Hermione Granger: A Way With Words

Hermione Granger: A Way with Words

Chapter One

The Burrow

    Life at the Burrow was normal. That is, if you call normal having to degnome the garden once a week, listening to the ghoul in the attic bang on the pipes, and daily explosions coming from a second floor bedroom. While all of these things may seem out of the ordinary, an unknowing eye looking upon the lopsided house would have no idea that inside, it was filled with magic. Those living in the Burrow could do magic beyond any Muggle's (a nonmagical folk, that is) wildest dreams. The Weasleys, the family living in the Burrow, were made up of Arthur and Molly Weasley and their children, Bill and Charlie, now living on their own, and Percy, the twins Fred and George, Ron, and Ginny.

    One early Sunday morning, the crisp, cool weather that came with the rising of the sun did not match Hermione Granger's mood. She woke, startled by a loud bang coming from Fred and George's room. Hermione groaned and ducked under her pillows as Mrs. Weasley could be heard yelling from the kitchen.

    "Well its another crazy beginning to another crazy day!" Hermione heard Ginny say. Hermione took the pillow off of her head and looked at the youngest Weasley, who was making her bed. Ginny smiled at Hermione. "Good morning, sleepy head."

    Hermione stretched and sat up in her bed, waking her ginger cat, Crookshanks, in the process. She looked around at her surroundings. Because Ginny's room was too small, they had switched with Ron so both girls could be in the same room. So, Hermione was forced to get used to waking up every morning to the smiling faces of seven men dressed in bright orange robes on Ron's Posters of the Chudley Cannons.

    Hermione's parents, both dentists, were in Paris for the summer for seminars for work. They had given their daughter the option of staying with her cousins in Germany, but her German relatives rarely spoke English to her and Hermione had a strong feeling that they didn't like her much. She suspected her loud, obnoxious cousins often spoke obscenities in German to Hermione, and she no idea what it was they said. She had told Ron and Harry about her predicament and Ron owled her back right away with the invitation. Viktor Krum, a student at Durmstrang, had invited her to stay in Bulgaria with him over the summer. Hermione politely declined, because even though she had attended the Yule Ball with him last year, she wasn't really interested in him. So here she still was at the Burrow, just three weeks before the start of school.

    Oh, school! Hermione's heart filled with joy at the thought of it. She and her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ron, would soon begin their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione could remember the exact moment she received her letter, inviting her to attend the prestigious wizarding school. It seemed like ages ago when she met Harry and Ron for the very first time aboard the Hogwarts Express. Ever since they had become friends, the trio went through frightening and exciting escapades. In their first year, Harry had faced Lord Voldemort with the help of Hermione and Ron.

    Hermione felt her heart sink. Lord Voldemort was the darkest wizard the world had ever seen, and everyone feared him. When Harry was only a baby, Voldemort had killed Harry's parents with a flick of his wand. Miraculously, though, Harry had survived when Voldemort attempted to kill him, and Voldemort's power also diminished. Each year at school, with the exception of their third, Voldemort had tried to kill Harry and restore his own power. Each year, Harry defeated him, until just last year. Last year, Voldemort had succeeded. A the end of their fourth year, Harry and another student, Cedric Diggory, had been taken to Voldemort and his Death Eaters by a Portkey. Having no use for Cedric, a Hufflepuff a year ahead of them, Voldemort killed him. Because it was known that what had saved Harry from death was his dying mother's love; Voldemort used Harry's own blood to resurrect himself. Now the entire wizarding world was living in fear at the thought of a new Dark Age, and unfortunately, the Ministry of Magic refused to accept it. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, had instead taken things into his own hands and began gathering wizards and witches into meetings to come up with ways to diminish Voldemort completely. Although everyone tried to remain hopeful, it was clear that this new war would not be ending soon.

    "Hello?!" Hermione jerked from her thoughts at the sound of Ginny's voice. Ginny continued, "I've only been trying to talk to you for the past few minutes. What are you thinking about? You've pulled your pillow apart."

    Hermione looked down at her pillow, which was lying in her lap. Indeed, she had obviously pulled her pillow apart while lost in her thoughts, because feathers were poking out at odd angles.

