Chapter Six
Hermione made her way to the Great Hall not surprised to find it empty except for a few Ravenclaws, Professor Flitwick, and a handful of other professors. Shaking her head clear of such useless thoughts she pulled a blank journal from her bag before grabbing a muggle ink pen writing: What do I know? What do I have? What do I want? And How can I use the latter to get to the former? onto separate pages before she began really thinking about it.
Under 'what do I know and what do I want' Hermione jotted down all the notes she had been bottling up since she found out about Hogwarts, which wasn't a good idea as she knew that it was better to write thoughts down as she got them or they could idealize, or worse, try to rationalize themselves which didn't always give her the correct answer. What Hermione wanted was a logical explanation for magic that didn't break so many laws of physics that she had yet to study in-depth.
Under 'what do I have' she simply jotted down logical reasoning and access to a library that would take her the entire time at Hogwarts to go through and then some, although that did remind her she needed to update her reading list to include books about the magical world and magic in general.
Under how to use the latter to get the former she wrote down, talk to Magical Theory instructor about other useful Magical Theory textbooks as well as find a theory on how magic can even exist when it broke so many laws of science it wasn't even funny. Looking back over her schedule Hermione figured out she had made a calculation error in having a free period in the early afternoon, that was when her Magical Theory course was and that was the one she was looking forward to the most.
Her parents had only allowed her to go to Diagon Alley twice, once to get her school supplies and the second time to gather supplemental texts so Hermione was sorely overdue for new reading material as she pulled out her order form for Flourish and Blott's and Tomes and Scrolls tapping the list with her wand to see if they had anything on the topic of magical theory beyond her first year textbook or beyond what they learned in their First Year studies.
Surprised to find that there were close to one hundred books listed Hermione quickly scanned the list before finding the thirteen most relevant books before scanning even further, able to find a few books per subject that had caught her attention before placing the order, knowing that the bookstore would be able to pull the money from her vault, and as it was only seven thirty in the morning, the order would most likely arrive before she had to go to her first class at nine am.
Just as Hermione was about to leave the Great Hall to return to her dorm room to pick up a few books for recreational reading when she finished her library books, a professor Hermione didn't recognize caught her attention, motioning her to follow him out into the hallway.
"Madam Pince told me that she strongly recommended for you to go into the Year Three Arithmancy course. Do you have some time now to take a mathematics test?" Professor Vector asked, glad when the young first year voiced her agreement to his question before he spoke again, "Then would you follow me, please. My name is Professor Vector by the way."
"Hermione Granger." She replied, following what custom dictated she say, even though he seemed to already know her name.
Once they were situated in his office he placed a three page test in front of her and watched in amazement as she finished the test in twenty minutes, without a muggle calculator. Hermione watched in silence as he picked up the test and motioned for her to follow him yet again.
Hermione had no idea where they wound up until she saw both Professor Dumbledore and her head of house, Professor Flitwick, waiting for her in what she assumed was the Headmaster's office.
As Professor Flitwick and then Professor Dumbledore looked over the test, Hermione held her breathe before they both smiled in her direction.
"I believe adding Arithmancy to your schedule can be managed. You will need a time-turner," Headmaster Dumbledore said, handing her a thin necklace that had an hour glass pendent on which she immediately put around her neck. "One half turn for one half hour, a full turn for a full hour and a quarter turn for a quarter hour. Bad things happen to those who meddle with time Hermione. You cannot allow your two selves to cross paths with each other, and we trust you will only use the time-turner to attend your Arithmancy courses." The headmaster said as Hermione earnestly agreed with him, when in all earnest she wanted to figure out just how the time turner worked; it broke the most laws of physics she had seen yet!
"We were told you have a penchant for languages, if you do well taking these courses we will allow you to add Ancient Runes next year, I believe you have a Defense Against the Dark Arts course to get ready for." Professor Dumbledore said, effectively dismissing Hermione before she stopped just short of the door.
"I don't have a textbook for Ancient Runes professor." Hermione said, mentioning this to Professor Vector as he knitted his eyebrows.
"Follow me to my office. You can borrow a copy from last year until you can owl order one, though if you sent the order in now it could probably be here before class." Professor Vector said as Hermione followed him back to his office where he handed her Arithmancy for the Year Three Student, Arithmancy Workbook, Year Three and Extra Arithmancy Problems for the Year Three Student the final workbooks surprised Hermione but she guess it made sense considering what Madam Pince had asked her: Basic Algebra Workbook, Algebra I Workbook, Algebra II Workbook, Geometry Workbook, Trigonometry Pre-Calculus, and High School Calculus Workbook.
"You can keep the workbooks but try and order your actual book as soon as you can." Professor Vector said before he glanced at his watch. "If you like you can follow me to the classroom so you can start reading Chapter One and Two if you have time." He said, as she followed him through the twisting stairways before finding a seat in the front of the classroom but off to the right so as to not be right in front of him before she cracked open her textbook and began the rather quick process of reading the first two chapters, as chapter one covered the history of Arithmancy while chapter two covered numerology, which Hermione had already studied as a side project in primary school, although she never told her teachers that, they would have had a fit.
Shortly thereafter students started filing in, taking seats throughout the classroom as Hermione saw house crests from all four houses enter and find seats. That meant Year Three and up where mixed classroom settings, that was interesting and Hermione pulled one of her notebooks out, jotting down that line of thought before turning her attention back to Professor Vector.
