Hello again everyone! I know, some of you will be wanting my head on a platter for taking so long. Things have been rather hectic for me over the last few months. I'm hoping to be able to get the next chapter out within 2 months but I can't promise anything on that front. For those of you wondering why I've rated this as M when there's no reason to do so at the moment, things are going to be a lot more violent than the cannon books, you'll see more of that in the next chapter. I'm a little nervous about these coming chapters as I'll not be using Hermione's cannon wand and will be doing a bit of research into things to make one that fits her well according to wandlore, if anyone wishes to help me with that please feel free to do so! Now, I've rambled long enough, I hope that the wait is worth it!

The Girl who lived

Chapter 3

Minerva smiled as she allowed Hermione a few seconds to look around before gently nudging her through the archway. Setting a slow pace, Minerva led Hermione through Diagon Alley, making sure to look back and make sure that Hermione was still following her as she walked. Hermione stopped suddenly as a thought struck her and she caught up to Minerva quickly, worried that they may have to cut their trip short.

"Minerva, how am I going to pay for all this I didn't bring any money with me?"

Hermione was surprised when Minerva smiled down at her and kept walking, frowning Hermione followed her as she saw Minerva heading toward a large building made of a pure white stone that Hermione didn't recognize. As they continued to walk toward it Hermione did her best to keep from walking into people as she examined the building, it was one of the largest she'd seen, the windows were crooked as were all the pillars standing on the top of the stairway, the steps of the stairs were worn from many years of use as well as weather, the door was a golden colour that Hermione assumed was simply paint. Standing on either side of the door, Hermione was just able to make out two people wearing what looked to be uniforms. Upon reaching the door Hermione did her best not to stare as she saw that the two people who were standing on either side of the door weren't human. Stepping through the doors, Hermione saw more of the same people behind the teller's desks, all working in some way. Hermione and Minerva stepped into one of the lines waiting for a teller and Hermione placed her hand on Minerva's arms to get her attention and Minerva leaned down.

"I didn't want to ask this while we were here in case I offended someone but, the tellers aren't human, are they?"

Smiling at Hermione's curiosity, Minerva shook her head before responding.

"No, Hermione. They're Goblins, and I'm sure they will be surprised if they find out you don't want to offend them, most Witches and Wizards treat them very poorly."

As they waited Hermione's eyes were drawn to the Goblins, and she found herself less and less nervous as she watched them, none of the Goblins who had saw her looking at them made any rude gestures or looks and it gave Hermione the suspicion that they knew of the way Hermione phrased her question to Minerva. A few moments later Hermione and Minerva were standing in front of the desk. Hermione smiled up at the Goblin and was surprised to receive one back, Minerva noticed but decided to say nothing as she addressed the Goblin.

"Hello Darkfang, it's good to see you again. We are here to make a withdrawal from Hermione Granger's vault today."

Minerva watched as Darkfang centered his attention on her and shuffled through some papers.

"Do you have her key with you today Minerva?"

"Of course, Darkfang, Here you are."

Hermione watched as Minerva placed a small gold key on the desk and as Darkfang picked it up and examined it before handing it back to Minerva.

"Very well, I'll have someone take you down to her vault. There's a bit of a line so you may have to take a cart with someone."

Minerva nodded and led Hermione to a doorway where a small line of people was standing, Hermione found herself staring at one person in particular, it was hard not to as everyone else came up to his waist if they were lucky. Looking up at Minerva, Hermione saw her staring at the man with a smile as they approached him.

"Hello Hagrid, what are you doing here today?"

The man turned as Minerva called his name and his face, covered mostly by a thick bushy beard, broke into a wide smile. Hermione found herself liking the man even though she didn't know him.

"G'Day Professor McGonagall, just here picking summat up for Professor Dumbledore. I thought you were still up at the castle, what brings you here today?"

In response Minerva simply nodded at Hermione and watched as the girl smiled at Hagrid before speaking.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you."

Allowing herself to slip out of her Professor person for a moment, Minerva smiled and looked up at Hagrid to see him standing there awestruck at Hermione for a few moments before speaking.

