From lioness to serpent princess

I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone for their support. Your reviews that I received showing me lots of support from you all and the positive vibes I also got from them made me cry, when I read them *I got given funny looks as I was in a public place*; nevertheless I have spent a good portion of my afternoon and evening (England time) thinking about what I should do, however once again due to all your support and positivity I have decided to carry on updating this story as I do not want to let down my LOYAL readers.

You are all aware that this story is my own creation and that if this story was found somewhere else and not under this name, then you would also know that it is a fake because this is the original story.

So once again thank you to everyone who sent me positive comments about the 'Kissy kissy' incident that happened earlier on in the day, but I have decided that it should not ruin my love of writing this story and sharing it with you all.

Thank you again to: annieharp84, annieharp84, lovethelab, dixie326, beaflower114, Nathoca Malfoy, bellqrke, spikeecat, Guest, LittlebigmouthOKC, Stantetley, bsms123 & adavi821, you are amazing people and you all made me cry :)

Chapter 9

Hermione stands on platform 9¾ waiting for the Hogwarts express to arrive, she feels someone tap her on the shoulder, and she turns around to be engulfed in a hug by Ginny.

Hermione smiles "Hello."

Ginny smiles back at her "Hi, I'm sorry I didn't see you much at Teddy's birthday party but it was like you were hiding inside the entire time."

Hermione sighs "I sort of was, there was an unwanted guest at the party and I wanted to stay away from them as they spoke to Skeeter."

Ginny looks at her friend in shock "you know who talked to Skeeter, who? I want to send them my famous hex."

Hermione giggles "No you cannot send your famous bat bogey hex at them. But yes I do know who spoke to Rita Skeeter."

Ginny pouts "fine, but who told her your secret?"

Hermione looks around to make sure that the snitch wasn't around and they weren't "It was Ronald and Lavender."

Ginny becomes shocked "wait, my brother Ron? I didn't know he was even talking to Lavender."

Hermione sits down on her suitcase "Yes your brother Ron, he was at Teddy's birthday party and Lavender was sitting on his lap. Nymphadora kept apologizing to me about her being there because even she didn't know that she was going to be there as she wasn't invited."

Ginny sighs "So he moans to Lavender about you being rehoused and thinking you have betrayed him and all Gryffindor's which you haven't by the way and Lavender who does hate you no offence snitched to Rita Skeeter who also hates you once again no offence."

Ginny looks around then looks back at Hermione "you are probably right as usual but have you given it any thought that Malfoy was the one who snitched."

Hermione nods "I did actually but Professor Snape heard Harry and I discussing whether it was Ron and Malfoy and straight away he had both Malfoy wizards over plus Kingsley and Sirius which I thought was very grown up for them both" the girls giggled "but Draco swore to me on his magic as a wizard that he didn't do it."

Ginny nudges Hermione "so its Draco now is it?"

Hermione rolls her eyes "you are worse than Harry I swear, Draco apologized to me for everything and said that he was going to apologize anyway to me even before he found all this out and thought that if we started to be at least polite to one another it might make things a lot smoother for the other Slytherin house members especially the first and second years."

Ginny points out the incoming scarlet train "here comes our train, I agree with what you and Draco have done. He was right for apologizing to you and with you guys being polite to each other around the castle it will prove to everyone that we can all get along."

The platform starts to fill up with other Hogwarts students; Harry finds his way over to the girls and so do Neville and Luna. Hermione agrees them all "you guys ready?"

Luna smiles at Hermione "I can't wait to see the changes that have been made to the castle, all the nargles have gone from your head Hermione."

Hermione smiles at the Ravenclaw student "I'm so glad that they've gone Luna, thanks for noticing."

They find an empty compartment on the train, no one mentions about the missing Weasley family member. Neville who was sitting opposite Hermione smiles at her "We've all heard about your plans Hermione, You've got my support along with Luna's, Seamus and Dean's."

Hermione becomes shocked and surprised "wow really? That means so much to me, thank you."

Ginny nudges her "of course we are going to support you Hermione, if anyone can change how we all look at the Slytherin house then it's going to be you. After all you are making history by being the first muggleborn to be placed in there even if it was against your will."

Hermione hugs them each "thank you so much."

They talk about their summers; Hermione just stares out of the window wondering what waits for all of them. She was nervous about what the other Gryffindor's would say and do; but the biggest worry for Hermione right now was that the other members of the Slytherin house were going to continue to hate her or go against her and everything she was going to work for.

As they get closer to the Hogsmead stop, Neville and Harry leave the compartment so that the girls could get changed in their school uniform. Hermione sits down and looks at the green and silver tie staring back at her that was in her hands.

The boys walk back in, Harry sees Hermione just staring at her tie "Luna what does Ravenclaw house stand for?"

Luna smiles and puts her hand on Hermione's arm "Intelligence, creativity, originality, acceptance, wit, individuality and wisdom."

Neville smiles "Hufflepuff traits are Dedication, hard work, fair play, patience, kindness, tolerance, loyalty and unafraid of toil."

Harry puts his arm around her "Bravery, nerve, chivalry, courage, daring, just, honour, courteous and strength of will they are the traits of the Gryffindor house."

