Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Eight: Hogwarts

While they had of course been at the castle before, Hermione had to admit that there was something magical about seeing it from this perspective. They had gotten off the Hogwarts Express and had been collected by Hagrid as he bellowed out "Firs' years wi' me!"

They had then been led by the hulking half-giant (what else could he be? He was much too big to be anything else after all) to a boat dock. There the first year students had been placed four to a boat (Hermione and Harry shared with Neville and Ron), and then the boats had started across the lake. Rounding a bend in the lake they had gotten their first view. The castle was huge and sprawling, much larger than Hermione had realized. The lights shown brightly from myriad windows up and down the length of the keep, for it was much more than just a castle. It was an environment all to itself.

She glanced over at Harry, and a frisson of pleasure shot up her spine. His eyes were twinkling madly, and he had a thoroughly pleased look on his young face. Hermione thrilled inwardly at the sight. This was a vision that would forever be etched in her mind. It was as if Harry Potter was coming home at last.

Harry surprised her then. He reached down and grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his lips to place a small kiss on her knuckles. He grinned madly at her, and then pulled her into a hug. Gone was the reserved, shy young boy that she had met, replaced with a vibrant youth full of life and exuberance. She gladly returned the hug, ignoring the noises of disgust coming from the redheaded passenger in the boat. She glanced over at Neville, who was smiling softly at the two of them. He rolled his eyes in Ron's direction and shrugged his shoulders.

Hermione didn't really know what to make of Ronald Weasley. He had potential, that she could tell, but it seemed to be buried under a huge layer of crass and, well, quite frankly, a lot of bull shit. She could tell that Harry wasn't really happy with the redhead either. He seemed to be tolerating his presence to keep from making a scene.

She turned her attention back to Hogwarts. They were approaching a boathouse now, though it reminded her of a Muggle church. It had a tall spire in the front of the roof, and a large opening which the boats made their way into. They were all led off the boats and the dock, and up a long flight of steps leading into the castle.

At the top of the steps a stern looking witch in shimmering green tartan robes was waiting for them. Hermione smiled when she saw her. Professor McGonagall was everything that she envisioned a professor and deputy headmistress to be.

The first years stopped in front of her; all but Ron Weasley did anyways. He kept going, lost in his own little world, until he was drawn up short by a wand under his nose. That the wand was being brandished by Professor McGonagall was not lost on Ron. With a gulp he hurried to rejoin the group of first years.

As the students huddled together trying to figure out what was going to happen Professor McGonagall silenced any whispers that had been frantically passed between worried young wizards and witches.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. The start-of-term banquet shall begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you shall be sorted into you houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house shall be something like your family with Hogwarts. You shall have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs shall earn your house points, while any rule-breaking shall lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you shall be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting ceremony shall take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return for you when we are ready for you."

With that she turned on her heal and exited out a large door way. Hermione could just make out a glimpse of a what certainly appeared to be a great hall. The moment the professor disappeared the students erupted in whispered questions, mostly wondering what sort of ceremony could be used to sort them. She was highly please when Harry calmly quoted Hogwarts: a History while he explained to Neville just what was going to take place.

All too quickly Professor McGonagall was back. She led them in a line into the Great Hall. There were four rows of tables containing students, and a raised dais with a row of tables running perpendicular to the others for the professors. In front of said dais was a short stool with a large floppy witch's hat on it. A large rip appeared in it and the hat began to sing.

Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

"When your name is called, please come up and place the Sorting Hat on your head," Professor McGonagall said. "You shall then be sorted into your house. Once you have been sorted please go to the table of your house." She consulted a large scroll of parchment. "Abbott, Hannah," she said loudly. A pretty young girl walked up nervously and placed the hat on her head.

After a few moments the rip opened and the hat exclaimed, "Hufflepuff!" The relieved young girl practically sprinted to her house. Hermione held Harry's hand as they waited for their names to be called. As the professor was calling them up in alphabetical order, Hermione knew that her turn was going to come before Harry's.

Anthony Goldstein was sorted into Ravenclaw, and Hermione knew that she would be going up shortly. She was preparing herself when Professor McGonagall called out "Greengrass, Daphne." Hermione spun and looked at Harry. He looked as bewildered as she did. Granger clearly came before Greengrass. Harry squeezed her hand gently to comfort her and they waited rather more impatiently for their turns in the cycle.

