The Sorting Of Hermione Granger

Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. You can contact JKR if you doubt that.

I'm not much of a writer, check out my collection on HHr fics (Click on my name above)

A/N: As you can see, this is my first ever fic, so I am extremely sorry if I mess up with any of your feelings and/or beliefs. Also let me know if I wander too much away from canon.

I don't know if others have tried to write on this topic, but rest assured, that means I am not copying this from anyone else.

I don't have a beta, if you wish to help, please PM me.

Nothing could've stopped Hermione Granger, bookworm-extraordinaire, from trying to recite all of what she had read from her first year books, and others for her so called 'light-reading', as she stood in the chamber along with her fellow first-years. It had just been a few moments since Professor McGonagall had left them here after telling them how their house is going to be like a family to them and how they were soon going to be sorted into them. Although 'Hogwarts-a History' had been the most informative and as such her favourite book so far, had helped her in getting a background knowledge of all the houses, it didn't even mention the 'sorting' process. And that was what had made it all the more irritating. How could the authors even miss it? She knew she should have referred to some other books, they might've helped. She berated herself for being so careless, and vowed to take proper measures from then on.

Hermione had always prided herself with her knowledge. She knew she was no definition of 'cute' or 'pretty' but she was good enough at her studies and research-skills. She hoped that others would like her for that and make friends with her. Not that she needed any, but years of being lonely had made her appreciate any kind of friendly-gestures from others. She knew that others used her for the same and called her names behind her. "Know-it all" and "Bushy-haired-bookworm" were all too common for her to hear. She despised them and knew she was no friend-material and no one really wished to have her in their company. It was a genuine surprise when she found out she was a witch and was being invited to a magical school. She realized that had to be the reason she sometimes felt so different from the world around her, maybe, just maybe she'd find people like her, in the wizarding world.

And so she stood there, oddly distracted when she saw the ghosts, true, she had read about them in 'Hogwarts-a History', but she had yet to see any. The Fat-Friar and his counterpart seemed nice, quite contrary to what the muggle population believed them to be. She heard Professor McGonagall calling them inside where the sorting was sure to take place, wherever that was, she again cursed herself for not having read about this. As they formed a line and followed her to what appeared like a big hall with floating candles and without a roof. 'The Great Hall', she realized, of course the sorting would take place here. She couldn't stop herself from telling others that the roof is only enchanted. As they stepped closer to the teachers' table, she suddenly felt nervous, what if they were to be tested in front of all the students, she would be a laughing stock if she couldn't answer one, and what if she failed. And what if they thought she wasn't worthy to be here? So she quickly tried to go through all what she had read about the wizarding world and her class-books of course.

And then she saw Professor McGonagall set up an old looking wizarding hat on a three-legged stool in front of the hall. She noticed, it must have been left like that for something like a few centuries or so.

The Sorting Hat knew itself to be a prized possession of the school. And although there were many animate objects in the wizarding world, the enchantments on it by the great Godric Gryffindor had seen to it that it had its own sense of semblance and a somewhat-consciousness. It also knew its services were to be required only once in the entire school year, provided no one needed to use that sword it could summon. That or no one had the time to spare talking to a hat far wiser than it appeared old. Never mind old-senile Headmasters. So it used all that time to make up a song for the upcoming new year, how it used to know of impending dangers or what advice to give to the students, no one knew, although many-a-Headmasters had themselves tried to talk to the Hat, it wouldn't let them know. About the sorting, it knew that certain advanced enchantments by Lady Rowena had made it almost impossible for people to tell their children about the sorting. Somewhat like a Fidelious but far advanced, not limited to a mortal but keyed to the Hat itself.

(A/N: I am disregarding that epilogue scene, where Harry tells ASP on how to trick the hat, and the entire Epilogue scene for that matter)

And now that it was placed on the three-legged stool, it knew, it had to carry on with the age long tradition of singing the song he composed to himself during the past whole year. 'So let the show begin' it thought and opened its mouth, or what appeared to be like a ripped section on an old hat for that matter, and sang:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

…And got all the worthy-applause the Hat had been looking for.

And so it all begin, one by one each of the student were called out and made to sit on the stool, and the Hat was placed on their heads. And it was barely a few minutes, before Professor McGonagall called out "Granger Hermione".

T.B.C.

-HarmonyHub

A/N: Oops, seems like will have to stretch it in 2 parts. My initial idea was of a one-shot, but it seems I dragged it too long. Next chapter will be out soon.

I know, I am not that good at writing, so I will only be too happy if anyone wishes to beta-read this or point out any grammatical mistakes and references.

*The above song is taken as it is from book 1. It doesn't belong to me. Also, if it bothers you, let me know so I can remove it.*

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