A/N: Before we start, I just want to say wow. Just wow. I can't believe how much positive support I've already received for this story, and I want to thank all of you for that. Consequently, my muse went into overdrive, so here you have another chapter :)
MUDSNAKE
by Flye Autumne
CHAPTER TWO: NOT IN ENGLAND ANYMORE
Hermione fruitlessly tried to lift her heavy trunk. Maybe this time it will move…?
It didn't budge.
She had barely been able to lift the darn thing onto the train, and now she was suppose to get it onto the bloody luggage rack. Fat chance of that happening. For the eleventy millionth time that day, Hermione wished for Professor Snape's Featherlight charm. Unfortunately, said charm was not in the first year curriculum, and therefore far out of her reach. Although… Hermione closed her eyes and pictured page thirteen of the Charms textbook. The Levitation Charm could work… She pulled out her wand from her hoodie pocket. Okay, Hermione. Swish and flick. Hermione swished and flicked her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Much to her delight, the trunk rose into the air and Hermione was able to stuff it onto the bottom shelf. Phew. Now, to find a compartment. Hermione turned around, hoping to find an empty compartment where she could catch up on sleep - she hadn't slept well the night before because - no, don't think of that.
She shook her head to clear it, and a round faced boy with wide eyes came into focus.
"What?" Hermione asked somewhat crossly. I thought I wouldn't be stared at for doing magic here.
"You - you just levitated your trunk," the boy managed.
"So?" Hermione didn't see what was so special about performing one of the most basic charms in the textbook.
The boy looked taken aback. "Oh. Are you not a first year, then? I'm sorry, I just assumed…"
Hermione was feeling more confused by the second. "I am a first year…"
"But how do you know so much magic already?"
"Oh." Did their professors really expect them to know absolutely nothing before entering school? "Well, erm, I just read through our textbooks, that's all."
"Oh." The boy looked rather glum. "Well, I better get going - I lost my toad."
Hermione hid a look of surprise. Wizards still had toads as familiars? "I'm sure there's a spell we could use to find it," she said, mentally sorting through the first year repertoire. No, there wasn't anything...although, there was a Summoning Charm Professor Snape had used in the shop. Now what was the incantation...right. "What's your name?" Hermione asked suddenly. "I need to be specific for the spell. Although, I don't know if it'll work, because I only saw someone do it once and -" Hermione realized she was starting to ramble.
The boy was gaping at her again. "I'm N-Neville Longbottom." He seemed uncomfortable, almost as if he was waiting for her to snicker at his rather unfortunate surname.
"Accio Neville Longbottom's toad!" For one awful second, Hermione thought the charm hadn't worked. Then, a fat brown toad came whizzing into view and landed in Hermione's hand with a reproachful croak.
"Trevor!" Neville exclaimed delightedly, "Thank you so much - I better go put him in his toad tank before he hops away again. Bye!" He dashed away.
Hermione suddenly felt a bit lightheaded and was contemplating sitting on the corridor floor when the compartment door slid open. A pale blond boy with a pointed face stepped out, looking at her critically.
"Impressive bit of magic," the blond drawled.
Hermione tensed, ready for the inevitable insults, ridicule and eventual shame such boys caused. She was completely flabbergasted by the boy's next words.
"Would you like to come sit with us?"
What? Hermione scrutinized his face, searching for malice. Either he's a supremely good actor or he's being genuine. "Sure," she managed. She followed the blond into the compartment where three other boys and two girls were sitting.
"I forgot to introduce myself - I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. These are my friends -" he gestured to the gorilla-shaped duo "-that's Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. The one with glasses is Theodore Nott, the girl in plaits is Pansy Parkinson, and the blonde is Daphne Greengrass."
"Pleasure to meet you," Hermione said softly, feeling very nervous. "I'm Hermione Granger."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "So, you're a half blood, then?"
Hermione gulped and remembered Professor Snape's advice. Don't let anyone know you're muggleborn. Whatever you tell them, make it believable. "Well, you see, I don't really know for certain," she began slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, my parents don't really talk about their past - I've never met any of my grandparents." There. The best lies contain several grains of truth in them. "So, I don't know what exactly my parents' parentage was. Although," Hermione added thoughtfully, "my parents weren't terribly surprised to hear I was a witch." Hermione carefully left out the rest of her parents' reaction. "So I'd presume they had at least some experience with magic."
"Fair enough," Draco the de facto leader said. "So what House do you think you'll be in? You clearly have the brains for Ravenclaw…"
Hermione was relieved the conversation was turning away from her parentage and toward the more comfortable waters of House selection. Thank goodness I asked Professor Snape about Houses - Hogwarts, A History had been terribly biased against Slytherin. Imagine if I'd gone in thinking all Slytherins were dark evil bastards in the making - that would have been quite embarrassing.
Draco was still prattling along. "...of course, my family has been in Slytherin for centuries. It'd be a shame if I went anywhere else - Ravenclaw, I suppose I could live with, but I think I'd leave if I got put in Hufflepuff or, even worse, Gryffindor…"
Privately, Hermione didn't see anything terribly wrong with prizing hard work, but she did think bravery was highly overrated. Especially since it tends to land you in trouble more often than not.
