Disclaimer: I not own the characters or anything from the world of Harry Potter. All things Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2

Hermione was shivering. All she saw was darkness, all she felt was ice and despair. The kind of despair that makes you feel like you will never be happy again. Black creatures swarmed the sky bringing the chill with every inch they moved. Piercing green eyes stared at her from across the field, this boy was trying to communicate with her. She could see his mouth moving but could not make out the words. She sensed someone approaching behind her and then she was being hit with a pillow?

"Hermione…HERMIONE…for goodness sake! Wake up! We have to meet Professor McGonagall and I for one do not want to be late. Do YOU want to miss out on our first trip to Diagon Alley? I will leave you behind, twin or no twin!" Lily nags as she continues hitting poor Hermione with her pillow.

"I'm up! I'm up, I promise!" Hermione began to fight back with little effort, sleep still coating her eyes.

Hearing the sound of her girls tumbling out of bed, Mrs. Evans pops around the corner with a smile watching her two daughters have a pillow fight. "Lillian Rose and Hermione Jean, please lower the volume, my dears. Petunia is trying to get ready for her date and you both have another couple of hours before Professor McGonagall arrives."

Hermione rose from the floor and put her curly mane into a large bun on the top of her head, a contrast to her sisters sleek red pony tail.

"Mom, is the coffee ready? If I have to put up with this one", Hermione gestured to Lily, "then I need some caffeine. STAT."

While most people may find it a little unusual that the Evans' allowed their eleven year old to drink coffee, Hermione was not a normal eleven year old and was much more pleasant to be around after a cup (or two). They trusted their daughter's judgment, after all, they raised her to be an intelligent, self-sufficient young woman.

A few hours later, Hermione and Lily were bouncing near the front door awaiting the arrival of their professor and makeshift tour guide.

*knock*knock*

Lily swung the door open with vigor and shot McGonagall a huge smile, "Good Afternoon Professor!".

"Hello girls. Are you ready for your first trip to Diagon Alley?" McGonagall asked with an indulgent smile. She was normally quite a serious woman but something about these two muggle-borns reminded her of why she choose to teach in the first place. Plus, it didn't hurt that the fiery red-head was likely to be a Gryffindor, her very own house.

"Yes Professor." The twins stated in unison.

"Very well. We will use your parent's fireplace to travel to Diagon Alley. We had it connected to what is known as Floo Network last time I was here. You will grab some of this floo powder and state very clearly where you are aiming to visit – Diagon Alley. We have had some trouble in the past where students do not enunciate clearly and they end up in Knockturn Alley, which is a part of London that neither of you have any place being." Professor McGonagall explained carefully. She did not want to be responsible for losing any children, that was Hagrid's area of expertise. Hagrid was a sweet fellow but a bit daft, and after a few children went missing Dumbledore decided to revamp the muggleborn welcome visit. Thank Merlin.

*Diagon Alley*

As the girls successfully arrived in Diagon Alley they brushed the soot off their clothes and looked around in wonder. Tons of stores and people - real witches and wizards! Waving off McGonagall and Lily, Hermione decided to go wandering on her own.

Hermione stumbled upon a pet store and was eyeing a small orange kitten sitting alone in a basket. Just as she went to leave, the kitten turned and looked her dead in the eye. Distracted by the odd kitten, Hermione was suddenly swept of her feet and knocked to the ground.

"Watch where you are going child!"

Hermione looked up to see a woman with dark hair and a pinched face scowling, "She's wearing muggle clothing – in Diagon Alley? Honestly, they are letting all sorts of filth into Hogwarts." With one last dirty look to Hermione, the rude women turned on her heel and looked over her shoulder only to say, "Come along boys, we do not associate with her kind."

It was only then that Hermione saw the two boys that were standing behind the women. The youngest scurried to catch up with his mother but the older boy reached a hand out to Hermione. Hermione shook him off with a weak smile. Her arm felt bruised and her ego was wounded – what could she have possibly done to deserve that kind of reaction from a perfect stranger…

"Don't mind ol' Wally there. She's just miserable because father told her she looked like a toad this morning. He's not wrong, all that scowling causes wrinkles." The older boy said with a smirk.

"Thanks for your help but I have to be off. I need to meet my sister at Olivander's to get my wand." Hermione stated politely.

"Ah! Going to Hogwarts this year then? Me too. Names Sirius by the way - don't want to forget the manners Walburga instilled in me.", Sirius grabs Hermione's hand and starts dragging her forward, "Maybe we will be in the same house. My whole family has been in Slytherin but I just don't think that's for me. I don't look like a snake, do I?" Noticing that his companion wasn't responding, Sirius looked back to see her staring at their adjoined hands glowing gold. Wait…glowing gold? That's new.

"Woah, I've never had that happen before." Sirius mumbled to surprised to speak any louder.

Upon hearing that declaration, Hermione snapped out of her trance and snatched her hand away.

"What does this mean? I've never glowed before." Hermione questioned.

"Me neither and I am not sure what this means…Should we try it again?"

"I'm not sure Sirius…I am new to all this. What if it's a bad thing? What if we get hurt?" Hermione tried to reason.

Noticing that the bushy-haired girl was panicking, Sirius grabbed her hand determined to figure out what that glowing was. But to his disappointment, nothing happened, just two people holding hands with no gold in sight.

"Well, I guess it was just a fluke. Best to just forget about it. Now I really must be off." Hermione said, trying to shake off the weirdness of the past hour. As she turned to catch up with her sister and McGonagall she failed to hear the boy ask, "Wait, you never told me your name!".