"Please, mummy, can't we read one more chapter?"
It was a nightly occurrence that Hermione Granger would ask to continue reading. With a huffed chuckle, Helena Granger shook her head and tucked the six year old back into bed for the night. "We have already read two more chapters than what was agreed upon, Little Bee. Anyways, aren't you bored of reading the same book over and over again?" Helena already knew the answer to her question; it was the same answer she received every time she asked it.
"Of course not!" Hermione would always say. "It is the perfect amount of adventure and daring and everything about it is just fantastic!"
With an indulging smile, Helena tucked her daughter back into bed, for the third time that night (and just like every night for the past two years) kissed her on the forehead before turning off the lamp on the bedside table and left the room with a quiet, "Goodnight, Little Bee."
If there was one thing that anyone could agree on about Hermione Granger, it was that she loved to be read to, especially if that book was The Hobbit. It had started at a young age when she refused to settle down for bed. At the time her father was reading the book and instead of finding a book more appropriate for a small child, he started reading out loud from halfway through. Hermione was hooked. There was no other way to describe it. After that, when it was time for her to pick a story for bed time, Hermione always gravitated to that very same book.
With a sigh, and a shake of the head, Helena looked towards her husband and told him, "You have created a monster."
"Next it will be The Fellowship of the Ring," Jack joked. And it was, followed by the remaining two books of the trilogy. But Hermione always circled back to The Hobbit.
By the time Hermione turned eight, the only two things that she wanted to do for her birthday was to watch the animated movie for her favorite book, and learn to ride a pony like her favorite dwarves. When she was nine, she wanted to learn how to fence, and by the time she was ten, it was to learn archery. With a lot of conversation between her parents and herself (and even more trepidation-especially from her mother) it was agreed that Hermione would be allowed to have lessons after school as long as she kept her grades up.
Before Hermione could decide what she wanted to learn for her next birthday (as she was a lonely child, she filled her free time with books and learning) the dreams started. There was something about the dreams that struck Hermione as familiar, but she wasn't able to put her finger on what it was. The colors were vivid and the people seemed all to real, it wasn't until she caught sight of pointed ears that she realized she was dreaming about Middle Earth. Since she was only ten, she put it down as her imagination pulling scenes together from her favorite fantasy novels (because although she always went back to The Hobbit, all of the stories about Middle Earth were her favorite).
Then she turned eleven and got The Letter. It should be noted that it was The Letter because at first, Hermione and her parents thought that it was a cruel joke being played by some of the neighboring kids. It wasn't until later that evening that there was an unexpected knock on the Grangers door. Afternoon tea had just been finished and cleaned up and the small family of three was just about to watch the animated Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies (with a break in between to order out for supper). While Helena and Hermione finished washing the dishes, Jack went to answer the door.
Upon opening the door, Jack was greeted by an older gentleman with a long white beard as well as a sallow, dark-haired gentleman. Before Jack could say anything, Hermione came around the corner and spying the two men at the door, said the first thing that came to mind.
"Hello Mr. Gandalf. I didn't think that you liked Grima Wormtongue all that much, what with him being a spy for Saruman and all." It was said with all the precociousness of a child, but it didn't stop the younger man from shooting a glare at the child, while the Gandalf look alike chortled behind his beard.
"Alas young Miss Granger, while I have been compared to Gandalf before, I don't believe that anyone has ever had the temerity to call Professor Snape, Grima Wormtongue to his face before. I am Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, and this is Professor Severus Snape, of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Gandalf said. "The both of us are here on behalf of my Deputy Headmistress who has caught a nasty case of the flu."
"Why don't you two gentlemen come in and I will get some tea going," Helena said, coming into the entryway. "Hermione darling, will you show them the way to the sitting room and then come help with the tea?"
"Of course, mum. Professors, if you would follow me, please," Hermione replied, waiting for her father to let the two in so she could lead them down the hall. Once Jack moved out of the doorway, he offered to take the…were these two wearing cloaks...outerwear of the two professors and was denied, so the door was gently shut, and he followed everyone into the sitting room.
Once everyone was settled into seats and with a cup of tea, the discussion started. Between the two professors, they went into detail about Hogwarts: the founders and houses, the classes, the expectations of the students throughout the year, when school breaks were held, transportation to and from the school for the breaks, tuition, and so on.
"What is there to do for extra curriculars?" Helena asked. "As it is, Hermione has riding, fencing, and archery lessons after school. Would she be able to continue those throughout the year?"
"We don't currently have anyone on staff that would be able to continue the lessons that Miss Granger is undertaking. We do have a room, that if asked properly, could provide the items necessary to practice. The only requirement of using the room in this manner that I would ask, is to have an adult present," Professor Gan-Dumbledore said. "The only other extracurricular that we have is the Quidditch House Cup; but that is only open to students who are in their second year and higher."
"What is quidditch?" Jack asked.
"Oh, it is a wonderful sport played on flying brooms, which will be taught during Miss Grangers first year, if she is given permission to attend the school," Professor Dumbledore replied. "There are two bludgers that fly around that the two beaters on each team try to keep away from their teammates, the quaffle (which is worth 10 points), which a group of three people per team try to throw through a set of three hoops on the opposing teams side of the field, a keeper who tries to prevent the quaffle from going through the hoops, and a golden snitch (worth 150 points), that when caught by the teams seeker ends the game. Often, when the snitch is caught, the team that catches it wins the game," he added.
"What if we wanted Hermione to continue her education, is that something that she would be able to do?" Helena asked.
"Other than independent study, Hogwarts doesn't offer any kind of furthering of Muggle education," Professor Snape interjected. At this, all three Grangers looked at each other with apprehension.
"We need time to discuss this. Is there a way that we would be able to reach out to you if we have further questions or concerns?" Helena questioned the two professors.
"As Miss Granger isn't due to start until next year due to the date range that her birthday falls, one of the professors could make a visit during the winter break to answer anything that you may come up with between now and then," Professor Dumbledore replied.
"That wouldn't be too much of a burden on them, would it?" Jack asked. "We wouldn't want to hinder anyone from seeing their families that close to the holidays."
"What's a few hours in a day, when as witches and wizards, we can just disappear and reappear with naught but a twist?" Dumbledore replied with a wink. "Now, shall we say about this time on the first day of the winter holiday?"
"We would be most thankful to you and yours and await the next visit," Helena said after sharing a long look with her husband.
It was a thoughtful family of three that showed the two wizards to the door. With a grimace from the darker professor and a cheery wave from the elder, they both twisted on their heel, and with a loud CRACK! they disappeared from view.