Hermione Granger was a highly unusual girl in many ways. For one thing, she was currently doing her homework using a quill and parchment. For another, she was on holiday in France and would rather go to the site of the first witch burnings than the Arc De Triomphe. She also happened to be a witch
Any casual observer might also find other reasons to find Hermione slightly abnormal. Like the fact that she had been stopped at Heathrow security for having a large box of owl food in her suitcase, or that the newspaper article that was pinned to her wall had moving pictures in it
This newspaper had been sent to her by one of her best friends, Ronald Weasley. Hermione looked up and read it again
MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw
A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank"
The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.
The picture showed the entire Weasley family smiling and waving at the camera. Hermione had pinned it just above her desk as that is where she had spent most of her time at the hotel and it made her smile every time she looked up and saw the picture of Ron, with his pet rat Scabbers on his shoulder and his arm round his younger sister Ginny
The article had also come with a long letter from Ron. She always enjoyed Ron's letters; it was like she could hear his voice. This one had been talking mostly about their holiday, but had also mentioned some other news. Ron's mother was going to use the rest of the money to buy Ron a new wand. Ron's wand had been broken at the start of last year, and had spent the entirety of last year blowing up things and rebounding curses onto the caster. Also, one of Ron's brothers, Percy, had found out that he was now head boy. Ron didn't seem particularly happy at this news
Hermione wished she had an owl, so she could send letters. She needed one so she could give her other best friend, Harry Potter, his birthday present. As far as she was aware, Harry had never received a birthday present. He had been living with his horrible aunt and uncle ever since his parents had been killed by the darkest wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort. Harry had been famous ever since he was a baby for being the only person ever to survive Lord Voldemort trying to kill them
She glanced behind her and at Harry's present. It was a black leather case with Broomstick Servicing Kit stamped on it. Inside was a jar of Fleetwood's High-Finish Handle Polish, a pair of Tall-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass and a Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broomcare. Harry really loved flying, and was the seeker in the Gryffindor Quidditch team, so she knew Harry would like it. She knew that she could send it by post when she got home from holiday, but then it wouldn't arrive on his birthday and besides, what would happen when she went through security at the French airport? Barely anyone kept broomsticks for the purpose of cleaning these days
Hermione jumped when she heard a tapping on the window. She turned around to see a beautiful snowy owl sitting just outside the window
"Hedwig!" she breathed. She was too shocked to do anything for several seconds, before she rushed over to the window and let the owl in. Hedwig was Harry's owl, and he had said that last year his aunt and uncle had locked Hedwig in her cage so he wouldn't send letters to anyone. They seemed to have decided otherwise this year, however, as here Hedwig was, sitting on her bed and watching her through large, ice blue eyes
"How come you're here, Hedwig?" Hermione asked. Anyone else would've found talking to an owl very strange indeed, but Hermione knew Hedwig to be a very intelligent bird.
Hedwig walked up Hermione's bed and jabbed the calendar on the wall. Today was marked July 30. The day before Harry's birthday. Finally something clicked on her mind
"You want Harry's present?" Hermione asked eagerly. Hedwig hooted happily. Hermione ran over to her desk and got out a fresh sheet of parchment. She was glad that letter writing came naturally to her, as she hadn't spoken to Harry all summer. Ron had tried to call Harry, but it was his uncle who picked the phone up and Ron had warned Hermione the next day to not try the same thing
Dear Harry,
Ron wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your Uncle Vernon. I do hope you're all right.
I'm on holiday in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you - what if they'd opened it at customs? - but then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for your birthday for a change. I bought your present by owl-order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep up with what's going on in the wizarding world), Did you see that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet he's learning loads. I'm really jealous - the ancient Egyptian wizards were fascinating.
There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out, I hope it's not too long - it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for.
Ron says he's going to be in London in the last week of the holidays. Can you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let you come? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September first!
Love from Hermione
P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased. Ron doesn't seem too happy about it
Hermione smiled. That covered all her news. She then wrapped up the Broomstick Servicing Kit and attached the letter to it. She walked over to Hedwig
"This is quite heavy" she said, holding up the package "will you be alright?"
She was used to seeing Errol, the Weasley's owl, who was very old and got knocked out when carrying the smallest of letters, but Hedwig hooted cheerfully. Hermione grinned and attached the package onto Hedwig's leg. Hermione watched the owl fly away hoping the Harry would be glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday
YOU ARE READING
Hermione Granger and the Prisoner Of Azkaban (Completed)
Fanfiction(Book 3) (completed) Join Hermione Granger in her third year at Hogwarts! Notorious mass murderer, Sirius Black, has escaped from the wizarding prison Azkaban, a feat no one has ever accomplished before! And word has it that he is trying to kill one...