"Welcome to Year Three Arithmancy. Now there's a lot to go through in Arithmancy, and I do mean a lot. You're looking at six hundred pages of reading per week at a bare minimum, quizzes at the beginning of every class, tests at the least every other week, three hundred homework problems per week at a bare minimum and extra review sheets for those that aren't doing so well. For now we're going to do a basic math review as most of you never studied mathematics past basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division." He said, waving his wand as workbooks by the dozens flew around the room before landing in neat piles on the students desks. Another wave of his wand and shrink-wrapped packages landed on every students desk by the dozens as well, which caused Hermione to raise an eyebrow but Professor Vector wasn't finished yet as the final wave of papers landed on their desk, this time it was something labeled A Student's Organizer and packets upon packets of homework, which didn't look like it would take Hermione very long to get through.
"We will be working our way through these, as well as the basics of Arithmancy until the end of November. Should you not be able to finish these by November then you are taking the wrong course. If you already know the material we are covering for a two week period and can take the test and quizzes before or the day that unit starts you are allowed to move ahead to the next portion but I expect you to be in this classroom working on it. Included in your syllabi are your testing dates, what you are being tested on and things of that nature. Should you finish all of the basic math review before November you may move onto the actual Arithmancy work which requires a lot of background papers that we will be working on throughout this time frame." He said, flourishing his wand one more time as seven different colored binders landed on every students desk, earning a few raised eyebrows.
"These are a muggle invention called a three ring binder. What I want you to do is take your Basic Algebra book which you'll notice has holes punched in it and place it inside your binder, and then put a page divider. After that put your Student Organizer and then another page divider followed by that subjects workbook add one more page divider and then add your homework sheets and then muggle notebook paper which is where you will show your workbook. I want these subjects in these colors." Professor Vector said, waving his wand as a list appeared on the board and Hermione started setting up the notebooks as requested as did her fellow muggle born students while the purebloods looked on lost.
Purple= Introduction to Algebra
Red= Algebra I
Green= Geometry
Black = Algebra II
Orange= Trigonometry
Pink = Pre-Calculus
Yellow= Calculus I
As the students worked on setting up their binders Professor Vector kept talking to his class.
"You will need to hang onto these as when you start Year Four Arithmancy we will be covering Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Trigonometry and then Calculus I-III. Year Five will cover Calculus IV and then Physics I & II while Year Six will cover Differential Equations and Physics III all of which are muggle subjects that tie into Arithmancy. Hermione, are you finished?" Professor Vector asked, drawing attention to the single first year that was in the Year Three Course.
"Yes Professor Vector." She said, ducking her head as he came over to inspect her binders before smiling at her.
"Remember homework is to get as far as you can the Introduction to Algebra homework and workbook and to write three wand lengths on the history of Arithmancy. You're free to go." He said, directing this to only Hermione as she exited his classroom before finding the only empty classroom on the current floor she was on before using her time-turner to return to eight forty five that morning to make her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts with her fellow Ravenclaws.
Hermione soon found that their DADA professor was a stuttering fool who couldn't teach worth a crap, even if he knew his material inside and out, and the homework assignment they had been given, a wand length and a half on defensive magical theory, would be rather easy as Hermione had read her Defense Against the Dark Arts book rather thoroughly. She found History of Magic equally boring as Professor Binn's was a ghost and kept getting off on a tangent so bad that even Hermione had stopped taking notes, only jotting down what was important before she pulled out one of her notebooks that she carried with her everywhere.
History of Magic teacher is a GHOST? How is that possible? Upper-level students say he only goes over Goblin Wars and Statue of Secrecy. Find out if this is true, if so set up own study schedule.
Hermione had her Magical Theory I course next and was thoroughly looking forward to it. The Professor, a Charity Burbage, who also taught Muggle Studies, was very serious about the subject she taught and told them as much.
"There really is no material to cover because your first two assignments are as follows: What is magic? and What is the difference between using a wand and wandless magic? I want a lot of detail on these papers as these are going to be the ground work for the rest of this course your entire time in this course. I want a minimum of five pages per paper and a maximum of twenty five. Our next class meeting is next Monday at the same time depending on how much material we have to cover we may pick back up that evening at six. Pick up a copy of your syllabus and suggested reading list on your way out the door." Professor Burbage said as she walked pass them before setting down two stacks of paper, which Hermione logically concluded where their syllabi and reading list, and then exiting the classroom, leaving behind two very stunned sets of students before a Ravenclaw made their way to the back of the classroom, picked up the two sheets, and made a beeline for the library. A total of ten pages due in one week, or fifty if you wanted to go the extra mile, it seemed a lot of the class would be spending all their free time hidden away in the library.
Considering lunch was being served in the Great Hall, Hermione gathered her books up, placing them inside her bag and quickly grabbed the two sheets of paper before she made a bee-line, wanting to get to lunch early enough that she could finish and have some time in the library before her Charms class started.
The sudden appearance of food startled several first year students who had been too tired to notice it the night before, which caused Hermione to inwardly laugh as she grabbed two sandwiches and a cup of tea, ignoring the pumpkin juice which was something she thought she would never get used to.
Polishing off her tea and sandwiches rather quickly, Hermione made her way back to her dorm room before changing out her morning books for her afternoon books and then pulled out the reading list they had been given in Magical Theory I.
It was a rather long list, sitting at thirty books, but only ten where required reading. From there the other twenty where meant to help with the three major papers they had to write during the duration of the class. Knowing she had enough money, Hermione just copied all of them onto an order form for Flourish and Blott's before she began the trek to the owlery which, thankfully, was a tower over from her Charms classroom.
