Lower level. King's cross. The Granger's dashes through a bustling King's cross, sledding to a halt in front of a pair of platform signs. One read Nine and one read Ten.
Mr. and Mrs Granger look confused, they turn to look at their daughter.
"Well? This is it. The platform". said Mr. Granger. "And how do we get into Hogwarts express?" He looked around. "That wasn't usual I think".
Hermione chuckled. "It's here between this platform. Right there". She points.
Mr. and Mrs Granger see a bunch of groups vanish through the wall. The wall is like magic. "We have to run through that wall".
"Doesn't it weird vanish through the wall?" Mrs Granger asks. "Don't people see it?"
"This is magic. No one does". Hermione smiled. "Come on then. Our first experience to feel magic".
Mr. Granger nods and smiles. "You surprised us Mia. Lead us there".
Platform 9¾. Hogwarts express. Sleds onto a platform milling with people. A sign above reads Hogwarts Express.
Below it sits a scarlet steam engine. Hermione's jaw drops with excitement with a wider smile. Hermione glance behind, sees wrought iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words platform 9¾ on it.
Just beyond she sees Kings cross and the world she'd left behind. Hermione struggles with her heavy trunk as all around her people say goodbye to their families.
"I'm gonna miss you two". said Hermione hugging her parents.
"Promise that you send us a letter everyday". said Mrs Granger.
It's hard to let Hermione go. Since she gave birth to Hermione, they have never been apart. And today. "My treasure. Be careful. We waited for your letter. We're gonna miss you darling".
"I'll promise, Mum. I'll promise, Dad. Our life is changing starting today. I went to study at Hogwarts".
As the whistle blows. Hermione gives her parents another hug and lets them go in tears. "I'll see you again at Christmas".
Hermione got inside the train, found the compartment. As the train moves out of the station, she never stops waving at her parents.
She watches Mr. and Mrs Granger from her window until they drop back. Her life as a muggle born drifted away.
Scotland. Hogwarts express. Day. The train whips past fields, small country lanes. Hermione sits quietly, later changing herself wearing school robes before their arrival. Then she continues to sit in silence until the compartment door slides open.
A boy stands there, hesitating as he looks at her. "Mind? I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom. I _ I lost my toad. Have you seen it?"
"A toad?" ask Hermione. "Have you checking others compartment?" Neville shake his head. "By the way I'm Hermione Granger". She rose up. "Let's find your toad".
Hermione is out of her compartment. She and Neville walk separate ways. Searching for Neville toad. She hears a voice from this compartment and she stops.
Her hand reaches the door then slides it open. Her eyes see a boy wearing glasses that she is familiar with, and this red hair.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one". Her eyes on red hair wand. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then".
She is standing at the door. Red hair boy looks a bit taken back, but clears his throat nonetheless, poises his wand over the rat on his lap.
Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow. Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.
His rat remained nothing. Hermione frowned.
"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? I've only tried a few simple ones myself but they've all worked for me".
Hermione steps inside the boys compartment and takes a seat in front of the glasses boy.
"For example .."
Hermione takes her wand out from her school robes, pointing it over his brow.
"Oculus Reparo".
Instantly the cracked bridge of the boy glasses is mended.
"There. That's better isn't it?" Hermione now remembers who he is. "Holy cricket! You're Harry Potter. I'm Hermione Granger and _ you are?" as she turns to a red -haired boy.
"I'm Ronald Weasley".
"Pleasure. You two better change into robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon".
She rose up, stopped at the door. She turns to Ron. "You've got dirt on your nose. Did you know? Just there".
She takes a glance over Ron then turns her feet out from the compartment. Resuming her mission searching for Neville's toad.
Meanwhile, Severus Snape's office. A shadowy and miserable office in the Hogwarts dungeons. Snape used this office during the lengthy amount of time that he spent as Potions Master. The office was a gloomy and dimly-lit room found in the school.
Shadowy walls were lined with shelves of large glass jars filled with slimy, revolting things, such as bits of animals and plants, floating in potions of varying colors.
The office had a fireplace. In a corner, there was a cupboard containing Snape's private stock of potions ingredients.
The office was sealed with a spell only wizards could break.
"Severus, my boy". Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, enters Snape's office. Snape black eyes look up from his book to his headmaster.
"My boy. Is time". As the headmaster approached him. "The boy is coming, Severus. We should greet him and other students in the great hall".
