31 July 1991
Hermione Granger yawned as she dragged herself down the stairs of her two- storey home. She grinned at her foster parents, Andrew and Eileen Granger. She loved them for loving her in even though she was already five when they took her in. They were dentists, and they were still childless after nine years of marriage but decided to share their affluent lifestyle with a child who needed loving.
She hugged her parents and poured herself a glass of milk as she sat down at the dining table. Andrew Granger put down his newspaper and folded them neatly.
"So what are you going to do today? Going to the library? Or do you want to come to the clinic with us?"
"Don't you remember? I'm going to get my school supplies with the Malfoys today. I told you last night."
"Of course he does sweetheart, he just forgot for a second. Be home as soon as you can, did I give you money yesterday to buy you things?" Hermione nodded as she bit into her sandwich.
Andrew snorted into his coffee as he heard his wife's remark. Hermione grinned into her plate. He never really liked Lucius Malfoy right from the start when he handed Hermione over to the Grangers. He knew Lucius was only protective of her, but he did not like how the man seemed to lord over everyone else. Hermione didn't make it a point to tell him how Lucius shared the sentiments that he did. Tension over her visits to the Malfoy Manor in July every year was enough.
"Enjoy yourself darling. Don't be too late."
"Yes Daddy, I won't."
@-^------
Hermione Granger walked up the steps of the Underground Station and breathed in the fresh air of London. She walked a few streets to the Leaky Cauldron and paused for a moment. She smoothed her shirt and skirt before pushing the door open. She glanced quickly around the bar and spotted her best friend Draco Malfoy waving her over to where he was sitting with his parents.
"Hi Uncle Lucius, hi Aunt Cissa, hi Draco."
"Very nice to see you Hermione. Right then, shall we go before my hair grows an inch?" Lucius Malfoy said, finishing his drink.
"Yes father. Hi Nee! Great to see you!"
Draco and Hermione followed Lucius and Narcissa as they walked through the back entrance of the pub into a small space surrounded by brick walls. Lucius took out his wand and tapped certain bricks. Draco and Hermione watched eagerly as he did so since they would themselves, be allowed their own wand soon. Hermione took in the sight of Diagon Alley as the wall separated, allowing them to enter the magical town. She did not realize she was rooted in her position until she felt a hand tugging her along. She snapped out of her daydream and followed Draco, who was hurrying after his parents.
Lucius told the two soon to be first year students at Hogwarts to browse around Flourish and Blotts first while he withdrew Galleons from Gringotts to pay for their supplies. Hermione started to protest that she needed to exchange muggle pounds into Galleons for her things. Lucius glared at her and she closed her mouth, following Draco, who was already on his way to the shop. She looked at Narcissa desperately for help but she only shrugged at her husband's behavior as he took her arm in his and led her away.
"If he didn't like me offering to pay for my own things he could have said so right?" Hermione huffed as she caught up with Draco.
"You know what he's like. He's like to assert himself. Just let him pay, there's nothing wrong."
"Nothing wrong my foot. Daddy's going to snap once he realizes that Lucius Malfoy paid for my things for school."
Draco shrugged. "Do you have the school supplies list? I forgot to bring it with me."
Hermione tsked at her best friend. "What do you think?"
"Just let me see it Nee. I'll ask the shopkeeper to get the books."
Hermione dug through her bag for a while before producing a piece of parchment. Draco took it from her and read:
~*~
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black) One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings) Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT 1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
~*~
"I still don't understand why brooms are not allowed for first years. You think we'd don't know how to use one. Honestly, we aren't exactly five year olds." Draco grumbled as he carried his books, a few paces behind his father.
Lucius was exchanging greetings with Ministry officials who seemed to be everywhere.
"Come on Draco. At least the ban isn't extended to second years too. It's just one more year until you'll be able to get a broom and play Quidditch on the House team." Hermione reassured her best friend as she shifted the weight of all her books from one side to another.
"You should just let me carry some of those books for you Nee. I have stronger arms than you."
"Right. Like you could stand me putting even another roll of parchment onto your pile of books."
"Children, do stop squabbling. I'm going to meet someone now. Draco, take care of this money pouch. Go get all the things you need. I, I have to meet someone now. It's very urgent," he then took out his wand and cast a spell, causing the weight of their load to drop considerably.
"How about Mother? Will she be going too?"
