Witch Wishing
by Healer Pomfrey

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

COMPLETELY AU! Partly OOC. It is my story, and I intend to write it the way I want it.
If you don't like it, go and find something else to read or write your own story to your liking!

Eight-year-old Hermione Granger was a very unhappy child. She was able to do strange things, even to wish and get whatever she wanted - except for one thing. She could not get her loving parents back, whom she had lost in a car crash at the age of six. Her parents had known that she did strange things from time to time, however, they had tolerated it and merely observed her in apparent concern, as they loved her bunches. However, with the death of her parents, the single child had come to live with her father's brother's family, consisting of her Aunt Desidera, her Uncle John and her cousin Melody, who was a year older than Hermione. All three family members despised her greatly because of her special abilities. They grudgingly tolerated her in their house, however, expected her to make herself as invisible and silent as possible.

One day during the summer holidays, her aunt took Melody shopping in London and, not trusting her freakish niece to remain alone in the house, she grudgingly instructed Hermione to accompany them.

'I need some clothes too,' Hermione thought. So far, she had always wished for her blouses, skirts and jackets to become a bit bigger so that she'd still fit into them, although they were still from the time when her mummy had been alive. However, realising how childish her old clothes were, she slowly began to hope that her aunt would consider buying something new for her too.

However, her aunt completely ignored Hermione and merely bought several new outfits for her adored daughter and afterwards commended her greatly for trying on all the expensive clothes.

"Buy me an ice-cream," Melody demanded and grinned at Hermione, knowing that her cousin would not receive any.

HP

A few minutes later, Hermione trailed behind her aunt and cousin in disappointment, jealously observing Melody enjoy an enormous ice-cream cone.

'I want one too,' she thought and made her arm tingly like she had already done so many times when she wished something really badly. A mere instant later, a similar ice-cream cone was hovering right in front of her hands. She took it quickly and happily began to devour the delicacy, right before her aunt and cousin realised what happened and began to squeak and scream at the girl.

Unbeknownst to the Grangers, an old man in strange clothes had observed the scene from the other side of the road. He came now over, hearing how Hermione was called a freak by the two Muggles.

Shaking his head in apparent annoyance, he addressed the girl, "That was well done young lady, and you're not a freak at all. You seem to be a powerful witch. Here," he pressed a book in Hermione's free hand, "read this and you'll get to know everything about it."

"Thank you sir!" Hermione blurted out in absolute delight. She loved books more than anything else, however, her aunt and uncle refused to buy as much as a new book for her.

"Throw it away. It's dirty," her aunt demanded.

However, Hermione refused vehemently, and when her cousin tried to take the book from her, Hermione became so upset that Melody was flung backwards and ended up on the ground by a bout of accidental magic.

Merely glaring at the young witch, her aunt helped her daughter up from the ground and ushered the girls home, where she sent Hermione into her room and did not even call her out for dinner that night.

However, Hermione did not mind. She had a book to read, and she spent every awake minute reading her new treasure. Even when her aunt decided to not take her anywhere else during the rest of the summer holidays and proceeded to lock her into her room whenever she went out with Melody, Hermione could not care less. During the following weeks, she busied herself reading her book over and over. 'Magic really exists,' she thought in amazement. 'And the old man was right. I'm a witch.' Never before had she felt so happy - at least not since her parents had passed away.

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. She toyed with it for a whole day, while she had to clean the house for her relatives, but in the evening, she decided to put the plan into action.

She opened her book at one of the last pages, where it stated that Severus Snape had become the Potions professor, Potions Master and head of Slytherin and listed the four houses and their current heads.

'I want to be with someone at Hogwarts, who will be able to accept me and like me as I am,' she thought, trying to push as much magic into the wish as she could. Only too late did she realise that it had been too much magic, when the world around her faded into non existence and she slowly lost consciousness.

HP

Minerva McGonagall was just having tea in her private quarters together with her colleague, mentor and husband for more than fifty years Albus Dumbledore, when all of a sudden, a strange sound made her look up in confusion.

The sight that met her eyes was everything but usual. A small girl had apparently apparated right into her living room and was now lying on the floor, seemingly unconscious.

