A/N: Oh you're all going to be so mad at me. I've been updating across so many of my stories that I completely forgot I'd written some new chapters for this fic. Literally, it's been sitting in the file ready to be publish for like a month and I completely forgot. I hope you like it and I promise I'll be quicker with the next chapter. You're going to love it, I promise. Thanks so much for all the love you've given me on this fic. xx-Kitten
Of Ticking Clocks & Beating Hearts
By Kittenshift17
Chapter 11: The Sorting
When they reached Hogwarts, Hermione felt again the same awe she'd felt the first time around. The lake crossing had been filled with exclamations from Lily and Severus about how wonderful the castle looked and Lily squawked when they entered the Great Hall, led by McGonagall.
"Wow," she breathed, "How do they make it do that?"
"It's bewitched," Hermione told her, "There are classrooms and dormitories and things up there but the ceiling of the Great Hall is bewitched to look like the night sky.
"Now then," McGonagall called for their attention when they reached the front of the hall. The older students were muttering and watching them, "When I call your name you will come forwards and I will put the Sorting Hat on your head. You will be sorted into your houses."
Hermione watched as their peers were slowly sorted. Because she'd appeared out of nowhere, Dumbledore had tacked her name right on the end of the list and Hermione couldn't be more pleased. The first time around at Hogwarts she'd been the first person of their year to be sorted. It was based on the age of the student, each name recorded when the witch or wizard was born and so because she hadn't been born yet in this time, she'd needed Dumbledore to add her to the list.
Being the last on the list meant she would be able to make sure that she was sorted into whichever house Snape went into.
"Sirius Black," McGonagall called, getting to the first of their gathered little group of friends. Hermione knew Sirius's birthday was in November, so he was the oldest.
Sirius swaggered forwards with a cocky grin on his face after bumping his fist against James's and clapping Remus on the shoulder.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted and the Great hall erupted into a cacophony of sound, everyone at the Slytherin table expressing their shock over not gaining a new member from the Black family. Meanwhile the Gryffindor table began to cheer and Sirius plucked the hat back off his head before strolling over towards the Gryffindor table.
Hermione watched him go with a little smile on her face.
"Severus Snape," was called next to and Hermione watched Lily squeeze Snape's hand encouragingly.
"Go on," Hermione nudged him when he didn't move.
"Slytherin Lily, you need to be in Slytherin with me," Snape muttered to the redhead as he squeezed past Hermione, the snake around his neck poking its head out of his collar and making one girl he passed squeal in fear.
He strolled up onto the raised steps and over to the stool and Hermione watched him carefully. He looked a sight better than he had now that she'd fixed his robes and his hair but it was still obvious to anyone who looked at him that he came from a poor family and had little money. His unfortunately sized nose didn't help matters, though he tried his best to hide his appearance behind his long black hair.
He sat furtively on the stool, looking worried and never taking his eyes off Lily.
"SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting hat declared after a few minutes and the Slytherin table erupted into cheers this time, many of them still muttering about Sirius being a traitor to his own family.
Severus took the hat off and hurried over towards the Slytherin table where he sat down. He looked apprehensive. His eyes darting back towards where Hermione and Lily stood.
"Lily Evans," McGonagall called next and Lily squeezed Hermione's hand before making her way up to sit under the hat.
Hermione looked on, wondering if her presence there would in any way effect where Lily would be placed. If Lily knew the two friends she'd made on the train would both be in Slytherin, she might be similarly swayed towards that house. Hermione shook her head slowly as she recalled telling the redhead about the blood supremacy that ran rampant in Slytherin and Lily's reaction to it.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat proclaimed and Lily looked surprised but pleased as everyone cheered. She glanced at Hermione and then guiltily over at Severus before she dashed over to join Sirius at the Gryffindor table.
Severus has dropped his face into his hands and looked utterly miserable, ignoring the other first years he'd been sorted with. Hermione watched patiently as Alice Bell became a Gryffindor.
