The towering half-giant cheerfully leads them to the boats.
Harry and Hermione stick together. Really, what else could one expect? They are joined by Harry's two wannabe friends. The redhead and blonde cannot stand each other.
Hermione has a sadistic twinkle in her eyes and Harry just knows that she's not going to bail him out.
Oh - he's sure she'll step in if he gets into deep trouble but she won't lift a finger if it stays in the realm of entertaining. He can't blame her. He'd do the exact same.
They match each other so well.
When the boat finally stops, Harry is quick to escape. The wannabes are too busy arguing to notice his strategic exit. Hermione is, of course, absolutely no help. She's laughing her head off.
He grumbles but it only makes her laugh harder.
After a while, they reach the castle. A stern woman stands in front of it, her lips pressed in a sharp line.
They are led into a side chamber and the others talk quietly. The air is thick with nervousness and Harry grips Hermione's hand. She squeezes it comfortingly. Harry finds it surprising that he doesn't flinch away from her touch. If he hadn't resolved to stick with her forever already, that would be enough to make him decide to do so.
When the ghosts come through, they startle Hermione and it's his turn to laugh as she glowers at him. She raises one arm threateningly and he can't quite suppress the automatic recoil. Hermione's sharp eyes catch the movement and her gaze promises retribution. Harry knows it's not over.
Still, as she retakes his hand, he finds himself relaxing once more.
Their attention is brought to the rickety stool at the front. On it, is a frayed hat. The students stare boredly at it. Harry understands why when a second later, it begins to sing.
Hermione's name is called and her hand slips out of his. He misses the comforting warmth. She walks up to the rickety stool, has the tattered hat put on and waits. Harry thinks her personality suits Ravenclaw. True, she is clever but she hides her prominent insanity well. It won't be Slytherin. It would be far too inconvenient.
Nor Gryffindor, his redheaded fan wants to go there. The hat finally calls, "Hufflepuff!"
Naturally, the hat places Harry there too. Hermione said something to it though the hat won't disclose what. There's a slight tremor to the mental voice though. Harry shrugs. He's with Hermione and nothing else is as important.
The feast that follows is not particularly memorable. He meets a few of the others in his year but he sticks to Hermione and no one comments on it.
He sees her eyeing the food distastefully. This is only explained when later, she complains about the lack of variety and vegetarian food.
Harry has never had the chance to be vegetarian before and he wonders if now is the right time to try. He can't do so at the Dursleys - he's lucky if he gets something more substantial than scraps but he thinks he wants to try.
He's just happy that he can - that he has the opportunity should he want it.
It's one of the best days of his admittedly previously lacklustre life.