A/N Sorry I haven't updated in ages, I've been away for a while and then I've had to do all my personal statement and stuff when I got back so it's been pretty busy. I'm getting my AS results in the morning :s and then I'm going away again so I definitely needed to post another chapter before I left, this one's a bit longer too but idk how good it is so please review! Hope you enjoy :)
"Quick, hurry! We're already running late, you don't want to miss the train!"
"It's fiiiiine, mum, we've still got four minutes!"
"Exactly, we've only got four minutes! Get through the barrier, quick!"
The family emerged onto Platform 9¾, still bickering about how much time they had.
"Now listen, both of you," Dorea began, "I want to-"
"Hear from us every day, yes, we know. But I think we all know that's not going to happen mum!"
"Don't worry ma, we'll write as often as we can," Hermione had taken to calling Dorea 'ma' as she felt slightly uncomfortable using 'mum', as she felt she would be intruding on their family too much, "but I imagine we'll both be very busy with all our homework."
"Hah, yeah, homework…" James said sarcastically, as they were both pushed towards the train. Dorea sighed.
"Okay, but take care of yourselves. And don't get into too much trouble, James!" With the final hugs and goodbyes, the pair of 11 year olds boarded the train.
"We're never going to find an empty compartment at this time," Hermione said matter-of-factly, just as the whistle blew and the train moved away, "I suppose we'll have to share with someone."
"Here, this'll do, there's only one person in here." James pulled her into a compartment with just one boy, who also looked like a first year.
"James Potter, the one and only, at your service" he announced to the boy, who smirked.
"Sirius Black at yours" the boy replied, and Hermione gasped. Of course! Now she knew, she wondered how she hadn't recognised him. The young Sirius had much the same face and was very handsome. His jet black hair fell just past his ears and his grey eyes pierced Hermione. She suddenly became aware that both the boys were looking at her expectantly.
"Oh, sorry. Hermione Granger." She said and stuck her hand out. Sirius looked at it, then cautiously shook it. The trio settled back down on the plush seats and began chatting, when they were interrupted by the compartment door opening again. A pretty ginger girl stuck her head in.
"Do you mind if my friend and I sit with you? Everywhere else is full." James immediately jumped up, looking in awe at the girl and invited her right in.
"Thank you, I'll just go get my friend." James watched her go then grinned at Sirius.
"She was gorgeous! I'm gonna ask her out as soon as we find out what houses we're in! But if she's in Slytherin I suppose I might have to pass… Maybe you'll get with her friend mate!" Sirius smiled,
"Only if she's as fit as she was!" he replied, although he subtly glanced over at Hermione.
"Oi, she's mine! I saw her first!"
"OK!" Hermione said loudly, "She is a person, you know! Maybe she won't want to go out with you!"
"As if," James smirked, "Why wouldn't she?"
"Well," Hermione began.
"Okay, no, don't answer that," he said quickly, glancing at Sirius as if to make sure he didn't think there was anything embarrassing to know about James. The girl reappeared, dragging a pale boy with black hair behind her. Now it was Hermione's turn to smirk as she saw Sirius' face drop – he didn't look happy at the thought of 'getting with' the friend anymore!
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lily, Lily Evans, and this is Severus." Once again, Hermione found herself shocked that she hadn't recognised the children. The group made their introductions and James' flirting soon got underway as they all talked. Soon the topic turned to the Sorting Ceremony at Hogwarts.
"Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?" Sirius asked.
"Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad." Snape made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him.
"Got a problem with that?"
"No," said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy –"
"Where're you hoping to go seeing as you're neither?" interjected Sirius. Tension filled the compartment so Hermione decided to voice her thoughts.
"I don't really mind where I go, all of the houses have something to offer. Gryffindor, for the brave and daring. Hufflepuff, for the dedicated and kind. Ravenclaw, for the intelligent and accepting. And Slytherin, for the ambitious and resourceful."
"Merlin's knickers Hermione, you sound like you're reciting Hogwarts: A History!" James snorted, "And come on, as if you'd be happy to go to Slytherin. They're all evil!"
"Hey! All of my family are in Slytherin!" Sirius shouted, causing James' heart to skip a beat, "So yeah, they're all evil." He finished, and James looked relieved. The rest of the journey was rather uneventful, although Hermione thought Lily seemed rather curt with James and Sirius after they were rude to Severus. She wondered if this was the beginning of a rift between Harry's future parents.
…
"Firs' years over 'ere! Follow me!" came a booming voice over the crowd of students leaving the train. Hermione tried to stay close to James and Sirius as they craned their necks to get a view of the half giant that was ushering them in his direction. The group of children followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow pathway, whispering to each other anxiously, when he bellowed,
"Alrigh', no more than four to a boat!" The students ooh-ed and aah-ed at the sight of the magnificent castle and raced to the boats, all nerves forgotten. Hermione looked around for James and Sirius but saw that they had already boarded a boat with two other boys. Slightly hurt, she instead followed Lily and Severus to a boat with a girl sat on her own, who introduced herself as Jessica Fawley. The fleet of boats set off into the vast lake with a "FORWARD!" from Hagrid.
Once they reached the other side and had come to a rest in a harbour right under the castle, they climbed a set of stairs to be greeted by a stern-faced teacher, who Hermione already knew to be Professor McGonagall. She led them into the Entrance Hall of the castle, gave them a quick speech about the four houses then told them to wait for her return, and smarten themselves up for the Sorting Ceremony. No more than two minutes later, she reappeared and led them into the Great Hall.
Although Hermione had already done this before, she couldn't help but notice the butterflies in her stomach as they trudged out under the watchful eyes of the older students. She, and many of the other first years, noticed the Sorting Hat sat on its stool, and waited for it to sing its yearly song. When it had finished, the entire hall burst into enthusiastic applause, and it was time to begin.