"Remus Lupin," McGonagall called next and Hermione glanced sideways at Remus. He was pale and shaking as though terrified to go forwards.
"Go on, you'll be fine," Hermione nudged him gently, "No matter where they put you, I'll still be your friend."
Remus glanced at her with wide-eyes before he scurried forwards and plonked the hat onto his head. He looked utterly adorable sitting under it, peering up at it as though fearing it would tell him he didn't belong at Hogwarts, that there was no place for monsters here.
"He looks terrified," James chuckled.
"He's just nervous I think," Hermione whispered, "I don't think he had any friends before coming to Hogwarts."
James nodded in agreement as the hat shouted 'Gryffindor' and sent him scuttling over towards Sirius and Lily, who were both cheering loudly, "He's got us now."
Hermione nodded in agreement, finding it entirely too easy to talk to James when he looked so much like Harry.
"James Potter," McGonagall called next and James threw Hermione a lopsided grin before strolling forwards. Hermione could see he was confident about being placed in Gryffindor with his friends. And with good reason, it seemed because moments later he was sorted into Gryffindor as he ought to have been.
There were very few people left now and Hermione watched them as they evenly divided between the houses, Hufflepuff gaining several new members and Ravenclaw scrimping a few too. Slytherin seemed to have a disproportionately small number of first years being sorted into it this year and Hermione frowned when she was the last student standing and waiting to be sorted. There had been no first year girls sorted into Slytherin yet. Not one. There were seven boys but not one girl.
"Hermione Granger-Lyall," McGonagall called, inviting Hermione up the steps with a kind smile at her for being the last student to be sorted. Hermione glanced past the Transfiguration teacher to meet Dumbledore's gaze. He gave her a small, knowing smile, his blue eyes twinkling behind his spectacles.
'You are not a first year,' the hat whispered into her head, 'What have we here. Ah. You're the one Dumbledore warned me about. You still belong in Gryffindor, you know?'
'I need to be in Slytherin please. I want you to put me in Slytherin or everything I have sacrificed is for nothing.'
The hat remained silent for a long time. Too long. People began to mutter as Hermione sat there arguing with the hat. It seemed determined to put her in Gryffindor or even Ravenclaw, insisting that she would be better off in those houses.
"Listen you bloody hat," Hermione whispered glaring up at the hat from beneath it's brim, "I belong in Slytherin and that's final. Now make the announcement and put me there."
This is why I sort people so young. You're not yet capable of realising that your choice on where I put you can be taken into account and you don't argue back. You've the brains for Ranveclaw, the courage for Gryffindor and the loyalty for Hufflepuff.
Yes, I do. Hermione agreed,which is why I need to be in Slytherin. Hogwarts is about learning, growing and finding out what one's best traits are. I already know mine and I know the Slytherin traits needs some polish. You know I'm cunning enough to belong there.
Unintelligble grumbling followed as McGonagall whispered to the hat about whether or not everything was alright. Hermione glanced at the professor for a long minute, smiling tightly before the hat finally gave her what she wanted.
"SLYTHERIN," it announced and the Slytherin table cheered a final time while Hermione took the hat off and strolled over to the table. She wedged herself into next to Severus, shoving aside one of the other first year boys who'd been sorted so she could sit next to Severus.
"Told you we'd be in Slytherin together," Hermione grinned at Snape.
"Joy," he replied acerbically and Hermione smirked to herself. He was clearly furious over Lily being put in Gryffindor.
"I'm pleased you're happy that I'm here," Hermione pretended not to notice his tone, "It's such a shame about Lily, but in the end it's for the best. She'd have been picked on if she'd been sorted into Slytherin when she's muggle-born."
"I'd rather her than you," Snape retorted coldly and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's cruel of you to wish such torment on her. She won't be picked on for blood status in Gryffindor. Oh, look! Shanks!"
Hermione leaned forward as the food appeared, shocking many of the first years. Serving herself, Hermione caught the way Snape was clearly put out by her lack of response to his rudeness. She could tell it was already bugging him that being mean wasn't making her go away.
