As I opened the door with my magic, in walked an 11-year-old Emma Watson, I guess that answers the question how Hermione looks in this universe.
"Excuse me, have seen you a toad? A boy named Neville lost one." She asked once she was fully inside the compartment.
"No, I haven't but I'm sure you can ask one of the prefects for help, they should be in the last compartment of the train." I answered
"Oh, thank you!" she replied enthusiastically and then left the compartment. I closed the door once again wandless, and continued reading my book, that was a much shorter interaction that in canon. In about 5 minutes, I was interrupted from my book once again by a knock on the door. As I unlocked the door, Hermione entered the compartment with another boy behind her, a boy who looked just like 11-year-old Neville Longbottom from the movies.
"Thank you so much for your idea, the prefects were able to find the toad right away" Hermione said enthusiastically.
I head Neville murmur "His name is Trevor".
Hermione who also heard him quickly corrected herself. "Oh, I'm sorry Neville, I mean they found Trevor right away."
I smiled at them and said "It's no problem at all, just happy to help." Just like in canon, Hermione took my reply as a cue to sit and stark talking, Neville stood awkwardly at the door for a couple of seconds until I gave him a signal that it's okay. He sat right beside Hermione who was still in the middle of her introduction rant that was shown in the first movie. When Hermione finally asked for my name, I introduced myself as James as I wanted to stay in anonymity as long as I could before it was taken away for the next 7 years. I would clear it up to them after the sorting.
We started some idle chatter amongst ourselves but it soon turned to each of us saying what were most excited about. Hermione was enthusiastic about everything just like in canon, and Neville shared he was most looking forward to Herbology. "Herbology huh, well maybe you can help me out for assignments, I'm completely inept when it comes to anything plants." I told him as that was the one subject I had neglected to study upon over my years at the manor.
Neville who was not expecting that started stuttering "Me…hel...help you…uh yeah sure."
"There is no need to be nervous Neville. Of course, I'll help you in any class you need help with, so you don't need to be worried about me taking advantage of you." I told him.
Neville winced while he replied "I didn't mean to imply that; it's just people usually think I'm a squib and can't do any magic." I saw Hermione look at him in concern, probably feeling a bit of a connection with Neville as she also got bullied often.
I looked at Neville calmly and said "Neville, if you couldn't do magic then you would have never been admitted to Hogwarts and isn't that why all of us are here. To actually learn how to use magic, so don't beat yourself down on not being able to use magic now, that won't be the same at the end of the year. And besides from the little I do know about Herbology, it doesn't actually need magic so even if you can't use magic, you can still help." I said the last line with a laugh hoping and succeeding in cheering him up.
"What about you James, what are you most excited about?" Hermione asked once we stopped laughing.
"Me? I'm looking forward to Hogwarts castle itself. A magical castle that has been home to so many wizards probably has a lot of secrets just waiting to be discovered." I answered with awe. In my head I started listing some of them; the Chamber of Secrets, the Room of Requirements, the lake with the many unique sea creatures…Neville and Hermione both looked at me with surprise as they weren't expecting that answer.
Hermione agreed with me though, "I never thought about that but you're right, with so many wizards coming and going through the castle, there are bound to be more things to learn that aren't taught in the classes." I laughed out in my head, of course Hermione Granger would look at exploring Hogwarts as an educational experience rather than the adventure it would be.
Soon it was time for us to get changed as we would be arriving soon. Hermione and Neville left to go back to their compartments to get changed, we agreed to meet up once we got off the train. As I was putting on my change of clothes, I pondered on the physical differences between canon Harry and me. Canon Harry was small, skinny, had glasses, messy mop of hair, and very subdued demeanor. I was completely different, while I wasn't the tallest first year, I was definitely taller than canon Harry. I was also very physically fit as I made sure to exercise regularly knowing how important that could prove to be in a duel. I also had short hair and didn't have any glasses, not sure why canon Harry needed them. I had perfect vision, although some of that may have been because it was being enhanced by my magic something that started happening since I got my wand. Also, unlike canon Harry, I was a very confident person and showed that in my demeanor.
I met up with Hermione and Neville as soon as I left the train once it had reached Hogwarts. Just as we were approaching each other, we heard "First Years! Over here!" All three of us turned to the voice, who I knew to be Hagrid, we then followed along with all the other first years behind him as he took us to the boats. Neville, Hermione and I boarded one of the boats and were joined by another first year. We were too excited to exchange names with 4th person.
As we left the shore, I could hear my heart pounding in anticipation as I mentally recollected everything, I knew to be awaiting me. When Hogwarts finally came into view, I was left speechless. Neither, the books nor the movies could compare to the Hogwarts I was seeing, it was simply majestic.
I didn't realize when we had arrived, it was Neville who shook me from my daze. I gave him a quick thanks and made my way to after everyone else. As we entered Hogwarts, on our way to where I knew we would meet Prof. McGonagall, I was entranced by everything I saw. Everything was much more vibrant and audacious than what the books or movies portrayed.
