Child's play

Chapter 1

"Hermione dear, a letter arrived for you. It looks quite fancy" her mother shouts up to her. Setting the muggle history book down at her desk she stands and stretches. Groaning at her bones settling back into place.

"Geez aging is a pain" Hermione says walking down the stairs

Her father chuckles from his place at the table "You can say that again." Turning the page of the newspaper he's reading.

"Here darling," Her mother says, "this is yours" handing the letter over

"Thank you" Hermione says taking the letter over to the sofa and sitting down, opening the letter it reads:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

"That's peculiar" Hermione says

"What is, baby girl?" Her father says without looking up from the paper.

Hermione looks at him, "this letter, it feels weird, but I guess I'll go, if that's fine with you two that is"

"Of course dear, anything you want" Emily said with a smile, "do you want any of this food I've made?"

"No thank you mum," Hermione says, getting up the letter in hand, walking back towards the stairs to finish reading her book, stopping at the bottom of the stairs looking towards the front door. "Someone is here" she says reeling in her Aura.

John finally looks up from the newspaper and listens for a moment "I don't hear anything?" He says before a knock sounds through the house. "Well then I guess I'll get that" he sighs moving towards the door. "Coming!" he yells. Before opening the door, "Hello? And you might be?"

"Minerva McGonagall, if you please." The elderly woman says in a scottish lilt.

Hermione looks back at her letter, "It's the same" she thinks to herself, moving closer to the door, kind eyes fall on herher. "And you must be Hermione Granger," Minerva says, my father looking back at me with a confused expression. Hermione hands the letter to her father and she steps forward.

"And what if I am?" Hermione asks

"Then I am here to show you the way to platform 9 ¾ as is customary to do with Muggle Born witches and wizards, I presume you have gotten your letter." Minerva explains

"I did, just today in fact" Hermione says leaning against the door.

Minerva quirks her eyebrow at that "we must have sent one of the slower owls to deliver your invitation then, for that I apologize." The older witch says with sincerity "if it is ok with your parents we can go and buy the required items for your education." She states, looking at Emily and John, who just nods their heads with smiles on their faces, which Minerva finds weird but doesn't mention.

"How much will all of this cost" Emily asks

"Oh that won't be necessary, the School has a fund for Muggleborn children, so each child can get the basics." McGonagall explains "we might as well get going if that is all?"

"Sure" Hermione says "I don't see why not?" Her parents nodding along agreeing.

"Then let us go," Minerva says, holding out her arm, which Hermione takes without hesitation. Another Thing Minerva finds weird but doesn't mention.

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Apparition gives a weird sensation of being squeezed through a straw, something Hermione thinks she could fix. Looking up and around are familiar buildings That have changed slightly with time.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley Ms. Granger" this is where you will find most if not all things on the list that was given to you and everything else you might want, but as per usual Muggle born tools have already bought,other than your wand of course, so that muggleborns can explore and get acquainted With all things wizard, we can choose to go pick you things up now to give you a sense of where everything is, or we can have them sent to the train and we can head there now," Minerva says as she leads Hermione through Diagon Alley. Hermione was taking in the slight differences from when she came here last hidden from view.

"I'm ok with just getting my wand and heading for the train, if that's alright with you." Hermione says innocently

"That's fine by me, but are you sure you don't want to look around?" Minerva asks kindly

"I'm positive," Hermione replies, setting off in a seemingly random direction to anyone else, but it's the direction of the only wand shop she knows to exist in all of england.

Sighing once she reaches Ollivanders, Hermione opens the door as if she's been there before. Something else added to the list of unusual things she has for this child.

"Hello?" Hermione says "Ollivander?"

"She knows who he is?" Minerva thinks to herself following quietly behind Hermione

"Who is it? Who, by Merlin's beard," Ollivander gasps "I thought I'd never see you again, my dear friend though you do look a bit older than you did when I met you " he chuckles

Hermione laughs "I could say the same to you, you're taller and much older, you're looking a little grey now aren't you"

"Hey that's not nice, to tease an old man" Ollivander pouts, but the smile in his eyes speaks wonders as he moves to hug the girl.

"Hey have you the wand, you said you would make for me" Hermione asks pulling away from the hug slightly

"Ah, oh yes, I've been perfecting it, ever since I saw you, tinkering with it here and there, testing the limits, adding cores one after the other till I felt it would fit you, not my first multi-cored wand but by far the most cores i've ever put in one and made stable without it, you know, exploding in my face. I have it just over here, ah yes here it is" He says pulling an ornate box of the shelf.

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