The Grangers Take Center Stage
Hermione Granger had known since a young age that she was different from those around her. She was also intelligent enough to know that different wasn’t always accepted. Fortunately, she had been blessed with amazing parents who had raised her to be unapologetically herself.
Richard and Jean Granger had barely held baby Hermione in their arms before they looked at each other and silently vowed that their child would always find love and support with them. No matter the situation, no matter what happened. She would always be their first priority.
So, when strange incidents began occurring around their daughter, they took steps to understand what was happening. Rather than letting her struggle in an environment that might not accept her differences, they decided to homeschool her until she was old enough to comprehend what was happening to her—and how others might react.
They also started watching for signs in others, hoping to find someone who could provide answers. It took years, but they finally found their answer one sunny afternoon when Hermione was ten years old.
The Grangers were strolling through a park when they spotted a red-haired woman laughing as she spoke to a young boy with messy black hair and round spectacles—spectacles that, at that very moment, were floating just above his nose.
Richard and Jean exchanged glances, their minds made up in an instant. As one, they adjusted their path and approached the woman and child. The woman, sensing their approach, looked up. Her smile faltered slightly, and the floating glasses abruptly clattered to the ground.
“Hello!” Richard said cheerfully. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”
The woman studied them for a moment before replying, “Yes, it is. Can I help you?”
Jean hesitated before saying, “Your son’s spectacles…” She trailed off, unsure of how to continue.
The woman’s expression didn’t change. “What about them?”
Taking a steadying breath, Jean said, “Our daughter… she can do things like that, too. And we’ve been looking for answers.”
The woman’s face softened with understanding. “How old is she?”
“She’s ten,” Richard said. “We’ve been trying to understand what’s happening to her.”
The woman glanced at her son, then back at them. After a brief moment of consideration, she said, “Can we meet here tomorrow at ten in the morning? I think I can help.”
Relieved, the Grangers nodded. “We’ll be here.”
That evening, Lily Potter returned home and told the Marauders—now down to three members—about her encounter with the Grangers.
The next morning, Lily and James Potter arrived at the park to find the Grangers already seated on a bench. After exchanging pleasantries, Lily brought up the topic at hand.
“Tell me about your daughter,” she said gently. “What have you noticed?”
The Grangers exchanged an uneasy glance.
“Her name is Hermione. She’s bright—loves reading, never puts a book down until she’s finished. And sometimes, it’s like the world around her… reacts to her,” Jean explained. “At night, when she’s supposed to be asleep, the lights will turn on by themselves, and her books will float to her. Once, the book stayed in place, but we could hear the words being read aloud, like a bedtime story.”
Lily smiled warmly. “She sounds like a wonderful child. A reader, just like I was.”
The Grangers returned her smile, still uncertain but encouraged by her reaction.
Lily took a deep breath. “I was in Hermione’s position once. My parents had no idea what to do with me. But you’ve gone out of your way to help her, and that’s incredible.” She looked over at James.
James nodded and turned to the Grangers. “Your daughter is a witch. Magic is real, and she has it. Usually, it’s passed down through families, but every now and then, a magical child is born to non-magical parents. That’s what happened with Hermione.”
The Grangers exhaled in relief, finally having an explanation for the strange occurrences in their daughter’s life.
The atmosphere lightened as the two families continued talking, exchanging stories and experiences long into the evening. Before parting ways, the Potters promised to introduce Hermione to their son. They believed that having a friend who understood magic would help her adjust to this new reality.
One week later, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger met for the first time.
Harry, a naturally friendly but sometimes quiet child, found a sense of peace in Hermione’s presence. He had grown up surrounded by love, but few children his age truly took the time to know him beyond just play. Hermione, with her insatiable curiosity and sharp intellect, was unlike anyone he had met before. Though she struggled to connect with children her own age, Harry's easygoing nature made it simple for her to talk, to share, to play without the fear of being misunderstood.
They spent hours exploring the park, discussing everything from books to their own little adventures. Hermione introduced Harry to her favorite stories, and Harry, in turn, regaled her with wild tales of magical pranks orchestrated by his father and his friends. It was the beginning of something special—an unspoken understanding between two children who, in their own ways, felt different from the world around them.
The Grangers watched the interaction with quiet joy, relieved to see their daughter not just accepted, but thriving. Meanwhile, the Potters saw in Hermione a kindred spirit for their son—a friendship that could withstand whatever the future might bring.
From that day forward, Harry and Hermione became inseparable. Letters were exchanged, books were traded, and whenever the Potters visited, the two children would disappear into their world of endless discovery.
The Grangers had finally found the answers they had sought for so long. But more than that, they had found friends, allies, and a place where their daughter belonged. And Hermione, more than anything, was overjoyed to learn that she was not alone—that there was an entire world waiting for her to explore, with a friend by her side.