One Hundred and Forty going on twelve
Chapter Two.
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The sorting.
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Hermione sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head, dropping well past her eyes.
'Ah what have we here, intelligent, highly intelligent, brave too, I think Ravenclaw maybe, yes Rav…'
The hat stopped as Hermione thought 'Oh no you don't, I want to go into Gryffindor no arguments please'
'But I always decide, the intelligent ones go in Ravenclaw' the hat complained
'Well if I'm intelligent, then obviously I know what I'm on about, now if you don't mind can we get on with putting me in Gryffindor thank you' Hermione thought giving the hat no alternative.
'Bossy as well, alright, "Gryffindor." The hat announced
Hermione triumphantly marched to the Gryffindor table and waited for Harry, 'He's rather clever is Harry, and he's my boyfriend' she thought as she sat down.
When Neville's turn came he was nervous but insistent when the hat wanted to put him in Hufflepuff. He joined Hermione at the Gryffindor table, "Knows his stuff does our Harry," he said to her as they waited for Harry's turn.
When the hat was set on Harry's head, it never even got time to speak, 'As the sole heir to Gryffindor you will place me in Gryffindor' Harry thought as soon as the hat touched him.
'What ever is happening this year, students coming here demanding things'
'Well if you want to spend half an hour sorting out my ancestry, I don't mind sitting here, but I assure you I am the heir to the great Gryffindor, it's up to you' Harry thought amused at the idea of the hat taking so long to sort him.
"Gryffindor." The hat yelled out 'oh would you let the castle know I'm here' Harry thought just before the hat was removed. "She knows," the now unhappy hat grumbled.
Harry strode over to the Gryffindor table, where Hermione was waiting, as he reached her, she in her enthusiasm jumped up and placed what was meant to be a quick little kiss on his lips. An amazing thing happened when her lips met his. First their lips stuck as if glued, then a blue white light began to grow around them, getting brighter and stronger by the second.
"Wahs appin arry" Hermione asked trying to talk while her lips were glued to his
"Ont nooo" he replied just as confused as she was. He had thought it would take him weeks maybe even months perhaps near to two years before he kissed Hermione, and here she was glued to his face in the first hour at school.
There was a sudden flash of gold light and everyone in the great hall was knocked from their seats, Harry still stuck to Hermione decided the kiss needed to be a proper one and to enjoy the moment so he kissed her properly, when he did their lips became free but they continued the kiss for a short while. While the light around them seemed to melt away, people began to pick themselves up from the floor and dust themselves off before sitting back in their places looking confused about what had happened.
"Harry, I don't think you two should kiss indoors if that's what happens." Neville chuckled.
Hermione stood a glazed look in her eyes; "Wow!" was all she managed to say.
Harry figured they had just become a bonded couple, they were by all accounts now married. He had never expected anything like this though, he could feel Hermione. He felt her emotions, felt her thoughts, her magic, and he knew they shared everything. He knew she would share his magic, his magic that was more powerful than Merlins, more powerful than any wizard had ever known before.
Albus Dumbledore righted himself in his chair then quickly scanned the great hall no one seemed to be injured by the release of so much raw magic and he felt grateful, he had only ever read about such things and had never even dared hope to see it. It pleased him even more to know it was Harry Potter that the magic seemed to emanate from. Steadying himself he looked to see that there were still several students to be sorted. "If you could continue," he said to professor McGonagall.
Albus looked down at Harry and Hermione, she looked almost euphoric as she stood there a huge smile on her face and her eyes glazed over. Albus searched his memory 'ah yes Granger, Hermione, or should I say Potter, Hermione, well this is most unexpected'
Harry managed to pull himself together and separated himself from the hug he and Hermione were still in. catching hold of her hands he helped her to sit down. "Hermione, Hermione, come on Hermione," he said as he stroked her cheek.
Hermione blinked and looked at Harry, "I heard people in films say that the earth shook when they kissed someone, but I thought it was just a figure of speech. Did you feel it Harry?"