Entering the Charms classroom Hermione pulled out a new journal from the countless ones that she kept in her bag before dipping her quill into the ink she had set up and pressed firmly onto the paper.
Homework
Magical Theory I
Essay on What Is Magic?
Essay on What is the Difference Between Using a wand and wandless magic?
DADA
Essay On Defensive Magical Theory Length set at 'a wand length and a half'. How does one measure with a wand?
History of Magic
Essay On the Stature of Secrecy 'a wand length and a half' see above
Arithmancy
Essay on 'History of Arithmancy' three wand lengths see above
Entirety of "Introduction to Algebra" "Algebra I" "Geometry" and "Algebra II" workbooks, notes and homework problems
"Charms homework will be to write a wand length and a half on the levitation charm "Wingardium Leviosa", and to practice the wand movements we'll learn today due next class. Next classes homework will be to write three wand lengths on what charms are and the magical theory behind charms." Hermione turned to see her head of house and Charms Professor had come to stand next to her as they waited for the rest of the class to show up.
"Thank you sir, I find it helps to get it down as soon as I can." Hermione said, blushing slightly as he chuckled.
"You're a Ravenclaw, I wouldn't expect anything else. Do you have a spare piece of parchment? I want to show you something." He said, grinning when she was able to immediately pull one out and hand it over to him.
"Lay your wand along the left side, I'll do mine on the right." He said, following through with his statement as Hermione noticed there was quite a bit of difference between the lengths of their wands.
"10 and 3/4 's, am I correct?" Professor Flitwick asked, after having glanced at her wand.
"Yes sir." Hermione said, noticing that his wand was at least two inches longer than hers.
"Mine's Willow which is very good for Charms work but is 12 ¾ inches, which gave me some trouble, especially when I was a student at Hogwarts and we had to do three wand-lengths." He said, laughing as if at some old memory before he looked at the young woman next to him.
"You seem interested in wandlore?" he asked, noticing her eyes had sparked when he mentioned that his wand was made of willow.
"Yes sir, I'm interesting in almost anything I can learn." She said, blushing as she realized how much of a swoot that made her sound like.
"Come by my office after dinner, I may have a few books for you." He said, before he took his place on a rather tall stack of books just as the rest of the students started filling in.
It was then that Hermione looked back down at her journal to add what Professor Flitwick had told her and almost jumped out of her skin.
Beneath her rather feminine handwriting was another set of handing, which she assumed Professor Flitwick had done when she hadn't been paying attention.
Magical Theory
Wait until your book order comes in from the reading lists. Look at Elemental Magic, The Magical Sphere, and Theories of Magical Theory
DADA
Textbook and Magical Theory for the Defense Against the Dark Arts (ask Madam Pince) should help along with DADA, Year One Study Guide
History of Magic
See textbook for essay. To create your own study plan find the books: A Student's Guide to Their OWL Year as well as A Student's Guide to Their NEWT Year and finally A Student's Guide to Straight 'Os'. Build off of that to know what you need to pass the class and the two major tests.
Arithmancy Focus on numerology and then branch out from there to the History section of the library
Get to know Madam Pince well, it seems like you'll be a rather busy girl, best of luck.
It was rather very good advice and Hermione knew she would find herself following it but for now she shook her head, clearing it of such thoughts as they started receiving the first day of Charms lecture that Professor Flitwick gave to every incoming year group.
Hermione found she had a hard time keeping up with the notes as she was still adjusting to using a quill, it was too bad they didn't offer a course on how to use a quill better before they started and it seemed Professor Flitwick noticed because just as class was about to end he dismissed them early, asking all Ravenclaws to stay behind.
"This evening in the common room after your curfew at nine, and for how ever many nights you'll need, you will be paired with an older Ravenclaw or a raven of the same year group to work on your penmanship; it's imperative that you learn to use a quill correctly and with speed." He said; glad to see the majority of his first year claws' seem to breathe a little easier after his announcement before they began to scurry to get to Transfiguration on time.
Professor McGonagall was not a woman most people wanted to cross.
Getting to Transfiguration a few minutes before it started Hermione was able to locate a seat in the second row all the way to the right, sitting next to a fellow Ravenclaw boy whom she thought was named Terry Boot, but she wasn't one hundred percent sure on that.
Professor McGonagall was different from other teachers in that she passed out notes before class began for the day so they could listen instead of spend the entire time attempting to copy down notes, which was rather thoughtful of her. In fact she had given them the entire terms worth of notes until December for those that wanted to work ahead on the theory portion.
As soon as class began the rather stern Professor began talking.
"The first thing you should know is that I do not allow any mishaps in this class room. You point your wand at another student in here and you will be out faster than you can say 'Merlin'." She said, looking over her glasses at the entire classroom with an eagle eye which made a few students turn away from her gaze.
"Repeat after me please. I will not, under any circumstances, attempt to do human transfiguration." She said, as she scanned her class.
"I will not, under any circumstances, attempt to do human transfiguration" the entire class repeated, breathing a little easier when Professor McGonagall gave them a small smile.
"I will not transfigure anything to look like gold."
"I will not transfigure anything to look like gold."
"I will not transfigure anything into a gas, which can be ingested into the body, even unintentionally."
"I will not transfigure anything into a gas, which can be ingested into the body, even unintentionally."
"I will not transfigure anything into something that is edible or drinkable, even if its original form was edible or ingestible."
"I will not transfigure anything into something that is edible or drinkable, even if its original form was edible or ingestible."
