Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Eighteen

Going to Hogwarts

"What the hell!" Ron's voice broke the silence as he turned her towards him, "Hermione you're a witch!"

"I'm a witch," Hermione repeated completely overwhelmed as the words repeated in her mind. Though she had theorized that this might happen, she was still shocked that it was actually true.

"Did you have any idea this would happen?" Ron asked, he didn't know how this could be the first time that she found out she could do magic, however her expression made it clear that she was just as shocked as he was. How the hell did this happen? How could Hermione not know she was a witch before now?

"I don't know," Hermione shook her head trying to make her brain work again. "This would explain so much about my childhood, and all of the weird things that happened around me."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked, and it was easy to forget that he was sitting there with his entire family as they were all frozen in shock.

"A lot of odd things happened when I was a kid," Hermione frowned as she remembered her childhood. "When someone picked on me … well something strange would happen like the other kid would suddenly go mute, or this one time the person's front teeth started to grow. It was so shocking, because I was so angry and upset before it happened, and I felt like something came out of me."

"Why didn't you ever tell me before?" Ron asked softly, thinking about all they had discussed and how she never mentioned this, especially after he told her about magic.

"It's something that I never talk about," Hermione answered, and realized that the anxiety she felt about this was similar to what she felt with her parents. "And it was just some odd things that happened to me in primary school. Sure, it helped isolate me from my peers at school … they thought I was a freak after those incidents … put I really did concentrate on my schoolwork and that's what really mattered to me.

"When I got older, I never let that feeling take over me, so I didn't really think about it anymore and I put it to the back of my mind," Hermione went on, though she knew she thought about this after what happened to Mark and how she threw him off of her. She had felt that feeling then.

"But what about when I told you about magic?" Ron had to ask.

"Honestly, I was just so caught up with the concept of magic at first that it didn't occur to me to think about what happened to me in the past," Hermione said. "Actually, it wasn't until I got The Muggle-born Guide to the Magical World and read the first chapter that I realized what I might be. But I didn't have time to explore that more …."

"That was three weeks ago," Ron frowned, remembering that they bought that book when they visited Diagon Alley for the first time. Then he had come home on Sunday shocked that the anniversary of the final battle was in a few days, and they spent the rest of the week dealing with his issues. "Did you read that on that Sunday?"

"Right before you came home," Hermione nodded sadly. "With that … and since my test was so close, I put what I learned to the back of my mind and tried not to think about this issue at any time. I knew that if I did, it would consume all of my thoughts and I would need to get answers."

"I don't get it," Percy said, causing Ron and Hermione to jump and remember that they weren't alone. It also seemed to snap the rest of the Weasleys out of their trance. "You should have gotten a letter from Hogwarts informing you that you were a witch when you turned eleven."

"Well, I never got a letter," Hermione said frowning.

"But you said that you used magic when you were in primary school," Remus was the one to say this time, his eyes were furrowed in thought. "I have heard of a case or two, where a Muggle-born's magic didn't manifest until they were an adult, so their names weren't added to the book of Admittance at Hogwarts …."

"I've never heard that before," Percy's head turned to Remus, eager to learn this new information.

"When I was a professor at Hogwarts, Dumbledore showed me the book and explained more about how it worked," Remus said. "He explained that the book wouldn't allow any name to be written in it unless the student was shown to have a sufficient amount of magic, making it so Squibs wouldn't be added. However, Dumbledor had said this had also prevented a few Muggles that had a small amount of magic to be admitted as well. And as you know, if someone experience a traumatic event later in life, the magic within them can be awaken."

"I never thought of that in terms of Muggle-borns before," Percy nodded his head, but it did make sense. Obviously, if a Muggle didn't have enough magic to go to Hogwarts, they wouldn't get a letter just like a Squib wouldn't.

"But it sounds like you went through the same thing I did when I was in primary school," Harry said talking to Hermione, like everyone he had listened to what Remus said, but he felt like people were talking around Hermione and he didn't want to do that. He of course was just as shock as everyone, after spending months with Hermione coming to his house all the time, he never once thought that she might be a witch. However, he knew her, and he could see that she was genuinely surprised by this, so he was going to treat her like he always had. "I remembered this one time I turned my teacher's hair … er … wig blue. I got in so much trouble for that. And I had no idea how to explain what had happened."