"I've been looking forward to meetin yeh, Hermione. Professor McGonagall here has nothing but good things to say about yeh and if she's got nothing but good to say about anyone, that's a good sign they're a good person. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of the keys and grounds at Hogwarts. Call me Hagrid though, everyone does."

Hermione let out a small giggle as she held out her hand and Hagrid's hand encompassed her whole arm. Looking up at the bearded face which, despite the beard Hermione could see was smiling, Hermione found herself liking Hagrid instantly. Standing near Minerva, Hermione simply watched and listened as the Minerva and Hagrid talked while they waited for the cart to come and take them to the vaults. A few moments later a goblin approached them and asked them to follow him. The goblin led them to a solid oak door, a gold ring to pull the door open and closed near the middle of the right side of the door, and held the door for them to step through before stepping through the door himself. Hermione, who was expecting more marble, found herself looking at an underground tunnel, the stone completely different from what she was expecting.

Following Minerva and Hagrid, Hermione entered the cart that was waiting for them. Seeing the cart was equipped with several handles next to the chairs that lined the cart, Hermione gripped the handle as soon as she sat down, which turned out to be a good idea when the cart started speeding off as soon as she sat down. Looking around Hermione saw Minerva also gripping the handle in the seat across from hers, looking back to see what Hagrid was doing she felt sorry for him almost immediately, seeing he looked a little green from the cart ride. They came to Hagrid's stop first, Hermione and Minerva waiting in the cart as Hagrid got the package from the vault. Hermione watched with interest, seeing that there was no keyhole or any other means of opening the vault door. Leaning against the cart to watch, Hermione saw the goblin run his finger along the door and heard numerous clicks and then the scraping of metal against stone signalling the door opening. Hermione caught a brief glance of a small brown package before Hagrid scooped it up and slid it into his pocket, while waiting for Hagrid to get back in, Hermione addressed the goblin.

"Excuse me? How is that door secured without a key?"

Looking down at her the goblin grinned, exposing his sharp, fang like teeth before answering Hermione.

"This is one of our highest security vaults Miss. It opens only for the goblins of Gringotts. If anyone else were to try opening it they'd be sucked inside, unable to get out. We check it every few months to make sure it's empty."

Hermione couldn't help but shiver at the thought of being trapped in there, turning to face forward as Hagrid and the goblin climbed back into the cart and began their trip down further into the depths of the tunnels. When the cart stopped Minerva nodded to Hermione and they stood, walking over to the vault door. Hermione beside Minerva, watching as she opened the key hole and opened it with the key she had shown Darkfang. When the door opened, Hermione's jaw fell open at what she saw. The vault was filled with gold, silver and bronze coins, not knowing what to take, Hermione let Minerva fill a leather purse with the coins and, handing it to Hermione, took a few seconds to show Hermione the pouch was separated into 3 different parts, one for each of the different coins before beginning to explain the different coins.

"These are the currencies we use in the wizarding world, the gold coins are Galleons, the silver coins are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. One sickle is worth 29 Knuts and one Galleon is worth 17 Sickles."

Nodding, Hermione put the pouch in her pocket of her jacket, surprised when she didn't feel a heavy weight from the coins inside. Hermione's other hand went to Minerva's arm to stop her from getting into the cart after closing and locking the vault door.

"Minerva, where did all that money come from?"

Smiling sadly at Hermione, Minerva put her hand over Hermione's before answering her.

"It's from your father Hermione. After the attack on your mother, your father, Albus and I sat and planned out some things to make sure that you would be safe. A part of that was finances to make sure you would be able to have some money in our world. Your father gave some money to me every month to deposit into this vault for you when you started at Hogwarts."

Feeling tears threatening to fall from her eyes again, Hermione nodded and wrapped her arms around Minerva's waist, unable to express her gratitude in any other way, Minerva's arms wrapped around her shoulders for a few seconds before Hermione moved away and, smiling up at Minerva, walked back to the cart. The trip back up, Hermione had nothing to distract herself from her thoughts of how much her father did care for her. Hermione was so deep in thought that Minerva had to shake her gently to bring her out of them when they reached the surface again. Walking through the door in front of them Hermione found herself next to the bank's entrance instead of the door they had first walked through on their way down. Walking down the marble steps Hermione waved goodbye to Hagrid and followed Minerva.

