Disclaimer: JKR owns all things Harry Potter…I just swim in her pool : )
AN: I thank all my readers, who make me feel special. Please help me out with
the reviews. It really makes my day.
It was yet again another dreary day in Little Whining, Surrey. Hermione Jane Granger was lonely and in desperate need of her only friend, Harry Potter. He had disappeared that fateful day four years ago, and try as she might, Hermione could not find him.
While dreaming she caught glimpses of him in strange robes and performing what appeared to the young girl to be some form of ritual one might find in martial arts studios. She could never quite reach through the thin veil of "fog" as she termed the invisible barrier that kept him from hearing her cries as she tried to call his attention to her.
At first her parents had sent her to therapy, during which the doctors were trying to convince her that her Harry was not real, and that what happened never did.
Why would they do that? Simply put, the strange investigators woke from the stasis Harry had put them in and done something that made everyone forget about Harry. She couldn't imagine what they had done, but she refused to cooperate so the school administrators suggested therapy, citing possible schizophrenia. Hermione was not crazy. So she simply stopped talking about her Harry, except in her dreams and her diary.
She had checked out every book she could find about paranormal phenomena and even occult mythos like Wicca and such. She being in a more secular family took to the ways of Wicca with very little resistance. She meditated and strengthened her connection to the Mother daily. She celebrated the solstices and equinox; she performed rituals to help heighten her senses and even began scrying. All the while she did this to search for her Harry.
She also had convinced her parents to take her to a local martial arts studio, where she began training. She wanted to learn for two reasons, one being with Harry gone, she never wanted to be a victim again, and the second being that she knew Harry was training in this manner, so if she wanted to have common ground with him, she needed this. She actually found that she was quite good at this ju-jitsu and aikido. She won a few tournaments and found that the bullies left her alone as she was pictured in the newspaper and even was interviewed once on a television spot for the Disney Channel about children who can do extraordinary things.
Was she obsessed? Maybe she was a tad bit, but someone as kind and wonderful as Harry Potter just didn't come into her life to save from the bullies and then leave without saying goodbye. Could have taken her with him? The events from that day became hazy after they left Mdme. Weis's office, though Hermione could remember vividly everything that led to Harry's and her disappearance, but she just recalled having woke up in her own bedroom with no trace of Harry.
That just begged to leave more questions than answers. How could her memory fail her when she can recall with perfect clarity every detail of every day since her earliest memories? Something was not right.
This day was definitely shaping out to be strange. It was mid August and the summer heat was almost unbearable, so Hermione decided to meditate while floating in the pool. She had found her center and organized her mind much like a library. She looked up the date much as she had many times before and opened the book that covered her memories of that day. She noticed something different however, there were page numbers, and her book was missing a chapter- an entire chapter! She searched until she found a locked drawer in one of the desks in her library. She tried to open it or find a key, but it would not budge. Frustrated yet somewhat relieved at her newest discovery, Hermione exited her mind and ended her meditation. She was toweling dry when she heard a voice call out, "Hello! Is this the Granger residence?"
Hermione quickly dressed and responded, "Yes, may I help you with anything?"
She noticed a tall woman with graying blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in the most ridiculous antique school marm outfit, complete with what looked like a witch's hat. She had a parcel in hand and her eyes instilled a sense of kindness and nurturing, while projecting an air of wisdom and authority.
The woman smiled and answered, "Yes, I was wondering if I might speak to you and your parents about a wonderful opportunity. You see Hermione, my name is Professor McGonagall, and I am the Deputy Headmistress of a school for gifted students like you."
Hermione was curious, but cautious, "Ah, I see. Why don't I let you come inside with me, and we'll discuss this over a cuppa?"
Prof. McGonagall smiled kindly and answered, "I'd be delighted to join you."
Hermione smiled back and then her face going serious she asked, "So do you follow the path of Mother?"
Professor McGonagall was taken aback but quickly recovered, "As a society, no, but personally, I am a priestess of the Highland sisterhood. And having you ask that makes me feel like this visit may be an even more pleasant experience. You have great power young acolyte, but we will discuss that later in private. Now let's go get that cuppa, because it is sweltering out here."
Hermione giggled, "Sorry, Professor. Sometimes my curiosity runs away with itself. Follow me and welcome to our home, sister of my heart." She finished the ritual greeting with the customary kiss to each cheek and head bow.
Prof. McGonagall responded, "I bless thee thrice, young sister and thank you for your honor of our Mother. May she guide you in your quest for truth and shelter you in the face of the darkness."
Hermione set about fixing the tea and then called out, "Mom! Daddy! We have a visitor in the den. She's here to discuss my educational opportunities!"
Hermione's parents came downstairs and greeted the professor as Hermione brought the tea set into the den and set it on the table. "Mom, Daddy, this is Professor McGonagall, Professor, these are my parents Dan and Emma Granger."
Professor McGonagall responded, "How do you do? I hope I haven't intruded upon anything of import?"
Hermione responded, "No ma'am, however how do you take yours?"
Prof. McGonagall said, "I take mine with honey and milk please."
