Thank you all so much for reading! Remember I don't own any of the characters or the world, this great honour belongs solely to the great J.K. Rowling.

I would love to hear your guesses in which house(s) they are going to be sorted into!

Chapter 4

"Can we please go to the book store now?" Hermione pleaded while Harry looked at his parents with dog's eyes.

They had spent what seemed like forever at 'Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions' and both kids had been fidgety the whole time longing to finally explore Flourish & Blotts. Keith Granger sighed and gave his wife a knowing look. Those kids and books. Like every time the family went to a book store it was going to be a drama. The two children always found at least ten books they wanted to buy in a matter of minutes and when Keith or Elisabeth limited them to two books each it took them forever to decide. And it never passed off without a lot of pleading and bargaining from Harry and Hermione to maybe just this once being allowed to buy a third book because it was just too hard to decide.

"Alright, we'll go to the bookstore but first listen up." He started and both kids' faces lit up in anticipation already knowing what was to follow. They secretly loved bargaining with their parents just as much as the new books. "Before you go wandering off through the store we have to get your school books. Harry, you already have most of them from Lily but there are two new books on this list here. When we are finished with your school books you have 30 minutes to browse. Each of you will get two books as always. We have a lot more to do today so if you haven't decided after those 30 minutes you won't get any. Understood?" He explained with a stern expression but had to concentrate really hard to keep it up when he saw both his kids' shocked faces. "30 minutes?" Harry exclaimed while Hermione already tried to negotiate. "But that won't be enough time to even see everything! Let alone decide on only two books! Can't we have two hours? One?" They looked close to tears.

"You heard your father." Elisabeth intervened. "30 minutes and that's it. And Harry: Don't buy any more Potions books."

With that she took Harry by the hand and started walking having Keith follow her with Hermione. The siblings immediately went from bargaining with their parents to discussing a strategy to cover as much ground as possible. They had long before figured out that deciding on four books for the both of them to share was the best strategy but now they had to go through a whole book store with a completely unexplored selection of topics and authors in only 30 minutes.

When the family stepped through the doors to 'Flourish & Blotts' though, they both fell silent immediately their mouths agape.

"So. Many. Books." Hermione whispered feeling like she just stepped onto holy ground. This had to be what heaven looked like! Harry was no less impressed but his eyes were fixated on a sign that marked the section on potions. Oh, if he could just get his hands on some of those glorious volumes!

Luckily for them an employee stepped up to them and asked "First year of Hogwarts? Right over here." and led them to a corner where different stacks of books were already prepared. Keith noticed his children's longing gazes and sighed. Let the games begin. "Oh, alright you two. Go off! But remember: two books, 30 minutes!"

XXX

"Please, muuuum. I heard someone say that it was really, really good!" Harry pleaded, seriously considering falling on his knees. He was met with a stern look telling him it wouldn't be a good idea but he couldn't stop himself from continuing. "I could pay for it with my own money, from the vault I mean."

"Harry Granger!" Oh, oh. That was never a good sign. "I told you before we came in here: No book about Potions! And you won't touch that money until your 17th birthday, do you understand me?" Hermione slightly nudged him giving him a look that seemed to say 'Back down, idiot!'

"Sorry, mum. I was overexcited. I'll bring it back." His head down he went back to the potions section and put the book back in its place. With a last longing look he turned to walk back. A very careful listener could have heard a silent but determined promise though: "I'll be back for you!"

Leaving Flourish & Blotts Hermione was so happy she wanted to skip but seeing that her brother was really disappointed kept her from actually doing it.
"Don't worry Harry. You'll probably get one for Christmas. And you still have 'Asiatic Anti-Venoms' to read!" That thought slightly cheered him up but he forgot all about his disappointment when they entered the apothecary. He ran around the room over the moon to finally see all the potion ingredients he had read so much about in real life. While he closely looked at unicorn hair and dried roots Hermione and their parents went up to the counter and bought two sets of standard potions ingredients for Hogwarts first years. When they were done and wanted to leave Harry was currently looking at bezoars and only a stern look from his mother kept him from protesting.
They then went on to buy cauldrons, parchments and quills, telescopes and scales until they stood in front of 'Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC'.

When they were about to enter though the door was pushed open from the inside and a tall man with long blond hair and a sour expression on his pale face strutted out of the store nearly knocking over Elisabeth. Without as much as a glance in their direction he purposefully strode towards 'Madame Malkin's'.
"How rude!" Hermione called out angrily but her father pulled at her hand and slightly shook his head. He had dealt with arrogant people like that often enough in his job to know that they wouldn't care.
The man was followed by a beautiful woman and a boy that seemed around the Granger kids' age. He had hair so blond it was almost white and cold grey eyes that seemed to pierce through Hermione when he looked at her. His gaze moved to Harry and seemed to analyse him. All this happened without the boy even stopping and when he moved past them he sneered and coughed. "Pathetic."

Harry lunged at the other boy furious that he would insult his sister like that but was held back by her. "Leave him, Harry. He probably doesn't know any better and if he does he's not worth it."

"But he insulted you!" he protested.

"I'll get over it. Now come on, don't you rather want to buy your wand instead of fighting with him?" This got Harry's attention. Hermione didn't seem to care and he knew she was right. Judging by the way the man – clearly the boy's father – had brushed past them he hadn't taught his son respect for strangers, so how was he supposed to know any better. This logical consideration calmed him down again and focused his attention back on the shop they were in front of.

Their parents, who had waited silently, ready to intervene if necessary, now motioned towards it. "Are you ready to go in?" Keith asked. When both children nodded he pushed the door open.

