Another chapter and on to the sorting!

Thanks again Paz :D

After a quick farewell, with reassurances that Draco would aim to act as normally as he could, Hermione joined the rest of the students in disembarking the train. The towering figure of Hagrid loomed ahead of her as she followed the throng of other first years. His familiar cry of "first years, this way" filled her with nostalgia, causing a happy smile to grace her face.

It wasn't long before they were bundled into the boats and setting off across the black lake, Hogwarts castle looming ahead of them grandly. Thousands of lit windows reflected on the surface of the lake, glittering and sparkling, hinting at the magic within. She couldn't help it, a huge smile spread across her face. The excitement was infectious, grinning stupidly she glanced across and caught Draco's eye. He too was smiling, eyes shining with a simple joy she suspected he hadn't felt in years.

Returning her gaze to the castle before her, Hermione allowed herself a moment of childish indulgence. Giddy excitement filled her stomach, like she had swallowed Cornish pixies! She squealed and jumped slightly in her seat. "I'm SOOOO excited!"

"Couldn't tell…" Came the nervous response of Neville, who was watching her warily.

"Oh shush you!" She laughed and playfully slapped his arm. He looked surprised, but took it in good stride, turning his own awe filled gaze to the approaching castle.

Once the boats touched the shore, they all clambered hurriedly onto the rock. The lanterns swinging gently in the wind illuminating the cavern they had come to rest in. Once Trevor the toad had been found and returned to the now happy boy, they all traipsed up to the entrance hall. They were met by McGonagall and her signature severe stare. She led them across the entrance hall, the sounds of their shuffling steps echoing around the expansive space, and into a small empty chamber off the great hall. After her speech on the houses and behaviour she swept her eyes across the room, a small pause stretched before she made another comment about appearance then leaving the chamber.

Students began to excitedly chatter and Hermione watched with affection as Harry patted down his hair and Ron rubbed at his nose.

Once again her eyes met Draco's, he flicked his to the walls then back to her. She suppressed a snigger and waited with baited breath. As if on cue the ghosts came pouring through the walls, eliciting surprised screams from the other first years. Trying her best to copy their surprise, she had to turn a loud laugh into a strangled yelp as she watched Draco's over the top reaction. That man was enjoying himself way too much.

McGonagall's return brought some calm, as she led them from the chamber. The great hall was just as impressive as ever, with its floating candles, enchanted ceiling, multiple dining tables and flaming torches. Quickly remembering to say something about the bewitched ceiling and "Hogwarts, a history," Hermione shuffled in behind another first year as they waited for the sorting.

Everything went just the same as before and, truth be told, she was a little bored. It was only once her name had been called that realisation hit hat was going to look into her head!

Steps heavy, trying to hold back the panic, she tentatively approached the stool and sat down. Taking in the hundreds of curious faces before her, the hat fell down over her eyes.

Silence…

More silence…

Breathing quickened, and just as she was ready to scream, a voice spoke.

"This, is unexpected… A great mind, no doubt there. Ravenclaw would have done you well miss Granger. I can see that Gryffindor was indeed the correct choice for you and truly allowed you to rise to greatness."

"You can see it?" She whispered.

"Yes I see it. A difficult and dangerous future lies ahead of us all. It is a great burden you carry, knowing what you do. If I may miss Granger, I'd like to offer you some advice?"

"Yes, please…" Hermione was not going to turn down advice from one of the most powerful magical artefacts in existence!

"The magical residual that taints you; it is dangerous and unpredictable. Try as you might to follow the same path as before, this might be an impossible feat. Take this as an opportunity, all magic has purpose and fate plays a stronger part in the fabric of this universe than you may believe." A chuckle came from the hat, as Hermione bristled at the mention of fate. "Your scepticism has been noted miss Granger, but from what I see in here you have your very own guide to fate."

"What do you mean?"

"If I were you child, I would pay attention to what your future husband says. The Weasley line is descended from a very powerful seer. I can see in your mind instances when he showed great knowledge of the truth. Find the right conditions, ask the right questions and use this chance you have been given."

Hermione was dumbstruck, what the hell was this hat talking about? This was utter nonsense! There was no way...A sudden queasiness passed through her as a memory was dragged forward, by the hat she supposed.

