A/N: I love each and every one of you guys who's reviewed! Three chapters, 32 reviews! That's…:counts on fingers: TEN AND A HALF REVIEWS PER CHAPTER! You people are AWESOME!

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Chapter Four: Dealing With Ravenous Man-eating Vine Plants

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Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as the annoying girl ran off, feeling a headache coming on. How was he ever going to survive a summer like this?

Then he chuckled darkly—it gave him such great pleasure to see the little blonde twit run off with her tail between her legs like he had longed to see so many times before, scared out of her wits. But then again, who wouldn't be if they had suddenly seen someone, especially him, appearing out of thin air?

That blasted little Gryffindor chit, that's who--that Granger girl was going to have a nice time battling the weedy potions plants in his front…and back yards. Oh, she was going to get it then…She wasn't afraid of him…

Yet.

An evil smirk appeared on his thin lips and the Potions professor swept to his supply closet in his basement lab and gathered up an armful of the magical equivalent of Miracle-Grow.

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Three minutes before ten the next morning Hermione found herself waiting at the gate to Snape Manor dressed in jeans and a lightweight red T-shirt, half nervous, half excited at the prospect of observing the strange plants she had seen the day before. She peered through the gaps in the ornate bars and her jaw dropped—Mr. Snape's front yard couldn't even be called a 'yard' any longer! The odd plants' roots now drooped all over the path, vines hung from the strange and gnarled trees, and enormous flowers blossomed in the tall, spiky grass, creating a jungle so thick that she could barely see the magnificent building.

He wants me to tidy all this up? Mr. Snape was mad if he thought that I would do this all by myself! The eleven year old thought to herself as the gate creaked open. She picked her way along what she thought was the path through the vast expanse of plants, but only saw more of the twisting vines, and she didn't notice them wrapping themselves loosely around her ankles. She took a few turns left, then a couple to the right, and found herself surrounded by the tall, flowering grass that rose high above her head, no sight of Snape Manor anywhere in that immeasurable stretch of exotic plant life.

She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes noisily and nibbled her lip before taking another way through the plants.

A few seconds later, Hermione checked her wristwatch and let out a squeak of surprise—she was more than twelve minutes late already! She stomped her feet in frustration, then felt something tugging her socks. She looked down and cried out wordlessly when she saw the poisonous green vines curling around her ankles tightly. The girl stared at them in horror for one extensive moment, then came to her senses and howled frantically.

"MR. SNAPE! MR. SNAPE!" Hermione screamed, all the while shaking her legs to try and free herself from the grip of the rubbery tentacles that had coiled around her now non-existent tennis shoes, and growing steadily higher up to her knees.

Silence met her plea for salvation, and the eleven year-old girl looked around wildly, searching for something, anything that would help her get out of her dire predicament.

There!

A storage shed covered with gigantic colorful flowers was not twenty yards away from Hermione, and she almost missed it if it weren't for the wide-open door showing shelves holding a garden hoe and shovel. She cried out in relief and dragged herself towards it, grunting with the effort, and all too aware that the vines were now rising past her thighs and towards her stomach.

She soon found out that the vines weren't just regular plain old vines, oh no—two-inch long thorns protruded from the persistent tentacles, and scratched and scraped the girl's stomach as they climbed even higher up her body. But she was almost to the shed, now! Only a few more steps…Hermione cried out in triumph when her hand grasped the garden hoe, but it soon became one of despair when she tried to pry the vines off, to no avail. The garden tool wasn't strong enough to get the dark, poisonous green tentacles to let go.

"MR. SNAPE! HELP!" She shouted out again, all the while searching the shed for something sharper…she needed a knife, not a shovel! Hermione winced as the thorns dug into her arms and slithered around her wrists. I need something sharp! Her mind screamed over and over again. She closed her eyes tightly, wishing for the vines to just go away, then felt something heavy fall into one of her outstretched hands that had been grasping for anything off the shelves that would help her. The girl opened her eyes and sobbed in relief when she saw a hefty Swiss Army knife that looked like an exact replica of her father's in the palm of her hand. She grabbed the knife and slashed through the vines that bound her wrists, then the ones wrapped around her legs and stomach.