As we arrived right outside the Great Hall, Hagrid passed us off to Prof. McGonagall who after giving her spiel about the houses had us wait outside, I guess to give the older students time to arrive and quiet down.
Neville looked so nervous he might throw up so to cheer him up I told him "Relax Neville, whatever the entrance ceremony is, it has to be easy enough for a new first year to do, it might even be something like picking where we sleep. I know I still haven't chosen that yet."
He looked a little calmer after that, anything he was going to say was interrupted when we heard someone yell. "Harry Potter! I hear you have come to Hogwarts; I was hoping to introduce myself!"
When I looked up, it was Draco Malfoy standing out in front of everyone. I knew he would be loud and foolhardy but this was just senseless, especially for a would be Slytherin. Then again that is what he did in canon but just a little more subdued because he knew how Harry Potter looked like. I didn't bother to come forward, he'll find out along with everyone else. Soon enough it became awkward enough that a few of the 1st years started giggling. More would have probably joined had Prof. McGonagall not come back and tapped Draco's shoulder just like in canon.
She had us follow along as we entered the Great Hall, I was a little unnerved knowing Voldemort was possibly at the professor's table right now, I had told myself to not look at Quirrell at all if possible. I could hear Hermione tell someone about the ceiling, she had gotten a little separated from Neville and I.
After we reached the front, the sorting hat went through its song and Prof. McGonagall started the sorting ceremony. Hermione and Neville both went to Gryffindor when their names were called out, Draco to Slytherin, although I really questioned that one. There were no surprises in any of the sorting's and then I heard my name called out.
"Harry Potter!"
Instantly, the hall was filled with pin drop silence, everyone waiting to see how I looked like and where I was sorted. As I walked up to the hat, I was getting nervous, I really didn't want the hat to read my thoughts about my previous life.
And then as if responding to my call, I could feel my wand act and then I felt some kind of mental barrier form in my head. Uhm what...? That is not what a wand should be able to do. Okay, I definitely need find out more about this wand. I felt more relaxed when I finally sat down, only for 1 sec, because everyone in hall was staring at me. Ahh right, famous person now.
I heard Prof. McGonagall ask "Where is your scar Mr. Potter?" I looked at her a little confused, I didn't know if she was asking because she didn't believe I was Harry Potter without the scar or she was just curious.
I still answered her respectfully "I covered it up with make-up". She blinked her eyes at my response, she seemed surprised at my answer, again wasn't sure if that was because she didn't expect me to use make-up or because I wanted to cover up my scar.
She still continued on and placed the hat on my head. I heard it's voice in my head as soon as it was placed. "Interesting, very interesting. Quite the particular mind you have, with such a dense mental shield. Let's see where to put you…" I didn't care where I ended up but I thought of Gryffindor so I can make sure Hermione doesn't die because an 11-year-old wanted to be a bully.
"How about Gryffindor?" I asked, not sure if he took requests.
"Gryffindor…" he repeated after me. "Why yes, that would work… Gryffindor!"
I hear the Gryffindor table go crazy. As the hat was taken off my head, I joined Neville and Hermione who looked at me shocked.
"Sorry guys, just wanted to stay anonymous a little while longer. Also, James is my middle name, so you guys can still call me that if you want." I said as soon as I sat down.
It was Hermione who responded "That's okay Harry, we understand, right Neville." Neville on cue nodded along. "And maybe I'll call you James when it's just the three of us."
"Me too, call you James I mean, when we're alone" Neville said right after.
As the sorting continued on, it eventually finished with Blaise Zabini going to Slytherin. Dumbledore then said his customary words that confused all the first years, followed by the feast that appeared before us. Thankfully, Ron had sat down a little away from us, the seats around me already taken by Hermione and Neville and few other first years. Although he would not so casually look my way every couple of seconds, I had stopped paying attention to him, it was Neville who noticed Ron doing that. I told him to ignore it as it's probably because of my stupid fame.
Instantly the people around me stilled, one person having the courage to ask "What do you mean stupid? You killed the dark lord, why would you not want to celebrate that."
I looked at the unnamed kid, expressionless to make him uncomfortable, and said "Because my parents also died that night, I'd rather not celebrate that." He, along with everyone else around me looked sheepish at that, I just started ignoring them to talk to Hermione and Neville. They could make intelligent conversations, for 11-year-olds at least.
Eventually the feast ended and Dumbledore gave his warnings about the forest and the third-floor corridor, I still believe that him doing so was an invitation to all delinquents to do the opposite. We were then escorted to the Gryffindor common room, where Percy explained all the rules that we had to follow as members of house Gryffindor. We were then sent on our way to find our room, and like canon I was sharing a room with Ron, Neville and Dean Thomas. Neville and I introduced ourselves to the other two, as we already knew each other. We tried making small talk amongst ourselves but it became awkward quickly as Ron kept trying to draw more information about me and only me. Neville and Dean looked at me awkwardly as we would try to move past it. Eventually we decided to call it a night early, the atmosphere becoming too uncomfortable.