A/N: Hello there, my Soulies! A couple of treats for you this chapter! The sorting, sort of... ;) As well as finding out who our evil, spoiled Eldric's soul reincarnated as. But I also had a couple of dilemma's. One of which I will address at the end of this chapter.

If you haven't already, make sure you check out Say You Won't Let Go! Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I merely borrowed the Sorting Hat's song from the first book.

XoXo,

Elle.

And the Verdict Is

Draco and Hermione had sat the rest of the train ride in silence, comfortable just to be in each other's presence. That was something Draco had never experienced with anyone. When the train pulled into the station at Hogsmeade, Draco had to actually wake Hermione because she had fallen asleep. "Hermione, we've made it into Hogsmeade."

She sat up straight and brushed at her hair, "Really? Oh my god, Draco! We're really here?" She began looking out of the window in the compartment, her eyes taking in what she could of Hogsmeade. The other students were filling the hallways outside the compartment. Draco stood and held his hand out for Hermione with a smile. "Come on. We need to get moving, too. You can see more of Hogsmeade when we get off of the train."

Hermione looked up at her trunk, "But what about…" she trailed off when Draco shook his head. "It will be moved to the castle for us. We get to ride the boats across the Black Lake, remember?" At that, her eyes lit up and she took his hand, standing up with a smile.

"Oh, I'm so excited to see the Great Hall. You know that the ceiling is enchanted right?" she said, opening the compartment door.

Draco nodded. "To reflect the sky outside, yeah, I know. It's really awesome. You really read Hogwarts: A History from front to back too, didn't you?"

She blushed and nodded, "I wanted to know as much as possible."

Draco led them into the throng of other students to the nearest exit, dreading the moment when they would eventually be separated. He knew that moment would come. For now, though, he kept his hold on Hermione's hand.

All along the platform there were murmurs and whispers reaching his ears, ones that he never thought he'd hear uttered at his school, "Harry Potter is here at Hogwarts." "Harry Potter was on the train." "Did you hear about Harry Potter?" Harry Potter was famous in the wizarding world. Though he had only been a baby at the time, he was the only known survivor of a killing curse.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself had tried to kill Harry Potter and it had backfired, resulting in the death of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. None of his followers could believe it, especially not his father. Draco hadn't been old enough to comprehend any of it. He had barely been a year old at the time. Draco knew though, from his multiple eavesdropping sessions, that his father had been wrapped up in He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's clan and it sickened him.

When the first years were ushered away by a giant man, Draco and Hermione were separated. The look Hermione gave him was a terrified one as they were put into different boats. Draco ended up in a boat with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle. "Dracoooo, where have you been?" Pansy whined in his ear, and it was all Draco could do not to roll his eyes.

XxX

In the midst of the chaos, Hermione got separated from Draco. She had a brief moment of panic before she was shoved into a boat with three other students. Her eyes were still wide as saucers as she looked around her, seated next to her was a red-headed boy. He looked vaguely familiar to her.

"You were in Madam Malkin's when I was." He blurted out when he saw her staring at him. She smiled at him, some of her panic dissipating. When he held out an awkward hand to her, she did the polite thing and took it to shake. What she didn't expect however, was to be sucked into another plane of existence.

The green rolling hills were their playground as they ran from their parents and their lessons, they were both eleven and just beginning their training. "I bet you can't catch me!" She called out to Eldric. His strawberry blonde hair was flying in the wind behind him. He insisted on keeping it long. His grin was wide as he lengthened his stride and started to gain on her. She squealed in excitement and ran all the faster.

When the boy broke the contact, he seemed unaffected and like he hadn't seen what Hermione had seen. "Um, okay then."

Hermione shook her head, "I'm sorry, I thought I saw something in the lake. My name is Hermione. Yours is Ron, right?"

This made the boy smile and nod, changing his demeanor. "Yeah, Ron Weasley. Nice to meet you."

Hermione looked forward at the pudgy boy in the front of the boat. He looked sad as he looked up at the looming castle. "What about you? What's your name?"

The boy looked back at her with sad eyes and a long expression. "Neville Longbottom. You didn't happen to see a toad on the train, did you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, Neville, I didn't."