"Your mother will be at Ollivander's. She's getting a new wand," Lucius said, sounding quite exasperated at explaining his wife's actions.
Draco accepted the pouch from his father and placed it in the pocket of his pants. Lucius nodded at them and was off with a big swoosh of his cloak. Draco patted his pocket and then glanced at Hermione, who was giving him a questioning glance.
"Nee, you know I don't question what he does. I'm very sure he's not doing anything against the law. He just bends them a little."
"Just bends them? Right."
Draco shook his head and pushed the door open to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Hermione groaned. It wasn't the only time Draco refused to discuss his father's affairs with her. Lucius Malfoy wasn't a bad man, but he did bend the rules just to get what he wanted. She rushed in before the door closed and she had to use energy to push the door open.
"Wait up! What's the bloody hurry? We do have all day."
Hermione assumed that the quaint witch dressed all in mauve sitting at the counter was Madam Malkin. Draco walked up to her proudly and placed his books down at the counter.
"Hogwarts I presume? And for the young lady too?"
"Yes Madam Malkin. For both of us," Draco said politely.
"Well then sweetheart, just go over there will you? I'll just be a moment. I'll measure the lady first."
Hermione stood still as Madam Malkin measured her.
"Yes, I have just your size. Here, you might want to go in there and try it on."
Hermione went into the dressing room hurriedly. Draco tapped his foot impatiently as Madam Malkin went over to ask her new customer, a boy with messy black hair what he needed. She directed him to stand on the stool beside Draco. She then measured Draco for his robes.
"Hello. Hogwarts too?"
The boy looked hesitant. "Yes."
Draco frowned at the obvious unfriendliness of the boy and decided to continue talking talking to him to find out who he was. Well if the boy wasn't going to volunteer his name, he wasn't going to either.
"My father's getting my things and mother's up the street looking at wands." Draco said all this rather lazily in his voice, which he specifically used for people he didn't care for. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."
Draco frowned inwardly. 'God, did I just say that? How awfully bratty of me.'
The boy started looking uncomfortable.
Draco rolled his eyes at the discomfort of the boy. " Do you have your own broom?"
"No."
"Play Quidditch at all?"
"No."
Draco sighed. 'What a waste of time. He's probably Muggleborn and can't speak very well. Just answers with No or Yes. What an idiot.'
"Well I do. Father says it's a crime not to be picked for my house and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"
"No." 'He really is an idiot,' Draco smoothed his hair as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He then spoke in a voice usually reserved for infants. "Well, no one really knows until they get there do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been. Imagine me in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
"Mmm," the boy looked around the shop.
Draco then noticed a big sized man outside the shop holding two ice cream cones. He took note of the man's ragged clothes.
"I say, look at that man!" Draco exclaimed, wanting to hear the boy's thoughts of that huge person.
"That's Hagrid. He works at Hogwarts," The boy said cheerfully.
"Oh, I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?" Draco wrinkled his nose as he recalled his father's stories of the Keeper of keys at Hogwarts. 'At least he using words with two syllables in them now,' Draco thought distastefully
"He's the gamekeeper," the boy answered softly, defending the man outside.
"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage - lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed."
"I think he's brilliant," the boy said rather coldly.
"Do you? Why is he with you? Where are your parents?" Draco said cruelly. From the corner of his eye, he could see Hermione waiting for him at the entrance of the shop. He hoped that Madam Malkin would hurry up.
"They're dead," the boy said after a short pause.
"Oh, sorry. But they were our kind, weren't they?" Draco was not at all sorry for the boy who had been nothing but mean to him throughout their conversation.
"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean," the boy answered. At least he did have some redeeming qualities.
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in do you?" Draco smiled inwardly as he thought of Hermione pretending to be Muggleborn, "They're just not the same, and they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?" He wanted to know whether he was actually insulting the boy before he got too pissed.
But before the boy could answer, Madam Malkin returned with his robes and said to the boy, "That's you done, my dear."
The boy hopped down from the footstool, grabbed his packages and paid for them quickly before rushing out the door of the store. He did not notice Hermione sitting there and only concentrated on getting as far away from Draco as possible.
Draco frowned at the boy, who was obvious in expressing his distaste for Draco.
"That was such a horrible boy, right 'Nee? He could have at least said a 'Good Day' of some sort."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her best friend, "Honestly, you were just plain mean to him. Didn't you realise who he was? I saw the scar on his head. That boy was Harry Potter!"
