DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
Ultimate Hermione Competition: Round 2
Prompt: Hufflepuff!Hermione
200 Characters in 200 Days: Hermione Granger
Drabble Club: hat (item)
Emotion Challenge: Jealous
Quidditch Pitch: She hated everything about her, most of all that she had what should be hers.
Hermione's eyes scanned over the pages of the book, drinking in the words with fervor.
"I want to be in Gryffindor," she said, nodding firmly. "I will be in Gryffindor."
Hermione strode up the Sorting Hat, head held high, eyes flashing with determination.
She had to get into Gryffindor. Or at least Ravenclaw.
She sat down on the stool, waiting for the soft fabric of the hat to brush her forehead.
"Hermione Granger, is it?" a hoarse voice said.
Hermione nearly jumped. "Yes."
"Let's see what you've got in that mind…"
The Sorting Hat mumbled many things as it took its time to decide where to put Hermione. With each word, Hermione became more frightened.
"Where are you going to put me?" she finally snapped.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat cried.
Hermione's heart dropped, tears brimming her eyes. She held them back, fixed a smile on her face, and jumped off the stool. She walked to the cheering yellow and black table, shooting a longing glance at the Gryffindor table.
"Welcome to Hufflepuff!" a boy said, patting her on the back.
"You'll fit right in with us!"
But she didn't belong here.
She belonged in Gryffindor.
Hermione set her books down, ignoring all the chatter. Her eyes were fixed on the Gryffindor table. She sighed and sat down, slumping in her seat.
She didn't belong here in Hufflepuff. Sure, she was a hard worker and loyal, too, but couldn't the Hat see that her heart was truly filled with bravery and a thirst for knowledge?
Turning away, she gazed at the Ravenclaw table and let out another sigh. How she wished she could be sitting there, talking about things like Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration.
"Like it in Hufflepuff?" a boy asked her, smiling.
Hermione turned away so that he couldn't see the disappointment spreading over her face. "Yeah." She forced a smile.
Hermione had heard of the Golden Trio's adventures. She envied Parvati Patil—who she thought was nothing more than a giggling flirt. She had importance to Harry and Ron, importance that should've belonged to Hermione.
She hated everything about her, most of all that she had what should be hers.
Yes, it was surprising that Hermione the Hufflepuff was jealous.
Hermione listened to the Potterwatch with rapt attention during the war. She was hiding in Australia with her parents, but she still knew of the Golden Trio's adventure.
And she still longed to be part of it.
She belonged in Gryffindor. It was easy to tell from the thirst for adventure in her heart, that longing to be important.
Parvati Patil did not deserve to be important. She didn't deserve to be in Gryffindor, to be in the Golden Trio.
But Hermione did.
She watched as Parvati strolled down the red carpet, pressing close to Harry. She whispered something in his ear, and he laughed and whispered something back. Parvati flashed a gorgeous—though, in Hermione's opinion, it was hideous—smile at the crowd, waving her fingers.
Hermione's heart burned with envy. She wanted to be the one standing there, the one with all the fame. She deserved it.
But, then again, she was just a Hufflepuff.