~This story hasn't been updated in more than 3 years. To those who have followed from the beginning – I'm sorry. To those just joining us – welcome!
~Honestly I forgot that I had started writing this, until I started seeing reviews pop up over the last few months.
~For those of you who encouraged me to update even after 3 years – this is for you.
JK Rowling owns all the characters, I'm just taking them on a play date for the chapter.
~2~
For Minerva McGonagall the visit to her old student Diana did not go exactly as planned. She figured dropping off Hermione's letter would give her a chance to catch up with one of her favorite students and meet her new student before she arrived at Hogwarts. Minerva did not expect what happened next. To find out that the most high profile student Hogwarts would educate in the upcoming years, would be coming to the school on September 1st with the alias of a muggle born child was astounding to her. She hoped that Diana and Charles understood the stigma that still existed towards muggle born children at Hogwarts; this would not make life easy for Hermione. All Minerva knew what that she immediately needed up update Albus with this information. With that thought Minerva immediately apparated from the back garden of Kensington Cottage to the front gates of Hogwarts. She knew they were going to need all of the preparation time they could get.
~~PR~~
Back at Kensington Cottage the newly 11-year-old Hermione Anne Kensington, Princess of Wales, was nearly vibrating with excitement while holding her Hogwarts letter.
"Its okay Hermione, you can let it out. Charles, I was just as excited when I got my letter. It's a very joyous time" said Diana while laughing at her daughters' who was currently jumping up and down while yelling with joy. She hadn't even opened the letter yet and Hermione was more excited than either of her parents had ever seen her. Diana was smiling thinking about the time she received her Hogwarts letter while Charles was thinking of his first lesson in magic.
"Charles, if she is like this now, imagine how she will be stepping into Diagon Alley next weekend?"
"I am glad we will be there to see her reaction, even if we will have to be under the Polyjuice Potion" exclaimed Charles.
"Charles, I think that memory will be worthy of the Pensive so we can show it to Hermione years from now!" Diana laughed.
Hermione was beginning to settle down. She seemed to finally realize that she had not even opened her letter yet. She looked to her parents for permission to open the letter before proceeding. Charles and Diana smiled and nodded to her to go ahead and open her letter. Hermione's' smile got even brighter as she read her letter aloud to her parents.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear HRH Hermione Anne Elizabeth Kensington of Wales,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"Mum, do we have to send an owl? We have already talked to Professor McGonagall." Asked Hermione.
"Although we have spoke to her we will still send her an owl to follow protocol. Also it will help keep up appearances with your muggle born persona." Diana explained as Hermione nodded her head in agreement while still reading her Hogwarts letter.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
"Oh, mummy, do we have to wait until this weekend to go pick up supplies? I would really like to read these books and start learning all I can about Hogwarts"
"Remember dear, you can only go out in the magical world as your alias and we haven't completed that yet." Diana explained to her daughter.
"Oh alright." Hermione said disappointedly.
"But my darling, I do have something that will keep you busy until next weekend." Diana said as she walked away. When her mum came back Hermione noticed her carrying one large, leather bound book. She handed the book to Hermione and said, "This should keep you busy until we head to Diagon Alley next weekend."
Diana handed Hermione her old and battered copy of Hogwarts a History. "This was given to me after I received my letter. It's sort of a tradition in my family and I wanted to do the same for you." Diana smiled.
Hermione looked to her mum, hugged her and ran with the book to her room so she could start reading right away.
Charles looked at Diana and said, "Well we won't be seeing her for the rest of the week…" Diana smiled, laughed and gave her husband a hug.
~~PR~~
Meanwhile at Hogwarts, Minerva had finally made her way to Albus' office. She took a moment to breathe, gather her thoughts, and then gave the password "Snickers Bar" to the gargoyle. She wasn't sure how Albus was going to take this conversation but she knew they didn't really have any time to waste. Now at the top of the staircase Minerva had knocked on the door and was waiting patiently for Albus to answer. She opened the door upon hearing the telltale "Come in." from Albus.
"Ah, Minerva! Lemondrop?"
"Hello Albus. No thank you"
"So Minerva, you're back earlier than I expected you to be. How was your visit with Diana?"
Minerva took a deep breath, preparing to explain the brevity of her day to Albus.
"Oh no, what happened?"
"Lets just say that my visit with Diana and Charles didn't go as I had expected it to."
"Have they chosen to stick with the home school curriculum that the Royals have followed in the past?
"No, no, nothing like that Albus. Hermione will still attend Hogwarts. Just not at HRH Hermione Anne Elizabeth Kensington of Wales."
"Alright Minerva. You have my attention, what do you mean?"
"Due to the prominence of the Royal family in the muggle world, and the Kensington family in pureblood society, the family has decided to take extra security precautions with Hermione to Hogwarts as she is the first member of the Royal Family to seek a Hogwarts education."
"Now Minerva, did you tell them that there is no place safer than Hogwarts?"
"Yes, yes I did. They still insisted."
"Well then, we are really in no place to argue with the Royal family. What extra security precautions do they wish us to take?"
Minerva looked at Albus, the tension, curiosity and wonderment all clearly visible on the older wizards face. Minerva continued and was about to tell Albus what he really needed to know.
" While the girl will be attending Hogwarts, she will be doing so under the alias of Hermione Jean Granger, the muggle born daughter of two dentists. They have been working on this alias for years they told me. They also said that as of now the only people who will know Hermione's true identity at Hogwarts are you and I Albus."
Albus looked at Minerva completely dumbfounded. "Well this is surely going to make for an interesting seven years. So they understand that there is still a stigma against muggle borns"
"I'm not sure if they do but Diana is smart and I don't think that anything we tell them will change their minds. Yes I'm sure these upcoming years will be fairly interesting. I'm glad I went to visit Diana and Charles today. We are going to need all the time we have before she starts at school to ensure that the castle enchantments only detect her as Hermione Granger."
"That is correct. This is going to take a lot of work with the wards. It's going to take a lot of effort to ensure that the other professors do not realize all of the extra attention we will have to pay to the wards this year."
"You sir, are correct. One more thing." Minerva said as she pointedly looked at Albus. "Charles and Diana at this time have no intention of ever revealing Hermione's identity."
"Well then Minerva, we must ensure that we do not fail on our end. I do not want to know what sort of damage there would be to the Magical and Muggle world if the Princesses true identity was revealed."
Minerva nodded her head at Albus and excused herself. She had OWL Transfiguration homework to grade and she wasn't sure if Albus could handle any more information today.
Albus Dumbledore watched Minerva walk out of his office. He then slouched down in his chair, looked at Fawkes, his Phoenix familiar, and said "Well Fawkes, I don't even know if it's possible to manipulate the Magic of the castle in the manner we need to for the Princess." Dumbledore walked across his office to the bar cart hidden in the back left corner and poured himself a generous glass of Ogden's Fire Whisky, based on the conversation he had with Minerva he was sure he'd would be going through a lot of the beverage this upcoming year. This year was definitely going to be interesting for the Headmaster and his Deputy, and they haven't even had to visit Harry Potter yet.