BITTERSWEET
Chapter 6: The Sorting
September 1976
Sirius, James, and Remus led Hermione to the gargoyle outside Dumbledore's office. After standing there for a moment, unsure of what to do, Hermione began naming various sweets in hopes of getting the password correct.
"Lemon drop," she said impatiently. "Cockroach cluster. Fizzing whizbees." The three boys just looked at her. "What?" she asked. "I'm pretty sure the password is a sweet, although I'm not sure whether it's a muggle or wizard one."
James shook his head. "Nice girl you've picked out, Padfoot," he muttered to Sirius. "Going with your usual hot, brainless chick?" Sirius dropped his arm from around Hermione.
Hermione glared at James. "I'll have you know that I'm a prefect in my time, and candidate for Head Girl."
"Whoa," Sirius said jokingly, "looks like Lily has some competition at being the number one nerd here,"
Hermione shot him an angry look, then turned back to the statue and opened her mouth, ignoring Sirius. She started to say, "Pepper imps," but the voice that came out wasn't her own. Hermione spun around to find Dumbledore staring at her with a twinkle in his eyes. Lily was by his side, looking flushed.
"I figured you guys would look for Dumbledore straightaway, and when I didn't see you at the feast, I guessed you'd come here, so I got him from the head table for you. I hope you don't mind?" she said breathlessly.
"Mind? Of course not," Hermione responded. "Thank you!" She and Lily shared a smile, Hermione remembering Lily's note in hopes of making a best friend in this time, and Lily eager to get to know Hermione and possibly find a soul mate.
James glanced at Lily. "I understand how it is, wanting to spend time with me. It would be easier if you just agreed to go out with me instead of resorting to other means to catch my attention." He winked at her.
"Oh! You arrogant..." she was at a loss for words, her fury taking over her vocal abilities.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, effectively silencing the teenagers before a shouting match broke out, and caught their attention. "I understand that Miss Granger is not of this time period. Miss Evans has given me a brief explanation, but I feel that there is a need for us to have a discussion in my office. If you will?" He gestured to the now-open passageway. Upon hearing the correct password, the gargoyle had sprang aside, allowing entrance to the passageway.
The five teenagers climbed the stairs, followed by Dumbledore. He invited them to sit down, then took a seat behind a large, mahogany desk. Hermione glanced around the room. Some things, she realized, never change: she saw the various photos of the previous headmasters, as well as Fawkes sleeping in a corner.
She looked back at Dumbledore when he began to speak again. "You four were the only ones to see Miss Granger arrive, is that correct?" he asked. They nodded. "Before we do anything else, I need to know who has seen Miss Granger since then, and what you told them."
"Many of the people on the train noticed her, but didn't talk to us," Remus said.
"Except for Malfoy and Snivel--Snape," Sirius interjected. "Hermione told them that her name was Hermione Mandelin, and that she was a transfer student from Beauxbatons."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "That is a plausible story that the students will believe. Quick thinking, Miss Granger--or should I be calling you Miss Mandelin?" he added with a twinkle in his eye. Turning to the four sixth years from this time, he continued, "I hope I do not need to remind you that it could endanger the lives of many people if you were to inform the student body of Miss Granger's true home, or her true name. From this moment on, she will be referred to as Hermione Mandelin, whether in public or private. Do I make myself clear?" They nodded. "Additionally, I think it would be wise for you to refrain from questioning her about the future. I'm sure she knows that she is forbidden to talk about it, because of the possibility of devastating effects." They nodded again. Dumbledore looked at Hermione. "Now, I would like to find out from Miss... Mandelin how exactly she came to be in our time, and what courses she was taking in her time so we can give her the same schedule."
"Sir--" Hermione began. Dumbledore cut her off by holding up his hand. "Please do not tell me in words. If you don't mind, I would like to use my Pensieve to find out exact details." Seeing her expression, he added, "of course, all your memories will be returned to when we are done." Relieved, she nodded.
"I think it is best for you four not to witness this. Please have a seat in the great hall. Mr. Lupin, if you could briefly inform Professor McGonagall of the situation and explain to her that I will be there as soon as possible?" He dismissed them.
