Chapter 2
Hermione sat on the edge of her bed, looking around at the decorations that she knew Lily must have picked out at some point to try and update the room in a more adult style, a far cry from the childish room that had been hers years before. Though she could say one positive thing about her step-mother – Lily didn't try to force any quality time with Hermione, despite Hermione being able to tell that the older witch wanted to.
Oh, yes, there was one more thing about Hermione's step-mother and step-brother that should be mentioned. They were magical as well, Lily was even a 'muggleborn', just like Hermione.
Her late husband had died in the line of duty (working as an Auror) when Harry was only an infant. When faced with the idea of staying in a world that had killed the love of her life or going back to her roots, Lily's choice had been fairly easy.
And then she'd met Richard at the walk-in clinic after Harry had gotten sick (oh yeah, both her parents were doctors). Apparently there was an 'undeniable connection' between the two of them. They moved in together within a few months, making Lily and Harry Potter permanent fixtures in the Grangers' lives ever since.
When Hermione was small and would visit for the summers, Lily quickly noticed the accidental magic coming from Hermione. Richard, of course, looked for a medical explanation. Luckily Lily had stepped in before he could spiral too far, and that's when the older woman explained that there was nothing wrong with his daughter. Just that Hermione was magical, as were Lily and Harry.
A knock at the door pulled Hermione's attention from Hogwarts; A History (she'd decided she might as well read up on the god forsaken school she was being forced to attend). Harry, with his ever messy raven black hair and always bent glasses perched on his nose, stood in her doorway.
"So, uh. Dudley's here, and we were going to go grab some food and maybe see a film. Were wondering if you wanted to come? Sort of like a last week of summer outing?" Ah yes, Harry's unfortunate cousin who'd had an immediate crush on Hermione since they'd met. Avoiding him had become one of her most essential life skills.
"I'd rather not," Hermione clipped, but when she saw Harry's shoulders sag at the response, Hermione let out a sigh. "If I go, you're paying. I'm not wasting my savings on frivolous things."
As Hermione snapped the book shut and she saw Harry's face light up, Hermione only shook her head. She loved Harry, he was actually one of her favorite people, despite not seeing each other very often in recent years. And while Dudley was irritating with his constant ogling, he was tolerable as well otherwise.
It was Harry's other…acquaintances that irritated Hermione to no end. And she could only hope (in vain she knew) that she would be able to continue to avoid them.