This is a dramione story. The romance will begin in later years, but there will already be moments of attraction. Not always mutual.

xxx

The first of September has come. Hermione was about to start her studies at Hogwarts. Jean saw that her daughter was looking forward to meeting her father. She looked at her daughter's emotions with increasing concern. She perfectly remembered the first impression on her made by this dark-haired and gloomy-looking man. He was so bitter that at first she didn't even notice his virtues. It was only after some time, when he began to relax, that she noticed that he was not only intelligent, but also very handsome. Severus Snape was difficult. And if he was still alive, she doubted he would change. However, if that happened, it could only change for the worse. That's why she knew that despite her enthusiasm, their daughter would hit the wall. A wall of indifference and mockery.

- Honey, hurry up. We should be on the platform soon. - She looked after her daughter and saw that the girl stopped next to the disheveled boy with glasses. - Who is this young man?

- Mom, this is Harry Potter. Harry Potter, this is my mom.

The boy's face was clearly relieved. He must be worried about something.

- You're going to Hogwarts, aren't you? - Seeing his surprised expression, she added - It was not difficult for me to notice. Your trunk is not much different from my daughter's.

- Yes, I am going. However, the person who gave me the ticket did not tell me how to get on the platform. I wanted to follow a group of redheads but your daughter stopped me and offered to help. - he replied embarrassed.

- Come with us. It's kind of weird that you didn't get any clue. My daughter received detailed instructions in the letter.

A group of three approached the railing between platforms nine and ten. After Mrs. Granger explained the input method she had received both in the letter and directly from Professor McGonagall, she noticed that both children were a bit dazed. Harry, because he completely did not expect such an entrance to the platform. Hermione because her strict mind still didn't comprehend how this could even be possible.

- They're kids. Go. Harry first, then Hermione. If you are afraid, close your eyes and run. The teacher gave us this advice. However, I think it would be less noticeable if you calmly walked over to the railing and tried to cross.

- So what do we choose? - The boy looked at the newly met girl.

- I think it will be best if you stand next to the railing as if you were waiting for someone. When you are ready or when you feel that you are not being watched, you will just move on. Mom is right. Running up a wall with your luggage can get too much attention.

xxx

Entering platform 9 ¾ was almost as intense as the first entrance to Pokątna Street. Both Hermione and Harry stared in awe at the Hogwarts Express. Their eyes were so intense that Jean chuckled. She only stopped when she received scolding glances from her daughter.

- Honey, do you know that I am your parent and not the other way around? - the woman used the last moments together before her departure.

- Mom!

Jean saw the smile on the boy's face. She then thought that she didn't have to worry so much about her daughter, who always had trouble making friends.

- Yes, Hermione? - Mrs. Granger sent her daughter a sincere smile at the outspoken grimace of the girl. - Harry you will soon see that she can be very overbearing. I love you my daughter. I will wait for you before Christmas. You will be able to invite friends as soon as I have heard that there haven't been some problems with you.

xxx

Two teenagers struggled to find an empty compartment. When they finally managed to put the trunks inside, they thumped into the seats.

- You have a nice mom. - Harry said as he straightened his glasses.

- Thank you. What's yours?

- I'd rather not talk about it.

- I know what happened to your biological mother. You know, I've read all my textbooks. It's hard not to come across information about you in the History of Magic. I was thinking about the person who raised you, who adopted you.

- You really read about me? Has anyone told you that you are very direct?

- It really is. But I didn't even realize it was you on the platform until you introduced yourself. I'm not the social type. I am a loner, so I had no one to learn the art of subtlety from. You must have noticed yourself that the mother is more of a I'm-direct-and-is-me-with-it-good type.

Harry chuckled, but he immediately turned sad.

- I was not adopted, so I have no one who I call my mother. I live with my aunt and her husband. They are not very tolerant of magic in any form. I didn't find out about everything until the letters started arriving.

- Letters?

- Yeah. Uncle Vernon tried to intercept my Hogwarts letter. I don't know how they did it but they probably knew I didn't get it because I had an avalanche of them at home. The situation itself was utterly annoying but worth the sight of my upset uncle.

- So how did you finally get one of the letters?

- On my birthday, I was visited by the Keeper of Keys and Gamekeeper at Hogwarts Rubeus Hagrid. It's huge. I almost had a heart attack. Did you get your letter or was someone you?

- I got the letter, but there was someone anyway. Professor McGonagall. A strict looking old lady. She was nice, but more than I learned from her books. It's good that at least I got instructions on how to get here. I think I would panic when looking for Platform 9 and ¾.

