A/N: Hello Everyone! I've begun a new story. This one will be updated when I can, just to give all you readers a heads up. This is an AU story. Canon divergence if you will. Some things will be similar/the same. Others not in the slightest. I have taken the Sorting Hat song in its entirety from J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Page 88 of the 2000 paperback edition). Much Love! :)

Disclaimer: Characters and world belong to J.K Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended.

Welcome to the Dungeons

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Chapter One

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Hermione Granger waited impatiently just outside the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sniffing and rolling her eyes as she listened in on the other first year students worry about the sorting. Didn't anyone read? It clearly said in Hogwarts: A History, that a sorting hat was the one to sort each and every single student.

Almost one year ago she had learned that she was a witch, Professor Minerva McGonagall had visited her and her parents on Hermione's eleventh birthday. Since then she had been reading up on it as much as she could. The professor had recommended to her a number of books that she could read in order to prepare herself before she entered the magical world. And after numerous trips with her mother and father into Diagon Alley, a wizarding locale located within London, Hermione felt confident that she knew what to expect.

Hermione scratched her head, careful not to get her hand caught in her curls. The one time she had done so was embarrassing, her peers at school humiliating her after she had cried out to the teacher at the front of the room that her hand was stuck. That she needed help. It was like her hair had attacked her hand – like it had a life of its own. Even the teacher had a grin on her face. Mrs. Pascal, her primary school teacher. Her head was always itchy, a constant tingle had been present for as long as she could remember. She wondered if it was her magic. Did other witches and wizards here have itchy, tingly heads as well?

Hermione frowned to herself in wonder.

"I heard we have a celebrity at the school." A pale blond boy called out loudly near to Hermione.

She watched as he pushed his way towards the redheaded boy and black haired boy she had met briefly on the train. Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. Hermione sighed loudly. He should really leave the dark haired boy alone. It was obvious he didn't like the attention he was getting.

"Harry Potter." The skinny, blond boy said loudly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Draco Malfoy. We briefly met in Diagon Alley this summer at Madam Malkins. I assume you remember." Draco Malfoy grinned at Harry as he held out his hand.

Hermione watched from a distance as Harry looked down to Malfoy's hand. Harry hesitated, but eventually shook Malfoy's hand.

"I-I remember you." Harry acknowledged quietly.

"Piss off, Malfoy." Weasley said loudly. He was scowling at Harry as he shook the other boy's hand. "You don't have to bother yourself with people like him, Harry. He's a git. Thinks he's better than everyone else. Dark family is where he is from." Weasley grabbed Harry's shoulder, as if to pull him away from the blond.

"Its fine, Ron." Harry said to the redhead. "I'm just trying to be polite." He shook the redheads hand off of his shoulder.

"Red hair and a hand-me-down robe, you must be a Weasley." Draco scowled at the redhead.

"I was wearing hand-me-downs too when you first met me, Draco. Don't hold it against Ron if you aren't going to hold it against me." Harry stated clearly.

Draco frowned and opened his mouth to respond to Harry when the enormous door to the Great Hall opened slightly.

Professor McGonagall stepped out into the entranceway to greet the nervous, on edge, first year students.

"Attention everyone. Attention." The old witch said clearly. Her hands raising slightly to aid in getting the pupils attention.

A hush travelled over the group. Hermione turned her attention towards the witch.

"It is time for your sorting," Professor McGonagall said to the quieted group of eleven year olds. "The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your house is your home while you are here obtaining your magical education. The other students within your house can be considered to be your family." She smiled at the young pupils staring up at her. "I look forward to teaching you all, regardless of your house." She paused as she took in little Harry Potter. His tiny, scruffy appearance shook her to her core; it was obvious neglect. She blinked away her wet eyes. "Please line up and follow me into the Great Hall. Everyone is waiting to meet you all." She gave the students a tight smile and turned back around to re-enter from where she came.

Professor McGonagall walked back into the Great Hall, the small students following her cautiously. Students were huddled together as they took in their surroundings. The hall was enormous. The ceiling enchanted to show the sky. Tapestries hung above four long tables. Green and silver for Slytherin, blue and bronze for Ravenclaw, yellow and black for Hufflepuff, and red and gold for Gryffindor.

Hermione looked around in wonder as she walked with the others towards the front of the hall. Books couldn't replace seeing this place in person. It was beautiful.

The group of first year students huddled close together near the front of the Great Hall. They were facing the professors of the school and facing a three legged stool on top of which sat a rumpled, old wizarding hat.

Hermione watched in shock as the old hat cleared its throat and began to sing.

'Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the Brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart.

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil.

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!'

The song finished and Professor McGonagall unrolled a long scroll. "When I call your name please come forward and sit on the stool for your sorting." She peered down at the scroll. "Abbott, Hannah."

A redheaded girl in pigtails hurried forward and sat down on the stool. Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on the girl's head.

The crowd of students waiting as the hat rustled on the girls head. Hermione could see her frowning slightly. Biting her lip.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat yelled out.

The table with the yellow and black tapestry above it cheered loudly, welcoming little Hannah Abbott to her new house.

Hermione could see her smiling. She sniffed and scratched her head carefully. Hermione didn't know where she would end up. She was hoping for Ravenclaw – knowing that she was quite intellectual for her age. Loving her books and studies, she was always the top of her classes in her muggle primary school. She thought perhaps Slytherin, although she knew that would never happen. She was muggleborn, everyone knew that Slytherin house didn't allow in muggleborn students. She knew she had many of the characteristics of Slytherin house. Resourcefulness, ambition, achievement oriented and a strong sense of self-preservation – Hermione knew she had all of these traits. Just not the most important one.

