Disclaimer: I make no claim to the rights of any characters that are owned by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros., and make no money from this venture. This work is purely for entertainment purposes.

— INTERLUDE II —

Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley

Hermione Granger

Hermione watched as the large boy walked up to the stool and the Sorting Hat. She may not have known about the magical world for very long but she knew good from bad and that boy was bad to the core. This was the boy who had held Neville's toad and kept it from them. Though Hermione did not want to think this way, she also thought that it didn't help that he was rather ugly.

When Hermione had opened the compartment door on the Hogwarts Express and saw the three boys sitting around, looking at her, she instinctively tried to gather exactly what they were like. The red-headed boy, Ron his name was, was fairly simple. He obviously did not know how to conceal feelings. Even so, she didn't think he was anything bad. At least she hoped not.

Harry was different. She had never met someone as strangely nice as Harry. While she tried to help find poor Neville's toad and looked around the compartments not one person had offered their help except Harry. All of them were either too busy, too good to look for a First Year's toad or simply just didn't want to help. But not Harry. The first thing he did was offer his help, and, for that, Hermione was grateful. Despite his obviously good nature, Hermione noticed that there was a sort of torment in Harry which would not be apparent to any but those looking specifically. It was in his eyes.

When Harry had told her about his family, she knew that she didn't imagine that tormented look. In fact, she made a fool out of herself and even hugged him. She tried to make a joke, and it seemed to work. Harry didn't look completely repulsed by her overly friendly act. She just couldn't help it, knowing what he had gone through. And yet he wanted to help her. She graciously accepted his help for reasons that were not exactly unselfish. If she was being truthful she really felt connected to Harry, like he was already something of a close friend. She secretly hoped he would be her friend. She needed one desperately.

Hermione's view of Harry was only strengthened by the way he acted towards the cabin full of nasty people. When he stood up for not only himself but her and Neville, who he did not even know, she felt the urge to cry. No one had ever been that nice to her before. It was clear that what he did was incredibly brave, and yet Hermione could see that he was nervous almost the whole time. That didn't stop him though, and he stood his ground.

After he had disarmed that Blaise Zabini boy with his wand somehow, Hermione noticed that his hands were shaking. But when he got the toad back from them he seemed calm again. When he turned around Hermione looked deep into his eyes. She had never seen eyes that shade of green before, and the way that they sparkled made her feel a sense of calm that she had never felt before. Like someone was watching over her. Like someone was her friend. Harry Potter was so nice to her and she would never forget it.

And then there was the third boy in the compartment, Draco was his name, Harry had told her. Hermione wondered whether that was a normal name in the magical world or whether it was as strange there as it would be in the Muggle world. The first time she saw him react to her, it was pure anger and it had taken her aback. When Harry exited the compartment, she saw into it again and saw that Draco looked guilty. She wondered if it was because Harry spoke to him about his reaction, or if it was something else. Something deeper. Something inside her wanted nothing more than to help him, but she knew it wasn't her place.

When the large boy was sorted into Slytherin she knew her time would be close. Hermione had studied about Hogwarts and knew all about the Houses. Part of her knew she was destined for Ravenclaw but another part desperately wanted to be put into Gryffindor. Her thoughts were interrupted by the first witch she had ever met calling her name.

As she walked to the stool she could feel her stomach churning and her heart begin to race. She was hardly ever put on the spot like this outside of the classroom. So many irrational thoughts ran through her head about what could happen and she simply shut them out and thought about where she wanted to go. Gryffindor. Harry had been brave on the Hogwarts Express, and she wanted to be like that.

When she reached the stool, she looked at the patched and frayed Hat and swallowed before placing it on her head and sitting on the stool. She was a little surprised when she heard a voice in her mind.

"Well, well then. A Muggle-born witch," said the Hat in Hermione's mind so clearly that he could have been talking right in her ears.

Yes sir, Hermione thought hoping the Hat could hear her. I was informed I was a witch not long ago.

"Ah, yes I can see it here as clear as day. Very interesting, Hermione. Were you so sceptical even after a demonstration that you had to ask the dear Deputy Headmistress to do some magic outside where she could be free of strings?" The Hat asked with a hint of sarcasm and laughter in its thoughts.

Hermione blushed before gathering her composure again. I felt it necessary, sir. I was not really willing to believe at the time.

"Understandable. Few Muggle-born students are at first. Your friend Harry Potter's mother was very much like you in that respect. If I remember correctly, she asked Professor McGonagall to do the very same thing. When the dear Professor turned herself into a cat, I believe Lily's reaction was much akin to yours. Shock and awe," the Hat said, clearly reminiscing about old days.

Hermione was very taken aback. Should the Hat be mentioning such things to others? Was she not the only one like that? But the most important question of all she asked the Hat aloud in her mind. You think Harry is my friend? she asked the Hat in an almost wistful tone.

"I do think so, Hermione. Although, I could be wrong in that respect. I am never wrong when placing people in Houses, however, and I do believe we have chatted enough. Now the problem I face with you Hermione is that you display every quality necessary to be a Ravenclaw but I can see in your mind that you very desperately want to be Sorted into Gryffindor. May I ask why that is?"

Of course, sir, but I did believe you could see everything in my head, Hermione thought pointedly. But I will tell you. It would not have mattered to me if I had been sorted into Ravenclaw this morning but since meeting Harry and seeing what he did to those nasty people and how he had such immense courage I knew he would be sorted into Gryffindor House. And to be perfectly honest with you, as I can't really be anything but, I want to be in the same house as Harry because I want friends. I am sure you can see what my childhood was like. Lonely. Desperately wanting friends but never getting any. Please, sir. Let me have the chance. Hermione could have sworn she heard a sniff in her mind as if the Hat was on the verge of crying.

