It had been a few days since Hermione had arrived at McGonagall Castle, and she couldn't believe how much the place felt like home. She had her problems sleeping at night. She would wake up in a cold sweat and scream in her sleep, but Minerva and Richard were always there to help her get back to sleep even Granny at times.

Hermione ran down the stairs with her purple beaded bag over her shoulder. She was ready to go to Diagon Alley to get her school supplies. She hoped to run into some first year students. She would have someone to sit with on the train.

"There you are Lassy. Breakfast is on the table." said Granny as she poured herself another cup of strong coffee.

"Where's Richard?" asked Hermione after she took her potions.

"He was called into work." said Minerva as she entered the dinning room. She saw Hermione's smile turn down into a frown. "He'll be meeting us for lunch at Three Broomsticks. He promised."

Hermione smiled and nodded her head and fixed her small plate of food. Minerva sat down next to the young witch and poured herself a cup of coffee. She fixed herself a plate of food and the three witches at in a comfortable silence. Minerva pushed her plate away and picked up her coffee cup and sat back and smiled at the young girl that sat next to her. She couldn't believe how much one little witch could make her smile so in just a few short days.

"Granny are you coming too?" asked Hermione.

"Only if you want me too Lassy." said the elderly woman and Hermione nodded happily. "Then it's settled I'll go with you."

"Great," and Hermione hurried with a breakfast wanting to get to Diagon Alley soon as possible.

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Annabelle leaned on her cane as she made her way through the streets of Diagon Alley. She smiled at the thought of seeing her old friend Ollivander, the wand maker. It had been along time since she had been out of the castle. She normally had Richard or Minerva pick up her items, but she wanted Hermione's first shopping trip to be remember able with the whole family.

"Lassy, let's get you fitted for your robes. So then they will ready by the time we finish our shopping." said Annabelle and Minerva nodded in agreement.

The trio entered Madame Merkin's Robes For All Occasions. The seamstress looked away from the young boy she was fitting and smiled.

"I'll be with you in a moment Minerva. I'm just finishing up with a first year here."

Hermione studied the boy that was being fitted for his robes. He had short messy black hair, fare skin, bright green eyes behind a pair of round glass. He was tall and skinny. He had a light blot scar on his forehead.

"Harry dear are you all most done?" asked a lady with blonde hair, long neck and slender womanly figure.

"Almost Aunt Petunia and then we can go get the rest of my books and stuff. I hate Dudley couldn't come with us. He would have loved this place." said Harry.

"There you are Mr. Potter all done. It will done in hour. Thank you."

"Thank you Madame Merkin. It was nice to meet you." said Harry as he got down off the stool and bumped into Hermione. "Oh sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you. Is this your first year too?"

"Harry we must get going. You know Dudley when he's sick. He hates it. So come along. Get the girl's name and sit with her on the train." said Petunia.

"Yes ma'am. Hi I'm Harry Potter. I hate to run but my cousin is sick at home and we have to get back. What's your name?"

"Hermione Granger." she said quietly.

"Nice to meet you Hermione. I'll send you an owl later. We can get to know each other before school starts. I don't know anyone."

"Harry James Potter let's go." snapped his aunt.

"Sorry I really must go. Bye." said Harry and he left the store with his aunt in tow.

Hermione looked after the young wizard and smiled. He wanted to write her and get to know her before the school year started. She would have one friend. She would have someone to sit with on the train.

"Now, Minerva what can I do for you? Do you need new dress robes?"

Minerva rested her hands on Hermione's shoulders. "Natalie this is Hermione. She will starting her first year at Hogwarts. She will need school robes please."

"Ah, see Dumbledore stuck you with helping the muggleborn first years again. Well come on dear step up on the stool and let's get you measured."

Hermione ducked slightly behind Minerva and Annabelle and wrapped her arms around Minerva's waist. Minerva turned her head and whispered in the young girl's ear and she nodded her head. Hermione's stepped onto the stool and Natalie measured Hermione for her robes. She told them that the robes would be ready in an hour and half. Minerva nodded and they left the store.

"Now to Gringotts Bank. You remember what I told you about the goblins Hermione?" asked Minerva.

"Yes ma'am." said Hermione as they made their way to the bank. "You speak when asked and-bow slightly in greeting."

"Correct. Here we go." said Minerva and they entered through the guarded double doors.

The bank was huge unlike anything Hermione had ever seen. The ceiling was crafted beautiful out of glass with long marble counters with lines of goblins. They were slightly ugly creatures with strange ears, pointed noses and sharp teeth. They were extremely short. She remember reading not to anger a goblin because they had their own kind of magic and laws.