"You're the only girl in Slytherin this year," one of the other boys informed her, "I'm Rabastan, by the way. Rabastan Lestrange."
Hermione nearly dropped her fork in surprise as she looked across the table at the first year boy. He looked nothing like the man she remembered from her own time. His hair, like Sev's was a little bit longer than average, hanging to his chin in glossy brown waves. His eyes were a vivid shade of grass green and they twinkled with mischief as he offered his hand to her. Rabastan was one of the men on Hermione's list of targets to keep from falling into the Dark Lord's clutches.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Rabastan," Hermione smiled widely, shaking his hand, "I'm Hermione."
"Who are you related to? You two must be half-bloods?" he asked rather rudely.
"My parents and Eugene and Miranda Lyall," Hermione told him her cover story, "Sev what did you say your Mum's maiden name was?
She nudged him in the ribs to gets his attention. He was pouting over Lily's sorting, but also digging into the rich food on the table as though he hadn't been offered so much food in his life.
"Prince," he answered gruffly, "Eileen Prince."
"I know those family names," Rabastan nodded, "So, which subject are you looking forward to most?"
"Care of Magical Creatures and Potions," Hermione told him, "But we don't taken Care of Magical Creatures until third year. Potions will be fun though."
"You like Potions?" Severus asked her, glancing at her sideways.
"I think I will," Hermione nodded, "I like mixing things together and watching the way they interact."
Snape nodded his head slowly, looking a little less grumpy.
"What about you Rabastan? Which subject are you looking forward to?"
"Charms, I think," he answered, "Maybe Herbology. I tinker about in Mum's garden sometimes."
Hermione nodded her head before tucking into her food, finding that all this careful stepping to make sure she didn't upset the timeline too much and set off the butterfly effect was making her hungry. Being the only girl in the house meant she had to tolerate the rowdy boys from their year and Hermione found herself tucking closer into Severus's side when things got noisy.
She was used to loud, of course. She'd spent her life with Harry and Ron so she knew all about how obnoxious and noisy boys could be. She'd just managed to forget how annoying they'd been at eleven. If Snape minded the way she folded herself into his side he didn't mention it. Hermione sat close enough to him that her thigh was pressed against the length of his under the table.
He shifted uncomfortably a few times, as though he were unaccustomed to be touched and Hermione realised that he probably was. If his father beat him – which she very strongly suspected – it stood to reason that he didn't get much affection at home. No wonder he clung so tightly to Lily. She was nice to him. Hermione resolved to do the same thing.
Mid-way through dessert Hermione felt the prickle of hairs on the back of her neck before she froze as Essy decided to shift perches, slithering from her place where she had rested against Severus all afternoon – looped around his neck and warm inside his pocket and under his shirt. Hermione relaxed again when she realised it was just the snake, allowing Essy to slither right around her neck like a thick necklace of green scales.
"Oh, is that a snake?" Rabastan asked, "Is it yours?"
"She belongs to Sev," Hermione said, surprised by how warm the reptile felt as she coiled around Hermione's neck. She slithered until she was snug there, but not tight enough to strangle or even make Hermione uncomfortable. The snake settled herself under the collar of Hermione's robes, her triangular head resting atop her coils just below Hermione's ear, still close to Severus.
"I've never seen her do that," Snape muttered to her, eyeing the snake as though he thought she had betrayed him.
"I'm sure it's just because she's gotten used to me sitting next to you and decided I'm and extended part of her perch," Hermione told him.
"Is she bothering you?" he asked, watching the way Essy's tongue flicked towards Hermione's ear.
"Not at all. Her weight is comforting, actually," she said, smiling at him. He smiled slightly in return, nodding his head in understanding. He also shifted uncomfortably on the bench next to Hermione as though he didn't quite know what to do without the serpent draped over his body.
Hermione smiled when he was a little friendlier for the rest of the feast, even tolerating it when Hermione snatched up a bite of the caramel pie he'd dug out for himself, while she enjoyed her own slice of apple tart. He glanced at her with furrowed brows when she did so.
