Hermione.

My eyes flickered open to the early morning sun, the light coming through my window casting a warmth to wash over me. A chill of anticipation ran down my back. Today was my birthday!

Springing out of bed I rushed to the bathroom to wash myself and grabbed indiscriminately for some clothes from my wardrobe. Pulling on my black leggings and a rose coloured long sleeved top I flew down the stairs two at a time, jumping the last three. My mum and dad were both in the kitchen. They both looked rather tired and a little nervous.

"Happy birthday Hermione," they said pulling me into a group hug. I felt at ease again. Their initial response when I had appeared at the kitchen door had worried me, I thought that perhaps something bad had happened, but the warm hug and smiles, had dispelled any such silly notions. No doubt they were simply up early this morning after being up late last night.

Settling down to my breakfast of maple syrup covered pancakes, which were a special birthday treat; most mornings it was only toast or muesli. I ate them methodically, savoring every bite. That was the last moment of normality I had before my world was turned upside down.

As I turned to ask my mother what we were doing that day I stopped short. Sitting on the Kitchen windowsill was a Great Grey Owl. My mother seeing the look of shock on my face turned to the window and I heard her gasp in astonishment. Owls, I had read were nocturnal, not only that but the great grey was not found in Britain. It tapped the window impatiently and something drew me over to it. The bottom had dropped right out of my stomach and I could feel my heart jumping around in my chest. I felt as though everything in my life had been leading up to this moment. The logical part of me was trying to tell me that this was completely unnatural behaviour for such a creature and that surely we should phone the RSPB. It had probably just escaped from one of these bird zoos or something. That would be the most logical explanation for why it appeared so tame. Of course the piece of paper it was carrying had to just be something that had snagged on is tag. Every bird from these places was tagged right? The other part of me that had seen so many strange little things was what was in control of me as I opened the window and waited expectantly for its response. As though it were the most natural thing in the world the huge predator stuck out its foot with what could be called an almost comical and bored expression. Numbly my fingers released the ribbon supporting the letter. Without thinking about my actions, something in the back of my mind prodded me to place the letter on the side of the sink. I reached for a bowl from the draining rack. Filling it with water I placed it in front of the owl and snatched the last of my pancakes off the plate tore it into small pieces for him. He hooted gratefully and I turned back to my parents. So caught up in the whole unbelievable event, was I that it would be years before I realised that they were not acting the way anyone who knew nothing of the wizarding world would. Picking up the letter with shaking hands I looked at the writing.

Miss Hermione Granger Second Biggest Bedroom 34 Brook Street Stainpip Durham.

As though in a dream I unfolded the parchment, clearing my voice I read it out loud.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards.)

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl no later than 31st of July.

Your Sincerely

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress."

I let out a howl of joy and did a jig on the spot. I had absolutely no doubt in mind as to whether this was real or not, I knew it was! Shuffling the paper I drew out another piece of parchment, my list of school supplies, my eyes felt wide as saucers and the most ecstatic wave of happiness flooded through me. A last folded sheet had fallen on the floor, silently I bent to retrieve it then wordlessly handed it to my father.

To the parent or Guardian of Hermione Granger.

Dear Sir or Madam,

It is my duty to inform you that your daughter has magical abilities. Magical signatures from your daughter's spontaneous release of magic have been recorded on no less than 126 separate occasions. An amazing display of power for so young a witch, congratulations! On a graver note I must make clear to you the dangers of refusing her automatic acceptance to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An untrained witch is a terrible danger not only to others but also to herself. A representative of the school will call at eleven o'clock to discuss any concerns and to escort you to Diagon Alley.

Sincerely,

Margel Diplow.

Junior administrator

Department of Muggle Relations

Ministry of Magic.

I watched my father, a frown crossing his face as he read the letter.

"Please oh please let me go, I need to know why I'm so different." I whispered under my breath. My mum looked at me and gave me a sad smile.

"I always knew you were different sweetheart, are you happy with this? Do you really want to go away to boarding school? You realise we'll only see each other during the holidays." She chided me gently.

