Which School?

Chapter Three: Confrontations

Germany was wonderful. Hermione approached everything with a new enthusiasm. One evening in Munich, she dragged her father down a dingy back alley, well away from the usual tourist sites. An elderly woman looked up as they entered her dusty, nondescript shop.

"Du bist vu?" the woman asked, her accent very thick.

"Hogwarts," Hermione replied proudly.

"Ah, one of Dumbledore's young children," the woman smiled, her accent now impeccably English. "And what would you like to see?"

"Everything," Hermione said at once.

The woman's smile widened, and she drew a wand that she flicked at a far corner of the shop, illuminating a large set of shelves, filled to overflowing with weighty looking books. Hermione's mouth was suddenly very dry. When Professor McGonagall had mentioned this place, she had never imagined that it would be so big. There was so much to learn!

The Grangers stayed in Munich for another five days, and Hermione returned to the old witch's shop every chance she got. Her parents went with her, and both of them read the books as well.

On their last night in Munich, Mr and Mrs Granger came into Hermione's room, where she was rereading Modern Magical History for the fifth time.

"Hermione," Mr Granger began, uneasily.

"Yes, dad?"

"Are you really sure that you want to go to Hogwarts?"

"Of course!" Hermione said immediately.

"The wizarding world seems rather dangerous," Mrs Granger said.

"It's a lot safer with Professor Dumbledore around," Hermione said, carefully.

"It's just. . . All that we've read seems to be about evil wizards," Mr Granger went on. "And one of the books that I read today says that some wizards are really unpleasant to people who aren't from wizarding families. We're just not sure that we want you exposed to that sort of world."

"So you're saying that I can't go?" Hermione asked, feeling her lip tremble and hating herself for it.

"Oh, of course not," Mrs Granger said unhappily. "But, oh, just be sure it's what you want. Don't be taken in by women changing shape and books full of adventure."

Hermione nodded unhappily.

"We'll leave you to think about it," Mr Granger said, standing up. "Sleep well, princess."

Mr and Mrs Granger were about to leave, when Hermione spoke up.

"Dad, shouldn't a princess live in a castle?"

"You're not to be swayed, are you?" her father asked.

"No. I need to learn to control the magic. And it just sounds so much fun! Did you hear how big the library at Hogwarts is?"

Mr and Mrs Granger exchanged helpless looks.

"You can have your castle, princess," Mr Granger said at last.

"Thank you," Hermione said, seriously. "I'm sure I'll be fine. I don't have any reason to get involved with all the trouble, do I?"

"No, I suppose you don't. Sleep well."

"And you!"

*

There were only a few days left of the summer holidays. Hermione walked happily through a park by her home. She took a seat in the shade of a willow tree, half-hidden inside its long, low hanging branches, and started to read one of the less conspicuous of her textbooks, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

"Look everyone, it's mangy Granger! Where have you been hiding, mangy Granger?"

Hermione looked up slowly. In front of the willow tree stood Susie Andrews and her pack of followers. Hermione smiled to herself. Susie appeared to be taking her move to secondary school a little too seriously; She appeared to have raided her big sister's bedroom. Her face was coated in a thick layer of makeup, her nails were long, garishly painted and obviously fake, and the clothes she was wearing. . .

Hermione giggled. She didn't know a great deal about fashion, but she did know that Susie looked absolutely stupid.

"What's so funny, Granger?"

Hermione didn't say anything. She didn't think that it would be a good idea to provoke Susie at all. Eventually, she said "Nothing, Susie."

"What did I tell you, Granger?" Susie spat.

Hermione frowned slightly, the familiar feeling of frustration bubbling up inside her.

"You wanted me to call you Miss Andrews," she said, injecting boredom into her voice.

"That's right," Susie smirked. She scratched one arm with her long, false fingernails. "Well?"

"Oh, honestly!" Hermione erupted, springing to her feet as years of frustration boiling to the surface. "Don't you think you're being a bit ridiculous? You're acting like you're special in some way, but you're not! You're just a nasty, spiteful, mean and rather stupid girl. And you look like an idiot!"

Susie's eyes narrowed. "Hold her," she barked. Two of her friends, large girls who played for the school hockey team, stepped forward and grabbed at Hermione's arms. They didn't get closer than a foot before whimpering, and backing away.

"What's the matter with you?" Susie growled, as the girls massaged their suddenly bright pink arms. Both looked as though they had been badly sunburned.

Susie stepped forward, and recoiled instantly with a shriek. She rubbed her own arms furiously, scratching herself with her long fingernails.

"Go away," Hermione said calmly, boredom returning to her voice. "Go away, go to school, and grow up. But leave me alone, do you understand that?"

The girls looked at her in surprise and horror. They exchanged looks with Susie, who was blistered and scratched, and as one the entire gang turned and fled.

Susie stared at Hermione, fear etched across her face.

"You didn't. . ." she gasped. "I mean, you couldn't. . ."

"Who knows," Hermione said, sitting back down on her bench and picking up her book again. She looked at the book, rather than Susie as she said; "I may have done. Do you want to try and touch me again and find out?"

Susie swallowed, and appeared to decide that she didn't. She turned and, as fast as her ridiculous high-heeled shoes allowed, ran off in the wake of her gang.

"You do realise, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, stepping out from behind the willow tree. "You have broken the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Magic?"

"Until I start Hogwarts, I'm not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Magic," Hermione said promptly, not seeming at all surprised by McGonagall's appearance. "Have you come to ask me if I still want to go to Hogwarts?"

"Is the question necessary?"

"I don't think so."

"Very well. Shall we go and see your parents?"

"Yes, okay."

They walked through the park, heading back to the Grangers' house.

"You should be careful, Miss Granger," McGonagall said. "Such intelligence can be a blessing, but it can also lead a person into trouble."

"I won't have time for trouble," Hermione said. "I'll be far too busy with my work. Besides, Professor Dumbledore's at Hogwarts. What could go wrong with him there?"

"That, at least, is true Miss Granger. Now, tell me, which of your subjects are you most looking forward to?"

"I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration," Hermione replied immediately.

McGonagall eyed her beadily, but saw only earnest honesty in her expression.

"Very well, Miss Granger, I can see that I shall have to warn the staff about you."

"What do you mean?"

"They will have to be on their toes around you, that's all. Do try not to get too bored with your work, Miss Granger. I hate to think what would happen if you became interested in any extra-curricular events."

"You mean like sports?" Hermione asked. "I don't really like sports very much."

"Miss Granger, Hogwarts is a school of magic. Believe me when I say that this presents an almost limitless potential for extracurricular activities."

"Such as?"

McGonagall sighed. "Well, may I just say, if you happen to find yourself in the company of any of the Weasley family, do try and take after young Percy Weasley rather than his twin brothers. . ."

The End