"So, Granger, what House do you think you'll be in?"
Careful, Hermione. "Erm, probably Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Although I'm not sure I'm actually smart or clever. And call me Hermione."
"I'd say you're fairly clever," cut in the bookish boy - Theodore - "after all, you figured out those spells with just the textbook and no professor."
Hermione blushed. "Oh. Well, that wasn't really much."
She was saved from more blushing when the compartment door slid open. A middle aged witch stuck her head in.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?"
Hermione was about to say she was all set (all her pocket money had been spent on school supplies) when Draco stood up.
"I'm paying for everyone, of course," he drawled. "Anyone have any favorites?"
Bizarre names of sweets quickly filled the air.
"Ooh, make sure you get Chocolate Frogs!"
"And Pumpkin Pasties!"
"And Cauldron Cakes!"
"Oh, and don't forget Licorice Wands-"
"-and Fizzing Whizbees!"
"And Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!"
Draco held up his hand. "Okay, okay. Granger - er, Hermione - anything you want?"
Hermione's mind went blank. She didn't know what any of these sweets were. "Erm, anything's good with me - as long as there's chocolate, of course."
Pansy flashed her a grin from across the compartment, and Hermione smiled back. Maybe she could fit in here.
Hermione happily spent the next couple hours talking with Draco and friends, who were more than happy to educate her on the wonders of Chocolate Frog cards (Theo) and the inherent dangers of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (Pansy). Slowly, Hermione felt herself relaxing. Maybe this is what having friends feels like.
They changed into their Hogwarts uniforms, and the girls were shocked to see that Hermione preferred trousers over the more traditional skirt. She had almost frozen when Daphne had asked why, but she carefully stifled her emotions and simply explained that trousers were more practical.
"Hermione," Pansy started. "Please tell me you're going to do something with your hair."
Hermione nervously touched her frizzy curls. "Erm…"
"I suppose not." Pansy eyed her critically. "There's not much I can do without my full hair care kit, but I can plait it for you so you don't look like a human Pygmy Puff - no offense intended, of course." Pansy patted the seat next to her. "Come sit. I'll see what I can do."
Pansy's sure fingers quickly worked through Hermione's hair, pulling it back into a snug plait. Hermione touched it gingerly.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Chocolate fanatics have to help each other out, right?"
Hermione had to grin at that. "Of course."
It seemed like almost no time had past since they disembarked the train and headed across the lake in a fleet of small boats. Even though Hermione had read through the Sorting section in Hogwarts, A History at least five times, she still felt nervous - although, not quite as nervous as the red head with the pasty-shaped face who was going on about battling a troll.
"It's either that, or some sort of test," the ginger said, whispering furiously to the black haired boy next to him. "Fred says it hurts a lot. I think he was only joking.
"Move along now," interjected Professor McGonagall's sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
The first years nervously formed a line and followed the Deputy Headmistress into the Great Hall. Hermione had to suppress a gasp as her eyes widened with awe. It was one thing to read about the Great Hall in Hogwarts, A History but to see it in person… wow. Just wow.
Professor McGonagall put a four legged stool topped with a grubby old hat in front of the first years. Everyone stared at it expectantly as it 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 folks 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 hall burst into applause and Professor McGonagall stepped forward, this time holding a long scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will sit on the stool and put on the Hat to be Sorted. Now then, first we have Abbott, Hannah!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brown, Lavender!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione was feeling decidedly nervous now, and she watched as "Bulstrode, Millicent" became the first new Slytherin. Draco's friend Crabbe also joined Slytherin, then, all too soon, Professor McGonagall called:
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione swallowed her nerves and walked over to the stool. The Hat slipped over her head and all she could see was black.
"Hmm," said a small voice in her ear. "A brilliant mind! I have not seen one this sharp in many a year. Ah, and ambition, too. A strong thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you…" the Hat trailed off, and a lead brick seemed to have lodged itself in Hermione's stomach. What if the Hat was looking through all her memories - even the ones that Nobody Could Ever Find Out About Ever.
"Get out of my head," she told the Hat firmly.
"A bit touchy, are we? Well, I suppose you ought to be in - SLYTHERIN!"
Hermione took off the Hat and walked shakily over to the Slytherin table. She was so distracted by the loud cheers and words of welcome that she didn't Severus Snape give a knowing smirk to his colleagues.
Yet again, he'd never lost a bet.
A/N:
Thanks for reading this chapter!
Per usual, I'd loooove to hear any thoughts/predictions you might have - what kinds of shenanigans do you think the Slytherin crew will get up to?
Also, who do you prefer as the narrator - Sev or Hermione? I'm planning on switching off between the two of them, but I'm curious to see what you think :)
I've heard the "post review" button does really exciting things when you click on it. Go on, test it out!
Lastly (shameless plug here), if you've enjoyed this story and are looking for another fic to read, check out my other current story, Septimus Prince and the Secret Inheritance. It currently has three chapters up, so you can waste - er, I mean spend - a bit of your time there :)