Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Hermione, her parents, or anything else of any concern.

So I know it's been a while but here's another chapter! This is a bit choppy, as I wrote it over two days, but I hope you like it anyway! There's no Draco but there will be in 1-2 chapters! I'm getting up to it!

Hermione was used to adults saying they'd be in contact soon and not contacting for a month. And Mrs. Abbott, though the strangest woman Hermione had ever met, was still an adult.

Therefore, Hermione was thoroughly surprised when a letter arrived in the normal mail just over a week after the very weird evening when Mrs. Abbott had come. Hermione had sprinted home from school in a light rain, thrown herself into the kitchen to inquire about the mail (she started doing this every day), and shrieked when her mother handed her the letter. Really, Mrs. Granger looked just as excited as she was.

Hermione (the letter read),

You will need to go shopping for your school supplies. I will attach directions to the Leaky Cauldron. You can ask the barman for help when you get there. Your parents will not be able to see it, but you can help them through the door.

Good luck!

Catherine Abbott

Hermione was too excited to read the letter aloud, and handed it to her mother. But while still excited, Mrs. Granger looked a bit apprehensive, too.

"Hermione, dear," she said slowly, "How will we know where it is? Even with directions, and even if you can see it, it sounds difficult."

Hermione but her lip, thinking. "If it was that difficult, Mrs. Abbott wouldn't act like it was so simple," she protested. "When can we go?"

Mrs. Granger read the letter over again and said resolutely, "Well, I suppose it would be best to go sooner then later. I'll ask your father when. Maybe next weekend."

It was Monday, but even five days seemed awfully short a time to wait to go buy all her magic things! Hermione could hardly control her excitement all afternoon and evening as she did her homework, to the point where Mr. Granger had to ask her to be quieter at dinner: a first.

After dinner, Mr. Granger settled down in the living room and called Hermione in. He laughed when she bounced in, her bushy brown hair crashing all around and even knocking a book to the floor. "Calm down, Hermione," he said. "And yes, I think we'll go Saturday."

Hermione jumped up and down, if possible, even more after this. Mr. Granger laughed and Mrs. Granger came into see what the commotion was. "Where are the directions?" she said, sitting down next to her husband. "Go get them, Hermione. See if we can figure it out."

Hermione skipped excitedly up to her bedroom, where she'd set the letter down. She grabbed the envelope and sprinted back down to her parents.

Mr. Granger took the envelope and removed the extra sheet of paper in it. He unfolded it and then laughed again. "It's just directions from the house by roads! Like if we were to look it up in the atlas! I thought for sure it'd be more complicated."

Hermione smiled, glad it would be difficult to locate the place. "I guess magical people aren't so different from us. Or you," she said, realising she, too, was magical.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked positively delighted as they read over the directions and the letter again. Hermione didn't do any reading that night-she was too busy running around the house, rereading letters and notes and thinking about that weekend.

The weekend came much too slowly. Maddie seemed to still be thinking about the tripping incident, one of Hermione's homework assignments was entered in a national contest, and Hermione read three Charles Dickens books over just five class reading periods.

On Friday afternoon, Mrs. Rand called Hermione up to her desk. "I have some exciting news," she said secretively. "I thought I'd tell you first. I'm going to be the sixth grade teacher next year!"

Hermione smiled, then turned rather pink. "That's great!" she said, trying to seem enthusiastic. "You're an amazing teacher."

"Thank you," Mrs. Rand said warmly. "But you don't have to be like that. I know you're not returning to this school next year. It's all right. Your parents told me."

Hermione shifted her feet. "Told you what?"

"That you're going to be attending school abroad. I expected it, too. You're so gifted. I'm so proud of you. You will write, won't you?"

Hermione blinked, surprised and unsure what to say. "Of-of course," she stammered. "Thanks-Mrs. Rand."

"Yes," Mrs. Rand said. "You're very welcome, Hermione. Now you'd best get home."

On the way home, Hermione felt almost like she was saying goodbye, though there were three and a half months left in school. But strangely, Hermione didn't feel sad, only excited. She was setting off on an amazing adventure, and she couldn't wait for it to begin.

Did you like it? I hope so!

Please review as I haven't gotten many for this story! If you have reviewed, thank you! That's basically it... I'll update soon!

Linley =)