"Anything that thinks logically can be fooled by something else that thinks at least as logically as it does."
― Douglas Adams.
When a lady called McGonagall knocked on her parents door on a Sunday at precisely 11am, no one was particularly surprised. Hermione answered the door, politely introduced herself then lead her to her parents who were sitting on the couch discussing different anaesthetic tactics. Introductions were made, tea and biscuits were served and a discussion on Hermiones 'Special' abilities commenced.
McGonagall, a veteran at dealing with muggles with magical children was honestly surprised at how well the Grangers took the news, though as spoke of pasts experiences dealing with Hermione it made quite clear sense.
"Well Hermione has always been a gifted child, academically she excels beyond her school curriculum why she is due to start her GCSEs in two years!" He exclaimed, McGonagall nodded along in surprise, taking the cue that GCSE's where some sort of accomplishment to be praised.
"But funny things always used to happen around her, she would seem to fly down stairs, she could carry stacks of books that even I couldn't lift for god sake!" He exclaimed, shaking his head in confusion at the memory.
"When ever she went into the garden." The girls mother began, speaking in a fond tone, "All the flowers would bloom! even if it was in the middle of winter!" She laughed lightly and stroked her daughters hair lightly, "Our little miracle child we called her." Hermione's cheeks went a bit red but the affection was clear in the child's eyes. Yes, Mcgonagall thought, smiling a little, these parents would not be objective at all.
"Though there were a few incidents at school, one which led to a teacher, Ms Piles, a lovely lady at Hermione's Primary school taking us aside and explaining some things" She sipped her tea and her husband finished the story.
"At first we didn't believe her, but she insisted that our daughter was a witch! We were quite upset but then she explained that she was a , a quib?" He asked questionably, seeming to verify with the actually witch in front of then if that was the correct term.
"A squib" McGonagall corrected, understanding now why these two muggles were not surprised, they knew before Hogwarts sent the letter of their child's ability.
"Yes thats it, anyways she suggested she have some afternoon lessons with Hermione to help her control her outbursts, and then asked if anyone in our family has 'funny' incidents from time to time." He continued. "Turns out on of my great aunts is a witch and my cousin is a wizard! Always wondered how Billy could climb to the top of trees and job from the top without so much as a scratch! Tried it once myself and a broke my leg!"
"They have helped out with Hermione and explained quite a few things to her actually, though they are french they did suggest that Hermione attend Beubaxons." Hermione's mother continued and McGonagall looked up in surprise, most muggle borns do not consider attending other schools.
"Well it is a formidable school but I must say Hogwarts is one of the Best magical schools in all of Europe and Beubaxon's students are required to speak french fluently." McGonagall warned, feeling a need to defend her school.
"Well yes but Hermione is fluent in French and I have heard that Hogwarts is not accepting of those born from Muggle families and that due to the culture the measures to stop bullying are quite..lax" She looked at McGonagall sharply trying to judge her reaction, who herself frowned, it was not what the school was known for but such things really where unavoidable.
"I can assure you Hogwarts gives each student and equal start and treats each student equally no matter their heritage and all forms of discrimination are heavily frowned upon." Prideful like a lion, she was ready to stand her ground, such forms of accusations where not treated lightly by the loyal lioness.
"But if I was sorted into Slytherin, would I be treated equally by my peers?" The little girl in question inquired quite subtly, looking at the head of house of the Lion. She was a pretty little thing, very well postured and polite but what caught the woman's attention where her eyes, they were deep brown and full of knowledge. A Ravenclaw for sure McGonagall mused, feeling some fondness for the girl who got very excited at the mention of knowledge to learn.
Though her Lions hold a special place in her heart she had many a few favorite from Ravenclaw whose love of knowledge and understanding of rules lead for enjoyable discussions without the worry of mischief. But the question she asked was a tricky one, no she would not be but muggle borns where rarely sorted into Slytherin.
"Well Muggle borns are generally sorted into other houses and all students are to be respectful to other houses" She answered with a warm smile, the childs parents looked relaxed but the child herself did not seem convinced.
"I am sorry to sound impolite but that did not answer my question, I know that the house of Slytherin is for the cunning and those seeking ambitious is it not? I am not sure how you sort your students though but isn't those the qualities that determine the house? If I am sorted into the house will I be treated equally as those who come from magical Heritage?"
McGonagall gave the child a once over, she was smart and not an easy one to seer in a different direction, not many children are so...aware. Yes, McGonagall mused as she looked around the room with many awards dedicated to this magical little child, maybe her parents were not bias like most in believing their children is especially gifted in intellect, maybe this one actually was.
No they would not she thought.
"Obviously they would as all people in a house are like a family." She answered, though she felt slightly unnerved at the disbelieving stare the child gave her, perhaps someone has given her an unfiltered view of the Slytherin house.
"Very well." Hermione did not sound convinced, mouth going in a thin line. McGonagall recognized it as something she did herself when she was being lied to by a student and knew very well they were not telling the truth.
McGonagall felt that it was best to correct herself, she was not a liar but there was no need to scare children before they learnt the wonders of magic, and all decent wizard folk wouldn't care either way.
"Though there is a stigma attached to Slytherin, many successful Half bloods and muggle borns have been produced from slytherin." That was the truth, they were not accepted but they were generally very intelligent and gifted, Snape came into mind, no he was not accepted but he was successful. A half truth was all she would offer.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you Miss, for answering my question." McGonagall felt slightly stung, Hermione was far to intelligent for such a young age, a question came into mind.
