Author's Note: This is the introduction to the story. I know it seems as if i'm going to take it through her entire life, but this is the only time before the current almost 16 year old Hermione kicks in. I promise. Please enjoy, you don't have to review if you don't want to, but i'd love some feedback. If you have suggestions/constructive criticism I would love to hear it. Thanks & Enjoy!
"The Porcelain Doll"
A soft breeze ruffled the tree tops, as a young brunette girl swung on a dirty tire swing. The old tire was held in place by a thick piece of twined-rope, and it hung from a large branch on an old oak tree. The little girl looked about 8, as she swung in circles and held the arm of an old, stuffed, dolly she deeply cherished. The doll had a painted face, with a porcelain like head. Her body was made of soft fabric with a stuffing that made her huggable and lovable. But, what the small girl loved most about her doll was the matching features they shared. Dimpled smiles, small button noses, dark brown eyes lined with a coal black rim, and long, wavy, chocolate brown hair were their matching appearances. The swing slowed down and came to a halt, as the little girl in a pink summer dress fixed her darling doll's matching skirt. It had to be just right, for it was tea time.
Young Hermione Granger pulled herself off of the aged swing and brought her doll with her towards the picnic table. Her mother was placing small cups of lemonade and a large plate of cookies on the table for "tea time".
"Thanks mommy!" Hermione said enthusiastically, as she placed "dolly" on the other side of the table near the smaller glass of lemonade. She then took her own seat right in front of the big plate of cookies. Her mother laughed,
"Enjoy tea time 'Mione"
Hermione took a cookie and began to nibble at it as she looked around the yard. When she was done "tea-time", she stood up and stretched. Then, she ran across the yard to the tree-house her father had built her the summer before. She didn't even notice she left her precious dolly behind as she kicked off the pretty princess shoes and began to climb the steps built onto the tree. She colored in her little hide-away until it began to grow dark, and she heard her mother calling her. Stowing the crayons and books in the drawer by the window she climbed down and set off towards the house. Hermione was about to get into bed before she realized her dolly wasn't with her.
"Mommy I have to find dolly!" she cried in a frightened tone. The thought of sleeping one night without her precious doll that her grand-dad had given her when she was born was a terrible one. The little 8 year old ran around the house searching for her doll, until she realized that the Hermione-look a like doll was outside, at the old picnic table. Hermione pulled open the screen door frantically and ran across the soft, green, lawn to the table. Alas, the precious porcelain doll was gone. The tea tray filled with cookies still sat there, as did the semi full glasses of lemonade. (Hermione had drank some from both to make it seem as if Dolly was truly real.) The child and her mother and father searched for another hour, before Hermione grew too sleepy to continue.
"We'll find your doll in the morning, my 'Mione." Her father said softly, picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom at the end of the hallway. As he lay his daughter in her bed, he watched her with soft eyes. When finally she was asleep, he left the room.
"Do you think we'll find the doll?" Mrs. Granger asked her weary husband. He shook his head sadly,
"I'm afraid it's gone. Poor 'Mione's going to be heart broken."