Draco jumped down from the stool as Madam Malkin passed him a few packages. He paid for their purchases and there was a short pause between the two best friends.
"Are you sure 'Nee? I mean, he didn't seem at all like the boy who lived."
"Sure I'm sure. I was looking at him while you were there preening yourself," Hermione laughed at the vain blond.
"I was not preening myself my dear, merely smoothing my hair. Some people do actually have to try to look good unlike yourself 'Nee."
Hermione giggled at the compliment she was given, "Right. Some people actually do, my friend."
The two then grabbed their things and went off to get their things for school, the incident with Harry Potter forgotten.
@-^------
Lucius shrunk their things for them and placed everything in a bag after he and Narcissa found them in Quality Quidditch Supplies looking at the new Nimbus 2000. Draco had bullied Hermione into going in and she was looking quite lost in the store packed full with Quidditch things.
They had tea at The Leaky Cauldron and Lucius insisted on seeing Hermione home. He brought her things back to their original size and weight as they reached the Granger home. Hermione took out her keys and opened the door. Andrew Granger stood up to help his daughter with her things but stopped short when he noticed Lucius Malfoy. The two men looked at each other with utter distaste.
"Draco, help Hermione with her things upstairs," Lucius ordered his son, all the while maintaining eye contact with Andrew Granger.
"That won't be necessary. I will help Hermione with her things. You are very kind," but Draco was already halfway up the stairs carrying Hermione's books. She was following behind, carrying her stationary and robes. She looked at Narcissa, who was watching the scene in front of her with amusement. Narcissa then gave her look which said 'don't worry, I won't let any harm come to the both of them. Go on upstairs before my son wrecks your house.'
After Draco and placed her books on the bed in Hermione's room, she pulled on his arm and made him go downstairs as fast as he could.
"I suppose I will take my leave now. Granger," Lucius said curtly and he nodded to the man in front of him.
"Malfoy," Andrew returned the nod.
Lucius then turned around and left the Granger home. Narcissa followed suit quickly. Hermione squeezed her best friend's hand while he smiled at her warmly and ran after his parents.
"Till September first 'Nee," Draco muttered as he closed the door behind him.
@-^------
Hermione Granger yawned as she dragged herself down the stairs of her two- storey home. She grinned at her foster parents, Andrew and Eileen Granger. She loved them for loving her in even though she was already five when they took her in. They were dentists, and they were still childless after nine years of marriage but decided to share their affluent lifestyle with a child who needed loving.
She hugged her parents and poured herself a glass of milk as she sat down at the dining table. Andrew Granger put down his newspaper and folded them neatly.
"So what are you going to do today? Going to the library? Or do you want to come to the clinic with us?"
"Don't you remember? I'm going to get my school supplies with the Malfoys today. I told you last night."
"Of course he does sweetheart, he just forgot for a second. Be home as soon as you can, did I give you money yesterday to buy you things?" Hermione nodded as she bit into her sandwich.
Andrew snorted into his coffee as he heard his wife's remark. Hermione grinned into her plate. He never really liked Lucius Malfoy right from the start when he handed Hermione over to the Grangers. He knew Lucius was only protective of her, but he did not like how the man seemed to lord over everyone else. Hermione didn't make it a point to tell him how Lucius shared the sentiments that he did. Tension over her visits to the Malfoy Manor in July every year was enough.
"Enjoy yourself darling. Don't be too late."
"Yes Daddy, I won't."
@-^------
Hermione Granger walked up the steps of the Underground Station and breathed in the fresh air of London. She walked a few streets to the Leaky Cauldron and paused for a moment. She smoothed her shirt and skirt before pushing the door open. She glanced quickly around the bar and spotted her best friend Draco Malfoy waving her over to where he was sitting with his parents.
"Hi Uncle Lucius, hi Aunt Cissa, hi Draco."
"Very nice to see you Hermione. Right then, shall we go before my hair grows an inch?" Lucius Malfoy said, finishing his drink.
"Yes father. Hi Nee! Great to see you!"
Draco and Hermione followed Lucius and Narcissa as they walked through the back entrance of the pub into a small space surrounded by brick walls. Lucius took out his wand and tapped certain bricks. Draco and Hermione watched eagerly as he did so since they would themselves, be allowed their own wand soon. Hermione took in the sight of Diagon Alley as the wall separated, allowing them to enter the magical town. She did not realize she was rooted in her position until she felt a hand tugging her along. She snapped out of her daydream and followed Draco, who was hurrying after his parents.
