~ Hello, Hello! ~

~ I do hope this chapter comes to you in a good place ~

~ You may have noticed that I have changed the last chapter, slightly. It is all for good reason I assure you , Don't fight me but I assure you that Hermione will be playing Quidditch ~

~ As always, none of these characters belong to me, I am simply using them to benefit my fantasies in the world of Harry Potter ~

Chapter 4

Potter Manor

August 31st, 1971

Tuesday

James had been beside Mia ever since that he witnessed and comforted her from her nightmare in the past week, much to Mia's happiness and dismay. He didn't understand where the nightmare had come from, but he knew that he didn't want them to happen again. She assured him over and over that she was fine, and he grumbled and pouted for about two days before Mia distracted him with more flying. She was becoming fond of flying, and to her surprise the fear was quickly going away, and she knew that she only had Jamie and her father to thank for that.

Today distracted her even more so as the one-time James finally unstuck the glue from her, Limely and Milly were poking and prodding to make sure that 'little miss looked appropriate for her first day at Hogwarts, even though she was going to be on a train for most of the day and to the start of the night.

The sun was barely shining through as she bit back a retort when Limely told her to stand still for the tenth time since beginning their dressing on the girl. Looking at herself in the mirror, her wild curls stood up and around disobediently across the front of her face and all around the area, her hair reminded her of Jamie's. The thought made her smile.

When they were finished they popped away and she could hear the groan from Jamie down the hall, she snickered as the elves continued with him as they did with her.

Looking at herself in the mirror once more, she decided that she look pretty in her new robes that her mother had helped her pick out and was continued overwhelmed with excitement with returning to Hogwarts once again.

"Children!" her mother yelled after a while, "It's time to go, the train will be waiting!"

James opened her door and beckoned her to follow as he galloped through the house and met their parents, she was not far behind, sauntering with grace, smirking to herself.

Platform 9 ¾

And the Hogwarts Express

The same day

"Now I want you both to stay out of trouble this year. I don't want any owls telling me that you've gotten caught." He winked at James much to Mia's dismay. He had been given the invisibility cloak the day before and Mia found herself to be a bit jealous of her brother.

"Fleamont!" their mother scolded, "Both of you please be careful, and owl me once you both get sorted. I am beside myself, because I want to know where you both will be placed and how you are both settling in."

"Yes mum." They replied together, and James sent another smirk Mia's way. They have been doing this more often every day much to once again, her dismay.

She felt older in times like this, her memories clashing together and apart at the same time. She'd always called him Jamie, just to embarrass him of course, but if he would just learn how to say Hermione things would be much more simple, she'd take 'mione for example or even maybe Phemia if it came down to it. She shuddered, she loved her mother but that name was not being passed down again.

Together they walked away from their parents, wands clutched in hand and their belongings taken from them to be put safely on the train until their arrival. The twin's owls seated unhappily with the rest of their belongings as they also waited until the arrival of each of their owners once again.

They boarded the train and James took off in a run to find a seat. "Jamie must you run everywhere we go!" she said yelling as she followed him, not running persay but walking quickly towards her brother as he entered a compartment that two other people hastily left. Two people Hermione recognized Lily and Severus. Merlin. Best not to bring it up.

She was behind him quickly and immediately noticed two people seated in the compartment with her brother, "James! Why must you run!" she asked strictly, "You look like a animal when you do that."

"Mione, its not a big deal. Just calm down." She scoffed as he moved on, "I want to introduce you to my new friends!" he said patting the seat next to him.

She sat down and waited for him to introduce them, "This is Sirius and Remus! They're in our year!"

Remus, she thought with a smile

"Lovely to meet you both." She turned to Remus who had a book in his hands, "What are you reading?" she asked as James and Sirius began to talk adamantly about Quidditch.

He looked surprised when she singled him out to talk to him and replied so quietly that she almost didn't hear him correctly, "Hogwarts: A History."

"Oh!" she replied with light in her eyes and moved to sit next to him effectively pushing Sirius out of her way, "I've read that!"

"Oi!" Sirius yelled, and Hermine waved him off with some strong apologies, giving her attention to Remus, "It's got all the information you could ever need for Hogwarts, one of my favorite books really." She finished with a smile.

"Ummm yeah… It's one of my favorites as well." He sheepishly replied, "my mum wanted me to be informed of all the houses before we got to school."

That got both boys attention again as James spoke, "Mione and I will be in Gryffindor surely, how about you both?"

Sirius got a dark expression on his face, "I'll likely be in Slytherin. Almost every member of my family has been."

"You can always make a choice you know." Hermione replied to his sad expression, "the hat will take it to heart."

James rolled his eyes, "Don't you mean it's magic Mia, the hat doesn't have a heart."

"I was the idea of it Jamie, not to be taken seriously."

"I'm never taken Seriously, I am Sirius." He interrupted making James laugh out loud and both Remus and Hermione roll their eyes.

"I'm just saying that it doesn't hurt to ask."

"I think I'd like to be in Gryffindor with you lot." Remus said quietly

"I'll be your friend either way Remus." She said with a beaming smile causing him to return a small once.

They were interrupted when a small blonde boy opened the door to their compartment making Hermione narrow her eyes.