Hermione shook her head. She had missed part of the sorting. She needed to focus.

Professor McGonagall looked down at the scroll again after a student hurried over to Gryffindor table.

"Granger, Hermione."

Hermione stepped forward towards the stool.

She carefully sat down and waited for the Professor to place the hat onto her head. The last person she saw before the hat covered her eyes was Harry Potter. He was watching her with rapt attention.

"Ah…what have we here?" The hat muttered to Hermione.

Legilimency? Hermione wondered to herself. She had read about it a month or so ago. She didn't know much about it yet. But it was something she was interested in.

"Indeed." The hat chuckled to her. "You are a bright one, aren't you?"

I am. Hermione thought confidently. It was the only thing she had to look forward to at her primary school. Learning about new things. She had no friends. People avoided her or teased her constantly. To Hermione, books were her life.

"Well, let's have a look then." The hat said to her, more subdued. "You, my dear, are incredibly intelligent."

Thank you.

"You're welcome." The hat replied. "Now, I see plenty of ambition and resourcefulness inside your head. A high degree of self-preservation as well. Blast that Robby Murphy for pushing you into the mud puddle and destroying your school books."

I got him good in the end.

The hat chuckled. "Indeed you did. Good girl." The hat paused, shocked. "What is this that I see?" It muttered to itself. "Interesting. Very interesting."

What is?

"You are being hidden, dear girl. Someone is hiding you from others. I cannot see who, they've wiped your memory of them. Your mind is blank from your birth until a few months later." The hat muttered to her.

My hair tingles and itches. Hermione thought clearly. I thought it was from being a witch.

"No." The hat muttered to her. "You've had your appearance changed. I cannot remove it. I believe your parents – your true parents – are magical dear girl." Hermione gasped. "I'm going to place you in Slytherin, Hermione. Perhaps you can become close with one of the older families and they can help you figure out who you really are." Hermione agreed with the hat.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat roared to the school.

The hat was pulled off of Hermione's thick, curly hair.

She walked slowly to the Slytherin table at the far side of the Great Hall. She was nervous, she didn't know what to expect. She didn't know what to think. Who had hidden her? And why had they done so?

Hermione carefully sat down to a subdued table. They had clapped for her, she was aware. But no one knew who she was. Not really.

"Granger." An older student said quietly to her, as he sat down close to her. "Are you related to the Dagworth-Granger family?"

Hermione looked cautiously over to the older student. She spotted a prefect badge on his robes. She hesitated. "I – I'm not sure." She said quietly to the boy. "I thought I was muggleborn, but the sorting hat said I had magical parents. That I had been hidden by them with the people I thought were my mother and father."

The prefect boy was looking at her with wide eyes. He gave her a nod of his head. "That's an interesting tale." He gave her a grin. "I'm Sebastian. Sebastian Avery. Welcome to Slytherin House, Hermione Granger." He shook her hand. "I'll let people know to leave you alone. They may think that you are part of the Dagworth-Granger Family. I suggest you look them up for the time being. Figure out a story you can tell. Your parents hid you for a reason." He said quietly to her.

The Slytherin table started cheering loudly. Draco Malfoy had just been sorted into the house.

Hermione gave Draco a quiet clap of her hands and did Sebastian. Smiling as Draco sat down near to them next to two large boys. Crabbe and Goyle, if Hermione remembered correctly.

Theodore Nott was the next student to be sorted. He too was sent to Slytherin House. He sat down near to Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Be careful with them." Sebastian said quietly to her as he watched Harry Potter walk up to the sorting hat. "They may be dangerous for you to be around, Hermione Granger."

Hermione looked over cautiously to Sebastian. "Why?"

"Their fathers are Death Eaters." Sebastian told her in a hushed tone. Hermione had to lean in closer to him to hear what he was saying to her. "My uncle was one as well. My grandfather too. My father doesn't believe in pureblood supremacy. Nor do I. My mother is a half-blood."

Hermione gave him a nod of her head. "Good to know." She turned back towards Potter who was still sitting on the stool. He looked nervous. Hermione could see he was biting his lip, clenching his hands together.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat roared to the Great Hall.

Professors gasped loudly. Someone had dropped their brass plate on the Gryffindor table. The clanking ringing out loudly into the silent hall.

"Holy shit." Sebastian grinned at Hermione. He stood up and started cheering loudly. The others situated at the table doing the same. Sebastian moved out from his seat and motioned to Harry to sit down next to Hermione. "I'll talk to you later, Hermione." Sebastian ruffled her hair as Harry sat down next to Hermione. Pale. Sweaty. He was nervous.

"Welcome Potter to Slytherin House." Sebastian said in Harry's ear as he leaned down. "We will talk more once we get into our common room, alright?"

Hermione watched as Harry gave a swift nod of his head.

"Hello again, Harry." Hermione said quietly to him. Harry turned slightly in his seat and gave Hermione a tight smile.

"Hello Hermione." He swallowed. Nervous.

"I'm nervous too." Hermione whispered to him. "I'm muggleborn."

Harry looked at her, shocked. "My mum was muggleborn." He responded equally as quietly to her. He looked around the Slytherin table. Students were craning their necks trying to get a better look at the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry hesitated a moment. "Can we be friends?" He asked her quietly.

Hermione nodded her head and stuck out her hand for him to shake. "I'd like that." She gave him a small grin.

Harry shook her hand. His palm was sweaty, Hermione noticed. "Friends." He said quietly to her.

"Friends." Hermione replied.