A few days had passed and Hermione had spent the time enjoying her life with her friends. She was worried about how to bring up the subject of her leaving for a new school because she didn't know how to tell them all the details they would want without telling them the secret of her being a witch. She figured the best path to take would be to buy all her school supplies, read her textbooks in advance, and then figure out what exactly she should be telling her friends. Since it was a magical world where anything was possible, she didn't want to make something up only to find out that what she told them was actually true. Her plan also came with the perk of not being so behind in her classes.

Hermione was extremely worried that since she wasn't born into a magical family, she wouldn't know anything. Hermione had always been the one to know everything and for that to change would really hurt her ego, so she simply couldn't let it happen. Luckily, today was the day where she would be going to shop for all her school supplies with her parents. She was extremely excited but also very nervous, knowing that there would be other students there shopping. Hermione knew that she was different because she was born from non-magical people. She didn't know if she would be hated for the difference but she knew the difference was present and thought it best to hide it for the beginning of school, just to make sure she wasn't hated as soon as she walked through the doors of Hogwarts. Her plan was to act confident and pretend she knew what she was doing at all times.

Walking home from the workshop, Hermione got changed into some casual clothes. She didn't want to wear anything too fancy as she really was just book shopping today. Once she was ready she headed downstairs to get her parents, all the while listening to some music. Her bushy hair moved up and down as she bopped to her song, and only unplugged once she was out of the car at their destination. As they walked into what they had been told was 'Diagon Alley', the whole family noticed how different the Wizarding world was compared to the muggle one. People were walking around in what looked like thin, floor length bathrobes. They all held the same brown sticks that Dumbledore held, proving what he said to be true.A few people were even wearing the stereotypical witch hat that Hermione knew from horror stories and tv shows. The shops were all brightly colours and inviting, and filled with students and their parents. There were a few animals flying and walking around, some with kids who must have been their knew owners chasing after them.

The first destination on the Grangers' list was a place to exchange their money for Wizarding money. They walked into the bank known as Gringotts, gazing in awe at the beautiful decorations. They walked up to a grumbling creature and gave in sometimes to be exchanged. The creature, a goblin they later found out, told them how all the coins worked and how much they were worth compared to muggle money. Once that was all figured out, the Grangers set off for the stores. Glancing around, the first store they found was a bookstore called Flourish and Blotts. As they were walking around, Hermione left her parents with the list so while they were looking for the books she needed, she could explore and find the books she wanted that interested her.

The first aisle Hermione found herself to be in happened to be the aisle on Wizarding history and behaviour. Already holding a few novels, Hermione picked up another to read the back. This one was on Pureblood etiquette which seemed like it would be useful. While Hermione was still glancing over the back, she was tapped on the shoulder by a girl with a cold smile. "Are your parents making you get that one?" She asked sympathetically, as if she had once been in the same position. Realizing this was her first trial at lying, Hermione smiled boldly at the girl and sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. What a bore." The girl took the book from her and glanced at the title. "Despite whatever your parents said, I think this one will be much more useful. It's the one my parents made me read and while it does hold much more information than the one you were just holding, it doesn't go on with an excessive amount of useless detail." She put the book back and handed the new one to Hermione. "My name is Pansy Parkinson. Who are you? I don't think I recognize you." Hermione smiled back and said "Hermione Granger. Pleasure to meet you. I wouldn't expect you to know me, or me to know you. My parents are quite the hermits and run from socializing like nothing I've ever seen." Pansy gasped at the new information. "Wait, so you really don't know anyone? Don't worry I'll introduce you to everyone worthwhile on the train to school next week. I'm sure you will get along splendidly with my friends. Let's just hope you're in Slytherin so we can stay friends. It's really the best house so I'm sure if you're worth anything you'll get in. It's the best house and the only one to never have been contaminated by a mudblood." Hermione shuddered at the hate in Pansy's voice when she spoke the last word. At least she figured out where she and her blood stood in social rankings and such, she thought. Hermione was glad she had kept her bloodline a secret and realized that the truth could never the spoken.

Knowing that her parents would be coming to get her soon, she decided it was time to end the conversation. "Thank you so much! I would really appreciate that. My parents are waiting for me so I'd better get going, but its been really nice talking to you. Thanks for your help. I'm very excited to get my parents off my back about this stupid etiquette." She smirked with he last line, throwing it in to match the other girl's attitude. Walking away and paying for the books she picked up, Hermione wondered how she could survive a school while hiding her true identity from everyone. She wondered if this was what superheroes felt like all the time,and felt some pity for them.

Hermione and her parents went to buy the rest of her supplies, thankfully not running into anyone else who would confront her. They went to the Apothecary for potions, Madam Malkin's for school robes, bought some parchment and quills, and as the last stop headed into Ollivanders to buy a wand. Hermione was extremely excited for this last stop because to her, a wand working would be the final proof that she could really fit into this strange world. As she entered the shop, she first noticed all the boxes lining the walls. The second thing she noticed was an older man standing behind the counter with a kind smile. "Hello my dear. Looking for a wand are we? Let's see… I think I already have a few options for you." The man headed to the back of the store and brought with him around 10 boxes. Unfortunately, his instinct wasn't correct on that first round and he had to keep heading to the back to find some more wands. Hermione felt the life within each wand, but none connected with her own magic and she found herself slowly growing frustrated. At last, she grabbed hold of a wand that fit perfectly in her palm. It was beautiful, and she knew at that moment it was hers. She bought it with a huge smile on her face and proudly walked out of the shop, ready to get home but very excited for school the next week.

Exhausted, Hermione headed straight to bed after discussing the day with her parents. They were really very excited for their daughter, but didn't want to let her go. They finally went to bed after arranging for the muggle textbooks to be sent to them, and prayed that they're daughter was strong enough to handle the double curriculum. They had run into some other older muggle parents who told them about how their child was hated for being a muggle-born, and they hoped that wouldn't happen to their daughter. They felt some assurance in the fact that most students were accepting, and as long as she wasn't placed into the house called 'Slytherin', she would be fine. They stayed optimistic as they fell asleep, and hoped their daughter just enjoyed her time at this new school.

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