You’re a Witch, Hermione
It was late June 1991, I was just finishing a quiet lunch with my parents when the door bell rang. When my father opened the door the woman introduced herself, “Good afternoon, my name is Lily Evans, I’m a professor at Hogwarts and I was wondering if I could speak with you and your daughter about your plans for the fall.”
My father quickly let the professor in, she was an average sized woman with long red hair, bright green eyes and a kind smile. She wore simple black slacks, a burgundy blouse and a long black cloak.
“I’m sorry, Professor Evans, what school did you say you were from?” Dad asked a bit confused .
“Hogwarts, you probably haven’t heard of it, here is Hermione’s acceptance letter.” She said, holding out the wax sealed envelope.
I stepped forward, eyeing the professor curiously and took the letter, it was addressed to me so I opened it and read out loud:
“Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress”
“Witchcraft?” My mother said in shock.
I looked to the professor wide eyed then Professor Evans said,”you’re a witch, Hermione.” Before she pulled out her wand and conjured a tea service, “I believe you may have a few questions I’d be happy to answer.”
I was surprised to learn that my parents had been documenting my “strange” behaviour and accidents my whole life and had a whole folders worth of incidents to ask about. Growing up I had noticed how the lights would flicker when I was angry or upset and I knew I could sometimes make things come to me by holding out my hand and willing them to come.
Everything that made me different had an explanation, I wasn’t a freak! I was a witch! And maybe I wouldn’t have to see those awful children from my primary school ever again, I looked over at my parents pleadingly, “Can I go?”
My parents shared a cautious look but agreed after discussing it a bit more with the professor.
“Excuse me, Professor, what is it that you teach?” I asked.
“Oh I’m glad you asked! I am the Muggle Studies Professor, it’s an optional elective for our third-seventh year students.” Explained Professor Evans cheerfully.
“What’s a muggle?” I asked curiously.
“Muggle is what witches and wizards call non-magical people, at Hogwarts we believe it’s very important that our students have the opportunity to learn about their non-magical counterparts.” Said the professor.
“Excuse me for asking professor, but how would a witch know what to teach about people like us?” My dad asked referring to mum and himself.
Professor Evans gave a small smile and replied, “I am a Muggleborn witch, like your daughter here, my parents were also muggles so I grew up in a house similar to this one.”
This sparked more questions from my parents. By the time they finished Tea, the Professor had my confirmation letter and had made plans to take me to Diagon Alley in mid August to purchase all my supplies.
I watched the professor disapparate away, still clutching my Hogwarts letter.
For the rest of the summer I didn’t dare separate myself from my letter. I’m not sure if I was afraid it might disappear or that I would wake up and find out it wasn’t real. When the day Professor Evans was due back finally came, I found that I could not sit still in anticipation for my trip into the wizarding world.
Professor Evans arrived exactly at 9:30 that morning as planned. She had previously discussed tuition with my parents who were pleasantly surprised to learn the school didn’t charge a yearly tuition but I would need wizarding currency to purchase my school supplies. So after learning of my acceptance into Hogwarts, my parents decided to withdraw the money they had saved for my secondary school education to take to the wizard bank.
After watching the professor leave last time, I was surprised to see her pull up in an automobile.
“Aren’t we using magic to get there?” I asked
“Travelling by apparition can unsettle the stomach for those who aren’t use to it, but if you’re up for it we could apparate back here when we’re done.” Answered the Professor as I got into the car I quickly agreed and we were off.
My parents are both dentists and worked often so we would be visiting the wizard shops today without them. I pointed out their practice to the professor as we entered London.
10 minutes later the professor was parking the car in a car park with other very similar cars next to a building with a black sign.
As we approached the sign, it came to life and read ‘the Leaky Cauldron’, “what is this place?” I asked looking over at the professor.
“The entrance to Diagon Alley as well as a wizarding pub.” She replied while leading me through the entrance.
“Morning Professor, can I get you anything?” Said a kind eyed bald gentleman behind the bar.
“No thanks, Tom. Just heading to do some school supply shopping.” The professor said and I nodded a hello and followed quickly after her.
We opened the door as a very large man was walking through the opening in the wall that led to the alley. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. Diagon Alley was so much bigger than I imagined it would be, shops lined the alley on both sides and they were full of colour and displayed moving ads.
“It can be a bit much when you first see it but you’ll get use to it.” said the professor pulling me out of my haze.
I looked up to her smiling, “I think it’s wonderful!” Then we were off to Gringotts the wizard bank.
When we entered the bank we saw the same huge man who had gone through ahead of us at the leaky cauldron. He turned around and smiled at us.
“Lily! Its so good to see you here!”
“Hello, Hagrid.”replied Professor Evans. ”what are you up to today?”
“Oh ’m jus runnin a quick erran here at Gringotts for Professor Dumbledore.” He said tapping his jacket.
“We’re here to set up miss Grangers account and take her around to get her supplies.” She said, then she introduced us, “Miss Granger this is Rubues Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. Hagrid this is miss Hermione Granger, she’ll be joining us in September.
He looked down at me and extended his hand, “ ‘lways nice ta meet a new student.”