"Would be better without me, Headmaster. I'm not in the mood". said Snape. "After you".
"It's almost dinner time, Severus". Dumbledore circling around his office, his hand began to touch his collection jars he kept on shelves. "What is it you call this boy?"
Snape rolled his eyes. Close the book he read. Pushing his chair then stood behind Dumbledore.
The relationship between Dumbledore and Snape would be one of unusually strong loyalty.
Dumbledore insisted want him to be part of the meeting with students and teachers.
"Ah. You ready". Dumbledore walks past him. "Come along then".
Snape follows Dumbledore behind to the great hall.
Snape had a strong, authoritative presence. He spoke in a soft, contained voice most of the time, except during the occasional instances when he lost his temper.
That Severus Snape.
Hogsmeade station. Night. As the scarlet engine hisses to a stop. Hermione and the others spill out.
She saw Harry, Ron and other first year students. Trailing behind them, she stood beside the boys. Hermione, Ron and other students are dumbstruck by Hagrid's size.
Moments later. Blake lake. A fleet of tiny boats glides silently over a glassy lake. Harry rides with Ron. Hermione with Neville Longbottom gazing at the dark trees of the forest surrounding them.
"Cold in here".
Entrance hall Hogwarts. Hermione and others enter a grand entryway lit with flaming torches.
Professor McGonagall, a rather severe looking witch in an emerald cloak, stands before a pair of towering doors. She lifts her chin, surveys the new students.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. In a moment, you'll pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you're here, your house will be like your family, your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule-breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the house cup".
Just then. "Trevor!" Hermione, other students including McGonagall herself, are shocked.
Neville, blissfully relieved, gathers his toad. Then peers up from the hem of McGonagall's robes. She glowers at Neville then exits.
As she goes, there is a brief clamor of sound from the students waiting in the great hall beyond.
Moment that. McGonagall came back for them. "We are ready for you".
Great hall. Hermione and the others file into a strangely splendid place lit by thousands of candles floating in midair over four long tables lined with students. Hermione looks up at the ceiling as she walks.
"The ceiling isn't real. It's bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History".
Professor McGonagall sweeps to the front of the room where a sorting hat sits on a stool.
"Before we begin. Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words".
Hermione watches with great interest as the great wizard himself rises from his seat at the high table.
"This is students sorting houses, Severus. Not a death ceremony". Whisper one of the teachers to Snape. Whom his face is not interested to know about new students or whatsoever coronation. "Cheer up will you!"
"This is my usual face, Professor". said Snape softly. "This is how I always like this".
His dark eyes study each one of the fresh student faces. I really am not interested in knowing them.
Slowly as if he can feel Harry's gaze. Snape looks straight into his eyes. Instantly, a sharp, hot pain shoots across Harry's scars.
He turns his face away.
"I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce. The first years, please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you".
The great hall thundered with applause after Dumbledore's speech. As the applause subsides, the hat twitches. At the brim, a rip opens wide and the hat begins to talk.
That hat just talks. Brilliant! Thought Hermione. Her eyes focus on that hat.
Severus Snape on the other hand. His dark eyes spotted the same bushy brown hairstyle focusing on the hat, standing between Potter and Weasley.
Scanning her from her bushy hair then to her shoes. His eye stung at beautiful twelve years old Hermione Granger that he didn't notice since at Flourish and Blotts they've met.
Of course. She barely looks up at a greasy old man like him. His heart was suddenly beating fast and he began to sweat for no reason.
"Are you alright, Severus?" ask the professor. "You are sweating".
"The great hall pack of students and teachers, Professor. They all take my space". He lied.
At the same time. McGonagall consulted her list which the first name on her list is Hermione for sorting.
The sorting hat put Hermione in Gryffindor. He then watches Hermione running towards the Gryffindor table while Percy Weasley welcomes her with a smile.
Followed by Harry and his younger brother Ron in Gryffindor.
After the sorting and dinner. Snape walked back to his office. His mind is still thinking of Hermione.
He slumped on his chair and closed his eyes. Imagine hers. Snape right hand laid on his chest. His heart was beating faster than earlier.
Am I going to die? What happened to me?" He asked himself. No. It can't be. No. I can't. She's twelve. And I - an old man.
Does he had, a second chance to find his lost love again after Lily Evans? Will Hermione filled his loneliness.
Dear Merlin!