Hermione smiled shyly at Harry for that comment, knowing that was Harry's way of saying that he accepted her and this new piece of information about her.

"Yes, that was what I was trying to say," Remus nodded and then turned to Hermione. "Your name should have been in the Book of Admittance and you should have gotten your Hogwarts letter when you turned eleven. The only explanation that I can think of is if you weren't born in Great Britain or Ireland. I supposed you could have …"

"I was born here," Hermione interrupted. "Now that I know that I'm a witch, what should I do?"

"I think the best move is to go to Hogwarts, that way you can check the Book of Admittance, I really think your name should be there," Remus said reasonably. "I would also suggest that you talk to Minerva McGonagall, she was the Deputy Headmistress at the time, so if anyone would have an idea what happened, it would be her."

Hermione nodded her head, biting her lip, suddenly feeling nervous for some unknown reason.

"Don't worry love, I'll be right by you all the way," Ron said wrapping his arm around her.

"I know," Hermione said smiling at him and leaning her head on his shoulder. She wasn't expecting the worry and panic to come over her at the prospect of learning more about why she didn't know she was a witch before now, but it was there. Still, she knew she would be able to make it through this as long as he was by her side.

"So, what are you waiting for, get going!" George said.

"We can't just go there now," Ron scoffed. "It's the middle of the school year and …."

"Just bring Harry with you … you know that would open any door," George added, shooting a smirk at the messy haired man, who hated his fame or taking advantages of situations like this.

"It's worth a try," Harry shrugged, ignoring George and his teasing. He was actually highly interested in finding out more about this and would like to be there when it all happened. Not to mention, he knew Hermione would want answers as soon as possible. "I mean if you want to … we could try."

"What do you think, love?" Ron asked, obviously being convinced by his brother's argument.

"Yeah … I think we should go," Hermione said slowly, it seemed like her need to get answers was warring with her sense of dread, but she wasn't going to let her panic stop her. Especially, since she knew that the feeling of dread wasn't going to go away until she figured out what happened.

"Good," Harry said getting up, and then he looked at Ginny who was very quiet during this whole conversation. "You'll be okay if I go, right?"

"I'm fine Harry," Ginny was able to say, though she wasn't about to throw a fit, the information was a little overwhelming for her as it was for Harry and Ron, and she knew talking too much would draw a lot of her energy out of her. Still, she wanted it known where her concerns were, "you should help Mione out."

"Don't worry Harry, I'll make sure Ginny gets back if you're gone too long," Bill said. "And I'm sure Bess would like to stay with Vicky."

"Thanks," Harry smiled at Bill, and then walked to where Ron and Hermione were. Once they left the wards of the Burrow, they Apparated to Hogsmeade.

"Am I the only one that thinks it's suspicious that she's a witch?" Percy frowned. "A Muggle that just happened to find out about the wizarding world becomes friends with Harry Potter … and now she's suddenly a witch!"

"Oh, come off it, there's nothing wrong with Mione," George scoffed, though he didn't know her very well, he still felt that she was honestly a good person. Then he couldn't help but going back to his teasing ways and added, "the only thing suspicious about her is why she would be with a git like Ron when there are so many better people out there for her."

"George! Don't say that about your brother," Molly narrowed her eyes at him for that comment, and she was even more wary about Hermione now than ever. "And it is a bit odd …."

"Come on Molly dear," Arthur said, he knew that his wife was reluctant to get to know Hermione and he wasn't going to let her get more suspicious because of this information. "I would think you would find the romantic side to all of this. Perhaps it was this aspect that has drawn them together in the first place."

"Hmph!" Molly narrowed her eyes at her husband this time, he knew her too well, that would be romantic if their chance meeting was the universe's way of saying they were always supposed to be together.

O

The trio had Apparated to the little town of Hogsmeade just outside of Hogwarts. Hermione, though more nervous about doing this than anything she's done in her life, couldn't help but be fascinated by all the things that were going around her. The town reminded her of Diagon Alley in some ways, with all of the magic shops (and just the openness of magic all around) but it seemed more like the main street of a village. When they got to the Hogwarts gates, they were surprised to find they were open (both boys commenting how much times had changed to allow that) and they were able to get on the grounds easily enough.

