Disclaimer: I own nothing. JK Rowling owns all characters. Plot is mine.

Malfoy Estate

Lucius Malfoy looked out the window of his five year-old son's room. As he observed some storm clouds rolling over the expansive estate grounds, he saw a great Eagle Owl headed towards the mansion. He opened the window immediately to allow the owl entrance, and it flew directly in and perched on his son's bed. Lucius saw a name tag around the owl's neck, which read Copernicus. He also saw that Copernicus carried an official letter, which Copernicus held out to Lucius in one of its strong talons. Before Lucius could give Copernicus a treat, he had left the same way he had come.

Lucius quietly opened the letter, as to not wake Draco, who was sleeping in the large double bed with green and silver satin sheets. As he read, he became more and more skeptical. It read:

To the Parents of Draco Malfoy,

It pleases me to tell you that Draco Malfoy has been accepted into an exclusive and secretive society of Witches and Wizards. The Academy is one of honor, courage, power, and knowledge. We have seen much power in Draco as he has grown and we would like to invite him to join our rant.

You, as his parents will not know the identity of anyone other than your son. It helps to maintain the secrecy of the Academy. I can tell you that your son will be the pupil of two of our best mentors. He will be paired with a fellow witch or wizard, with whom he will work with throughout his time at the Academy.

Please drop Draco off at Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station on the first of August at 11AM. From Hogwarts, he will be transported to the Academy.

Cordially,

The Headmaster and Headmistress of the Academy

Lucius quickly called Dobby, a house-elf that lived to serve. He told Dobby to call Narcissa, his wife, to the library, and to floo Severus Snape, his oldest friend. He needed to consult them about this suspicious letter.

* * * * *

The Library

"I have never heard of this Academy, and I'm not sure I like the idea of sending my five year-old son on a train by himself to Merlin knows where," said Narcissa, "he is my only baby boy."

"I feel the same way, but if it could train him to harness his power, he could make the Dark Lord happy. It might even get us into his inner circle. Isn't that worth it," Lucius questioned. "I think it could help all of us: he would get stronger, and we would get into the Dark Lords good graces."

"Severus, can you please talk to him? I don't think we should trust it. The letter isn't even signed by a person, just a title."

With a sigh and a deep breath, Severus spoke with a low drawling voice: "Narcissa, I understand where you are coming from, but I have heard whispers about the Academy. Very powerful witches and wizards were taught first at the Academy. I know you do not like or trust him, but Dumbledore was supposedly taught there. I feel as though you should seriously consider sending young Draco. He will learn great things there."

After hearing this, Narcissa looked a little relieved. Lucius, on the other hand, had one more question: "Severus, my only question is: does this Academy accept those filthy mudbloods? Because if they do, Draco will definitely not be going. I don't want him to be associating with those kinds of people."

"Well, as far as I know, muggle-borns will never attend the Academy."

"Then it is settled. Draco will be shipped to the Academy on the first of August," Lucius declared.

Meanwhile, on the other side of London….

* * * * *

The Granger Residence

Peter and Anne Granger were fairly plain muggles. They were dentists by profession, and the proud parents of a precocious young girl named Hermione. As Peter and Anne were sitting around the kitchen table, drinking tea, their five-year-old daughter was playing in the yard. The doorbell rang, and together, the Grangers walked across the humble two story home to the door. A striking woman, who was wearing an unusual set of clothing, was standing stiffly on the porch. The Grangers invited her into their living room, and offered the stern looking woman some tea.

As they settled into the sofa, the stern woman spoke: "Please, forgive the intrusion. My name is Minerva McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am here to tell you that your daughter is extraordinary. She is, in point of fact, a very powerful witch."

"Is this some kind of joke? Do you have a hidden camera somewhere? You must be off your rocker to think our Hermione is a witch" stated Anne.

Peter was quick to agree: "there is no way. Hermione is as normal as she could possibly be. Plus, there is no such thing as magic. Now, please leave."

"I'm sorry to shock you like this, but magic does exist." As she said this, she transformed the teacup she was holding into a crow and back again. "And, Hermione, once trained, will be one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful witch of her generation. Here is an invitation for her to attend a prestigious society for her schooling." Minerva then proceeded to give the Grangers an identical letter to the one Draco had received. It was accompanied by a letter explaining how to get to platform 9 ¾.

As Minerva got up to leave, Peter had finally digested what he was hearing: "But who will be teaching our daughter? How will we know that she is safe?"

