For her entire life, Hermione had loved learning new things. Her mind was like a bottomless bucket and she resorted to books to fill it up. Unlike other parts of her life, books were safe, reading was safe. In the world between the pages, no one treated her like an outsider. No one made fun of her for being different.
The first memory she had of being treated differently was from Year 2. Her classmates were swapping hair bows and taking turns adding a braid or two into one another's hair, but when Hermione tried to join in, they wouldn't let her. Her hair was far too curly and thick for them to braid. "It's not pretty," they told her. It would be silly to even try because it wasn't like theirs.
Hermione had begged her mum to let her get her hair straightened so she could look like the other girls in her year. Her mum refused however, telling her that her thick curls were a crown that any princess would be proud to wear. She then sat Hermione down and did her hair in an updo and painted her nails in a pretty shade of yellow. Her mum turned Hermione towards the mirror and told her how pretty she was. "My pretty princess," she said, as her mother held her tightly. When she saw the curls and coils that grew out and towards the sun, Hermione smiled.
She was a princess, just as her mum told her.
As she grew older, Hermione went through tribulations no child should have to experience; that no person should have to. When faced with unpleasantness, Hermione chose every day to be the bigger person and to smile, even when she was hurt. She would stand strong and not allow anyone to push her over.
Hermione was not ashamed of who she was or of being different: her curls that stretched up to the sun, her eyes a dark brown they were almost black, her front teeth larger than most, her thirst for knowledge that went beyond her age. She worked hard to be the caring young lady her parents raised her to be, all the while hoping to one day live in a world where everyone was accepted for who they were, rather than arbitrary classifications they had no control over.
It wasn't until the summer before Hermione's twelfth birthday that she would find out just how different she really was.
A strange woman dressed in a long, black cloak had arrived at her home a week into her summer holiday, introducing herself and asking to speak with Hermione and her parents. After being invited in, everyone gathered in the living room; the Grangers sitting together on the couch across from Professor McGonagall on the loveseat. Hermione watched as the professor placed her hands gently on her lap and smiled cautiously at the family.
"Thank you so much for inviting me into your home."
"You said this is about Hermione's schooling, Professor McGonagall?" her mother questioned. "Is this about Hermione progressing to secondary school?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes." There was a pause, that cautious smile stretched across her face once more. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, your daughter is very special. So special that she will need to attend a school that can help her achieve much more than you both can possibly imagine." There was a pregnant pause before Professor McGonagall finally said, "Young Miss Granger is a witch."
Immediately, her parents reacted to the news with confusion. Hermione, however, sat in shock. She read about magic, even been to a magic show once, but Hermione had always understood it to be fiction in a book or a trick of the hand.
So when Professor McGonagall pulled out a wand, very different from the black and white ones from the shows, Hermione paid it very little mind. When the woman flicked her wrist and said a word in a language Hermione didn't understand, she raised a brow, intrigued. But when the candles in the room lit and the papers that had been on her mother's desk flew around in a sort of dance, Hermione was floored and knew there was more to magic than she'd seen or read before.
Once the room was returned to its right, her mother was the first to respond.
"I uh-," her mother's breath was caught and she was staring at the woman across from them, hands visibly shaking. "I'm going to go make us some tea." She stood quickly and left the room.
"Liz?" her father called her mother.
Her mother stood at the door, frozen and back to the room. "Just- I need a moment Richard." She turned back to everyone. "I'll be right back."
"I apologise for upsetting her, Mr. Granger."
Her father shook his head. "No, no it's fine. It was just very unexpected."
"Yes, of course. Miss Granger?"
Hermione turned away from the closed door to look at Professor McGonagall. "Yes?"
"Tell me," McGonagall smiled. "Have you ever been able to do something you couldn't explain? Something you never told anyone about when you were angry or scared?"
Hermione thought back to a time when her father had baked cookies but told Hermione she couldn't have one until after dinner. She got so upset and stomped off to her room, only to find a cookie on her dresser moments later.
