GREENGRASS ESTATE, EAST SUSSEX, ENGLAND; 26TH JULY 1977

"Hermione dear," Helen called from downstairs. "Hermione, the owls just arrived. One from the Ministry with your test scores and another from Hogwarts with your letter."

Hermione looked up from the book she'd been curled up reading, trying to find what would interest her besides facts. Thus far, the only one she'd found and been absorbed into was Hogwarts A History . It was like she was speaking with an old friend; something comforting about the words that she could so easily find herself in a place of serenity.

Books hadn't been the only place Hermione had tried to find herself recently. She had even gone with Hector to a Quidditch game, though she'd found the entire thing utterly dull and not something that kept her interest. The rules were brutal and made absolutely no sense. Why would one position be given so much power to sway the game, rendering the rest of the team entirely worthless?

After that, she'd gone about trying horseback riding with Helen, and that had been a failure as well. Anything that included flight seemed the worst idea since if a structure under her feet did not fully support her, Hermione found her heart racing.

Along with the failures, Hermione had found that she did possess some talents. She hadn't been a horrible dancer. She'd been relatively graceful, and the steps had come easily to her. She'd also been adept at the piano and violin, which had pleased Helen.

Academics, however, were indeed where Hermione thrived the most. After being allowed to review coursework for a few weeks, Hermione sat her OWLS to determine her education level. With her age, it was a reasonable expectation. Still, after the interrogation at the ministry, Hermione had shut herself away. She studied until her eyes burned, and two weeks had not been a reasonable prep time for such vital exams.

Hermione jumped from her desk and shoved a piece of parchment into the book to save her place, and down the hall to the railing she went. Looking into the foyer, Helen stood before the oversized fireplace, holding two large envelopes.

"Are you about ready to know how you did?" Helen asked, smiling up at Hermione with a quirked brow.

Not needing to be told twice, Hermione rushed down the staircase and around the railing to where Helen stood. Ignoring her Hogwarts letter, Hermione ripped open the message from the ministry, and her eyes scanned the grades.

Not knowing what courses she might be interested in due to the memory loss, Hermione had opted to take them all. The examiner at the ministry had been shocked when Hermione had elected to take twelve exams, not wanting to limit herself. It had taken her two weeks to take every exam, and Hermione had learned at least one thing about herself –she despised divination.

Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Potions, and Transfiguration Hermione was pleased to see that she had received an outstanding in each.

In Defense Against the Dark Art and Divination, she had gotten an Exceeds Expectations.

"That's remarkable," Helen exclaimed, her eyes wide as she looked at Hermione's results. "You'll be able to pursue any career or classes you wish to take at the NEWT level."

"I'm, I'm not entirely sure what sort of career I might be interested in," Hermione admitted, overwhelmed by how vast her choices were.

"Was there anything you know you wouldn't want to continue studying?" Helen asked, taking Hermione's hand and leading her to the couch.

"Muggle Studies and Divination," Hermione answered quickly. The information for muggle studies had been, well, it'd seemed almost childish. Hermione knew of science and mathematics that were done by muggles. She knew of their medical field and how fascinating it was. However, from what she'd studied in preparation, t his course viewed muggles as simple zoo creatures rather than something of any interest. It had been off-putting.

Divination, on the other hand, was just utter rubbish. She had sat with the ministry proctor, and after answering the questions for the exam with ease, she'd then been given a crystal ball to gaze into and make some hogwash prediction. She'd even made the whole thing up and still had received an E.

"That still leaves ten courses you're interested in," Helen commented, waving her hand to summon a piece of parchment and quill. "We'll need to narrow that down slightly more still, I'm afraid."

"Charms, DADA, Herbology, Transfiguration, and Potions would certainly all be valuable to continue for whatever career I decide." Hermione chewed on her bottom lip, looking over the rest of her options laid out before her.

"Well, that fills up five of your seven courses and a respectably full schedule if you don't want to take more," Helen wrote down Hermione's classes. "There's no need to have seven classes if you don't wish."

"I can't foresee myself having a career involving history," Hermione said, still studying the list and available options. "Nor wanting to work with creatures, no offense."

"None taken," Helen smiled, looking up at her, but then wrote down what Hermione had said.

"Truly, I'm torn. Runes are fascinating, as is arithmancy," Hermione told Helen, who wrote those two down in the yes column. "But astronomy–" Hermione cut herself off, thinking of all the wonders of space that she could recall. However, it didn't fit with the wizarding world for some reason. It was too muggle and scientific to be placed in the curriculum she'd reviewed to sit the OWL.

"So, astronomy instead of runes?" Helen asked, glancing up at her, but Hermione shook her head.

"No, runes and arithmancy, I feel, will be more valuable."

"I think we have our list then," Helen stated, smiling as she pulled out the much larger and thicker envelope that had been sent from Hogwarts.

Hermione carefully opened the heavy and delicate seal, her hands trembling for some unexplainable reason. Pulling the heavy parchment from the envelope, Hermione unfolded it as if this were something she'd done once before, though she couldn't recall the memory.

Dear Ms. Greengrass,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Notes:

In the next chapter, the long-awaited, Regulus Black meets the mysterious pureblood princess, Hermione Greengrass.