"While I cannot tell you who will be teaching your daughter, I can tell you that her mentors at the Academy will write monthly letters to you. They will include how she is faring away from home, as well as how she is progressing. These letters will come by owl. His name is Copernicus. When he comes, you just need to open your window to him and he will give you the letters. If you ever want to write back, all you need to do is have a letter prepared, and Copernicus will bring the letter to Hermione's mentors. I will be off now, thank you for your time."

* * * * *

King's Cross Station: 10:30AM

Two weeks later, both the Malfoys and the Grangers arrived at platform 9 ¾. The Grangers arrived first; just to be sure they would find the proper platform. They were unsure what to do once getting to the train, but a station manager took Hermione onto the Red steam engine and shooed them away. Anne began crying, and Peter did his best to comfort her.

As the Grangers headed to the car, they saw a man with stark blond hair leading his wife and young son into the station. They seemed to be walking with a purpose, only carrying one bag. The Malfoys headed straight towards the wall between platforms 9 and 10 and ended up staring at the same red steam engine they rode every year for seven years. They hugged and kissed their young son and then left him to the station manager for boarding. Lucius and Narcissa found it very strange that there were no other parents or children anywhere on the platform, but due to the strict security surrounding the train, they quickly left the platform.

Draco was led to a compartment on the front of the train, with the only other passenger, a five-year-old bushy-haired young girl. She was crying. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, he spoke to her: "Ar…are you okay? Why are you crying?"

Through her sobs, she quietly answered: "I...I...don't...want...to…leave…my…mommy and daddy."

"I don't want to leave my momma or daddy. But we get to go learns magic. I is excited about that. I try not to think 'bout leaving my momma and daddy. I just think 'bout the fun parts."

"What is your name? I'm Hermione. You can call me Hermy if you want, my mommy does."

"I'm Draco, just Draco. Hermy, can I sit with you? I think it will be a long ride, and I don't want to sit by myself."

"Yeah, I don't wants to sit by myself too. Come in, we can sit together."

It was then that the train began to move. Throughout the long ride, the two five-year-olds played and talked. They arrived at Hogwarts tired, but happy that they now had a friend they could talk to. They were escorted off of the train by the same stern woman that had visited Hermione's home. They climbed down to the platform and saw a beautiful castle high up on a hill.

"Is that where we are going?" Hermione asked in shock.

A quiet voice answered from the shadows: "no, you and young Draco will be coming with me to the Academy. This is Hogwarts. You will be attending this school in six years time."

Minerva seemed to have disappeared, as the man that belonged to the voice entered the lighted area. He was tall and skinny with mousy brown hair. "My name is Remus Lupin. I will be one of your mentors for the next six years. You will meet your other mentor once we reach the Academy. Touch this stick, and hold on to your bags tightly."

Draco and Hermione glanced at each other, and tentatively touched the stick in Remus Lupin's hand. They saw tons of spinning colors and felt a lot of wind. When they felt their feet touch the ground, they both fell to their knees. Even Remus looked uneasy on his feet after traveling. Once Draco and Hermione were steady, they walked through a large archway with gates that closed behind them. Remus led them to a building that was almost as large as Hogwarts. They went through a large hallway and into a small study. Draco and Hermione stood silently at the door, holding hands and shaking like leaves. They were both very scared.

Sitting in a brown leather wing-backed chair was a tall woman with stark black hair. It reached her shoulders and looked silky smooth. She was not conventionally pretty, but with her angular features, even the children were struck by her beauty. She spoke in a melodious, hypnotic voice: "My name is Severity. Remus and I will be your mentors from this point forward. We will be the only people you interact with within these walls. This allows us to maintain our mission, which you will understand more in years to come. Anything that you will need for schooling will be provided by the Academy. For this year, you will be working on reading, writing, math, and physical fitness. You will need all of these traits for the rest of your life, especially as an agent for the Academy."

"You will begin tomorrow. Follow me, and I will lead you to your suite. I'm sure you got to know each other on the train, now, you will live together. Chances are, you will grow to be like siblings. You'll need to." Having said this, Remus led them out of the room and up a spiral stair case. There was a small entry way at the top of the stairs, with a large set of double doors. Inside the suite, there was a small living room with a comfy sofa and a few chairs. There were three rooms off of the living room, one bathroom and two bedrooms. The two children each chose a room, Draco took the room with green walls and silver sheets, and Hermione took the red room with gold sheets. Once they put their stuff in their rooms, Remus tucked them into bed and after a long day, they fell fast asleep.

* * * * *

August Second- The Academy

"Do you think they will be as strong as Dumbledore and Minerva say they will be? They seem very timid to me."

