Chapter 2
After Hermione and the professor had managed to pull themselves together they all sat down and got down to business, obviously the older Grangers were full of questions "How are we going to afford this?" " Is there a tuition fee" "What the bloody hell is diagonally" To which Professor Mcgonagall answered them all with her dignity back intact. " You can convert muggle money to wizarding currency at Gringotts, the wizarding bank "
"For a muggleborn such as Hermione there is a special fund at hogwarts that pays the tuition fees for 7 years of magical education which Miss Granger can pay back once she is of age and has a job"
"It's Diagon alley and it's a place in london where Miss Granger can acquire her school supplies, I have no problem escorting her there in a few weeks"
Hermione was just about to introduce Layla to the professor and come clean about her ability to talk to snakes as she assumed that this was a regular thing for wizards but something stopped her. Hermione wasn't able to explain the feeling but something told her that this was a secret that she needed to keep close to her chest for now.
Professor McGonagall left not long after that, as she was leaving she turned to Hermione, pulled a small parcel out of her robes, waved her wand over it and enlarged it. She handed it to Hermione with a small smile and said "I hope this might be helpful to you Miss Granger, it was my favorite growing up" and just like that the professor was gone. Hermione ran up to her room, ignoring the bewildered looks from her parents at her sudden burst of energy and the grumbles from Layla at being jostled about. Mumbling a quick apology to Layla, Hermione sat on her bed and carefully opened the parcel the professor had given her, it was quite heavy so she was hoping it was a book of some kind. Much to her delight it was, the book looked a bit worn with the corners slightly folding in on themselves. "Hogwarts a history" Hermione read aloud, "Well what are you waiting for? Start reading, it's always best to know everything about your surroundings" Layla advised slithering back over to her vivarium for a nap.
And read was exactly what Hermione did. Her parents didn't see her again that night which coincidentally gave them a chance to talk everything over.
"John this is a lot" Linda said with a sigh as she sat next to her husband, a wine glass in each hand
"I know dear but you have to admit, it all makes sense now, everything that's happened has led up to this moment, we've always known Hermione was special and this proves just how right we were" John replied as he took one of the offered wine glasses from his wife.
"But she's going to be spending 10 months of the year at the other end of the country doing heaven knows what" Linda said running a finger through her hair
"there's actually something else that's been bothering me for a while John"
Immediately concerned for his wife, John put down his wine glass and looked at Linda, the question in his eyes. Linda took a deep breath "I can't remember the day Hermione was born, my first memory of her was when she was about two, we all went to Piccadilly Circus for the day, you were singing dancing queen at the top of your lungs and Hermione just gave you this look as if to say: I am not impressed"
John's brows furrowed as they always did when he was deep in thought, a few moments went by during which he picked up his wine glass again, went to take a sip, and decided against it.
"You know what dear, I can't remember the day Hermione was born either, my first memory of Hermione is exactly the same as yours, although I have to say ABBA would have been proud of my amazing tribute" John said, earning a laugh from Linda.
"But why can't we remember the day our own daughter was born John, we cant be that old" Linda said stifling a yawn
"No we bloody well aren't that old, I wouldn't think too much of it love, let's get to bed though it is getting on a bit"John replied putting a comforting arm around Linda. And with that the couple retired to bed.
Hermione however had not gotten a wink of sleep the whole night, she had read Hogwarts a history cover to cover twice and learned something new each time. She learned about the enchanted ceiling in the great hall and the four Hogwarts houses. She was currently in the middle of a debate with her snake.
"Layla I can't go into Slytherin, no muggleborn has ever been put there" Hermione stated "Well you'll just have to be the first then," her snake replied "Also how exactly am I meant to take you with me when the rules say I can only have an owl, cat, or toad?" Hermione said with tears in her eyes "I can't leave you". Luckily for Hermione her reptilian best friend had a solution "It doesn't say anything about banning a familiar though" Layla said with the snake equivalent of a smug look. "But how do we even know if you're a familiar?" Hermione replied, still dejected, "you'll have to ask that teacher that came over and see what she can do" Layla said as she cuddled up to her mistress and flicked away a tear with her tail. "Hmm I guess you're right, but something's telling me to not let on that I can understand you yet" Hermione said tiredly, her eyes growing heavy. The last thing she heard before sleep claimed her was Layla grumbling that Hermione needed to brush her hair because she kept getting stuck in it.