"Good. The first part of your homework is to tell me why these rules exist. I don't care how long it is, just as long as you cover each point completely. Today we will be working on turning match sticks into needles just to give you a taste of Transfiguration. Potter, if you would give everyone a needle please." She said, levitating a box of needles to him before he started handing them out.
"With that being said, you all should have a rather large stack of notes in front of you, they are the notes for the first term which runs from now until you leave for your Yule or Christmas holidays. When you return you will receive your second packet of notes that will cover you over to your Easter or Ostra holiday, and then a final packet of notes will cover you over until you have finished your First Year here at Hogwarts. That does not mean you can rely solely on these notes; if you've looked at them, they are just an outline; you are to use your textbook, and any outside resources, to fill them in before each class. Coming to class without your outline filled in will result in you being sent from the classroom to return when you finish them. At the beginning of the packet is a Suggested Reading List that goes into more in-depth discussions on what we are covering this year which I strongly recommended that you read." She said, turning to see that all the matches had been handed out.
"Good now…"
The class progressed for the next twenty minutes and by the end of the lesson, only Hermione had been able to turn her match stick into a needle, even succeeding in having a rather sharp point to the end.
"Good job Ms. Granger. That will be fifteen points for Ravenclaw since no one else has managed. The homework assigned for this evening is to do this lesson and next lessons outline, keep practicing your match stick to needle transfiguration and for those of you that didn't finish it, two parchment pages on the transfiguration, page 115 in your textbook, as well as your original homework which is to start learning the Witches Alphabet page 20 to 80 I do believe, I want at least ten pages showing you've worked on it and a paper, two and a half wand lengths because none of you managed your transfiguration, on what it is, when it was created and it's practical usage." Professor McGonagall said, ignoring the groans that went around the class room.
When the students kept complaining she shot them a look that silenced the entire class.
"Had it been your OWL year, you could have expected a lot more. The only reason you have two papers is because none of you, expect for Miss Granger, managed to change a matchstick to a needle. She did it and only has one paper." She said, giving her students a glare as they all started scurrying out of the room.
Hermione was rather slow to pack up her bag, as she still had twenty minutes until she had to be in the Astronomy Tower for her first Astronomy lesson, which she was thoroughly looking forward to.
"Miss Granger" the professor's voice startled her slightly as she turned from packing up her bag to face the Transfiguration professor.
"Yes ma'am?" Hermione asked, as she placed her journal back into her bag and turned to face her fully.
"I have been told that you are taking Arithmancy as a first year student. That is rather quiet the feat but now I see why. We can expect great things from you. With that being said, if you would like to work ahead I will accept papers early as long as you still attend the class, that way you don't fall behind in the practical portion." Professor McGonagall said; glad to see Hermione's eyes lit up at the prospect of being able to work ahead.
"I would love that Professor. Thank you ma'am!" Hermione said before she excused herself to the nearest lavatory, her head spinning before pulling out her usual journal that she kept notes in.
How on Earth does Transfiguration work? IT COMPELETLY CHANGED THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF A PIECE OF WOOD AND A FEW CHEMICALS INTO METAL! SEND PROFESSOR AN OWL AND ASK ABOUT BOOKS!
Once she was happy her notes where down on paper she darted to her Astronomy course which would last for forty five minutes and was the last course of her day.
Professor Sinistra kept it simple for their first day, handing out their syllabi, notes and a calendar that held their reading assignments on it before assigning them only one essay: What is the purpose of studying Astronomy in magic?
All Hermione could think was that it was not going to be as easy a homework assignment as everyone thought it would be before they were dismissed for the day.
Hermione made her way to the Great Hall at a rather slower speed than her peers. Dinner didn't officially begin until five but one of the Ravenclaw prefects had told Hermione that as long as it was after the time the last regular class ended food would be served to them.
Finding herself the only person at the Ravenclaw table Hermione was pleasantly surprised to find that what the prefect had told her was true as a plate of wrapped sandwiches and a thermos of hot tea appeared in front of her with a note attached.
Misses may take the food with her; thermos may go in library sandwiches must stay in misses school bag while in library. Dos not forget to meet Professor Flitwick at five thirty in his offices.
She looked around as only teachers where in the Great Hall at the moment when Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall gave her both a nod and a smile which she returned before slipping her dinner into her bag and then grabbing the thermos to head to the library.
It bothered Hermione that the library was as full as it was at four thirty. It seemed every student in Hogwarts had decided to cram themselves into the rather large library after the first day of full courses. She had seen this at her primary school as well.
Within two weeks the library would be deserted which was just how Hermione preferred it. Unable to find a table, Hermione went about trying to locate the books she needed, but with students so spread out she could hardly figure out what section was what, let alone where the books she needed where located.
After thirty minutes of looking Hermione took upon the task of locating the librarian, a Madam Pince, if she remembered correctly. Hopefully locating the librarian would be an easier task than locating a book in the overcrowded library.
Ten minutes into her search, locating the librarian had been a lot easier than attempting to locate a book.
"Madam Pince?" Hermione said, attempting to get the rather stern looking librarian's attention, smiling when she succeeded.
"Yes, Hermione…Granger was it?" She said, asking for clarification on the girl's name.
"Yes ma'am. I need these books for my homework and can't seem to locate any of them." She said, handing the woman in front of her a hand copied list that she had thought to put on parchment so she wouldn't be handing over her journals, she was extremely private over her journals.
Madam Pince adjusted her glasses before scanning the list in front of her, handing it back to Hermione with a sigh.