"Sev, relax. They are only five years-old. They are away from their parents for the first time. We will have to baby them for a while."

"Damn it Remus, you know I don't do babying, I never have. I hated being babied when I was here, just as you did."

"I never hated it; you are just a sourpuss dear. Sometimes you need to be less independent; Dumbledore always said it was your weakness."

"Remus, Dumbledore is not here, our times of being mentored by he and Minerva have come to a close. I don't need you to be him; I need you to be my best friend, just like you always have been. I'm not sure if I know how to do this. I'm not a good mother figure."

"Severity, you are the most qualified Academy member there ever was, plus, their house-elf Polly will help with the care of the youngsters. Dumbledore always said that you were smarter and stronger than he is. Now relax and go wake the children for breakfast. Then we will work on reading and writing."

Hermione was awake before Severity entered the suite. In fact, she had already woken Draco as well. She had run into Draco's room yelling like a banshee: "WAKE UP! WAKE UP DRAKE! OUR LESSONS START TODAY! I'M SO EXCITED! LETS GOOOOO!!!!"

"Hermy? Is that you? Why are you 'wake? It's so early," Draco Whined. "And my name's not Drake, Hermy, its Draco."

"But I like calling you Drake. It sounds cool. Can I please call you Drake? Please, please, please?"

"Fine, but only if you let me sleep longer."

Before Hermione could answer, Severity cut in: "No one sleeps any longer little man. Let's get dressed and get breakfast. Then we start with reading and writing."

Hermione had run to her room before Severity had finished, and before Draco was out of bed, she was dressed and ready to go. As Severity had told them, they ate a hearty breakfasts of eggs, bacon and toast, and then they started with their reading and writing.

They made great progress over the course of the term, and by Christmas break, they were both reading and writing with excellent comprehension. They had actually begun their study of math and fitness earlier than scheduled. While it was Christmas break, they were not going home, but staying at the Academy. They basically had three weeks to spend with each other, Polly, and Severity and Remus. Over the course of the term, Both Severity and Remus had begun calling Draco Drake and Hermione Hermy. In turn, the children called Severity Sev.

The children had frequently asked Remus where Sev was during the day for most of the term, but all Remus would tell them was that she had another job. She was always there for their bedtime stories, though, which Hermy and Drake both loved to read. The four had become very close, doing as much together as they possibly could over the Christmas break. When the year had ended, in late may, the group did not want to separate.

Over the course of the next five years, they grew even closer. Hermione and Draco became adept at physical fighting, defense, as well as getting ahead in most of their Hogwarts classes. Late one night, Draco and Hermione were discussing the next seven years with Severity.

"What will it be like there? There are going to be so many people. What if we fail?" questioned Hermione.

Since when have you ever failed anything, Hermy? You beat me in everything we ever do. Relax and you will be fine," Draco answered, while Severity just chuckled softly.

"You two will both be fine. Now, I do need to talk to you about some tasks I have for you. Hermione, you will be assigned to help protect a young man named Harry Potter. He is my school-time rival's son, and I have to pretend to hate him. Therefore, I will have to pretend to hate you as well. I don't want this to deter you from your job. Do you understand me?"

"But Sev, I don't want to be friends with Harry Potter; I want to hang out with Drake. Can't I do that?"

"Draco will most likely be placed in Slytherin. He has the ambition and he has the lineage to be placed there. You, with your unwavering stubborn streak and your brains, will probably be placed in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. If that is the case, you two will have to pretend to hate each other. No one in Gryffindor likes anyone in Slytherin and vice versa. You both will cope as best you can."

"Will you still be teaching us during the year?" Draco asked.

"Yes, Remus and I both feel that it will be best to continue your education throughout the year. You are making too much progress to stop now. Once we get to Hogwarts, I will be wearing a disguise and teaching as the potions master…"

Severity then continued to explain that she has been disguising herself since she was eleven years old. This was and is a ploy to attract the Dark Lord to a vulnerable young person, a young man to be exact. Severity disguises herself, everyday, as Severus Snape, Potions Master and Head of Slytherin at Hogwarts. "While I will be close to Draco regularly, I will only see you at meals, during our secret lessons, and during class, Hermy. If you ever need me, you can come to my office, but you must come alone. Do you understand why?"

Hermione thought for a moment and then answered: "Because if anyone saw you being nice to me, it could blow your cover, Right?"

"Exactly. Now, go ahead and get to bed, you leave for home tomorrow morning. I will see you in September." Severity gave each of them a tight hug, and left them to ponder what the next year would bring.

* * * * *