Eventually, after Patil, Parvati, had been sorted into Gryffindor, the professor called out, "Potter, Harry." Harry gave Hermione and apologetic look and went up to the stool and sat down, placing the hat on his head. Immediately he heard a voice inside his head.

"Hmmm… A Potter. A very good mind here, very studious… you might be a good fit in Ravenclaw… though I see a large amount of loyalty in you, prized in Hufflepuff… there is also a great amount of ambition, a desire to succeed… you would go far in Slytherin… and yet, there is a great amount of bravery, sought after by Gryffindor… you are a hard one to place, Harry Potter…"

The Hat shuddered for a moment. "There is another in the picture though… I wonder what she has…" The hat went silent for a long stretch. "Ahh… the children of destiny… there really is only one choice then…"

The hat opened up and yelled, "Gryffindor!" Harry scampered off to the Gryffindor table to the massive cheering when the house realized that they had just gotten The Harry Potter.

"Potter, Hermione," Professor McGonagall called out. Harry's head whipped around and watched as a confused Hermione stumbled on her way to the Hat. The hat had barely made it to her head when it called out, "Gryffindor!" She made her way to the table and sat next to Harry. She looked so out of sorts and confused that he couldn't help himself. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and held her while rubbing her back.

Hermione couldn't understand what had just happened. She was uncharacteristically at a loss for words. She wasn't a Potter, she was a Granger. Oh, she hoped that someday in the future Harry would make her a Potter. She already knew that she loved him with all that she was. She thought that he might love her like that too, but this, this was unsettling.

The rest of the banquet went by in a blur for Hermione and Harry. Both were more than a little confused, and while they attempted to sort things out they failed to notice both the Headmaster's speech and the stares that the two of them were receiving.

While they were attempting to eat, an origami bird flew up to them and unfolded in front of them.

Harry and Hermione,

Please report to the Headmaster's office after the meal, the password is treacle tart.

Professor McGonagall

Once they had finished eating and the Headmaster had released them to their dormitories, Harry and Hermione were met by Professor McGonagall. She had apparently noticed their somewhat dazed appearances and decided that they needed an escort.

They slowly made their way to the Headmaster's office. When they entered they found that there was a stern looking witch with close cropped gray hair and a monocle hanging from a breast pocket. Sitting next to her was a portly little man with rumpled gray hair and a green bowler. Also in the room were the Headmaster and Tonks.

Professor Dumbledore motioned for Harry and Hermione to take a seat. To make his point he conjured a large chesterfield sofa. Harry pulled Hermione over and sat down, holding her protectively. He glanced over at Tonks and she quickly came down and sat on the other side of Hermione.

"I realize that you have had quite a few shocks today," Dumbledore started. "But, I hope that what happens now helps to make up for some of what has happened. This," he gestured to the man and woman, "is the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones." Both of them inclined their heads in greeting.

"They have something to tell you two," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Harry, Hermione," Madame Bones began, "I have reviewed the memories of Miss Tonks and Mister Lupin. That was a very brave thing you did, Harry, leaping in front of the curse to shield your bond mate. I don't know if you realize it, but that's the second time that you've survived that particular curse." She looked at the pair. "Would you mind if I examined you quickly?" At their nods she pulled out her wand and scanned them, paying close attention to each of their matching scars. She furrowed her brows but said nothing.

"We have also questioned the prisoner that was brought in: Peter Pettigrew. He was observed to have the dark mark on his left forearm, and was rather quite a bit more alive than was originally thought," said Minister Fudge. Upon questioning under veritaserum, he admitted that he had betrayed your parents, not Sirius Black as had previously been believed." The Minister had the good grace to look quite embarrassed.

"The Wizengamot," Dumbledore began, "that is, the wizarding government, has decided to release Mr. Black and to award him a sum of five hundred thousand galleons: fifty thousand galleons for each year that he was wrongfully imprisoned. He shall also have all of his assets released from bond, and receive an official apology for being wrongfully imprisoned."