Casting a questioning glance at her husband, Minerva jumped up from her sofa and knelt on the floor beside the girl in a for her age amazing speed.

'Thank Merlin the girl is alive,' she thought in relief, 'but who is she? She seems too young to be one of the new first-years. Apart from that, why would she arrive four weeks too early, and how could she apparate straight into Hogwarts?'

Minerva looked up in relief, when her husband pointed his hand at the small witch and enervated her. She observed how chocolate brown eyes slowly opened and eyed her in apparent confusion.

"Professor McGonagall?" the girl with bushy brown hair suddenly asked and sat up in obvious excitement.

"That I am," she replied, gently, "but who are you and how did you manage to come here?"

Casting an enquiring look at the old wizard in silent question, to which the headmaster did not reply, the girl introduced herself. "I'm Hermione Granger, I'm eight, and I've read my book 'Hogwarts: A History' and wished myself to come here and live with someone who might like me and accept me although I'm a witch."

"Hello Hermione," Albus finally spoke up in his gentle, grandfatherly voice. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster. You did that very well to come to the magical world, and you must be extremely powerful, as usually no one is able to apparate within Hogwarts..."

"Yes I read that," Hermione interrupted him seemingly excited. "Maybe it wasn't Apparition because I just wished me here?"

"So you're capable of wish magic," Albus replied, "which is a very rare but useful ability. Now as much as we appreciate that you came to meet us, I'm sure that your parents will be worried about you, won't they?"

"No," Hermione stated in a firm voice, before she explained about her parents' death and the maltreatment by her relatives. "Is there any way that I could stay here?" she finally finished her tirade, casting Minerva and her husband a pleading look.

HP

'Please give in,' Hermione thought feverishly, giving the two elder people a puppy-dog look.

"First of all, I suggest that I go and speak with your guardians," the old wizard spoke up, thoughtfully. "If they agree, we'll see what we can do for you." Turning to Professor McGonagall, he added, "I'll check the book and ask Fawkes to take me to Ms. Granger's guardians. I'll be back as soon as possible."

"All right Albus, be careful," McGonagall agreed, before she smiled at the girl and invited her to sit on the sofa together with her.

Hermione slowly stood from the ground and suddenly felt very dizzy, only barely noticing that the old wizard stepped into the fireplace. She gratefully accepted that the professor gently steadied her and led her to the sofa.

"Ms. Granger, are you feeling all right?" she enquired in a soft voice, giving her a sharp look.

"I'm just a bit dizzy and my head hurts," Hermione replied, quietly. "I'll be all right. It sometimes happens when I put a lot of magic into my wish."

"I'm going to call Madam Pomfrey, our healer," the professor decided. "She'll be able to make you feel better in a blink."

"I'm sorry to be such a nuisance," Hermione replied, forcing a small smile onto her face.

"Nonsense," the friendly old witch commented and, to Hermione's surprise, the professor leaned into the fireplace and spoke with someone.

'That must be magic,' she thought in amazement. 'I just love magic.'

HP

An instant later, a witch of about the same age as the professor stepped out of the fireplace, causing Hermione to stare at her, wide-eyed.

"Hello sweetie," the witch who was wearing a similar kind of one-piece like McGonagall but completely white, greeted her. "Is it your first time to see the Floo network?"

"Yes," Hermione replied in amazement. "I didn't know that one could travel through fireplaces. Oh wait a moment," she interrupted herself. "That is the Floo network? I've read about it in 'Hogwarts: A History', but I didn't know exactly what it meant. Now that's interesting," she added, more to herself than to the adults.

"Poppy, I'd like to ask you to check on Ms. Granger. She used quite an amount of magic to apparate herself here, and she seems to be dizzy and have a headache," McGonagall threw in, causing her colleague to turn into healer's mode immediately.

Slightly anxiously, Hermione observed how the healer waved her wand over her multiple times, muttering to herself as she finally pointed her wand at her head.

