A/N: I have decided not to use proper chapter names any more, as it would
be quite confusing in the long run. So I'll rather use dates to show how
the story progresses. Let's assume that they all start Hogwarts in 1991.
Being born in September, Hermione will be admitted to Hogwarts almost a
year older than Harry, whose Birthday is July 31st , 1980. Hogwarts in
1997in(Ask JKR why Hermione's birthday is this weird date, Sept 19th, I
have not the slightest idea! – suggestions welcome!)
Admittedly, there is some dispute going on whether her birthyear is '79 or '80, however, for me it's more plausible this way. After all, Dumbledore is very strict about age limits in GoF, for example, and also Hermione seems to be a lot more mature than Harry (let alone Ron), especially in PS and CoS.
Sept. 28th, 1979
„... Zoe." With a satisfied sigh, Prudence wrote the address on the envelope and sealed it. „That's the last invitation . I never knew we had so many relatives. How many ... ?"
„Twenty-something? I've no idea, really," George, who was busy changing his daughter's nappies and clearly had his mind on more important things (like wishing for a third hand, for heaven's sake!), muttered. „I say, when do babies start going to the loo?"
„Not quite yet, I'm afraid," his wife giggled. „But she'll start soon after you've really got the hang of this business, just you wait. – Let me see..." She stepped over to George's side to inspect his handiwork. "You're learning – perhaps you'll even get a chance to enjoy it before she doesn't need your services any longer."
She smiled and gave him a quick hug. "Now that you've finished, I think I'll take her with me to the post office to post all these ..." She pointed towards the pile of envelopes on the desk. „Need to get them on their way, the christening's in a week, and they'll have to make their arrangements – and get the presents," she added, grinning wickedly.
„That's why we've invited the whole crowd in the first place," George went along with her joke. „I can't see any other reason why anyone in their right mind should invite your uncle Godfrey..."
„He's nice," his wife protested, laughing, and slapping him playfully, „but your aunt Pernilla... Stop tickling me!"
None of them paid any attention to the small brownish bird that had been sitting on the windowsill for the last ten minutes looking in through he window as if watching.
*
"Their name-giving ceremony is taking place in a week," Julie Spinnet said (after transforming from a linnet back to human form) to Cornelius Fudge and Professor McGonagall, who had been waiting in the office of the Department for Magical Darwinism. "At 10 o'clock in their local place of worship."
"Thank you, Julie, good work," the Minister nodded, somewhat condescendingly. "But you should get familiar with the appropriate muggle terms: it's called a christening, and it takes place in a church."
Julie turned red and wanted to say something in reply, but Minerva shot her soothing glance, and she checked herself.
"Well, I – hm – " Fudge began, then he finished rather quickly: "I'll leave everything to you, Minerva, you know what you've got to do, don't you?"
"Of course, Minister," she replied with a slight edge to her voice which he absolutely failed to notice. "You know I've done this before."
"Very well then, I'll be off, - urgent appointment – international business ... "
And he bustled out of the room.
"Urgent appointment – pah!" Julie spat as soon as the door closed. "He couldn't transform into a wardrobe, let alone anything alive. And he's got the nerve ... "
"Calm down, Julie," Minerva patted her arm. "I know what he's like; how often have I asked myself how a nitwit like him got to be Minister of Magic ... But then, it's rather good for us at Hogwarts, we can do pretty much whatever we like; whenever he starts making a nuisance of himself, Dumbledore knows how to deal with him, - wouldn't be so easy if he was cleverer, would it? So humour him in unimportant matters, but stand up to him if it's something important, is my advice. You'll notice he gives in rather quickly if one opposes him in earnest. – How's little Alicia, by the way?" she added, changing the topic to distract her friend from her annoyance.
"She's such a darling! You know she got her first toy broom for her fifth birthday two weeks ago, and she's been on it almost every waking hour ever since. She's going to be a marvellous Quidditch player, Magnus says," she finished proudly.
"Oh yes, Quidditch ... " Minerva's eyes got a dreamy expression. "Hope to see her on the Gryffindor team some time, we could do with some good players now James has left school... " She pulled herself together and put on her businesslike face. "Well, give her a hug from me, and tell Magnus I said hello."
"I will, "Julie went to her desk and gathered her things in her bag. "Well, I'd better be off. Rent an Elf charge you a fortune when their babysitters have to work overtime."
*
Oct. 5th, 1979
"Season of mist ..." Prudence said quietly to herself, as she pushed the pram out of the house. The pale autumn sun was just seeping through the morning mist, enveloping everything in golden hues. "Isn't it a lovely day, Hermione?" she asked bending down to the baby who was looking up at her with her large brown eyes. "It's almost as if you could understand me, you know," her mother said. But then she laughed at herself, "What a stupid idea, - you're just two weeks, how could you possibly? – I suppose all mothers are so foolish ..."
George was already waiting next to the car; together they deposited their daughter in the back seat and stowed the pram away in the trunk. Then they got in, and George started the engine.
"Have you booked the family lounge at the Red Lion for the party?" Pru asked her husband.
