Disclaimer: I wish I could say I owned Harry Potter, but then I would be chased down by JK's lawyers and thrown into a ditch, and I really dont want that. So please dont come after me!
a/n sorry this took so long to get up, but i had a bit of writers block and had trouble finishing it. i will try to post more often in the future. dont forget to review! thx! -APaleMoonRises aka Jess
Chapter 3
An Unexpected Surprise
The next few days dragged on, and finally it was Saturday. Hermione was no longer grounded, so she decided to walk to the park. It was a beautiful summer day. She walked outside, and felt a warm breeze surround her. She walked past the familiar houses, and waved to her neighbors. By the time she got to the park, she was in a very good mood. A feeling of tranquility had overpowered her, causing her to rethink her pessimistic views. For the first time in years, she felt that there was a purpose to her life, but she didn't know what it was yet. She walked over to the swing set, and began to swing. She soared higher and higher, loving the relaxing feeling she got whenever she swung.
Hermione stayed at the park for about an hour, never leaving her swing. She slowed down and looked at her watch, not at all surprised that she had been there for a long time. As much as she loved the park, she decided she should probably go home so she didn't get grounded for staying out too long.
She sighed, and got off the swing. She walked out of the park, unsure of what she would do for the rest of the day. It was five thirty in the afternoon, so she didn't have much time before the sun would begin to set, and since it would take her fifteen minutes to walk home, she thought it would be a good idea to go home now with as little stops as possible.
Hermione arrived home, just as the sun was beginning to set over the rooftops. When she reached the door, she pulled out her key and let herself in. The door was usually kept locked, even when her parents were home.
She walked into her house, surprised to find it empty. She went into the kitchen and discovered a note addressed to her in her mother's handwriting. She sat down in a chair and began to read.
Dear Hermione,
Your father and I have gone to the store for a few items. We should be home shortly. Make sure the front door is locked, and don't answer the door or the phone until we return home. Stay out of trouble.
– Mom
Hermione rolled her eyes and put down the note. Her parents were so worried that someone would rob their house if they left it unattended for any period of time. She walked out of the kitchen and began to climb the stairs. She went up to her room and was surprised at how stuffy it was in there. The air she breathed was hot and thick. She went over to her window and opened it, allowing a cool breeze to surround her.
She went over to her bookshelf, and picked up an old favorite. It was called The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and it was part of a series of seven books by C. S. Lewis. The Chronicles of Narnia, as they were called, were her favorite series.
She walked over to her bed, sat down, and leaned against her throw pillows. She began to read, smiling slightly. She was deeply engrossed in her book, when she heard a strange noise. At first, she couldn't place it, but she suddenly realized that it sounded like an owl hooting. 'I must be mistaken' she thought to herself. 'Owls are nocturnal, they are never out during the day. She thought for a moment, and concluded that her imagination was getting the best of her, so she went back to reading.
Her eyes skimmed page after page, but she wasn't really reading. For some reason, she couldn't get the noise out of her head. Frustrated, she gave up trying to concentrate, and stopped reading. She looked out of her window, looking for something slightly suspicious, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
She was absentmindedly staring out of her window, when a strange yet a bit comical sight met her eyes. She watched as a barn owl flew into her room. After flying around a bit, it landed on her desk.
For a minute, she sat there unable to comprehend what had just happened. She was in a state of shock. Finally, after a moment of hesitation, her curiosity got the best of her, and she walked over to her desk. She observed the owl more closely. It looked like a normal barn owl. Then she noticed something strange. There was a letter tied to the owl's leg. Cautiously, she reached out her hands towards it's leg. The owl stuck it's leg out, motioning for her to release it from it's burden.
She curiously looked at the letter in her hands, not really noticing the owl flying out of her window. What she saw on the yellowish colored envelope surprised her. In dark green ink, it read:
Miss Hermione Granger
The Attic Bedroom
34 Pine Crest Drive
London
Who could possibly be writing to her? How did they know where she lived? Furthermore, how did they know where she sept? She decided to just open the letter. Maybe she could find out what all of this was really about. She opened up the envelope, and took out a letter. It had the same old-fashioned look to it that the envelope did. She opened the letter and read:
Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hermione almost dropped the letter in shock. How could she possibly be a witch? Her parents had always told her that there was no such thing as magic. Yet it would explain some things, like the time when she accidentally blew up the microwave when she was yelling at her father. She hadn't even been touching it and it blew up. She could easily remember many instances like this, each leading her to the same conclusion. She still had doubts, however. She wasn't sure what to think at the moment, so she just continued reading.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
What did they mean by 'we await your owl'? Hermione thought for a moment. Then it hit her. They had sent the letter with an owl. She suspected the wanted her to do the same. She looked for another piece of paper, the one that would list her supplies, but didn't find one. Suddenly, another barn owl came into her room with another letter. She took it from the owl, and tentatively asked, "Could you wait a minute? I need to respond to my first letter." The owl hooted, which she took as a yes.
