Author Note: I'm sorry I misspelled Gryffindor, I wasn't thinking! :D It's fixed now though. *begs* FORGIVE ME! :]
"Hermione Granger!" the tall, stern witch sitting next to the talking hat called out her name and she trembled in fear. What if the hat wasn't able to decide and she ended up house-less? What if it was all a mistake and she wasn't a witch after all? Slowly Hermione walked up and sat down on the stool, her heart pounding so loud she swore everyone could hear it.
Well what do we have here, Hermione Granger. Very smart indeed, one might say you could become intelligent enough to battle wits with Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Ah but I see some bravery in you, too.
"Me, Brave?" Hermione didn't believe she was brave for a second, how could a brave person be so scared.
Ah but all people are scared, a brave person just decides to ignore the fear. I see great potential in you. I believe you will do great things for the Wizarding world, Hermione. But where are we to put you. Hufflepuff would be good, you are loyal and true. No, that won't do. We can't put you in Slytherin, that is out of the question. You are more suitable to be a lioness or a raven, and they would eat you alive.
"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor? I don't know I don't think I'm really that brave and I can't be smart enough for Ravenclaw. I've barely been in the Wizarding world for a day now."
That's where you're wrong, you know more from reading about this world than most of the children who grew up in it. I think I will put you in Gryffindor.
"Why Gryffindor?"
"Because, my dear girl, I believe you will thrive there. They will need you just as much as you need them, and even though you don't think so you are brave. A little secret between friends, sometimes if you tell a person they are something, they will come to believe it. If a person believes it enough, sometimes they BECOME it.
"I'll remember that."
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted and Hermione walked to sit with the other first years at the Gryffindor table, blushing at the cheering and clapping she received.
Years from now when she looked back Hermione would realize the hat was right, she could be brave like a Gryffindor, but she still had the wings of a raven.