No Longer Me

Her parents couldn't be any happier, they had the daughter other parents would die to have. Hermione Granger was the brightest girl in her year, no, the entire school. She was fairly pretty, she was nice, she listens to her parents, and she receives the top grades. They knew Hermione had very close friends. So her parents thought, "She was obviously a very good friend maker, so someone like her had to be popular amongst other students and gets along with everyone else very easily, right?"

During that time of year, when Hermione and the rest of the 5th years were studying hard for their O.W.L.'s, Mr. Granger had been offered a new job. In France, he would be able to teach young adults pursuing the dentistry career. He would train them on the weekdays and then he'd be able to attend to other people in need of a dentist on weekends. Since there was also another wizarding school nearby, why not just move there? Even the pay was higher!

"Hermione, dear," Her mother called her from the living room. They're house was nice. But nothing near extravagant. She had everything she needed and some things she wanted, like other girls her age. But she had something that normal people didn't have. She could perform magic.

It was late and Hermione was just rereading Hogwarts a History. The summer had just started and she was going to The Burrow to hang out with Harry, Ron, and Ginny for the rest of the summer. They needed to figure out what to do next, now that the Wizarding Community knows He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back. She bookmarked her page and placed her book down on her nightstand next to the pile of The Daily Prophet. The ones on the top, and the most recent ones read, "Harry Potter: The Chosen One?" and "Scrimgeour Succeeds Fudge". She flattened out her flowery skirt and went downstairs.

"Yes Mum?" She sat down comfortably on the small couch near the fireplace. "What is it?" Her mother looked either utterly delighted or extremely nervous but was trying to hide it with a big grin.

"Well dear, your father and I have been thinking..." Uh oh, that's not good a good sign. "And well..."

"What your mother is trying to say is that we're moving to Paris. Now now, listen to me first. You remember when we visited there a few times and how you loved the food? I've already found a flat there and it's very close to the city part. There's a street of restaurants a block away and shopping centers right next to that. There's a library right next door and plenty of historical places to visit on Holidays."

"But dad, I despise shopping, remember? Besides, you can't do this to me," Hermione was pleading. "I've... I've planned out everything, remember? I was going to spend the rest of the week with you two, then floo over to Ginny's for the rest of the summer. I can't leave, not now anyways! My friends need me. Especially Harry! He's going through some tough times and he needs Ron and me there for support. I've told you about Voldemort haven't I? You know the dark wizard that's roaming around now. Well I need go back to Hogwarts for protection! It's the safest place, with Dumbledore around and all. How---" Her mother cut in.

"That's exactly why you can't stay here. We've been let in on the whole Voldemort thing. The ministry sent us safety flyers too! In France I doubt there will be as many dark wizards. Hermione, I know that this may be a little tough at first, but I know you'll get use to it. You're strong, and you can do it. I know that you'll love it there in Paris."

"Your mother's right sweetie. Plus, I found a new job there, and my salary will be higher. With my current pay I wouldn't be able to pay off all our debts! The new flat is wonderful, with two very large bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, and a cozy living room; you'd fall in love with it. I've already been there and purchased it. We're ready to move into it by the end of the week."

"No. Mum, Dad. I know you're doing what's right for you guys, but it's not right for me. I want to go to Hogwarts. I want to be top of my year again. I want to spend time with my friends next summer. I want to get the op N.E.W.T. scores, and I want to become Valedictorian next year. I want to stay in London!" Hermione was starting to get desperate; she was going to stay here, in London. But deep down she knew there was no arguing with her parents about this. She was moving and that's that. Her mother sighed.

"It's late. Get ready for bed; I'm going to start packing early tomorrow morning. We have a lot of things down in the basement and I need your help since your father has a few days of work left."

"But mum I---"

"That's enough young lady. I want you to go to bed and just think things over. Maybe you'll come to realize that the move won't be so bad after all. You can start all over and make new friends. And keep your old ones." Tears had already formed in the corner of her eyes. Without saying anything or even looking back she ran back to her room as fast as she could. She slammed the door closed behind her and leaned against the wall. She fell down to the ground and hugged her knees close to her chest.

I'm not moving. I can't move. She'd imagined herself living here the rest of her life. Well, until she graduated from Hogwarts. Then she'd rent a room on Diagon Alley. She was going to apply for a job in the ministry and was going to get accepted. Anyone who refused her would have been crazy. She was going to work her way up to a head of a department in two or three year's time. She was going to do whatever she could to defeat Voldemort, even if it meant sacrificing herself. What am I going to tell Ginny?

She walked over to her desk. It was very organized. Her writing utensils were separated by frequency of use, while her post-it notes were arranged by colors. All her previous homework assignments and essays were stashed away in her filing cabinet in alphabetical order by class then by date completed. She reached for a piece of parchment and picked up her favorite eagle feather quill. Biting the end of the tip, she tried to think of something to write. Note to self: break quill biting habit. Not good for teeth. But it wouldn't matter that much, since I got them shrunken a little but back in the fourth year. She chuckled silently at the thought.