"It wouldn't have been too difficult for us to get into the school anyways, seeing as we know all of the secret passageways in and out of the castle," Harry laughed as he looked at the castle he was happy that he was able to see the first home he ever knew, but he was a little sadden as he could still remember all that happened here at the final battle. "I wish we could see Hagrid …." he added as he looked at the half giant's hut and he thought of all the times he had tea there.

"That's not why we're here," Ron said frowning at him, looking at his very nervous girlfriend.

"I know mate," Harry rolled his eyes. Though a nice tea with Hagrid might have been able to calm Hermione down … Hagrid had that effect on people, Harry thought to himself. "It would just be nice to see him … maybe on the way back."

"Maybe," Ron was the one rolling his eyes this time, and they walked in silence until they reached the Entrance Hall.

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter … what, may I ask, do you think you're doing on school grounds?!" said a sharp voice that made both the boys flinched as they turned to face a very stern-looking Professor McGonagall. "Well!" she added impatiently, "I'm waiting?!"

"Er …" Harry said turning to Ron hoping that he would talk, seeing as the reason they were here was for his girlfriend, but Ron was too shocked. They should have known better to think the 'Harry Potter line' would have worked on McGonagall.

However, before either boy could do anything but gawk at each other Hermione gave a loud gasped and hid behind Ron, shaking uncontrollably as she looked at something from one of her worse nightmares.

"Mione!" Ron exclaimed immediately turning around and pulling her into his embrace to trying to make her feel safe. "What's the matter Mione?"

Headmistress McGonagall furrowed her eyebrows at the reaction of the girl, all though she was using her strictest voice, she didn't actually want to scare anyone. She was just trying to give the boys a hard time for suddenly appearing in her school like they had. In all honesty, she was quite happy to see them, especially Harry, who had been hiding way too long in his house by himself. She then turned to focus on the girl that seemed to be going into a panic attack just by looking at her. The girl was still looking at McGonagall with fear in her eyes, as she obviously tried to gather herself. Now, this was going too far, there was no way this girl should be reacting this strongly to her. Though McGonagall was distracted for a few moments as she watched how attentive Ron seemed to be, something she hadn't come to expect from the youngest Weasley boy, at least not shown quite as openly as he was now.

McGonagall's eyes were again drawn to the girls, and this time she took in the young woman still staring at her warily, though thankfully wasn't trembling anymore. Her brown eyes looked oddly familiar to McGonagall, and the hair that was wavy and a little unmanageable seemed to spark a memory. It was then McGonagall's turn to gasp as that thought hit her and she exclaimed, "Miss Granger!?"

Three pairs of eyes were on her now as the boys both snapped their heads to look at her and they said at the same time, "You know her!?"

Hermione seemed to have been rendered unable to speak.

"I believe I do … at least if I'm right that you're Miss Granger er …" McGonagall said furrowing her eyebrows at that point as she tried to remember the girl's first name. She remembered all too well the sad day that she had met this girl long ago, "Hermione, right?"

Hermione nodded her head slowly she couldn't quench the fear she was feeling. She knew a lot of this was coming from the fact that she had some dreams, nightmares really, of this woman pointing something unidentifiable at her and everything going blank. However, that wasn't where all the fear was coming from. This was just what brought her nerves to the surface … she now knew what she was really afraid of … the truth.

"How do you know Hermione?" Harry thought he should be the one to ask. After all, he noticed his friend looking back and forth between the two women and he was about to ask this question, but Ron might not have been very tactful (and likely would have been very angry) seeing how effected Hermione was by McGonagall's presence. Harry then looked at Hermione and had to, after seeing her reaction, ask, "do you know her, Mione?"

"No … not in reality," Hermione whispered just loud enough to be heard by everyone.

"No, Miss Granger shouldn't have any memories of our meeting," McGonagall frowned.

"And what is that supposed to mean!?" Ron snapped at her, glaring at the Headmistress.

"I think it would be best if we continue this conversation in my office," McGonagall said in her business-like tone. "There are things of a … sensitive nature that needs to be discussed."

"Fine," Ron said and he tried to take a step, but Hermione wouldn't budge. "It's okay, love. I know that you're scared but I promise you, you don't have to be afraid of her, or of anything else. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know," Hermione said giving a weak smile as she took a deep breath. She was terrified knowing that she was going to find out the secret to her past, but she had to know the truth now … now that she knew that something was clearly hidden from her. "Let's go."