Of a sudden I felt so damn selfish. They would miss me when I was gone, but…. The opportunity to feel normal around people who could do the same as I. A chance for a fresh start. No teasing classmates who decided I was weird, or looked at me as though I might bite. Although I had done magical things by accident there was one thing that had happened that everyone had seen. My mind drifted back to a day I had never forgotten.

I was nine years old and one of the other girls had been teasing me in the playground about my name, she was relentless. It had all started on Monday at lunch, but by Thursdays afternoon break, I'd snapped.

"Shut up! shut up!" I'd screamed at her. When she'd opened her mouth to taunt me again, she couldn't speak, her voice was gone. All the eyes of the other children had locked on me in fear. But my own eyes held greater fear. Fear for what I'd done and fear of what they all might do to me. I needn't have worried, after that not one of the looked me straight in the eye again, or for that matter ever spoke to me. From time to time I'd hear whispers, and more than once I'd heard the word witch hissed under their breath. I grinned at the thought with gleeful spite, it looked as though they were right. Hermione Jane Granger, Witch!

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jane and Keith Granger answered the doorbell at eleven o'clock to find a small witch of slight stature but great dignity standing on the doorstep.

" Hello, you must be the Grangers," the witch said sticking out her hand cheerfully. "I'm Linea Vector, very pleased to meet you!"

"Come in please, won't you have a seat?" Jane said falling into hostess mode. Both she and her husband were trying very hard to be polite and not to stare at her hat, which seemed to have a snake trim on it. A very live snake trim.

" Ah and this must be Hermione!" She said bustling into the lounge and settling herself into the single chair.

"Well, come here child and let's see you."

Hermione walked over to her and gave her a small curtsy and a smile.

"What lovely hair, so very wild, and such expressive eyes. Yes your name suits you well; you look just like a Hermione. You know it's very unusual to have such a name in the muggle world. More common in our circles you understand." She said pointedly at the Grangers. " Although I suppose it's really Shakespeare's fault he just had to start writing for muggles when he couldn't get anyone to appreciate his plays in the wizarding world. I think he used your name in two of his plays."

Hermione nodded, she had always assumed her mother had given her the name from A Winters Tale.

"Would you like some tea?" Keith asked turning towards the kitchen. It was still a little much for him, trying to come to terms with all the news he'd had in the last twelve hours was starting to take its toll. A moment in the kitchen would allow him to regain his composure. He was sure the bright blue snake on her hat was weighing up its options about helping it's self to a chunk of his flesh.

"That would be lovely dear man, thank you." Vector replied inclining her head. The snake inclined it's head to and winked at him. Keith was into the kitchen before the witch could finish her thank you.

After the initial ice breaking they got down to the business at hand and began to discuss Hermione's education in earnest. Professor Vector handled it all with a clam strength that allowed the Grangers to relax and ask all that had to be asked. And hour later they were on their way to the mysterious Diagon Alley that she told them would allow Hermione to purchase all her needed supplies.

A portkey later they were in the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron and Vector was bidding Hermione to listen carefully and remember the correct order of bricks to tap should she have need of coming again before school started.

Vector smiled inwardly as she watched the young girls barely concealed excitement as the wall rearranged it's self into an opening to the magical shopping center of London.

Leading them quickly to Gringotts bank she pointed to the exchange booth and said she'd meet them at the entrance to the bank in twenty minutes, as she had to withdraw something for the Headmaster.

While they waited at the exchange booth a goblin taller and more intimidating than the others came over.

"Granger?" He growled out in an impatient tone.

"Yes… how did you.." The Goblin cut her off.

"Follow me and we'll arrange the necessary details," he said.

Bewildered they followed him obediently. He took them to one of the side offices and asked for Hermione to wait in a chair outside the door,

Ushering the Grangers into the room the quickly sat down and drew a few papers to his desk with a wave of his hand.

"Now we don't have much time I'm a very busy man but the provisions made for your daughter are all here. Along with this letter for the both of you. As you should be aware money has been put at your disposal for the education of your daughter, here is the account key and account number; next year's school fees have been deposited already. Money will be added to the account each subsequent September until your daughter reaches 18. The account has your name so discretion has been assured. No one will know that you're not paying these school fees. As to your daughters school supplies here is the key to her personal vault, there will be adequate money added every month for school supplies and personal allowance, so no need to worry on that account.