She quickly grabbed a pen and a piece of paper. She hastily wrote the following message:
Dear Ms. McGonagall,
Thank you for accepting me into your school. I would love to attend, but I don't know how to get my supplies or how to actually get to the school. Could you please send me some information on the school's history and how to get there? Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
Hermione quickly tied the letter to the owl's leg. She watched as it flew off into the sunset. When the owl could no longer be seen, she turned her attention to the letter she had recieved. She opened it, and immediately began to read.
Dear Miss granger,
I apologize for not sending you your supplies list with your original letter. Enclosed you will find a list of necessary books and equipment, as well as the proper uniform. I look forward to meeting you at the start of the term.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hermione put the note on her desk, and looked at the second piece of paper. Sure enough, there was a list of everything she would need to start the new school year. The list read as follows:
Uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.
Hermione was fascinated by the strange uniform. What, exactly, was a robe? She hoped it did not resemble a bathrobe. The thought of walking around in a fuzzy bathrobe while trying to study magic made her giggle slightly. She dismissed the thought, and another question came into her head. What was a cloak? She guessed it was like a coat, since it was for winter, but she wasn't entirely sure. She decided to ask someone later, and eagerly went back to reading.
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 Beginners' 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 Scamader
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quenten 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
Hermione put the letter down, and smiled slightly. She wondered if starting over at a new school would help her to have more of a social life. She thought for a moment, and realized that since no one would know her she would have a good chance at actually making friends. She would finally get the chance to start over.
She then heard the sound of the front door creaking open. She glanced up at the clock on her wall. It read six o'clock. She then realized that her parents must have just gotten home. She began to wonder about how she was going to tell her parents the news. She wasn't entirely sure how they would take it, but she hoped they would be proud of her. She decided that she had to go downstairs eventually, and figured she might as well get it over with. She grabbed her letter off of her desk and went down her bedroom stairs. She paused for a moment, going over what she planned to say in her head. She was nervous, but the excitement of getting the letter was what made her walk as confidently down the stairs as possible. She decided to tell her parents after dinner so she would have more time to come up with good arguments in case her parents didn't like the idea of her going to Hogwarts.
She folded the letter up, and put it in her pocket. She walked towards the living room, planning to have a friendly chat with her father. She could hear her mother preparing dinner in the kitchen, and decided not to bother her.
Hermione began to talk to her father about her 'future'. When she told him she wasn't sure of what she wanted to be when she grew up, he immediately recommended dentistry. When he said this, she tried to keep a straight face. She had never realized why her parents liked looking at other people's teeth so much. She tried to act interested in what he was saying, but her mind kept wandering to thoughts about starting Hogwarts. Her thoughts were interrupted when her mother called her father and herself to dinner.
Hermione sighed, and walked into the dining room. Her mother greeted her with a smile, motioning for her to sit down and eat. She sat down a bit nervous, since she would soon be telling her parents she was a witch.
The Granger family ate as they normally would on any given day. Well, the parents did anyway. Hermione Granger pushed her food around her plate, not really eating. Her mother looked at her concerned, since she usually ate in a hurry. "Hermione, is something bothering you dear?"
Hermione looked up, a bit startled at hearing her name. "Actually there is something I need to tell you, but I don't really know how to say it."
"Well just spit it out. Dawdling will get you no where."
Hermione looked her mother in the eye, and began her story. When she finished, her parents burst out laughing.
"That was a magnificent story Hermione. You should really consider becoming a writer when you grow up."
Hermione took the note out of her pocket, and handed it to her parents. "Here is my proof. Read this letter, and you will know what I said was true"
Hermione paused for a moment, and added "I don't know if you will believe me or not, but I assure you, I am a witch."