"Abbot, Martha" A pink faced girl with blonde hair made her way hastily to the stool, tripping slightly on her way, and yanked the hat onto her head. It was only there a matter of seconds before yelling –
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
A couple of names later and Hermione heard,
"Black, Sirius" Sirius strolled up to the stool, feigning an air of confidence, through which Hermione could easily see, and screwed his face up in concentration as he put the hat on his head. Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table to see them looking confident about this student, when all of a sudden –
"GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a collective gasp from the entire hall, which quickly settled to a stunned silence at the fact that a member of the Black family had been sorted into a house other than Slytherin, especially with it being their rival house. Sirius, however, managed to look embarrassed and pleased with himself both at the same time. Professor McGonagall, noticing the atmosphere, moved quickly on to the next name and Hermione listened absent-mindedly as Lily was sorted into Gryffindor and Jessica Fawley into Ravenclaw.
Then it was time for Hermione to be sorted. She wondered if it would take as long as last time, or even if she might end up in Ravenclaw a second time round. Placing the hat on her head, she took a deep breath and pushed the images of all her adventures with Harry and Ron to the fore-front of her mind.
"Ahh yes," the Sorting Hat whispered, "An extremely intelligent one we have here, you would do well in Ravenclaw… but what's this? How very brave. Well, there's no denying it really – I suppose it has to be GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione beamed and almost sprinted over to the table where she sat down next to Lily, who for some reason still seemed nervous.
"Hey, what's wrong? You've been sorted, why are you still nervous?"
"I just really hope Sev gets into Gryffindor. I know he wants to be a Slytherin but he's the only person I know here, and I don't want to be on my own her!" Hermione nodded sympathetically,
"Don't worry. Even if he isn't in Gryffindor, I'll be your friend!" Lily smiled at her gratefully, but even so, she crossed her fingers when Snape's name was called, and when the Sorting Hat shouted
"SLYTHERIN!" having barely even touched his head and Severus was welcomed to the table by none other than Lucius Malfoy, she looked as though she might cry. The delicious feast that appeared shortly after did nothing to cheer her up, so Hermione made a mental note to talk to her in the common room later.
"Hey Evans!" came a shout. The redhead whipped around, frowning.
"In case you hadn't notice, my name is Lily and I'd appreciate it if you used it!" The culprit was none other than James Potter, who merely gave what was becoming a signature smirk and said,
"Now I know you're a Gryffindor, what do you say to going out with me?"
"As a matter of fact, I say no. Not only have I only known you a matter of hours, but in that time you have managed to come across as an insufferable, judgmental toerag, so no I will not go out with you."
James' face fell, clearly not expecting that reply but he soon righted himself and replied, "I'm not going to give up Evans, mark my words." And with that he returned to his conversation with Sirius with another smirk on his face, although Hermione noticed he looked slightly less pompous than before.
…
They were led to Gryffindor Tower by a 6th year prefect, who spoke the password 'Codswallop' and showed them to their dormitories. Hermione was delighted to find out she was in a room with Lily and three other girls named Amanda Prewett (who Hermione suspected to be Molly Weasley's cousin), Melissa Hopkins and Cressida Livingston-Whit (a posh muggle-born who had been planning on going to Wycombe Abbey). After unpacking their belongings, the three other girls went to sit in the common room, leaving Hermione alone with Lily.
"You know, you'll still see Severus at lunch and dinner, and I bet he's in half your lessons too. It's not like you'll suddenly see nothing of each other and slowly drift apart. And besides, if he's a good enough friend he'll make an effort to see you!" Hermione said abruptly, shocking Lily slightly.
"I know, but it was Sev who told me all about me being a witch and magic and Hogwarts, and I always imagined we'd be together for the whole time! He was so nice to me when Tuney – I mean Petunia, my sister – started to hate me. I just wish he wanted to be in Gryffindor with me!"
"Lily, the Sorting Hat barely took a second to put him in Slytherin. I don't think he would have made it into Gryffindor if he tried." Hermione said sadly. Lily frowned.
"That doesn't make him a bad person! Sev is clever, determined and ambitious. He just likes to put himself first, you know…"
"Of course not, I'm sure he's a great guy!" Although all Hermione could think of was the foul potions teacher who had bullied students for as long as she could remember. She smiled sadly at Lily and decided to head down to the common room. It was still fairly early in the evening, so the room was full but it didn't stop a particularly loud group of boys noticing her and calling her over excitedly. Rolling her eyes slightly, Hermione reluctantly headed towards James, Sirius and their new friends, whom she assumed to be Remus and Peter.
"Ah, the lovely Hermione! Couldn't stay away, eh?" Sirius said with a wink, "Have you met Remus and Peter yet?" Hermione said hello, but couldn't quite bring herself to meet Peter's eyes knowing what she knew about his betrayal. However despite her uncomfortable feelings towards Peter, Hermione found she easily fell into conversation with the group of boys, and noticed that she got on particularly well with Remus, which seemed to catch Sirius attention too. Before she knew it the rest of the common room was empty and even James was beginning to look tired.
"I guess we should make a move." Remus said, checking his watch. Hermione nodded while yawning and headed towards the girls' staircase. As she began to climb it she heard her name and turned around to see Sirius left alone by his staircase. He looked like he wanted to say something but just as he opened his mouth to speak James shouted down to hurry up. So, with a small smile, he simply said,
"Goodnight," and turned away. Hermione, slightly confused shrugged but also smiled, happy at the thought that she had well and truly made some good friends on her 'first' day at Hogwarts.