"Wait just a minute we're fully prepared to handle the money side of things ourselves we don't need any one paying for h..."

"Mr Granger, it is not legally your place to question these arrangements", he snapped dangerously. "Furthermore, no one is paying for her as you so crudely put it. The money going into her account is from her personal vaults which she will have access to when she reaches her coming of age as is the money for the school fees! These two separate vaults in her muggle name are being provided as a smoke screen as was requested by her benefactor. If you have any complaints I suggest you take it up with him." Keith sat back a little stunned but nodded silently realising that he would regret doing or saying anything more in the presence of the Head Goblin. But he didn't have to like it. He would definitely need to speak to this mysterious man in person.

"Ushering them out of the office he snapped his fingers and had a another goblin attend them."

"Gridstop, take Miss Granger to her vault and allow her to draw money for school supplies. He motioned to the Grangers as Hermione followed the goblin to some carts at the back of the bank. "It would be in your best interests," he said quietly "to go and change some muggle money, for appearance sake." Then he rushed off snapping his fingers right and left summoning and dismissing attendants.

They made their way to the muggle exchange booth and changed some money. Sitting in the waiting area Keith withdrew the letter the Head Goblin had given him.

Dear Sir and Madam,

There is no need to fuss over the financial arrangements for your charge, I assure you that Hermione's personal vaults are sufficiently full. The upkeep of her estates, left to her in her mother's will are also taken care of, due to the revenues accrued from these assets Hermione will be a wealthy and independent woman when she gains her majority. Her school fees and personal allowance will not put even the slightest dent in her fortune.

Vaghan Silento

Wizard at Law,

Silento, Confidelo, Winning and Partner.

"Fortune?" Jane said worriedly?

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Feeling a little motion sick Hermione stumbled out of the cart and stood in front of her new vault, number 313. The goblin made a complicated pattern over the doors with his fingers as locks clicked and whirled unlocking the outer door. With a flourish he stepped back and asked her to use her key. Gingerly she pushed it into the lock and the door swung open. With a whoosh, torches inside the chamber flared into life and lit a room with a large table. She drew in a startled breath and looked in awe at the table. There were several piles of gold coins and triple that of the silver ones and the small bronze ones were too numerous to count. Gridstop handed her a bag and she looked at him questioningly. In an uncharacteristic moment of kindness he told her to take at least one of the piles of gold ones, Galleons he called them and as much of the others as she could fit in the magically charmed pouch. Following his instructions and thanking him, which he waved away irritably, she followed him back out and into the cart, the magical doors locking behind her.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Diagon Alley

Vector made her way out into the crowds of witches and wizards, her muggle charges following her like lost puppies.

"We're going to Flourish and Blots, the book store, you'll be able to get all your books there, I'm sure you'll find it very enlightening young lady", she said with a conspiring wink. Earlier she had been breathless trying to answer the young witches question and felt as though she had been running from an enraged hippogryph. As they entered the store she watched the girl carefully, there was something about her expression at times of excitement that had tugged at her mind almost like a lost memory, but what it was she was none the wiser. Hermione's eyes were practically on stalks as she craned her neck, looking around the bookstore. As she had already noticed with Gringotts the place looked much smaller from the outside than it really was. There were corridors of shelves that seemed to go on forever in every direction; the idea of so much knowledge to take in, left her breathless with anticipation. This is what she had been dreaming of all her life. All the answers were right here, hers for the taking.

Signaling to one of the clerks, Vector instructed the young man to gather the standard Hogwarts first-year books, to be left at the counter when they were ready to pay.

Hermione turned to her parents as Vector again said to meet her in half an hour at the counter, as there were a few new arithmancy books she needed.

"And Hermione, you might want to get a copy of 'Hogwarts: A History', it will tell you everything you need to know about the school dear."

