Authors note: I do not own Harry Potter.
Draco's POV
The Great Hall was an amazing sight to behold. The ceiling did indeed look like the night sky I had just seen.
We strolled through the long tables past our upperclassmen. Directly ahead was Dumbledore. I couldn't help but think of everything my father has said about him.
Sitting in its own chair was the sorting hat. It had folds that creased to make into eyes and a mouth.
"When I call your name you will come forth, I will place the sorting hat on your head, then you will join your classmates at your house table" said the woman.
"Hannah Abbot."
I might have looked okay on the outside, but inside I was a nervous wreck. This was a pivotal moment in my quest to keep Potter's friendship. We needed to be in the same house.
"Where do you think your going to get sorted to?" I whispered to Harry, who had been enamored with the ceremony.
"I don't know. I'm sure any house would do, they all have good qualities... my parents were Gryffindor."
"Yeah..." I replied, not knowing what to say as more names were called.
A girl names Susan Bones went to Hufflepuff. A Millicent Bulstrode was the first for Slytherin. Then a few made it into Ravenclaw. A Justin Finch-Fletchley made it to Hugglepuff. Seamus Finnigan joined Lavender Brown in Gryffindor. I was anticipating Granger any second. Not that I cared...
"Anthony Goldstein." The boy went up, and about 20 seconds later was sorted to Ravenclaw.
Here it is... she's next. I could feel myself turning red. I could make out her hair from my peripherals. I wonder why I wasn't feeling the way I at Diagon Alley... there was no electricity coursing through me and my heart wasn't racing. No vibrations in the air... and definitely no sandpaper ripping my skin off. It was almost like seeing a different girl.
"Hermione Granger."
I sucked in a breath. I exchanged a knowing glance with Harry who shared another with Ron at his side. We watched her very rigidly walk up to the stool.
She sat and the hat was placed on her head.
We couldn't hear what was going on in her head, but I knew it was something serious from the start. She wasn't making eye contact with anybody, but her brows furrowed and her mouth opened to say something.
The mild chatter in the hall died down to almost nothing after about a minute going by and the hat hadn't made a decision.
The professors were leaning into each other, whispering at the phenomenon.
Dumbledore watched intently, still calm.
It had been three minutes and still no answer. At this point the students were making quick gossip of the situation and the professor doing the ceremony had walked over to the headmaster.
This was impressive. This was proving the notion I had felt from the moment I saw her: she was no ordinary witch.
"Wow, Draco. That is the girl you said attacked you right?" Harry questioned.
"Yep. I wonder what's going on in her head right now." I said.
"Students, this is a rare sight to witness. Do not fear, a decision will be made." The headmaster rose and spoke to the room. Everyone was silent now in anticipation.
At five minutes the hat started twitching like it was having a hard time getting the word out. Grangers eyes were squeezed shut and she looked like she was crying.
Poor mudblood. A simple wizarding experience like this must have been too much for her to-
"Slytherin!"
The old witch took the hat off her head hastily, mouth slightly open in awe.
Granger rose and had an unreadable face on. She walked to the Slytherin house table and sat next to Millicent.
"Draco, she's gonna be in your house! So much for getting away from her!" Harry said with a joking, puppy-dog face.
I couldn't even respond. I couldn't even... I can't... how was this possible. This went against everything Salazar Slytherin stood for. He didn't agree with mudbloods learning magic. There must have been something wrong with the hat.
You could tell something was stirring amongst the professors. The ceremony continued, but the conversations between them and the students was still on this mysterious miss Granger.
A few more students went to Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor before my name was called.
The hat didn't even sit on my head a second before it called out "Slytherin!"
I smiled, but that was only for appearances. I made my way to Slytherin table and sat next to Goyle, and directly across from Granger: the first mudblood to ever be in Slytherin. I could only imagine what my father would say when he heard. I'm sure it wouldn't be long before the whole wizarding world heard. This was definitely Daily Prophet material.
"That was impressive Draco, the hat didn't even sit on your head!" Goyle said, nudging me with his elbow.
"So that's your name, is it? Draco Malfoy." Granger was contemplating something. I didn't like this at all. Why was she talking to me?
I glanced down the table. It was obvious the older kids were not thrilled about Granger. But she did just talk to me, so I needed to respond... but how did I want to come off to her? The whole house was watching this exchange even if they couldn't hear it. Did I want her life to be hell, or should I be nice and show acceptance?
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you my name before. I wish to put the past behind us, start new." I started. She looked amused but devious. Maybe she really did belong in Slytherin.
"Yes, I'd like that too." I had to look away, her eyes were too piercing. It was like we were using code words, and had a secret to uphold.
