The Kneazle and the Eagle [Hermione Granger x Male Reader]

A long-awaited Letter

[The 8th of March, 1991]

The golden rays of the morning sun shone through the sheer curtains hanging in front of a window on the second floor, falling on a boy who lay peaceful in his bed. His H/C hair was all messed up, because he had had trouble falling asleep the night before. Who could blame him? Today was his 11th birthday and as excited as he was for his usual presents, the thing he couldn't wait to get his hands on was a simple - well, on the outside at least - letter.

Ever since his parents told him about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was ever so eager to learn more about it and bombarded his mother and father with endless questions to which they both always replied, 'Y/N, be patient and wait for your eleventh birthday. You can find out about all of Hogwarts on your own then, it'd be a shame if you hadn't anything left to discover.' This however didn't stop him from 'borrowing' the old school books of his parents, he particularly adored one called 'Hogwarts: A History', he's probably read it more than the pope has the bible. It was just so fascinating to him, the 142 ever-changing staircases, the Great Hall ceiling that's enchanted to look like the sky outside, the numerous secret passages and rooms, the many great wizards and witches who attended Hogwarts and of course the 4 renowned houses - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin - all with their own unique common room.

Y/N had yet to decide in what house he'd like to get sorted in, though he did know with certainty that he wouldn't be very content if it ended up being Slytherin. His father, who had been Gryffindor prefect and later had risen to the position of Head Boy, had a strong detest for many Slytherin families, especially the Malfoys. His mom had been sorted into Ravenclaw, which Y/N could understand very well as she was one of the most ambitious and intelligent witches, following a career in the Department of Mysteries as an Unspeakable. Although her job meant that she hadn't much time for family and couldn't discuss anything about it if she didn't want a one-way ticket to Azkaban, it paid well. So well in fact, that his father could afford to focus on his hobby of potion-brewing without having to worry about a job. The cellar almost looked like the Potions Classroom at Hogwarts with hundreds of different ingredients all lined up neatly on shelfs, some had a pungent stench, others had a strange glow to them and one in particular had always caught the interest of Y/N. It looked quite inconspicuous, like a black rock or something, but some invisible force drew him to it. But his father who usually was a very kind soul and loving father, almost screamed at him when he wanted to examine it more closely one time. It was obviously of great importance, or very expensive, or both. Since then he never saw or heard of it again.

The sound of rustling feathers and a quiet shriek from downstairs woke Y/N up that day. He didn't need any time at all to wake up, he jolted excitedly out of his bed and ran downstairs only to be welcomed by his father's arms pulling him in for a big hug.

‚Happy Birthday, Y/N! Sleep well?', he asked him with a big smile.

‚Hey dad, thanks. Yes, but I just can't wait for my letter! You said, it would arrive today, no?', Y/N ejaculated not being able to contain his excitement.

His father chuckled and smiled at the boy, ‚Look over there.'

He pointed his finger to a rather rugged looking owl with her feathers being plucked off at various places. If it wasn't for the constant plucking, she'd have a beautiful beige and black plumage combined with hazel eyes with a shade of orange that pierced right into one's soul. The shape of her face was very unique and she had very prominent and majestic ear tufts and eyes and beak looking more like they'd belong to an eagle. She was an eagle owl after all.