"Unfortunately everything you're asking for has already been checked out and probably won't be back in until the papers are due. Ask your mother, she used to have a rather large book collection though." Madam Pince said as she started to walk away. "If she doesn't have them, your parents shouldn't have a problem sending you the money to get them. They were very studios students while they were here. Ravenclaws themselves, if memory serves right." The last part was tacked on as Madam Pince rounded a corner, leaving a very stunned Hermione in her wake.
Hermione quickly made her way to Professor Flitwick's office, making it there only a few minutes before their proposed meeting time as he greeted her with a wide smile on his small face.
"Now, here is everything I have on wand lore as well as a few that where ordered by the school for you. They are yours to keep as I have most of it memorized and thirty books won't take that large of a dent out of my collection. Might I advise you to start with Basic Wand Lore? It should answer some of your more basic questions and I daresay provide you with even more questions." He said, laughing at the way her eyes lit up at the rather large stack of books he had given her before dismissing her to enjoy her newly found treasures.
Two hours later Hermione was holed up in her room when a black owl entered through the one window in her room carrying a letter and a rather small package. Setting the package to the side she picked up the letter recognizing her mother's delicate handwriting before she broke the wax seal, which just served to strengthen Hermione's suspicions that Madam Pince had been correct.
Hermione,
Madam Pince was correct in her assumption that your father and I where Ravenclaws while we were at Hogwarts. You have to understand that your father and I attended Hogwarts under very different circumstances than you currently are. A war was underway during our very first year there, The First Wizarding War in fact.
The Granger family where always supporters of the Light but then certain truths came to light that I cannot elaborate on in this letter. When I married into the Granger family, by default, we had to support the "Light" cause even if your father and I had become disenchanted by it by then. You know there is always more than one side to every story and that the winners of the war write the history books so to speak, but do your own research first and come to your own conclusions.
Money and power are important in the wizarding world, as is blood status although I do not entirely agree with the last one. With that being said, your father and I have signed over the entirety of the Granger Vaults to you, which alone makes you richer than the Malfoys. I myself come from the Peverell family, although the name has died out due to no male decedents, although we are decedent from the first brother, Antioch Peverell.. Once you add in the money from the Peverell Vault you are the richest witch at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
When you are of age, should you have a male child, it would be beyond time to reinstate the Peverell name. Included are summaries of both of the accounts you now hold. You will need to sign them with a blood quill, which will take blood from the back of your hand, and return them to Gringots to obtain access to both vaults as well as the properties that now belong to you.
The next document declares you as head of both the Granger and Peverell families, properties, and businesses with myself as your proxy until you turn fifteen or prove to have a strong grasp of the comings and goings the businesses require. You may choose a property to stay at during your winter and summer breaks if you wish to stay in the wizarding world, although your father and I will come and visit as you request since the property now lies in your hands.
With that being said, I have included a trunk full of books for you. Some are books for when I was studying for my Potions Mistress title, some are from when your father studied to be a Healer while the others are the ones you needed from the library to finish your homework this evening. Others go over the political system of the wizarding world to help you know how it will work once you take your place among the Ancient and Noble Houses in the Wizengamot. You may choose a proxy until you turn seventeen if you desire but all of that is included in your reading.
I have also taken the liberty of purchasing you copious amounts of potions supplies, should you take after me you will be brilliant in potions. A word of advice on Professor Snape's class however, stick to the main points in his essays or you will find yourself with a failing grade and do not go over more than half a wands length or he will dock points, unless he gives an open ended length essay, which he will do at some point to see if you can determine what information is pertinent and what is not.
I have also included my journals from when I studied for my Potions Mastery under Professor Snape, read through them and learn from them, they will be rather helpful.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask and the owl is yours to keep and be sure to set the package on the floor, I put everything inside a trunk.
Love,
Mum & Dad
Hermione turned to the owl that was now perched on her desk, giving it a look over before declaring it to be named Hecate.
"Do you like your name Hecate? I think it suits you." Hermione said, petting the owl before it flew out the window, presumably to go to the owlery.
Doing as the letter suggested Hermione set the package on the floor before tapping it with her wand, and before , where a rather small package sat, a rather large, ornate trunk sat that Hermione could tell she would have to move with magic just from looking at it.
Sinking to her knees in front of the trunk Hermione tapped it again to open it, noticing that she felt something that felt like her magic coming off of it, which probably meant it had family magic coming off of it.
When the lid sprang open Hermione was shocked at the sheer complexity of the trunk that was before it.
It held four different compartments with a hinged tray that covered all four compartments. On the hinged tray was a train case that had to have been shrunken to allow it to fit. Next to the train case came a brush roll as well as brand new brushes that where within their original packing.
Pushing the tray up, the young witch began digging through the four separate compartments. The first surprisingly held weapons. Knifes, Sais, and several things Hermione didn't recognize which made her wonder just why her parents had sent them. The second compartment held clothes but they all held a patch on them that Hermione hadn't seen before. It held the Ravenclaw colors, but from there the raven was sitting on a pile of books with a Sai in its mouth and a snake wrapping its way around the raven's leg. The fact it was on a set of Hogwarts robes had Hermione curious but she knew enough about the Wizarding World to know she needed to get more information about the patch before she wore it around school.
The third compartment had to have an extendable charm on it, although Hermione didn't know what exactly it was, because it held thousands of books with a note on top that promised more if Hermione but requested them. The magically updating list that told her what was held within the compartment ranged from general magical theory and potions to muggle subjects like chemistry and high end mathematics.