"I didn't want a whole piece," Hermione shrugged at him, smiling, "You can have some of my tart if you like."
He eyed the food on her plate for a minute before using his fork to scoop up a bite. Hermione smiled widely when he ate it, looking slightly confused by her behaviour and by the idea that she'd chosen him to befriend, in spite of how mean he'd been earlier.
When they were dismissed for the evening, the prefects called them to order. Since she was the only girl, Lucius handled wrangling them into the dungeons.
"Lyall," he nodded to her when he spotted her.
"Malfoy," Hermione nodded in return, grinning when he noticed the serpent draped around her neck.
"Right, the entrance to our common room is down in the dungeons, just here by this statue," he stopped to the left of an ugly statue of a crone, "The password to open the entrance is 'Pureblood'."
A door appeared, arched and open, allowing them entrance. Hermione filed in with Severus, Rabastan and the other boys.
"As you can see, we're situated under the Black Lake," Lucius went on, "The boy's dormitory are down those far steps over there, on the left. First years are on the first landing and the higher the year the further down the steps you go. Lyall, since you're the only girl in Slytherin for your year, you'll have a dormitory to yourself. It's down those stairs on the right."
Hermione nodded her head.
"I suggested you all turn in for the night. You'll find the uniforms and everything you need for your classes tomorrow already in your dormitory's. Breakfast ends at eight-thirty in the morning and classes start at nine. You'll be given your timetables at breakfast, so make sure you get there on time," Lucius instructed before waving them away with his hands and dismissing them.
Hermione watched him stroll over to where some of his friends were chatting by the fire.
"You get a dormitory all to yourself," Snape muttered, "That will be nice."
Hermione saw the furtive way he glanced at the other boys he'd been sorted with and so would have to share a dormitory with.
"I read that the dormitories adjust automatically to make sure everyone fits. Your dorm with be much bigger than mine, probably using up space mine might've to accommodate all of you while there's only me in mine," Hermione told him, "You won't just be crammed in like sardines."
Severus looked sceptical.
"Do you want to come with me to breakfast in the morning?" Hermione offered to him as she began unravelling Essy from about her neck and looping her around Severus.
He curled his lip at the casual way she touched him and the way she manipulated his familiar.
"Eight o'clock?" he asked finally, raising one eyebrow at her.
"I'll meet you out here at eight. Don't be late or I'll come into your dormitory to find you," Hermione smiled brightly, and Severus shot her a wide grin as though that notion amused him.
Hermione suspected he was unaccustomed to anyone other than Lily being polite to him or wanting to be his friend and that was why he was so hesitant to be nice to her.
"Goodnight then," he nodded as they crossed towards the entrances to their separate dormitories.
"Severus?" Hermione called before he could disappear.
He stopped and turned back to her with one eyebrows raised questioningly.
"I'm really glad I met you," she told him, smiling widely.
Snape looked startled, blinking at her in surprised confusion. Hermione winked at him before descending the stairs to the first floor landing and opening the door that read 'First Years'.
Inside there was a solitary four post bed. It was no bigger than a small office with just enough space for her bed, a closet where her things had been unpacked and a small mirror. That was it. Her trunk stood open at the end of the bed and Cleo was curled up on her pillow. The curtains surrounding the bed were green, the bed-spread green and white. One wall of the dormitory was made up entirely of a glass window that looked into the dark lake. Hermione caught flashes of movement as some fish swam by but she couldn't see any more than that.
Smiling even as she found herself pining for the warm, crackling fire and lofty views of Gryffindor Tower, Hermione changed quickly into her pyjamas before she climbed into bed and cuddled Cleo close. She penned a letter to Miranda and Eugene, intent on sending it to them in the morning after breakfast.
"Well, that didn't go so badly Cleo," Hermione told the cat softly as she tucked the feline into bed with her, "At least he didn't recoil and tell me he hated me. Now we'll just have to see what tomorrow brings."