"You have depleted your magic to a great extent," the healer finally spoke up, "which is the reason for your headache and the temperature you're running. Get some rest and don't do any magic for at least a week," she added in a stern voice, before she pulled two small phials out of her robe pocket and made Hermione drink the content. "A headache potion and a fever reducer," she explained on the girl's questioning look. "I'll check on you again in the morning."

Hermione noticed in surprise that she felt much better as soon as she had finished the potions. She profusely thanked the healer, who merely smiled and stepped back into the fireplace, just an instant before the old wizard returned.

HP

Dumbledore placed a parchment on the table in front of the two witches and smiled. "The Grangers have willingly given up the guardianship over their niece, when I offered to find an adequate guardian for her in the magical world."

"Does that mean that I don't have to return to them anymore?" Hermione queried in absolute delight.

"Yes dear," McGonagall confirmed, smiling. "Tomorrow morning, we'll introduce you to our colleagues and discuss who would be the best guardian for you."

"I'd like to just stay with you," Hermione replied in a barely audible voice.

"I don't mind having you stay with us," McGonagall replied, having heard the mumbled words. "What do you think, Albus?"

The headmaster thoughtfully stroke his beard. "Don't you think that we're a bit too old to raise a child?" he then queried. "Hmm?"

Before Hermione could protest, McGonagall came to her help and pointed out that she was not a small child anymore but would become a Hogwarts student in three years' time.

"Until then, Hermione can visit the primary school at Hogsmeade, or we could hire a tutor for her," the Scottish lioness suggested. Seeing that Hermione's expression changed to a slightly anxious look, she said in a soothing voice, "The primary school at Hogsmeade is said to be very good, and I know the headmistress well. She has been a student here until a few years ago."

"Is it a magical school?" Hermione asked in excitement, smiling happily when McGonagall replied positively. 'No one can call me a freak then,' she thought in relief.

"Very well," Dumbledore, who had so far been quietly listening to the witches' conversation, spoke up, pensively. "The primary school is no problem of course, however, concerning the guardianship we should speak with our colleagues in the morning. For tonight, I suggest that Ms. Granger stays in your guest room, Minerva. I'll see you both in the morning." With that, he rose from the chair that he had occupied and stepped through a connecting door, which Hermione had not even noticed before, into his own quarters.

'Oh no, I hope that he'll allow Professor McGonagall to become my guardian,' Hermione thought, as she slowly followed the older witch into her guest room.

"Good night Hermione," McGonagall said kindly, before she waved her wand and transfigured the girl's outfit into light summer pyjamas with small blue cats moving around on the light pink ground. From time to time, one or the other cat let out a small meaow.

"Amazing," Hermione blurted out in absolute admiration. "Will we learn to do these things at Hogwarts?"

"Yes dear, good night," McGonagall replied, smiling as she tucked the girl in.

HP

Seeing that Hermione already drifted off to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, Minerva slowly returned to her living room. 'It would be nice if I could become her guardian,' she thought, when a sudden idea crossed her mind. 'She'll be in the same year as Harry. Too bad that I can't take her with me when I go to watch him again on Saturday. Oh well, I wouldn't be able to introduce them to each other anyway,' she mused.

HP

When Hermione woke up in the morning, she saw that Professor McGonagall was sitting on the edge of her bed reading an old tome.

"Good morning Professor," she spoke up, feeling extremely happy realising to be at Hogwarts.

"Good morning dear, did you sleep well?" McGonagall asked gently, smiling at the excited girl.

"Yes Professor, thank you so much for allowing me to stay here," Hermione replied, smiling. "I'm so happy."

"I'm glad to hear that dear," McGonagall replied, before she informed the girl, "Professor Dumbledore has brought your belongings with him last night, and I took the liberty to ask my house-elf to unpack everything into the wardrobe and the cupboard over there. Please get dressed, and then we'll head to the Great Hall to have breakfast together with my colleagues."

With that she left the room to give Hermione some space, and the girl quickly took a shower, wondering what a house-elf was, before she put on the best clothes that she possessed and hesitantly stepped out into the living room.