"Duchess McGonagall, what an honor to have you visiting the bank today." said a teller goblin. "I'll go get Manger Riphook." He nodded slightly and jumped down from his tall stool and quickly left and returned with the manger of the bank.

Riphook was slightly taller then the other goblins with pointed ears, pointing nose and sharp teeth. He wore finely cut robes with a sword strapped to his waist.

"Duchess McGonagall what pleasure. Please come with me and we shall get you what you need. Professor McGonagall pleasure. And you are young lady?"

Hermione bowed her head slightly in greeting. "Hermione Granger. I'm staying with Professor and Mr. McGonagall and Duchess McGonagall."

He nodded his head and led the three witches to his office. The office was large with a three armchairs in front of the desk. And shelves lined the walls and a small chandelier hung from the celing.

"Please have a seat." said Riphook as he motioned to the chairs.

They sat down and waited for the goblin. Annabelle patted Hermione's hand gently. She turned to the goblin and said, "I wish to set up an account for Hermione."

"You don't have to do that! I don't need one! I don't deserve it." she whispered the last sentence.

Annabelle turned to the young girl that had been through hell her short life. "You listen to me Lassy, I'm going to set you up an account here. Minerva is nodding in agreement with me. You will have amount you may take out a month. I will get notifications on what you get through the invoices. This will teach you how to mange your money. I won't be around forever so I want you taken care of." She told Hermione. "Please hand me piece of parchment. I will write down what I want done with this special account."

"Of course My Lady," and the goblin handed it over to the elderly woman.

Annabelle wrote out in perfect elegant script 100,000,000 galleons and Hermione was allowed 50 galleons a month except on special permission from Annabelle, Minerva or Richard to with drawl more. They would add more to account gradually as the months go.

"There that should do it." said Annabelle handing the paper over to the manger. "She may take out 100 galleons today. This will pay for her school supplies and have money for the train."

"Of course Madame." said Riphook and quickly set up the account and handed Hermione pouch of gold coins.

"Thank you Riphook. May your gold flow freely and your enemies bath in their blood."

"Live fully My Lady." said Riphook and handed Hermione her key to her vault, and the witches left the bank.

Hermione couldn't believe that Annabelle, Granny had opened up her an account and gave her so much money. She was a bad girl a freak and freaks didn't get things. She shook her head to clear her mind from what Jane and John had told her. She wasn't going to let them ruin her day out. She was going to enjoy herself.

"Now where to?" asked Hermione once she had shaken herself from her own personally hell.

Minerva smiled, "Ollivander's." She motioned the wand shop. "There's none finer. Isn't that right Anna," and she threw her mother-in-law a knowing wink.

"Oh hush you." said Annabelle blushing slightly.

Hermione giggled at the elderly lady, who apparently had a crush on the wand maker. She pushed open the door and bell ringed on the door. She gasped at the sight of the man. He wild gray hair, sliver eyes and slender figure and wore wizard's robes. The man's eyes stunned her because she had never seen sliver eyes.

"My dear Annabelle McGonagall. What pleasure to see you." said Ollivander and kissed the lady's hand. "You still have yet to reply to my owl. Have you thought of what I've asked you?"

"I'm still thinking on the question Reed. I'm old lady." said Annabelle.

Ollivander leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I've never stopped loving you Anna. I will wait a lifetime for your answer. Please don't let a second chance at happiness pass you by." He kissed her cheek and turned to the other ladies in the shop. "Hello Professor McGonagall, who do we have here? A new muggleborn you're showing around. Good. Good. Now let's get you measured. Which is your wand arm?" Hermione held out her right hand. Very good."

Mr. Ollivander let the magical measuring tape measure Hermione as he went to the back to get several boxes of wands. He sat them down on the counter. He told the measuring tape to stop and it landed on the floor with a thump. He handed Hermione a wand of willow bark and dragon heart string.

"Well, give it a wave." said Mr. Ollivander.

Hermione flicked her wand and made vase shatter. "Sorry Mr. Ollivander. I didn't mean to it just happened. I'll pay for it."

"Nonsense child. It can be repaired. It happens all the time. Shall we continue?" said Ollivander taking the wand from Hermione.

After several wands being tested and wands and paperwork flying all over the place Mr. Ollivander sighed heavily. This witch was tricky customer. Even more so then Harry Potter.

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Severus stood in his private lab at Hogwarts finishing up the list for Poppy for the up coming year. He shook his head at the amount of potions that the nurse went through during the year. He stopped at mid-cut of a fine daisy root when he felt disappointment and fear roll over him. He had used his natural ability in Occumency and Legmency to block Hermione's over flow of emotions. He knew it wasn't good to run to her with each nightmare that woke him up in a cold sweat. He had even slipped into her dream state during his sleep without even realizing it and saw the horror that John and Jane had but Hermione through. He sighed remembering receiving Minerva's letter that she was taking Hermione to Diagon Alley to get her school supplies. He sat his knife down on the table and pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it open and read the time. He nodded the ladies were in Diagon Alley and Hermione must be having a few doubts.