"May I ask what your particular interest in Slytherin is? There are many houses at Hogwarts all equally valued, respected and produce great witches and wizard." McGonagall didn't know how to tell this little girl who seemingly knew already that Slytherin would not accept her.
"I would like to be apart of the UN someday." She began. "The United nations is a founding base of our planet that strives for education and equality, I want to be an ambassador for England representing our country on the world stage. That is a goal of mine that I doubt I can achieve as a witch but I am interested in law and would like to pursue a career in Law." McGonagall stared, Yes, a very bright child indeed.
"At the university I wish to attend, there motto is claustra, frux, potestatis totous. " Hermione began. "Ambition, success and Power is All" McGonagall translated, looking at Hermione with surprise.
"To be a lawyer for equal rights those are the qualities you need and I believe if I choose to attend Hogwarts Slytherin would be the best fit for me, so I was wondering would they be accepting of me if I was sorted into there house?"
McGonagall just sat in silence.
"How are students sorted anyways?" Her father asked to break the silence. McGonagall was brought back to life with that question and smiled knowingly.
"Are that is a surprise, the sorting is in front of the whole school whole at the opening feast and kept as a secret is a tradition, though I am sure Hermione will write all about it."
"Well I assume you use some sort of magical object correct?" McGonagall looked up in surprise, "What makes you think that?" Wondering if the squib told her.
"Well if the houses are based on personality traits and founding moral views, then an in depth understanding, like an interview would be held but because it is in front of the whole school then asking personal and time consuming questions seems illogical, so I guess you cast a spell or use a device to sort the personalities for you."
McGonagall was shocked. "Well I have no doubt you will be a Ravenclaw with such logical thinking" She praised, stunned at such an observation.
"Wait is there only one house that logical people are sorted into?" McGonagall was about to retort, her feathers ruffled but the honestly confused look on little pose Hermione made her realize what her statement was interpreted as.
"No but the thirst for knowledge is." Hermione hmmed in response.
"One more thing, How will I be able to complete my muggle studies if I am studying magic as well, do you do both?" This is when McGonagall felt conflict would arise.
Three hours later a deal was reached, if Hermione was to attend Hogwarts her muggle education would still take place, her books will be sent with her and she will do her testing during the holidays though in her fourth yeah she would need to take 2 weeks during year 4 and year 6 for GCSE tests and A levels leaving her year free for OWLs and NEWTS. McGonagall argued saying it would interrupt with her magical education.
"But I was born and raised in the muggle world, am I expected to give up my dreams and culture for another one? I have lived in wizardry life but I prefer muggle personally, If I do not complete Muggle studies which need to be done as a child how am I expected to go to University or get a job in the Muggle world? I would be trapped with wizarding qualifications meaning I would have to work in the wizarding world."
McGonagall didn't know how to respond, yes it wasn't very common but sometime a muggle born would be expected to do both muggle and wizardy education but generally they are irresponsible with the lack of structure and support that comes with school and stick to wizardy instead.
Afterwards a worn McGonagall was ready to leave, while not easily swayed for magical only education they where intelligent to talk to, and she was curious to see what this remarkably bright child was capable of, no more contact was necessary as the child's magical family would take her to diagon Alley to collect her school supplies. As McGonagall left for Hogwarts she was curious to see how her staff members would think of her opinion of this child. McGonagall smiled at how Severus would react to a muggleborn actually wanting to be in Slytherin, though obviously such a nice girl wouldn't get sorted there, she was much better off in RavenClaw or perhaps, with her non stand down personality, Gryffindor.
Her sorting was quite a surprise to most.
Slytherin didn't seem to know how to react, there was some enthusiastic clapping but mostly silence.
A halfblood obviously, most thought, after all, it was a very rare occurrence that a mudblood was sorted into Slytherin. It never boded well for a mudblood to be sorted into Slytherin, centuries ago their deaths were celebrated but now the hate was reduced to mere disgust. Mudbloods were weak, they took away power and prestige of those pure of blood, they weakened the bloodlines, changed the laws and ignored their heritage. They were not welcome.
The girl with the elaborate braid walked towards the Slytherin table calmly, she sat beside a large first year and kept quite, they ignored her.
It helped that upon entering the common room, the bloody baron introduced himself, requesting to talk later on, she accepted and he nodded his head in complacence. Even the 7th years felt uneasy around the haunted ghost, but they stopped with the frosty glares and biting remarks. To even recive any reaction from the Bloody Baron was a sign that she rightfully belonged. As these children where not apparently familiar with the term logic they did not question how this had anything to do with her worth as a Slytherin.
No one questioned why he did it in the first place.
Her teachers saw potential.
She was quiet though seemingly enthusiastic child upon first impression. She glared at everything and everyone, slouched and tried to be invisible. She paid attention in class, disturbed no one, her work was impeccable, pronunciation flawless and spell work powerful. A strange combination, that someone so sullen was so eager to learn.
She used muggle writing utensils which was frowned upon, but then again her reasoning was sound. All assignments and homework were handed in using quills and parchment, therefore the defense that it would hinder her writing skills during exams was shot down, so why does it matter what she used to write down her notes in class?
Most muggle borns feel an intense need to fit in amongst their new world and yet she did not, there was no fear of exile as she was already a piranha in her own house, perhaps thats why she stuck to muggle conventions.