A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Writing Club April

Assorted Appreciation: 8- Feature: Tattoo

Showtime: 1 - Overture: (plot point) getting ready for something

Amber's Attic: 25 - "I want someone provocative and talkative, but it's so hard when you're shallow as a shower."- "The Curse of Curves" by Cute is What We Aim For

Sophie's Shelf: 23 - Bliss Virus (Doctor Who) - Prompt: (word/emotion) Bliss

Scamander's case: 2 - (color) gold

Marvel Appreciation: 15 - Nakia - Prompt: Write about wanting to help someone.

Lyric Alley: 2 - Feeling like we're gold

Word Count:1544

The sun sparkled in the sky, a glaring gold ball in an otherwise azure sky. Hermione splashed through the surf, her laugh filling the salty air. The star on her back was visible with the open back of her bathing suit. It seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Hermione had never seen her own soulmark. She knew it was a star. She knew it was on her back, but so far, she had never wanted to look. She was kid, what did kids care about soulmates? What did kids care about gold and red stars on their backs?

"Hermione, we're getting ready to go," Mrs. Granger called. Hermione splashed through the surf again. The water lapping her bare feet. She didn't want to go home, not yet. She was having too much fun.

"Hermione, time to go!" her father yelled. Hermione sighed, grabbing one last sea shell before heading back to her parents.

"Do we have to?" she asked.

"Yes, we have to get going. I know, I wish our holiday could last forever too. But your father and I have to get back to work."

"Work is boring," Hermione stated.

"And you've got school."

"Also boring," Hermione complained. "One of the days, I want to do something exciting," she announced as her mum wrapped her in a beach towel. Mrs. Granger glanced at Hermione's soulmark wondering if her daughter would find the same wedded bliss she enjoyed.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"You're saying I've got magic? And that I can go to a magical school?" Hermione asked, her voice full of awe. When the woman had arrived on her parents' front porch, Hermione had thought she might be in trouble. The woman's face had been quite stern, but she seemed to have relaxed after the Grangers had invited her inside.

"Yes, Miss Granger, that is exactly what I said."

"Can I go, Mum? Please?"

"Your father, Professor McGonagall, and I will have to discuss it. Why don't you go read in your room for a bit?"

"Alright," Hermione sighed, grabbing her newest book. She slipped into her room, closing the door almost all the way. She sat by the door crack, trying to listen, but they were speaking too quietly. After a moment she gave up and actually started reading her book. She had managed to read three chapters before she heard her mother's footsteps outside the room. She scampered up from the floor and opened the door.

"How much did you hear?" Mrs. Granger asked, looking at Hermione sprawled across the floor. She had tripped over her own shoe laces.

"Nothing, you were too quiet," Hermione admitted. "So can I go to Hogwarts?"

"Yes, you can go. You'll be starting September First. Professor McGonagall explained to us how to get to a place called Diagon Alley to buy your supplies."

"Do I get a magic wand?" Hermione asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yes, your supply list does say you need a wand."

Hermione smiled, grabbing a pencil and pretending it was a wand.

"Off," she yelled, waving it at the overhead light. It flickered for a second before remaining on.

"Guess it only works with a proper wand," Hermione muttered, causing her mum to laugh.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Hermione felt the wand heat beneath her fingers. This was the fifth one she had tried, and now, it had picked her. She was a witch, a real witch. She held the wand as she twirled. Lights sparkled around her. The mark on her back also sparkled, although no one could see it. Hermione was unaware it was sparkling, unaware that her soulmate was somewhere in Diagon Alley. Absentmindedly, she scratched at the mark as she and her parents headed towards Madama Malkins' robes.

"Hold still so it can measure you correctly. You'll start solid black robes, but once you're sorted, you'll be able to accessorize."

Hermione nodded. She'd already been reading the book she gotten about Hogwarts. She wanted to know everything about her new school. She was hoping she'd be sorted into Ravenclaw, it sounded like the best of the four houses.

"What's this on your back, dearie?" Madame Malkin asked, as Hermione lowered her shirt.

