Disclaimer: i do not own Harry Potter, it all belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A/N- Thank you for the most amazing reviews please keep it up it helps motivate me so much and no hate please... you aren't being forced to read anything. I'm sorry it took so long but here it is so enjoy, as soon as my exams are over i will back to updating reguarly..also had to change a few things so i keep to the M rating but it will still include strong adult themes due to the plot later on but not for some time yet! :D xx
Hermione made her way off the train with Harry and Ron close behind her. Her eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of Hagrid standing at the end of the platform...she missed how things use to be. So simple and so easy. Following the crowd she made her way with the rest of the first years onto the boats provided that seemed to magically steer themselves towards the castle. The lantern at the front lighting her way. Breathing in the cold night-time air, Hermione actually felt relaxed and ready for what ever Professor McGonagall had in store for herself and Draco. I should really talk to him about it, she thought, after all , they were in this together.
Hermione sat with Ron, Harry and a girl she presumed was a Ravenclaw in the "real world". Turning to her right she could tell Ron was sea sick by the drained expression on his face. Quickly, she pulled out a bag of hard-boiled sweets, which her new mother had given her for the journey. Waving the bag in front of the ginger she said clearly;
"Take one of these, it will help with the stomach ache." Hesitantly he took one from the bag and popped it in his mouth and then continued to suck on it happily for the rest of the journey, saying nothing and only giving a gentle smile in her direction.
When they arrived to the main gate Blaise had found her, followed by Pansy and Draco. She turned quickly when a sharp pain shot up her arm from her elbow.
"Hermione! where have you been I - We have been looking for you everywhere" Blaise corrected himself as he let go of her arm and took a step back. Pansy was glaring with her arms folded across her chest as Draco stood awkwardly behind them, looking at the floor.
"Sorry- I ended up talking to a small group when I was helping Nevile find his toad." Hermione said shyly looking at Blaise's shoes.
"Okay..well next time...just... don't leave all of a sudden... I was waiting for you to come back. Anyway what was up with that Nevile kid?" Blaise asked as he moved past her and lead them forward with everyone else to the small stair case outside the main hall.
"Oh, I don't know.. i saw him at the station and you know.. i was just trying to make friends-"
"Well.. we are your friends Hermione, there is no need to make new ones...especially because you don't even know what house they are in yet - besides who were those other boys you were hanging out with?"
Hermione was going to retort when a familiar voice erupted from behind her.
"Oh I know who that is - don't you? It's true what they were saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." The icy blonde spat out in front of them looking between Hermione and Blaise, to Harry and Ron. Silence fell around them as the other students turned to stare, while others began to mutter the name.
" This is Parkinson and Zabini... I'm Malfoy. I would introduce you to Granger but it seems you have already met - It doesn't surprise me she always tries to become Miss Popular..." Hermione's face went a deep shade of red as she heard her name being muttered too.
"Oh and if anyone is wondering, its obvious who this one is.." he turned to Ron, "Red hair and a hand-me-down robe.. this must be a Weasly" Draco turned back to face Blaise and the rest of the group "We all know that some wizarding families are better than others, isn't that right Potter!" A muttering of agreement drifted over the group. Content with his speech he caught Hermione's eye before saying "We don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort..."
"I think i will decided who the wrong sort are for myself thanks." Harry suddenly said in a strong voice, turning towards Hermione and giving a quick smile before the familiar Professor McGonagall appeared.
"Right then.. it's time - if you would like to follow me..." She announced sternly, turning and walking through the main doors. Hermione silently followed Blaise and Draco to the front of the hall as Pansy fell back to talk to a group of stuck-up looking girls. Biting her lip she looked around for familiar faces untill she halted to a stop.
"Right when i call out your name, you will come forth, i shall place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses." The tall Professor called out, an old wrinkled hat in her left hand and a scroll of parchment in her right. From the ceiling hung candles which seemed to grasp the other students attention. However, for Draco and Hermione the novelty had worn off. Instead the two of them stood near each other with their arms crossed and avoiding eye contact.
"Draco Malfoy!" She called out first. With his head held high he moved gracefully to the seat and within seconds the hat called out "SLYTHERIN" a smirk plastered across his face as his housemates cheered.
Hermione caught Ron's voice then, as he leaned towards Harry "There wasn't a Witch or Wizard who didn't go bad in Slytherin." Harry's face turned to the moving boy and then laid onto Hermione. She gave a small smile as "Susan Bones" was called up. Ron turned and looked at Hermione, screwing his face up before leaning back to Harry and continuing "Mental that one! I'll tell ya!"
