just kept looking and looking, mumbling to himself – 'you're not the one, no, not you either, nor you, . . .'
He approached them, waving some aside, still saying 'no, not you, not you either, doesn't feel right . . .,' until he approached a small framed, bushy haired slender young girl.
Albus Dumbledore stopped moving, a small smile played upon his face, his eyes twinkling!
"It's YOU! You're the one!"
Albus Dumbledore reached out with his hand, "Please, take my hand, would you? You've nothing to fear."
Hermione reached up and took the Headmasters' hand in hers.
Dumbledore was almost shaking, "you – you're – you're the One!" And, under his breath, barely speaking such that no one heard him, he completed his thought: "You're the Expected One that Hogwarts as been waiting for - for over a thousand years!"
But Dumbledore was heard, and as he looked at Hermione, she was looking directly at him, deep into his eyes. She was smiling and nodding her head slightly to affirm his thought, so that only he was aware.
Turning to Minerva, who was by this time was not just wondering what was going on, but wondered about the headmaster, he said: "She's the One, I'm pretty sure of it."
"Albus? Who do you mean? This isn't about what we talked about before school started, is it?" Minerva asked her Headmaster and long time friend and colleague.
"No, Minerva, this is about something else, entirely different. All the Headmasters have been looking for this One Special Person since the Schools' Founders' left. We're told to look for this person, that this person would eventually come here. I just didn't expect it to be during my tenure, but after our meeting, you know what I mean, there was something bothering me, in the back of my mind, an odd feeling . . . , ever since. . .,"
Turning back to Hermione, he looked at her, shook his head. He looked around him, something else - there was something else he could not quite put his finger on. He kept looking.
Then - he found it.
There was another!
The boy was small, slender and had a mop of red hair – shockingly red.
"You're a Weasley, aren't you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Y – yes." He responded nervously.
"Don't worry, I know your parents, I taught them both. Your Mum – Molly – was very good at Defense and Charms. Never backed down in a duel, just like her brothers, she was." Dumbledore told him. Dumbledore then reached out and put his hand gently on his shoulder. A perplexed look crossed his face. "It's not as strong with you as it is with her." Dumbledore said indicating Hermione, "But, still, its' there."
Dumbledore reached out his aged hand and placed it gently upon Hermione's head, saying "It's strong with you, Miss Granger, incredibly strong; In all my years I've never felt such strength! Not even from Tom! You must have a purpose . . . ,"
Hermione gently raised her hand and placed it upon her Headmasters' hand in gentle recognition and friendship, patting his hand easily and just smiling at him. Still, she remained silent about just WHO she really was. But, she did speak up: "Headmaster, You won't have to worry about Tom, He'll not present a problem to me. Not anymore." Then, with her other hand she reached out, subtly and placed her other hand upon Harry's shoulder. Harry felt the warmth flow from her to himself, a special kind of warmth that only is felt in a special kind of relationship. This was Hermione's way of letting Harry know he had friends here, and at least someone who truly cared for him as only someone, very special and loving, can – and should. She could feel him relaxing, and calming. Harry turned to look at Hermione, feeling the warmth that emanated from her. He smiled at her in recognition of her friendship, her gentleness.
Professor McGonagall gasped out loud, placing her hand up to her face in absolute Horror and utter astonishment while looking at this small framed, bushy haired first year. "Albus, what's . . . , she can't, she doesn't know, does she . . . ," Albus turned to Hermione, his eyes twinkling, "Yes, Minerva, she DOES know, and she's right, in every way."
Turning to Prof. McGonagall "The sorting Hat will be able to tell the difference."
Prof. McGonagall was surprised. She was looking at the two students and the Headmaster, not knowing what to say, But, she knew this year and the next seven years would be the most memorable in the schools' history.
The two, Albus and Minerva, stood looking at Hermione and Ron, but then it occurred to Albus that standing between them was Harry.
He, of course, knew Harry, but Harry was raised by Muggles, he was an orphan, his Mum and Dad both died at the hands of Voldemort, and not knowing anything about his family, nor magic. He had to be taught all, and I mean, ALL the basics, so you could say he was like a young child . . . ,
It suddenly struck Dumbledore! It was like an epiphany – a sudden coming together of seemingly unrelated facts into a seamless complete picture.
Harry was standing between Hermione and Ron!
Albus Dumbledore KNEW.