- Unfortunately, for all my sympathy for Hagrid, I would have been stuck there. Well, unless I would follow that ginger lady with children who shouted "the same thing every year, whole crowds of Muggles".

- Yes, I know which one you mean ... I wasn't sure about it, that's why I intercepted you.

- And not for my captivating smile? - Harry flashed her a smirk.

- Rather for the eyesight of a puppy who needs help. - Hermione rolled her eyes in response.

Harry laughed unexpectedly.

- I read that there are four houses at Hogwarts. Which house would you like to be in? - Hermione asked the boy.

- Everywhere but in Slytherin. Although I will say that I could be in Gryffindor like my parents.

- Why not Slytherin?

- Apparently it's a house for wizards, they are famous for their black magic and even Vol himself ... You-know-who was there.

- Hmm, strange reason.

- Weird?

- Look, it's as if you want to misjudge all Germans, because that's where Hitler came from. You cannot judge a community by an individual. What's wrong with ambition and loyalty to your family? I just hope for Slytherin but I don't think I have a chance.

- I have to think about it, you made me think. Why do you think you have no chance of entering Slytherin? - Potter frowned and thought he had been forewarned by a certain boy and Hagrid's stories before he started school.

- I'm a muggle-born. They would torture me with prejudices. What a pity …

- Maybe it will not be so bad. - Harry put his hand reassuringly on her shoulder.

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and the arrival of a chubby, brown-haired boy.

- Sorry to bother you, but haven't you seen a toad? Trevor escaped me again.

Hermione looked at the worried boy and smiled. - No, but I can help you find her. Harry, will you sit alone for a while?

- Sure, but don't forget about me.

- I will not forget. And you don't forget about me. When others find out that Harry Potter is alone on the train, there may not be enough space for me. - she turned to the stranger and asked. - What's your name?

- Neville. - He sighed, looking surprised at her question. - Neville Longbottom.

- Come on, Neville. We're going to find your friend.

xxx

Harry Potter looked at the closing compartment door. The girl was completely different from the cocky blonde he had met while visiting Madame Malkin. She was nice and did not treat him exceptionally despite knowing about him. She selflessly volunteered to help the boy she had just met. And it was not the first time, and he has known her for only a few hours. Hagrid spoke very badly about Slytherin so Harry was determined that he didn't want to be there. But shouldn't he just take the test? After all, there's nothing wrong with ambition. He himself intended to have the highest grades to easily pass school, get a good job and free himself from the Dursleys. Maybe it is not much at the beginning, but it is some goal that he would like to pursue.

- Excuse me, is it free here? - Harry looked up to see a nervous red-haired boy, one of the group he saw at the station. - Everywhere is already either taken or full.

- My friend shouldn't be angry. The two of us are sitting here. Now he helps to look for the toad.

- Hi, my name is Ron Weasley.

Harry held out his hand to him and replied. - I'm Harry Potter.

XXX

Meanwhile, Hermione traveled through the train carriages. After leaving her compartment, she separated from Neville. Each of them went in a different direction. She thought it would be more effective. Unfortunately, to her annoyance, the search has so far been unsuccessful. She had a few compartments to look at and was allowed to go back.

- Sorry, haven't you seen a toad by any chance? - she asked automatically without even looking at who was sitting in the compartment. Only after a while did she realize her mistake.

- Granger. - the thin boy she met on Diagon Alley greeted. - I haven't seen any toads here. Have you seen it?

Only then did she glance at the faces of the rest of the crowd. She saw two tall boys sitting on the sides of a boy so pale that he could get lost in the fog, and a boy who, judging by his accent, could be Italian.

- Nott. - She tried to respond condescendingly, exactly in the same tone he used towards her. - Thank you, I will keep looking.

As she closed the door, she heard - See you at Hogwarts.

She remembered being nice to her until he knew his blood status. She was her father's daughter but it was a Muggle who gave birth to her and a Muggle raised her. She was not ashamed of her heritage. And if someone doesn't accept it for itself, that's their problem. Not hers.

xxx

Draco Malfoy looked at his friend a little confused. He registered the entrance of a girl with incredibly determined eyes and a storm of untamed, curly hair. Before he greeted her and asked about her origins, there was a tension between the two. As a result, the girl closed the door faster than she opened it.

- Theo, who was that? - Blaise Zabini was ahead of him on the question he had on the tip of his tongue.