She thought about an incident when she was in Year 3. One of her classmates, Beth, had called her 'liar liar, pants on fire' after she shared a story about her Christmas holiday abroad. She was so scared that everyone might believe Beth that she began to panic when suddenly a bin a meter away caught fire. She ran to tell the teacher, but she'd never thought anything else of it.
Not until now.
"Yes," she told Professor McGonagall. She looked timidly at the older woman before her. "Am I really a witch? Can I do magic?"
Professor McGonagall smiled brightly at Hermione. "With some training, of course. There's a school to help you learn to control your magic and learn new skills."
Hermione turned to her father but he did not look as happy as she was.
"I can go, right?" she asked him.
"I don't know, ladybug," her father drew his brows in concern.
"Please, Dad, please."
The door to the sitting room opened and her mother walked in with a tray. Her father stood to help make everyone a cup of tea, unable to keep sitting in the silence of the room. When the adults around her had ups in hand, Hermione having declined a cup, she turned to her mother.
"Mum? Please?"
Her mother placed the cup on the side table and took a deep breath. She reached out and cupped Hermione's cheek, "I knew you were always so special. I just didn't think-" She stopped and looked at the older woman. "Can you tell us more about this school? More about this new world? We can't just send our baby, not without knowing anything."
Professor McGonagall looked to her parents before asking Hermione for a moment to speak with her parents alone. Hermione reluctantly agreed and left the room. However, instead of providing the adults with the privacy they'd requested, she went down the hall to the next room, pulled a chair over to the connecting wall, and pressed her ear to the vent that connected the two rooms, so she could just hear what was being said. She wasn't one to disobey, but this was rather important and it involved her.
She heard Professor McGonagall's sigh echo in the vent. "You have to understand Mr. and Mrs. Granger, while witches and wizards have been around for some time, there are things that Muggles - as non-magical people are known in our world - have progressed in several areas faster than we have…"
Professor McGonagall gave her parents a brief history of the Wizarding World. While wizards and witches had originally lived together with Muggles, a dark period of time required a separation. Because Muggles had feared what they didn't understand, there came a time when witches and wizards around the world went into hiding to save themselves from persecution and trials at the hands of Muggles. Through the centuries, the Wizarding World has kept a close eye on the Muggles. With each passing century, the fear of Muggles grew while the population of Muggleborns continued to climb.
"So there are others like her?" her father asked.
"Oh yes, of course. Miss Granger is far from the only one," Professor McGonagall told him softly. "But you have to understand Mr. Granger, that things were very intense when our new world began. Measures were taken that best fit with the circumstances and I'm afraid it's taken us quite some time to adapt as a community."
Hermione heard no response from her parents, and Professor McGonagall continued.
"For as long as we've known, magical beings can only come from magical parents. We're not sure how it began but this was always the way. These witches and wizards, with a history of only magic – that is, without anyone in their family tree with Muggle blood – are called Purebloods. When a witch or wizard has a child with someone with Muggle heritage, their children are called Half-bloods. Then there are those like your daughter - a witch or wizard born from two Muggles is called a Muggleborn.
"These children of Muggle heritage are fairly rare compared to others, but their existence triggered the witch trials that led to our community hiding away. After that period was over, things were calm for a while. That was, until the population of Muggleborns continued to grow over the next generations. We don't know why or how it happened, but it did. To keep the existence of the Wizarding World hidden, our magical government, the Ministry of Magic, decided to bring Muggleborns into our world to teach them, and protect them and ourselves. But there is still mistrust of Muggleborns to the point where there are some who believe that they've stolen their magic from another witch or wizard."
"Stolen?" she heard her mother ask. "They think children stole magic? Is that even possible."
"It's a theory left over from our troubled past with Muggles. Now, we understand that it's quite unlikely for any Muggle, let alone a child, to steal magic from someone. But it's been ingrained in our world for so long that it's still stuck to many after all this time.
"But Muggleborns couldn't stay in the Muggle world. So to limit the panic, a community was designed by Alice Gowdie. She was a wealthy, orphaned Halfblood witch who was unable to have a family of her own. She took in Muggleborns that were shunned by their families, made a home for them, and a school."