"A small break will not hurt." said Severus. He turned off everything and left Hogwarts for Diagon Alley.

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"It's all right Mr. Ollivander. I guess you just don't have a wand for me." said Hermione sadly as she looked at her feet.

Minerva looked over at Annabelle, who was sitting in a chair leaning against her cane. The transfiguration professor sighed heavily and knelt down until she was eyelevel with Hermione and gently rested both hands on the girl's shoulders.

"Hermione, your magic is just all over the place right now. That is why wanted to wait a few days before bringing you shopping. Your core is still healing from everything."

"You mean everything John and Jane did to me my magic was helping me?" said Hermione in awe.

"Yes Kitten and it will take awhile to let things heal."

"Ok Minnie." said Hermione gently.

Just then Severus walked into the wand shop and Hermione felt like everything inside of her that was like waves on a wild ocean finally calmed. She smiled at the dark headed man and Minerva rose to her full height and nodded grateful that he had arrived at the store.

Minerva mouthed, "Thank you," and he nodded.

"Let's try one more time Reed." said Annabelle. "This could be our lucky one over here." She pointed to the Potions Master.

"Very well Anna. Let me see what I have in the back," and the wand maker left for the back of the shop. He returned with a very old box in his hands. "Here we are one of my very first wands I ever made Miss Granger." He opened and pulled out a very beautiful crafted deep mahogany oxen wood. "This wand contains two cores of Thesral hair and a rare honey suckle vine. Only one with rare power can reel its power." explained the wand maker and handed it over to the young witch.

Hermione took a deep breath and took the wand from the wizard after getting a nod from Severus. She smiled when she felt warmth flow through her body and sparks of gold and green shot from the wand.

"Bravo Lassy." said Annabelle with a bright smile on her face. She winked at Mr. Ollivander who held a shocked expression on his face.

"Well, I'll be. Well done Miss Granger. You can keep the wand for free if Anna gives me the answer I seek to my question." said Ollivander.

"For heavens sake answer the man already Anna. You've made him wait for months. Please say yes or no, and you know you are still living with us." said Minerva and smiled.

Annabelle rose to her full height with Severus's help and she walked around the counter and smiled at her one time childhood love. She whispered in his ear. "Yes, Reed Ollivander I will marry you."

The man smiled brightly at his love and pulled her into a heated kiss. Hermione's mouth fell open in shock. She asked Minerva what was going on, and she informed the young witch that Annabelle and Mr. Ollivander had been childhood sweethearts and he had let her go to marry Richard's mother because they had an arranged marriage. Then once Thomas McGonagall had died twenty years ago they started writing each other and formed their loving relationship back.

"Oh, it's almost like a romance novel." giggled Hermione snapping the elderly couple out of their embrace.

"Let's finish your shopping and we'll meet Richard for lunch. Anna do you want to stay here? We'll get you before we eat." suggested Minerva.

"Of course that will be fine. Off you three go." said Annabelle with her arms wrapped around Reed's neck and the trio left the loving couple in their embrace.

45 minutes later…

They entered Three Broomsticks. Richard rose the large table that he had saved for everyone. He smiled and greeted his wife with a kiss on the cheek. Annabelle was helped to her seat by Reed who sat down beside her. Severus sat down next to Hermione and Minerva next Richard.

Hermione told Richard about her shopping and Granny setting her up an account. Richard smiled and nodded in approval. She went onto detail in how hard it was to find her wand. Richard listen and hung on every word the young witch said to him.

Richard patted Hermione' hand and said, "I'm glad you had a great time. Maybe Harry will turn into a good friend. Oh have something for you." He leaned over and sat back up with a cadge and a beautiful black cat sat in the cadge. "You can name her anything you wish."

Hermione gasped and took the kitten from the cadge to get a better look at her. She was jet black with bright blue eyes. The cat meowed at it's new owner. "Oh, look at you. You're so pretty. Oh, I know Midnight. Do you like that?" The cat purred at the loving attention from its owner.

"Richard, you didn't have to do that." said Minerva.

"Don't worry Tabby. She won't trouble your feline side." said her husband and she nodded in approval.

After a nice lunch Richard returned to work to finish off some last minute paperwork before heading home. Severus returned to Hogwarts to finish his potions. Annabelle said goodbye to her now future husband, and Mr. Ollivander returned to the wand shop and the ladies returned to McGonagall Castle after a nice day out.

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