As I stepped slowly onto the step to board the train, I turned to give a final wave to my mum and dad. The small tear in my mother's eye nearly made me turn around and run back to her arms. The undeniable desire to learn more about this amazing new world was the only thing that kept me going as I boarded the train for the first time. I spent the majority of my train ride getting to know some of my fellow students. Many seemed to know a great deal about magic, speaking of it as though it were commonplace in their lives.
I was hopeful for the prospect of a new school, and a new start. If I'm being honest, I had not been terribly popular at my old school, tending to spend most of my time in the library rather than the playground. After the train ride though, I was hopeful. I met a few very friendly students, some of whom would prove to be the very best of friends.
Upon arriving at the school, I again felt like this could not be real. The logical side of my brain simply was unable to reconcile with the wonder and magic that surrounded me. I remember the first time I walked up to the castle. It was beautiful and historic looking. I had read a great deal about it's history over the past month and could not wait to investigate first hand! We were ushered into the great hall by Professor McGonagall. I took notice of the fact that she seemed to be so much a part of this environment, blending seamlessly into it.
After being sorted into our houses, we were taken to our dormitories. I had been sorted into Gryffindor, thankfully so had many of my new friends. I could not wait to get settled and write to my mum. I could only imagine her surprise when my letter was delivered by an owl instead of the normal post. I knew she would be so excited to hear all about everything I had seen today. I spent the rest of that evening in my room reading over my textbooks once again and ensuring I was prepared for the upcoming term.
The next weeks were filled with much learning. I learned some of the basic spells which would be the foundation for the rest of my life in the magical world. I was quite pleased with the ease of learning I experienced in most of my classes. The only class I felt that I had been one-upped was quidditch lessons. Harry seemed to take to it right away, whereas I felt like it was all a bit unsafe and not worth the risk. I had to help Ron and Harry in many of our classes, showing them the correct wand movements, potion ingredients, and other things that I did willingly.
One of the students who had been sorted into Slytherin house was the very opposite of kind or welcoming. His name was Draco Malfoy. He seemed to make it his goal to get Harry into trouble and kicked out of school. He even tried to get Harry to meet him in the astronomy tower one night for a duel, and of course Harry was thick enough to go along with it. Malfoy thought he could get him caught and expelled, but thankfully that did not happen. It did not end as Harry had planned, but we did discover a trap door under a three headed dog that would prove to be very useful as Harry fought and won against Voldemort for the first time.
I thought I was being a good friend, sticking by Ron and Harry's side, ensuring they were learning as much as possible. Apparently Ron and Harry felt differently. Shortly before the Halloween feast, I overheard them talking about me as they walked through the courtyard. Apparently Ron in particular was ungrateful for my constant help. I will admit, my feelings were hurt. It felt a great deal like it had at my old school. I felt like the book worm outcast with no real friends.
As I brushed past them, making sure they knew I had heard them I felt darkness creeping into my vision. It was the same way I had felt the day I had the vision of Diagon Alley. I quickly ducked into an abandoned corridor before the vision overtook me. All of a sudden I was in a familiar bathroom. I was surrounded by toilet stalls and there was a large, ugly creature in front of me. Taking in the look of the large beast along with the dimwitted look in its eye, I knew right away it was a troll. I had read all about them in my studies over the summer. 'What is a troll doing in a bathroom' I thought to myself. 'How odd'.
Before my brain could decide what exactly was going on, I saw two familiar faces burst into the bathroom, wands high. The troll advanced on the boys, as Harry did his best to dodge it's large club. Ron decided to take over. He was obviously attempting to perform the Wingardium Leviosa charm but once again did the movements incorrectly. If only I could truly be there, to show him the correct movements. I tried screaming, but it was of no use. I was once again simply an onlooker to my vision. Soon the troll overpowered the boys, just before the troll's large club came crushing down onto Ron's skull, the vision was gone. I was once again standing in the abandoned corridor.
I quickly dried my tears from the earlier encounter with the boys, making my mind up that whether I was annoying them or not, I had to save the only two people I felt that I could truly call friends. I recognized the bathroom from my vision and headed there straight away. I had to quickly duck behind a portrait when I encountered Professor Quirrel along the way. Luckily he seemed to be in a hurry and did not notice me as I peered at him from my hiding spot. Once he was passed I quickly finished my journey and charged into the bathroom, where I knew the troll would be.
Once in the bathroom, I realized I may have been a bit hasty in my endeavor. I had not actually come up with a way to deal with the troll. Just when the troll spotted me and began to head my way, the door burst open as it had in my vision and in came my two friends. I knew before he did the steps Ron would take, and that they would not be successful. I was able to help him to correct his wand motions, successfully knocking the large monster unconscious. This was the first time that I was able to use my visions for good and reluctantly embraced the fact that they were real and I made up my mind to research and find as much as I could about these visions and whether they were normal in this new world I had found myself in. For all I knew, maybe everyone in this world was able to see the future before it happened.
The rest of term was filled with much excitement and adventure. Harry was able to find the stone he had been searching for, with my help of course. He defeated Voldemort for the first time, coming out pretty much unscathed, considering.
I had no further visions that year. Even with my endless research, I was not able to learn very much more about my random visions or how to control them. It seemed few witches or wizards possessed the gift of "seeing" as I determined my gift was called. Those who did were so few and far between that short of finding one to speak with, I felt that I could learn little more about them.
As my first year at Hogwarts came to a close, I was filled with both excitement and sadness. I had missed my parents terribly and could not wait to share every moment of my year with them. I was saddened though at the idea of leaving behind my two new friends. It had been the very first time in my life that I felt accepted amongst my peers. Upon later thought, I realized this very well could have been that I was finally amongst my kind. I was finally a part of the world I had meant to be a part of. I could not wait to see what my future in this world held.
A/N: What do you think? I am trying not to retell the parts of the story that we all already know, but instead Hermione's untold story. How do you feel about the overall flow of the story, given that so many parts are skimmed over. Thank you so much for reading and I look forward to your feedback? I answer every one so please take a moment to share your thoughts -B