Chapter One: The Bumblebee Flies at Midnight

October 31st, 1981: Westbury Park

Albus Dumbledore's long flowing beard hung half way down to his knees and swayed in the cool October breeze against his magenta robes. He was at the ripe old age of one-hundred and thirty-two, and was aging gracefully according to the wizarding world, but being Albus Dumbledore was not an easy task.

For one to have the gift of foresight, such as Albus Dumbledore, one felt like the world was hanging on his shoulders. It was a casual thing for Albus to be able to see hours into the future, but every now and then, he gets a flash to the future that usually changes everything. This Halloween was no different.

It was the year 1981, the year that would ultimately change the wizarding world forever due to the death of the evil tyrant, Lord Voldemort. But what Albus discovered was far worse than his demise. He discovered through a premonition of the downfall of the wizarding world and the ultimate loss of many, including himself. He knew that he had to do something about it all.

As he came upon the suburbs of Westbury Park, located just outside of Bristol, and found the beautifully gardened house of a Mr. and Mrs. Granger, he knew that his actions tonight could save the world. He glided along their sidewalk, all while admiring their freshly trimmed grass, and knocked gently at the door.

Maggie Granger was busying herself in the kitchen, washing dishes, and humming Christmas songs already when she heard the slight noise coming from the front door. Her husband was busy upstairs with their babbling one year old girl, so she dried her hands and went to the door.

Before her was an elderly man wearing a magenta sort of cloak. His beard was tied together with a loose gold chain, he had half-moon spectacles resting on his crooked nose, and his eyes twinkled with what she supposed was happiness. Without thinking, she screamed.

"Andrew!" The young looking thirty year old with the light brown hair screamed heard her call and decided that he would just take down his very much awake daughter to inspect what was going on. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, his jaw dropped similar to that of his wife's.

"Good evening. My name is Albus Dumbledore, may I come in?" He smiled genially at the two shocked parents and the giggling and drooling young baby girl. Both parent moved out of the way of the door and lead Albus to their sitting room. It was a large room with soft white chairs and couches and lined with hundreds of books.

"W-wh-who are you?" Mr. Granger finally asked when everyone had taken their seats.

"I am the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." The two adults looked at him suspiciously and Mr. Granger held his daughter a bit tighter as she was now wriggling about in his arms.

"Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Mrs. Granger finally stuttered, "Are you alright, sir?"

"Please, call me Albus, and yes, I daresay I have a bit to explain to you both." He smiled as Mr. Granger finally let his daughter loose on the plush cream colored carpet. She wheedled her way into a standing position and walked over and tugged on Albus' robes. He chuckled and picked her up lightly where she blew a spit bubble and clapped her hands together. Albus' beard was changed to a bright purple color. His eyes nearly leapt out of his head as he stared down at the young witch.

"I'm sorry, sir. We don't know how she does it." Mrs. Granger said, fearful that Albus would turn their daughter and her unusual behavior in. Just last week, she somehow turned their pet parrot bright orange.

"Oh no, she is quite advanced at her age." Albus smiled down at her curly locks of hair. "Your daughter is a witch." Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked at him in shock, not truly understanding what he was saying. "Everyone now and then, muggle or non-magical people, have magical children, and you are lucky enough to be one of those people."

"I don't understand. Muggle, non-magical, I didn't now that witches and wizards exist, and if they do, I highly doubt my daughter is a, a, witch." Maggie Granger's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Mrs. Granger," He began.

"Please call me Maggie."

"Maggie, your daughter is indeed special. As you can see, she is already demonstrating her abilities. What you are both unaware of is that there is a magical world that exists hidden to most people. Normally, when young Hermione would have turned eleven, we would have invited her to attend Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and you would have both discovered that she was a magical being then, but the circumstances are extenuating."

"How do you know our daughters' name?" Andrew Granger was looking strangely on the way his daughter was incredibly playful with the stranger. He had a very happy baby, but she was usually somewhat shy towards visitors.

"I am a wizard." His eyes twinkled madly.

"What are the extenuating circumstances of your visit?"

"The wizarding world is in grave danger." He whispered in remorse. "I believe that your daughter could change all of that."

"She is barely a year old; I highly doubt she will save your world."

"Your concern is highly understandable, but you must understand that there are things that you do not understand about our world." He sighed sadly. "What I am asking of you tonight is that he put a deep level of trust in me and let me take Hermione with me for a while."

"What?!" Maggie screamed, getting up to go and get her daughter. Her husband pulled her back slightly.

"Maggie, your daughter is highly important. I am unable to relay all of what I am going to do, but I can guarantee that she will be back before midnight, and that she will be entirely unharmed."

"Sir, we are not sure if we trust you with our daughter."

"I understand, but if you could please decide whether or not she may come with me for a few hours." He looked truly concerned and the two young parents were thrown into an odd position. Do they allow the stranger at their door who seemingly knows that their daughter is magical to take their daughter away, or do they deny him and completely destroy the wizarding world, that they really don't even know exists.

"We are not sure." Mr. Granger said calmly as he went over to Albus and grabbed his daughter, and lead he and his wife into the kitchen for some privacy.

"Andrew, he is a nutcase!" Maggie screamed oblivious to Albus' ability to overhear everything they were saying. "I will not allow him to take our Hermione!"

"Didn't you see the way she reacted towards him? She walked right over and begged him to hold her. She changed his beard colors and he only laughed! I believe him."

"You do?" She looked at him shocked and begin to swing her baby from side to side.

"Yes. How else did his beard changing colors not surprise him? When Hermione made the mailbox dance, the entire road thought we were lunatics, and he comes here and tells us that she is somehow normal in a different world?" Maggie was frowning. "Our little Hermione is indeed special."

"Are you saying that we should let him take her?"

"I don't really like the idea that a stranger will be taking our baby, but honestly, I trust him."

"He's a bit dodgy."

"He's just different. Maybe that is how wizards dress."

"Andrew, you and I both know that not even three hours ago, if someone were to have come here and said they were a wizard, we would have laughed and kicked them out. Now it is somehow different?"

"I believe him. I think Hermione does too."

"So we are just going to hand over our daughter?" She looked utterly shocked at what her husband was suggesting.

"I think that we should. She will be back before the night is up, he said so."

"And what if he just takes her away and we never see her again?"

"I don't think he would do that."

"If you think we should, I will stand by you. But god be damned, if anything happens to her, I will hate you forever." Andrew Granger clasped his arms around his wife and baby and they stood together for a moment, before returning.

"Have you decided?" Dumbledore asked, although he knew that they had already agreed. He had been listening to their conversation interestedly.

"We have." Andrew Granger spoke quietly. "You may take our daughter given that she returns to us tonight." Maggie sighed deeply and stood from her seat with Hermione in her arms. Albus rose from his seat as well.

"Make sure she keeps bundled up and when she cries, her favorite song is the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider'. I don't know why we trust you with our daughter, but please return her." Hermione was reaching towards Albus with her hands and Mrs. Granger was crying as she kissed her forehead before giving her up.

"She will be back soon. I promise." Albus took the giggling baby in his hands and Hermione sighed lightly and began to fall asleep in his arms immediately.

"She likes you." Mrs. Granger said quietly before returning to her husband side.

"I will see you soon." Albus said as he retreated from their living room and exited through their door. With a pop, both he and the beautiful sleeping baby in his arms were gone. Her parents sat on the couch motionless, already freaking out about their baby's return.