Dear Ginny,

You wouldn't believe what was happening to me even if you heard my parents say it for yourself, but I'm moving to Paris. No, this is not a prank. And no, no one is impersonating me and faking this letter to you. My mom is starting to pack and I'll be leaving by the end of the week. So that means that I won't be able to come visit you guys at The Burrow this summer.

I wish I could see you one last time. I really don't want to leave, not at a time like this. But I know that there is just absolutely no use arguing with my Parents about this. They've made a decision, and without my consent either!

Please write back to me as soon as possible. Do you think there may be a way out of this? Tell Harry and Ron for me. Thanks.

Your Friend Forever,
Hermione Granger.

After reading it over and approving it, she tried the letter to Coffee. She was her new owl her parents had bought her as gift, or a reward for getting such wonderful O.W.L. scores. The color of the owl reminded her so much of the beverage that that was the first thing that popped into her mind, so that's what she named it. "To Ginny please." Coffee gave a little hoot and took off. "Thanks."

Watching the owl take off and disappear into the veil of darkness kind of made the move final, sending a good bye letter to your best friend. She didn't even go brush her teeth, which was abnormal for Hermione. Her parents were dentists, and if they found out, she'd be in big trouble for sure. But she was mad at her parents and frankly, couldn't care less about what they had to say right now. So she climbed into bed without changing.

I'm moving and I'm not even crying. Is this normal? She just lay there, in her bed, silently. Numbness taking over her whole body. She couldn't feel any emotions. Sadness, happiness, curiosity? It all seemed so foreign to her right now. But before long she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

It had been a tough week; it was like cleaning Number 12 Grimauld Place all over again. Of course without all the magical house pests, but those were easily replaced and filled with by all the cobwebs down in the basement, they had to get all of their old things and boxes full of Hermione's grade school memories, which was a lot mind you, all of the one-page essays the teachers assigned had became 12 page research reports in Hermione's case.

Her mother was absolutely ecstatic about moving, and she thought it was probably just wearing off on her. Because the more she thought about transferring to Beauxbatons, the more she thought, "Maybe it wasn't going to be so bad after all..."

Truth be told, Hermione hadn't really enjoyed her life either. Yes, she was happy with Ron, Harry, and Ginny and all the great adventures she's had, but she couldn't help but feel a little... well she wasn't sure how to describe it. She loved reading, it was her passion. But that's the only thing people thought she did, and eventually, it became all she did. Being such an outcast in her elementary school made her realize she had to change. And it was easiest to change to something you were good at, being smart. Besides her name, she also went by know-it-all, bookworm, teacher's pet, or in Draco's case, mudblood-Granger.

Now that she was going to move, she could change everything. Start from square one, from scratch! She could be anything, ANYTHING she wanted to be. Not a stupid bookworm or know-it-all. She could tell people she was a death eater and they would believe it, of course she wasn't. She wanted people to know her for something more, someone more... fun, more exciting. And all these thoughts were zooming around her head like busy bees in a hive.

Paris was known to be a magical place. Maybe she'll get lucky there. She would miss her friends to death, but now she wouldn't have to be responsible for what kind of trouble they would get themselves into. I'm going to owl them every single day! If that's possible...

In the last week Hermione has received 2 owls from Ginny. All of them, even Mrs. Weasley, were trying to make Hermione persuade her parents out of this "bloody stupid" idea, as Ron called it. But she would hear none of it. Harry, it seems was more understanding than Ron. He was upset, very upset, but he didn't want Hermione to feel even more burdened with the fact she was making her best friends miserable. Eventually, they all had accepted the fact that she was moving, but Ron was still scribbling all over her letters about something she couldn't read. They had sent her some packages. Mrs. Weasley sent some homemade cakes which she knew Hermione loved. Harry sent her two new books he bought at Diagon Alley that just came out, she would read these on the plane. Ron sent her 3 sugar quills, a box of Berty Botts Every Flavour Beans, and a picture of all four of them last Christmas. Ginny had sent her a new dress (which Hermione vowed she'd never wear, it was way too revealing) and a copy of A Witch's Guide to Her Life, Young Adults Edition by Elaine Sinclair. Fred and George had sent a gift basket with a few of their latest creations. They gave her a bottle of love potion, their famous firecrackers, and a small vile of double-trouble (makes an exact replicated illusion of you and lasts for 3 hours, caution: who not use when weather exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit or when someone un-trust-worthy is around, they might rat you out). But the best news was that Ginny had SOMEHOW convinced Mrs. Weasley to visit Hermione in Paris. But she wasn't sure when, preferable Christmas though.

She had hurriedly written 'thank you' letters to all of then and carefully stashed her presents away safely into her trunk. Today was the day they were leaving. "Hurry up Hermione; we're already going to be 10 minutes late to the airport!" Her dad scolded them as he practically shoved them outside the house and into the car. The moving men had already taken their stuff two days ago and should already be there when the family arrives at their new flat. She took one last fleeting look at her house, where she grew up, and where she found out she was a witch. One tear trickled down her cheeks but she quickly wiped it away as she buckled her seat belt, and her dad drove off.