"You've met-" Goyle started to question before I cut him off with my hand.
"These are my friends Crabbe and Goyle."
They both had their mouths open like codfish. Embarrassing imbeciles... we all had little experience with girls, but still...
"Pleasure." She smiled nicer at them.
"Theodore Nott."
I hadn't turned to look, and I was able to watch and judge Grangers reaction. The other names hadn't caught her attention, but she was definitely watching intently at my friends sorting. Interesting...
"Ravenclaw!" The hat shouted out.
I snapped my head around at that. Theodore was visibly shocked and in a daze. He never said anything, but he did need encouraging to walk to his house table.
What was wrong with the hat this year? I was just thankful the hat hadn't put me into another house. I wouldn't be able to show my face to father if that had happened.
Pansy was sorted into Slytherin and sat next to me. I didn't think she was going to sit next to the girl she just called a mudblood.
"Harry Potter."
The whole room was watching him as he sat on the stool. Dumbledore had shifted to get a better view.
The hat was pushing 45 seconds before it yelled out "Slytherin!"
The room had an obviously louder applause. They got to witness the Boy Who Lived being sorted, something they could tell their families.
Harry sat down next to Granger. He looked like he had just seen a ghost.
I was rather surprised this was all working out so well. The theoretical cat was in the bag. He looked my way and I did my best to give him a reassuring smile.
"Ronald Weasley."
The boy sat with the hat on his head, then a few seconds later "Hufflepuff!"
The boys face turned red as the hall clapped. His older siblings, obvious by the red hair, stood and yelled "Don't give us a bad name in Hufflepuff!"
He sat in his seat staring back at the hat.
The boy had seemed so convinced he was going to be a Gryffindor. You had to be brave to be one of them. He must not posses such qualities. I would have been embarrassed to be a Hufflepuff, they're all too emotional and gushy.
The last name to be called was Blaise Zabini. He naturally went to Slytherin. He seated himself next to the infamous Harry Potter.
"I have a few start of term announcements before we all have our feast!" The headmaster roared. He was standing in front of a podium, silver and blue robes engulfing him.
He introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Quirinus Quirrell. He was a fretful, skinny man wearing a turban.
I felt bad knowing somehow, something bad was going to happen and he would loose his position by next year. Father said that ever since Dumbledore denied the Dark Lord the position many years ago, a jinx had been put on the position. No one ever lasted more than a year.
"... third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bound to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death..." he ended. What a way to end a speech.
"Now, let the feast... begin!" Food appeared at the table and I helped myself to a little of everything in sight.
There was a brief exchange between Granger and Millicent, but they spoke so low I couldn't hear anything.
I gazed up at the professors table and spotted my godfather and Quirrel looking at Potter.
"Argh," Harry winced and rubbed his scarred forehead. Granger leaned forward and asked him if he was okay, and he stated his scar was hurting him.
"Who is that professor?"
I looked behind me. "That's just my godfather. Severus Snape."
"Professor Snape..." Granger said his name like a dirty word.
"He's not that bad, once you get to know him."
I was mid-bite of my pudding when her amused chuckle interrupted me.
"I wouldn't laugh, Granger, he's a right scary looking man." Potter said to the girl.
"I was laughing about something else entirely." Granger cautiously, slowly let her eyes trail forward to meet with mine. I felt that fuzzy, electric feeling like I did at Diagon Alley with her finally. It was malignant and warm, and very accusing. "He is rather intimidating looking, I'll be my own judge of character. Malfoy may be right, but I do think it stranger how your scar hurt you when he was looking at you..."
"What class does he teach, Draco?" Harry asked. He didn't seem phased the same way I was by this girl.
"Potions."
Very little else got discussed at our portion of the table. The meal concluded and we were instructed to follow our house prefect to the Slytherin dungeon.
He went over a few more rules and where our dorms were located. The boys dormitories were to the right.
Down a staircase or two, we turned into a secret corridor and the prefect told the portrait "pureblood" to let us in.
I knew the second I walked in I was going t really enjoy this room. The atmosphere was everything I wanted to have when I got older. It was strong, crisp, and knew what its identity was. The serpent snake was embellished on everything from the giant stained glass window(the only window in the place) to the clocks and knick-knacks all over the place.
I led the boys straight to the dorm so I could get to my parchment: I had to send a letter to my parents about today. Harry Potter being in Slytherin would definitely make fathers day. I thought about not including the mudblood being in Slytherin. I then thought better if it when I realized how mad he'd be if he didn't hear it from me first.
Everyone was taking a while to find which bed was theirs, but finally I learned who my roommates would be. I had Crabbe, Goyle, and Harry Potter. Perfect... once again, things were falling into place.