McGonagall nodded contentedly and explained, "In the magical world, we use to wear robes. I'm going to transfigure some for you." While Hermione stared at her trying to comprehend what the professor meant, the teacher pointed her wand at a tissue on the table and transfigured it into dark blue robes that matched the girl's clothes.

"Thank you very much," Hermione said, gratefully. "I'm sorry Professor, I know nothing about the magical world."

"Ah don't worry sweetie," McGonagall replied in a soothing voice, smiling at the girl. "Most muggleborn first-years, who come to Hogwarts at the age of eleven, don't know anything about the magical world. If you've completely read 'Hogwarts: A History', you're already far ahead."

With that she gently led Hermione out of her quarters into a long corridor. "Here is where all the teachers' quarters are," she explained, pointing to the doors on the right hand side. Each of the doors was guarded by a portrait, while magical windows decorated the left side of the corridor. The windows allowed the view onto the lake and a large part of the Hogwarts grounds.

"The landscape is beautiful," she spoke up, causing the professor to nod.

"Yes, it is," McGonagall agreed. "However, there are many dangerous creatures out in the forest, which is why it is called..."

"The Forbidden Forest," Hermione interrupted the teacher in excitement. "I read about that." She stared through the magical windows in awe, unaware that the professor was observing her in apparent amusement.

'The persons in the portraits move,' Hermione realised in amazement, before they descended a flight of stairs and found themselves in the entrance hall. 'I hope Professor McGonagall will become my guardian,' she thought, as she followed the professor into the Great Hall with apprehension.

"Oh, this is the charmed ceiling that Rowena Ravenclaw made," she blurted out in delight upon realising where they were. "It's beautiful."

McGonagall smiled as she confirmed, "Yes my dear, it's truly amazing Charms work." She ushered Hermione into the empty seat next to the headmaster and sat down on the girl's other side, before she introduced the eight-year-old to her colleagues.

Hermione couldn't help feel herself blush terribly under the adults' sharp looks. "Good morning," she said in a small voice and averted her eyes to view the ceiling.

She inwardly groaned when the headmaster spoke up and asked about his colleagues' opinion who should become her new guardian. 'I should be happy that I'm allowed to remain at Hogwarts no matter who my guardian is,' a small voice spoke up from the back of her mind. However, she hoped badly that Professor McGonagall would be deemed as the most appropriate, especially after hearing what a younger professor, completely dressed in black, said.

"Are we going to make a new rule that enables children with a not perfect home life to come to Hogwarts three years early?" the tall wizard sneered.

"Severus!" McGonagall admonished him in a sharp voice, making Hermione feel much better.

"Since Hermione chose you, I believe that you should become her guardian, Minnie," the kind healer in the white robes spoke up in a gentle voice, smiling at the girl.

"I think so too," one of the other witches agreed immediately.

"The problem is," Dumbledore threw in, glancing at his wife, "that I don't want Minerva to overwork herself even more than she is already."

"We're all going to help her," Pomfrey replied, causing her female colleagues to voice their consent.

After a few more minutes of further discussing the topic, the headmaster grudgingly agreed to make the girl his wife's ward.

Back in Minerva's quarters, Hermione's new guardian filled out the guardianship parchments, putting Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore as guardians as well as Poppy Pomfrey and Rolanda Hooch as godmothers.

Eagerly observing the old witch write, Hermione cast her a questioning look.

"You know Poppy Pomfrey already. She came here to check on you last night," Minerva explained, patiently. "Rolanda Hooch is the Flying instructor. She was sitting on Madam Pomfrey's left hand side at breakfast."

'Oh the nice lady who agreed with the healer that Professor McGonagall should become my guardian,' Hermione thought, happily.

"The three of us attended Hogwarts together as students, and ever since then we've been best friends," McGonagall continued, before she made Hermione sign the guardianship parchment.

Hermione observed in amazement how the parchment rolled up by itself and vanished into thin air.

'Magic is too cool,' she thought, feeling very happy.

"Professor," she spoke up, smiling. "Thank you so much for becoming my guardian and allowing me to live here with you. I already love Hogwarts."

The Scottish lioness returned the smile. "I'm very happy to have you here, too, and since I'm your guardian now, you may call me Minerva in private," she said in a soft voice.