Harry, Ron and herself were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, where Harry passed her a small black book. Disgust churned in her stomach as she recognised Riddle's diary. She wanted to run and smack it from her younger self's hands. Just the thought that she touched such a warped object made her skin crawl.

"I wish I did know why someone did try to chuck it," said Harry. "I wouldn't mind knowing how Riddle got an award for special services to Hogwarts, either."

"Could've been anything," said Ron. "Maybe he got thirty O. or saved a teacher from the giant squid."

Hermione held her breath as she waited for the next words; they rang around her head on a sickening loop.

"Maybe he murdered Myrtle, that would've done everyone a favour…"

The memory switched suddenly, to Trelawney's smokey divination classroom.

Harry and Ron were sitting on a table together, heads bent over their teacups.

"You need your inner eyes testing if you ask me," came Ron's voice, followed by both boys' snickers.

"My turn…There's a blob a bit like a bowler hat, maybe your going to work for the Ministry of Magic?" He said in a joking manner.

This again was the truth; Harry did work for the Ministry, or will do?

"But this way up it looks more like an acorn. What's that?" She watched him flick through the book on the table. "'A windfall, unexpected gold.' Excellent, you can lend me some."

The Triwizard winnings. He also gave the gold away to the Weasley twins too…

It switched again and Hermione watched as her younger self marched out of the boy's room whilst carrying Crookshanks, the boy's voices followed her down the stairs.

"He's not looking too good, is he?" Came Harry's voice.

"It's stress! He'd be fine if that stupid great furball left him alone!"

She knew of course he was referring to the cat, but Sirius Black was also a great furball, being an Animagus. Scabbers, or Peter, was indeed stressed about a furball getting hold of him.

Her journey came to an abrupt halt as the hat loudly proclaimed "GRYFFINDOR!"

A bit disoriented, Hermione wobbled over to the Gryffindor table amidst loud applause. She sat shakily opposite Percy, who promptly shook her hand. "I think that's the longest I've ever seen anyone take to get sorted!" He said in a clearly impressed voice.

"Yeah," she said, "we had a wonderful chat."

He looked like he was going to ask what it was about, but he was interrupted by gales of laughter that flitted over the hall. Neville had run off with the hat still on his head, face bright red as he came and sat at the table shyly. Giving the poor boy a reassuring smile, Hermione turned back to watch the rest of the sorting, clapping politely after each one. The sorting hat's words kept coming back to her. Use it as a chance to change the future? Could they do it? The thought alone was scary, scary but thrilling! They could stop everything; they could cut off Voldemort before he came back to power! They could save hundreds of lives!

She was brought sharply out of her thoughts by a loud cackling echoing round the hall. A very worried set of eyes sought her out, and she watched as Draco Malfoy sat on the stool, under the cackling hat. It was shaking with laughter; its seams stretching over its mouth. The hall had fallen entirely silent, all watching with shock as Draco turned a sickly shade of pale.

This wasn't right…the hat barely touched his head before screaming Slytherin the last time this happened. Now it was acting like it had just heard the funniest joke in the world. Slowly it stopped with the hysterics, brim stretching into an evil grin.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Draco sat for a moment, jaw dropping open stupidly. He met Hermione's eyes, head tilting in a confused 'what should I do' face. She gestured sharply for him to come to the table, causing a few people to look at her curiously. He stood up, removed the hat from his head and moved in a sort of daze toward the table. Slowly people seemed to register that a house had been called, and a smattering of applause broke out amongst the students.

He was walking like he was going to fall over from shock. Moving quickly, Hermione dashed towards Malfoy and practically dragged him back towards the table with her.

"Malfoy! Malfoy!" She hissed at him. This seemed to bring him out of his daze, a big silly grin growing on his face.

"Back to Malfoy are we, Minister?" His smugly amused face and raised eyebrow, he was asking to be punched. "I thought we were friends?"

"This isn't funny!" She whispered shrilly. "This could ruin everything! Why are you not in Slytherin?! What did the hat say? Did it do this on purpose? Did you ask for this house?!"

