Outside under a giant apple tree with vines twisting about its trunk, and large roots protruding from the ground a young Hermione couldn't help but think about the first day of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and how the first day was approaching much too slowly for her liking. This year was going to be the first that she would get to leave the tall iron-rod gates of Potter estate. where she had lived since birth. Hermione knew little of the world outside Potter manor, and even less of the people outside the gates that inhabited the real world, walking about doing their daily business. Having been the only female born into the Potter family in generations she was treated like a precious gem, a jewel that had taken years picking at dirt and mud to find. The months of trying, tears, and frustration had been worth it, she was their perfect girl. Not that Fleamont and Euphemia didn't love James, her elder brother by a two years, but boys were just rough, often smelled of the unspeakable, and eventually stopped giving hugs.

Girls were soft like a goose down pillows, smelled like a freshly bloomed flower in the begging of spring, and as the fairer sex, often comforted those in need with a light squeeze and a soft voice. Hermione had been trained on the proprieties of society, self care, and self protection in hopes of getting her ready to move on to Hogwarts so she could become a fantastic witch, but as time went on Euphemia found herself less, and less able to separate her self from her darling Daughter keeping her from Hogwarts for another year. Hermione was determined to make sure this year her mother would have no way of stopping her from fulfilling her destiny of going off to become the greatest witch of her time, Hermione would shake away from her mothers talons some how. Hermione had heard of other Pureblood ladies and some Half-blood girls who never got to attend a proper school, their families being too protective to let them out of their sight until the day the young woman would be handed over to her husband who would then control them.

Those girls never got to live their lives to their fullest potential, just wasting away keeping house and making heirs. Hermione herself had only been born to be loved and never lift a finger or experience the hardships of life, living quietly and politely as a lady of the Potter house and whom ever they decided to marry her off to after she finished her schooling. James, her brother was more then enjoying his time before school started, flying around playing broom tag with his best friend Sirius Black whom lived a few miles from their own home. James could do what ever he wanted, he was the heir to the potter estate after all and a boy. He did not need a person of higher power to protect him and tell him how to live his life. James had opportunities Hermione could only dream of, like making and choosing friends. Such as the young boy that was flying around merrily with the young Potter heir throwing a bludger back and forth. James had met the young Heir of the House of Black at Hogwarts and they had been inseparable since, Sirius coming over to their house everyday this summer, his whole world revolving around James. Sirius had even gone so far as to put silencing charms around the rooms when he and James would chat in the parlor so Hermione couldn't hear them, not that she wanted to thank you very much!

Hermione the calm and studious one of the pair couldn't wait for her first day of school so she could make friends and begin her new life and had already read most of her school required text books with only one left, The Standard Book of Spells grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk, reading was how she spent most of her days since the only company she ever had really, but that was okay, that was how she learned new things. Wizarding children often did not go to school before age eleven and were tutored until they left for school to further develop their magic. Most of what Hermione and James knew was from their parents, or from books they would find in their home's extensive library Hermione was more of a book learner though . Hermione always wanted to know more so it wasn't surprising to know that she had already read a fair amount of the Potter family library. Getting tired from the warmth of the sun Hermione's dainty hand eased the very heavy textbook off her lap and off the the side of the tree where she was sitting in the pleasantly cool, sea of emerald green grass. She usually never read outside due to all the bugs, and dirt that would end up on her nice dresses, but this was a special occasion, it was after all their last day at home until winter break, which was months away thankfully, so Fleamout gave his permission for Hermione to be outside and watch the two boys play, not that she really was paying attention to them as her thoughts wondered.

The thought of leaving her parents made Hermione's heart sink, but at least her mum and dad would have each other, and if needed she would always have James to support her, if he wasn't too busy with quidditch or pranks. Originally she was going to be sent to Beauxbatons in France but after finding out she would not see any of her family for all her years there she decided against it, giving her doting parents the silent treatment until she eventually got her way. Besides no one knew how to handle James like she did and the world was just not ready for that. Although she was not one of those sisters that would die if her brother found other children to play with (not that they played together much) she was very possessive of him. So naturally she would get upset if one day they stopped seeing each other completely, he was still her best friend even if she was no longer his. She knew that one day they would have to get married to their betrotheds but that didn't matter, all that did matter was spending time together now and having fun. Although he did have other friends she had no one else, still perfectly happy with having him and her trusted books. The separation from James two years ago when he first left for Hogwarts had hit her hard and fast, but after seeing how happy he was when he got back Hermione couldn't be mad, but... maybe a little hurt from being forgotten.

At this moment James was playing Broom Tag with Sirius Black, his best friend, both of the boys forgetting all about the bludger sitting innocently in the grass. Hermione could remember the first time she met the young heir to the most ancient and noble house of Black. Hermione and James had been laying under the same tree she was under right now. The two of them had been watching the clouds go by while one or the other would say it looked something absurd, James had said a particular cloud looked exactly like a merperson, wavy hair and all, not that either of them had ever actually seen one in person before, just in old story books. It had been Hermione's turn to tell James what she saw in the clouds when they hear a loud crash coming from the direction of some bushes a few yards away. Hermione jumped up and started to run towards the bushed only to have James run past her and push her behind him once they stopped in front the bushes and saw a young boy around James' age.

