"Granger, Hermione" Professor McGonangal's voice called out across the hall. Hermione, shaking with excitement rather than fear, practically ran to the small stool. She jumped straight onto the rickety chair. McGonangol handed her the battered hat, and she yanked it on her head. Holding the rim of the old hat, she closed her eyes and concentrated. The hat fell far past her eyes and rested the brim of her nose. "Hello?" she thought to the hat rather curiously.
"Ah, I see we have an interesting case here. Yes, very interesting." said the battered old hat in response. "Interesting?" Hermione questioned. "I think my choice is rather obvious. Ravenclaw seems the only option." "Ravenclaw, yes that's the only house I could imagine me in, but," she said hesitantly, "Have you, by any chance, considered Gryffindor? It is the House that Headmaster Dumbledore went to."
"Very clever, very fit for Ravenclaw. But, alas, there is something else. There is also a great amount of courage, whether you see it or not. You are correct, it is the house the headmaster went to. Is he not clever as well? Exactly." responded the wise hat. "Courage?" Hermione questioned. "Never mind Gryffindor. I don't think I have much of that." replied Hermione softly, doubt flooding her voice. "Ravenclaw will give the intelligence you need to become one of wisest young witches that ever lived. But choose Gryffindor, and you will have a much larger role to play in this world. You will befriend those who you would never except to bond with. Your life will go through pain and misery, but this will make you stronger. Your choices can lead you to fame and victory or to your own demise." said the hat "I thought it was your choice." said Hermione.
"I choose what is best for the wizard, but sometimes I feel, in cases such as yours, that the wizard will make the right choice for themselves, not I." replied the old hat. Hermione thought. "I would like to be wise, I really would. Yet, I would also like to play a larger role in this world. Intelligence comes naturally to me. But courage doesn't. I like a challenge. I think I need a lot of courage to make this choice, and I know I have it. I have made my choice, Sorting Hat. I choose..." "Gryffindor." She said finally.
"A wise choice, for a clever girl. Remember, dear, that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." "Mark Twain," she said under her breath. If the hat could smile, it did. "Exactly," it said. "Your going to go far Miss Hermione Granger. It's been a pleasure meeting you" said the hat. "And you," said Hermione. The battered hat opened it's brim and shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione smiled as she took the hat off from her head and walked to the Gryffindor table, grinning ear to ear. She couldn't help notice, but that red haired boy, Ron Weasley, scowled in her direction. Instead of feeling hurt, she felt herself smirk. 'Befriend those who you would never expect to...' This would be a very interesting year. Very interesting indeed.