Hey everyone! I'm so sorry this chapter took longer then expected, I've been really busy with my final major project in college, but I really wanted to give you guys something! I'm not 100% happy with it but I really wanted to give you guys another chapter, As always please review and let me know what you think!

Chapter 4

Hermione had no idea how long her and Layla remained frozen for, neither of them seemed able to form a coherent thought. Hermione wasn't the only one who could talk to snakes? Maybe it was normal? Quickly forming her thoughts and questions into an orderly fashion Hermione snapped her jaw shut and said "You can understand Layla too?"

"Well yeah I thought that was normal for wizards and witches" Harry said, turning his head slightly to the side. "I thought so too" Hermione said thoughtfully "But every time I've thought about telling somebody this really strange feeling comes over me, almost like a warning, I've read that there's a big library at Hogwarts so we can do some more research then but until then I think we should keep it to ourselves" Harry quickly agreed, and they spent the rest of the journey talking about nothing of consequence.

About 10 minutes before they were due to arrive, they quickly threw their robes over their clothes, they both had two very different feelings towards their attire. Harry thought it was strange and unnatural, he felt rather uncomfortable if he was being completely honest. Hermione on the other hand had never felt more comfortable, she loved how her robes dragged behind her as she walked, it made her feel so majestic. Not noticing her friend trying to adjust to walking in his robes, Hermione was one of the first ones off the train, she wasn't quite sure how the magic worked to get all the luggage to the appropriate place but she was sure if she re-read Hogwarts a history, she'd find yet another detail she'd missed.

Hermione and Harry climbed into a boat after saying a quick hello to Hagrid who looked ecstatic at seeing the two together. They were shortly joined by none other than Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley. This was going to be an interesting ride. As the boats set sail Harry silently prayed for a quiet journey. He did not get his wish.

"Ugh I've got to share a boat with a Weasley, wait until my father hears about this your kind shouldn't even be allowed in, I would have thought Hogwarts had a set amount of animals allowed in" sneered Draco.

"Oh, shove off Malfoy" Ron sniped back "I've got it worse, I'm stuck with a Slytherin and a girl with a snake" quickly remembering that he was supposed to make friends with Harry he continued "At least Harry's here, you'll definitely be a Gryffindor, that's the best house don't you think Harry?"

By this point Harry knew he didn't like Ron, he had insulted Hermione multiple times just for having a snake, he wasn't too fond of Draco either as he reminded him a bit of his cousin Dudley. Would he ever get free of them?

Coming out of his musings he realized everyone in the boat was looking at him expectantly, "To be honest I don't care what house I'm in as long as it's not the same one as you" This caused Draco to snicker, Hermione to giggle quietly and Layla to hiss approvingly. Ron went to retort but before he had the chance the boat had stopped moving. They were quickly ushered off the boats and into the castle, the first thing Hermione noticed was that the portraits were moving! A couple of them waved merrily at the group of first years that had gathered while others just looked at them appraisingly, Hermione loved magic!

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore's life was good. As well as being the Headmaster of Hogwarts and helping to shape and guide as many students towards the light as he could, he was also the defeater of the dark wizard Grindelwald, was wanted by most to be the Minister of Magic and if that wasn't brilliant enough, his order had helped defeat the dark wizard only known as "You know who"

Of course Albus didn't call him this. He called him by his name, Tom Riddle as fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself. Dumbledore was quite looking forward to this sorting as it was Harry Potter's first year. He was hoping to see Harry walking in with Ron Weasley as he had subtly hinted to Molly that it would be a good idea for the two to be friends, so imagine his surprise when he sees young Harry walking quite closely through the hall with a young girl with Dark hair, a snake around her neck and a very powerful aura around her.

This was not good; he hadn't seen a first year with this much raw power emanating from them since Tom. He would have to keep an eye on her.

Turning to his second in command, Minerva McGonagall he whispered, "Minerva dearest, who is that girl with young Mr Potter?" She looked to where he had indicated, a soft smile graced her features as she whispered back "Do you not remember headmaster? That's Hermione Granger, the young girl with a snake familiar, I'll bet you can feel the power rolling off her? She's such a sweet girl bless her I hope she's one of my lion cubs"

Granger? Why was that name so familiar? Obviously, a muggle family as he couldn't recall any wizarding family with that name, "I must be going senile in my old age, I'm sure it will come back to me" Albus thought to himself.

