Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the queen, JK Rowling!
*sings in a terrible voice that is beyond pitchy* I'm baaaack! Alright so heres what happened. I started working on so many new fanfics, then took like a two month break and then went to different ones and almost forgot about this one. Then I realized, I promised myself when I started that I would continue with this no matter what so boom, finished the third chapter finally. Alright, so this story, as I forgot to mention, will focus very much on Neville, Hermione, and Adelines friendship. It will be so much stronger than the original golden trio, like the whole friendship will give them power. No betrayal, maybe like one or two arguments, and all that. It starts to show in here so look out for it. Alright my beyond amazingly patient readers! Enjoy!
...
Chapter Three
After they changed into their uniforms, the three watched from the dark window as they started to slow. Finally the train stopped and they made their way into the cold night, Hermione and Adeline shivering as they had to wear skirts in the cold. A light was seen and Adeline grinned at the familiar voice of Hagrid.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Alright there Adeline?" She nodded as Hermione and Neville looked at him in shock. "C'mon, follow me-anymore firs' years? Mind yer step now! Firs' years follow me!"
The group of eleven year olds followed the giant, slipping and stumbling down the wet, narrow path. It was very dark on both sides so Adeline figured there were thick trees. Hagrid called out and everyone gasped at the sight of Hogwarts. Resting on a tall mountain, huge and sparkling from the lights emanating out of the windows was a magnificent castle. It was on the other side of a huge black lake. Hagrid pointed to a fleet of boats.
"No more'n four to a boat!"
Neville, Hermione, and Adeline got into a boat with a girl who introduced herself as Susan Bones. The boats moved on their own across the flat lake, causing ripples in the water. They ducked when told and then clambered out.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Adeline whispered and Hermione and Neville nodded. Hagrid led them to a pair of large wooden doors, raised a huge fist and knocked. The doors swung open to reveal a woman Adeline instantly knew not to fool around with. She looked at her new friends and their expressions said they agreed.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid." Her voice confirmed Adeline's thought. She was definitely someone strict. Hagrid smiled at Adeline before leaving.
Professor McGonagall led the group of first years inside and Adeline and Hermione whispered 'wow' at the same time. They were led to a chamber off to the side where they all crowded around. She stood in front of them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room."
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Adeline could see Malfoy smirk. "Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you House points, while any rule breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." McGonagall then left the chamber.
"Nervous as me?" Adeline whispered and Neville and Hermione both nodded.
"Hopefully we get sorted together." Neville said.
"Yeah." Hermione blushed. "You two are my first friends."
"Looks like coming to Hogwarts gave us our first good opportunity." Adeline said and Hermione hooked her index finger with Adeline's who did the same with Neville's. Instead of being embarrassed, he smiled just like the two girls. They all realized that their friendship would last a long time.
….
"Amazing right?" Hermione whispered to her two friends as they looked up at the ceiling of the Great Hall which was an exact replica of the night sky outside.
"I flipped through Hogwarts: A History at Flourish and Blotts and I was able to read that it's bewitched to look like the sky." Adeline said softly and they nodded, Hermione having read that as well. She had read Hogwarts: A History twice so she definitely remembered that. They all finally saw a frayed hat sitting on a stool in front of them and after a moment a stich opened up above its brim and the supposedly inanimate object…sang.
Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
Everyone clapped but the three friends looked nervous about the fact the hat was going to see inside their heads. All of them had things they'd like to hide. But as was Adeline's nature, she tried to comfort Hermione and Neville instead of herself.
"You know. I don't think the hat will just tell random people our secrets." She murmured. "But if anything, we can just tell each other if it gets nerve racking."
"Yeah, you're right." Neville said with a hesitant smile while Hermione and Adeline squeezed their obviously terrified friend's hands.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." McGonagall said before reading the first name. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line. It seemed a lot were nervous which made the trio feel slightly better. The hat was on for a moment before it shouted-
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The names kept going for Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin and the closer they got to her name, the more anxious Hermione was becoming. She was also eager to know where she would be placed but just the thought of sitting in front of everyone was a little scary. Neville and Adeline realized this and they both gave her encouraging smiled just as McGonagall called out.
"Granger, Hermione!" Adeline and Neville watched as Hermione took a deep breath, whispering relax to herself. The two suddenly heard a red headed boy mutter to another boy.
"Mental, that one." Adeline scowled at him though he didn't notice and Neville looked upset as well but both went to focus on Hermione.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted to everyone and Hermione smiled at Neville and Adeline before going to the clapping table of red and gold.
"Lets hope we both get into Gryffindor." Adeline whispered.
"Even if we have to beg the hat." Neville responded and she nodded. It was soon Neville's turn and Adeline squeezed his slightly shaky hand before he went up to the stool. Adeline was worried for her friend as the hat took a long time to decide.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The table clapped, Hermione the loudest and even Adeline clapped from the first years with a grin. Now she hopefully would get into Gryffindor. Some more names came and when McGonagall reached the P's, Adeline started feeling very nervous and wished she still had her friends near but if anything, she was determined to get into Gryffindor.
"Potter, Adeline!" She slowly walked up as whispers spread through the hall like wild fire.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Adeline Potter?"
"She's pretty cute for an eleven-year-old." That heard whisper made the girl blush slightly just as the hat fell over her eyes and a small voice was in her ear.
"Very interesting, I must say. Just like Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, the hope of being in the same house is such a overpowering thought. You have courage, a great mind, strong loyalty to those you care about, and a thirst to prove yourself. Any house would do you wonders but, as I told your two friends, you should all be together because that will make you all very strong, very powerful."
What do you mean? Adeline thought in confusion.
"You will see soon enough. There is no other option but to put you in – GRYFFINDOR!"
She grinned as she took off the hat and went to sit on the other side of Neville, barely registering the fact she was getting the loudest cheer from her new house. A pair of identical red head twins were shouting "We got Potter! We got Potter!" And as Hermione, Neville, and Adeline grinned at each other, they all had a faint clue what the hat meant when he told each of them that they needed to be together.
...
See how friendship focused it is? I like how different their attitudes are then in cannon! Read and Review!