Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Reading Suggestion: ¾ width

A/N: Hi! I haven't been by in a while. I got too hard on myself and didn't think I was good enough at writing and so deleted my stories. I think they're still on my external hard drive so if I manage to find it I may revamp them and post again. This is an idea I came up with a while ago – I always wondered what everything was like from Hermione's Point of View. This first chapter is quite short as we don't know much about Hermione's life before Hogwarts. Semi-canon.

THE VERY PRIVATE DIARY OF HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER

Chapter 1: 19 September 1990 to 1 September 1991

19 September 1990

Dear Diary,

Today is my 11th birthday. And it has been the most interesting one so far. It started off as usual, with my parents bringing me breakfast in bed, along with a few gifts and turned odd around morning tea. At 11 O'clock precisely, there was a sharp knock on the door. I ran off to open it, and an oddly dressed woman stood there. And by odd, I mean odd. She wore robes of a deep green, and a tall pointed hat (like one you might see in a Halloween costume). I said hello and asked who she was. The woman replied that her name was Professor McGonagall and if it was alright, she'd like to speak with us. I reluctantly stepped aside; interest peaked.

She handed me a letter, which I immediately opened and read, before frowning. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Was this a joke? I must have said it aloud, for she replied that it most certainly was not. My parents squeaked in surprise, before my father gestured for her to say more.

She sat with us for hours, explaining all about Hogwarts and the magical world. Finally, she offered to return in a few weeks and take me shopping in Diagon Alley. I can't wait!

31 October 1990

Dear Diary,

Professor McGonagall has been by a few times but today she finally took me to get my books. She says I can't have a wand yet and that it's better to wait until next August to get my robes but I'm so excited – I have all these books and so much to learn.

25 December 1990

Dear Diary,

Merry Christmas! Next year, I finally start Hogwarts.

Love,

Hermione

1 January 1991

Dear Diary,

It's only nine months until Hogwarts begins. Yay!

23 June 1991

Dear Diary,

Mum and Dad decided to take me to the zoo today. I'm not sure why, but we enjoyed it anyway. I guess they're realising these are the last few months they'll have me to themselves before I leave for school. I can't believe I get to live in Scotland. I've heard Hogwarts comes alive at Christmas time.

Anyway, the oddest thing happened at the zoo. I was in the reptile house and one moment the glass was there, and the next it had vanished. The snake was replaced by a rather large boy, and a rather bony one lay stunned on the floor. I wonder if he's magical too.

31 July 1991

Dear Diary,

I got to go to Diagon Alley again! And this time, Professor McGonagall (she always seems to be the one to take me) showed me how to open an account at Gringotts, the wizarding bank. I got my Hogwarts uniform fitted by Madam Malkin, a nice older witch who makes and fits robes for a living. She's very kind and made me feel very welcome. She could tell I was newer to the magical world and tried to explain the things I didn't understand, like the magical measuring tape that followed her around.

I was also allowed to get my wand today. It was so exciting. We bought it from Ollivander's wand shop. Mr Ollivander was kind, but very eccentric. The one that chose me – Mr Ollivander said the wand chooses the wizard or witch – is 10 ¾ inches, made of vine wood, and has a dragon heartstring core. I felt the magic flowing through my veins when I picked it up.

We also got any other school supplies, like potions ingredients and quills with lovely thick parchment to write on.

I think I saw the boy from the zoo walking around with a very tall man.

31 August 1991

Dear Diary,

The wait is finally over.

1 September 1991

Dear Diary

Well, the day is done. Night has come. What a busy day I've had.

Mum and Dad dropped me at Kings Cross Station at 10:20am but couldn't come through the barrier as they were muggles. I watched other Hogwarts Students pass through the barrier before getting through myself. What awaited me on the other side was, excuse the pun, magical. It was like the wall wasn't even there! A wonderful train, the Hogwarts Express, sat waiting on the tracks. Its body was a glorious red and it shone like the sun.

Once I found my seat, I pulled out Hogwarts, A History and began to read it for the twentieth time. I was already excited, but this made even better. Around an hour later, a short, pudgy boy appeared in the doorway, his cheeks stained with tears. I asked if he was alright and he shook his head. I gestured for him to sit down and once he'd calmed down enough, he explained that he'd gotten on the train and somewhere along the way, his pet toad had disappeared. I told him I'd help, and that my name was Hermione. Once I'd found out his name, which was Neville, we ventured off to check in every cabin. We met some very interesting people too. After a while, we split so the search might be shorter. I came across a snotty redhead and the boy from the zoo. The redhead was waving his wand and spouting off some sort of poem (I knew instantly it wasn't going to work), smirking cheekily at his pet rat. Eww, how disgusting. I really hoped we not in the same house. The idiot tried to turn his rat yellow, as if grey wasn't already disgusting. I promptly informed him it wasn't very good and showed them a better one, repairing the dark-haired boy's glasses. As he turned his head, I realised this was Harry Potter. Excitedly, I introduced myself and reluctantly found at that the other boy's name was Ron Weasley.

When we finally reached Hogwarts, we travelled across a big, dark lake in little boats. The girl next me, who I later learned was named Susan, held a lantern to light the way (there was one for each boat). The wait in the entrance hall was very interesting – a pompous blonde boy tried to make friends with Harry and was turned down. Harry knew the right sort for himself, thank you. We all gasped in amazement at the ceiling in the Great Hall. I'd read that it was bewitched to look like the night sky but seeing it in person was something different.

I was sorted into Gryffindor, and although I'm stuck with the rude redhead, the feast was wonderful and the girls in my dormitory are very nice. I can't wait to start learning.

A/N: And that is the first chapter, done. I know it's a crazy idea but I enjoyed writing it. See you next time!