- Hermione Granger. A mudblood I met while shopping at Diagon Alley. Pretty surprising mudblood. - Nott smirked and looked thoughtful. It was obvious that he did not want to develop the topic, but Draco was not going to let go.

- Would you say something more? - He managed to keep his bored tone of voice.

- It's complicated. This girl survived my father with her head held high and the manners of a pureblooded girl. She boldly confronted him. I think she will be in Gryffindor. And here the matter gets complicated. My father told me to befriend her. Even if she was assigned to a different house than mine. He says he knows her mother from somewhere, but cannot remember where from. I am to get all the information out of it. Unfortunately, after what happened at our last meeting, I can't throw her immediately into my arms with an offer of friendship. It would be suspicious.

- Your father? An unrepentant blood supremist? Are you sure? - Draco saw his chance in this. As a child, he never came into contact with the mudblood. He trusted his father, but since he found out that he, too, had not met a Muggle, he wanted to see if his prejudices were supported by evidence. Perhaps Hermione Granger could become his research project. Like a lab rat.

xxx

Harry Potter was getting more and more annoyed. Ron was very nice, but since he found out his name, he treated him like ... a monkey at the zoo. He looked as if he had grown a third head. He tried to be patient because he understood where the behavior was coming from, but he was on the verge of endurance. He was not used to such attention.

- Hey Harry, I'm back. Trevor was nowhere to be found. Maybe Neville found her and he will come to tell us. - Hermione looked into the compartment and saw that there was a red-haired boy with them. - Who are you?

- Ron Weasley. What are you doing here? - The boy spoke with his mouth full, but despite the lack of culture, his eyes shone with satisfaction so much that she just smiled.

Harry saved her from answering the question. - I told you that I am sitting here with my friend. This is Hermione Granger. We just talked about houses. Ron tried to convince me of Gryffindor's superiority over Slytherin.

- Oh, that's interesting. What are your arguments? - The girl leaned against the door and crossed her arms in front of her.

- First, his parents were from Gryffindor. Second, Principal Dumbledore belonged to this house. Third, we haven't produced as many black wizards as Slytherin. - Ron met her eyes with satisfaction.

- First, the fact that his parents belonged to Gryffindor does not mean that this house is better, just that they were sorted there. Second, Phineas Nigellus Black was also the director but he was also a Slytherin. Thirdly, it is up to us who we will become and not what house we will be assigned to. And believe me. If I had to endure such discrimination at every step, I would not endure it and start looking for a way to defend myself. Everyone has their limits. And fourth. Why do you only argue about two houses when there are four?

Seeing the surprised and reddened face of the boy, he wanted to hug Hermione. He liked Weasley, but he put so much pressure on Gryffindor that Harry felt like he was being brainwashed. A slight remark about not judging group by individual made him realize that he would pass the test and not fight the result. Certainly he will not repeat in his mind 'hopefully not to Slytherin, hopefully to Slytherin'. He decided that no matter what house he landed in, he would try to get the most out of it.

xxx

Hermione was unaware that a raven haired girl was passing in front of their compartment during the discussions. Admittedly, she was heading for her friends, but hearing the word Slytherin, she couldn't help but eavesdrop. She was surprised by the decisive attempt to defend her parents' house in the girl's mouth. She didn't know her. Who could it be? Without overloading her luck and risking detection, she moved on. Once she reached her destination, she was determined to share the news with the guys.

- Hi, did you miss me? - Pansy Parkinson slipped into the seat between Theodor Nott and Blaise Zabini.

- Will you calm down, Pans? We saw you about half an hour ago. Before you disappeared into the darkness in search of Daphne Greengrass. Did you find her at all? - Draco asked.

- I found her but she wouldn't come. And by the way, I found something even better. - The girl had her conspiratorial smile on her lips, which did not mean anything good.

To everyone's surprise, Gregory Goyle asked. - What?

Draco turned to him and concluded. - I thought you were asleep.

- My head aches, I had my eyes closed. - Gregory sighed and straightened up completely. - So what did you see?

- Harry Potter sat in one compartment, along with one of the Weasley's offspring and a girl defending the Slytherin house. Apparently there was a little disagreement between her and the redhead. I'm not sure, but I think the girl is at least half-breed. I didn't know her, and a Muggle-born wouldn't defend the home of evil wizards prejudiced against her species.

Goyle surprised everyone again. Apparently the state between sleep and reality sharpened his senses.

- Let me guess. Overbearing demeanor, wildly curly brown hair with golden highlights, petite, short, wearing a light green turtleneck, pants and a denim jacket with wings sewn on the back?