"I'll be at Hagrid's hut," Harry said, he had a feeling that he shouldn't be here for this.

"You can come …" Hermione stated halfheartedly.

"I don't need to be there," Harry said walking over to her and giving her a hug. "I know Ron will take good care of you."

"Thanks Harry," Hermione smiled at him knowing he had a point. Ron would definitely take care of her and be the support she needed. After Harry left them Ron turned them so that they could follow McGonagall to her office, which Ron realized after a few minutes was Dumbledore's old office (obviously since she was now the Headmistress).

"I suppose you have a lot of questions for me; however, do you mind answering one of mind first?" McGonagall asked after they all took a seat in her office, and she waited until Hermione nodded her head. "Why are you terrified of me?"

"You're in one of my nightmares," Hermione said and couldn't help the blush that came to her face. "You pointed at me, and everything goes away … darkness … I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for," McGonagall sighed, though she was a little dishearten that she was painted as the bad guy after everything that happened that day. Not to mention, she was displeased that the girl was left with any memory at all.

"So, you did erase her memory!" Ron said angerly as he glared at McGonagall like he never had the courage to glare at her before. "Why the hell would you do that? What possible …?"

"That is enough Mr. Weasley! If you don't control yourself, I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" McGonagall said coldly, though she knew that the boy had the right to be angry, she didn't think it would be constructive for the conversation that was about to take place.

"Ron please," Hermione said softly, knowing that she couldn't handle what was going to happen without him there to help her.

"I'll be good," Ron said quietly so she was the only one that could hear him, knowing that she needed him.

"Yes, I erased your memories, Miss Granger," McGonagall frowned. "And I am truly sorry about what happened that day."

"Why?" was all Hermione could ask, she could hear the sincerity in the other woman's voice and a great deal of the fear that was directed towards this woman vanished.

"I had a feeling that I would see you again, you were such a determined little girl, I knew nothing would have kept you from finding out about magic again," McGonagall said, and she had indeed thought of this from time to time over the last almost thirteen years, so the speech came naturally. "I have met numerous Muggle-borns students over my years as Deputy Headmistress, and a fair few as Headmistress, of Hogwarts over the years, as it was my duty to inform young witches and wizards about magic, Hogwarts and the wizarding community that child now learned they belonged to.

"You had made an immediate impression on me," McGonagall said with a sigh, looking into Hermione's eyes. "You were extremely bright, having already managed to find control over your magic and by the time that I had met you, you had fully accepted our world, having deduced that was the reason for the odd occurrences that happened around you. Most Muggle-borns and their parents have a difficult time excepting that and usually I would have to cast several charms to show them before they start to believe everything that I told them. Instead, you asked me some truly exceptional questions about how your education would be handled and other general questions about the wizarding world that rather impressed me."

"It sounds like Mione was excited to go, why wasn't she at Hogwarts?" Ron asked confused.

"My parents didn't want me to go," Hermione muttered the answer as her insides felt hollow, knowing that it was true because it was the only logical conclusion she could come up with.

"Yes," McGonagall sighed again. "They were afraid for your safety …."

"That doesn't explain why you would erase her memories," Ron said frowning. "Did they ask you to do that?"

McGonagall sighed and then pinched the bridge of her nose. "I would never have erased Miss Granger's memories without her consent."

Hermione bit her lip at that, almost tearing up. It had to be bad, whatever happened, had to be really bad to make her agree to forget what she really was. "Can you return my memories?"

"Yes, I can, but I must caution you to really think if you want to remember everything," McGonagall said with concern.

"Caution her … they're her memories!" Ron said frowning.

"Hermione asked me to warn you, Miss Granger," McGonagall said looking at the terrified girl. "She was afraid what this memory would do to her … you … if you chose to remember."

"I have to know," Hermione said looking at Ron, she had to deal with this if she was ever going to understand herself. She knew, as long as he was there for her, she would be able to handle this … she hoped.

"Okay," McGonagall smiled at the two in front of her, the little girl had believed that she would find the wizarding world again too, but she had never dreamed that she would have someone standing beside her. This young woman in front of her was strong enough to deal with the past. So, McGonagall pointed her wand at Hermione and said the spell that would unlock Hermione's memories.