A/N: This is a bit early but I wanted to get it out there before this crazy week coming up. I'll try to keep to my schedule but I can't promise anything! As always, reviews motivate me to write, so please do review! I'm also in need of a beta so if these chapters seem a little rough, that's why! Please let me know if you see any mistakes or have suggestions!
Disclaimer: None of it is mine unfortunately. I wish I were one of the richest women in the world
On her eleventh birthday, Hermione Granger was doing what she did best: reading. Her parents had tried to tempt her with a party but she had refused. Mature for her age and actually quite unpopular, Hermione knew that if her parents were to throw her a birthday party, few people would show up and those that did would have been forced by their parents. Better to not have a party and spare herself the pitying and hateful looks. Her parents were unaware of any of Hermione's troubles making friends and she intended to keep it that way. She was such a good child after all.
So here she was, alone in her room, reading. Hearing an annoying tapping sound, Hermione glanced upward. "Oh, it's only an owl." she thought absentmindedly before returning to her book. The tapping continued though getting louder as the bird grew more insistent. Irritated, Hermione set her book down gently. (After all, anger is no reason for treating a book badly.) Getting up, she quickly crossed to the window and stared. It was indeed an owl. Not only an owl but an owl in broad daylight with a letter tied to its leg. Seeing that Hermione was finally paying attention to it, the owl glared pointedly as if to say, "Let me in now, you stupid human". Alarmed but curious, Hermione opened the window and the owl flew in, landing on her dresser. Sticking its leg out, the owl again looked at Hermione as if she was an idiot. She gingerly took the letter and seeing as it was addressed to her opened it.
Downstairs, her parents, Jane and Robert Granger, were drinking tea and worrying about their only child. "Now Robert, I really don't see why you have to defend her." Hermione's mother was saying, "I thought we both agreed that we wanted a perfect child. Not one that was socially inept!"
Now Robert Granger was not an unreasonable or illogical man. He had agreed to have a child because his wife wanted one. "A perfect family" she had said. He had never wanted children at all and thought them a bother before Hermione came along. For he adored his daughter, he truly did. Yet, he spent most of his time defending her from his wife's criticism. Jane's model for the perfect family had not exactly been realized with Hermione. Hermione tried so hard to be perfect for her mother but it was never enough. Odd things always happened to her that Hermione could never explain. Even worse, Hermione sensed her mother's disdain. Robert sighed and tried to calm his wife down "Now Jane, please…" He was cut off by a scream from upstairs. Hermione came barreling down the stairs, her usual decorum gone.
"Daddy, look!" Hermione was waving a piece of paper around, dancing and giggling madly with glee. "Oh Daddy, it's wonderful! Can you just imagine? This explains everything! Oh, I can't wait! This is the best thing that's ever happened! Oh Daddy!" She was cut off by her father.
"Hermione, what is it?" Robert asked, confused by his daughter's joy.
"Hermione!" Her mother cut in sharply. "This is no way to act! What if we had guests? Collect yourself immediately!" She was practically hissing in her rage. But Hermione's joy could not be contained or diminished. She thrust the letter at her father. "Here! Read it Daddy!" she cried.
Taking the letter from her hand, her father smoothed out the wrinkles and read, "Dear Miss Granger, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…"