The next few weeks flew by and before Hermione knew it she was getting ready for her meeting with Professor Mcgonagall. She had spent most of the morning trying to tame her hair into submission when another burst of "accidental magic" as she now knew it to be burst from her, Her bushy hair that barely fell past her shoulders before now cascaded down her back in elegant curls, it had also gone a few shades darker, not quite black but very close, enabling Layla to blend into it much easier. Her parents jaws dropped as she walked down the stairs, She did look rather different after all, they were used to seeing their daughter to engrossed in a book to bother with hair maintenance but the hermione they saw in front of them had her shoulders squared and a determined gleam in her normally soft brown eyes. "Magic?" John asked with a smile, "Magic," Hermione said with a grin, losing a bit of her serious composure. There was suddenly a knock on the door and just like that, serious Hermione was firmly back in place. "Ahh Professor, so good to see you again" Linda said after opening the door. "Hello Mrs Granger, is Hermione ready?" Mcgonagall asked as she took a step in and got a good look at Hermione. "Miss Granger, have you done something to your hair? I must say it suits you" The professor asked,trying to ignore the striking resemblance the muggleborn now held to someone she would rather not think about. "It was accidental magic Professor, I was trying to brush it this morning and something burst from me and now my hair looks like this" Hermione replied looking down. She had read that magic outside of Hogwarts wasn't allowed until she was 17 so she was hoping she wasn't in trouble. "Miss Granger that is most impressive, although I wouldn't class this as accidental magic, while you did not intend for this to happen your magic recognised that you were not happy and acted accordingly, Despite the fact you are muggleborn you are clearly very powerful, I see great potential in you. Did you get a chance to read the book I gave you?" Minerva replied, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. Could she be?
"No not possible minne stop being so silly" She mentally chided herself before turning back into the conversation,
Yes I've read it cover to cover twice, I had a few questions I was hoping to ask you during our journey," Hermione replied politely. Giving herself another mental shake to get over the obvious power emanating from the child in front of her she responded "Of course Miss Granger I will be happy to help you in any way I can, shall we go?"
After a quick goodbye to her parents the Professor and Hermione, with Layla tucked under Hermione's collar, whisked away.
They landed outside a pub in London, Hermione had walked past it a few times and had always felt drawn to the place, despite the fact it looked quite shabby on the outside. The professor led her inside straight past any patrons, not that any of them cared enough to look up from the drinks they were nursing or the conversations they were engrossed in. Just as they were about to walk out what looked like the back door, the pub suddenly got very loud and the previously bored looking customers were practically climbing over each other to get to someone Hermione couldn't quite see. All Hermione could see was a man who looked far too tall to be real, he had a bushy beard that took up most of his face and bushy shoulder length hair to match. "Is that what my hair looked like before?" she thought before turning to look for the professor who stood behind her with a fond look in her eyes at the unnaturally tall man. She leaned towards Hermione and said "That man over there is Rubeus Hagrid the gatekeeper at Hogwarts" "I don't mean to be rude, but why is he so tall?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself "That my dear is because he's half giant" Mcgonagall replied with a smile at the look on Hermione's face. "Well why is everyone crowded round him" Hermione asked trying to look through the crowd that did not show any signs of dispersing" "He's probably with Harry potter I think he was sent to bring harry to get his supplies for hogwarts, He'll be about your age now".
Hermione had no idea who this "Harry potter" was or why everyone was crowding around him. Hagrid had spotted The professor and was now forcefully making his way through the crowd over to them. "Hullo Professor Mcgonagall" Hagrid said gruffly trying to be respectful,
"Hello Hagrid how are you today?" The professor replied with a smile.
"I'm very good thank you professor just bringin' young harry here to get his things for hogwarts" The half giant replied gesturing behind him to a small skinny boy with black hair. "Well come on Harry, introduce yourself to the professor". He then proceeded to give Harry what he thought was a small hand forward, unfortunately for Harry and Hermione he forgot his own strength and Harry went flying into Hermione sending them both tumbling to the floor. "I'm so sorry" Harry gasped quickly, getting to his feet and offering Hermione a hand "are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you" Hermione was fine but she had a feeling in her stomach that this boy wasn't. "I'm okay don't worry, not even a scratch" Harry looked at her as if he was trying to see into her very soul. Hermione was lost in those piercing green eyes. There could have been an explosion and neither of the two would have noticed, they were too lost in eachother. "I really am sorry" Harry mumbled, not breaking eye contact. He was confused, why couldn't he look away from this girl in front of him? Her eyes had him trapped and he didn't even know her name. "Im Harry by the way, Harry potter" "I'm Hermione Granger" The girl whispered, he could feel jolts all over him at the mere mention of her name, he didn't like the feeling but he somehow knew she wouldn't hurt him, he wasn't afraid for the first time in a long time.