He sighed heavily, wringing his hat in his hands, causing it to wrinkle. "Gran is going to kill me." He said.

Hermione felt sorry for the boy as she turned to look behind her. She was surrounded by boys, it seemed. Behind her was another dark-haired boy, this one with shaggy hair that got caught in his round-rimmed glasses. His eyes were so green that you could see them even in the dim lantern light on the boat.

When his hand came up to brush at his hair, she could see the edge of a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, her eyes went wide and she gasped, "Holy cricket! You're Harry Potter! I've read about you." She noticed the uncomfortable look he got in his eyes when she mentioned who he was. It had also been said in the history book that he had vanished without a trace from the wizarding world.

So she assumed he had been swept into the muggle world too. "Well, I'm Hermione Granger, it's nice to meet you." She stuck out her hand with a smile. She didn't want him to feel awkward around her. She needed all the friends she could get.

He smiled at her, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. It was then she noticed the tape holding the nose piece together. "That must be awful. Hang on." She pulled her wand free and he recoiled. She giggled as she pointed the tip of her wand at his glasses and called out clearly, "Occulus Reparo."

With a snap and a small puff of smoke, the tape disappeared and his glasses were good as new. He took them off, gave them an inspection and grinned. "Thanks." She nodded and turned around, surprised at how close the castle was now.

When their boats finally docked, she scrambled out with the help of Neville and Harry. To be honest, she was slightly scared to touch Ron again. Harry led them right up to the giant man, unafraid. He briefly explained that Hagrid was the one who had taken him to Diagon Alley.

"Alrigh', firs' years, follow meh." Hagrid turned and led them up the great stone steps of the castle, all the students looking around in wonder. Hermione tried to catch a glimpse of Draco, but there were just too many kids.

Once they were through the massive front doors, Hagrid led them around a grand foyer toward another pair of double doors. On the other side could be heard chatter from a massive crowd, which meant it had to be the Great Hall. "Professor McGonagall will be along in a moment." Hagrid said gruffly, disappearing back out of the front doors.

The students shuffled nervously, looking around the massive space, wondering when exactly the professor would show up. Hermione finally spotted Draco as he made his way over. "So it's true, Harry Potter really has come to Hogwarts." At his declaration, there were murmurs through the kids. Draco gave Ron a quick up and down look, clearly not impressed with what he saw. "You must be another Weasley."

Draco's voice was haughty, nothing like Hermione had heard on the train and she frowned. There was clearly some animosity between them, though at eleven, she could hardly imagine what it could be.

Before the foaming at the mouth began, Draco turned to Harry. "Some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You'll do best to remember that."

Hermione's eyes widened and she took a step forward towards Draco, when he caught her movement and his eyes locked with hers, he actually blushed and looked embarrassed for what he had said. But he also didn't take it back. "I think I can figure that out for myself, thanks." Harry retorted.

With a final, almost pleading look at Hermione, Draco departed and went back to wherever he'd been standing before. Hermione couldn't believe how he'd acted. He seemed like two different people. Maybe he'd explain once they were able to talk alone again. She couldn't stew on it anymore, however, because Professor McGonagall appeared, holding a rolled piece of parchment.

She gave Hermione a small smile and addressed the rest of the students. "Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. In just a moment, I will lead you into the Great Hall, where you will be sorted. First, we will listen to the Sorting Hat's song. I advise you to take heed its words, what it says could help you at some point in your time here and well after. Follow me."

She opened the doors to the Great Hall and the students filed in after her, all in awe, looking up at the enchanted ceiling, Hermione among them. She hadn't noticed Draco sliding up beside her until he had whispered in her ear, "Hermione, I'm sorry. It's just there's a lot of family history between the Weasleys and Malfoys. And as for Potter, well, I tried to befriend him in Malkin's and he was incredibly rude to me."

She looked over at Draco and frowned, he was pouting like a petulant child. Well, he was a petulant child, but still. "That doesn't give you an excuse to be mean, Draco. Just because there is family history between your families, doesn't mean that the two of you cannot call a truce. You are a new generation. And as for Harry Potter? You can't be friends with everyone. Just let it go and walk away."