    "Sorry, Ginny," she said, looking back up to the other girl. "What were you saying?"

    Ginny smiled. "I was trying to tell you that breakfast is ready. Mum's made eggs and sausage."

    "I'll be down in a moment," Hermione replied. She waited until Ginny went downstairs to get out of bed. She walked over to the tiny window that looked out across a field. Hermione grinned to herself as she noticed a few garden gnomes making their way through a hedge in the Weasley's yard in the dewy grass. Out over the horizon, she could see a few dark clouds slowly making their way across the land, indicating rain.

    Grabbing her bathrobe and putting on over her long white nightdress, she made her way down the uneven, zigzagging staircase. When she reached the first level, Hermione walked along the narrow passageway leading to the kitchen, giggling silently as she heard Mrs. Weasley yell herself hoarse at Fred and George. The twins had obviously caused the explosion.

    When Hermione entered the rather cramped kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was at the stove attending to the sausages while muttering to herself, "Honestly, never had to deal with things like this with the others." Ginny was seated at the scrubbed, wooden table between Fred and George, who, although Hermione could see they were silently sniggering, had their head bowed over their breakfast as Mrs. Weasley continued to mutter to herself.

    Hermione sat down across from George and greeted the four Weasleys with, "Good morning, everyone!"

    George looked up, grinning, and said, "Ah, yes, it is such a delightful morning. What do you think, Fred?"

    Fred joined in and said, "Yes, George, I shall have to agree with you. It is a beautiful morning with no troubles at all."

    Ginny sniggered between the two boys and Hermione rolled her eyes. Mrs. Weasley turned abruptly from the stove and banged the sausage pan on the table, causing the four seated to jump in their seats.

    "Now you two!" Mrs. Weasley spoke in her no-funny business tone. "I've told you time and time again that you cannot be experimenting like that! Concentrate on your studies! It's your final year at Hogwarts!"

    "But Mum-" Fred pleaded.

    "I mean it!" she yelled. "Now the two of you will be degnoming today before it rains." Mrs. Weasley began to serve the sausages. Her expression softened when Hermione thanked her for serving and Mrs. Weasley replied, "You're quite welcome, dear. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, two owls arrived for you this morning. The letters are next to your plate."

    Hermione reached for her letters. The first, she could see by the neat handwriting, was from her mother. She read it silently as the others ate their breakfast.

Dear Hermione,

Hello dear! I hope everything at the Weasley home is okay, and your father has asked me to remind you not to trust those twins so easily. At this, Hermione glanced quickly at Fred and George, smiling to herself as Fred attempted to distract Ginny so George could slip an unknown substance into her apple juice. It was probably the source of this morning's explosion. Hermione returned to the letter.

Paris is simply wonderful. I do wish I could take a break from work and do some sightseeing, but that must wait. A seminar coordinator has asked your father to give a lecture on root canals to some classes at one of the top Parisian dental schools. I hope it won't be too dreadfully boring.

I recently spoke to your Uncle Adolf. He and the family were sad to hear you would not be visiting. I told him not to worry and that you would be visiting over Christmas. Hermione tried not to laugh in disgust. "I think not," she thought to herself. She read on. Make sure to behave like the young lady you are. Expect my letter in a week. Your father sends his love. Love, Mum

    "Root canals?" Hermione looked up from her letter to find George had also been reading. He arched an eyebrow and asked, "Don't the French know what root canals are?"

    Hermione stuck out her tongue and replied, " Don't you have some degnoming to do?"

    "Ah, but why degnome-"

    "Or study," broke in Fred.

    "Yes, why degnome a garden or study when Fred and I can dedicated our lives to annoying all of mankind?" George finished, grinning.

    "What a lovely career," Ginny piped in. "You'll make us all so very proud."

    "In just a year or two we'll be seeing you in Teen Witch Weekly," Hermione giggled.

    "Now girls," Mrs. Weasley spoke up. "Don't allow their head to get any bigger than they already are."

    "Oh, of course! We wouldn't want that to happen!" Fred joked. "We'd have two more Percy's in the family!"