He shook his head in wonderment – of all the Headmasters, it had to be him for it to fall on his watch. Well, it had not been as if he had not been expecting this to happen. It was a gut feeling that it was just a matter of time.
And here they were!
"Minerva, I want you to keep an eye out on these three. They'll be in your house."
"But, Headmaster, they've not been sorted yet."
"They will be in your house, trust me on that point, for they were once before. For as long as they are in school, keep an eye out on them, help them. They'll be a real credit to your house, Minerva," Albus looked directly at her, his eyes not wavering, "when the chips are down, when all seems virtually lost, and their backs are to the wall with no where to turn, with these three you'll, we ALL, will see some of the most astounding examples of true heroism and the giving of self, that you'll ever experience. Minerva, our World will remember and be affected by these three – Forever."
"Albus? . . , what do you mean? How do you know such things concerning them? Why, they're so young!" Minerva sort of blurted out, not knowing what else to say. All the rest of the First Years who stood beside them heard every word that transpired. None EVER forgot.
"They will never leave this school, those three. Not ever. They've come home now, this will be their home for the rest of their lives, forever. Hogwarts will be changed by them forever, and it'll be for the best." Albus placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder holding her close to him – "And Miss Granger here, has a heart of gold." He looked at Hermione, smiled with a twinkle in his eye. "The Power you Wield, Miss Granger, the Dark will not be able to so much as stand up to you. Before you finish here, you'll subdue the Dark Forces, completely, permanently. You, and the One you represent, will be the Standard Bearer, our Leader, Forever."
All the First Years stood there, looking at one another, and whispering to each other. For the rest of their Tenure, each of them would always look at these three with wonderment, but, especially so, with Hermione.
With this said they all walked into the Great Hall, and for one young lady, and young man, starting the beginning of a change in the Magical World, such a change that the Magical World will never again be the same.
"Tonight, in Lieu of the normal announcements that I normally make here, the announcements will be made by your Heads of House, instead, I wish to make another, more important announcement. Tonight, Dawns a new Era for not just our Magical World, but also for the Muggle World. Tonight, there sits among you one whom has been prophesied for over a Thousand years. This one person has Immense Power that is not based in Magic, for this person, Magic now holds no more power. This one person will subdue not just Voldemort, but all of the Dark Forces in due time. She holds the standard around which we will all eventually gather to. My time here, as Headmaster is coming to an end and at the end of your time here, when this class graduates, she will take up the Mantle of Leadership."
The Sorting Hat sat on a small three legged wooden stool in the Great Hall. This same Hat has been placed upon the heads of every first year student since the beginning of the school, over a Millennium ago.
With each student the Hat read the minds of the student and placed them in the House that was appropriate for them, or that they'd asked for.
For EVERY student this has been the case.
Except for one.
Hermione was asked to come forward and sit on the stool to be sorted, which she did. But, she'd not sat down nor had she had the Hat placed upon her head when there came a White Light descending down upon her. It encompassed her mortal frame completely round about her entirely. The ceiling opened up and there descending upon them were enumerable concourses of Angels seen descending, surrounding Hermione!
A man with a long white beard, dressed in robes with bare feet came walking towards Hermione, who was seen smiling.
"Hello, Father," Hermione said as she wrapped her arms around him resting her head upon his shoulder.
He looked at her for the longest time, when He finally said, "My Daughter, My Grace rests upon you, in whom I'm very proud of. My daughter, learn again your lessons and all you've asked of me will be given unto you, even your husband, and your Son whom you've had in your previous life here, who are now with you here. Again, you'll be a family."
With that said, He gathered the Light around Himself along with the concourses of His Angels and withdrew, leaving the entire Great Hall, it's occupants, absolutely speechless. Every eye was upon Hermione. And a few unanswered questions.
The silence was overwhelming. Everyone turned around and looked around them, settling their eyes on Hermione. She just smiled while looking at the Headmaster and nodding her head briefly turned in her seat and 'tucked in' to her evening meal. It was then that the whispering started, not loudly, but quietly, for never had any of them expected such an announcement. Well, there was that one special red headed boy whom Hermione just reached her hand over to him, taking his hand in hers, and holding. She turned to him, scooting a little closer to him "James, I still love you, my darling husband. That'll never change. We're back home now, so, don't worry. We'll take care of each other." Those who were sitting close to Hermione heard her!