The slippery vines fell to the ground, lifeless. Hermione whooped with joy and pocketed the knife in her jeans, not thinking about how it appeared out of thin air, before taking off down a different path very cautiously. She saw gnarled trees with strange leaves in all sorts of different shapes that the girl had never seen before on a regular tree, and more of the thorny vines hanging off of branches. She emerged in front of the door she and Meg had gone through the day before and met the figure of a very impatient, black-robed Severus Snape.

He was scowling, but that was nothing new to the girl. Neither were the nasty remarks that she just knew would come anytime now…

"There you are, you stupid girl! I thought I told you to be here at ten o'clock sharp. It is now…ten twenty-seven. You are twenty seven minutes and thirteen seconds late, you little idiot! Now, what kept you?" the man snarled.

Hermione swayed on her feet at his nastiness. "I'll have you know that you happen to have very dangerous plants in your front yard that almost killed me! I refuse to clean this up!" she cried, trying to wipe the smudges of dirt off her face.

Severus eyed the girl's appearance and sneered. "I should have known that you wouldn't be able to do it. You're just a stupid Gryffindor with no brains whatsoever and an ego big enough for the whole of my mansion. Don't even bother—I shall be informing your parents of yesterday's events," he said nastily.

The eleven year-old's face paled in horror, then reddened with righteous anger. "How dare you! I'll show you that I can do this! And you still haven't told me what a Gryffindor is, you mean old man!" Hermione gasped and covered her mouth with both scratched-up and bleeding hands when she heard herself insult an adult, even if she was speaking the truth.

She was expecting him to fly at her in rage, or order her out of his property, not laugh outright! He must be touched in the head! The girl thought uneasily.

The Head of Slytherin actually threw his head back and let out a deep-throated laugh that made Hermione even more nervous. He stopped and eyed the girl surreptitiously.

"Here," he barked, and a basket appeared out of thin air into his hand. Snape thrust the basket at her. Hermione took it, still wondering what she was supposed to do with it. The man rolled his eyes.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" he asked. "Get to work!" Hermione stared at him disbelievingly, and he arched an eyebrow. "You still have the back yard to do after this, girl. I don't want you here any longer than you have to be."

The girl's jaw dropped when looked inside the basket and saw only a few spoons, forks, and a pick-axe. "You think that I'm actually going to weed your entire front and back yards with silverware and a pick-axe? Are you mad?" she asked dubiously.

The older man smirked viciously, and Hermione gulped. "Why, yes, I believe you will be doing exactly that," he said, loving every moment of the girl's horrified stare.

His smirk vanished when a look of determination settled upon Hermione's face. "Fine, I'll show you that Gryffindors have brains…" she muttered loudly, glaring at the man. Then she turned around and started attacking the ground with a spoon, digging up the weeds one by one, making extra sure that none of the thorny vines came anywhere close to her.

Snape glared and swept back into the mansion, slamming the door behind him, and leaving the girl alone to battle the potions plants.

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Hermione had a difficult time with the weeds that inhabited Severus Snape's front lawn--she didn't feel like she was getting anywhere! The plants seemed to multiply as she dug them up, and in no time, she was covered from head to toe in soil, frustrated and very unhappy with Meg who had left her behind the day before. Her shirt was also ripped in places, and the eleven year-old couldn't even begin to think about what her mother would say about that. She cried out in aggravation when another plant popped up from the dirt in front of her very eyes. "This is it! I've had it! He must have a book about these, I'm sure of it!"

Hermione stood up and rubbed her sore back. She looked around and saw that she had done more than she had thought---there was now a sizeable clearing around where she stood. But it still wasn't enough—she didn't even know what some of those plants were! She looked at her wristwatch and yelped---it was almost time for dinner. She had been working in Mr. Snape's 'garden' for over seven hours! Hermione raised her head to the sky and saw that the sun was already setting.