"So, this is where Hermione would go?" her father asked. "To a community with others like her, other Muggleborns?"
"Not exactly. I'm not a teacher from Gowdie Academy, I'm here on behalf of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"I don't understand."
"This year, Hogwarts will be integrating Hogwarts and allowing all incoming students to enrol, no matter their blood status. Gowdie Academy will stay open until all remaining students have graduated, as this is all they know but there is a push within the Ministry for equal academic standards between the two schools."
"Has the teaching at Gowdie Academy been sub par?" her mother asked.
"Not at all, but we are still working to achieve parity for Muggleborns that wish to stay and work in the Wizarding World."
"I don't like the way this is sounding, Lisa," her father interrupted.
"I know, Richard. But we have to figure this out."
"I know this is a lot to take in, for the both of you," McGonagall stated. "There is far too much to cover in just one sitting and there's another family I need to speak to today. The short version is this: things are changing for the better and your daughter and other students like her could be a huge part of that change."
"No," her father's voice was finite. "She's just a little girl. You all can't ask that of her."
Hermione climbed down off the chair and ran back to the living room.
What she overheard was a lot to take in. As complex as the world sounded, Hermione's thirst to know more took the forefront. This magic had always been a part of her without even knowing. How it got there, she nor the Wizarding World seemed to know.
But as she was reaching for the handle on the door, she stopped. Hermione could hear the fear in her parents' voices when they spoke to Professor McGonagall and she worried it might overshadow her opportunity to learn more. Like a predator circling its prey, their fear slowly overcame her.
Hermione knocked and turned the handle to the room. She leaned in through the door and gave the adults a small smile.
"Give us a little more time, sweetheart," her mum said softly.
"I heard everything," she told them sheepishly.
"Hermione Jean Granger, were you listening through the vent again?" her father asked.
"I'm sorry, dad, but I needed to know. Please don't be mad."
He sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "I'm not mad, tadpole. I'm worried."
Hermione walked further into the room and again went to sit between her parents.
Their visitor gave her a small smile. "That was a lot for you to hear all at once, Miss Granger. I hope you're alright?"
"Yes, I think I'm okay."
Professor McGonagall nodded in understanding. "As backwards as a lot of it sounds, please know that people fought hard for this change – to educate Muggleborns at Hogwarts. Many of us are pushing for equality for every student, and even more so after graduation. I, myself, grew up in the Muggle world. My mother left the backwards way of the Wizarding world behind after spending time in the Muggle world and meeting my father. Know that I understand the hesitation of leaving home. You don't have to tell anyone about your background. Many half-bloods like myself didn't while we were in school. You just learn, do well in school, and make friends, that's all."
"I'm interested, but there's still so much I don't know."
Professor McGonagall stood and walked towards Hermione, pulling two small books from her cloak. "Here, I want you to have these."
Hermione tentatively took the books held out to her and read the titles: Hogwarts: A History and Gowdie Academy Through the Generations.
"Read about the school, about both schools, and a little about the world before you make a final decision."
"Thank you, Professor."
"You're welcome, dear. I'll be taking my leave now and will be back in six weeks for your decision. Thank you so much for inviting me into your home."
Hermione watched her parents walked Professor McGonagall to the door. She looked down at the two books in her hands, ready to dive into them.
Over the next month and a half, the three Grangers talked about little else. Hermione read one book while her parents read the other and switched when they finished. As summer passed, Hermione spent each waking moment reading the text over and over, learning all she could about the school she'd never see and the one that was waiting for her. The more she read, the more she wanted to go and see this world, learn new skills, and to do magic.
But as she laid in bed at night with the window cracked to let in the summer breeze, she could hear her parents' voices carry down the hall and into her room. Their words and tones let her know how worried they were. With each passing night, Hermione grew more concerned that they would not let her go.
The night before Professor McGonagall was meant to arrive again, Hermione stayed up late to reread Hogwarts: A History one last time. The sound of the floorboard creaking in the hall pulled her out of the book. She quickly turned off her torch, tucked it under her pillow, and pretended to be asleep. Hermione felt the weight of the mattress shift slightly and delicate fingers fixed her satin bonnet.