"Mum, Dad, I just can't believe it, it's amazing and this is the best birthday I have ever had in my life, thank you so much for agreeing to let me go!" She hugged them tightly then ran off shouting behind her that there were a few things she wanted to pick up, and she had to find 'Hogwarts: a History' it sounded fascinating.

Jane and Keith turned to one another shaking their heads at her apparent joy.

"We're doing the right thing Keith, it's her world, she's so comfortable here already, she hardly even blinked at the goblins, and nothing we've seen here has fazed her at all. But it makes me feel so damn helpless, we're going to lose our little girl and I just wish it would all go back to how it was but she would have been so miserable for the rest of her life. It's just so hard, how do you let a child go when you never truly had them?" She whispered pleadingly. Wishing that there were something he could say to make everything better again.

He sighed and squeezed her hand tightly. "She loves us Jane, we'll never truly loose her, and as clichéd as it sounds it you truly love someone you'll set them free and they'll come back one day.

By the time they had left the bookstore Hermione had five bags floating along behind her courtesy of the Professor's levitation charm. By the time they had everything on the list there was a bright procession of bags and parcels dancing along behind them. The last stop of the day was the most important, the wand shop.

Hermione had never felt so nervous, frightened and sick in her life. What if she couldn't find one that would work. What if they'd made a mistake and she wasn't a witch? What would they do to her? More importantly, what would she do?

Telling her parents to wait outside, Vector pushed her into the shop and closed the door behind the young witch.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ollivander's

The shop was small and dark and there was a smell of magic in the air. As in the bookshop there were shelves that seemed to run on forever with small boxes stacked in large piles, they were crammed everywhere. As she peered around curiously wondering where to start a voice came from the pitch-blackness of the other side of the counter.

"Miss Prewett, I wondered when I'd be seeing you, I rather expected you a little sooner. …" He said looking at her with a small frown.

"Oh I'm n." He cut her off and interrupted her

"Why it seems like only yesterday you mother and grandmother and her mother before that were here. Your mother liked a springy wand, willow, 9 ½ inches, unicorn hair core as I remember, very good for charm work."

"Sir, I'm sorry", she interrupted him, "I think you've mistaken me for someone else, my names Granger, Hermione Jane Granger, I'm muggle born sir." He peered closely at her over his spectacles, a deep furrow on his brow.

"Ah yes" he said carefully, "I see that now, my deepest apologies Hermione." He gave her a slight bow and then caught up a tape measure.

"Well, I take that you're here for your first wand, let's get started shall we? Hold out your wand arm." Doing as he asked she stretched out her left arm. The measuring tape darted over and a quill on the desk magically made notes of the measurements.

"Well well, most unusual", the man said looking at her closely again.

"My name's Ollivander by the way." He pondered the paper again then started rummaging under the desk and pulling wand boxes from underneath.

"Let's try these first. Take the wand and give it a wave."

Hermione picked it and gave it an experimental wave, nothing happened. She tried the next one, still nothing, her heart sank and tears began to well in her eyes when the seventh one she tried still wasn't doing anything.

"My dear child, no need to cry, this is perfectly normal, why your… ah " he stopped then began again. "Do you know," he asked conspiratorially " the most challenging customer I ever had took one hundred and ninety seven attempts before she found the right wand and her name strangely enough was also Hermione! Lots more to go, don't give up." He patted her sympathetically on the shoulder. "I shouldn't tell you this, but in my experience, the stronger the witch the harder it is to find a wand, they're very picky you know. It is after all the wand that chooses the witch, never the other way around."

He disappeared for a moment and came back with another pile of wands. "We'll keep going until we find the right one. Here are some stronger wands let's see what you can do with them."

On her twenty-third wand Hermione managed to blow a hole in one of the shelves. Then nothing happened through another fifteen wands and it was on the thirty-eighth wand that it blew Ollivander off his feet.

"Oh I'm so sorry sir are you all right?" She asked helping him.

"Yes, yes quite all right. Hmmm, this is getting tricky, perhaps we could try…. Hmm, but then it's worth a shot… Can you keep a secret, child?"

Hermione nodded hesitantly. Ollivander appeared a moment later clutching a box to his chest that was different from the others.