"Of course, sir," Remus said as he left. They all took a backwards glance at Hermione, contemplating the unique situation at hand.
When Dumbledore and Hermione were alone, he brought his pensieve out of the cabinet and placed it in front of him. "Please draw out your memories of the minutes before you left, as well as any memories you may have of your schedule," he instructed her.
Hermione brought her wand to her head and drew out the silvery substance, concentrating on the important memories. She placed them in the bowl, and turned to Dumbledore expectantly.
"Thank you, Miss Mandelin," he murmured as he watched the bowl. Hermione's memories flashed across, and she watched as Draco cornered her. Dumbledore's face grew grave. "This is a serious offense," he said. "I will have to deduct points from his house in that time."
Hermione inwardly grinned, imagining Draco losing points from his house and wondering how the headmaster knew. She turned her eyes back to the pensieve, looking at what Dumbledore was currently viewing.
He saw memories of praise from teachers, of perfect O.W.L. scores, of a prefect badge. He saw Hermione studying and turning in essays a foot longer than the requirement, and saw her winning numerous points for Gryffindor by answering question after question correctly in class. He saw her memories of receiving 312 on an exam, as well as the advanced classes she had taken. He saw her schedule from the beginning of sixth year. Dumbledore realized he was dealing with a truly exceptional girl.
He looked back at Hermione. "I am impressed, Miss Mandelin. You clearly have an aptitude for school. I commend you for you accomplishments, and I thank you for keeping back any memories that would change my views of the future." Hermione smiled at him, pleased by his complements. She would have expected them in her time, but it was an honor to receive praise from someone who hadn't seen her in action all these years, who hadn't come to expect it.
Dumbledore continued, "Before we go to the Great Hall, I'd like to get your schedule sorted out. You have chosen to take very advanced classes, but from what I saw of your memories you will be able to handle them just fine. But I am assuming that you would like to drop one or two so you don't have to use a time-turner."
Hermione looked horrified at the thought. "Oh, no! How am I going to do this?" she asked. "I need all of the classes I signed up for if I want to succeed as a witch later in life! Well, most of them anyway. But I don't think it would be wise for me to use a time-turner. How am I going to fix my schedule?"
"Let's take a look at what to have, and see if we can make any adjustments that would make it work," he suggested. Dumbledore waved his wand, and Hermione's current schedule appeared before her. She was signed up for ten classes: Advanced Potions, Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Charms, Herbology: Healing Herbs, Care of Magical Creatures, History of Magic: The Goblin Wars, Advanced Arithmancy, Ancient Runes IV, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Muggle Studies: A Life Without Magic.
"Well," Hermione said slowly. "I suppose I could drop care of magical creatures."
Dumbledore waved his wand, and it disappeared from her course sheet as Hermione spoke again. "If I don't take Muggle Studies: A Life Without Magic, but instead enroll in Wizards and Muggles: Coexistence Through the Ages, then I think that would eliminate any time problems, and I would still be able to fulfill any requirements for prospective job offers in later years. I'll have a lot of classes, but they all sound so interesting I don't want to drop any."
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I have faith in you to manage this load of schoolwork. From what I've seen, you are used to this." She grinned, then gasped as another thought struck her.
"Professor!" she said worriedly, "I don't have any books, or parchment, or anything!"
"Not to worry," Dumbledore said. "I'll have that taken care of by the time the feast is over. You will have robes, textbooks, and anything else required until Minerva and I can figure out a way to get you to your home."
"Oh, thank you, Professor," Hermione said breathlessly.
"Now, I don't think there's anything else we need to talk about. I'll have that class list made up into a timetable for you and you will receive it along with the rest of the students. If that's everything, then it is time we be going." He made a sweeping motion with his wand and the piece of parchment disappeared. "The feast awaits us."
He held the door open for Hermione and followed her out of his office. They walked to the Great Hall in silence, Hermione falling a step behind him.
Just before they entered, Dumbledore stopped outside the doors of the Great Hall. "Because of this unique situation, I think I'll have you come to the front with me while I introduce you to the student body. I'll then have you try on the Sorting Hat, and we'll have the feast," he explained to Hermione.