Turning away from his deputy he watched the sorting with a fake look of interest and grandfatherly kindness, he had gotten quite good at it over the years. He watched a few students get sorted before Hermione's name came up, Trying to keep his expression neutral he watched the clearly nervous girl hide her emotions behind what looked like the look of an ice queen before she sat down on the chair and Minerva floated the hat to Hermione's head. "I should be up there" Minerva muttered, clearly upset as the Hat and Hermione began their mental conversation "It feels so impersonal to just float the hat on their heads"

"Well Minerva, maybe you shouldn't have gotten into that, pardon my wording but, cat fight with Mrs Norris?" Albus said. Minerva barely controlled the urge to hiss at the headmaster in response before replying "That wasn't my fault Albus, that collection of fur and fleas thought I wanted her mouse and attacked me! that reminds me, I shall be having words with Mr filch about this particular incident" Albus chuckled and turned back to the sorting just as the hat shouted "SLYTHERIN"

The whole school had frozen in place. A muggleborn in Slytherin? Has that ever happened? The Slytherins themselves clapped politely, their faces giving nothing away of their true feelings. There must be something different about the girl for the hat to place her with them. The sorting continued with Slytherin gaining 5 more members, all from prominent wizarding families. The girl, Hermione sat quietly alone as her fellow first years moved as far away from her as possible. That would have to be rectified, mudblood or not Slytherins stuck together outside of the common room, the rest of the school was already against them, no need to make it worse and give any of the houses any power over them.

The hall once again went quiet as Harry's name was called, each house at one point or another had heard of the legend of Harry Potter and his defeat of You know who at only 1 years old. All four houses wanted him for their own for different reasons. The Hufflepuff's wanted him because he must be strong to defeat such a dark wizard and he'd be able to bring the Hufflepuff name out of the mud, they were so much more than pushovers thank you very much!

The Ravenclaws wanted him because he clearly must be a genius to defeat you know who and they wanted his knowledge. The Gryffindor's felt it was their right to have Harry in their house, Gryffindor's were brave, selfless and strong! The older Gryffindor's also knew that both Harry's parents had been in the house of the lions, he was as good as theirs. The Slytherins wanted him for a different reason entirely, Potter must have power to defeat the wizard most of their parents followed and they thought he'd make a good ally if he wasn't completely useless, plus he could bring Slytherins reputation up.

You could hear a pin drop in the hall as the hat and Harry conversed for longer and longer when the hat finally spoke "SLYTHERIN" The Hufflepuff's clapped politely, the Ravenclaws joined in with forced nonchalance, the Gryffindor's were yelling in protest all apart from 3 red heads, Percy was a prefect, he didn't have time for such nonsense, but Fred and George were leaning close together and whispering about something. The Slytherins clapped politely the same as they had for every first year put in their house, but they couldn't hide the smug grins on their faces. Harry quickly rushed to Hermione's side and pulled her into a quick hug before sitting next to her, choosing to ignore the massive gap between Hermione and the rest of their housemates.

"What took you so long with the hat?" Hermione quietly asked but before he could answer the headmaster had gotten up from his seat and addressed the hall. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! To our new students I would like to personally welcome you to Hogwarts and say how pleased I am to see our returning students, Before we commence with our delicious feast I would like to remind all students that Mr Flitch, our caretaker has an extended list of banned products, please see said list outside his office, the forbidden forest is, as always forbidden and a final warning to all, the third floor corridor is strictly out of bounds to all students lest they wish to die a most painful death. With that said, let's eat"

Hermione was rapidly questioning if this school was a good idea but before she had a chance to voice this, Harry answered her previously asked question "I don't know how to describe it, it was like the hat was arguing with itself, at first it seemed dead set on Slytherin but then it kept trying to yell Gryffindor, I was just waiting for it to make up its mind" Before they could continue their conversation the rest of the first years had edged closer to them "Well well well" A girl with short black hair and striking blue eyes said "Slytherins first mud blood"

Hermione was about to reply when Draco shockingly interjected "Don't call her that Pans, I learned the hard way" Hermione couldn't help but shoot him a grateful look despite everything he had done. Layla decided from her confines in Hermione's hair that it was time to introduce herself, she slithered out of Hermione's hair and down her arm before standing up to her full height and hissing at everyone.

Hermione was once again frozen, she seemed to be doing that a lot recently. Still looking as angry as a snake could look Layla hissed "Stroke me you idiot, I'm going to snap at these inbred fools, then you will look powerful for stopping me! Snakes respect power" Layla then followed through on her word and snapped at Draco before getting ready to pounce on the girl who had insulted her mistress.

Hermione thrust her other hand in front of Pansy's face and a clear bubble surrounded her hand. Layla just narrowly avoided head butting said bubble and gave one more warning hiss before making herself comfortable around Hermione's neck. Pansy gave her a look somewhere between fear and respect before turning towards Draco who simply said "I wish I had gotten off that lightly" before returning to his meal.

Okay that's it for this chapter I'm sorry if its crap! Please review and let me know what you think, My DM's are always open incase anyone wants to get in touch with any questions :D