Hermione lets the tears fall and nods "Cunning, ambition, resourcefulness, determination, cleverness, power, self-preservation, leadership qualities and fraternity, those are the traits of the Slytherin house, my house."

Ginny and Harry smile at her and both say "I didn't hear you say evil, murderous or dark Mione."

Hermione puts her tie around her neck and slowly ties it; she puts on her cardigan and looks down at the bottom where the Slytherin colours laid "still feels weird knowing I won't be in the same common room with you Harry or sleeping in the same dorm as you Ginny."

Ginny sadly nods "however you don't have to share a dorm with Lavender or a common room with her and my brother."

Hermione nods "I still have to get the Slytherin house on my side so that I can try and change how we all think about them and themselves because the second years were scared when they got placed into the Slytherin house. You shouldn't be afraid of what house you get placed in, you should embrace it."

Neville smiles at her "Once you embrace who you now are Hermione, the others will follow."

The train stops at Hogsmead and like always Hagrid was there to meet the first years. He waves to the group before he heads off with the first years. Hermione stops Harry "Harry wait, I need to talk to you."

The others carry on walking; Harry turns to Hermione "are you getting cold feet?"

Hermione shakes her head "No I just want you to know that no matter what happens from now onwards, I will be your friend."

Harry smiles and nods "He betrayed our trust Hermione not just yours, who's to say that if I tell him some big secret about my life he won't tell Lavender and she won't spread it. Besides he'll be too busy smooching her to even realise I'm around. Is it too late to get my rehoused too?"

They laugh and walk towards the castle, Hermione out of habit glances behind her to find a very strange sight. Draco was walking behind them with his 'minions' but it was how near he was walking behind them which made Hermione think it was strange as he was right behind them.

Hermione feels even stranger when she sits down at the Slytherin table, but she felt someone poke her in the side, she glances over her shoulder to see Harry, Ginny and Neville happily sitting behind her; as the teachers had placed the Gryffindor table next to the Slytherin table to make Hermione feel for comfortable.

They listen to all the first years getting housed, whenever a new name was added to the Slytherin house, Hermione clapped a little bit louder and each time they faintly smiled in her direction.

Dumbledore waits for silence before he starts his next speech "Now that everyone has been sorted, I want to officially welcome everyone to Hogwarts. I know last year was a tragic one for everyone and before dinner is served we will have a minute silence to remember all those who lost their lives whether they were on the light side or dark side. But before that on a much happier note; I would like to introduce you all to your two new defence against the dark arts teachers, some of you may remember one of them, I can proudly introduce to you all Professor Remus Lupin and his assistant Sirius Black."

Everyone in the great hall stood up and clapped Remus and Sirius, Hermione looked over at Severus for a second and even he had stood up just like the other teachers and gave them both a few claps.

Once the clapping had stopped, Hermione saw that Professor Dumbledore had looked her way, she knew what was coming, once again Professor Dumbledore stood before them all "Another announcement due to unfortunate events that took place in the last couple of years, the house of Salazar Slytherin has had its name and some members tainted however as many of you may already know, Gryffindor house member Hermione Granger has discovered her connection to the founder and has moved from Gryffindor to Slytherin. I also believe that Miss. Granger along with the support of her house will bring light back to the dark house."

Everyone starts to clap; she couldn't believe her eyes or ears. The first years down at the far end of the table seemed to be clapping the loudest and looked very happy about the news they had just received.

Once the minute silence and dinner was over, Hermione wished her friends goodnight and heads towards the dungeons, she notices that a few first years were hanging around the portrait of their house founder. Hermione could also tell that something was wrong.

Hermione stands in front of them and softly asks "Why are you all standing out here?"

One first year looks at her "We're scared, we heard about what the headmaster said about bringing light back but it will take time."

Hermione shakes her head "Follow me; I have an announcement of my own to make to you all. Do not worry nothing inside the common room or dorms will hurt you. I personally got rid of the dark magic items from our rooms."

The small group of first years follow Hermione as she stands in the common room; everyone else was waiting for her as they had already been told that she wanted to talk to them.

Hermione stands by the fire place in front of them "Firstly I want to welcome you all to the house of Salazar Slytherin whether you are a first year or a seventh year repeat like myself. I know most of you have spent the last six years of our school years hating me and I forgive you for that. You were just following in your parent, older siblings footsteps or you were scared about Riddle."

Hermione glances over at Draco and his group of minions which now including Pansy.

She then puts her focus back to everyone else "There is nothing to be afraid of anymore. We have all been given this second chance, to show not only the people inside this castle but to everyone else in the wizarding world, that the house of Salazar Slytherin can be filled with greatness but most importantly that this house can and will be filled with light."

Hermione stops to think about how to word her next speech but to also let her words sink into them "Some traditions need to be kept and some others need to be broken; as I stand here before you I am breaking one of those traditions and making history as the first muggleborn to wear the Slytherin house colours. But this is not the only tradition I want to break, change or start nevertheless I cannot do this by myself it will take all of us to do this, so who's with me?"

Who will stand with Hermione?

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Gracie :)