It was mid August and the Grangers were on their way to London. They had gotten up early to avoid traffic and many humans, already having rented a car days prior. Hermione looked out the window to take in the scenery as her father drove towards London, her mother looking ahead and paying attention to the road and the signs for the right turns. Since Hermione had never been so far away from their home, was nervous especially about the lack of water, but her mother had assured her that they could go hours, until nightfall without water, calming her down slightly. She was still young so she was still vulnerable, but if her parents said so she wasn't going to question it. The drive was pretty uneventful, and Hermione could feel herself getting antsy to get out of the car.

After a couple of hours of driving, only stopping for breaks and gas, they made it to London and found a public parking space before heading out on foot to The Leaky Cauldron. Hermione didn't know what to expect so when she saw the pub she was miffed. Looking around she noticed how other people didn't even give it a glance 'it must be hidden from them' Hermione thought as they walked in and looked around.

It was pretty lively, people sitting together or alone, drinking or eating and candles were everywhere as the source of light. The three of them headed toward the bar were a friendly looking man was cleaning some glasses and putting them away. As if sensing eyes on him, he looked up and smiles "Hello, what can I do for you today?"

"Hello, are you Tom?"

"That's right" he looked at them and then at Hermione before smiling. "Muggles?"

"Yes, we need some help getting to Diagon Alley, if it's not to much trouble-"

"Oh of course not, come come, follow me to the back." He walked out from behind the bar and all three Grangers followed him to the back of the pub, were they came face to face with...a wall.

Hermione was about to ask if something was wrong when Tom pulled out his wand and tapped five of the bricks where a chunk was missing. "Two to the left, one to the top, and two down on the right" after that the wall started to move, turning into an archway leading into a different world. "Welcome to Diagon Alley."

...

Hermione was running towards the window of almost every store, wanting to see everything that was inside. She saw a store that was packed with books to the ceiling and she was about to go in, that is until her parents caught up with her and started leading her towards a tall marble white building. She was amazed at the beauty of it and then she saw the name of the building, Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

"Is that the bank?"

"That's right. Once we go in, open an account for you and exchange money for wizard currency we can head over to get all the things you need and maybe an extra book or two." Helena said and Hermione beamed at that as her eyes caught something at the doors to the bank.

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

After reading that, the Grangers walked in and took in their surroundings.

The inside was impeccable. No dust or dirt in sight. Her parents didn't have to act like muggles, they were amazed at the design. Then Hermione noticed the workers, goblins. All three Grangers waited to be noticed instead of trying to get someone's attention and look as the goblins continue working. Not long after, a goblin approaches them and introduces himself.

"My name is Raltak, follow me to get you sorted out" the goblin, Raltak said rather rudely but the Grangers followed none the less to a stand on the side. "What can I help you with?"

"We would like to open an account for our daughter." Derek answered and Raltak looked at Hermione in the eye before looking down and started to write.

"I will need her name, age and a deposit of the equivalent of one hundred galleons."

If the his tone wasn't enough to give it away, the glint in his eyes was. Goblins were very proud creatures and didn't really trust wizards. Yet Derek was unfazed and did as the goblin had asked. "Hermione Jean Granger, 10 years of age. As for the money we need to exchange it. You see we are muggles and don't really know how much it would take to convert to galleons" after saying that he handed Raltak two rolled up stashes of money. Hermione was smiling a little, humans always let money fall into the water and let's not forget the treasures that can be found from sunken ships but that would raise to many questions.

After he counted them he nodded his head and began to convert the money and then do some more paperwork before all was said and done. "All seems to be in order" just then another came and handed a key to Ratlak. "Here is miss Granger's key, her vault number is 708. I would recommend making monthly to help her financially."

"Thank you Ratlak, could you teach us about wizard currency please?"

"Very well. The gold coins are galleons, the silver ones are sickles and the bronze ones are knuts. There are 17 sickles in a galleon, and 29 knuts in a sickle. Here, this bag contains 50 galleons, 40 sickles and around 90 knuts. For muggles you seem to make a decent amount of money.

"We work as dentists, so money isn't hard to come by" Helena answered the unasked question as she gave the small pouch to Hermione. "Thank you for your time and for helping us." Before they left Hermione looked at Ratlak.

"What is the proper way to address you Ratlak?" said goblin was surprised to be asked this, since no witch or wizard addressed them in the honorary way.

"Master Ratlak"

Hermione smiled and then bowed, further surprising the goblin along with the ones that were nearby "Thank you for your time Master Ratlak, have a pleasant day." With that she turned, joining her parents at the entrance and they left the bank, Hermione not knowing that she had earned the respect of the goblins.

...

First it was to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions were Hermione was fitted for her robes and bought some gloves, socks, cape and paid for the four robes all together. Then it was to Amanuensis Quills to buy quills, the Apothecary for the potions ingredients, then she made a mad dash towards Flourish and Blotts and just took in her surroundings. Books everywhere, all the way to the ceiling, she wished she could stay in that store forever but sadly she still had to buy some other things, so she quickly got the books she needed and was tempted to buy a few extra ones but stopped herself. She paid and went to her parents who were sitting outside with some bags as well.