He started, but then remembered. "Yes, I have. And a splendid idea of yours, too. I dunno how we could have packed all those twenty-odd people into our house. Of course it will cost us a fortune ..." The twinkle in his eyes showed her that he was joking.
"Shame on you , Scrooge!" she laughed, making as if to hit him, but checking herself. "No, I'll spare you for the moment, we want to get us to the church on time."
The small church was crowded. Pru and George were both surprised at the number of people present.
"Well, it IS a rather small town, perhaps there's just a lot of people interested in the sensational baptising of Dr. Granger's daughter," Prudence said to her husband on entering the church. "They're a funny looking lot though, I didn't know people were still wearing cloaks like these, and in such strange colours, too."
They walked down the aisle together, George holding his daughter in his arms. The ceremony itself was over soon, and the vicar showed only mild surprise at the baby's unusual name. Hermione was an exceptionally well- behaved child and didn't even flinch when the water was poured over her head.
Afterwards, they were standing next to the church door, and everybody was congratulating them on their lovely daughter. People whom neither of them had ever seen before kept shaking hands with them and tickling the baby's chin.
"Hermione … what an unusual lovely name," a tall spectacled woman in a dark green satin cloak said to Pru shaking her hand, "do you mind my giving her this little present? It's a good luck charm my mother gave to me, and I'd love her to have it, she's such a sweet child. I'm sure you'll be very proud of her one day." She handed Pru a smooth round stone that shone in gold and red on a delicate gold chain. Automatically, Pru took the ornament, and before she could gather her wits together, the woman was gone, as if she had disappeared into thin air.
"But – " Pru stammered, looking around somewhat astonished. But immediately the next person, - a rather small balding man in an almost ridiculously large black top hat, - was shaking her hand muttering congratulations.
*
"How very strange," Prudence said to George when they had finally arrived back home, "I'm sure I've never seen this woman before, and yet she looked oddly familiar. Just look at this stone, - any idea what it is? It looks quite expensive to me. I'm not sure – what do you think we should do with it?"
"I do admit it is very strange," George answered, "however, I don't see very well what we can do about it. The thing was obviously given to you of her own free will by some nutty female ("She didn't seem nutty to me!", his wife interpolated.) who didn't leave her name and seemed very particular not to introduce herself. So I don't think there's any harm in keeping it. Probably it will be some plastic junk made in HongKong, anyway."
"Of course you're probably perfectly right," his wife replied somewhat doubtfully. "But I have a feeling somehow that there's more to the whole thing. And I'm pretty sure this 'thing', as you call it, - which is extraordinarily beautiful, by the way, - is NOT 'some plastic junk'. However, the rest of it makes sense, so I don't suppose there'll be any harm in keeping it. We can always give it back if this strange woman should appear again. – If only I could remember where I've seen her before!" she finished.
Admittedly, there is some dispute going on whether her birthyear is '79 or '80, however, for me it's more plausible this way. After all, Dumbledore is very strict about age limits in GoF, for example, and also Hermione seems to be a lot more mature than Harry (let alone Ron), especially in PS and CoS.
Sept. 28th, 1979
„... Zoe." With a satisfied sigh, Prudence wrote the address on the envelope and sealed it. „That's the last invitation . I never knew we had so many relatives. How many ... ?"
„Twenty-something? I've no idea, really," George, who was busy changing his daughter's nappies and clearly had his mind on more important things (like wishing for a third hand, for heaven's sake!), muttered. „I say, when do babies start going to the loo?"
„Not quite yet, I'm afraid," his wife giggled. „But she'll start soon after you've really got the hang of this business, just you wait. – Let me see..." She stepped over to George's side to inspect his handiwork. "You're learning – perhaps you'll even get a chance to enjoy it before she doesn't need your services any longer."
She smiled and gave him a quick hug. "Now that you've finished, I think I'll take her with me to the post office to post all these ..." She pointed towards the pile of envelopes on the desk. „Need to get them on their way, the christening's in a week, and they'll have to make their arrangements – and get the presents," she added, grinning wickedly.
„That's why we've invited the whole crowd in the first place," George went along with her joke. „I can't see any other reason why anyone in their right mind should invite your uncle Godfrey..."
„He's nice," his wife protested, laughing, and slapping him playfully, „but your aunt Pernilla... Stop tickling me!"
None of them paid any attention to the small brownish bird that had been sitting on the windowsill for the last ten minutes looking in through he window as if watching.
*
"Their name-giving ceremony is taking place in a week," Julie Spinnet said (after transforming from a linnet back to human form) to Cornelius Fudge and Professor McGonagall, who had been waiting in the office of the Department for Magical Darwinism. "At 10 o'clock in their local place of worship."
"Thank you, Julie, good work," the Minister nodded, somewhat condescendingly. "But you should get familiar with the appropriate muggle terms: it's called a christening, and it takes place in a church."
Julie turned red and wanted to say something in reply, but Minerva shot her soothing glance, and she checked herself.
"Well, I – hm – " Fudge began, then he finished rather quickly: "I'll leave everything to you, Minerva, you know what you've got to do, don't you?"