Mum.
Hermione felt lips kiss her forehead before her mother rose from the bed and closed the bedroom door. She decided not to pull the book back out and instead, kept her eyes closed and let herself drift off to sleep.
Hermione woke the next morning, got herself ready for the day as normal, and went down for breakfast. Her mother was sitting down having a bowl of Weetabix and her father was nursing a cup of tea, both lost in their thoughts.
"Morning," she said to them.
Her mother perked up, dipping her spoon back into the bowl. "Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?"
"Alright, I guess." Hermione looked over to her father. "You okay, Dad?"
He walked over to her, gave her a side hug and kissed the top of her head. "I'm okay, tadpole. Get some breakfast, yeah?"
Hermione nodded and walked over to the pantry, grabbing the box of Frosties. She watched them both while she ate her breakfast. The looks they gave each other; the reassuring touches. Hermione was concerned, unsure of how things would go today.
The family spent the rest of the morning and lunch similarly. Very little was said as they waited. She was listening to her mother play piano when the doorbell chimed at quarter past one. Her mother's hands hovered over the keys as her father rose from the couch. Hermione heard her father ask who it was, pause for a response, and open the door to allow the person in.
Her mother stood, reached out a hand to Hermione, and the two walked to the living room where Professor McGonagall and her father sat.
"Good afternoon Mrs Granger, Ms Granger," she greeted them.
"Good afternoon, Professor," her mother replied.
Hermione sat down, placed her hands on her lap and tried not to fidget.
"How did you find the books I gave you?"
Hermione perked up a bit. "They were great. I learned so much. Thank you for letting me borrow them."
"They're yours to keep if you'd like."
"I would like very much," she replied, unable to keep the smile from her face.
Professor McGonagall glanced between both parents. "I hope the time provided was enough to come to a decision."
"Yes, it was. We appreciate that you've given us time to think about this," her father said.
Hermione felt her mother shift to the right of her. She turned her head and looked up. "And?"
Her mother tucked a curl behind her ear as she let out a shaky breath. "You can go, sweetie."
"Really?!" she asked before turning quickly to her father. "I can go to Hogwarts?"
"Yes, tadpole. You can go to Hogwarts."
Hermione squealed and hugged her father's large frame as he chuckled. "There are still some things we'd like to know," he directed toward Professor McGonagall, "but we've talked over it, read the books several times over, and we think that she should have the opportunity to learn, if that's what she wants."
"That's very good news, I'm happy to hear it. And I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have."
Professor McGonagall stayed for about an hour, answering all of the Grangers' questions. Before leaving, she handed Hermione a letter from Hogwarts, inviting her to start school with them this upcoming term.
The first of September came around quickly. Hermione shot out of bed at half-past seven, quickly got dressed, and went through her trunks one last time. She went over her lists, making sure she didn't forget anything she needed. Her trunk filled with Hogwarts material had been completed by Professor McGonagall not long after her parents said she could attend. She was even given a temporary wand, with the promise that she and other Muggleborn students would receive one more fitted to them shortly after school began. The rest of her bags were up to her and she didn't want to forget a thing. After that task was complete, Hermione raced downstairs to find her parents putting together a fry up.
Hermione stood at the doorway of the kitchen as her parents moved in unison. Her mother handed her father a spatula without him even asking. He tucked locs behind her ear and leaned down to kiss her cheek before moving back to sauté the mushrooms. Her mother pushed herself onto her toes and ruffled her father's curly hair causing him to elbow her gently. The pair laughed as they teased each other. When Hermione laughed along with them, they turned to find her watching them. She walked up to her parents, hugging each one before turning on the kettle and getting a brew together to go alongside breakfast.
The meal was mostly quiet aside from her parents asking if she had everything packed or if she wanted to stop by the corner shop and get any more of her favourite snacks. She noticed the way her mum would turn her wedding ring every now and then and her father would place his hand over hers, rub his thumb gently against the back of her hand, and go back to his breakfast when she relaxed.
