Disclaimer: Oh, I knew I forgot something in the prologue. Well, here it is now. I don't own neither do I claim to own the wonderful characters or this highly developed and fantastic world. J.K. Rowling and whoever else owns those rights does. Now onto the story...

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Chapter 1

"'Mione!" Julia Granger called, entering the room of her only daughter. It was the day that Hermione had to catch the train on Platform 9 3/4 to arrive at Hogwarts. Mrs. Granger had just finished breakfast and had come up to remind Hermoione of that fact.

Opening the door, fully expecting to find her on the bed reading or looking through sheets of parchment, she was surprised to say the least that Hermione was still in bed, and was sleeping soundly. This struck Julia as odd, since her daughter was usually the first one up, especially when it was the day that she was to go back to her school.

Mrs. Granger, nor her husband, Aaron Granger, knew much on what went on at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, only that their daughter loved going there. If she thought it was ok, then that was enough for them.

Approaching Hermione's bed, Julia was struck by how peaceful her daughter looked right then. It seemed as though there was nothing wrong with the world, and she could just let it slip away. 'Well, sorry to drop in.' She thought ruefully.

"Sweetie…sweetie, 'Mione." Julia sing-songed to the sleeping girl who only responded by burrowing deeper into the covers.

"Not now mum." Hermione mumbled into the fabric of the pillowcase. A mischievous grin came over Julia's face.

"Oh Hermione…" If she had been awake, Hermione would've have recognized the grin as a sign for trouble, but seeing as how she was burrowing even deeper into the covers and her dreams, she had no warning for her mother's next move.

"It's time to…wake up!" Julia exclaimed the last part as she yanked the heavy cover off of Hermione, exposing the girl to the chilly temperature of the room due to the window that she had cracked open the night before. The effect of the chill air and the sudden movement of the blanket being yanked off jerked the soon-to-be 7th year up in her bed.

"Ah!!" Hermione exclaimed, sitting straight up in bed, her heart beating a bit fast, as she looked wildly around for a moment, confusion controlling her actions. As her eyes landed on her mother's form, her eyes narrowed, knowing that her mother was the cause of her sudden and unwanted disturbance. "Mum!" Hermione whined. "Oh, that is so not funny! Payback!" Hermione exclaimed, as she launched herself at her mother with a pillow.

Julia Granger was able to get out a hurried 'eek' before her daughter tackled and spun her onto the bed. Suddenly getting a face full of the pillow that Hermione had swung at her. "Oh so that's how you want play huh?" She asked, joy clear in her voice as she grabbed another pillow and continued the pillow war that her daughter had started.

Still laughing, mother and daughter only paused as Aaron poked his head in, wondering what was holding up his wife and daughter. "Do I have to separate you guys, or are you all ready for the trip down to the station?"

"Ah! What?! Today's the first?! Oh, why didn't you tell me sooner, mum?" Hermione's plaintive wail rose higher and higher.

"Well, that was why I was coming to get you, but, as you can see from the exploded pillow, and feather innards, we kind of got distracted." Julia grinned, raising an eyebrow, making her seem so much younger that her 37 years.

Her father seemed much younger than he actually was. At the age of 45, he still seemed a perfect match for his younger wife. The Grangers, before Hermione's letter, were a normal average family. Even with the oddly breaking items, or things disappearing and reappearing at odd times, they had, and still were a very happy family.

"Now, if you two crazy people don't mind, I think I'll just round up a few more things, then I'll come down and join you for breakfast. Is that okay?"

"Of course honey. We'll see you in a bit, then." Mrs. Granger said, dropping a quick kiss on her daughter's head, as she got up from the double-sized bed.

As the door closed, Hermione made a mad rush around her room looking for the books that she knew were hiding around her somewhat neat/messy room.

It was finally her last year at Hogwarts. The deciding year. Also, the year of N.E.W.T.S. Along with the nervous bundle of energy that accompanied that thought, the idea that she would never have to come to Hogwarts again for classes both saddened and excited her. Hogwarts had been her home for nearly a full seven years, and it was comfortable, like a worn teddy bear. But the chance to go further for her education, to go beyond what was taught in the halls of Hogwarts…Hermione became dizzy just thinking about the books.

Shutting her trunk, making one last quick sweep with her eyes that she didn't leave anything, that she needed, she made her way downstairs for breakfast.

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"Ah, she awakens!" Hermione smiled at her father, as he announced her arrival in his grandiose fashion.

"Ha, ha. Very funny. So, when are we going to leave for the station? You do remember the departure time is at 11, right?" Hermione asked, fiddling with her hands as she sat down at the table.

"Dear, the train doesn't leave for at least a few more hours, don't worry about it. You'll get there on time."

"And if you don't, you can always use an owl to tell them you missed the train." Aaron smirked, getting smacked lightly on the arm by his wife.

Hermione smiled at the antics of her parents. They weren't exactly what you would expect, having two dentists for parents. Maybe dull, but loving, was probably what would be more up to the mental image that came to mind when you say dentists. These two however…Hermione smiled as she watched them joke. She was lucky to have them, and she cherished that fact. They supported her in almost every endeavor she undertook, even the bad ones like S.P.E.W. in her fourth year. Even though she still believed in the principals of it, she had realized in between the scoffs and rolling of eyes that she couldn't really change ideas that had been pounded into the minds of wizards for countless generations. If there were more like her, it might have been a different story, but that just wasn't the case.

Giving a small sigh for her failed endeavor, she brightened up again, seeing a small bit of egg sly past her and land with a tiny splat on the floor.

"Didn't grandma ever teach you guys never to play with your food?" Hermione asked, the corners of her lips twitching with the effort to keep the smile back and the serious look on her face.

"Oh, why bother? I can always clean the mess up later. At least before the flies set in anyway." Julia said laughingly, even as she got up to pick the bits and pieces that decorated the white tiled floor and white linen of the table.

Rolling her eyes at her mom, Hermione finished up her breakfast, standing up to wash and put away her plate. Going up the stairs two at a time, she quickly brushed her teeth, grinning as she noticed the magically corrected teeth. Her parents had given her a bit of a yell since they had wanted to correct it by muggle means, but they had conceded to her arguments…eventually.

Grabbing her trunk that was full of her Hogwarts supplies and the carrier for Crookshanks, she dragged both items as Crookshanks himself followed her down the stairs at his own leisurely-borderline-lazy pace.

"Okay, I'm ready!" Hermione called, as she set her heavy luggage at the front door.

"Yes, well, we can see that." Julia remarked with a smirk as she looked at her daughter and her luggage. And don't forget the cat. "And look, Crookshanks even decided to make it easy for you this year and came down by himself." Julia smirked.

"I know. Weird. Anyway, you remember that I have to be there early this year, right mum?"

"Yes, yes, while you were up collecting your stuff, your dad went and started up the car. He's waiting for the guest of honor." Hermione's mother joked, collecting Crookshanks and securing him into the carrier. The half-kneazle giving her a bored look, then flopping down onto its side and promptly going to sleep.

"Well, at least Crooks is comfy." Hermione said, smiling at her cat. Really intelligent and helpful when needed, lazy and cute every other time. Taking the carrier from her mom slowly and putting him into the center seat next to her, she sat and got ready for her last year in Hogwarts.

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Well, as you can see, this was mostly a Hermione-centered chapter. I have to give her sometime too since after all, she is the other main character besides Snape. Well, until I finish the next chapter then. ja ne