"Did you guys buy some things?"

"Yes but not for us, these are the rest of the things from your list. All that is missing is your wand, would you like us to go with you or do you want to meet us for lunch once you are done?"

"I'll meet you for lunch, I'll carry the books, quills and parchment."

"Alright hun, off you go and be careful." With that they separated and Hermione headed to Ollivander's and walked in. Shelves upon shelves filled with small boxes, the store was so quiet, not even the noise of the street could be heard as much.

"Hello?" Barely saying that an old man walks around the corner and smiles at her with stunning light blue eyes.

"Hello there miss. Here for a wand?"

"Yes sir"

"Oh please, call me Ollivander. Now are you left or right handed miss...?"

"Granger and I'm right handed"

"Please stand on this stool while I go look." She did as was told and the measuring tape floated around her. Soon it laid on the desk and Ollivander came back with a few boxes in hand. "Here, try this one. Oak 8 inches long, rigid with unicorn hair as its core." He explained, handing it to Hermione the wood was a light color and it was well polished, but before she could wave it, Ollivander snatched it away. "That won't do, try this one. Vine Wood, 10.75 inches long with dragon heartstring for a core." This wand was darker and had intricate vine designs at the handle. Hermione waved it and a window shattered, making her jump and putting the wand down. "Not suitable I see."

Hermione tried the other wands he had brought with similar reactions to the vine wood wand. For little over an hour Ollivander kept bringing out wands for Hermione to try only for all of the wands not be right for her. "I've never had such a challenge, not even with mister Potter."

"Potter? As in Harry Potter?" Hermione asked, curious and interested. Everyone, human and creature alike knew of Harry Potter. Ollivander explained how he had come to his store a few weeks prior for his wand and spent half an hour looking for the right wand before one had chosen him. "Is it common? I mean for a witch or wizard to spend so much time trying to find a wand that will choose them?"

"To an extent yes, but not like mister Potter or yourself." He stopped talking and then looked at the back of his store, his mind elsewhere before looking back at her. "I wonder...yes perhaps one just might." He was gone before Hermione could question him on what he meant.

A few minutes later he returned with a few boxes in his arms, and Hermione instantly could tell that what lay within said boxes was different. Ollivander opened all the boxes and Hermione saw that the wands were in fact different. "Come miss Granger, I believe one of these will suit you. I keep these ones safe and away from the main store, seeing as to many of the other ones are not suited for you, I brought these ones forward, feeling like yours might be here."

Hermione looked at each wand in amazement. "These woods aren't very common. Pine, black walnut, ebony...they are amazing and beautiful."

"You would be correct, these aren't your usual wood made for wands. Come I've yet to have an unhappy customer and I would like to keep it that way." Giggling, Hermione picked up a wand with a wood she didn't recognize but put it down quickly after not feeling anything, she had the same result with a vine one. It wasn't until she picked up the third one that she felt warmth flow from her hand and all over her body. Waiving the wand, sea blue sparks came out of it and surrounded her before vanishing. Smiling she turned to Ollivander, who was beaming.

"Amazing, truly amazing. Ebony, 11 inches long slightly flexible with a White River Monster spine as its core. Very interesting and yes a very strange yet unique combination indeed."

"Why is it strange?"

"Ebony is very well known for its Transfiguration and combative magic and it stands strong for the witch's or wizard's belief. The core is rare in its own way, making the caster's spells strong and elegant. I made this wand quite a few years ago when the materials where being sold on England, I am happy it has found its owner."

After that Hermione paid 7 galleons for the wand and 10 sickles for a leg wand holster. Saying goodbye, Hermione headed to the Leaky Cauldron to eat with her parents. After paying and putting all of her things in the car, they started their trip back home.

"Mom, dad I have to tell you what happened at Ollivander's, don't worry it wasn't anything bad."

"That's the wand shop isn't it? Do tell what happened, you were gone for quite some time" Helena said.

"It's the best wand shop in England, maybe the word. The reason I was running late is because none of the wands he presented weren't right for me. I was sure we had gone through every wand in the store and I was beginning to get anxious, then he goes to the back and comes back with a few more wand boxes, different and beautiful wands were inside. It was among those wands that I found my match! You should've seen it, sea blue sparks came out from the wand and surrounded me after I felt warmth flow from my hand through all of my body."

"It sounds amazing honey, what type of wand chose you?"

"Ebony 11 inches long, slightly flexible and white river monster spine for a core."

Both parents gasped at the last part but no in worry, rather in amazement. Mermaids knew the powers of all magical water creatures, and for their daughter to have such an item as a core for her wand was surprising.

"You must have amazing magic and hidden talent Mia." Her father says. The rest of the ride was easy going with all three of them talking about what they saw and Derek an Helena debating what books to get Hermione for her birthday.

(A/N Longest chapter yet! Took me a while to finish this but here it is, I hope you guys enjoy. Leave a comment to voice your opinion and vote if you like it. Also English is my second language so I hope I am doing a decent job. See you in the next chapter!)

P.S White River Monster Spine is an actual core.