With that Hermione moved forward "You do know i can hear everything you say Ronald" She whispered harshly before turning back and standing next to Blaise.
"Ronald Weasly"
The red head gulped and moved to the stage, instantly the hat announced "GRYFFINDOR" and off he trotted with a grin on his face. Then it was those familiar words;
"Harry Potter"
Nervously the raven haired boy moved forward as his name once again erupted through the hall. The hat was placed on his head.
"hmm difficult..very difficult.." It mused "plenty of courage i see..not a bad mind either, there's talent oh yes..but where to put you.." Hermione couldn't work out the words Harry was whispering but continued to listen. "Not slytherin hey.. well then... it's got to be GRYFFINDOR!"
A loud cheer overcame most of the tables but was quickly silenced by the tapping of a glass from Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore ..but Hermione had no time to acknowledge it because soon enough her name was called.
"Hermione Granger"
Suddenly the dropping sensation reached her stomach. "Okay, just relax..breath" she whispered to herself, shaking slightly it's not the real thing anyway, just a dream she thought to herself.
The hat was placed onto her now silvery hair. "Ah...intelligent, brave... all the criteria for a Gryffindor.." Hermione's face lit up with a smile before faltering at the next words. " .ah.. there is something else... power..cunning ...well it must be a SLYTHERIN!" the emerald table cheered but the noise sounded muted to her.
As if a sleepwalker or in a dream she seemed to drift in the direction of the table and sit down opposite Draco. Gulping loudly and the sound of the next name being called, Hermione hesitantly turned towards Harry and Ron who were to busy talking to their house mates. what... how am i a Slytherin... what is happening... im going to get killed she thought, her hands shaking as she sat in silence.
After a few moments Hermione braved herself to look up and in front of her, a surprised Draco was staring at her with big round eyes. He looked pale and furious with his fists clenched on the table, staring at her like an unknown species.
Those next moments were a blur, it was only when Blaise sat himself down next to her that she realized what was going on.
"Ah, Hermione. I knew we would all be in the same house! ah this is going to be great!" he said quickly before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. She stayed still not sure what to do except breathing in his scent which smelt a lot like toothpaste. When he released her she faked a smile and forced herself to introduce herself to her fellow housemates. Across the table Draco sat biting his jaw, his fists turning red.
It wasn't untill the feast was over when the heavy feeling of disappointment and home-sickness hit her. It felt like a heavy wieght weighing down in her stomach.
Following the other first years to her new dorm she kept close to Blaise and Draco, even though the other blonde continued to ignore her. Wrapping her arms around herself due to the coldness of the dungeons, she made her way to the brick wall where everyone was crowded around.
Suddenly a wooden door appeared and the first years made their way into the common room. Instantly eyes went wide and mouths dropped. everyone's including Hermione's - everyone's - except Draco's.
Draco stood at the back, chewing his lip and glancing around the familiar room. He just wanted tis to be over, WHAT was McGonagall thinking?! this is ridiculous. How the hell could that filthy mudblood be part of my house? he thought bitterly. Crossing his arms and sighing heavily he made his way to stand next to Blaise.
"Mate! isn't this great?! look at this place, it's even better than what i read in Hogwarts;a history!" Blaise muttered to him as the other students began to wander to their rooms. Draco turned to him I'm just going to loose him. He already treats that bitch more like a friend than me...oh if he knew she wasn't pureblood...if he knew... He thought to himself before plastering on a fake smile.
"I know right, well I better go and unpack, fancy sharing a room?" He asked and with that Blaise's face lit up with excitement.
"Of course! - I'm just going to go and talk to Pansy, see you in a bit!" And with that he was off. Turning around and looking at the familiar students, Draco luckily knew who would be the easiest to befriend and started planing his tactics. Soon enough Draco sighed and moved up the stairs and to the main hallway which lead to the girls and boys dorms. Too busy planing and daydreaming he didn't realise he had bumped into someone untill the sound of books flying across the floor was heard.
"Oh, I am so sorry, i wasn't watching where i was going!" Draco say panicking, untill that too familiar face, framed with now ice blonde locks came into view. "Oh, great it is you." He said his tone of voice changing.
"Yes it is, sorry i didn't mean to bump into you. Goodnight Malfoy." before Draco could reply, Hermione had picked herself back up and was making her way into the common room. Slightly confused and unsure what to say or do, Draco shrugged it off, turned and made his way to his new room to unpack.