"You are correct. I did know the answer but I wanted to hear you say it yourself for, shall we say, clarification. Thank you, Hermione for a most interesting discussion, of which I have very few," the Hat said before speaking aloud.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Draco Malfoy

Draco couldn't help but think about what the Sorting was to him. He would be defined at the moment the old battered hat placed him into a House. He was so very confused and conflicted. If he were Sorted into Slytherin, would Harry not like him anymore? Would he lose his one true friend in the whole world? Draco definitely did not want that.

But on the other hand, if he were sorted into Gryffindor, like he now wanted to be, what would happen with his father? Despite what he believed about his father and about what Harry had told him, he still loved him and craved his approval. He knew, in his mind, that it would be better for him to be Sorted into Gryffindor. Even if his father disinherited him he would at least have his friend.

He didn't like to think about what would have happened to him if he had strayed down the path which his father seemed to be leading him down. He knew it was the wrong path. He knew he hated his father, perhaps even before he met Harry, but there was a part of him that still wanted to be his son. On the whole train ride, there were a lot of times where he thought like his father had taught him to and he almost always felt bad afterwards because he had it in his mind that if he did things like that, that Harry would become disgusted and not want anything to do with him in the future. But each time Harry had either smiled, squeezed his shoulder or even both. And when Harry did that Draco felt a little more of the hole he had found out had existed close up a little.

It would take time to fully change, Harry had told him. And Draco definitely did want to change. But was he prepared to risk his own family in order to change for the better?

Draco had no more brooding time as Professor McGonagall called his name and the Great Hall fell silent. Draco wished that hadn't happened. It only served to make him nervous as he approached the Hat.

He picked up the ragged old Sorting Hat, sat down on the stool and placed it on his head. Before Draco could think the Hat started to scream. "SLYTH..."

Draco began to scream in protest within his mind before he realised the Hat had not finished the word. The Hat made a sound as if his ears were ringing before talking again.

"Ah ... Draco. I must say you have a complex mind for an eleven-year-old," the Hat remarked.

Draco calmed himself down before thinking, Uh ... sure. If you say so. He didn't sound confident.

"I do say so Draco. I can see the war raging inside your mind right now and I can tell you that there is no right choice in this case. Although I believe the Muggles have a saying. 'You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends.' I believe this quote sums up what you are thinking Draco. You see, I know everything that has happened to you. Everything that your father has done to you, and everything that Harry has done for you. I cannot tell you which path to choose but I will say this, if your memories, and those of Miss Granger's, are any indication I do believe you have chosen your friend wisely and I think that you, in particular, could do well around a friend like him.

"This of course leads me to the Sorting. You see, Draco, this is very difficult in your case because I generally put people where they belong. But you are a different case. I see that the Sorting will indeed be a turning point, at least in your own mind. You believe that if you go to Slytherin you will lose your only friend and if you go to Gryffindor you will lose your family. It is a very tough decision which is why I am leaving the choice to you. But I would like you to remember how violently you protested when you thought I was going to place you in Slytherin."

Draco blushed slightly and then realised something. You were testing me, weren't you? You knew that one way or the other my choice would be made when you started to Sort me into Slytherin. If I protested that would mean I need to go to Gryffindor. If I let you go, that would mean I needed Slytherin. You are a sly old Hat, aren't you? Draco grinned. Hard to believe you were made by Godric Gryffindor. Please, put me into Gryffindor. It's where I belong.

"I knew you would choose Gryffindor, Draco. And yes, it was a rather cunning plan if I do say so myself. Probably another few centuries before I try another one such as that." Draco could have sworn he heard a chuckle. "Very well. GRYFFINDOR!"

Ron Weasley

Ron was having the best day of his young life. Not only was he finally at Hogwarts but he had also met the famous Harry Potter. The Boy-Who-Lived. The vanquisher of evil. Not only that, Harry Potter was in his year. And not only that but Harry Potter seemed like he was going to be his best friend. And not only THAT but Harry Potter was Sorted into Gryffindor, the house in which he hoped to be Sorted into. If there was any doubt before about where Ron wanted to be sorted there was none then.

The only downside was that Draco Malfoy was sorted into Gryffindor as well. Ron didn't really know why he disliked Malfoy. I mean, Harry likes him, right? Ron thought, waiting to be sorted. Surely that means he can't be all bad. But Ron still couldn't think about him without feeling angry. He knew all about Malfoy's parents and what they were like and he could only assume that their son would be just as bad as them, or perhaps worse.

He really wanted to trust Harry and believe that Malfoy had changed but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He told himself that he would use a school owl to send his parents a letter as soon as possible to ask them what to do. But for the time being he would proceed with caution.

When the stern looking witch called his name to the front of the Great Hall, Ron made his way to the front, feeling the nerves creep up to the surface. When he finally placed the Hat on his head he was surprised to hear its voice in his head.

"Oh, sweet Merlin!" the voice exclaimed. "Another one! You know, Mr Weasley, I am really getting tired of red hair. How many are left?"

Ron almost answered but was cut off.

"No, no, don't tell me. You know, your twin brothers really toyed with me when they were up here. And your pompous older brother all but begged me to put him in Gryffindor. The other two were fine though. No worries, as long as there aren't many more of you left. You know where you want to be and it matches where you should be, so we have no problem. GRYFFINDOR!"