The noise from the mass of students who filled the great hall made it near impossible for Hermione to hear more than a few words of the chattering update that began the moment the toad like, old plump lady started the ceremony.
The lady who was just under five feet tall, beamed brightly at all the students sitting at their house tables. Beside her; sat a timeworn wizard hat, it's leather like appearance distorting the creases and wrinkles to form an undeniably cheeky expression. Hermione exhaled slowly, as she adjusted her posture promptly. "It's rather strange don't you think? How anyone in their right minds would allow this is beyond me." Hermione muttered, allowing the sloppy, lumpy porridge on her spoon to slide off unsatisfingly into a great heap on the side of her plate.
Ronald however, sat across from Hermione and attempted to grin, his mouth full of scrambled eggs and beans. Harry recoiled slightly, disgusted by the sight of bean sauce dripping pitifully down Ron's chin. "Welcome, welcome." Umbridge greeted, as she whipped her wand out from inside of her sleeve. Almost out of thin air, a long roll of parchment fell into her plump hands. "So for those who are not aware of the current circumstances, the Ministry of Magic has specifically ordered that I, a representative of both Hogwarts and the ministry, conduct a re-sorting ceremony, to guarantee the best success for your O.W.L.S." Umbridge grinned once again, but this time there was no mistaking the deadly silence that cursed the students tongues as they all impatiently waited for this to be revealed as a horrific practical joke. But there were no sounds of laughter, except from the Weasley Twins who had began to bet galleons and sickles on who would be sorted into Slytherin.
"Luna Lovegood." Umbridge beckoned, placing the sorting hat on her head not so gently. "Brave. Very brave. Oh and clever too. Before you found yourself wishing to be sorted into Ravenclaw, but this time round it'll have to be...Gryffindor!" the hat bellowed, causing Fred and George to cheer extra loudly as she sat down beside Neville, who looked distinctly like a remberall, bright red.
"Draco Malfoy!" The teacher summoned once more, before lifting the sorting hat once again. This time, she didn't even need to place the sorting hat on his head, before it shouted the house that everybody seemed to like the least. A harmonious roar echoed the halls as Malfoy made his way back to his usual table. His fellow Slytherins showered him with praise and Hermione watched as Blaise Zabini slapped his back as a cheerful welcome back. She looked over at the smug blonde, who was twisting his Slytherin ring around his finger. He looked over at her and smirked darkly, before she withdrew her gaze.
"Ronald Weasley." Umbridge called, watching as the ginger haired boy Hermione had almost grown to love, put down his food and sauntered up to the sorting hat. Once again, the hat spoke without being lifted, placing him in Gryffindor again.
It was another twenty minutes until Hermione was called. Part of her had hoped that she would be forgotten about in the re-sort, but evidently she was just saved for last. Leaving her books on the table, she began to approach the sorting hat, remembering vividly how the last time he was placed on her bushy eleven year old head, he had reached a standstill. She was certainly intelligent enough to be sorted into Ravenclaw, but with her own wishes accounted for, she was placed in Gryffindor, with her two best friends.
This time though, Hermione had a sinking feeling that her wishes wouldn't matter. There was something eerie about Umbridge's smirk that made her feel uneasy. The weight of the hat was not exactly comforting either, as he began to whisper. "Brightest witch of your age, you made a wonderful example for Gryffindor, and your thirst for knowledge is most certainly a Ravenclaw trait. However, you cannot ignore the fact that you possess a hidden talent in the Dark Arts. Whilst your grades are high, you are destined for only one fate. In that case, I think the only house best suited for you is Slytherin." He almost shouted the last word. Allowing an unwelcoming silence across the great hall.
"No. No! That can't be right! Please reconsider!" Hermione begged, but the more she begged, the louder the hat shouted. "You'll be great y'know. Slytherin is perfect for a young witch like you. You will make wonderful friends, a bond that cannot be compared." The hat spoke, before Umbridge lifted the hat and pushed Hermione slightly, guiding her towards the group of Slytherins whose eyes twinkled with disgust. At this point, Hermione sighed and stood beside them. Not one person looked her in the eye after that. Not even her friends.