They all entered but almost immediately wanted to leave again. "It doesn't look very...reputable." Elisabeth carefully said upon examining the dusty room.
The walls were covered with shelves that were filled with hundreds of oblong boxes stacked atop each other. The only furniture was an old dusty chair by the door and a counter on top of which stood a register, a grimy gas lamp and a vase filled with dried flowers.
"Hello?" Keith carefully called out. When no one answered he went up to the counter in order to look for a bell to ring.

Finding non he turned back to his family shrugging at a loss what to do just as an old man appeared behind the counter.
"Aaaah, a young witch and wizard in need of their first wand, yes?" Keith whirled around startled by the voice. At a loss for words he merely nodded. "Good afternoon. Who of you wants to go first?" He asked pulling out a tape measure. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and Harry motioned Hermione to go first so she stepped forward nervously waiting what the odd man would proceed to do.
He measured the most peculiar distances – even between her nostrils – while asking different questions about her life and her personality. Keith and Elisabeth stood near the window warily observing the proceedings. Ollivander now busily collected different boxes from the shelves muttering to himself and finally dropped them on the counter.

He carefully opened one and took out a simple wand. "Walnut and unicorn hair, eleven and a half inches, fairly bendy." He explained handing it to her.

Hermione hesitantly took it and waved it around a bit. A stack of boxes on the left wall was blown out of the shelf violently causing the wandmaker to snatch the piece of wood from her hand. "A big definite no."
Three disastrous tries later he handed her a beautiful wand that was adorned with a vine tendril climbing around it. As soon as she touched it a bright light engulfed the girl and red and yellow sparks flew from the tip of the wand. Ollivander clapped enthusiastically and cheered. When the light subsided Hermione had a huge grin on her face.

"That was amazing!"

Ollivander nodded and explained: "The wand chooses the wizard or witch, you know, not the other way around. That's what that was. Your wand here is a beautiful piece: vine wood and a dragon heartstring core, ten and three-quarter inches. Rather powerful. One of my favourite pieces of late."

Hermione beamed and only reluctantly handed her new wand back to Mr Ollivander who carefully placed it in its box and turned to Harry.

"Now to you, Mr Potter." he said getting his tape measure out again but he was startled by a heated response he didn't expect.

"That's not my name!" Harry had burst out losing his manners over his indignation he very well knew was only a mask for his insecurity. He was a Granger through and through!

Mr Ollivander looked rattled.

"I apologize. I assumed you knew..."

Again he was interrupted.

"I know about my birthparents and the evil wizard but my name is not Potter anymore, it's Granger. This is my family now." He added gesturing towards his sister and parents.

Hermione took this as her key and stepped next to him putting her hand soothingly on his shoulder.

"I understand. I apologise again, Mr Granger." The old man said with a knowing look in his eyes.

With Hermione's calming touch Harry regained his temper feeling rather sorry for his outburst.

"It's alright; you had no way of knowing." He said softly and held out his arm for it to be measured.

While Hermione's wand had found her at her fifth try, it took Harry 18 wands until he finally found his. The moment he touched it he felt warmth and comfort spread through him and without thinking about it he softly waved it towards the dried flowers.
They immediately regained their health, blossoming in a beautiful intense yellow that seemed to brighten the whole store. If one would have paid attention they could have seen Ollivander's eyes widen at this in surprise as he had seen a certain red haired muggle-born do the exact same thing when buying her first wand.

Harry, ignorant of this, grinned from one ear to the other, feeling so happy he thought he would float away any moment. His sister squeaked in delight and rushed to the counter to inspect the flowers more closely while Keith proudly laid his arm around his wife and Mr Ollivander smiled looking like his thoughts were somewhere completely else.

When he spoke his voice sounded deep. "You seem to be quite a talented young man, Mr Granger. Just as your sister here." He looked like he had wanted to say something different but had thought better of it. "I suspect you will both do very well at Hogwarts."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. Both felt like they were so happy they could burst.

The boy looked at the wand at his hand. It had a darker colour than his sister's, it was almost black, and was simpler but the wood looked elegant. "What is it made of, Mr Ollivander?" he asked the wandmaker.

"It too has a dragon heart-string core, like your sister's here, but the wood is ebony. With its' thirteen and a half inches it's long but not unusually so. It is very good for Transfiguration or combative magic." The old man explained taking the wand from Harry, placing it back in its box and putting the box and the one with Hermione's wand in a simple black paper back.
After Keith had paid him Mr Ollivander shook all of their hands goodbye but when they were about to leave he kneeled in front of Harry and Hermione and looked them deep in their eyes. "Take care of each other. A bond this strong between siblings is rare and should be cherished above all. I wish you all the luck in the world." Both children were baffled by this unsure how to respond. The man just didn't seem like the type to say something like that but they seemed to have struck up a memory of his. "T-thank you." Harry managed to get out and when he blinked the shop-owner had gotten up and went into the back of the store without another word.

The Granger children spent the next month reading their new books. They both got up early in the mornings – even Harry was so excited about all the things to learn that he didn't sleep in – had breakfast and spent the day outside reading. They already knew most of their new textbooks as they had read Lily's examples multiple times but the Astronomy and History of Magic books were new to them. They had also chosen 'Hogwarts: A history', a more extensive description of the wizarding world's history, a guide to wizarding society and 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' as their four additional books. By the end of August they could practically recite all their books on magic or the wizarding world by heart.

On their last evening before leaving for Hogwarts the whole family sat snuggled together on the couch taking guesses in which houses Harry and Hermione would be sorted until the two kids fell asleep leaning against each other.