"Of course, Minister," she replied with a slight edge to her voice which he absolutely failed to notice. "You know I've done this before."
"Very well then, I'll be off, - urgent appointment – international business ... "
And he bustled out of the room.
"Urgent appointment – pah!" Julie spat as soon as the door closed. "He couldn't transform into a wardrobe, let alone anything alive. And he's got the nerve ... "
"Calm down, Julie," Minerva patted her arm. "I know what he's like; how often have I asked myself how a nitwit like him got to be Minister of Magic ... But then, it's rather good for us at Hogwarts, we can do pretty much whatever we like; whenever he starts making a nuisance of himself, Dumbledore knows how to deal with him, - wouldn't be so easy if he was cleverer, would it? So humour him in unimportant matters, but stand up to him if it's something important, is my advice. You'll notice he gives in rather quickly if one opposes him in earnest. – How's little Alicia, by the way?" she added, changing the topic to distract her friend from her annoyance.
"She's such a darling! You know she got her first toy broom for her fifth birthday two weeks ago, and she's been on it almost every waking hour ever since. She's going to be a marvellous Quidditch player, Magnus says," she finished proudly.
"Oh yes, Quidditch ... " Minerva's eyes got a dreamy expression. "Hope to see her on the Gryffindor team some time, we could do with some good players now James has left school... " She pulled herself together and put on her businesslike face. "Well, give her a hug from me, and tell Magnus I said hello."
"I will, "Julie went to her desk and gathered her things in her bag. "Well, I'd better be off. Rent an Elf charge you a fortune when their babysitters have to work overtime."
*
Oct. 5th, 1979
"Season of mist ..." Prudence said quietly to herself, as she pushed the pram out of the house. The pale autumn sun was just seeping through the morning mist, enveloping everything in golden hues. "Isn't it a lovely day, Hermione?" she asked bending down to the baby who was looking up at her with her large brown eyes. "It's almost as if you could understand me, you know," her mother said. But then she laughed at herself, "What a stupid idea, - you're just two weeks, how could you possibly? – I suppose all mothers are so foolish ..."
George was already waiting next to the car; together they deposited their daughter in the back seat and stowed the pram away in the trunk. Then they got in, and George started the engine.
"Have you booked the family lounge at the Red Lion for the party?" Pru asked her husband.
He started, but then remembered. "Yes, I have. And a splendid idea of yours, too. I dunno how we could have packed all those twenty-odd people into our house. Of course it will cost us a fortune ..." The twinkle in his eyes showed her that he was joking.
"Shame on you , Scrooge!" she laughed, making as if to hit him, but checking herself. "No, I'll spare you for the moment, we want to get us to the church on time."
The small church was crowded. Pru and George were both surprised at the number of people present.
"Well, it IS a rather small town, perhaps there's just a lot of people interested in the sensational baptising of Dr. Granger's daughter," Prudence said to her husband on entering the church. "They're a funny looking lot though, I didn't know people were still wearing cloaks like these, and in such strange colours, too."
They walked down the aisle together, George holding his daughter in his arms. The ceremony itself was over soon, and the vicar showed only mild surprise at the baby's unusual name. Hermione was an exceptionally well- behaved child and didn't even flinch when the water was poured over her head.
Afterwards, they were standing next to the church door, and everybody was congratulating them on their lovely daughter. People whom neither of them had ever seen before kept shaking hands with them and tickling the baby's chin.
"Hermione … what an unusual lovely name," a tall spectacled woman in a dark green satin cloak said to Pru shaking her hand, "do you mind my giving her this little present? It's a good luck charm my mother gave to me, and I'd love her to have it, she's such a sweet child. I'm sure you'll be very proud of her one day." She handed Pru a smooth round stone that shone in gold and red on a delicate gold chain. Automatically, Pru took the ornament, and before she could gather her wits together, the woman was gone, as if she had disappeared into thin air.
"But – " Pru stammered, looking around somewhat astonished. But immediately the next person, - a rather small balding man in an almost ridiculously large black top hat, - was shaking her hand muttering congratulations.
*
"How very strange," Prudence said to George when they had finally arrived back home, "I'm sure I've never seen this woman before, and yet she looked oddly familiar. Just look at this stone, - any idea what it is? It looks quite expensive to me. I'm not sure – what do you think we should do with it?"
"I do admit it is very strange," George answered, "however, I don't see very well what we can do about it. The thing was obviously given to you of her own free will by some nutty female ("She didn't seem nutty to me!", his wife interpolated.) who didn't leave her name and seemed very particular not to introduce herself. So I don't think there's any harm in keeping it. Probably it will be some plastic junk made in HongKong, anyway."
"Of course you're probably perfectly right," his wife replied somewhat doubtfully. "But I have a feeling somehow that there's more to the whole thing. And I'm pretty sure this 'thing', as you call it, - which is extraordinarily beautiful, by the way, - is NOT 'some plastic junk'. However, the rest of it makes sense, so I don't suppose there'll be any harm in keeping it. We can always give it back if this strange woman should appear again. – If only I could remember where I've seen her before!" she finished.