Lucius told the two soon to be first year students at Hogwarts to browse around Flourish and Blotts first while he withdrew Galleons from Gringotts to pay for their supplies. Hermione started to protest that she needed to exchange muggle pounds into Galleons for her things. Lucius glared at her and she closed her mouth, following Draco, who was already on his way to the shop. She looked at Narcissa desperately for help but she only shrugged at her husband's behavior as he took her arm in his and led her away.
"If he didn't like me offering to pay for my own things he could have said so right?" Hermione huffed as she caught up with Draco.
"You know what he's like. He's like to assert himself. Just let him pay, there's nothing wrong."
"Nothing wrong my foot. Daddy's going to snap once he realizes that Lucius Malfoy paid for my things for school."
Draco shrugged. "Do you have the school supplies list? I forgot to bring it with me."
Hermione tsked at her best friend. "What do you think?"
"Just let me see it Nee. I'll ask the shopkeeper to get the books."
Hermione dug through her bag for a while before producing a piece of parchment. Draco took it from her and read:
~*~
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black) One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings) Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT 1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
~*~
"I still don't understand why brooms are not allowed for first years. You think we'd don't know how to use one. Honestly, we aren't exactly five year olds." Draco grumbled as he carried his books, a few paces behind his father.
Lucius was exchanging greetings with Ministry officials who seemed to be everywhere.
"Come on Draco. At least the ban isn't extended to second years too. It's just one more year until you'll be able to get a broom and play Quidditch on the House team." Hermione reassured her best friend as she shifted the weight of all her books from one side to another.
"You should just let me carry some of those books for you Nee. I have stronger arms than you."
"Right. Like you could stand me putting even another roll of parchment onto your pile of books."
"Children, do stop squabbling. I'm going to meet someone now. Draco, take care of this money pouch. Go get all the things you need. I, I have to meet someone now. It's very urgent," he then took out his wand and cast a spell, causing the weight of their load to drop considerably.
"How about Mother? Will she be going too?"
"Your mother will be at Ollivander's. She's getting a new wand," Lucius said, sounding quite exasperated at explaining his wife's actions.
Draco accepted the pouch from his father and placed it in the pocket of his pants. Lucius nodded at them and was off with a big swoosh of his cloak. Draco patted his pocket and then glanced at Hermione, who was giving him a questioning glance.
"Nee, you know I don't question what he does. I'm very sure he's not doing anything against the law. He just bends them a little."
"Just bends them? Right."
Draco shook his head and pushed the door open to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Hermione groaned. It wasn't the only time Draco refused to discuss his father's affairs with her. Lucius Malfoy wasn't a bad man, but he did bend the rules just to get what he wanted. She rushed in before the door closed and she had to use energy to push the door open.
"Wait up! What's the bloody hurry? We do have all day."
Hermione assumed that the quaint witch dressed all in mauve sitting at the counter was Madam Malkin. Draco walked up to her proudly and placed his books down at the counter.
"Hogwarts I presume? And for the young lady too?"
"Yes Madam Malkin. For both of us," Draco said politely.
"Well then sweetheart, just go over there will you? I'll just be a moment. I'll measure the lady first."
Hermione stood still as Madam Malkin measured her.
"Yes, I have just your size. Here, you might want to go in there and try it on."
Hermione went into the dressing room hurriedly. Draco tapped his foot impatiently as Madam Malkin went over to ask her new customer, a boy with messy black hair what he needed. She directed him to stand on the stool beside Draco. She then measured Draco for his robes.
"Hello. Hogwarts too?"
The boy looked hesitant. "Yes."
Draco frowned at the obvious unfriendliness of the boy and decided to continue talking talking to him to find out who he was. Well if the boy wasn't going to volunteer his name, he wasn't going to either.
"My father's getting my things and mother's up the street looking at wands." Draco said all this rather lazily in his voice, which he specifically used for people he didn't care for. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."
Draco frowned inwardly. 'God, did I just say that? How awfully bratty of me.'
The boy started looking uncomfortable.
Draco rolled his eyes at the discomfort of the boy. " Do you have your own broom?"
"No."
"Play Quidditch at all?"
"No."
