Hermione and Dumbledore's Visit to Annie's Home (I)
Two days flew by. For the Hogwarts students and staff on holiday, those two days were just a brief interlude in their vacation. There was still more than a week before the holiday ended, plenty of time for them to keep having fun and relaxing.
Today, however, was an incredibly important day for Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born girl who had just finished her first year at Hogwarts. It was a day that had her feeling both nervous and excited.
Because at noon today, she would be setting off on a mysterious journey alongside Headmaster Albus Dumbledore—to visit an ancient wizarding family!
For a girl whose parents were both Muggles, and whose experience of the wizarding world was limited to Diagon Alley and Hogwarts, an experience like that was undoubtedly a brand-new adventure.
And if she had been going alone, it would have been impossible not to feel apprehensive and afraid!
Fortunately, Annie had also agreed to go with Headmaster Dumbledore. So yesterday, Hermione had sent an Owl to Hogwarts with a letter. Just before the appointed time, Headmaster Dumbledore came to her home once again. Together, they looked at the beautiful conch shell that had arrived the day before, nestled in a box.
"Oh!"
"This is a Portkey..."
Standing beside the box, Dumbledore recognized what it was the moment he laid eyes on the conch shell.
"A Portkey?"
"So this is what a Portkey looks like! I read about them in History of Magic. No wonder Annie's letter warned me not to touch it. I never imagined it would look like this."
Hermione nodded, feeling rather relieved.
Her parents had wanted to take a look at it last night, too. But remembering Annie's warning, Hermione had stopped them. Otherwise, the three of