She brushed her hands off on her now filthy jeans and walked back up to the large front door of Snape Manor. She stared at the dark pewter snake-head knocker warily. The girl was afraid that it would move if she got any closer to it…but she was still curious…

Hermione tentatively reached for the snake-headed door knocker. It opened one metal eye lazily, then reared and sank its fangs into her wrist, eliciting a surprised gasp from the girl. It didn't hurt…but when she tried to step away, she found that she was rooted to the spot by some unknown force. The snake retracted itself from the girl's hand and swayed its head from side to side, observing the eleven year-old with interest like a real animal.

"But you're only a door knocker!" Hermione said in confusion, trying to make herself believe exactly that.

The pewter serpent's head shook sadly from side to side again, then stilled after the girl's proclamation. Hermione prodded it with her index finger, but the snake head did not move again.

"How odd…" she murmured, and then shook her head herself.

Before she could knock again, the door was thrown open, and Severus Snape's head appeared. "What is it, girl? Done already? I think not, you still have the back to do, don't you remember?" he sneered.

Hermione stared at him. "Um, yes, I know I still have to do your backyard. But I was wondering if you had any books on these plants---I don't think I'm weeding them correctly, because they keep popping up every time I think I've got one out! Surely you have a book on the proper way of taking care of them? It would sure help quite a bit," she said in a rush.

The man's upper lip curled in distaste. "Of course I have books on these, but I'm not going to let you use them, oh no. This is your punishment, or are you not able to remember with that puny little brain you have?"

Deep down, Hermione had known that he wouldn't let her use any books, but she just wanted to make sure…

"Fine then, I'll be back tomorrow to finish this up," she said primly, straightening her ripped t-shirt. "Good evening, Mr. Snape." And with that, she walked back through the mass of plant life and miraculously didn't get herself lost in the maze again. She didn't notice the owl that had been perched on one of the gnarled tree's branches take off behind her.

Severus Snape glared and sneered as the girl swept out of the gate like she owned the place. Another evil smirk crossed his face and he hurried back to his supply closet to get more bottles of the magical plant grower.

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Hermione was seething as she opened the front door of her new house. Even though Mr. Snape was an adult, it gave him no right to treat her like this!

She passed by her parents on the stairs and flopped down on her bed, exhausted, and lay there for many long minutes. The girl sat up as one thought ran through her mind—

Now she was going to have to do even more tomorrow!

Hermione groaned and went to the hallway bathroom to clean up before dinner.

Rupert and Wendy Granger were bustling around with all the boxes downstairs in the kitchen, taking the things that they needed for the night's meal and leaving everything else in the boxes until the next morning. The moving van had arrived with all their furniture, and Hermione's parents were too busy to notice that their daughter had been gone the whole entire day.

"So, Hermione, what have you been up to today?" Rupert asked his daughter warmly over the mashed potatoes.

The eleven year-old was glad that she had changed her clothes and washed her face before coming down to dinner. "Oh, not a lot, Daddy," she replied, playing idly with her fork.

Wendy Granger looked at her daughter for a moment. "Your father says that he saw you yesterday with a girl from town, didn't you, Rupert?" she asked her husband.

"That's right, dear," he said, "Running past our house like that one boy from our office!" Everyone laughed at that memory---it had been the little boy's first dentist appointment ever, and he unfortunately had gotten a cavity-- he had toppled over all the trays and most of the equipment in his haste to get away from the drill.

"That was Meg and me, mum. Her grandmother owns the library in town," Hermione informed her mother. Wendy smiled and nodded.

"Now, is she a nice girl?" she asked.

"Yes. Very nice, mother," Hermione muttered, still upset that Meg had left her to face Mr. Snape alone the day before.

"That's great!" Rupert exclaimed. "I expect you two will be the best of friends by the end of the week, eh?"

Hermione sighed and was about to take another bite of her mashed potatoes when a large tawny owl flew in from the open kitchen window carrying something in its talons. Wendy screamed and Rupert jumped up with a yell. Hermione stared at the bird as it settled on the table in front of her.

The owl fixed the girl with its large golden eyes and nudged with its beak the package that it had been carrying when it had flown into the house.