Draco sighed. 'What a waste of time. He's probably Muggleborn and can't speak very well. Just answers with No or Yes. What an idiot.'
"Well I do. Father says it's a crime not to be picked for my house and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"
"No." 'He really is an idiot,' Draco smoothed his hair as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He then spoke in a voice usually reserved for infants. "Well, no one really knows until they get there do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been. Imagine me in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
"Mmm," the boy looked around the shop.
Draco then noticed a big sized man outside the shop holding two ice cream cones. He took note of the man's ragged clothes.
"I say, look at that man!" Draco exclaimed, wanting to hear the boy's thoughts of that huge person.
"That's Hagrid. He works at Hogwarts," The boy said cheerfully.
"Oh, I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?" Draco wrinkled his nose as he recalled his father's stories of the Keeper of keys at Hogwarts. 'At least he using words with two syllables in them now,' Draco thought distastefully
"He's the gamekeeper," the boy answered softly, defending the man outside.
"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage - lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed."
"I think he's brilliant," the boy said rather coldly.
"Do you? Why is he with you? Where are your parents?" Draco said cruelly. From the corner of his eye, he could see Hermione waiting for him at the entrance of the shop. He hoped that Madam Malkin would hurry up.
"They're dead," the boy said after a short pause.
"Oh, sorry. But they were our kind, weren't they?" Draco was not at all sorry for the boy who had been nothing but mean to him throughout their conversation.
"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean," the boy answered. At least he did have some redeeming qualities.
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in do you?" Draco smiled inwardly as he thought of Hermione pretending to be Muggleborn, "They're just not the same, and they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?" He wanted to know whether he was actually insulting the boy before he got too pissed.
But before the boy could answer, Madam Malkin returned with his robes and said to the boy, "That's you done, my dear."
The boy hopped down from the footstool, grabbed his packages and paid for them quickly before rushing out the door of the store. He did not notice Hermione sitting there and only concentrated on getting as far away from Draco as possible.
Draco frowned at the boy, who was obvious in expressing his distaste for Draco.
"That was such a horrible boy, right 'Nee? He could have at least said a 'Good Day' of some sort."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her best friend, "Honestly, you were just plain mean to him. Didn't you realise who he was? I saw the scar on his head. That boy was Harry Potter!"
Draco jumped down from the stool as Madam Malkin passed him a few packages. He paid for their purchases and there was a short pause between the two best friends.
"Are you sure 'Nee? I mean, he didn't seem at all like the boy who lived."
"Sure I'm sure. I was looking at him while you were there preening yourself," Hermione laughed at the vain blond.
"I was not preening myself my dear, merely smoothing my hair. Some people do actually have to try to look good unlike yourself 'Nee."
Hermione giggled at the compliment she was given, "Right. Some people actually do, my friend."
The two then grabbed their things and went off to get their things for school, the incident with Harry Potter forgotten.
@-^------
Lucius shrunk their things for them and placed everything in a bag after he and Narcissa found them in Quality Quidditch Supplies looking at the new Nimbus 2000. Draco had bullied Hermione into going in and she was looking quite lost in the store packed full with Quidditch things.
They had tea at The Leaky Cauldron and Lucius insisted on seeing Hermione home. He brought her things back to their original size and weight as they reached the Granger home. Hermione took out her keys and opened the door. Andrew Granger stood up to help his daughter with her things but stopped short when he noticed Lucius Malfoy. The two men looked at each other with utter distaste.
"Draco, help Hermione with her things upstairs," Lucius ordered his son, all the while maintaining eye contact with Andrew Granger.
"That won't be necessary. I will help Hermione with her things. You are very kind," but Draco was already halfway up the stairs carrying Hermione's books. She was following behind, carrying her stationary and robes. She looked at Narcissa, who was watching the scene in front of her with amusement. Narcissa then gave her look which said 'don't worry, I won't let any harm come to the both of them. Go on upstairs before my son wrecks your house.'
After Draco and placed her books on the bed in Hermione's room, she pulled on his arm and made him go downstairs as fast as he could.
"I suppose I will take my leave now. Granger," Lucius said curtly and he nodded to the man in front of him.
"Malfoy," Andrew returned the nod.
Lucius then turned around and left the Granger home. Narcissa followed suit quickly. Hermione squeezed her best friend's hand while he smiled at her warmly and ran after his parents.
"Till September first 'Nee," Draco muttered as he closed the door behind him.
@-^------