The Grangers

"Dad, I thought you were buying books?" Cotton asked.

"Here he is!" Royal shouted happily, "My little Cotton. He'll be going to Hogwarts too! Cotton, these are the Grangers. That little one there is Hermonie. Got her letter almost a year ago, back again for more books. She's an avid reader much like us."

"Forgive my husband, he's usually more reserved. He just gets excited when it comes to learning." Vanessa spoke.

"Worry not, my husband and I have come back multiple times for reading material. It makes us feel better knowing where our daughter will spend most of her time being educated." Mrs.Granger replied.

"Danny, come on. The ladies can talk and I can introduce you to this wonderful series about the first Wizengamot and the troubled years of their beginning." Royal drug the man away as they fell into another intense discussion.

"Shall we go for a meal as they talk?" Vanessa asked.

"Sure, I'm famished." Mrs.Granger replied.

"Mum, we still have to purchase my books," Hermione called out.

"Well decide, dear. Introduction to the Peerage System of the British Wizarding World or War of Houses. You can't have both." Said Mrs.Granger.

"I would go with 'War of Houses'." Cotton continued, "You see, the Potter Family is old and recently extant. 'War of Houses' elaborates on why a great house has come to such a point. It details feuds and battles with the author's insight on the matters. It also has a what-if-analysis at the end of every house chapter. This book will also help you navigate Hogwarts social circles and save you bloodshed. The other is just a waste of time. I can explain the entire peerage system to you within the hour, yet the book is as big as 'War of Houses' with a 10 percent markup."

Hermione stared at Cotton with her mouth slightly agape and big eyes. Mrs.Granger giggled. "Well, it seems our Mione has met her match. Sweetheart, you should thank him for such long-winded advice and the offer of sharing his time to teach about Peerages."

Vanessa winked at Mrs.Granger.

"T-thank you. Introduction to the Peerage System of the British Wizarding World does not sound nearly as interesting as War of Houses. But, if you were serious I would still like to hear of the Peerage System. I would hate to offend the wrong people at school." Said Hermione.

Cotton looked up at his mother and she egged him along.

"I say what I mean and mean what I say. Mum, where are we eating? Better yet, I'll choose. My father stole yours, so it's our treat. I'll meet you all at the shop entrance." Cotton walked away.

Hermione spun on her heels and went to put the extra book away as she was calling for her mother to follow. Meanwhile, a red-haired girl had bumped into Cotton with her huge family in tow. They took one look at Cotton as he stared at the girl waiting for an apology or excuse of some sort, then he heard a sneer.

"Must be another bigot on the prowl." a tall lanky boy spoke next to an identically tall lanky boy.

"Girl." Cotton's voice sounded domineering even for a boy whose balls haven't dropped. "When you bump people you apologize. The matter isn't big but an apology keeps it from escalating and letting it be known that it wasn't purposeful or with ill intent. You should get accustomed to it with such a big family on the 'prowl'. Let's hear it."

"S-sorry." the girl murmured.

"What's happening?" a man asked as he split the big family.

"I would like to know as well. So much tension isn't good for the body." Vanessa arrived.

"Dad, this guy bumped Genny and wants an apology." A young boy with a freckled face and red hair spoke.

Cotton chuckled. "sun-kissed hair and delusional, I've read of your history. You must be Prewett or Weasley. Honestly, your houses are inseparable throughout history so you might as well be one and the same."

The family growled.

"It was my fault…" the girl spoke with a small voice, "I bumped him."

"And she apologized. She has the Prewett integrity I've read about." Cotton spoke nonchalantly. "Really, it's no big deal."

"Then let's put it to rest, ehh?" the older man spoke. "I'm Arthur Weasley and you're right, my wife's a Prewett."

"I'm Molly," she said with a smile as she appeared.

"I'm Cotton Hollow. This is my mother, Vanessa. My father is off book-hunting somewhere."

"You're muggles aren't you?" Arthur asked excitedly.

"No way." The twin boys spoke in unison.

"I am."

"Blimey." the young red-headed boy said, "But you're so…"

"Handsome? Composed? Posh?" Cotton rattled off, "We live in Godric's Hollow. My magic hasn't been a secret since I was a child. It's easy to keep your bearing in a place that you're used to."

"You stay in Godric's Hollow?!" Hermione's voice attracted everyone's attention. "Thee Godric's Hollow, what is it like?"

"Dreary…." Arthur muttered with distant eyes. "Wait, Hollow... Barony of Godric's Hollow's Hollows."

"The House of Hollow Men." the young boy spoke and his mother smacked him over the head.

Cotton exhaled heavily. "Yes, if you want to proceed formally, we can."

"No need." Arthur smiled, "So, I'll take it, you'll be going to Hogwarts soon."

"Yes, sir. I'm looking forward to it."

"Everyone does. Boys, introduce yourselves," said Arthur as he pushed them forward.

Cotton met the whole clan in a matter of moments. Starting with Percy, the most put together of the lot, Fred and George are twins, Ronald is soon to be in the first year at Hogwarts, and Ginevra is the youngest of the lot, a year behind Ronald.

The family wasn't as bad as books made them out to be. But then again the Pure-Blood Doctrine influenced a lot of opinions in the wizarding world. However, Cotton could clearly see that the trait for politics was a rare one within the family. It was no surprise that they had fallen to such depths.