The final compartment held her potions ingredients, cauldrons, stirring rods and things of that nature with a note attached for Hermione to figure out how to cast an extendable charm on her room at Hogwarts so she could add her own potions storeroom and to take a second note to Professor Snape that evening, although it didn't tell her what was in the note or what on Earth it was pertaining to.
Locating the dungeons had gotten her a few odd looks and Professor Snape had given her a rather hard look for interrupting him, but whatever was in that letter changed his tune almost immediately.
"Your mother is Jane Granger?" He asked, looking at the young first year student who was now seated in a chair, sipping on a cup of hot tea.
"Yes sir." Hermione replied, wondering why everyone had told her to be wary of this professor, he seemed like a much nicer professor than McGonagall.
"She's told me that you've already successfully brewed a few potions which I can believe if you're her daughter. Your mother was a pleasure to teach as a student and while she was working on her Potions Mastery." He said, levitating a rather tall stack of books to land in front of her.
"They're empty journals. Journal your progress through potions weather on your own time or during class. It will help you figure out what kind of brewer you are as there are several. Come to the potions room right after Charms, I'm going to give you a different potion than those your classmates are working on. I want to see what kind of brewer you are on your own." He said, dismissing her with the journals, her year one and year two syllabus and a case of tea Hermione's mother had always liked as he watched her start her trek back to the Ravenclaw common room.
Deciding to take full advantage of her time-turner, Hermione turned it the appropriate number of turns before running head first to the library, glad to find that it wasn't as busy this time as she slipped into a seat at a table all the way back in the stacks and began pulling books out of her bag at an alarming rate before she pulled out her homework journal and looked at the time.
4:40 PM September 2nd 1991, Monday
Magical Theory I
Essay on What Is Magic?
Essay on What is the Difference Between Using a wand and wandless magic?
FINISH BY 7:00 PM
DADA
Essay On Defensive Magical Theory Length set at 'a wand length and a half'.
FINISH BY 8:30 Curfew is at 9
History of Magic
Essay On the Stature of Secrecy 'a wand length and a half'
FINISH BY 9:30 PM
Arithmancy
Essay on 'History of Arithmancy' three wand lengths
Entirety of "Introduction to Algebra" "Algebra I" "Geometry" and "Algebra II" workbooks, notes and homework problems
START AND FINISH FROM 2:00 to 5:00 PM TOMORROW
As Hermione sat waiting for the ink to dry in her journal something peculiar happened.
The essay on the Stature of Secrecy will not take you an entire hour to finish. Cut it down to a half hour and spread out your Magical Theory work. That is too much to complete within that time frame.
Who is this? And how do you know that? She wrote, a little shaken that her journal had written back to her.
I was a student at Hogwarts a long time ago. My name is Tom Marvalo.
My name's Hermione Granger. She replied, against her better judgment, journals where not supposed to write back; magic was a peculiar thing.
I'm going to assume you are a Ravenclaw. Although if you're in Magical Theory I and the rest of your coursework is First Year Level, how are you taking Arithmancy? It's a third year course.
I petitioned to be placed into Arithmancy. I didn't want to go two years without a math course. They have said if I do well, I can start Ancient Runes at the beginning of my Second Year, but will have to wait for the other courses until I start Third Year, which is poppycock.
Do you wish to take more advanced courses? There is a way to do it but you'd have to start soon.
I do. I was told there wasn't a way to take more advanced courses at Hogwarts…. Hermione left it open ended because in all honesty that was what she had been told, and it contradicted what she had been told by Professors of all people.
That's because you'd be leaving Hogwarts. Their educational system hasn't changed since I went to school, which is really a tragedy. Owl your mother, now and tell her that you want to look into the Ireland Academy of Magic once that is done owl Headmistress Morgan le Fay, and yes, it is that Morgan le Fay, with copies of your primary school work and the essays you have finished so far for Hogwarts as well as any research notes. You should have a reply tomorrow and the good thing is that their courses started today as well, so you'll only be two or three classes behind. Owl your mum and Madam le Fay , Hermione, and then get back to your work. Try and finish all of your homework in one evening, it'll look better.
True to what she had told Tom, Hermione quickly penned a letter to her mother, followed by one to the Headmistress of the Ireland Academy of Magic before she turned her attention back to the essays she had to finish tonight. True to what Tom had told her she was over estimating how long it would take her to finish her essays and by eight thirty she was secluded in her dorm room as two owls flew through her window.
Miss Granger,
Please meet me in the entrance by the Great Hall, and pack all your belongings.
Minerva McGonagall
Assistant Deputy Headmistress
Hermione quickly threw a packing spell in the direction of her room before she tore open the second letter.
Miss Granger,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Ireland Academy of Magic. We are much more rigorous in our studies here than Hogwarts but we allow for level advancement at any time during the year should you prove you have mastered that courses material. Your mother has already been sent your booklist which you should be pleased with.
I will see you this evening as Professor McGonagall has your port key, your mother is welcome to come with you to see how you do on your testing and to help you settle in.
Headmistress Morgan le Fay
Once her room was packed up Hermione made the rather short trek down to the entrance hall still getting used to the fact that her parents where pure-bloods, which therefore made her a pure blood.
Once she had hugged her mother who was grinning from ear to ear at Hermione Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Your portkey is ready and your mother has purchased as many of the books as we thought you'd need since it is a self-paced curriculum. If you both would please touch the port key I can activate it for you. No one knows the location of the school and we figured this would be the best way to get you there." Professor McGonagall said, holding up an old rustic key, which as soon as they touched it whisked them away to parts unknown.