When breakfast was over, her father packed the car while she packed away some snacks and a book into her backpack before lacing up her shoes. Hermione took one more look around the house before locking the door behind her. She climbed in the back seat of the car, and fastened her seatbelt, as her father pulled out of the driveway. She was antsy the entire ride, but when the signs for King's Cross Station started appearing, Hermione was practically bursting with anticipation.
She held her mother's hand as her father pushed her cart through the crowd. They approached the brick wall between Platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross. Hermione's eyes grew wide with excitement as she saw a young boy and his parents run towards the imposing wall and then disappear as if they had somehow passed directly through the bricks. Hermione looked up at her parents, their gaze fixed on the spot the others had just been. She'd read up on how she'd have to get to the train but to see it in person was another thing entirely.
She turned to her parents, giving them both hugs and kisses. After promising again that she would write soon, Hermione walked over towards the entrance. She took a deep breath and focused on her target. I can do this, she thought to herself just before beginning her run towards the wall. For a moment, she was enveloped in darkness, but then she emerged on the other side.
The sounds of people talking and carts being pushed along the floor filled the air. Hermione walked away from the entrance behind her, worried about getting hit by someone coming in and turned the corner. She looked up and smiled at the sign that read 'Platform 9 ¾ Hogwarts Express'.
Hermione struggled to load her bags onto the train until a kind, red-headed man helped her. Hermione thanked him and proceeded onto the train. She found an unoccupied compartment and pulled a book from her backpack.
The train began to move and Hermione was still alone. Too excited to wait any longer, Hermione locked the door and closed the curtain to her compartment. She took the plain Hogwarts uniform out of her bag and changed into her robes. She looked at the black tie, wondering what colours she would wear after her sorting. She was just about to begin reading again when there was a knock on the door.
Hermione opened the blinds to see a rather frantic looking boy standing there. She unlocked the door and said hello.
"Hi, I'm sorry if this is a bother but have you seen a toad?"
oOo oOo oOo
Hermione tried not to stare at the extremely tall man that stood before her when she stepped off the train. With a voice loud enough for all to hear, he introduced himself as Hagrid and instructed the incoming First Years to follow him, leading them to the edge of a lake. Hermione noticed that some students stood alone like she did while others were together in small groups. She wondered how many students came from similar Muggle backgrounds as her? Were there other Muggleborns here also trying to keep a calm exterior? How far back did some of the friendships go in the groups she saw? How many would be in the same house as her? Or the same house as their parents? And would that even matter in the grand scheme of things?
Hermione couldn't see anyone else with an animal and was curious if Neville was the only one that had a toad. Looking around, she occasionally made eye contact with other students and they exchanged small, shy smiles. One boy with brown eyes that matched her own and deep sepia complexion like her mother, stood off to the side with three others when they made eye contact. He gave her a small nod with a slight raise of his brows. Hermione tried not to smile too hard but the familiar gesture was comforting. She returned the nod just as the students were called to Hagrid's attention.
As they loaded five onto a boat, the students were magically pulled towards the castle. Hermione almost cried as she got her first glimpse of the castle looming ahead, its lights all lit with its reflection on the dark water beneath her. She thought back to the sketch on the cover of her book and noted that it did not do the structure justice.
The students made their way up the stairs and were told to wait outside the main doors until they were called. Hermione was in the middle of the group when she saw Neville off to the side. Though he was alone, she could see the smile on his face when he looked down at little Trevor in his hands. She turned towards the front and saw the two boys she met on the train while looking for Trevor – Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. They were very close to the front when a boy with platinum blond hair approached them. She remembered seeing him huddled with other students while they waited for the boats.
He had a sneer on his face, too much product in his hair and he was flanked by two other boys who seemed to loom over their classmates. The blond spoke to Ronald before Harry stood in between the two. The blond sized Harry up but before he could respond, the doors opened, and the students were let in by the familiar face of Professor McGonagall. She looked across all the students, giving Hermione and a few others a small smile before she led them all in.