HP

During the rest of the morning, Minerva was very busy, because, as she told Hermione, the remaining teachers were going to come back for the new school year on the following day.

"I need to finish these timetables," she said, thoughtfully. "Afterwards, we should go to Hogsmeade and buy some proper clothes and robes for you. Since you're not allowed to do any magic for at least a week, I suggest that we put off the question if you prefer to attend the primary school or if we should ask someone to teach you in private for the time being until the beginning of the school year."

"All right, Professor," Hermione agreed. "Is there anything that I can help with?" she offered, slightly hesitating.

Minerva cast her a thoughtful look, before she replied, "That would be very kind of you. Could you perhaps compare these timetables and make sure that they don't collide with each other?" Seeing Hermione eye the parchments with interest, she explained, "The Gryffindors and Slytherins have classes together as have the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and we must make sure that they don't have the same classes at the same time. If you could check that, I'll compare their timetables with those of the teachers, so that no teacher ends up having to teach two classes at the same time."

"All right," Hermione said in understanding, feeling very happy to be able to help her kind guardian with her work.

HP

After lunch, the two witches walked to Hogsmeade, where Minerva bought a huge bag full of clothes for a protesting Hermione. On the one hand, Hermione appreciated it very much, but on the other hand, she did not want to become a burden to the nice professor.

"Don't worry, Hermione," Minerva said, gently. "You need proper clothes, and since you're my ward now, it's only natural that I buy them for you. Now, I know that you're already eight and a big girl, but would you like to have any kind of toy?" she then asked, pointing to the toy shop that was just across the shopping street.

Hermione smiled. "No thank you Professor," she replied, amused but happy at the kind offer, only to add, hesitantly, "If I perhaps might have a book about magic."

"Of course we can buy you a book," Minerva agreed, immediately. "Later on, I'll show you Hogwarts. We have a huge library with books about all kinds of different subjects and topics." Seeing how Hermione's eyes began to shine with joy, she allowed the girl to choose one book, while she picked five more books from the shelf, one book from the children's series 'The Five Magical Friends', which she had already loved to read as a child, then 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' as well as easy introductions to Transfiguration, Charms and Potions.

Needless to say that Hermione was over the moon with joy, when they returned to Hogwarts with the shrunken pile of books in her robe pocket. 'Six new books and all about magic,' she thought, happily. 'I must be the luckiest girl in the world.'

HP

Knowing that Hermione was still not completely well from depleting her magic, Minerva made the girl rest on the sofa during the rest of the afternoon, observing in amusement how the girl happily engrossed herself in her books.

After dinner, however, Hermione insisted on visiting the library, so that Minerva decided to show give her a small tour through Hogwarts. She smiled upon realising that Hermione was as amazed at the sight of the library as she had been when she first set foot at Hogwarts as a first year.

During the following three days, Hermione spent most of the time reading her books. However, she also helped Minerva and Albus with their work as far as possible, and she attended all meals together with her guardians in the Great Hall. Except for the intimidating Potions professor, all teachers were very kind and patiently answered Hermione's never ending questions about varying subjects within the magical world.

On Friday evening, Minerva hesitantly told Hermione about Harry. "Hermione," she began to speak in a soft voice, "every Saturday, provided that I have time, I spend some hours watching over one of my future students. His parents were students and later good friends of mine, and I often babysat him, when he was small. Unfortunately, his parents died when he was fifteen months old, and Albus insisted, and unfortunately still insists," she emphasized, glaring at her husband, "that the boy lives with his Muggle relatives. From what I saw sitting on the garden wall in my feline form, his relatives don't treat him very well," she added, thoughtfully.

"The poor boy," Hermione threw in, sympathetically. "How old is he?"

"He just turned eight last week," Minerva replied, smiling. "He's going to be in your class when he comes to Hogwarts. He probably doesn't even know about magic yet."

"May I go with you?" Hermione asked, eagerly, causing Minerva to sigh.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but Albus doesn't want us to make any contact with him," Minerva replied, regrettably. "Therefore, I always stay in my Animagus form. I've never spoken to Harry, and he doesn't know me, even if he might have noticed the tabby cat sitting on the garden wall every Saturday."

