Chapter 1: Invitations

As her clocked blinked 3:00 am, Hermione Granger's pencil rolled out of her limp hand. She had fallen asleep about two hours ago while sketching, and didn't notice a snowy white owl fly through her open window. Hedwig dropped a letter on Hermione's head and landed next to her on her desk.

When Hermione didn't wake up, Hedwig started pulling at her hair. She groaned and opened her eyes, jumping slightly at the sight of the owl. "Hedwig!" she said in surprise, then she noticed the letter sliding down the side of her head. She picked it up and recognized Harry Potter's untidy scrawl. "What does Harry want? And at three in the morning?" She wondered aloud as she opened the parchment envelope and read:

Dear Mione,

How ya doing? How's your summer going? Mine's awful as usual. I was wondering, if it's okay with your parents, is I could come over for the rest of the summer? Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaase? (Hermione had to smile at that. How could she say no to it?) I hate it here. I would go to the Burrow, but Ron's in Romania, visiting Charlie. I need to get out of here! Send your answer back ASAP!

Harry

Hermione's immediate answer would have been yes, but she didn't know about her parents. She turned to Hedwig, who was still sitting on her desk.

"Well, I can't give you an answer right now," she told the owl, "I have to ask my parents, and if I wake them up at three in the morning, they'll kill me, so you'll have to wait until they wake up, okay?"

Hedwig hooted and flew out the window and perched in a tree for the night. Hermione stood in front of the window, allowing the cool July breeze play across her face.

She turned around and her eyes fell on the sketchbook she had been using as a pillow. The slightly smudged picture showed a little girl, around eight, with dirty, lanky curls framing her fearful and tearstained face. She was sitting in a corner while a shadowed figure stood over her menacingly. It was just a memory Hermione felt like she had to get on paper.

"Just a memory," she mumbled to herself as she closed the sketchbook and placed in the drawer, "A thing of the past. Just forget it."

She locked the drawer with the key on her bracelet and turned her lamp off. She figured she had better get some sleep if she had to think of a plan to sweet-talk her parents into letting Harry stay for the rest of the summer. Not to mention all the chores she had to do the next morning.

With one last look at the clock (it was around 4:15) she yawned and climbed in bed. She laid there for few seconds thinking about what would really happen if Harry came over. He would learn that they were more alike then he originally thought, for one.

Hermione glanced out the window and saw Hedwig, white as an angel against the navy blue sky. She flew in front of the nearly-full moon and disappeared momentarily, blending in with the white glow. The beautiful glow of the moon... so beautiful.

Before Hermione realized she had fallen asleep, she felt herself being shaken awake by her mother, Harmony.

"Hermione, sweetie, wake up."

Hermione groaned and rolled onto her stomach.

"Five more minutes, Mom."

"No, no more minutes. I already let you sleep in a half hour. Now, get up."

Hermione was suddenly wide awake. Half hour!

"But, what about Dad?"

"He was gone when I woke up, but I hope that won't mean he'll be home earlier. Now, come on. We'll be in big trouble with him if we don't get those chores done."

Hermione's eyes suddenly fell onto Harry's letter, still laying on her desk.

"Mom, could a friend from Hogwarts come and stay for the rest of the summer?" she asked cautiously.

"Which friend? Harry?"

"How'd you know?"
Harmony just pointed toward Hermione's window. Hermione turned around and saw Hedwig sitting there, waiting for the answer Hermione had promised her.

"Can he?" Hermione pleaded.

"I don't know," Hermione said slowly, and Hermione knew she was worried about her husband, but she wouldn't give up that easily. Hermione fell down to her knees and looked up at her mother with her big, brown eyes, pouting and begging.

"Why do I even bother?" Harmony said, giving in, so Hermione jumped back to her feet, "I suppose he can, but you know what your father's going to do once he finds out."

"I know, but maybe he won't be as bad with someone else here," Hermione suggested, taking out a piece of paper and preparing to write her answer back to Harry.

"It's on your own neck, Hermione. Now hurry up. You've got chores."

"Mom, when should Harry come over and how should he get here? I don't think the Dursley's would bring him," Hermione asked, pausing in her letter.

"I don't know. Saturday, I suppose. In the morning if we can get away before Harley wakes up, we could go get him. Now, come on!"

"I know. Chores. Just one minute," Hermione said impatiently, and she finished her letter and tied it to Hedwig's leg. "Get that to Harry as soon as possible, okay?" Hedwig hooted in understanding and flew off into the early morning sun.

Hermione dressed at top speed (or just changed out of yesterday's clothes, since she slept in them) and went downstairs.

Later that evening, Harry Potter was still waiting for his best friend's answer. He had been waiting all day, and, now that the sun was going down, he was losing faith in receiving it today. He turned to get in bed, and he had just taken off his glasses when a snowy, white owl flew through his open window and fell with a soft thump! at the foot of his bed.

"Hedwig!" he said, jumping up to get the letter tied to his owl's leg. He placed his glasses back over his bright, bottle-green eyes, unfolded Hermione's letter, and read:

Dear Harry,

My mom said yes! We can come get you on Saturday (morning?)! Sorry about the delay. Hedwig got here at three in the morning and my parents would kill me if I woke them up at that time. Anyway, can't wait for Saturday! See ya!

Love from,

Hermione

Harry smiled and placed the letter on his desk next to Hedwig's cage, and prepared to go to bed. He figured he'd pack tomorrow.