Hello Everyone! I do not own Harry Potter or the characters. I thought I might take a stab at what I feel like should have happened for Hermione in her years at and after Hogwarts. I am not the best writer; I am trying my hand at it though. Any words of wisdom or constructive criticism is always welcome here! Please also let me know if you like it because I am human and need praise 3, I hope you enjoy the story! -Rex

Chapter One: The witch at the door.

Eleven-year-old Hermione Jean Granger was sitting at her desk in her room, she had some homework to do and she was having a challenging time focusing on it. She knew the material well enough and decided that was enough for tonight. Vowing that she would revise when she got up in the morning, she turned her attention to the window into the night and saw that directly across the way on the garden wall sat a cat. Sure, she had seen lots of cats sitting on garden walls around her neighborhood, but something was different about this cat. This cat has eyes that were a peculiar shape, like the shape of her mother's reading glasses, the ones she only wore at night when she was reading the evening paper by the fireplace.

Suddenly, the cat looked directly back at Hermione. That was silly, Hermione thought, cats could not see someone looking at them through a second story window. This cat was obviously just glancing around. Hermione almost had herself convinced, if not for the fact that the cat was holding her direct gaze. Shaking herself from her ridiculous thoughts, Hermione pulled back from the window and headed down the stairs to see if her dad needed any help organizing the library. It was the end of summer holidays, soon to be the beginning of a new school year and they had bought lots of books in town to add to their massive collection.

Reading was really the only thing Hermione had in common with her parents. As their only child, and an adopted one at that. Hermione often wondered where exactly and from whom she had gotten such thick, dark curly hair and eyes that were oddly colored like sweet tea. Her parents adopted her the day she was born and named her after her mother's great grandmother. Jean, her mother, with her honey blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, was always there with soft, kind words and love. Her father, Jim, who had dark blonde hair and green eyes, always indulged Hermione in every learning activity that she got a wild idea to try, even converting the basement of their modest 4-bedroom house into a wall-to-wall library, complete with reading couches and lamps. They might not be her biological parents or even look like her, but they were the best parents anyone could ask for. At least they were perfect for Hermione.

As she entered the library, Hermione saw her parents giggling like schoolkids over a couple of health books they had bought so that Hermione could better understand about the changes that were going through her body. They also childishly took great joy in Hermione's embarrassment as she paid the cashier with a face so red the devil himself was jealous. Although it seemed to Hermione that her changes were odder than those of her peers. The first time something strange happened to her was when she was nine, her parents took her to go and ride a rollercoaster and to Hermione's dismay she was about four inches too short. Later that day she asked her parents to check again and when they agreed, they were all shocked to find she had grown six inches in three hours. One day, in science another girl was making fun of Hermione's hair telling her to shave it off if she could not figure out how to use a brush, Hermione ran to the bathroom crying and to her surprise when she got there her hair did not have the slightest frizz. It fell in perfect ringlets and has ever since no matter what activity she may do.

Infuriately though it was not just odd physical changes, strange things happened to Hermione frequently. Another time, Hermione was considering how to get a book from the top shelf of the library and when she looked over, to her great surprise there was a small ladder there, a ladder she can assure you she did not see before. Later when she thanked her father for the ladder, neither of her parents could figure out where it had come from.

The doorbell upstairs rang, jerking Hermione away from her train of thought. Her dad stood up immediately, still laughing and started up the stairs. Her mother shelved the book she was holding and shot a questioning glance to the clock that sat on one of the middle shelves. It was almost nine in the evening, making Hermione wonder who would possibly be showing up at this hour. After a couple of seconds her father could be heard calling for her and her mother to come upstairs.

At the top of the stairs Hermione found her father standing with a woman who could only have been described as efficiently stern. Her hair was swept into a tight bun at the nape of her neck in a style that indicated her hair would not dare to fall out of place. She wore no makeup but for the barest hint of nude lipstick. She was dressed in something that could only be described as a long and black bathrobe with a nice blouse and a pair of slacks underneath it. In that moment Hermione knew that this woman was there for her. What if, Hermione thought to herself, she was a freak? That would explain the strange things that happened to her. Like a mutant from X-Men or something. This woman was obviously a scientist of some evil corporation here to make her fight crime or something equally ridiculous. Slowly Hermione made her way into the room, eyeing the woman with a wary glance. The more she looked at the woman the more the woman seemed familiar somehow.

"Hermione", her father said, "This woman says she is from a boarding school that is interested in having you attend." The woman in question reached her hand towards Hermione in greeting. Clasping Hermione's hand she said in a voice that was much more patient than her appearance. "Hello, Ms. Granger I am Minerva McGonagall the deputy headmistresses of Hogwarts, a school that is particularly interested in your many intellectual talents. I know that my timing may seem rather odd, but I am ashamed to say I rather forgot about the time difference." As the woman spoke, she pulled an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to Hermione.

The envelope was like nothing Hermione had ever seen before. It looked like something a college would send you after acceptance. It was made of some sheath of paper that was very thick and had a handwritten address on the front:

Hermione Granger

Second largest bedroom

1214 E Rose Holl

London

The handwriting was immaculate done in blue ink, as if the person who wrote it had taken calligraphy classes for many years. The letter was addressed to her though, and quite specifically. Hermione looked questioningly at the woman, McGonagall she said her name was. McGonagall just smiled back at her and motioned for her to open the envelope. Inside was an acceptance letter to Hogwarts Wizarding School. There was another paper in the envelope as well, but Hermione had gotten sidetracked when she read the name of the school.

"Hogwarts Wizarding School?" she said quietly. Hermione's heart was leaping out of her chest. Magic, she had not dared to believe that it was so, no matter how odd it is that she seemed to be able to carry several books at a time with hardly any trouble, or that her things seemed to clean themselves up when she was done with them. This was either very real or a very expensive and cruel joke. She looked at the other paper that was still folded neatly in the envelope. It seemed to be a list of school supplies with rather odd names. Her mother cleared her throat, and that's when Hermione remember that she was in a room full of adults looking at her. "Magic?" she asked looking at the woman. "Are you telling me that I am a witch?"

McGonagall smiled at her, her cold and stern demeanor immediately melted away. Now she reminded Hermione of a rather odd aunt who had several books about kittens. "You really are very bright Hermione, most muggleborns don't pick it up that quickly." McGonagall praised. "Excuse me," Her mother interjected. "Is someone going to let us in on the conversation?" Jean and Jim were looking at Hermione and their strange visitor with expectations. Hermione also wanted to know if this was real. "This woman." she said to her mother as she gestured to McGonagall, "claims she is from a school that teaches magic, although I would like to see an example of this magic before I get my hopes up." Her parents look at her as if they had misheard her. "Don't be ridiculous Hermione, magic is made up." Her father said looking angrily at McGonagall, his tone shaking with anger as he addressed her. "I do not know who paid you to come here and play some kind of sick joke on my daughter, but I'll have you know I won't stand for it." He told her opening the front door.

Hermione was shocked, she had never seen her father get angry at anyone about anything. McGonagall merely smiled and said in a firm tone, "I assure you Mr. Granger that this is no joke." McGonagall then pulled a wooden stick out her pocket and without a word turned into a cat. The very same cat in fact that Hermione had seen sitting on the garden wall.

A/N: I hope that you guys enjoy this, I have another chapter in the works. Thanks in advance for any comments/reviews- Rex