I shook his hand eagerly and stepped back when I heard my name called. Professor Evans and I walked over to the goblin who would be assisting us today, he introduced himself as Bogrod and escorted us into a small room. When we arrived we took a seat and he slid across a form for me to fill out and sign and the professor supplied him with the muggle money my parents sent along. As we were finishing up Bogrod cleared his throat and said, “ Now that the paperwork is sorted we will just need a little pinprick of your blood to finalize the process.”
Professor Evans looked a bit surprised they asked for my blood but nodded for me to acquiesce. He pricked my finger and held it over the paperwork until a drop fell, it sizzled and disappeared after hitting the parchment. Bogrod then pulled out a small leather purse and explained the different wizarding currency and told me that the coin purse was connected to my account and I could take out whatever I needed from it and that only I would be able to use it after I accepted it.
When we were preparing to leave Gringotts I noticed Hagrid still waiting and pointed it out to the Professor. She turned to Bogrod and asked, “why hasn’t Hagrid been helped yet?”
Bogrod looked up at her a bit wide eyed and whispered,”I can assist him next, I’m afraid some of my colleagues and I are a bit terrified of giants.”
Professor Evans looked taken aback by the goblins candor but quickly sympathized and responded, “ I can understand that and while Hagrid is only half giant, perhaps we could join you with him if it will help.”
Giants? First goblins are real and now giants? I can understand why someone so small would be afraid of a giant but Hagrid was so kind.
Bogrod then called for Hagrid, he quickly came up and greeted us all. Professor Evans then interjected, “Hagrid, we’re about to go down so miss Granger here can see the vaults would you like to join us so you don’t have to keep waiting?”
Hagrid looked surprised but quickly agreed. He gave Bogrod a letter from his pocket, he read it quickly then incinerated it in his hands. “Very well, please follow me.”
We followed along after him, he led us to what looked like a roller coaster. He had the three of us sit on the opposite side of Hagrid to help “balance the cart”, then we were off.
“Vault seven hundred thirteen” announced Bogrod as we slowed to a stop in front of a huge metal door. The two men got out, Bogrod ran his finger down the door and it opened and Hagrid pocketed the only item that seems to have been in the vault. They returned to the cart and we were back in the lobby before I knew it.
“Best be goin’ now, Dumbledore ‘ll be wantin’ ta see me.” Hagrid said patting his jacket again and then he was off.
Professor Evans turned to me and said, “well, now that we have the money taken care of, let’s get you a wand.”
She led me down around the corner to a store with a sign that read ‘Ollivanders Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C’ . When we entered the shopkeeper eyes brightened up and said “ Ah, Mrs. Lily Evans Potter, a willow wood 10 and a quarter inch with a Veela hair core, an excellent wand for charms!”
“It’s just Evans now, thank you, and yes of course! Hermione this is Mr.Ollivander, you won’t find a better wand maker anywhere.” Professor Evans replied smoothly as she introduced me.
He asked me which was my wand arm then proceeded taking measurements; wrist to elbow, nose to hand, between my eyes and lastly elbow to knee. He said a few things under his breath then walked off towards the shelves in the back, I looked over to the professor but she just shrugged her shoulders and gave me a small smile. A minute later Mr. Ollivander was back with a maroon box. He presented it to me and I opened it cautiously. “Vinewood 10 and three quarter inch with a dragon heartstring core.” He announced and my eyes widened, dragons?
I picked up the wand and was suddenly flooded with this warm tingling feeling, like I had been seeing everything blurry my whole life and now everything was in perfect focus. It was pure bliss. “Give it a wave.” Suggested Mr.Ollivander so I did and sparks shot out of the end.
“We’ll take it!” I declared with a big smile on my face. After purchasing my wand we went to Madam Malkin’s so I could be fitted for my uniform robes, then to a speciality shop where I ordered my trunk and then proceeded to fill it with my supplies, lastly we stopped at Flourish and Blotts to pick up my school books, I may have grabbed a few dozen other titles for light reading but luckily my trunk came with a featherlight charm.
Once we were finally done with all of our shopping, we stopped at Fortescue’s for some ice cream. While we sat out front eating our ice cream I couldn’t help but notice how witches and wizards dressed so differently from muggles, “ Will I be expected to dress like that?” I said tentatively gesturing at the witches and wizards walking by.
“Oh no, you can dress however you like, take professor Quirrell here for example,” she said pointing out a pale man wearing a muggle looking suit, cloak and a purple turban that had just walked by. ” He was gifted his turban from an African Prince and has adopted it into his everyday attire, it’s perfectly acceptable to dress however makes you comfortable.”
“So I can wear my muggle clothes outside of classes?” I asked curiously.
“Absolutely”, she replied with a smile.
We finished up our ice cream then apparated into my living room, and I definitely felt a bit nauseous after that strange tugging feeling I felt in my navel. Before she left, professor Evans handed me a train ticket and told me how to get through the barrier at the station and with a pop she was gone.
I opened my trunk’s library compartment and immediately started reading my new textbooks with my wand clutched in my hand. I spent the last two weeks of the summer reading and rereading my new books, my favourite being ‘Hogwarts: A History’. I was so excited, September first could not come fast enough.