-DISCLAIMER- I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does, though she doesn't seem to mind loaning him out thank goodness :) Reviews appreciated!

November flew by; as I spent every spare moment in the library searching for Flamel. Harry and Ron joined the hunt most often but we had yet to turn up anything. The first week of December arrived, and we were still searching.

"These look promising!" I remarked, dropping a stack of books on their study table.

Harry set aside Magical Theory and picked up the top one to peruse.

"I wish I could remember where I've heard Flamel before." He lamented.

Ron growled and crossed something out on his homework. I flick my wand at the essay and the mark fades. He holds out the essay with a pleading look. With a sigh a sit next to Ron and begin looking over his essay.

After half an hour Harry is glaring at the unhelpful book in hand, and I hand back Ron's essay.

"That's a lot of red!" Ron exclaims.

"Well you need to read the source material I bit more closely, its draught of the living death not drops. Just rewrite it with the corrections and you should be fine."

Ron begrudgingly pulls a clean piece of parchment towards him. I snatch up a book from the pile and join Harry.

I read through two books both with mentions of Dumbledore but none of Nicolas Flamel. I drop the third book and stand up.

"Did you find him?" Harry asks.

I shake my head and gather up all the library books

"Lunchtime then?" Ron asks, hopefully.

"Yes Ron, though why you're so hungry I cannot fathom. I saw the snacks you've been sneaking. Be glad Madam Pince hasn't."

We head to the Great Hall and sit down. Professor McGonagall is making the rounds with the Christmas sign up sheet as we eat; Ron and Harry both sign up to stay over the holidays.

"Neither of you are going home?"

Ron shrugged. "Mum and Dad are going to see Charlie in Romania."

"I only wish I could stay at Hogwarts in the summer too." sighed Harry.

I frowned. "Won't you miss your Aunt and Uncle?"

He laughed darkly. "Miss them? Not in the least, they're horrid."

"Oh… I'm sorry." I pause, feeling awkward. "See you in Potions then?"

They nod and I head down to the dungeons alone.

I find myself shivering as I wait outside the classroom looking over my notes from the last class. I can't understand how wizards can fill Hogwarts with enchanted portraits and armor and have food magically appear on the house tables but they can't seem to heat the drafty old castle.

Footsteps echo from the stairwell and I am joined by a couple of Gryffindors and most of the Slytherins.

"Oh look!" called Pansy Parkinson, "It's the Granger creature!" She shrieked with laughter and the girls on either side of her giggled.

"Why's she a creature?" asked a blonde girl behind her.

Pansy glared. "Because, Daphne; She's got that great big nest she calls hair and teeth like a Grindylow!"

"Better that, than that thing you call a face Parkinson." Retorted Seamus Finnegan as he and the rest of the Gryffindors appear from the stairwell.

"5 points from Gryffindor, Mr. Finnegan. Starting early today; aren't you?" Snape replies through the now open class door.

With some grumbling we file into the classroom. Ron and Dean taking the station behind Harry and me.

As usual Snape waves his wand at the black board and the instructions appear. Today's is a Waking Draught. I copy it down and set to work.

Ten minutes in Harry interrupts me. "Is that two or three pods?" He rubs his glasses on his robe.

"It's five. Give those here." He hands them over and I cast; "Impervius!" on them. I hand them back.

Harry puts his glasses back on and lean over his cauldron, without them fogging up.

"Brilliant. When did you learn that one?"

I blushed. "I asked Professor McGonagall to teach me. I like to read in the bath."

He laughed. "How many books have you read since you got here Hermione? It's a wonder you have time for anything else!"

"I can teach you that spell tonight if you like. It should come in handy for Quidditch too."

"That would be great. I've had a terrible time of it lately with all the rain. How long does it last?"

"Depending on the casters skill and power, at least two hours." Harry looked discouraged, "Oh don't worry Harry, and you are quite good you just lack focus."

Harry nodded and resumed brewing as Snape swooped past.

By the end of class, my potion was exactly as described in Magical Drafts and Potions. To our mutual delight, Harry's was only a shade darker; Professor Snape only narrowed his eyes at Harry instead of insulting his ineptitude. After packing up I brought out a library book and read till the bell rang. Still reading, I let Harry lead me out of the dungeons and towards the Great Hall. We bumped into Hagrid on the way; I waved from behind my book, but stopped reading when Draco interrupted; provoking Ron to charge at him.

Professor Snape intervened, docking five points and waving away Hagrids defense of Ron. As Draco and his Head of House left, Harry let on that we had been looking into Flamel, infuriating Hagrid.

"Well if you want to give us another clue it would really speed up the process." Harry responded slyly.

Hagrid sputtered, "No… you're not… you already know too much! Stop meddlin'!"

Nevertheless he calmed down and led us into the Great Hall to see how the decorations were coming along.

After praising the décor I turned to leave, announcing,

"We have a bit of time now, let's head to the library." Hagrid glared at our retreating backs.

Christmas holidays arrived and for one I didn't want to leave the castle. Oh I missed my parents terribly, it's just that for once I was wanted somewhere else. Add to that it was at an enchanted castle that was decorated like every child's Christmas fantasy I was quite sad to be gathering in the Courtyard, everyone milling about and say their farewells and Happy Christmases.

I turned to Harry and Ron, who'd come out to see me off. "You'll write if you find Flamel?"

"Of course, Hermione. And you'll ask your parents?"

"Definitely, small chance they'll know as they're both dentists. But they did buy a few guides for parents of muggleborns, they might've picked up more from Flourish and Blotts."