The eleven year-old looked curiously from the owl to the crème-envelope with the bottle-green script. Her eyes widened when she saw that it was addressed to her.

Ms. H. Granger

Third Seat to the Right at the Kitchen Table

24 Amble Lane

Amble

Northumberland

Wendy and Rupert stared at the owl, then at their daughter in confusion. Rupert came to his senses first. "Open it and see what it says, 'Mione," he said, holding his wife tightly to him. Wendy nodded, staring at the letter.

Hermione looked from one parent to the other and nodded before slowly ripping open the envelope. Two pieces of parchment fell out, and the girl's mouth fell open as she read the first slip that was written in the same emerald-green script that was on the envelope.

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry----

Hermione stopped reading. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" she asked, bewildered. Rupert and Wendy shook their heads, and Wendy said, "Go on, dear. What else does it say?"

The girl blinked and began reading again.

---Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July

31st.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"Owl?" Wendy asked, staring at the bird on the kitchen table that was preening itself boredly. Rupert spoke up. "'Mia…what does the other paper say?"

Hermione picked up the second slip of parchment and began reading it aloud.

List of Items:

First year students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One pair of protective gloves (Dragon hide---

"Dragon hide?" Wendy asked incredulously. "What kind of school is this?"

Hermione read back over the other letter quickly. "One for Witchcraft and Wizardry, I suppose," she said, and started reading once more.

One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

Course Books:

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions----

"Wait," Hermione said, "Mr. Snape had a book about potions!"

Hermione's parents looked at their daughter inquisitively. "Did he? Then he must know about all this!" Rupert cried, gesturing to the letters and the owl, which was now staring at the three humans with interest.

Silence reigned over the table as everyone in the room stared at each other. Then they all heard a loud crack! Come from the front yard. Everyone looked at each other before a knock sounded at the front door. Wendy cautiously stepped towards it and paused.

Another knock came from the other side of the door. Wendy took a deep breath and opened the door quickly, and she gasped.

On the front porch was an oddly dressed woman that looked twenty years older than Wendy's forty, wearing smart, rectangular spectacles, her long black hair tied into a severe bun underneath her top hat. Wendy blinked. "Who are you?" she asked.

The strangely dressed woman straightened her shoulders and fixed Hermione's mother with a stern eye. "I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she replied, her voice prim and full of a Scottish burr. "Now, a Miss Hermione Granger is a resident here, am I correct?"

Wendy Granger swallowed. "Yes, my daughter lives here. Did you say 'Hogwarts'? We just got a letter and---"

Hermione interrupted. "Mum, she's the one who sent the letter!" the girl cried, rushing up to the two women from the table with the pieces of parchment in her hands. Rupert stood by the owl, and they were both staring at the three, one in confusion, the other in boredom.

Minerva nodded at Hermione. "Indeed, Miss Granger. It is I who sent you that letter. I have come to inform you of your being a witch," she said to the girl.

Hermione looked puzzled for a moment. "You mean I'm can do magic?"

The older woman patiently nodded again.

The girl's face lit up with understanding. "So that's what Mr. Snape did a few days ago! He called everyone around us 'Muggles', and then he took out a long wooden stick and said something, and then the wall opened up! And then he turned me into a frog that night at the hotel…and Rosmerta! She did magic, too! She was packing all our clothes!"

The woman with the stern face looked surprised when Hermione said 'Snape' and 'Rosmerta'. Surely she couldn't be talking about Severus? Or Rosmerta?

Wendy and Rupert started talking at once. "So our daughter is a witch? And what's this about Mr. Snape turning you into a frog?" they asked, bewildered.

Minerva sighed. "Here, you might want to sit down," she said, pulling out a long, light brown stick from her sleeve. She waved it at the table and chairs, which immediately became free of mashed potatoes, and again at a tea kettle that had suddenly appeared out of thin air. Mr. and Mrs. Granger gasped as four tea cups materialized onto the table, and the tea pot began whistling. The older woman flicked her wrist and the tea kettle began pouring hot, steaming tea into each of the four cups. The owl flew up onto Hermione's shoulder and perched there, preening the girl's bushy brown hair as Minerva began to speak.

