Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Chapter 16

Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 16

A/N: Hermione finally got her Hogwarts letter! Are you ready for the Wizarding World?

March 17th, 1992

For what had to be the fiftieth time, Hermione ran her fingertip over the embossed calligraphic letters, confusion swirling in her mind.

Hermione Granger

140 Gower Street, Security Service (MI5, SS)

Black Site Headquarters

Sub-basement 3

Laboratory 5

Office Room 6 as Provisional Dorm for Hermione Granger

This letter stumped her. She flipped it over to the back, tracing the insignia of the stamp. The crest resembled any other medieval shield from old families, but she'd not heard of the school that supposedly matched the symbol.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

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

That was a hefty title. Hermione wondered if he was precocious enough to make everyone address him by all his titles. If so, that'd make for a lengthy conversation.

Below the letterhead was the body of the correspondence, a simple, straight to the point letter.

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

Deputy Headmistress

Hermione flipped to the enclosed list, reading over the items, half convinced it was all some elaborate hoax created by Charles, but apart from some ribbing, he'd been one to play pranks on her. And why would he? He was a grown man with a doctorate degree employed by the Secret Service. He had a lot more valuable things to do with his time than to bother with a twelve year old girl he'd been saddled with for over half a decade.

But, if the letter hadn't come from him, then that meant—to quote one of her favorite fictional characters, "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."

It was improbable for a wizarding school to have existed, but what other explanation could there be? Any snapshot of her life leant credit to this supposition, so she was forced to believe this letter was real.

She scoured through the second page that she'd long ago memorized.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-time students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.