He opened the doors and walked in, closely followed by Hermione. The students had been getting restless, anxious to begin eating. Professor McGonagall had told them that Dumbledore was covering an important matter, and would be back very shortly, but the sorting ceremony had been over for almost ten minutes and everyone was impatient.
All heads turned as people craned to see who had been keeping Dumbledore. They were puzzled, wondering who the girl was and what she was doing at Hogwarts. Although Hermione looked confident, if anyone had looked her in the eye they would see that she was nervous and overwhelmed, although they would have never been able to figure out why.
Dumbledore strode to the front, and turned so he was facing the four house tables. "I apologize for holding up the feast," he said. "But I would like to present someone to you. We have a transfer student this year, a sixth year from Beauxbatons. I would like to present Miss Hermione Mandelin."
The students clapped politely as they stared curiously at the unfamiliar beauty before them. Hermione smiled at them, gazing out at the crowd, surprised by the familiarity of some of the faces she saw. She noticed a freckled redhead at the Gryffindor table and realized it must be some Weasley relation as a teen. She didn't recognize anyone in Ravenclaw, but saw a girl in Hufflepuff that looked vaguely familiar, although she couldn't quite place her. Hermione suppressed a grin as she saw the girl throwing flirtatious glances over to the Weasley, who looked embarrassed and pleased at the attention. Looking at the Slytherin table, Hermione saw a number of surly faces that looked vaguely familiar, and realized with a shudder that she must of seen them as Death Eaters in the future. She also saw a snooty blonde that reminded her suspiciously of Draco's mother, and figured that she was Narcissa Black.
She looked back at Dumbledore when she realized he was talking to her. "Miss Mandelin, if you will try on the Sorting Hat?"
Hermione sat on the stool and placed the hat on her head for the second time in her life.
"Very interesting," the hat whispered. "Hmmm. This will be extremely hard to place you. You show outstanding qualities from each of the four houses. Your extreme loyalty for friends shows that you might belong in Hufflepuff, but your other traits overpower that. I see a love for learning, yes, a thirst for knowledge. I also see that you are very ambitious, striving to succeed. Your bravery is admirable for any Gryffindor, but you have a secret, one that could change the course of history if anyone knew. Slytherin would help you there; no one would question you because everyone has a secret."
No, not Slytherin, Hermione thought, terrified.
"Oh, I see now," the hat continued. "You have the blood of muggles in your veins, which prevents you from joining Salazar's house. Ravenclaw would do you well in your studies, and there you could read to your heart's content, fueling your passion without your inner flame being quenched by the teasing of others who don't understand." The hat's words tempted Hermione, and she felt an urge to join those would see her abilities as talent instead of bookwormishness. Then her thoughts strayed back to the marauders, and to Lily. She realized that she couldn't survive the year not only separated from Harry and Ron, but also from the only people who knew what had happened to her.
No, she thought. Please, put me in Gryffindor. I belong there.
"Are you sure?" the hat asked in what Hermione thought was a slightly disapproving tone. "You could achieve greatness in Ravenclaw."
I'm positive, Hermione thought determinedly. Gryffindor is my home.
"Well, if you insist," the hat said. "After all, I may be wrong. You are one of the most challenging people to place I have sorted in, oh, about fifty years."
Who was the last one? Hermione asked, curious.
"That would have been young Tom Riddle. He's the only other student I have ever sorted that showed such brilliance. Such a complex mind, as you have. But, it is our choices that determine who we are. And I see you as one who will make many important decisions in years to come. You will thrive no matter where you are placed." The hat was silent for a moment, thinking. "Never let anyone else tell you who you are, or who to be," it whispered. Then, shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione took off the hat, relieved. The Gryffindors were clapping and cheering for this mysterious beauty who was finally placed into their house after one of the longest deliberations they had ever waited through.
Hermione saw Lily waving her over, a seat saved next to her. With a grateful smile, Hermione walked over to Lily and sat down.
"Hi, Hermione!" Lily said. "Wow, the hat took such a long time to place you. I'm so glad you ended up in Gryffindor with me! I can tell the two of us are totally going to bond." She flashed a grin at Hermione.
