A/N: I admit, this is probably not the best thing I've ever written, but I've been through it several times and some things still don't seem right. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me if anything doesn't sound right!
Also, thanks to my good friend SouthKentishTown for helping me with this!
11 years later...
"Mione?" Ariella called, hesitant to disturb her older sister for the third time that day. Hermione could get a little irritable at times.
"Yes, what is it Ariella?" came the fifteen year old's reply. She took that as an invitation to come in, and opened the door into her sister's miraculously pristine bedroom. Hers was never like that; books and boxes piled everywhere, the odd wrapper stuffed under her mattress.
"I was wondering, you never told me what Hogwarts is like," she started. "What happens if I don't like it?"
Sighing, Hermione put down her quill and looked despairingly towards her younger sister. Ariella had received her Hogwarts letter a week ago and hadn't stopped asking questions since. And though she understood her curiosity, she swore her ears were beginning to ache.
However, seeing her sister's nerves beneath her excitement, she turned away from her studies to answer her.
"You're going to love it, Ella, don't worry. It's just a big castle, like the one we went to with mum and dad last summer, except more magical. For example, the portraits on the walls move and talk and the staircases swing round as well. Haven't you read the book I gave you?"
Ariella shook her head sheepishly. "I haven't really had time."
She raised an eyebrow. She knew her sister better than to believe that excuse. "It tells you all about it in there. You should read the bit about the Great Hall. It has this ceiling that's bewitched to look like the sky outside. Some days it's sunny, others, it's stormy. Oh, and the candles that light the hall hang in mid-air–"
"It sounds beautiful," Ariella said, going and sitting on the bed next to her sister. "Maybe I will read that book."
"You should, but it's even more beautiful when you see it for real, Ella."
There was silence for a moment before Ariella spoke again.
"What happens if I don't get put in Gryffindor?" she whispered.
Hermione knew that question was going to come up sooner or later. "I'm sure you will, if that's where you want to be, and even if you don't, then it will be for the best. The sorting hat knows what it is doing, if it puts you in a different house, it will have a very good reason for doing so. I promise you."
"I'm worried though. I mean, what happens if I don't make any friends, or I get lost and end up late and–"
"Ella," Hermione cut through Ariella's panicked babbling. "You will make lots of lovely new friends, and the teachers won't mind if you're late because you got lost for the first few weeks. Trust me. Stop worrying. Everyone goes through this and it always ends up okay. Even if you went to some other senior school then you would still be nervous like this." Hermione was starting to get tired of the endless questions.
"But at least I would have had some friends!" Ariella whined.
"You can go to Blackheath school if you really want, Ella. I'm sure mum and dad would be pleased that you want to be normal. Although, I can't promise people will be so nice to you when your magic shows," she snapped impatiently.
Ariella's face dropped and she felt as though she was going to burst into tears. That wasn't what she wanted. She couldn't be like Hermione, she couldn't just leave Greenwich and London and everyone she had ever known behind. She wanted her old friends to come to Hogwarts with her. Something, she realised, that was impossible. None of her friends were in the least bit magical.
"Look, I don't want you to be upset, but you need to think sensibly," Hermione said and then softened at her sister's hurt look. "You'll be fine at Hogwarts, Ella. You really will, and you'll have me, Ron and Harry looking out for you."
There was a low cough from the doorway, and they both looked up at where Jean Granger was standing, smiling softly at her two girls.
"What are you two having such a deep discussion about, hmm?" she inquired, stepping into the room. "You're not bothering you sister with more school fears, are you, Ella? She's trying to work. This next year is an important one for her."
"But what if I go and everyone hates me and I do really badly? Hermione is so clever and what if everyone expects me to be clever too?"
"For goodness sake, Ella, you are going ridiculously over the top, as usual…" Hermione started, before being cut off by her mum's glare. Hermione rolled her eyes. Her sister was always the drama queen.
"Look, Ella, come here," Jean beckoned, trying to lure her away from Hermione so she could actually get some work done.
The young girl jumped off the bed and went over to her mother.
"At Hogwarts, you will have lots of fun and learn things that we cannot possibly begin to teach you. Amazing things that you would think only existed in fairy tales. I promise that you don't need to worry. Hermione will look after you, won't you, Hun?"
"That's what I've already told her," Hermione chipped in from the bed in the corner.
"Good, now we won't have any more tears, Ella, will we? You're going to get your wand tomorrow. Won't that be exciting?"
Ariella nodded and wiped her tears away. She might not be Hermione, but she wasn't going to let Hogwarts and its magic intimidate her. She was going to enjoy it, no matter what happened. A slight smile rose to her lips.
"Thanks, I think I feel a bit better now. I might go read that book, I don't want to be the only one who doesn't know anything. Thanks Mione."
Hermione smiled and shrugged, picking up her quill again as Ariella left the room.
"Thanks for putting up with her, sweetheart. I know you're trying to work." Jean came and sat on the bed next to her daughter.
"I said all that, but I don't know whether she will be alright with You-Know-Who back. This year could be tough. We don't know what could happen."
"Is that that wizard who turned bad? The one who killed Harry's parents?" Concern crept into her voice. Hermione noticed, and duly nodded. Jean seemed slightly uneasy for a second, before brushing it away and continuing with a sigh. "Just keep an eye on Ariella for me, will you? If this wizard does come for Harry, then make sure you and Ariella are safe."
"You know that I could never abandon my friends." She looked up at her mother, but the woman's grey eyes held the same stubbornness she saw so often in Ariella, and even in herself. She placed a hand on Jean's arm. "I'd never let them hurt Ariella, mum. But I don't think you should worry too much, he's not likely to come to Hogwarts, Dumbledore is the only wizard he is afraid of."
"I am not saying that, I'm just asking you to be safe." Jean planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "I love you both. I can't lose you."
"I love you too mum, and you won't lose me, or Ariella. I promise."
"Thank you." She gave Hermione one more kiss before leaving the room, shutting the door softly behind her. She was so proud of her daughters. Both witches and both invited to go to a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had always known there was something special with her girls.