Draco's face dropped immediately, looking a bit embarrassed and sheepish, his cheeks taking on a pink tinge. "I didn't, I swear!" He quickly reassured Hermione, who had, at the look on his face, taken a deep breath and was probably going to yell at him. "It's just," a quick glance to make sure no one was listening, "I've always been envious of you three. You all have friends, real friends. People who would risk everything for each other, people who challenge you and make you better." His glance turned towards the Slytherin table, "that environment only made me worse. Plus, I think the hat did it as a joke. It took one look through my head and started laughing like crazy…I could hardly hear what is was saying between laughing." He grimaced and leaned in to her. "Are we totally screwed?"

"Royally fu*# £ sideways with a broomstick". Her head fell into her hands and she let out a small groan. Percy Weasley was watching her curiously, he had probably seen them whispering together and thought it unusual. Draco could hardly blame him, the son of one of the wizarding world's greatest advocates of pure blood supremacy, whispering familiarly with a student of unknown blood status. Trying to avoid attracting more attention - which he was already receiving enough of - Draco subtly elbowed Hermione whilst glancing at the sorting line. Her eyes glared at him through her hands, before shifting her position and taking a look behind her.

"Potter, Harry."

Whispers broke out in waves across the hall, students standing up to get a better look at the boy-who-lived. He was sitting on the stool for a while, hat down over his eyes as everyone waited with baited breath. Everyone, except Hermione and Draco.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The applause that arose from the lions table was deafening, screams and shouts creating a wild mass of sound that caused Draco to wince. The Weasley twins were yelling enthusiastically, as Harry himself walked shakily to the table and sat opposite the Gryffindor ghost. He grinned in the direction of the head table and turning his head, Draco saw Hagrid giving the boy a thumbs up. It didn't take long for the Weasley to join them at the table. Draco felt that he had shown remarkable restraint in withholding a sneer when the red head glared at him. That and Hermione was pinching him under the table and hissing "play nice." Instead of returning the glare, Draco shot both boys a wide grin and a wink. Their confused faces were hilarious.

Dumbledore stood up and gave his odd speech, followed by cheers. Draco heard Harry asking if Dumbledore was mad and laughed to himself. "There is a fine line between genius and insanity," he said smiling at the boys opposite him.

Percy nodded happily. "Indeed there is. Percy Weasley, pleasure to meet you." Draco shook the outstretched hand offered to him, smiling the whole time.

"Draco Malfoy, likewise."

"Quit quoting muggles," came Hermione's whisper from beside him.

"Relax Granger, I'm not a Slytherin anymore. Change for the better, right?"

"You two already know each other then?" Percy asked smiling at them both.

"Yes we met on the train," Hermione confidently lied, "I was looking for Neville's toad and he was very helpful." She smiled at Draco, eyebrow raised almost in a challenge.

Neville had looked across at the mention of his name. "You were?" Came the boy's timid voice, a grateful smile on his face. A few other students were now paying attention; luckily Potter and Weasel were chatting to nearly headless Nick and weren't listening to him.

"I simply suggested some places to check, and kept an eye out for the creature."

"Thank you so much! Nobody else was really bothered…Somebody even suggested that I should try to lose Trevor permanently…I couldn't do that though, he was a gift."

Nodding gravely at this comment Draco continued. "Indeed, it wouldn't do to insult the gift giver."

Neville seemed relieved at Draco's understanding. "It was a gift from my uncle Algie, he dropped me out of a window you see."

"I take it you survived?" Draco couldn't help but drawl out sarcastically, earning him a sharp pinch from Hermione. Offering a smile to show he was joking, Draco held out his hand to the boy.

"Draco Malfoy."

"Neville Longbottom, just Neville is fine though."

Neville's hands were a bit sweaty, probably nervous; his handshake a bit tentative. His warm smile however was welcoming and kind. Draco felt at a bit of a loss, everybody here was being rather pleasant to him. He supposed that not remembering six years of vicious bullying does that to people. It was quite nice really.

"Well Just Neville," a pause for effect, "Just Draco will be fine too."

This got a laugh from the other boy and Draco felt quite pleased with himself. Neville, after all, became a very powerful and knowledgeable herbologist - a good ally to have.

Tucking in to the wonderful food before him, Draco let his mind wander as those around him began discussing their blood status. Except for Hermione, who was talking about schoolwork and advanced clubs. No surprise there then.

