Author's Note: As a recent fan of Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey', I was inspired to do a Draco/Hermione fanfiction. I am basing this story mostly on the version that I recently saw on PBS' Masterpiece Classic Complete Jane Austen series. This will of course, be a bit more modern version of the story but I have not decided whether to make everyone witches and wizards. I'm thinking not, but you'll probably recognize places from the wizarding world. So without further ado, I present my Harry Potter version of Northanger Abbey… and remember, the plot isn't mine nor is the characters; they all belong to Jane Austen and JK Rowling.
Characters (NOTE: some characters who were not related in the JK Rowling series will now be related, which is why extra last names have been added in parentheses)
Catherine Morland will be played by Hermione Granger
Henry Tilney will be played by Draco Malfoy
General Tilney will be played by Lucius Malfoy
Eleanor Tilney will be played by Nymphadora Tonks (Malfoy)
Frederick Tilney will be played by Adrian Pucey (Malfoy)
John Thorpe will be played by Marcus Flint
Isabella Thorpe will be played by Pansy Parkinson (Flint)
Mrs. Allen will be played by Minerva McGonagall (Dumbledore)
Mr. Allen will be played by Albus Dumbledore
Prologue
Hermione Granger grew up as one of two girls in a large family of seven. Her older brothers Charlie, Bill, and Percy had all married and moved out of the Burrow; while her other older brothers Fred and George stayed home to help the family (or at least when they weren't pulling pranks). They didn't mind staying at home so much because their girlfriends Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell lived in Ottery St. Catchpole as well. Hermione's twin brother Ron was currently going out with Lavender Brown, who was a bit of a ditz (in Hermione's eye) but seemed to genuinely love her brother and that was all that mattered. Ginny, the youngest member of the family had even managed to snag a boyfriend in Neville Longbottom. So how was it that Miss Hermione Granger sat at home alone on a Friday night? Even her parents had run in to town to grab some dinner together. But Hermione loved her romance books, and she knew that her books would never hurt her or break her heart. She had seen all the heartache her siblings had gone through before they found their seemingly perfect matches. She would much rather retreat to the safety that her books provided, and pretend that she were the heroine of the novel with a handsome man to come to her rescue when the evil villain had her bound and gagged in his dungeon.
Hermione awoke Saturday morning to two faces peering down at her.
"Ack!" She jerked up and bumped heads with her two siblings. "Ginny! Ron! Don't do that! It just can't be good for any of our heads. What are you two doing in my room at this time of morning anyway?"
"We have a visitor and mum wants you to come downstairs as soon as you're ready." The two siblings spoke in perfect harmony.
"Okay. Did you two rehearse that or something? Anyway, I'm up. Tell mum I'll be down as soon as I can."
Fifteen minutes later, Hermione made her way downstairs to the living area and quickly recognized the voices speaking as their close family friends Albus Dumbledore and his wife Minerva. Her mother, Molly, appeared in front of her as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Would you like a bit of breakfast before joining us in the livingroom?"
"No thanks mum. I'm not really that hungry." And she turned her attention to her guests, "hello Mr. and Mrs. Dumbledore."
"Hello Hermione dear. Don't you look all grown up; don't you think so Albus?"
"Yes Minerva dear, she does look quite grown up. Which brings me to the point of our visit; Molly, we were wondering if you might allow Hermione to accompany us to Diagon Alley? Give her a chance to experience society outside of Ottery." Albus turned his kind blue eyes to Hermione then, "would you enjoy that dear?"
"Oh yes, I think I would very much. Mum, may I go? Please."
Molly seemed to consider her daughter's plea for a moment and finally consented. Hermione ran to her and enveloped her in her arms.
"Thank you thank you thank you! I'll run upstairs and pack immediately. And thank you so much for this kind offer Mr. and Mrs. Dumbledore." And in a flash, she was gone up the stairs.
That afternoon, with a tear in her eye Molly watched her daughter disappear down the driveway with the Dumbledore's; and she prayed that perhaps her daughter would manage to put down her books for once and perhaps even manage to find the love that all her other kids had managed to find.