Ron shook his head. "They can't have. You need a wand to open the portal behind The Leaky Cauldron. Floo powder probably doesn't work on Muggles either."

Disregarding Harry's question about floo powder, I burst out, "Well that's preposterous! How do they expect muggleborns to adjust to magical society if their families are discriminated against?"

Ron gave me a bewildered look and Harry frowned. The carriages started moving.

"Oh never mind. Here's my address, Harry." I pressed a note into his hand before awkwardly patting their arms.

I hopped into a carriage and watched my friends until pulled through the gates their waving forms disappeared. I turned around to face the other occupants. Fay Dunbar, my dorm mate was next to me and across was two Slytherins, Daphne Greengrass and an older student I didn't know. We rode to Hogsmeade station in awkward silence and parted ways as soon as the carriage rolled to a stop.

The scarlet Hogwarts Express was waiting and everyone boarded quickly, eager to get out of the cold. I passed Neville on my way done the train but he was already sitting with Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and a couple of second years.

Finding a compartment to myself I changed into jeans and a jumper, leaving my robe on for warmth, and curled up with History of Magic.

The whistle blew, the train lurched and started moving, racing towards London. I passed most of the journey pleasantly, until I dozed off while reading about Goblin politics, and was startled awake when my door slid open with a bang.

I leapt to my feet, knocking my book to the floor, to be faced with a Draco Malfoy, for once he wasn't flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Looking for something?" I demanded.

He looked at me as though I was something unpleasant on his shoe. "Good company, something not to be found in this compartment."

I snagged his sleeve as he turned to leave. "Wait. I just want to know why you hate us so much; Harry, Ron and I."

"I am a pureblooded and noble wizard. You're a muggleborn. The Weasleys are a bunch of blood traitors, mixing with muggleborns and the like." He sneered. "Oh and of course you're Gryffindors."

"That sounds like you're parroting someone else's opinions, not your own, And what about Harry?"

He yanked his sleeve out of my grip and exited, turning back to snarl "I don't have to justify myself to you, Mudblood."

"You're jealous of him!" I called, astonished.

I sat back down to mull it over. Why was Draco Malfoy jealous of Harry Potter? I suppose there were the obvious reasons of Harry being famous but it had to be more than that. I reached no more conclusions before the train pulled into King's Cross station. I disembarked and searched the platform for my parents.

I finally spotted them near and older lady with a ridiculous hat. I grinned and waved as I rushed to them.

"Sweetheart, we missed you so much!" exclaimed my father as he pulled me in for a hug.

"I missed you too." I replied breaking away to hug Mum.

"Shall we then?"

I nodded and Dad took my trunk, but I was stopped by a tug on my sleeve. I turned to see Neville, smiling nervously.

"Sorry Hermione, It's just that Gran wants to meet you."

"Not a problem Neville." I introduced him to my curious parents, but the same old lady with the ridiculous hat interrupted.

"My dear girl that is no way to introduce a young wizard with such a highly regarded family name."

Neville flushed, and mumbled "Hermione, this is Gran."

I blinked, and then replied. "Very nice to meet you, . I am Hermione Granger and I'm sorry to have caused offense I didn't know of Neville's family."

She frowned. "How could you not know? Oh of course… you must be the muggleborn Neville's told me of. In that case don't worry about it dear; really, you can't help not knowing these things."

I smiled sweetly. "Yes, I've discovered the wizarding world is ill-adjusted to helping those with muggle upbringing to integrate themselves into magical society."

Before Mrs. Longbottom could reply, Neville dragged her away sputtering, waving over his shoulder.

I linked arms with my bewildered parents and led them through the barrier and out to the car.

"Why were you rude to , Hermione?" asked Mum, as we pulled out of King's Cross.

I sighed. "Because it's true. I read all those books before the start of term, thinking it would help me fit in. Instead I was a know-it-all once again. Those books didn't teach wizarding social customs or things that Ron and other children in magical families grow up with, knowledge they take for granted. Harry has it even worse than me! He was made Seeker of the House Quidditch team without knowing how to play! And everyone seems to know more about it parents than he does." I stopped ranting, seeing the wide-eyed look on Mum's face.

"Oh sweety, you never said any of this in your letters, though we have only received one since Halloween." She smiled, but her brow was still furrowed with worry.

I blushed. "I'm sorry about that; I've just been so busy."

"Well we kind of figured that. But now you must tell us about Neville and those other boys you mentioned." Replied Dad, as we buckled into the Ford Sierra.

I grinned. "They're my friends."

Mum nearly jumped in her seat in excitement and I could see dad smiling in the rear-view mirror. I spent the drive home telling them about Neville, Ron, and Harry; heavily editing the troll incident of course.

My parents were over the moon to find how things had turned around for me socially, they may not have known the full extent of the struggles I had gone through with my peers before Hogwarts but they had a pretty good idea.

We pulled into the driveway finally, and I found my home looked smaller to me than it did four months ago, a side effect of living in a magical castle no doubt. With dad hefting my trunk out of the boot I followed mum inside and raced up to my room, collapsing on my bed, book bag and all.

With a contented sigh, I sat up admiring my bookshelves, taking in a beautiful new pine cabinet. I opened the doors and found the few magical texts I'd left behind already lined up on one shelf.

"Your father made that for your school books. Your Professor made their secrecy laws sound like such serious business, but putting all your stuff away in the attic seemed a bit extreme. We thought this would be sufficient, besides he wanted to build you something. We missed you."

I smiled, getting up and hugging her. "It's perfect."