It was a bit surreal; no one was trying to hide their status as they were quite happy to talk about their muggle parents. It was quite liberating really, they were happy, accepting and generally didn't put much value on their parentage. This might be tricky if he wanted to throw his weight around for something. Not that he did that much anymore, only for important things, like finding his son…

His son…

Draco's cutlery fell to the table, his arm reached out and grabbed onto Hermione's tightly. Neville had noticed the movement and was looking at him worriedly. "Um, Draco are you okay?" He asked quietly.

Draco's whole face had turned ashen, and he felt like he was going to be sick. "I…" His voice cracked slightly, eyes widening as a sort of panic set in.

Scorpius…

Ron and Harry were now both watching him, along with Hermione and Percy. He turned to Hermione silently asking for help as her face scrunched up in worry.

"Hey, erm… Mate," came Ron's voice, "want me to get you the mediwitch or something?" Sharing a look with Harry the boy shrugged as a look of perplexion grew on his face.

Breathing deeply, Draco opened his mind and sent an image of Scorpius to Hermione. She nodded slightly, and then began to giggle. Many of her housemates began giving her dirty looks for laughing at the poor boy, but she continued nonetheless.

"I think," she laughed, "master Malfoy here has just realised he has to tell his Slytherin parents, that he isn't in that house!" This was met with various levels of sympathetic horror and downright mirth.

"Glad I'm not you, mate!" Ron said looking pretty grim himself. "Can't imagine telling my parents I was sorted into Slytherin." He visibly shuddered at the thought.

"Same," came Neville's quiet voice.

"What does it matter?" Harry looked a bit confused, and was instantly regaled with tales of the Slytherin and Gryffindor house rivalry by Ron and a few other Gryffindor's.

Draco sucked in a small breath as he shifted in his seat, relieved that the conversation had moved on to another tangent. A quick glance to his left and he met his gaze with Hermione, who had been watching him carefully.

"Thank you.," he breathed, and Hermione replied with a small smile.

"Your welcome, I'm trying not to think about it myself. Do you mind?" She indicated to her arm, which he released.

The rest of the evening he spent in a daze, staring into space and nodding absently if people spoke to him. Would their children never be born? What if, in this life, his parents disowned him for being a Gryffindor? Would he still be introduced to Astoria? The thought made him sick, he loved his son more than anything in the world. If they could change the future and save many lives, would it be worth it if he had to sacrifice his only child? Hermione too, would she be willing to give up both her children?

He doubted it. One thing he was sure about was that Hermione Granger was a tenacious and powerful witch, she wouldn't stop until Voldemort was gone and she had her family just the way she wanted it.

He would follow in her footsteps, and he would do the same.

Before he realised what was happening, he was being dragged along the corridors and up endless flights of stairs. Only coming to a stop once, to avoid being pelted by floating walking sticks. Neville unfortunately got the lot on his head as Peeves sped away cackling. It didn't take long after that to reach a portrait of a large woman in a pink silky dress. Eyeing it curiously, Draco couldn't help but admit to himself that he was a little excited. He had never been into the Gryffindor dorms before he had heard it was full of open fires, comfy chairs and so much red and gold it made your eyes hurt.

"Password?"

"Caput Draconis," said Percy, before leading them through a round hole in the wall. Draco had to help pull Neville through whilst Potter gave him a leg up. It was obviously built into one of the towers as the room was rounded, the ceiling was rather low compared to the Slytherin dorm but the roaring fireplace and squashy looking armchairs made it wonderful. There wasn't much red and gold to be honest, the walls were stone with tapestries lining them, the carpet was a deep plush red, but it went well with the slight coloured accents around the room.

He caught Hermione looking at him with an amused expression on her face, to which he rolled his eyes and snorted. Following the Gryffindor squad of boys through a spiral staircase on one side of the room they headed up to their dormitory.

The room was rather spacious and contained six four poster beds with deep-red velvet curtains. Each of their trunks were already resting against the end of a bed, Draco had been placed between Harry and Neville. Taking his cue from the other boys he changed into his pyjamas and dropped into the bed like a stone. He barely heard Ron mutter something about good food before dozing off entirely.