The young students gasped as their eyes danced around the Great Hall in awe, taking in all the sights. Four long tables filled with students with the front of each table left empty, waiting for the newcomers to each House. The new students filled in and walked towards the front of the hall.
The girl next to Hermione leaned over and asked, "Do you think they'll keep the roof off the whole time? What if we get rain?"
"It's not real, the ceiling," Hermione stated. "It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
The First Years continued to file in until they stood at the front of the room facing a stool with an old hat on it. The headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, stood to speak. His voice echoed in the hall as he went over the list of restricted locations within and around Hogwarts. Although his voice was calming, the students heard the light threat in his voice at the end of his speech. "…to everyone who does not wish to die a painful death," he said with a smile.
Hermione's brows drew in confusion and as she looked around, she saw her look mirrored on the faces of those around her.
"Finally, I'd like to inform those that aren't aware. This year we are honoured to have with us, for the first time in its grand history, Muggleborn students. For many generations, Muggleborn students have been studying at Gowdie Academy but times are changing. To those incoming students, you know who you are, and we are so honoured that you've come to learn with us. Please remember that no matter your background, you are as smart and as talented as every student that has come before you. Let no one tell you any different."
"Thank you, Headmaster, for your wise words," Professor McGonagall said. She turned to face the first years. "We will now proceed with the house sorting."
To Hermione's amusement, the hat began to talk. It was just like seeing the castle for the first time. Reading about it had been one thing but seeing it had been something different altogether. The Sorting Hat began by boasting about itself then proceeded to tell the students briefly about each of the houses. When the poem (or song? Hermione couldn't tell) was over, applause broke out from the other students and staff while the first years stood there in anticipation.
When the applause quieted, Professor McGonagall spoke again. "When I call your name, you will sit on the stool. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into one of the four houses." She opened the scroll and read the first name, "Arora, Kavya".
A girl towards the back of the group slowly made her way through the group, timidly walking up to Professor McGonagall and the Sorting Hat.
"It's okay dear, please sit," Professor McGonagall told her.
She smiled up at the older woman before taking a seat and closing her eyes. The Sorting Hat was on her head for a few moments before shouting "Hufflepuff!" Cheers roared from the Hufflepuff table as Kavya happily made her way over to her table. She sat down and shook hands with her new housemates. This continued in alphabetical order until Hermione finally heard her name called.
"Granger, Hermione."
Hermione took a deep breath and walked forward.
"Oh no," she whispered to herself. "Okay, relax. Relax."
Hermione turned and sat down on the stool facing her future classmates. She saw Harry and Ronald whispering to themselves. She saw the blond they argued with looking bored. She saw Neville smiling at her in encouragement. Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Hmmm interesting," the Sorting Hat said aloud.
"You're quite the unique Muggleborn, aren't you?" he asked her.
Hermione moved her head around quickly only to notice that no one else heard the Sorting Hat. Only her.
"What do you mean?" she thought back to the Sorting Hat.
"You're only the third I've sorted but the others seemed easier. I'm not sure where to put you."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not particularly, give me a moment."
Hermione wasn't sure how much time passed but she grew worried, no one else had taken this long. "Is something the matter?"
"Not at all," the Sorting Hat told her. "You've dealt with many things in your life, Miss Granger."
"Nothing I can't handle."
"Yet you still came here?"
"Yes, I did."
"There's a great task set ahead of you, Miss Granger. So much for someone so young."
"I want to learn more about this part of myself. Is that so bad?"
"Not at all, not at all."
"Does that… help you with my sorting?"
Hermione didn't hear anything else from that Sorting Hat after that. She sat in silence until she heard whispers around the hall. Students at the tables were talking and looking up at Hermione. She turned to her right and saw Professor McGonagall looking at the other teachers. She turned back to Hermione and smiled.
"Yes, right then," the Sorting Hat finally said aloud.
Hermione took a deep breath, putting her trust in the Sorting Hat.
"Gryffindor!" it exclaimed.