Harry looked around the hall "Everyone felt it," he said stifling a laugh at the look of shock on her face.
"Everyone?"
"Yes seems we knocked everyone from their seats, including the professors," Harry laughed quietly. "Boy when you kiss Hermione, you really pack a wallop."
"I never kissed a boy before," she said shyly
"Well if that's what happens I don't think I'll be letting you kiss any other boy, ever," Harry laughed just a little louder.
"Well I think it was you, and if I so much as catch you thinking of kissing another girl, I'll hex you both into next week," Hermione said joining in with his laughter.
Albus looked down on the exchange going on between his two new students and wondered if they knew what had happened, he doubted Harry would know. Living as he did with those Muggles, Miss Granger is from a Muggle family as well so he didn't think they would have a clue. As the sorting finally finished the headmaster stood and a deathly hush fell on the hall.
"Welcome back to all you who have previously trodden these hallowed halls and to those of you who are new welcome to this fountain of knowledge. I bid you all welcome, and I hope you will fill your heads with the knowledge available. I have a few announcements to make but I will leave those till after the feast as we seem to be a little behind today. Do enjoy your food, tuck in."
Both Harry and Hermione helped them selves to the food, chatting with Neville and others close enough to hear. The meal was soon ended and as the head master rose to give out the notices, professor McGonagall approached Harry.
"Mr Potter you and the young lady please accompany me," she said quietly
Harry found himself and Hermione waiting in the headmaster's office, "Do you think we are in trouble Harry?" Hermione wondered.
"I can't see why it's not like we planned to knock everyone over," Harry reassured her.
Albus entered the office with a smile on his face, he did love to surprise his pupils and if he was not mistaken the two waiting for him were in for quite a large surprise. Harry and Hermione were asked to sit when professor Dumbledore entered. Together they sat in the large armchairs sitting in front of the large desk.
Albus walked slowly around his desk, taking his seat just as slowly he looked at Harry then Hermione, clearing his throat he began.
"Welcome to my office Mr and Mrs Potter, I do hope you are both comfortable,"
Hermione was sure she could not have heard right, the headmaster had just called her Mrs Potter. "Hmm… Excuse me sir but you just called me Mrs Potter."
"Quite right, I do believe in using ones title correctly," Dumbledore said with a chuckle; he was enjoying himself.
Harry sat with his mouth open, hoping he looked sufficiently shocked to convince both Dumbledore and Hermione that he had no clue as to what was happening.
"But my name sir is Granger, Hermione Granger," Hermione tried to point out.
"Ah that was true before the sorting, and that little kiss that caused such a stir," Albus said smiling at her.
Hermione looked at Harry who looked totally lost, "Say something Harry," she pleaded.
"I, er, what, I'm just a little confused, you called us Mr and Mrs Potter." was all Harry said. Hermione rolled her eyes, fat lot of help that was.
"Perhaps I should explain Mrs Potter. You are what we call soul-mates. In the wizarding world when two soul-mates unite they become man and wife, it is a legally binding marriage and will have been registered at the records office of the ministry of magic. It is also a legally binding marriage in the eyes of the power of the universe. So Hermione from this day forward, and for all eternity you are Mrs Harry James Potter, it is what the Muggles call a marriage made in heaven." Albus really was enjoying this.
"According to previous fated couples or soul-mates, you will find that you now share everything including your magic. So which ever one of you was the stronger magically will be a little stronger and the weaker of the two of you will become so much stronger." Albus smiled at Hermione's shock.
"Now would one of you like to tell me exactly what happened, I, like everyone else was caught off guard and did not see exactly what it was that tried to place me on the floor." The headmaster finished.
"Well when Harry got sorted into Gryffindor I got a little excited and gave him a little, or what was meant to be a little peck of a kiss, our lips seemed to stick together and…" Hermione went on to tell Albus all she had felt and seen.
"Amazing, simply amazing." He said looking at them.