"Oh, just my soulmark. Wait, you've seen everyone come through here getting fitted. You wouldn't have happened to see a matching one?" Hermione asked. As she had started to grow up, her interest in her soulmark had grown also.

"I can't say I have, you'll have to find yours on your own."

"Thank you anyway," Hermione said, with a smile. The whole idea of a world she had never seen, books she'd never dreamed of was all still so new and exciting.

By the time the Grangers headed home, Hermione's eyes were drooping. Mental and physical exhaustion had finally started to take over. She had had to look in every shop, see everything Diagon Alley had to offer. She barely even noticed the family of red haired boys as she walked past them. Barely.

For a brief second, she glanced at them before returning to following her parents. She had no idea why her eyes had been drawn to them, but she was too tired to even realize there had been a reason.

The mark on her back glowed so brightly, it nearly shown through the fabric of her shirt. Hermione didn't notice, but the youngest boy of the group did. He grabbed his brother and pointed to the glowing imprint of the star beneath Hermione's shirt.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"Now, you promise you'll write?"

"I promise," Hermione answered, for the fifth time that day. She wasn't sure how magical letter writing worked, but she was certain she could figure out a way to get letters to her parents. Maybe Professor McGonagall would be able to help her out?

"And you'll let us know everything going on?" Mr. Granger asked. Hermione sighed.

"I will," Hermione promised. "I need to get my trunk on the train. I wouldn't want to be late," she said. Her mum and father hugged her tightly.

"I'll be fine," she said, ignoring the fact her soulmark itched slightly. It had been more on her mind since she'd visited Diagon Alley. Rationally she knew there was a good chance her soulmate was part of the wizarding world. And another part of her, a small part, hoped that just maybe she might finally be able to meet him.

"Be good, Hermione and have fun, make some friends?"

"I will, I will," she said, grabbing her trunk and getting onto the train. She slid into a compartment and watched people through the window. The family of red heads was back. She smiled watching them.

The smallest boy, she figured he was the youngest, looked at her through the window. She saw him saying something to the woman Hermione figured was his mum. She shrugged and settled back into her seat. So far, no one had chosen to sit with her, she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. With a sigh, she pulled out her book. At least, she could use this time to read. She had started reading the first page of a new book when there was a knock on the door. Hermione raised her head.

"Yes?" she asked, looking at the boy standing there.

"Um, have you seen a toad? I've lost mine, well, he got away from me. I think he's nervous about going to Hogwarts."

"I'm sorry, but I haven't. I could help you look though. I'm Hermione."

"Neville, and thank you."

Hermione looked around the corridor. So far, she hadn't seen any toads. She knocked the compartment door to her left.

"Hello? Have either of you two seen a toad? A boy called Neville's lost one," she said, looking at the two boys seated there. Her eyes widened at the lanky red head. He shook his head, his mouth falling open when he saw Hermione.

"You!" he exclaimed.

"What about me?" Hermione asked, looking confused.

"I saw you, in Diagon Alley, I think you were leaving. Your shirt was glowing, well the back of it, in the shape of a star."

"A star? My soulmark is on my back, it's in the shape of a star."

"Red and gold?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Ron Weasley and I am your soulmate!" Ron announced. Hermione's eyes widened. She had hoped she might meet her soulmate at school, but she had never dreamed she would meet him before hand.

"Wow, yours is a star too?"

"Yes, here," Ron said, sliding his jumper off revealing a star that matched Hermione's perfectly. It was glowing brightly. Hermione turned around and hiked up her shirt, hers glowing as brightly.

"Well, then, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Hermione Granger, and I'm very pleased to meet you. Would you like to help me look for Neville's toad?"

"Sure. Oh, right, Hermione, this Harry Potter. He's my friend," Ron said, gesturing to the other boy who had been sitting there quietly.

"Hello, Harry, I've read all about you! I'll see you later, after we find Neville's toad, unless you'd like to help us look?"

"Um, sure," Harry agreed, as the trio left the compartment and started helping Neville look for his missing toad. Hermione and Ron having become completely inseparable.