"Hi…. Could I sit here? Everywhere else is full

Peter she growled

Hogwarts

September 1st, 1971

Hermione and James stood close together as they entered the great hall. She sighed as she felt the safety of Hogwarts drift into her soul again. The magical sky that was above the great hall made her heart sore. The four tables were aligned as they waited for the sorting to begin. James took ahold of her hand and gripped it tightly as McGonagall spoke proudly about Hogwarts. The song was finished, and names were being called out. One by one nervous first years came from the crowded and were sorted.

"Black, Sirius!" the entire hall sat quietly as they watched as Sirius closed his eyes waiting for the hat to make its decision. After a couple of minutes McGonagall raised her eyebrows as the hat seemed to make the decision Hermione already knew, "Gryffindor!" the hall was silent again before the Gryffindor table clapped loudly for its new unexpected member. He sent the entire hall a smirk before making his way to the table.

"Goyle, Catherine!" she called out and not a moment later the first Slytherin made their way to the table, followed by Mary Macdonald who was sorted into Gryffindor.

"I'm so excited Mia!" James loudly whispered beside her

"Evans, Lilly!" "Gryffindor!" she watched with sad eyes when she glanced over to Severus who was seated at the Slytherin table who looked beside himself.

The names went on until James name was called.

"Potter, James!" the hat barely touched his head before it shouted out a bellowing "Gryffindor!" causing another applause to erupt from the Gryffindor table. He sent Hermione thumbs up before running to the table to sit next to Sirius and Remus. The three of them looked at her with bright smiles before McGonagall continued.

"Potter, Hermione!" she walked slowly to the stool before sitting down and the hat began to speak to her.

"Well, Well. It seems as you have been in this position before." The hat paused, "Oh twice in fact, Ms. Potter. You have the bravery and the ambition to return here once again"

"You have seen the reason why."

"Of course, Of course. Now, where to put you this time? I feel many different qualities radiating off you, determination is strong, but so is your cunning plans for the future.

Cunning, she held a breath

Do you have any suggestions Ms. Potter, people are starting to stare? I find myself at a crossroads with your brilliant mind, the bravery, as well as the ambition for success. No? You wish for me to make the decision? Very well, I believe that the place for you is going to be…

"Slytherin!" The hat yelled, and Hermione's heart dropped and she didn't move from her seat for a moment as she watched the crowds stunned silence. McGonagall broke her from her trance.

"Go on child." She spoke softly and Hermione went to the Slytherin table as the names continued to be called out. She refused to meet her brothers eye or any of their friends, no she stopped herself. His friends. They would never talk to me now that I'm a snake.

She felt someone come and sit down next to her and speak, "It's not all bad you know?" the girl said next to her, "There's nothing wrong with being in Slytherin." Hermione looked up to see who was talking to her.

"The names Ophelia by the way, Ophelia Delany."

"Hermione Potter." She replied softly, poking at the food that was now in front of her.

"Oh, I know who you are. Potter is a very popular name." Hermione looked back down at her food

"Anyways, I think that you're being to hard on yourself. Oh! I almost forgot." She said gesturing in front of her, "This is Emma Vanity!" she's a prefect, fifth year."

"Hello…" Hermione said softly. Emma replied with a stronger hello and smiled at her brightly, "You'll be alright here, us Slytherins always look after one another."

"Thank you." Hermione said feeling a little better.

Emma continued, "So you going to try out for the Quidditch team next year? I'm sure ill be captain by then!"

"Oh I'm not sure… I only started riding a broom during the summer."

"Well if you change your mind, a Potter would be a great addition to the team."

After dinner Hermione managed to avoid her brother and his friends all together and followed Emma down to the dungeons.

The Slytherin common room was nicer than she thought it would be. It was still dark but Hermione wasn't intimidated about that. She looked around in awe with the rest of the first years. Walking down the provided steps that were a deep green color she noticed a large desk next to the even larger fireplace that had the house crest proudly on display. There were two couches that sat across from once another with a table in the center. Another desk sat in front of the sitting area, waiting to be studied on. Large bookshelves lingered the walls on the far end of the room, where different tables and chairs were placed. The windows were a different story. They demanded their presence, just outside was the black lake, murky but beautiful. Emma guided the girl first years to their dorms and Hermione once again marveled at the sight, nearly missing the other girls who joined her in the room.

All of belongings including her owl were already by her beside. Her trunk was at the bottom of her bed and her uniform for the next morning was seated on the dresser next to her bed. This room was much different than the Gryffindor dorms, these beds were painted in the dark green that matched the common room. The room was still circular to create the illusion of more area and the beds five beds sat along the walls. Each already assigned to the new members. After taking in her surroundings the girls began to introduce themselves.

A caramel skinned girl with beautiful long black hair introduced herself as Angelique Rosier, she had already changed into her night clothes and plopped herself onto the bed farthest away from Hermione. Another girl who was focused on unpacking her things and organizing them introduced herself as Cornelia Cornfoot. The bed next to Hermione laid Ophelia who was talking away about her plans for the next day, she seemed determined on figuring out a way to get the house crest on the robes her mother bought her over the summer. Her final roommate was Catherin Goyle, who was staring distractedly outside the window peering into the depths of the black lake.

"I'm Hermione Potter." She said quietly

"Of course, you are." Angelique waved her hand dismissively, "You've got the Potter hair. You'll have to let me do my magic on it sometime."

Hermione smiled in response, maybe Slytherin wasn't going to be that bad, she thought laying down in her bed at her dormmates and hopefully new friends followed. She tried not to think about her brother as she fell asleep.