After some nonessential banter, the Hollows and Grangers went on their way to a restaurant primarily used by the higher society of the British Wizarding World.

"Oh, Vanessa. I think this is a little too rich for our blood."

"Margret, don't worry. This is our family's favorite spot. Cotton probably brought it here because he's craving their Beggar's Chicken." Vanessa replied.

"They have beggar's chicken here?" Margaret was shocked. It was the first muggle thing she had heard since they were introduced to the new world.

"Sort of, they make it with Rainbow Pheasant instead. Juicier and more flavourful." Vanessa sang.

"But our clothes," Margret whispered as she eyed the fancy-dressed people.

Cotton didn't speak. He just pulled out his wand. With a swish and twirl, Hermione and Margret's clothes transformed into a design he once saw on his mother's drawing table.

Margret wore a Tie Backless Crop Cami Top & M-slit Thigh Skirt Set with knee-high laced sandals fashioned after ancient Greece. Hermione wore a French Countryside Blush Floral Print dress and a pair of flats.

"Better?" Cotton asked, "Come now, Transfiguration doesn't last forever."

"You're not allowed to use magic." Hermione was stunned.

"This place is crowded with magic. The ministry will never know. Besides, I do this all the time for my mother, I'll tell you all about it, inside." Cotton took her arm and led her in.

If not, he knew the girl would go off on a tangent just by reading her body language.

Once inside, the group found a table near the back corner out of the way. The Grangers were ordered for, as they weren't familiar with the menu. Out of sight was best as the ladies weren't accustomed to the amount of attention that Vanessa's designs attracted. It was years ahead of the muggle world and decades ahead of the Wizarding world.

"Sabine." Cotton called and the cute Yumboe appeared. "Placed privacy wards around the table."

"Yes, Lord."

Sabine weaved her magic skillfully even without a wand. When she was finished, she was sent away.

As they waited for their meal, Hermione began to go and she didn't stop until Cotton said, "Hermione. Which question should I answer first? The second, tenth, or twenty-fifth?"

"Oh, haha, sorry. I was a bit excited. I've been practicing for a year and can only do a few spells." she explained. " And you're the first wizard I've met in a similar situation, willing to entertain me."

Cotton smirked, "I thought we weren't allowed to do magic."

Hermione turned red, "Well...I was reading and I just couldn't understand the orientations and…"

"Relax Hermione, I'm only teasing," said Cotton.

Their parents tittered a bit before returning to their conversation but kept an ear open to listen in on the children.

"You mess with me a lot, you know that? I don't really like it." She spoke as she turned her head up.

" Then I'll stop." Cotton spoke matter of factly and got a sharp side-eye from Hermione. Cotton just sipped his tea nonchalantly.

"You don't have to. It's quite friendly if I'm being honest. It's just unfamiliar to me." she said, drinking her tea as well.

"You don't have many of those. Friends?" Cotton asked.

"Not even in the muggle world. I have a big mouth and an even bigger brain, ya see." Hermione was calm at this point.

"Hmm, well, you can consider me your first friend in this new world. But, we'll still have to work on that big mouth of yours, and don't get me started about your overzealous curiosity." Said Cotton.

Hermione blushed and gave him a firm nod with pursed lips as if she was trying to keep her words trapped tight.

"So…" she began, " Can you answer the fourth question?"

She had no idea why she thought Cotton would remember the fourth of her many questions. But she couldn't help but remember him asking about questions 2, 10, and 25. Questions she was looking forward to being answered.

At the same time, Vanessa and Margret stare at Cotton. There was no way he could remember everything that talkative girl asked.

"Fourth?" he asked rhetorically, "Well, I'm actually adopted. And unlike most young wizards raised in the muggle world, my family happened upon Diagon Alley on my tenth birthday. After some exploring, we were directed to the Bank where I learned who my biological family was. And with money left from my family, the Hollows picked up and moved to Godric's Hollow to better prepare me for the wizarding world. So, that's how we ended up in Godric's Hollow."

Hermione was smiling from ear to ear. And she had a strong hunch that Cotton was like her. A person with a near-perfect memory. But she also had a feeling that his memory was even better than hers.

"First question," she said.

"My mother is a designer. When she adopted me, she put it on hold. Now in the wizarding world, she's taking on the conquest to update the fashion of the wizarding world. So, I help her by transfiguring her designs. That's how I was able to make your dress" said Cotton.

"Second."

"Tutors. I have three. One for battle composing Charms, Transfiguration, Curses, Hexes, and jinxes. My second is Potions and Herbology. My third is History, Politics, Philosophy, and Lordship. As long as you pay for Ministry-approved tutors, you can do magic at home too. That way, you will be just as good with a wand as I am."

"Tsk, I'll definitely be better than you, Cotton Hollow. Number...14."

"Ehh…I don't remember." Cotton lied, "three out of four is still passing."

"It is. I'm just glad that you can't remember my 14th question either," she replied and was slightly less envious.

Cotton chuckled. A man then appeared with a spread of food. The table dug in and ate well. Eventually, they slowed down and Hermione was naturally the one to start up the conversation again.

"So, your real family were wizards. Is that why the Hollows became the Baron House of Godric's Hollow?"