    The five of them laughed, but it was Mrs. Weasley who broke it up. "Now, now, Fred, you know Percy is doing well."

    "Yes, he only tells us that every day," George said.

    "Or hour," Fred joined.

    "Minute!"

    "No, second!"

    "Boys!" Mrs. Weasley reprimanded. Fred and George were quieted while Ginny fought hard, but failed, to stifle a giggle. Mrs. Weasley turned to Hermione, "Now, back to the main subject, and I don't mean root canals. Who is the second letter from?"

    Hermione, having forgotten all about it, picked up the second letter. She immediately recognized the seal. "Hogwarts!" she exclaimed, sounding surprised. "But, you three have yet to get your letters, right?"

Ginny nodded. "Well, I guess that only means one thing."

    "Yes," Fred said, sounding serious. "You've been expelled."

    Hermione gasped and threw a bite of her sausage at him. It bounced off of Fred's nose and landed in his pumpkin juice. He picked it out of his glass and ate it. Cringing, Hermione broke the seal and unfolded her letter. Before reading, she glanced at the four anticipating faces looking at her. She read out loud:

"Dear Miss Hermione Granger,

As you may already know, in a student's fifth year, he or she may have the chance to be chosen as a Hogwarts prefect. Two students, a boy and a girl, from each house are chosen. The prefects are required to patrol the corridors of Hogwarts, attend weekly meetings, and they may take points from any house when necessary.

I am pleased to inform you that you have been chosen as a Gryffindor prefect. Your duties will begin as of September 1. You shall sit with the other prefects in reserved cabins aboard the Hogwarts Express. I look forward to greeting you. You will find your prefects badge in your envelope.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress"

    Putting down the letter, Hermione began to say, "But there's no-" but sure enough, like magic, she noticed a shining prefects badge in the Hogwarts envelope. She held the badge in her hand, mouth dropping open. It was so beautiful. Not being able to fight the urge, Hermione flew out of her chair and began jumping around crazily in the small kitchen. Although surprised at first, Fred, George, and Ginny joined her. Mrs. Weasley stayed in her seat, but applauded. The five didn't realize how much noise they were making until Ron came into the kitchen, sleepily rubbing his eyes. Each of them stopped dead in their feet, staring in awe at Ron.

    "What's going on here?" he asked groggily. His hair was standing on end, ruffled from sleep, and he was wearing pajamas-but not any pajamas. They were a sky blue colour, and had small pink bunnies printed all over the button down pajama tom and pants. Hermione tried to stifle a giggle when she saw him, but failed when she noticed the pink, fuzzy slippers on Ron's feet. She burst out laughing, as did the four others with her in the room.

    "Ron!" Ginny managed to say in between her laughs. "Why are you wearing my pajamas? Why on earth are you wearing my slippers?"

    "Ooh, doesn't our ickle Ronnie look cute!" Fred joked. Hermione had to sit down because she was laughing so hard.

    Apparently, Ron had forgotten his choice of sleeping attire, because when he looked down at his clothes, a deep red tinge began to form across his cheeks. He turned quickly and left the kitchen, and could be heard running up the stairs to his bedroom.

    Hermione fanned herself, calming down from the hard laughter. "That's a sight I'll be sure to remember forever!" she laughed.

    "Where's Colin Creevey when you need him?" George joked.

    The rest of the morning went by quickly and without interruptions. Hermione got a quick, hot shower and pulled on an old blue jumper and a corduroy skirt. Because of the coming rain, she decided she would join Ginny and Ron in Ginny's room. As Hermione guessed, the two were playing chess, and they both looked deep in though.

    Hermione sat on her knees on the floor, leaning on the bed to watch the game. Ron, changed out of his pajamas, was grinning as he watched his knight trampling Ginny's bishop. The game's moving pieces never ceased to surprise Hermione with their brutality.

