"Malfoy. Draco" Professor McGonagall said, reading his name from a list written on a sheet of parchment. He took a deep breath and took several steps forward, looking over at the Gryffindor table where the girl whom the Professor had called 'Granger. Hermione' sat talking to a boy who looked like he was in the same year as them.
Draco forced himself to turn away, as the Professor gave a cough, implying that he should hurry up, but his mind was still on Hermione. Something about her made him want to get to know her, and to be in the same house as her, which was absurd considering he had wanted to be a Slytherin (just like his father) since he first heard of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Shaking his head slightly, as if to get rid of thoughts about Gryffindor and Hermione, Draco pulled the hat on, the Great Hall and the watching students disappearing for a second as the hat fell over his eyes.
"Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat yelled, and as he took off the hat and stood up, there was a sudden round of applause from what must be the Slytherin table. Draco knew that he should be happy, glad to be placed in Slytherin house, just like his father, but part of him was disappointed, because he didn't have what it took to be a Gryffindor. He wasn't like Hermione.