Can Hogwarts Make a Mistake?

Chapter 1

One month into life at Hogwarts. I'm failing all my classes that involve using magic. Herbology, History of Magic, Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, and the theoretical parts of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Charms, I do just fine in. However, the majority of the criteria in DADA, Transfiguration, and Charms are based on your ability to perform the spells. Potions is fine for me, it just takes much longer for me to brew a potion without magic, although Professor Slughorn finds my potions to be "exceedingly wonderful, perfect in every aspect". Maybe non-magical potion-brewing is the one thing I'm good at. If it is, that would really suck because it takes an entire double period for me to brew a sleeping draught.

I have made a few friends, however. Rose Weasley, "the smartest witch of her age", they call her, started out as just my tutor, but we've grown quite close. Albus Potter is a shy kid, but he and Rose are like a package; you can't be friends with one without befriending the other. Maybe it's because they are cousins. I've found one other person on the face of the earth with my first name: Rose's mother. I've never met her, but she must be quite odd. Rose said she got most of her traits from her mother, and Rose is the quirkiest person I've ever met. Maybe Hermione is a name for weirdos.

Anyways, Rose, Albus, and I are a trio unlike any other. Older professors disagree. They say that we remind them of students that went to school a long time ago. They seemed like misfits, but ended up being heroes. Sound familiar? The first part, yes, but heroes? Rose? Albus? Me? Not in a million years.

Professor Longbottom is definitely my favorite professor, although he gets this sad look in his eyes when he sees me. It's really quite depressing, when you are trying to say a friendly hello to your favorite teacher and he just sighs and tears up. I know there's something more and it's not that I have some sign on my back, "JINX ME", but you can't help feeling sad. I asked him about it after class one day. He said he just got sad thinking about my parents.

"Were they mean to you, sir?"

"Oh, Hermione, no. They were wonderful people. That's just why I'm so sad. I-, I'm sorry, Hermione."

"That's fine, professor. Can-?" I hesitated. "Can you... tell me about them? Sir?"

"Well, I wouldn't know where to start. They were in my year at school. I didn't know your mother too well until later. Your father was a good friend of mine. Both of them were vital in defeating Voldemort."

"Um, Professor? What were their names?" I was embarassed that I didn't know.

"Hannah and Seamus. Hannah Abbot and Seamus Finnigan."

"Okay. Thank you, Professor Longbottom." Still feeling awkward, I started on my way out.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, sir?"

"You can talk to me anytime about this. I know it must be hard for you."

"Okay, Professor. Thank you."

I walked out of the greenhouse, feeling slight closure. As I walked over to the castle, I saw Scorpius's father. Albus told me that his father said Scorpius's dad was not a bad man, but Albus thought he was scum. Rose said anyone with that haircut was a criminal. Scorpius's dad walked up to another tall blond man. This second man was definitely the creepiest looking guy I have ever seen. They were in a heated debate about something. It was scary. I hurried along, but I tripped over a root. Both their heads snapped in my direction and I didn't dare to breathe. When they started talking again, I crept along towards the castle. Rose and Albus, my closest confidantes, would be the first, and last, to know, because I was so not planning on telling anyone else.