"Let's get your school robes first Hermione, I have something I need to pick up so I'll leave you once you're getting fitted."

Nodding to show Minerva she was listening, Hermione followed, still wrapped up in her thoughts while Minerva led her into Madam Malkin's robes for all occasions. Hermione pulled herself from her thoughts long enough to walk into the back and step up on a stool for Madam Malkin to start fitting the robe to her size. Standing next to Hermione was a blonde haired boy about Hermione's age with a very bored look on his face as if the process of having robes fitted was beneath him. When Hermione looked at him and saw that he was looking back Hermione gave him a small smile in greeting before looking forward again but was surprised when he spoke to her.

"This your first year at Hogwarts too?"

"Yes, I just got my letter today."

"What house do you think you'll be in when you get to Hogwarts?"

Looking over at the boy Hermione frowned, curiosity running through her at the boy's question. Having no idea what he was talking about Hermione decided to ask about it.

"I don't know. I just heard about Hogwarts today. I didn't even know I was a witch before today."

The boy's head whipped over to face her, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open. Staring at Hermione in shock, his expression turning to one of disgust after a few moments, Hermione had a feeling that things were about to get bad.

"You mean you're a Mudblood? That's disgusting I can't believe I was even talking to you!"

Surprised by his outburst, Hermione simply stares at the boy while he yells. His outburst was cut short by a yell from the door way of the fitting room.

"That's enough Mr Malfoy! I will not tolerate such disrespect!"

Hermione looks over to the doorway to see Minerva, standing there looking angrier than Hermione had ever seen her, watching her walking into the room and the boy standing next to Hermione shiver, his eyes wide but his expression saying he couldn't believe anyone would dare talk to him like that.

"You have no right to tell me what to do!"

The argument was ended as the assistant dealing with the boy told him he was done. Hermione watched him as he walked to the door and looked at Hermione and Minerva over his shoulder, a sneer of disgust on his face as he looked at both of them. Once he was gone Minerva looked over at Hermione to see her standing there, looking curious as she looked at Minerva.

"His name is Draco Malfoy, you'll unfortunately see him when you get to Hogwarts."

Nodding in response, Hermione stood and waited for Madam Malkin to finish sizing her robes, deciding to wait until later to ask the rest of her questions. Stepping down from the chair, Hermione paid for her robes and left with Minerva by her side. As they stepped out of the shop, Hermione found a long thin wooden box being pressed into her hand by Minerva who looked down at her with a small smile.

"I was going to save this for after you got your wand but, after that little display I thought you'd enjoy getting your early birthday present now."

Blushing softly, Hermione slowly opened the box to see a 20 inch black leather case. Her eyes wide, Hermione ran her fingers over it softly before looking back to Minerva.

"This is beautiful, but what is it for Minerva?"

"It's a wand holster Hermione, students at Hogwarts are given one when they arrive but are allowed to have their own if they wish."

Returning her gaze to the holster, Hermione pulled it from the box to examine it. The back was a solid piece of thick black leather, turning it over Hermione saw that the front was a second piece of the same leather attached to the back piece leaving room for her wand to be held inside. There were two small tabs on the side and when Hermione asked about them, Minerva showed her that the tab could be pulled and a strap extended so it could be attached to the forearm if that's where Hermione wished to keep it. Looking at Minerva, Hermione asked a final question about the holster.

"Is the only place I can keep it my forearm Minerva? I don't see any way for it to be attached to a belt or something like that."

"It has a charm on it that will allow it to be stuck to your hip or anywhere else. It will stick to your clothing and can be removed with a simple incantation. The holster responds will only become unstuck if you speak the incantation. You are the first person to touch that without a glove so the spells bound to it are now keyed to you and you alone. Even if you do lose it, the holster will find you again. To attach it simply say "Talea" and to remove it say "Talea Libero"."

Placing the holster back into the box gently, Hermione closed the box again and hugged Minerva once again.

"Thank you Minerva, I love it!"

"You are very welcome Hermione."

As I said before, I hope the wait was worth it for this chapter. I'm sure you'll understand why I left it here after my explanation in my opening notes. Anyway I'm off to get started on my research for the next chapter.