Part II - Hermiony Granger and the Sorcerer's Stone

Chapter 1 - The Beginning

For as long as she could remember, Hermiony had the Gift. No one could explain it, but strange things just seemed to happen to her. Very occasionally she could see the future. But mostly whenever she felt sad or angry, these unexplained things just occured. For example, when she was seven she could have sworn that a rock broke apart just because she sat on it. When she was nine was sitting on the sofa sobbing when she heard her mother scream. The sofa was floating in the air. She knew she did not control these things, but she felt like they were her fault. Maybe she just noticed it because she was sad. But Hermiony was sad often. Ever since she was little, her intelligence had set her apart from the other children. She would say things that sounded smart to adults, but to other kids sounded weird. No one came to her birthdays or came to visit her at the hospital after the doctors removed her tonsils. Her mother was her best friend, and Hermiony desperately wanted to be like her.

But when she was eleven, a letter came out of nowhere. It was addressed to her, the large green ink was unmistakable. In place of a return address, there was a strange crest in which a lion, a snake, an eagle, and a badger surrounded a large H. Underneath the crest was a Latin expression that Hermiony didn't know. She asked her mother to read it, and as she read it, she started to laugh.

"It means `never tickle a sleeping dragon.' Throw it away dear, it's clearly junk mail."

"No, Mum. I want to see what it says."

"Suit yourself."

She was glad that she didn't throw it out, as ridiculous as the letter seemed. It was sent from a place called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, headed by a man with a curious name, Albus Dumbledore.

"Dear Ms. Granger, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry." There had been some other information, about when the term began (her birthday) and a list of the materials she needed. It all seemed so real. Maybe that's why she was so different. She could do magic and she was going to go to a school where they would teach her. But then she read the last line of the letter. It also asked for her owl. Hermiony had never seen an owl outside of the zoo. Her heart sunk. For a little while she believed she was going to a school of magic. She had wanted to go to a good private school, but her family had neither the name nor the money to attract the attention of the most exclusive schools. But something about the signature at the bottom of the page made her believe in it. Minerva McGonagall. She felt like she knew that name. And that was reassuring.

The next day, there was a knock at the door. Standing in the doorway was a tall woman in long emerald robes, a bun in her hair and a very serious face. All three Grangers stared at her in stunned silence for this woman's very presence commanded the utmost respect.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I presume," said the woman with a slight, but noticeable Scottish brogue.

Hermiony's dad spoke up first, though somewhat timidly. "Yes."

"I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I assume that Hermiony got her letter yesterday."

"Yes, she got a letter and if it was meant to be a joke, it wasn't particularly funny," said Hermiony's mother - her voice rising slightly with anger.

"I assure you it is no joke. Normally we try to keep our presence hidden from Muggles - non-magical folk like yourselves. But every once in a while, two Muggles have a child born with innate magical abilities. Hermiony's name has been listed at Hogwarts since her birth; she has that much magical potential. But you don't believe me. Allow me to show you."

Suddenly the strange woman vanished and in her place was a cat with square markings around its eyes that resembled spectacles.

"Ms. McGonagall, where did you go?" Hermiony's father was nervous.

Then the cat looked up at him, and the woman reappeared. "Professor McGonagall, if you please. I am the professor of Transfigurations at Hogwarts."

Hermiony spoke up for the first time. "You teach people how to change things? You were that cat?"

Professor McGonagall looked impressed. "Most of my students, children from wizard homes, don't even know what the word transfiguration means until the first day of my class."

"I read a lot, Professor McGonagall."

"I'm sure you do, Ms. Granger. That will come in handy at Hogwarts. Hermiony, do strange things happen to you when you are sad or angry? Has anything ever floated or exploded around you and you never knew why?"

"Yes."

"My dear those were your nascent abilities. You're a witch and at Hogwarts we can train you to use your abilities to their fullest extent. I am here because as a Muggle-born, you have never seen the magical world. Do you wish to go?"

"Mum, Dad?"

Hermiony's mother spoke first. "Hermiony, if this is real, then the decision is up to you."

"I want to go Mum."

"Excellent," said McGonagall. "Now write your response on a sheet of paper and give it to me. Mrs. Granger, do you have any extra furniture that you don't need and don't mind if you never see again?"

"I have an old lamp that no longer works."

"Perfect. Fetch it please."

When Mrs. Granger returned with the lamp (an ugly brown thing that was given as an anniversary present by Great-Aunt Vera three years ago), Professor McGonagall took it from her hands and pointed what looked like a wand at it. The lamp turned into a brown owl with bright yellow eyes. McGonagall put Hermiony's message in its talons.

"Take this to Hogwarts immediately, and then wait in the Owlry."

The owl flew out into the open sky. Professor McGonagall sighed. "I should have told it to be discreet. New owls always forget that they are not supposed to fly at night. Now, I shall return tomorrow at noon and take the three of you to Diagon Alley in London where we shall purchase Hermiony's school items. Bring money. It won't be able to buy you anything, but we can exchange it at Gringotts, the wizard bank. And be ready, I expect to leave by noon. Good day." She let herself out and seemed to vanish.