The boy took a couple of seconds to get up groaning in pain just a bit. realizing there where other people close to him he pulled himself together and dusted himself off, even if the look he had on his face was of an infant wanting to be fed he never let the actual tears fall out. Hermione admired the strength of this boy for not crying, he did just fall out of the sky from what she could gather. The boy turned from the two siblings and picked up his broom that had snapped in half from the fall, and started to walk away as if nothing happened "Wait!" Hermione shouted after the boy, but James was holding her shoulder stopping her from following after the boy. Sirius turned back to them, slapping on a fake smile "Oy! James, I will be right back... a broken broom won't make for a nice flight during our game. See you in a bit mate."

James didn't understand why his sister was calling after a complete stranger, to her at least. The boy turned around "Do you need a plaster? I'm sure it must have hurt falling from the sky." Hermione's little voice asked . He hadn't realized that his hands where bleeding, probably form gripping the wooden handle of the broom too hard "Well you're bleeding, I was thinking I would have my mummy help you. She is really nice, and gives you a chocolate frog if you're really hurt..." Hermione spoke unsure now that she was being stared at, but she could never leave some one hurt alone, not even a stranger. Besides he was a child just like her, and seemed to have already been acquainted with James. Any friend of her brothers was automatically a friend of hers, mostly because she had none and really wanted one.

The boy's lips formed a hard line, weighing his options, well he could go home all bloodied up, and then get beaten for dirtying the house. Or he could go with this girl his best bud James seemed to know and be healed without much consequence, plus it did kind of hurt now that it was brought to his attention "Okay... As long as I get a chocolate frog." Hermione giggle "Of course!" she walked to stand next to him, finally shaking off her brother "We should go this way, it's shorter." A beautiful cobble stone path appeared in front of them as Hermione moved some branches aside. That day would be the start of a beautiful friendship for the three of them that would last a life time, at least that's what she had though. But as they grew older these past two years Sirius stopped playing with Hermione and hung out with her brother more, avoiding her at every turn and talking about the newest girl at Hogwarts to catch his eye. The funny thing was every time he would mention one of these new girls, Sirius would sneak a look at Hermione. She would always catch him no matter how sly he thought he was being. The most peculiar thing was the absolutely heart broken look that would splash across his features once he saw that she was used to his womanizing at their tender, sweet, innocent age.

Hermione was brought out of her nostalgic and tearful memories by a figure throwing themselves right in front of her. It was Sirius, they were using her as base, not that she minded, it was her duty to watch after them. Although he could be a bit crazy at times she loved him like a brother, and he protected her when she needed it, so she tolerated most of his less becoming traits. One of those traits was his constant flirting with any girl, he had absolutely no standards making that one time he said "Hermione my adorable darling, why don't we share some tea and pastries in the garden later? It's lovely today, almost as lovely as you." Sirius said with his steely gray eyes that always seemed to sparkle at her less special, and his signature smirk, the same smirk that made all the girls fall over him at parties. In fact she would have fallen for him too, but when ever her feelings for him started to become more romantic she could quash them by telling her self he was out of reach and would likely never stop playing around with girls. Sirius Black would never be a one girl type of guy, at least not in his heart. Hermione's heart would break if they ever became involved in a sincere relationship and he continued chasing other girls, one was never enough for him now, why would it be if they were together? Not that she thought he was serious anyways. It was just his way to be flirty.

So whenever Sirius Black was genuinely getting on her nerves Hermione would retreat to the library to be alone with the only friends she had been able to count on through the years. Never had those hard covers hurt her or steered her wrong. Since James would never step foot inside the library neither would Sirius, it was her only escape when her heart was starting to take over leaving her head in the dust of common sense. He was always flirting with her and what not, always being so flattering, how could a girl not eventually fall for him even if she knew he would never truly mean it? Hermione would be way more willing to listen to his flattery if he did not lay his charm on every pretty face he met, even if he ignored one girl she would have hope, but that had yet to happen. Euphemia, her mum thought different as did Mrs. Black when it came to the happiness of the two children. The women of house thought that Hermione and Sirius would be the perfect couple if they would give each other a chance. not that knew of Sirius's flirtatious way, if she had Sirius would have been blasted off the family tree for giving the House of Black a bad reputation in high society, and Hermione was the perfect little pureblooded girl.

Mrs. Black thought they would be good together simply because she wanted a Pureblood from an old family for her son, and Hermione had been the closest to that without being a first cousin. Euphemia liked the idea because they looked so "cute" together and she would say their children would be absolutely captivatingly beautiful as well, with Hermione's wild locks, pale, slightly freckled skin, and Sirius perfectly straight teeth, tall build, and gorgeous grey eyes. Sirius being the lech he was even at a young age was all for it, saying it would secure his future , mostly so his mom would leave him alone Hermione thought. Hermione was not so pleased with the idea, seeing as Sirius loved all women, and as stated earlier Hermione Potter was possessive and did not share. Though being the lady she was raised to be she bit her tongue and grinned at all their foolishness hoping that as soon as she left for Hogwarts she would find a proper match, or that the silly hens would forget all about the two and all thoughts of marriage.

At Hogwarts there would be no adults to please, well none that she was related to...Or tell on her when she spoke to a boy other then Sirius, or James not that she had the chance yet. Then maybe she could find true love, and convince mummy otherwise about her and Sirius. if not, then at least she had tried. Most Pureblood marriages where all about creating an heir then ignoring or yelling at each other. Her parents where special, they had found love, but most did not. Or if they did it was with a dirty little secret they kept in a villa somewhere. Hermione was practical, not expecting to find love in a relationship with Sirius, but she was also enough of a romantic to know she didn't want to be having an affair just to keep her from jumping off the third story balcony. No Hermione Potter was going to find her Destiny at Hogwarts, the world better be ready!