A/N: Written for the Resorting Challenge (Slytherin!Hermione and Slytherin!Ron), the Ultimate Patronus Challenge (G, Birds: Hummingbird-14. Write about someone going in the wrong direction) and the Chutes and Ladders challenge (Prompt: protect).
This is my first real attempt at an multi-chaptered piece and I intend in to go through all seven years. The main six (Hermione, Ron, Daphne, Theo, Millecent, Tracey) will be the main focus of the story but Harry and his friends will also get the necessary screen time required for their story arc. The story will have short chapters but frequent updates.
When Hermione gets the hat, she jams it on her head instantly. She needs these answers, needs to know exactly where she has to go; needs to know exactly where she fits in a world that's magical and so unlike the one that she came from.
The first thing that the hat does when it reaches her head is laugh. It's not unkind but it grates on her. Hermione's survived years of this, of cruel laughter and mocking jabs at her hair, her marks, the eagerness with which she's always raised her hand.
Not this time, she vows. She has plans- no muggleborn will ever be spat on and humiliated the way she was in her first trip to Diagon Alley. She won't stand for it.
"And how will you go about achieving this?" The hat inquiries.
Hermione pauses at that. She doesn't have an answer yet, hasn't had the time to formulate a plan in between gathering her books and fuming in the hallway outside her bedroom- her parents had looked on, torn between amusement and pity, because they all know Hermione is going to Hogwarts, no matter how many options she has.
"I'm not sure," Hermione admits. "But I'll figure it out."
The hat seems to smile. "Yes, I do believe you will Ms. Granger. However, the real question is how you intend to. You evidently seem to possess the recklessness of Gryffindor and I can see Ravenclaw's hunger for knowledge. What would you prefer?"
Hermione stops for a moment. Her mind is whizzing, gears turning but she'll spend the next seven years in the house she chooses. She can't afford to mess up.
"Mr. Hat, what house will help me achieve my goals?" Hermione asks, curiously.
The hat pauses. "There is a house that specializes in ambitions but I am not sure it would be the best fit for you, Ms. Granger."
Hermione could not believe her ears. "But Slytherin- I heard it's less about ambition and more about bigotry…."
The hat seemed to express disgust at her last statement. "Ms. Granger, how do you expect to destroy prejudice in the wizarding world when you buy into it so easily- especially on the words of a boy who comes from a primarily Gryffindor family?"
Hermione hung her head, ashamed at her actions. "I'm sorry for not thinking of what I said through."
The Hat seemed to preen at her words. "It would do you good to remember that in SLYTHERIN!"
Hermione could do nothing but gap open mouthed as the hat shouted the last part out loud. Taking a deep breathe to steady herself, Hermione heard the hat whisper one last sentence.
"Protect your ambitions at all cost, Ms. Granger. There are far too many who'd stop at nothing to destroy them."