"This wand I made long ago, when I was a young man. I had been experimenting with wand cores, not all of them approved of by the ministry of magic. This was one such wand, and as such is against Ministry regulations. It holds not one core, but two. Dragon heartstring and a single golden horn of an un-hatched longhorn dragon. Now do not think that I killed this helpless creature by stealing eggs, no I had been in Romania when I happened across a very sick dragon. It was a Romanian longhorn and such a beautiful creature. I tried to give it what help I could, but it was no good. Now, a dragon heartstring is useless if not taken with the permission of the dragon with its dying request. It communicated to me its permission to take its heart at the final moment and pulling back a scale on its breast and allowed me to cut the heartstring free. At that moment it communicated also that there were some eggs in a nest not far away and I knew it wanted me to somehow protect them. I did as she asked. When I finally found the eggs, two where already hatched, male dragons crawling weekly about in the nest. The single golden egg of a female dragon stood un hatched, no movement coming from it at all. A spell confirmed that it had died within the shell. I took the baby dragons to the reserve in Romania and brought my two grandest prizes home with me. When the wand was finished it had been imbued with the strongest protective magic imaginable. Dragons are particularly good at repelling curses, as are wands made from them. But the golden horn of a Romanian long horn is something special. It was said in legends that the horn when not blooded held stronger healing properties than that of a unicorn it's self. Which my dear is why it's a class A non- tradable substance. Killing dragons for their magical properties holds a life sentence in Azkaban; I would never be able to prove that the horn had come from a dragon already dead, or that I hadn't killed the mother to get to them. So, you must keep this secret for the wand would be taken and destroyed if it was ever found out." He made a motion with his hand and the box opened to reveal a smaller box. This box had a small lock in its center; Ollivander placed a small crystal key in the lock and turned it slowly. He looked up meeting her eyes.

"If this wand works for you it will automatically register with the ministry, I believe because of the more aggressive nature of the heartstring used in defense, that that will be the core registered by the ministry. Now pick it up."

Hermione had absorbed everything he had told her like a sponge and the idea of possessing such a wand made her lick her lips in unconscious anticipation. Reaching for the box she drew it to her and felt a flicker of warmth as her hand hovered over the wand. As soon as her small hand curled around the wand a rush of silver and gold sparks shot from the tip and Hermione felt magical energy gathering inside her in response as it shot through her to connect with her wand.

"Vinewood and Dragon heartstring, ten and one half inches, firm but springy, good for defense and healing and yes I do believe an affinity for transfiguration. It should do very well by you Miss Granger. Although I fear divination will never be good for you. That will be ten galleons seven sickles and six nuts." Handing over the money she looked at him oddly then realised that Professor Vector had poked her head in to see what was keeping her so long. Drat, she had wanted to ask Ollivander so much more about the wand. Thanking him again she gathered the wand box and left the shop a noticeable skip in her step.

Ollivander watched her go down the street, her parents in tow. How curious, the little girl didn't have a clue who she really was. Turning and looking down past one of the shelves he smiled.

"You can come out now Lord Prince. I knew you were there."

"Ollivander, you must not let on to the girl what you know of her or to anyone else is that clear?" Severus tone was firm and threatening.

"I would never do such a thing Severus, I make it a policy to keep all conversations in this room private. You know, after I finished that wand, I hoped and prayed if its owner ever came that it would be someone who would only use it for good. I believe that wish was answered. Never have I seen such a pure soul so full of light. There's not an ounce of malice in that girl, she will put others before herself and her loyalty will be a beacon for others to follow. Rest at ease Lord Prince, she is safe for now and I will do nothing to put her in harms way."

"Thank you Master Ollivander, good day." Snape swept from the shop and after assuring himself that the Grangers had left Diagon Alley he apparated back to Hogwarts and headed for the school. If Olivander had recognised the girl then so would Dumbledore, his hand was being forced, he would have to reveal the truth to him and hope that if there had been another spy he or she was no longer around.

But he could hold off for another few months, wait until the girl was on her way here, and under the protective wards of the school.