"There is a world far different from yours, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. In fact, a whole other race of people---well, there are two kinds of humans in this world: Muggles, and wizards," she began, but Hermione interrupted.

"That's what Rosie and Severus said---they called the people around us Muggles! Oops, I mean, Mr. Snape," the girl corrected herself. "Oh, I'm so very sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt, please, go on, Miss McGonagall!" she said, grinning sheepishly.

Minerva smiled. "It's quite alright, Miss Granger. Now, as I said before, there are Muggles--people who cannot do magic, and magical folk, who can. Muggles cannot see any magical objects, not can they hear them. Your daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, can. Your family obviously has magical blood in it, whether or not you two did not get the amount needed so you would become wizards."

Wendy nodded, trying to understand the woman's words. "You mean, Hermione can do magic, and see magical things, but we can't?" she asked.

Minerva shook her head. "No, you both can see Wizarding things---all three of you can. That little drop of magic in your blood allows you to. Your daughter just has more of it, you see?"

Rupert nodded this time, finally starting to understand. "My great-grandmother Phyllis was very strange…always did odd stuff, you know? Always wore strange clothing--of course, it could have just been her way of doing things…ah, and she had an owl, as well," he said.

The old woman nodded at Hermione's parents. "Your great-grandmother could very well have been a witch, Mr. Granger."

Wendy smiled, "Minerva, if I may call you that?"

The old woman's lips turned up into a small smile. "Yes, you may, Mrs. Granger," she said.

"Oh, no, please call me Wendy--- and this is Rupert, my husband," Wendy replied warmly, gesturing to the man sitting beside her.

"Wendy," Minerva said, nodding. "I came here not only to inform you that your daughter is a witch, but to know if she will be coming to Hogwarts this year," she said. "It is vital that I know now, instead of on July 31st. If she is, we will go to Diagon Alley on Saturday to get her supplies."

Hermione bit her lip thoughtfully. "Where is this Hogwarts place, anyway?" the girl asked.

Minerva looked at the eleven year-old from above her glasses. "I am afraid I cannot tell you that, Miss Granger," she informed the girl.

"Oh," Hermione said. "Well…what is it like, then?" she asked.

The old woman smiled. "It is the greatest school of magic in Britain, Miss Granger. From September first to late June is the school year. There are Four Houses…wait, I think I have something that will explain a bit better than I ever could…" Minerva flicked her wand and a thick book appeared on the table by Hermione.

"Hogwarts, A History?" the girl questioned, staring at the book with interest.

"Yes, Miss Granger. In that book you will find everything you would ever want to know about Hogwarts School. Make good use of it, and I will come back again on Saturday if your parents decide to send you to Hogwarts this year. Just send me a letter with Bastian," Minerva gestured to the owl perched on Hermione's shoulder, "tomorrow, and we will go to Diagon Alley and get your books. He will be here in the morning awaiting your reply. Oh, and you must tell no one about our kind, or that your daughter is a witch---it is better if our worlds do not mix."

The woman stood up and nodded at the Grangers and offered her arm out to Bastian, who flew over to it, before turning away and striding out of the house. Hermione ran outside and saw Ms. McGonagall disappear with another loud crack!

The girl walked back inside and saw her parents staring at her. Hermione's eyes flitted all over the room, not meeting her parent's penetrating stares.

Rupert cleared his throat and rushed over to his daughter, embracing her fiercely and laughing. "Why, our daughter's a witch, Wendy! What do you think about that, eh?"

Wendy stared at the letters before smiling. "We're so proud of you, Hermione!" she cried before hugging her daughter and husband. Hermione was bewildered.

"Is this just because you want me out of the house?" she asked suspiciously, scowling.

Rupert and Wendy laughed. "Oh no, 'Mia! This is just something else you can excel at!" Rupert laughed again.

Hermione stared at her parents and began giggling. "I guess you're right!"