    "Oh, bugger," Ginny said, more to herself than the others, as her bishop slowly dragged itself off of the worn board. Then, as Ginny began to realize her possibilities, her face lit up. She moved her night and proudly announced, "Checkmate!" Ron looked flabbergasted; it was a rare occasion when someone beat him at chess. But, as Hermione looked over the board, Ginny had won. If Ron moved his king, Ginny's knight or bishop would take it. If it stayed where it was, her queen would take his king. Scowling, Ron began to put the chess pieces away. Hermione and Ginny laughed as Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen; saying tea was ready, if they wanted some. Hermione, Ginny, and a sulking Ron made their way to the kitchen. Mr. Weasley, home from a late night at work, was seated at the head of the table and helping himself to some leftover sausage from breakfast. Mrs. Weasley was at the sink, scrubbing a nasty pot that would not come clean. The two were in a conversation about, Hermione realized after just a moment, Harry.

    "Dumbledore said we'll be able to pick him up next week. He'll be able to go to Diagon Alley with us and spend the last two weeks of the summer here," Mr. Weasley said to his wife as Ron, Ginny, and Hermione sat down.

    "I do hope his aunt and uncle are treating him all right. You'd think they would show some consideration towards the poor boy," Mrs. Weasley said, giving up on the pot and slamming it down. She took out her wand, muttering a spell, and the pot became clean. She said to herself, "I don't know why I just didn't do that in the first place."

    Ron, having realized now that his parents were discussing Harry, asked his father, "How are we getting him, Dad? Floo?"

    Mr. Weasley shook his head. "No," he replied. "It's too risky, even having the Dursley home put on the Floo network for a day. We'll probably be using the Ministry cars. And besides, I don't think the Dursleys appreciated use coming in through their fireplace last summer."

    The five laughed. Hermione remembered hearing from Harry and Ron about the fiasco involved with getting Harry for the Quidditch World Cup last summer. Harry's oversized cousin, Dudley, had also been a victim to Fred and George's pranks. The twins had "accidentally' dropped a Ton-Tongue Toffee in the Dursley home. Dudley stupidly ate it and was temporarily given a very long and thick tongue, due to an Engorgement Charm in the toffee.

    "I don't understand though," Ginny said seriously. "Why can't Harry just live with us?"

    Mrs. Weasley became subdued. "He's safer with his family. We all want him here, but Dumbledore knows what he's doing."

    Hermione realized she wasn't really in the mood for tea. They sat there in the small, warm kitchen quietly for a moment. George and Fred came bouncing into the kitchen and the five glum faces there did not go unnoticed. Fred spoke up, breaking the silence. "Anyone up for a game of Quidditch in the rain?"

    After changing into some dirty old clothes, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny made their way outside to the small field where they practiced Quidditch. Hermione reluctantly agreed to watch after putting the water repelling charm on her clothes and a heating charm on her seat. Hermione had never been interested in the game of Quidditch. The matches at Hogwarts were exciting to watch, yes, but the idea of flying did not please Hermione at all. She felt safer with her two feet planted firmly on the ground. While watching the four flyers play Quidditch, she realized that Ron and Ginny were actually quite good.

    Fred and Ron were on one team; George and Ginny on the other. Because there obviously weren't enough players to have all seven team positions, they weren't playing with the Snitch and instead decided the winner would be the team with the most points in two hours. Ron and George were Keepers for their teams, and Ginny and Fred were Chasers and Beaters. Fred and George, naturally Beaters, were having troubles with their new positions. Ginny sped easily to the opposite team's goal post, but only to have her attempted points blocked by Ron. Fred took easily to the Beater part of his job, but when it came to scoring with the Quaffle, it was a comical sight to see him attempt to get a goal. Even funnier was George, who was used to beating Bludgers, but not catching the Quaffle. After two hours, Fred and Ron won, thanks to Ron's excellent Keeper skills, at twenty points to none.

    The four players flew down to Hermione and trudged up to the house, broomsticks in hand. The sky was getting threateningly darker, so along with the evening dusk, more rain would come.

    Whether it was because of anticipation for the arrival of her second best friend or for the fact that time at the Weasley's was well spent, Hermione would never know, but the week went by quickly. Hermione had no idea how crazy it would be for the Weasleys and herself to go get Harry, but she would soon find out.