Hermione quickly fixed the cup and handed it to the professor, and hen fixed her parents and herself one as well.
Once seated, Professor McGonagall began, "Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. My name is Minerva McGonagall, and I am current the teacher of Transfiguration, Head of the Gryffindor House and deputy Headmistress of the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry." As he spoke she had produced a small wooden stick and a few swishes and flicks and the tea set was dancing about the air above the table, and one of the plates became a beautiful butterfly, and then she made a short slash and they all returned to their original positions as if nothing had happened.
Hermione's parents were stunned, they were both dentists and their scientific minds were trying to rationalize what had just happened, but Hermione just chuckled and she gushed, "That explains everything! Where is he?"
Prof. McGonagall looked puzzled, "I beg your pardon, but where is whom?"
Hermione was excited as she responded, "I knew those agents weren't normal. They had to have taken him somewhere! Where is Harry? Is he going to be attending?"
Again confused, Prof. McGonagall asked, "Harry, as in Harry Potter? How do you know Mr. Potter?"
Hermione told the Professor her tale, and the woman began muttering and cursing in a Scottish brogue. "Well, Miss Granger, Harry Potter is very special to our world, but no one has been able to find him in the past four years. He is scheduled to attend, but we have no way of knowing if he will show. I told them that those Dursleys were no good!"
Hermione's parents finally recovered and her mother responded, "So magic is real, and this Harry boy is real, also?"
Prof. McGonagall responded, "Very much so, as his parents were two of my brightest pupils, almost like my own children to me. Harry's parents were unfortunately murdered by an evil wizard when he was but a wee babe, and he would have been killed as well, but something happened and the dark spell rebounded on the evil wizard, leaving harry an orphan with a strange scar on his forehead. But in short, he will be entering our school this term, should we be able to find him."
Hermione turned to her parents, "Then I have to attend, he's my best friend! I have to see him! Please let me go!"
Her parents exchanged a look of skepticism, but seeing the almost overwhelming need in their daughter's eyes, they answered, "Well, it seems as if the Professor here is trying to inform us that you are a witch, so I would assume it would be highly dangerous to leave you untrained. You may attend, but you had better find a way to keep in touch."
Hermione launched herself into their arms crying in relief, "Oh thank you, thank you!"
Prof. McGonagall handed them a letter and a list of supplies and with that she stood and spoke, "Now let's go get your supplies."
They were whisked away to a dingy pub in London called the Leaky Cauldron, and then made their way out the back. After Prof. McGonagall took out her wand and touched a pattern of bricks, the wall opened revealing a bustling street that looked to be straight out of a Dickens novel. The people were wearing attire similar to the Professor and seemed to busily making their way form storefront to storefront. The Grangers followed Prof. McGonagall to the head where a strange white building with columns stood. The sign labeled it Gringott's. Prof. McGonagall explained that the goblins ran the bank for the wizards and witches, and that they needed to convert their money to galleons before shopping.
After a quick exchange at the counter, the group went to each store purchasing various items on the list, though Hermione's favorite one was the book store Flourish & Blotts, where she selected books on everything she could imagine. After the shopping was done, they went to Ollivander's Wands. The shop was very homey in nature, filled with boxes stacked upon shelves, looking much like a shoe store. They were greeted by a kindly old man.
He was wearing a tweed sweater vest and Benjamin Franklin bifocals, he spoke up. "Ah, Professor McGonagall, it is so nice to see you again. I almost forgot it was that time of year. Well, let's have it, who is getting a wand today? This pretty young lady here, I presume?"
Hermione answered, "Yes sir, My name is Hermione Granger."
The old man began gathering a strange measuring tape and a few assorted items and then asked, "So which is your wand arm, Miss Granger?"
Hermione extended her right arm and answered, "I write with my right hand, so I would assume my right arm, sir."
Olivander took the measurements and opened a small box handing the wand to Hermione. He encouraged her, "Go on, give it a wave, the wand chooses the wizard, so you'll feel it when we have your wand."
Hermione took the wand and gave it a swish like she had seen Prof. McGonagall do at the house. The feeling was incredible and the sparks danced merrily from its tip.
Ollivander applauded and spoke with glee, "Oh, a perfect match for you, 10 inches, vinewood with dragon heartstring, a great wand for charms, transfiguration and intricate spellwork. You are going to do great things one day!"
Hermione paid the fee and the party ended the trip with a trip to Fortescue's for ice cream before returning home. Hermione rushed to her room and began reading her books. She was fascinated by Arithmancy, Runes and wandless magics, which she found herself having a deep affinity for each of those subjects.
However, the real reason behind her enthusiasm was that she was going to finally find her Harry, so she poured herself into the new knowledge hoping to impress him with her abilities. She drifted to sleep that night with her nose in a book about mind magics, dreaming of soft raven hair and deep emerald eyes. This was the first night she began to realize that there was more to her feelings for him than just a simple friendship. She was totally and completely in love with him, but was much too young to quite understand what those feelings meant.
The question she wanted to know was where had he been, and would she be seeing him again next week?