Gregory didn't notice his friends' puzzled expressions and continued on. - Hemiona Granger. Muggle-born, Mudblood or whatever you want to call it. Even pretty and intelligent. She has a very interesting mother. As far as you are concerned, I am not surprised at the defense of Slytherin. It is infinitely open to all possibilities. When the topic is exhausted, let me rest.

- Was that Goyle? - Draco looked around the compartment, there was a mockery in his voice. - Man, how do you know her mother?

- Does it matter? I don't think so. I met both at the bookstore. I talked to Hermione for a while. She is afraid of sorting.

- I bet she doesn't want to be a snake.

- On the contrary. - Goyle said, ending the conversation before he finally dozed off.

xxx

While Ron Weasley continued to stare at Hermione angrily, Harry tried to find out about her. That way, he thought, he would be able to avoid any further discussion of sorting.

- Hermione, what does your mom do? Ron's mom is a housewife, which in my opinion is quite impressive with seven children.

- Ron do you really have that many siblings? - she asked the boy to include him in the conversation.

Weasley looked down and grunted,. - You don't have to mock.

- I'm not mocking you. My mother always wanted more children but it failed. It only has me. If it is given to me, I will one day start a big family. - After she noticed an uncertain smile on Ron's face, she turned to Harry. - My parents are dentists. Mum also has a specialization in toxicology. The subject of her interest are poisonous substances of natural origin.

- I'm surprised you were more interested in the Mudblood than the fact that Harry Potter is on the train. - Blaise said to Draco.

- Perhaps an hour ago I would have been interested in his presence. - Draco reacted quickly, he could give an excuse at this point so that his supernatural interest in the girl could be reasonably logically explained.

- What has changed? - Pansy asked.

- Mudblood. It is quite interesting. Not only because Theo is going to befriend her. She defends slytherin despite the house's reputation. If we had been assigned a joint assignment, I might have examined the Muggle-born out of my father's reach. The conversation between two Slytherins is easier to hide than if I wanted to observe a puffer, for example. If I went there now, I could alienate her.

This time the question was asked by Theo - What are you getting at?

- You know my father. It keeps me from getting close to Muggles. He wants to investigate their usefulness for our world on his own. Endurance, intelligence, power. Maybe our parents think we are only children, but even as children we can draw our own conclusions. Vincent, how many purebred families are there?

- Almost 30. You know, so why are you asking?

- Think about it. In about two generations, we will be one big family if we only cross each other. We still have time, of course, but most families already have strong ties. It's like breeding Abraxans. Without fresh blood, the races are dwarfed. Our parents expect us to try to get heirs after school, and at the same time we are reminded of the upcoming war. And if it won't interbreed with whom?

Blaise gave him a sad smile. - I think I know what you mean. Do you want to find a sample sample so we can see and evaluate whether it is worth finding fresh blood in addition to pure blood?

- Exactly. - Draco smiled, because his friend kept up with his reasoning.

- Okay, but you guys are better off anyway. Whichever girl you choose, your surname will take on me? You are thinking right, but I think we should come back to this conversation after the first or second semester. - Pansy said.

- Why?

- Are you dumb or what? Then we will also be able to judge how they use magic. We will be able to select the best specimens. Now there would be too much to observe, and we'd probably end up choosing just on the basis of looks. And it was good to judge which houses are at stake. After all, the Gryffindors are not very enthusiastic about us.

- To us? We're not sorted yet.

- As if Malfoy, Parkinson, Nott, Zabini, Goyle or Crabble ended up in a different house than Slytherin. Even if such an exception happened, for the mere desire to maintain childhood friendship when a part of us will be snakes, other houses will lynch us.

Draco sighed. - You're right Pans, unfortunately you're right.

xxx

- I think we should get dressed. We're coming soon.

A smile appeared on the faces of Hermione, Harry and Ron. They knew one of the greatest adventures of their lives was about to begin.

xxx

At the same time, Severus Snape was strolling in his rooms. He knew he should get ready for the upcoming welcome feast, but all he thought about was the desire to quit his job. Instead of protecting his son from his first love, he wanted to find the only woman for whom he could change his life. She disappeared overnight. He was looking for her, but apparently he needs more time to look for her. For now, however, he will have to spend this time filling his life debt to James Potter. Unfortunately.

xxx

The next chapter is behind us. What do you think? I have portrayed Slytherins as more mature because I imagine that pushing to settle down and hand over an heir at a young age could change their perspective on mate selection. But because they're still kids, they won't always be serious. And observant Goyle just for a surprise.