Hermione smiled broadly and hopped off the stool. She had to stop herself from practically running to the cheering table. She received several 'Welcomes' from her new housemates and waited for the cheers to settle down. The next name was called and another student walked up to the hat to get sorted.
Hermione noticed that many other students didn't take as long as she did. The only other person that might have been up there as long was Neville. He had a look of worry when he was sorted into Gryffindor, but Hermione was sure to give him a reassuring smile when he sat beside her.
A few names later, Hermione heard Professor McGonagall say "Malfoy, Draco".
The blond she saw earlier walked up to the stool and turned to the crowd with a smirk planted on his face. He was odd to her – what 11-year-old knew how to smirk? The Sorting Hat barely touched his head before yelling "Slytherin!". The table filled with students clad in green and silver ties exploded in cheers. He hopped down from the stool and swaggered his way towards the table.
Hermione noticed that every once in a while, small amounts of chatter would break out among the students when a certain name was called. This was certainly true for when Harry Potter was called a few minutes later. Hermione turned to Neville, whose eyes were glued to the sorting.
"Why do people keep doing that?" she asked.
"Doing what?" Neville questioned.
"Whispering when some students go up?"
"Oh, that?" Neville looked down nervously and scratched the back of his neck. "It's nothing. Just ignore it. People being stupid, gossiping and all."
Hermione didn't push. Neville was the one person she had made friends with so far in this new world and she didn't want to mess it up. Claps came from her table and Hermione realized that Harry was sorted into Gryffindor. She clapped along with her fellow housemates as Harry took a seat across from her.
More students were sorted into the four houses during this time, including Ronald Weasley sorting into Gryffindor. Several other students with matching red hair greeted him with hugs and shoulder punches. Ronald sat down next to Harry and patted him on the back.
She saw him elbow Harry softly on the side. "I told you mate."
The two smiled as the final incoming First Years walked to the Sorting Hat. The last student, the boy she saw at the boats, was finally called. His name was Blaise Zabini. The Sorting Hat was placed on his head and his eyes bounced from table to table. He chuckled softly, likely at something the hat said but Hermione could see him rubbing his right thumb in the palm of his left hand.
The Sorting Hat finally said "Slytherin!" He stood and straightened his robes, before walking over to the clapping table of Slytherins.
With all of the students sorted, the Headmaster made a brief speech welcoming all the new students into their houses with the promise of a gift when they arrive at their dormitories. When he finished, the Headmaster clapped his hands and a feast appeared before the students and staff of the Great Hall. Hermione added food to her plate and tucked in as she listened to the chatter around her, getting to know some of her new housemates and classmates.
She spoke with Harry and Neville all through dinner and dessert and the smile never left Hermione's face. She wondered how many more friends she'd make from other houses during her time here. A chime rang and Hermione watched as the older students stood and the First Years followed suit.
The journey through the numerous staircases, the paintings that spoke back; seeing it all in person versus reading it in a book was hard to explain. It was like one of her wildest dreams came true and she was living inside a fantasy book. When the Painted Lady opened, she chimed in with her fellow students at the beautiful common area. Tables sat around for studying, a couch in front of a lit fireplace to relax, and long windows that let in the moonlight.
Boys and girls were sent to their separate bedrooms and Hermione raced in alongside the others. She looked left and right to find her bed to be the third in on the right. On each of the beds laid a set of ties, a hat, a scarf, and jumper all decked out in Gryffindor colours. She ran her fingers across the soft cotton and silk and let out a shaky breath.
Finally being at Hogwarts was a dream. There was so much to see and do. Hermione couldn't wait for whatever came next.
A/N: Sending out all the hugs to my alpha (anne_ammons) and my beta (lydia6643)! You both are amazingly helpful with every chapter. I don't even know I miss some of the things I do. You both really help clear things up that pushes me to be a better writer. If there any editing errors, that's on me. There was some last minute writing on my part.
Thanks to you as well reader for taking time out of your day to visit my story. Another world building chapter but this time, we're introduced to Hermione. Next chapter will be officially introducing Draco into the story and is set to be posted on 30/10.