Chapter two – The Sorting
*Hermione POV*
Oh, I am going to be so late! I sprinted down the corridors in hopes of making it back to the Great Hall before the beginning of the feast.
"Oi! No running in the corridors!" Filch wheezed grumpily from a connecting corridor. Oh shit. I slowed down to a fast walk, calling an apology over my shoulder. Not only had I had to deal with the stragglers from the train, I then had to deal with the stragglers after the arrival of the strangers. I was so caught up in my Head Girl duties that I didn't even get to ask Professor McGonagall who they were. To make things worse, before I could finally relax in the hall after the long train ride, some idiot second years decided to run off and throw chalk pellets at Peeves. So of course, I had to deal with that, as Harry had simply looked longingly at the hall, whimpering: "but fooood". Ugh boys! And now I was going to be late. Great way to start off my final year! I darted through the halls, ducking through some of the remaining secret passageways. At long last, I heard the rumble of sound and laughter up ahead and raced the final distance to the Great Hall. The doors had remained open, so I simply snuck in the side and made my way to the Gryffindor table, squeezing myself between Harry and Ron.
"Harry the least you could have done was help me! As Head Boy, it's your job to stop incidents like that!" Harry withered slightly under my disapproving glare, muttering a quick apology. I was about to continue reprimanding him when suddenly Professor McGonagall swept into the hall, followed by a small, silent group of first years. There was no sight of the strange arrivals from what I could see.
"Silence please." The simple command sucked the noise out the room; with everybody waiting in anticipating for the Professor's next words. "As you all are probably aware now, this evening eight students arrived unexpectedly. There is no need to worry however, they are transfers from America and simply arrived earlier than planned. They will be sorted into houses following the first years and I expect each and every one of you to treat them with the utmost respect. Their school focuses more on an elemental branch of magic, which means they will not be participating in the same class work as the rest of you. They will be joining the returning seventh years. Now, without any further ado, let the sorting begin. When I call your name, please step up to the stool and place the hat on your head." The sorting continued as normal with five first years placed in Gryffindor. As the final name was called and the boy sat down at the Hufflepuff table, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat for silence. "Would you all please kindly welcome the American transfers!" The eight transfers walked steadily into the hall, looking slightly uncomfortable with all the attention they were getting. My eyes latched onto the tall boy with black hair and sea green eyes and my heart stopped beating. The rest of the McGonagall's words were drowned out as I focused on the boy. It can't be, not here. I snapped back into focus as the first name was called out,
"ANNABETH CHASE!" The blond girl with grey eyes walked confidently up to the stool, barely having put the hat on before it screamed "GRYFFINDOR!". Our table cheered, but I was in too much shock to cheer along. The same happened for the black-haired boy named Nico Di Angelo. I stopped breathing as the next name was called: "PERCY JACKSON!". I was in a daze, I couldn't breathe. It isn't possible, how can he be here. He made his way to the Gryffindor table, sitting down next to the blond haired girl and taking her hand. The memories started rushing back before I could stop them: a large blue house sitting on a lawn overlooking strawberry fields, me crying alone, the blond boy with a scar on his face comforting me, the blond girl handing me a sword with a determined look on her face as she told me she would train me.
"Hermione are you ok?" I came crashing back to reality to find Harry grabbing my hand with a concerned look on his face. "Is something wrong?" I shook my head slightly, realising that I had missed the rest of the sorting. If my memories were correct, then it wasn't surprising that the rest of them had also been sorted into Gryffindor. "Hermione talk to me, what's wrong?" Ron had now looked over, wrenching his attention away from his abyss of food. Harry suddenly pulled away, stating: "I'm going to get McGonagall. Something's wrong."
"No, Harry –!" I started, however by plea fell on deaf ears as Harry stood up and hurried towards the teacher's table. I saw him mutter a few quick words to McGonagall before they both made their way down towards me.
"Miss Granger, what seems to be the problem?"
"I…I…" I couldn't get the words out. All I could do was look hopelessly in the direction of the transfers. Professor McGonagall followed my line of sight.
"Miss Granger do you know those people?" Harry and Ron both snapped their eyes towards me, waiting for my response. My world seemed to collapse around me as I muttered the two words that would change the rest of the year for better or for worse…
"My brother…"