Professor Mcgonagall and Hagrid watched their two charges with two very different feelings, Hagrid thought this was good, Harry had made a friend, the half giant thought the two looked very cute together while Professor Mcgonagall had frozen. She had a sneaking suspicion about something but would have to wait until she got back to Hogwarts to investigate it. Schooling her features into a neutral expression she turned to Harry to introduce herself. "Harry, I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress at Hogwarts". Harry snapped out of his daze, turned and said quietly "It's very nice to meet you Professor" Minerva couldn't get over how much Harry resembled his father, James but his eyes were all Lily. "Right shall we get on with the day then?" Hagrid said, leading them all out towards the back.
The rest of the day went past far too quickly for Hermione's liking. She didn't get to spend nearly as much time with her new friend as she would have liked but they quickly agreed to meet up at Kings Cross to go to Hogwarts together. They separated to do their shopping not long after that. She came out of the day with all the necessary supplies for September including a new wand that Hermione simply adored. She thought back to her conversation with the Professor toward the end of the trip
FLASHBACK
"Professor, there's something I need to tell you," Hermione said nervously. Mcgonagall turned to Hermione with a kind smile "Yes Miss Granger?"
"Well maybe it would be easier to show you then tell you" Hermione replied "Come on Layla its okay"
The professor gasped as a snake suddenly appeared from Hermione's hair. "Well" Hermione began "This is Layla, I can't go to hogwarts without her, in Hogwarts A History its mentioned that if a familiar bond can be proven that I could bring her with me, She understands my feelings, she understands me when I talk to her, how do we get a familiar bond proven because I really think we have one" Hermione finished in a rush. To say Professor Mcgonagall was shocked would be an understatement. How did she not notice that her charge had a snake? Could they really have a familiar bond? Snakes are known to be dark creatures in the wizarding world… how could a muggleborn have a familiar bond with a snake of all creatures. The professor ran over her options in her head, she could lie and say there's no way to prove it but quickly shot down that idea as Hermione had clearly done her research, she could perform the spell to find out but what if they are bonded? What would everybody think?
Hermione obviously had no idea what her professor was thinking but she was beginning to get very uncomfortable with the silence that seemed to stretch further and further. Just as she was about to speak the professor said "There is a spell to detect a familiar bond but i am warning you miss granger the chances of you being bonded to this snake"
"Layla" Hermione interrupted immediately turning bright red for her rudeness
"Layla" The professor continued as if the interruption hadn't happened "Are very low, There have only been a handful of familiar bonds to muggle-borns throughout our history. If you and Layla are in fact bonded then of course she may accompany you to Hogwarts but if not I must insist she stays at home"
Hermione couldn't breathe to answer, she was so nervous but she nodded and Layla hissed her consent. Professor McGonagall waved her wand over Hermione, muttering words Hermione couldn't understand under her breath when a bright gold light enveloped Hermione and Layla. It took all of Minerva's strength to not drop her wand right in the middle of the street, Even the Headmaster and his Phoenix's bond wasn't as bright as the light she just saw. This child was powerful, you had to be to have a familiar after all. "You are indeed bonded with Layla Miss Granger, so I shall see both of you at Hogwarts on September first. Will you be okay getting to the station?" Hermione smiled back up at the professor, her smile was so bright and her eyes so full of life and joy it almost brought a tear to her eye. Almost. "Yes professor, me and Harry agreed to meet at Kings Cross and make our way to the platform together"
"Very well Miss Granger this is where we say our goodbyes, give my regards to your parents" Minerva said, and just like that again, the Professor was gone
Hermione had quickly explained everything that had happened that day to her parents, they were overjoyed with the fact their little girl had made a human friend and that layla would be able to go with Hermione to Hogwarts, despite the fact Layla was not aggressive towards the couple it was clear that Layla wouldn't be very tolerable without Hermione. Tucked up in bed that night, Hermione whispered to Layla "September first can't come fast enough" and promptly fell asleep with the world's biggest grin.
Hi everyone! I tried to make this chapter longer than the first one as I did feel the first one was a bit too short. Please let me know what you think in a review. The next chapter is going to be Hermione and Harry getting ready to board the Hogwarts express.