At that moment the floo turned green and Remus Lupin stepped out, dusting a small amount of soot from his ragged robes. He had a haunted look in his eyes, and he shuddered for a moment before he seemed to shrug it off. He looked around the room and smiled when he saw Harry, Hermione and Tonks.

The floo flared again and three men stepped out. Two wore the robes and badges of Aurors. Between them they held a man in robes that were at least a decade out of style. He was emaciated and looked a fright. His long black hair was matted and he stank from long lack of a bath. His eyes were sunken and dead looking, and he didn't appear to have much strength in him. He struggled to regain his footing and shrugged off the hands which held him.

Remus quickly closed the distance to him and ever so gently took his head in his hands. He whispered something to the man, and as he did so the man took in a shuddering breath. With much effort his straightened himself and squared his shoulders. As he did so the Aurors nodded to their bosses and flooed back to where they came from.

Remus turned and motioned for the three to slowly approach. "Sirius," he whispered. "This Nymphadora Tonks, Andi's daughter." Sirius looked at the pretty young witch and his eyes got wide.

"Andi?" he asked. He shook his head roughly and then looked at her again. "Andi's your mother?" Tonks, who couldn't trust her voice, nodded and stepped up to Sirius and gave him a gentle hug.

"Welcome back, Sirius," she said warmly. She released him and stepped back so that he could see Harry and Hermione.

His eyes got wide as saucers as he saw them, and then he turned to Lupin. "Is that really James' boy?" he asked. "Is that really Harry?" At Lupin's nod he turned back to Harry. "Harry?" he asked.

"Hello Uncle Paddy," Harry croaked, his voice filled with emotion. "I've missed you."

"You remember me?" Sirius asked as tears started to stream down his face.

"Uh huh," Harry replied. "It came back to me this summer." He couldn't take it anymore. He launched himself into Sirius' arms, almost knocking them man off of his feet. Sirius regained his footing quickly though, and spun the boy around, letting out a mix between a laugh and a cry. He set him down and looked at Hermione.

"And who might you be, young lady?" he asked her.

"I'm Hermione… erm…" she looked over at Professor McGonagall who winked at her and nodded slightly. "Hermione Potter," she finished.

Sirius jerked upwards and stared at her. Lupin's jaw was hanging open. Tonks had a smirk on her face. She had seen the sorting from the back and already knew what had happened.

"How?" Sirius asked.

"She's my bond mate," Harry said as he wrapped his arm protectively around her.

Sirius looked over to Dumbledore. The old man nodded and then explained. "Harry and Hermione have formed a bond. It is not yet known to the public, and while we might wish it would remain that way, I am afraid that since it came out in the sorting, it shall be public knowledge soon enough. The bond allows Hermione to use the Potter name. You notice that they both wear the Potter crest upon their robes? While they are not yet spouses, it is but a matter of time…"

Sirius knelt in front of Hermione and took hold of her shoulders and smiled at her. "So you've captured his heart eh?" he asked softly. When she shyly nodded he grinned at her. "Then you've captured mine as well. I expect to meet your parents young lady, I suspect I have much to talk to them about. I don't know if you know it, but I'm Harry's Godfather." Hermione nodded again.

"Remus and Tonks explained it to us," she said. "They've been staying with us all summer." At that moment Sirius' stomach let out a loud rumble and he swayed ever so slightly. Remus was at his side and steadying him when the Minister repeated what had been said earlier so that Sirius and Remus could hear. He shook both of their hands and then he and Madame Bones took their leave.

"Now Sirius, Harry and Hermione, it has been a rough day on the three of you, and I want you to report to the hospital wing to Madame Pomfrey. She needs to check the three of you over to make sure that you don't have any side effects from the events you have been through. Remus, Minerva, Miss Tonks, would you see them to Poppy?"

"Of course we shall Albus," Professor McGonagall replied and with that she motioned for them to follow her to see the school healer.

Author's Note: So, I have a few questions to pose to you. The answers I like the best I shall do my best to incorporate into the story.

1) What was Amelia furrowing her brows about?

2) How should Harry and Hermione's bond go public?

3) What happens now with Remus and Tonks?

4) How does Sirius fit in?

5) What happens to Peter?

6) What should I do with Ron? Should he become Harry's second best friend, or should that honor fall to Neville?