Another bit of a set up for the main story

Happy reading :)


Chapter One

So. You're probably wondering just how I got myself into this mess. I ask myself the same question almost constantly. Well, I guess I can only start by saying that this was never supposed to happen. Ginny is the only person that I've ever really cared about outside of my family. Hell, she practically is my family. I mean, don't get me wrong, her parents are great, and her brothers are fun and all, but that's where it was supposed to stop. Me and Gin against the world. Big plans. Big dreams. Big adventures. Always had been, always would be. Until then…that is…But I guess it started a long time before that really. Way, way before that, actually. Maybe when I was around eleven and my whole life got turned completely upside down by a batshit world that I didn't even know existed until that point.

Rule Number 02. Nothing comes in between best friends.

As the two of them fell out of the double doors of the cinema after having been to watch yet another screening on One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Hermione threw her arms around Ginny's shoulders and pulled her in close laughing.

"I just love that one!" Ginny grinned back up and her and the two of the skipped down the street in the direction of the park to sit on the swings until their mother's came to collect them. For years now this had been a regular occurrence. Each weekend they would meet up to either watch a film or to go shopping and their recent freedom from parental supervision had only heightened the thrill for them.

But as fate would have it, this would all soon be ending for them. Only a few weeks earlier Hermione had received a hand delivered letter from Professor Minerva McGonagall, inviting her to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry starting in September. It had been both a shock and a delight to finally have some understanding of the odd things that occasionally occurred around her that she had often put down to her own imagination. It had taken a lot of explaining and a long time for her parents to come around to the idea, but she supposed that they must have sensed her absolute joy at the news. It had been a whirlwind of shopping for new books robes and all manner of items to aid in her forthcoming school year leaving her feeling utterly exhilarated.

But it did mean that she would be moving away from home until at least Christmas. So that would mean leaving not only her mother and father, but also Ginny, who would continue with her home schooling. Hermione had always found it strange that the Weasley family had chosen to educate their children in this way before sending them to a boarding school overseas instead of a high school like other children. Though she supposed it was what they figured was best for them and it wasn't for her to be judgemental.

And so here they found themselves, silently swinging in the dropping summer sun as she tried to find the right words to say,

"Ginny," She said, slowly coming to a stop, "There's something I need to tell you," She pushed her bushy hair back behind her ears and stared down at her feet. The absence of squeaking told her that Ginny had stopped swinging as well and was no doubt staring at her intensely. She could practically feel her burning a hole in the side of her head as she took a cautious glance sideways to confirm her suspicions.

"Well? Just say it."

"I'm going away."

The following silence was deafening. Hermione squirmed, still able to feel Ginny's piercing gaze upon her.

"It's for school, so I'll be back when term time is over,"

"Oh." It seemed that was all Ginny was able to muster at that time and Hermione bit her lip in embarrassment. She had not been entirely sure how this conversation was going to go, but knew she had to do it somehow.

After another long silence, Hermione tried to restart the discussion and put her friend at ease a little more,

"I'm sure it's not too far, and I'll be back to see you as often as I can. Nothing really has to change you know. It's this place called Hogwarts-"

"NO WAY!"

Hermione turned to look at her, shocked by her sudden outburst, incredibly confused by the grin now plastered to her face.

"Errrr…."

Ginny suddenly leapt from her seat and threw her arms around Hermione causing the two of them to topple backwards and hit the ground with a rather large thud.

"This is the best news ever! I had no idea Hermione; you could have told me you were a witch!"

Another awkward silence fell over them as Hermione stared up at the sky and the cogs in her brain began to slowly slot into place,

"So," She said slowly, "That's…The boarding school..?" It all made sense now. The absence of the older siblings for weeks on end, the fact she was never allowed to visit the Weasley family home, or that Ginny never questioned the odd things that happened around them. "Your family are magic?"

"YES!" Ginny practically screamed at her in delight, jumping to her feet and pulling Hermione with her. "My brother Ron starts in September as well, I have to wait another year, but this is perfect!" The two of them held hands a jumped up and down squealing to themselves, Hermione utterly thrilled at the prospect of spending even more time with her best friend. And it would come sooner than she could imagine, as when her mother discovered Hermione was also magically gifted, she immediately opened her home to the Granger family.

Despite the oddity of the situation with her parents being deemed 'Muggles', what magical people called those without it, they slipped into each other's lives comfortably, dining regularly together as their children played with one another and made the most of their final days together. Even as September arrived and her mother and father said goodbye, leaving her in the charge of Mr and Mrs Weasley, Hermione couldn't have been happier. As she followed Ginny's brother aboard the train, giving a tearful wave out of the window, she smiled inwardly. Nothing would ever get in the way of their friendship. They were set for life and that couldn't ever change. No matter what.


Japan's Arc Angel x