The castle that came into view as soon as Hermione's head stopped spinning put Hogwarts to shame ten-fold.
It looked as if it at come straight of the Isle of Avalon, and if the Headmistress was anything to go by, it very well could have, and they very well could have been on the Isle of Avalon but as Hermione could see a few male students milling about, that was probably not the logical truth.
"I think you made the right choice Hermione." Her mother said, before she straightened up as the Headmistress herself started walking towards them.
"You must be Madam Granger, rumor has it your potions leave nothing to be desired. If you both could follow me I have something I would like to discuss with both of you." Madam le Fay said as they followed her to what they assumed was her office, which had a wonderful view of the grounds through its large ornate window which looked like it had been plucked straight out of cathedral.
"Hermione, if you could start on these tests for me while I talk to your mother. They are self-grading so don't be surprised when they fly off." Madam le Fay said before turning her attention to Madam Granger as Hermione tuned them out as she started flying through the tests that had been presented to her, signing her name to the last sheet as it had requested she do, barley an hour and a half after she started.
"Miss Granger, your mother will be brewing potions for the hospital wing for us, and has graciously requested that the money she earns goes into your student account here for your bookstore visits." She said, raising an eyebrow at Madam Granger wanting to give her daughter one hundred galleons every two weeks.
"Mom, that's too much. You've already given me control over both the Granger and Perceval accounts as well as made me head of both households. I have more than enough." Hermione said, turning to her mother with a slightly reproachful look as Madam Morgan le Fay's eyebrows went up into her hair line at what Hermione thought was a rather innocent statement.
"My apologies for the incorrect address earlier Lady Granger, I had not realized that Madam Granger had transferred both households to you." Morgan le Fay said, rather formerly as she bowed towards Hermione, laughing slightly when Hermione looked a little lost but returned the bow none the less.
"We stand on formality here Lady Granger. With that being said, your professors will refer to you as such, even if you request that they do not, although you are by far the youngest head of house we have, there are a few that are in upper years. Now onto your course schedule, here is a list of courses you are eligible to take based on your test scores. You must have a total of thirteen credits per section and stay here a total of eight years to earn your degree even if you have all your credits. each section will list what credits you have already earned based off you test scores. Each class is worth one credit." She said, handing Hermione a sheet of paper that was rather long.
History 2 credits
Arthurian Mythology I
Isle of Avalon I
History of Magical Education
Notable People I
History of the First Wizarding War
Transfiguration 1 Credit
Transfiguration Theory II
Year One Transfiguration
Potion's 2 Credits
Potions Theory, Year Two
Year Two Potions
Charms 3 Credits
Charms Theory, Year Three
Year Two Charms
Astronomy
Muggle Astronomy Year One
Spell Creation 2
Magical Theory Year Three
Spell Creation One
Ancient and Modern Languages LATIN IV 100%
Ancient Runes Year One
Chinese Year One
Japanese Year One
Spanish Year One
Mathematics 5 Credits
College Algebra
Arithmancy Year Two
Sacred Geometry Year One
Magical Creatures
Care of Magical Creatures Year One
Divination
Divination Year One
OR
Runes
Cartomancy
Numerology One
Tarot
Oracle Cards
Logic and Rationality
Introduction to Rationality and Logical Reasoning I
Politics
Introduction to Wizarding World Politics
Running a Household Part One
DADA
DADA II
Battle Magic I
Physical Education
Gymnastics I
Head of Household Martial Arts
Weapons Self-Defense
Magic
Household Magic
Candle Magic
Color Magic
Aromatherapy Magic
Religion
Basic Wicca 101
Altars
Basic Elements 101
Hermione handed the list to her mother who looked it over before grinning at Hermione at how well she had done on her Entrance Exam.
"How many classes can she take?" Madam Granger asked, looking over to the Headmistress for conformation.
"It will depend on what she chooses. Pick your classes and let me see and we'll go from there." She said, that question just confirming that Hermione was perfect fit for her school.
When Hermione handed Headmistress Morgan le Fay just raised her eyebrows before grinning at the young girl in front of her.
"That's manageable." She said, waving her wand which transferred her selection into a timetable which she handed back to the girls' mother to allow her to look it over.
Monday, Wednesday,
5:00 AM- 7:00 AM Gymnastics I
8:00 AM-09:00 AM Basic Wicca / Household Magic
9:00 AM-10:00 AM Introduction to Wizarding Politics I
10:00 AM-12:00 PM DADA II
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Battle Magic I
2:00 PM-4:00 PM Charms II Theory, Charms III
Tuesday, Thursday,
5:00 AM- 7:00 AM Gymnastics I
7:00 AM-9:00 AM Potions II & Potions Theory II
9:00 AM-11:00 AM Arithmancy Year II / College Algebra
12:00 PM-2:00 PM Transfiguration II and Theory II
2:00 PM-4:00 PM Running a Household Part I
Friday Saturday
5:00 AM-7:00 AM Weapons Self Defense
8:00 AM-9:00 AM Muggle Astronomy Year One
9:00 AM -11:00 AM Magical Theory Year Three
12:00 PM- 2:00 PM Spell Creation One / Household Charms
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Introduction to Rationality and Logical Reasoning I
Sunday
5:00 AM- 11:00 AM Gymnastics I
12:00 PM-3:00 PM Weapons Self Defense
3:00 PM-5:00 PM Care of Magical Creatures
"You still have your time-turner you were given at Hogwarts correct?" Morgan asked, glad to see Hermione pull the thin chain from her neck to show the headmistress. "Very well, because on Monday's through Thursday you'll need it. Now if you'll follow me I'll show you to the tower you'll be staying in." she said, motioning for them to rise as they followed her through staircases that didn't move thankfully!