Hermione huffed, crossing her arms on her chest as she looked at Draco. He gave her a crooked grin and nodded, "Yes, Hermione. Okay, I've got to go. I'll see you soon." He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and went back to his friends.

Hermione was blushing as she remained in her spot, her eyes glued to the professor's platform, where McGonagall was standing next to a stool and a ragged looking hat. She frowned as she watched the hat. She knew, from Hogwarts: A History, just what this hat was and what it did. But she was surprised at its state. It looked as if it were ready to fall apart at the seams.

Just as she thought that, one of the seams opened up, revealing a mouth-like opening, and the old hat began to speak in a rhythmic voice:

Oh you may not think I'm 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!

Hermione memorized every word the Sorting Hat said, cataloging it all in her brain for later use, and wondered which house she'd be sorted into. She could already imagine Draco being sorted into Slytherin, she just had a feeling that would happen.

She couldn't picture herself in Slytherin, she wasn't cunning. Ravenclaw, maybe. She had wit and learning was her absolute most favorite thing in the world. She would very much like to be in Ravenclaw. But then again, she could also picture herself in Hufflepuff. She was a very loyal person when it came to those she loved and cherished. She was just and unafraid of toil. So lost in her mind, she missed Professor McGonagall calling her name the first time.

On the second call, she shook herself and started up the steps repeating to herself, "Breathe, just breathe, it'll be okay." She settled herself on the stool, taking deep breaths. She didn't even have to search; her eyes just immediately latched onto Draco's. He gave her an encouraging smile and her fears melted away. She didn't even flinch when the hat was placed on her head.

She did, however, gasp when a voice echoed inside her head, "Oh, now this is very intriguing. An old soul. A very old soul we have here. One that goes back to the foundations of this very school. Interesting...yes, yes, I see now. Green and silver, blue and bronze. Your parents' original coat of arms. Fate, however, has other plans, my dear. Red and Gold, it's all right here. Your soul cleaved in two will be righted once more, but you must help the one who will defeat darkness. And for that you are needed right where dwell the brave. For what you did was brave indeed." The voice left her head and in turn shouted into the Great Hall, "GRYFFINDOR!"

XxX

Draco's heart sank when Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor. This would just make their friendship that much more difficult on both their ends. He watched as she bounced off of the stage and took her place at the Gryffindor table. As she was welcomed by the Weasley twins, he felt a twinge of jealousy. He knew she wouldn't have been placed in Slytherin, she was too good for that; but he had hoped. Oh, how he had hoped.

When his own name was called, he walked up the steps haughtily, giving his friends a smirk. But ultimately, his eyes landed on Hermione's. He wanted so much to be someone different at that moment, to be someone she could be proud of. The ache was so strong, that when the hat was placed on his head, it didn't immediately shout Slytherin as he'd expected.

"Oh, another Malfoy. I would say I knew exactly what to do with you. But there is something different here. You have an old soul as well. Tied to that of another here. You are still cunning, oh yes. But yet, there are some underlying tones of bravery here. Wit beyond measure was Ravenclaw's greatest pride. You are quite the conundrum, young Mister Malfoy. Where to put you?"

His heart was jumping in his chest. He'd always expected that he would be placed in Slytherin, as all his family had. Except for his cousin, Sirius. But now, the hat was actually debating where he should go. His wide eyes were locked on Hermione's and she was looking at him curiously, wondering what was happening.

"Yes, yes, your entire family has been in Slytherin. I see the yearning you have to be a better person. You could achieve that in Gryffindor, you know. With your heart's desire, yes, I see that too. I also see that you do not wish to disappoint your father. You will soon see that family isn't everything. But you see, I don't make many mistakes. The founders made sure of that. Especially after that dreadful debacle before Hogwarts even began. Poor, poor Seraphina. Oh well, better be…"

A/N: Okie dokie Soulies. I was told, yet again, that I was evil. I just love leaving cliffhangers. So sue me. Please don't. Now, to address the obvious dilemma. The reason I left the chapter the way I did, was because I was having a hard time choosing where Draco should go. The obvious choice is Slytherin, ob...viously. But as you saw the Sorting Hat say, he would do well in two other houses as well. So, let me know, in your reviews, what house you think he should be in!

XoXo,

Elle!