Wendy peered over her daughter's shoulder at the book Ms. McGonagall had given Hermione. "'Mia, dear, what does that book say? Why don't we read it all together on the sofa, hmm? I must confess, I'm quite intrigued with the prospect of a whole other world living alongside ours, aren't you, Rupert?" she said, steering her child over to the couch in the living room.

The Grangers stayed up late reading all about Hogwarts. Hours later, Hermione looked up from the book and saw that her parents were huddled together, asleep. She smiled and crept upstairs to her bed and stayed awake until morning reading Hogwarts, A History, waiting for Bastian to arrive.

Rupert and Wendy woke up to a pecking sound at the living room window. Hermione rushed down the stairs and threw open the window, and Bastian flew in and perched on her shoulder. The eleven year-old giggled as he lightly nibbled on her ear.

Wendy looked at the owl in wonder. "So it really did happen…" she whispered. Rupert hugged his wife around the shoulders. "Sure did, pumpkin. We've got a witch in the family! Now, let's write that letter, eh?" he asked, rummaging around in one of the kitchen drawers for a pen and paper.

He scribbled down the reply and walked back over to the owl and stopped and scratched his head in confusion. "Uhhh…now how do I attach it?" he asked. Bastian seemed to roll his eyes at the man, and the bird stuck out a leg boredly.

Rupert stared at the bird's talons for a moment, and then caught on. "Oh!" He laughed, and set the envelope in the owl's claws, which immediately clasped the letter tightly. Bastian soared around the room once, twice, and then flew out the living room window and out of sight.

The Grangers stared after the speck on the horizon and then Wendy spoke up.

"Now how about some breakfast?"

XXXXXXXXXX

Again, Hermione found herself at the gate to Snape Manor, this time fifteen minutes to ten. She contented her parents with a vague excuse of going into town for the day—she couldn't believe her parents actually bought it, but they were too busy setting up the house to be too concerned about their daughter's whereabouts. Just as long as she was safe, they were fine. The girl was armed with her new pocket knife, and now that she knew she was a witch, she understood exactly how it had appeared in her hand the day before.

The eleven year-old picked her oldest and dirtiest outfit that her parents wouldn't mind getting all torn up if the plants decided to get rough again today. A plain white t-shirt and her oldest jeans that her mother had been insisting that she get rid of was what the girl wore. Three oversized bottles of Weed-B-Gone lay inside a large basket that Hermione had found in one of the boxes at home, along with some spades, hand shovels, and most especially, thick gardening gloves. Armed and ready to face Snape's front yard, she opened the gate and was immediately pushed back by the huge overgrown plants. Hermione glared and determinedly forced her way through the brambles and appeared at the front door of Snape Manor in a matter of minutes.

The man looked a bit surprised, but quickly covered it up with a nasty sneer. "So, you're not late this time, girl. Good. I see you are prepared---now get to work," he ordered, pointing at the exotic jungle of plants and trees.

"I got my letter, Mr. Snape!" she said happily. "And I know what a Gryffindor is now, too!"

Severus looked aggrieved at this bit of information. "I'm delighted," he drawled sarcastically, not sounding happy about it at all. "Work, now!" he barked.

Hermione nodded smartly. "Yes sir," she said, and turned away from him and began to dig up the roots of the weeds one by one.

Snape glared and swept back into the house once more, slamming the door forcefully.

Not more than two minutes had passed when one of the thorny vines started to creep sneakily towards the girl's ankles. Hermione heard a rustling in the grass and her head snapped up. Her dark chocolate brown eyes darted around and found the tentacles slithering closer to her feet. She stood up abruptly and began following the length of the vine. She was going to stop it from its source, and then she wouldn't have to worry about getting killed anymore!

With that thought in mind, the girl came upon a large mass of the tentacles and gulped. She had never seen a plant like this before…one of the vines quickly encircled her ankles before she could do anything, and it pulled her towards the writhing mass of poisonous green brambles. Hermione drew the knife from her jean pocket and slashed at the large bright green bush as soon as she got close enough to it.