Two flights of stairs, three hallways, two right turns and a left and they ascended into a tower that was much more to Hermione's liking.
"We only have ten students per year group, and thought ahead. This entire tower is yours to do with as you please. You may change the color scheme, and add things to the walls as long as you don't use a permanent sticky charm. To your right is your bedroom and bathroom. To your left is your personal study, your library and brewing room. All of the books that are in your personal study are yours to keep as a welcoming gift to all new students and you will find at the beginning of each school year, there will be more books. It is your responsibility to figure out how to enlarge it as the time comes and how to figure out how to conjure your own bookcases. You will find that your potions lab is fully stocked as well, but with your mother being one of the top Potions Mistresses of all of Great Britain I believe yours would be one of the better stocked ones. You are required to be present for one meal a day, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner and your uniforms are already hanging in your closet." She said, before she paused for a moment.
"MISTY!" she called, looking pleased with the house elf arrived as called.
"Misty, this is Lady Granger, you will be serving her during her time here at the Academy. Please see to it that Lady Granger's kitchenette is stocked." She said, waiting until the house elf disappeared before turning back to Hermione.
"Your kitchenette is on the other side of your bedroom and as soon as Misty is done, will be stocked with snacks and drinks so that you do not starve should you choose to only eat one meal in the dining hall. Misty can also get books for you quicker than an owl order could and can check things out in your name in the library. With that being said, it is time for dinner. Madam Granger, if you would like to set up your daughters rooms while I show her where the dining hall is, I want to introduce her to her year mates." The headmistress said, and when she received a verbal reply in the positive she led Hermione down to the bottom level of the castle and into the dining hall.
The first thing Hermione noticed about the dining hall was that there were eight round tables instead of four long tables like there had been at Hogwarts, which made her assume they were divided by year group instead of by house, which she immediately liked.
They stopped at the first table where there were seven young children about her size, most of which were engrossed in a book of some sort.
"What's the rule about books at the table?" the headmistress asked, as the four children that had been reading blushed before putting their books away.
"We are here to eat. When we finish a decent sized meal we may leave." All seven of the children said, before turning to grin at her.
"Correct. Now this is Lady Hermione Granger who will be joining us for this school year. Compare schedules and let her know what she missed for the classes she had today. For today and today only I will make an exception to the no books at the table so you may show her what books go with what classes and what homework she missed and someone be sure to show her where her classes are and where the library is located at." She said, before leaving the children to their own devices.
"My name's Amelia Pendragon Headmistress is my great-great aunt or something like that. She seems like a hard arese but she's rather sweet. What classes are you in?" she asked, looking at the schedule Hermione handed her.
"We have Gymnastics, Weapons, Arithmancy, Basic Wicca, Household Magic, Battle Magic I, Introduction to Rationality and Logical Reasoning I, Astronomy and Running a Household together. Usually only heads of house would take Running a Household but daughters' of Ancient and Noble houses can petition to take it since they'll need to know about it when they marry." Amelia said, before passing the girls schedule around the table to the other eight students that where there.
"The rest of this lot are Justin Carrow, Katherine Rosier, Michael Prewitt, last and head of the Prewitt family although that is not common knowledge, Kira Ollivander, Crystal Avery, William Lestrange, Blaise Zabini, and finally Rosalie Smith, muggle born but adopted by the Lady Longbottom. I'm unfortunate enough to be betrothed to Rose's older brother Richard Smith who is in Year Four but he treats me well enough." She said, as everyone around the table started comparing their schedule to Hermione's.
"I've got everything you do aside from Gymnastics." Michael said, his nose scrunching at the very idea, "I'm in Weapons Self Defense and Hand-to-Hand Combat. Blaise has the same schedule as well."
From there the schedule went to Rosalie, Kira, and Crystal, although Rosalie was no help. She was only in Gymnastics and Self Defense with her. Crystal and Kira however had managed the exact same schedule as she had, Gymnastics and Self-Defense included.
"Is your room set up already?" Crystal asked, wondering what all she had been given in way of potions and textbooks.
"It is, my mother set it up for me before dinner. Said something about getting me some things before she left to go home, although I'm not sure what." Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders when Kira, Crystal, Amelia, and Rosalie all looked at her with identical grins.
"Why don't we show you where our classes are and then you can show us your tower and we'll return the favor?" Crystal said, grabbing Hermione by the hand as she drug the girl away from the table and then up a flight of stairs.
"It will take a while to learn the castle but one of us will come get you to make sure you're up in the morning. Rule one, if you're not ten minutes early, you are late. With that being said, if it's a year one course it's on the second floor. If it's a year two course it's on the third floor until you reach the ninth floor. If it's a physical education course, it's on the first floor corridor. There are seven libraries spread out among the castle which can get a little confusing, in fact until you figure out which is which, just ask your house elf or send your house elf to the library, although at some point you'll have to learn where they are yourself but for now you'll be too busy." That had come from Katherine Rosier who was now leading them back to the corridor that their rooms where on, not surprised to see the boys waiting for them.
When Kira motioned for Hermione to open her suite of rooms she did, surprised to see all nine first years clamor in through the porthole behind her.
"Now Lady Granger, it's time for your first lesson in the politics of Ireland Academy of Magic." Hermione wasn't sure which of the boys said that, but she had a feeling it was going to be a long evening.