"I know!" Hermione said. "I'm so glad I got placed into Gryffindor. For a minute there I had no clue where the hat was going to sort me, because it kept deliberating for so long. I was getting scared that it wouldn't put me here."
She stopped for a minute and turned her attention to Dumbledore as he stood up and motioned for silence. "Before we begin the long-awaited feast, I would like to announce that our Head Boy this year is Preston Malloy, from Hufflepuff, and our Head Girl is Monique Courchesne, from Ravenclaw."
A sophisticated girl with her hair pulled back into a low ponytail stood up and waved, as did a tall, professional-looking boy with sandy brown hair and blue-gray eyes. The students clapped politely until the Heads sat back down. Dumbledore waited for the applause to die down, then said, "Without any farther ado, let the feast begin!"
Hermione and Lily chattered as they filled their plates with food and began eating. Hermione could tell that she and Lily were two of a kind, and that she just might have a great time this year. When their plates were nearly clean, timetables appeared in front of each of the students. The two girls eagerly compared schedules, finding to their amazement that their interests were very close, and their schedules were extremely alike.
"Are you using your time-turner this year?" Hermione asked Lily.
"No, I turned it into Prof. McGonagall," she replied. "After I saw what happened to you, I decided I didn't want to take any chances this year. It only took a few minor adjustments to my schedule to make it work."
"Same here!" Hermione exclaimed. "I had signed up for ten classes, but I dropped Care of Magical Creatures and switched from Muggle Studies to Wizards and Muggles. Wow, it's so nice to meet someone like you. I mean, here I am, in this foreign time, away from all of my friends. I was sure it would be terrible, but I was so wrong. You are the only person I have ever met who takes as many subjects as me. I'm guessing we share the same study habits, also."
"Essays ten inches longer than the requirement and studying months before an exam?" Lily questioned.
"Exactly!" Hermione said.
"Potter always makes fun of me for that. It's not like he or Black does any work, though. Remus is the only one of those four who's halfway reasonable," Lily grumbled.
James and Sirius chose that moment to sit on either side of them: Sirius next to Hermione and James next to Lily.
"And what might you two sexy ladies be talking about right now?" James asked, trying to slide his arm around Lily.
"We were just discussing how arrogant and conceited you were," Lily said in annoyance as she pushed his hand away.
"Ouch, Prongs," Sirius said. "No matter. I'm sure these lovely females would be glad to spend time with us anyway." He winked at Hermione. "May I see what classes you're taking?" he asked her.
"Okay, I guess" she replied, slowly handing over her schedule.
"Holy shit!" he yelled when he read it. "You're taking NINE classes? Do you plan to eat or sleep at all this year?"
Hermione eyes flashed angrily at Sirius. If there was one thing she hated, it was people telling her how to manage her schoolwork, especially since she always got better grades than them, in much harder classes too.
James snuck a peek at Lily's schedule. "Damn. She's got nine also. Can you say bookworm central?"
Lily flipped her long red hair over her shoulder, making sure it smacked James in the face. Hermione continued to glare at Sirius. "Just because you don't see the point in school doesn't mean the rest of us will waste an opportunity to learn," she said acidly. "Was there a point in coming over besides to make fun of us?"
"Actually, yes," Sirius said. "We wanted to know which classes you two shared with us."
"Well, you have my schedule, and the only difference between Lily's and mine is that she's taking History of Magic: An Era of Trials instead of the Goblin Wars," Hermione told him. "We have very similar interests. What are you taking?" she asked politely.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Advanced Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Sixth-year Charms, History of Magic: The Goblin Wars, and Muggle Studies: A Life Without Magic," he rattled off. "So that would mean... we share Defense Against the Dark Arts, Advanced Transfiguration, and History of Magic," he said brightly.
Hermione was about to respond when a shouting match broke out next to them.
"I hate your guts Potter! Don't even try to THINK about going out with me. And the last thing I want is you in my class!" Lily screamed, causing half of the Great Hall to turn and look at them. "C'mon, Hermione," Lily said, dragging Hermione out by her arm. "I can't stand to be with them any longer."
Sirius and James just stared after them. "What?" James asked. "It was going so well!"
"Sure, mate," Sirius said, glancing over at him. "Sure."
