Written for funsies.

Era: Pre-Hogwarts

Genre: Fluff, mystery

Warnings: None, confusion maybe?

Words: 850

Pen Pal

Hermione Granger has a pen pal.

What is special about that, you might ask? A lot of young children have pen pals, often arranged through their schools as a way to broaden their world and introduce a new perspective. What is so strange about Hermione's pen pal is that no one ever arranged it.

One day, while sitting in her back garden reading the newest book she had rescued from the depths of her school library, it arrived. Held in the beak of the most beautiful bird Hermione had ever seen. She was entirely white from head to claw, except for her black beak and claws, and the most entrancing yellow eyes.

Her name was Hedwig, the letter informed her, and Hermione felt the bird was far more intelligent than her species usually were. She would watch as the tiny girl read the letter and wait for her to scribble out a reply before giving her a soft nudge and flying away.

Hermione had no idea where this mysterious pen pal was, but he knew things about her that were impossible. Like how the other girls at her school would trick her into helping them only to mock her for doing so later. Or how the boys would laugh at her for her big teeth and crazy hair.

But most oddly of all, he knew about her power.

Knew that she could make things move if she wanted them to. Fix broken things she didn't want her parents to see. Once she had even wished herself away from her tormentors so hard she'd found herself in the waiting room of her parents' dental clinic.

Of course, her parents didn't believe her. Not about her power, nor her imaginary pen pal friend as they called it. Hedwig never delivered a letter unless she was completely alone, and if Hermione tried waiting until her parents were back to send a letter, the beautiful owl would retreat to some nearby trees to hide and wait until she was alone to collect it.

It had made her childhood bearable, having someone to talk to about everything, but it had driven her mad as well. That no one would believe her about the letters. Even if she showed them to someone else, they would just look like random scribbles and doodles. Hermione had begun to believe she herself might be mad. That was until the lady that turned into a cat had visited.

Now she was wending her way through the busy platforms at King's Cross Station on September the 1st. A single piece of paper clutched in her left hand as she dragged her parents towards where Professor McGonagall had told them the entrance to the Hogwarts Express's hidden platform could be found.

The paper in her hand promised answers if she made it to the train. So fixated on those answers was she that Hermione didn't stop and gawk at the magnificent scarlet steam engine as her parents did. She simply climbed aboard the first carriage and started wending her way to the back, glancing in each and every compartment as she went.

Dozens of empty ones passed, a small few had the other early birds within, some of whom waved and some who ignored her. Hermione felt a little bit bad for not waving back at the polite ones herself, but she was on a mission. As she passed into the final car, she paused.

There in the first compartment was a single boy, looking out the far window of the space over the platform. Hermione followed his gaze and saw he was looking at her rather frantic parents who seemed to have realized that they had lost their little girl. She rolled her eyes and opened the door.

The boy was dressed in ragged baggy clothing, and normally Hermione was sure she'd have passed him by as well, were it not for one very obvious and eye-catching thing. The brilliant white feathers of the owl perched on his lap getting a gentle scritching under the chin with a smug look on her face. The very same one who had delivered the letter still clenched in her hand as she was about to climb into the car for the drive to London that morning.

"Hello." The boy's voice sounded before he turned to face her and fixed her with the most brilliant green eyes she'd ever seen. It felt right that this boy should belong to Hedwig as they both had a caring yet intense gaze that seemed to see right through you. "It's such a pleasure to meet you again, Hermione Granger."

"Again?" She queried, stepping into the space and looking at him with suspicion.

"Yes, again. Hopefully, you and I can be even better friends this time around." He gestured to the seat opposite himself and Hedwig, who was also happily watching her now. "Have a seat, there is so much I need to tell you."

He paused for a moment before he fixed her with his piercing green eyes. "My name is Harry Potter, and I'm from the future..."

More than a drabble, but less than a full opening chapter for a potential story. Random idea I had while falling asleep last night where a time-travelling Harry gets Hedwig and starts sending Hermione letters as soon as he gets back, full of information he learned from her in their alternate future.