I'm sorry this took so long...

The summer was long and hard and Hermione did her best to keep up appearances for her parents sake. A story was begun, for all of England, that the princess was soon to start boarding school. She was the center of attention at a few going away parties in the last week before her departure.

September First came quickly and Hermione was up and dressed in her school robes next to her packed case all before seven. She took out one of the many school books she read fifty times and started reading again. The book, Hogwarts: A History. The school sounded amazing.

Every book she ever read, that included castles, dragons, elves, centaurs, and pixies, was everything she ever imagined her life to be. Each time she read this book, she learned something new. The magic was enticing. It took everything in her to not pick up her wand and start waving it around.

Her parents joined her in her room privately to say goodbye. They showered her with hugs and kisses before her mother handed her a box.

"Mama?"

"To keep your identity safe, we can not send you with anything that reminds you of your status as a princess. But I had this made for you and I want you to keep it close."

Hermione nodded and placed the box on her lap, before pulling the top off. Inside was a soft Teddy Bear. It wasin a pink dress with a tiara stitched to its head. "Mama, I love it."

She pulled her mother into a hug and hugged her tight. "I will miss you, Hermione."

"And I you, Mama" She soon pulled her father into a hug too, "I'll miss you too, Daddy."

A small pop echoed in the room. "Professor?"

"Yes, your highness, I am here to get you to the school."

"Professor, it might be a good time to drop the royal formalities."

"As you wish, Miss Granger."

With a final hug, Hermione clutched her new teddy bear and Professor McGonagall grabbed her trunk. "This way."

She stepped into the vacant fireplace and Hermione joined her. McGonagall pulled a small cinched leather sack and pulled a handful of ashy grey dust. As she threw it down, she clearly yelled Hogwarts.

The pulling feeling initially made Hermione sick but she was too fascinated to close her eyes asshe watched colors fly by before she landed on her feet in the middle of oppulant room. a giant desk stood in the middle of the platform. Trinkets and gadgets filled all the wooden cabinets taking up every bit of wall in the room. The stone floor was showing out from under an ornate rug.

A giant red bird flocked his wings perched on the desk. "That is a Phoenix. A bird that is reborn from its own ashes. It belongs to the Headmaster."

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yes, Miss Granger, come on, I'll give you a tour of the castle. We will eat lunch in the Great Hall and I will leave you in the library until the sorting ceremony would that be alright?"

"Yes, please."

After a tour, which lasted well over an hour, she stopped in entryway of the castle. "Miss Granger, we must stop a moment."

She followed in behind her and watched as McGonagall pull out her wand. A few uttered words and a bright yellow light came out and covered Hermione.

"What was that?"

"A glamour of sorts. It doesn't change your physical features, but it does change others perceptions of your past. I did some research and it was easier to change you than to come up with a spell to cover the entire castle. You will need to come to me once a month to renew the glamour."

Hermione nodded and followed her into the Great Hall to see one long table filled with adults of all types. Before sitting down McGonagall set to introducing all of them.

"Miss Granger, this is Madam Pince, the librarian. Madam Pomfrey, she is the healer. Madam Hooch, she teaches flying and is the referee for Quidditch games, This is Professor Flitwick... and finally this is the headmaster Professor Dumbledore."

He stood and extended his hand, "I'm very pleased to meet you, sir."

"As I am you, Miss Granger."

After they had all sat down to a delicious meal, Professor McGonagall called on Madam Pince. "Are you headed back to the library?"

"For a little while, Professor."

"Would you mind escorting Miss Granger down there, so as to keep her occupied until the sorting?"

"Of course, Miss Granger, follow me." Hermione fell into step behind Madam Pince.

R+R