"Harry," Hermione repeated, pensively.

"Harry Potter," Minerva confirmed, causing Hermione to look up, wide-eyed.

"Harry Potter?" she asked in disbelief. "The boy who is mentioned in Hogwarts: A History as the boy who lived?"

"Yes dear," Minerva agreed, smiling sadly. "I'd prefer to take him in and raise him at Hogwarts, however, Albus..." She slowly trailed off, unobtrusively wiping a tear from her cheek.

HP

When Hermione was in bed, gently tucked in by Minerva, she resolved, 'I'm going to try changing into a cat in the morning. I want to accompany Minerva and if somehow possible help Harry. If anyone knows how it is to have to live with Muggle relatives it's me.'

By the time Minerva stepped out of her bedroom into the living room in the morning, a small kneazle cat was lying in front of the fireplace, lightly snoring. She stared at the cat in disbelief, before she took a quick look into her new daughter's room only to confirm that it was as empty as could be expected.

Wondering if she should scold the child for using magic in spite of Poppy's instructions or commend the girl for an amazing Transfiguration, she went to take a shower first.

HP

Hermione woke up to a tabby cat gently cleaning her fur. 'I did it. I managed to change into a cat' she recalled, happily.

=Good morning, Professor. May I accompany you to see Harry, please?= she immediately asked, causing the older feline to nod her head in apparent amusement.

=Yes dear, congratulations to a wonderful Animagus form,= Minerva replied, only to add in a much sterner voice, =I wonder which part about not using any magic for a week you did not understand though.=

Hermione inwardly groaned. =I'm sorry, Professor, but I really wanted to join you when you go and visit Harry,= she explained in a soft voice.

The older cat remained pensive for a moment, before she replied, =We should not let Albus know that I'm going to take you with me. He should better believe that you're spending the day with Poppy or Rolanda.= Apparently realising Hermione's questioning look, she explained, =I don't like lying to Albus, but for some reason, he seems to be obsessed with the idea that Harry shouldn't have any contact to the magical world, and I can neither understand nor appreciate this obsession.= With that, she transformed back into her human form and asked, gently, "Do you think you're able to change back, or shall I help you?"

=I'll try,= Hermione replied, before she thought, 'I want to be back in my human form.' An instant later, she changed back, smiling happily.

"Very well done," Minerva commended her. "Now, it's time to go and attend breakfast in the Great Hall," she then informed the girl, and together, they walked through the empty halls of the castle.

Two hours later, the two witches stepped through the fireplace into Arabella Figg's home. While Minerva introduced her to the Squib, Hermione curiously let her eyes wander around the room, where dozens of cats were running around.

"Oh my, you're already an Animagus?" the old lady asked in apparent amazement, when the two witches transformed into their feline forms, making all the other cats gather around them to greet them.

=Yes,= Hermione replied, in spite of knowing that the old lady would not understand her, and gently rubbed her back against the Squib's legs.

After a few minutes of cuddling with Mrs. Figg's cats, Minerva and Hermione made their way to the Dursleys' residence, where they made themselves comfortable on the wall beside their garden.

HP

Hermione followed the older witch's example and jumped onto the garden wall that was fortunately low enough for her inexperienced feline body to reach the top. She curiously glanced around, realising that a small boy was doing garden work. 'Is that Harry?' she wondered, knowing that Minerva had told her that the boy was eight. However, the child looked about six. 'Maybe the family here has more children,' she thought and whispered to Minerva, =Is that Harry?=

=Yes dear, that's Harry,= the older cat replied, smiling at her.

=He's very small though,= Hermione said in surprise.

=Yes, probably due to malnourishment,= Minerva replied, grimly. =They don't treat him well, although at least they don't seem to abuse him, even if they neglect him. Otherwise, I'd have taken him away already, no matter what Albus says.=

Hermione had the impression as if her guardian was very upset at her husband. However, she knew better than to comment on the matter. 'I'm going to help the boy,' she resolved. 'He seems very nice.'

tbc...