She was startled to hear it start to cry!

The bush was sobbing, and it lashed another vine at the girl. Hermione cut off the vine coming towards her, and the sobs grew louder. The eleven year-old stepped closer and touched the quivering bush, and its wails subsided as she began to stroke it.

She was amazed to see the Venomous Tentacula's thorns retract into the long vines, and the bush stilled. A bright grin lit up Hermione's face, and she began to stroke the plant again. It sighed and began to giggle. It was ticklish!

The girl's mouth dropped into a small 'o' of wonder. So this was how you dealt with ravenous man-eating vine plants!

XXXXXXXX

Ah Hahaha! I lahved that! SHE FINALLY GOT HER LETTER!

Oh, and look for my updates about once every week or so, all right? I still have a bit of school left, so, yeah! Just a bit, though, almost done with 9th grade! YAY! I've been nice these past few days by updating as soon as I finish the chapters! I just love writing this, though!

Now, MY RESPONSES TO YOUR REVIEWS!

Iejasu: Oh wow! You know—I've never been on a flight from Rome to London, so I wouldn't really know! Thanks for telling me about that!

Piper of Locksley: AIEEEE! A NEW REVIEWER! YAY! Haha, I figured that some people wouldn't be able to find the Little Mermaid thing---Dumbledore says it. "A token, really, a trifle!" ha, Ursula the Sea Witch says that! (I've got the Disney Mania CD that has "Poor Unfortunate Soul" on it, teehee) And the Labyrinth thingy was Jareth's Crystal Balls---I haven't seen the movie yet, but I sooo want to! And I saw on previews that Jareth used these crystal ball thingies, so…yeah…umm….THANKS FOR REVIEWING!

Prin69: Lol! Ya, our Hermione's TOUGH! Thanks, and I can't wait to hear whatcha think of this chappy!

Countess Vladislaus Dragula: - YAY! I'm sooo glad that you think my Sev is in character! I wanted to make him like a child that finally gets his revenge in this one, but then gets all….NOOO! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! So…err…yeah…I hope I got him down in this one, too! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING!

ChristineErik: Hahaha, I was wondering if I should put the PotO thingy in or not, and then I read your review for the second chapter (or was it the first? XD) And I was like, DEFINITELY PUTTING IT IN THE STORY! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Zoltaire the Inscrutable: Ah yes, the most wonderful reviewer for this story! I'm glad that you think my Snapey's in character! LOL! I dunno if Snape was as snarky this time…looking forward to reading another review from ya! THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR REVIEWING!

Brittany Malfoy: Oops…:blushes and grins sheepishly: Ya got me there! The reason I can't update WWTLF is because I can't get to the file that it's on! I swear! If I could, it AND chapter 14 would be up! Honestly, if I could, I most definitely would! Thanks for reviewing again!

Fionartan: OMG! YOU WERE THE ONLY READER WHO MENTIONED THAT! You caught me on the time-turner thing, but there will definitely be ABSITIVELY POSOLUTELY NO PotO cross-over! I don't really like cross-overs all that much, anyway… And as for where I'm going with this fic, as I said in the summary, this story will follow Hermione Granger through all 7 years at Hogwarts, maybe even after, who knows? All I know is that it's going to be a very long fic!

Azulkan2: YAY! A NEW REVIEWER! YAY, YAY, YAY:ahem: sorry about that, I'm totally excited now! I NEVER thought that this story would get the response that it did!

Now, here's Erik!

Erik: NO BODY LIKES NO STINKIN' TAX DUDE SO IT'LL BE COOL IF YOU OBEY ALL MY ORDERS, YO!

Laura: Errr…Erik…you seriously didn't take your medicine this morning, did you…

Erik: Uhhh…ok, FINE!

NO ONE LIKES A DEBTOR SO IT'S BETTER IF MY ORDERS ARE OBEYED! Happy now?

Laura: Quite happy! You were scaring all the readers!

You heard Erik! Please review and maybe he'll actually LISTEN TO ME when I say for him to take his antidepressants!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!

Lots of love,

-Alianne