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HERMIONE'S SORTING

Tuesday 4th September, 1944

"All right Hermione," Dumbledore said, some of the colour returning back to his face after their grim conversation had ended. "There's only one more thing left to do."

"Yes?" Hermione asked. I thought we'd covered everything already. She thought.

"Your sorting," Aberforth said with a small smile.

"My sorting?" Hermione questioned. "But shouldn't I just stay in Gryffindor seen as I was already sorted in my first year?"

"I am afraid not Hermione," Albus said. "We need to know if you still belong in Gryffindor. After all that you have been through, it would not be a surprise if the sorting hat decides to change the house that you're in."

Hermione was worried. Had she really changed that much? She still wanted to be a Gryffindor. She had been labelled the "Gryffindor Princess" when she was at school, and even if she wasn't an important Gryffindor, she still wanted to be part of her old house.

"Very well then," Hermione said.

Albus nodded.

"Hermione my dear, follow me. Aberforth, you can either stay for Hermione's sorting in the headmaster's office, or you can take your leave now," Albus said.

Aberforth looked at Hermione and sighed. He knew he had to leave, and staying would just be prolonging the inevitable.

"I think I'll leave now," Aberforth decided. "Hermione, I'll see you on Sunday?"

Hermione smiled and hugged him.

"Of course," She whispered. "Thank you...for everything."

Aberforth smiled softly and kissed the top of her head. He then removed his arms from around her, whispered "Goodbye," and left.

Albus cleared his throat.

"Come now, Hermione." Albus said. "We'll have to go to the headmaster's office for your sorting. He is expecting us."

"Of course, Professor."

"Right now, follow me."

The pair walked through the halls silently. While Albus was pondering what the future held for all the young students in Hogwarts, Hermione was reminiscing about all the good times she had had inside the walls of Hogwarts.

FLASHBACK:

"Mione! Mione wait!"

Hermione spun around and saw Harry and Ron racing towards her, dressed in their muddy Gryffindor quidditch kits.

Hermione grinned as they raced up to her and came to a swift halt right in front of her, panting.

"Hey guys, have fun at quidditch practice?" she asked.

"Yeah" Ron said. "You should've been there Mione. A bludger was..."

Hermione tuned out of the quidditch talk as they began to walk to the common room. She looked up and saw Harry looking at her. He smiled at her and she nodded her head at Ron and shook her head. He rolled his eyes.

"Hey! Mione!" Ron called. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Sure Ron," Hermione said. "Oh Ron! Watch out-"

But it was too late. Peeves had dropped a bucket full of green slime on top of him. She and Harry froze as they watched Ron's face turn so red that it actually clashed with his hair.

"PEEVES!" He screamed.

As Ron made to chase Peeves' floating form, he slipped on some of the slime and landed flat on his face.

And that was the point where Harry and Hermione could not keep in their laughter any longer. It bubbled out of Hermione, and soon they to were on the floor, but from laughing too hard, not falling.

Glaring at Hermione and Harry, Ron had turned himself over and tried to get up, but had only fallen on his ass as a result. Then even he joined in Harry's and Hermione's laughter.

END OF FLASHBACK.

"Ah, here we are." Hermione blinked, snapping back to reality.

"Oh, okay," Hermione said absentmindedly.

"Now Hermione," Albus said, "Our current headmaster is called Armado Dippett. He is a kind man, but can be foolish at times. I'm afraid that Tom has him wrapped around his finger. You will find that all the teachers believe Tom is an intelligent and kind boy that couldn't manipulate a toddler."

"What?" Hermione cried, outraged. "I know that Harry said he was popular, but I thought the teachers would understand what was going on!"

"No, I'm afraid not Hermione," Albus shook his head. "The only people that know the truth about Tom are yourself, Aberforth and I."

"I see," Hermione said, although she was talking to herself, not Albus. It seems my job is going to be harder than I thought.

Albus knocked on the headmaster's door, and a "come in", was heard from inside.

"Ah, Albus," Headmaster Dippett said, looking up from his work. "I've been expecting you and your niece. Hermione is it?" Dippett asked, moving his gaze from Albus to Hermione.

Hermione smiled softly and nodded.

"Very well my dear, now I understand that you need to be sorted," He said, putting down his quill and standing up.

"Yes sir," Hermione said confidently. The old Hermione would have seemed meek and after the day she had had today, the old Hermione would have been completely overwhelmed. But this was the new Hermione. She had seen things that had horrified her to a terrible extent and had resulted in her waking up some nights in tears, and hyperventilating as she couldn't breathe. She would never forget some of the things she had seen, and they would continue to haunt her until she died.

"Good, so would you just take a seat on that stool over there please,' Dippett said, gesturing to a stool in the corner of the room.

Hermione nodded.

Dippett put the sorting hat on top Hermione's head.

"Well hello there Miss Granger...or is it Miss Dumbledore now? Either way, a lot has changed."

"Yes, I suppose it has. And I guess it is Miss Dumbledore now."

"Hmmm I see. I also see that you've been through a lot since I first sorted you. You poor, innocent child. To have lost everything so dear to you in such a short time."

"I know. But I'm trying to make it better. I really am."

"I know my child, I know. Now let's get on with the sorting shall we?"

"Yes, I believe we should."

"This is a very difficult decision. You have the loyalty and kindness of a Huflepuff, more intelligence than any witch I've met since Rowena Ravenclaw herself, the extreme cunning of a Slytherin and all the bravery of a Gryffindor."

"Thank you, but which house…surely not Slytherin."

"I know you wouldn't want anything less than to be placed in Gryffindor Miss Dumbledore, but I'm wondering whether or not that would spoil your plans."

"What do you mean? What on Earth does being a Gryffindor have to do with anything?"

"Well if you need to get close to Mr Riddle, wouldn't you being in Gryffindor be a set back?"

"Well I suppose, but if I know anything about Voldemort, he won't care about that. He will simply see me as Dumbledore's niece. And I KNOW that he will try and use me to get to Albus. But that won't work. So you see, me being in Gryffindor won't make a difference to anything."

"You are completely right Miss Dumbledore. In fact, you are more cunning than I thought. Your opinions are very Slytherin like. I would put you in either Slytherin or Ravenclaw, but as you wish to be in Gryffindor, I will make it so."

"Oh thank you, thank you so much!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Armando Dippett lifted the sorting hat from her head and placed it back on the shelf while Albus beamed at her.

"Well Miss Dumbledore, judging from your amazing O.W.L's and now you given house, I'd say that you are going to take after your uncle.

Hermione smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

If only he knew.