The Granger Son

Harry; Hermione; Dr. Grangerx2

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

The Granger Son

Chapter 7

As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station to begin its journey to Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione waved out the window to Kingsley in the compartment that they were occupying. The man waved at them in return, being there to see them off since their parents could not, before he was out of sight as the train pulled away. Sitting down across from each other, the siblings looked out the window in silence for a bit as the Hogwarts Express chugged on to its destination.

After another moment of silence, Harry looked at his sister and asked, "Are you nervous, Hermione?"

Hermione looked at her brother and answered, "Yes, I am. I'm nervous about going to Hogwarts and where I'll fit in, but I'm also excited for it."

"Yeah, I feel the same."

"But let's promise that no matter what House we end up in—the same or different—that we'll always be there for each other."

Harry nodded with a smile, as that to him wasn't even a question. The brunette grinned in response, knowing her brother was going to have her back in the new environment they were going to be in, just like she would have his. She glanced towards the open compartment door and stood to close it before sitting back down. Facing Harry, Hermione asked, "How do you feel about having to go by your birthname?"

After learning that he would have to go by 'Harry Potter' at Hogwarts, Harry had informed Hermione about it. And just like then, he wasn't too happy about it, but he also understood its necessity. "I'd rather go by 'Granger', but I understand why I have to go by 'Potter'. Professor McGonagall herself said that Headmaster Dumbledore would try to take me away from mum and dad if he found out that I've been at home all this time. And he was the one who wanted me and was going to have me live with my blood relatives, even though he knew they are horrid people. You all are my family, the only family that I've ever known, and I'd rather keep it that way. Therefore, if I have to go by my birthname to stay with the ones I love and where I belong, then I can endure it."

Hermione smiled and nodded, liking her brother's answer. Harry's green eyes widened behind his glasses and he asked, "Do you think Dumbledore will be suspicious if we continue sticking together if we end up in different Hogwarts Houses?"

"I don't think so," Hermione answered. "As far as he will know, we met here on the train and decided to be friends. There is nothing wrong with that, and I'm sure older students have plenty of friends they hang out with in different Houses. So, I wouldn't worry about it."

Reassured by the brunette's logical explanation, the bespectacled boy nodded before turning his attention to the compartment door as it slid open, a woman with a trolley full of sweets standing there. She offered them treats, to which Harry decided to get a pack of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, a Chocolate Frog, and a Cauldron Cake; Hermione got a Pumpkin Pasty, a Chocolate Frog, and decided to try a Licorice Wand. After paying for their treats, they began to eat and chat about what classes they were interested in and the spells they had studied beforehand. Harry laughed out loud when Hermione bit into her licorice wand and mouth scrunched in disgust, her brown eyes wide before squinting. Taking a napkin, Hermione spit the licorice into it and balled it up.

Shaking her head she said, "Don't try it."

Still giggling, Harry divided his Cauldron Cake and gave her half, to which Hermione was grateful. No sooner had he done this, they received another visitor, a boy about there age with red hair, blue eyes, and several freckles. Looking at them he said, "Oi, have you both seen a toad anywhere? Some boy on the train is trying to find it."

"No, we haven't," Harry answered.

"I didn't think so; no one I've asked has seen it. Anyway, I'm Ron Weasley."

"I'm Harry Potter, and this is my sis-I mean, my friend, Hermione Granger."

Ron turned to look at Hermione and thought her to be extremely haughty and seemed like she'd be some sort of pain in the future. Hermione narrowed her eyes at the redhead and thought to herself that he seemed like some sort of buffoon. An immediately dislike for one another came over them, both of them frowning at one another. In a rather reluctant tone, Ron greeted, "Hello."

"Charmed," Hermione replied curtly.

Harry shot his sister a look, silently telling her to be nice. As much as he loved Hermione, he knew she could be quick to cut someone with her words, especially if she found she didn't like the person. And even though they had just met Ron, he was afraid she was going to say something to upset the boy and give him a bad impression of her. Then again, Hermione sometimes didn't care what others thought of her, depending on what it was.

Hermione nodded at her brother before turning back to Ron, taking notice of a large rodent on his shoulder. Grimacing, she asked, "Why do you have a rat on your shoulder?"

Ron turned his head towards his pet and said, "This is Scabbers; he's my pet."

A mischievous gleam occurred in his blue eyes as he looked at the pair. "My brothers taught me a spell to turn him yellow. Want to see it?"

Harry nodded and gestured for the ginger boy to do magic. He and Hermione watched as Ron took his wand in one hand and grabbed Scabbers with the other, waving his wand and saying some sort of rhyme before pointing it at the rat. There was a small flash of yellow, but otherwise nothing happened. Ron flushed in embarrassment before mumbling, "I may have messed it up, by my brothers are positive it works."

"Are you even sure that is a real spell?" Hermione said, looking thoroughly unimpressed with the failed attempt. "Because I can tell you now, it isn't a good spell, let alone real. But if you want to see some real magic, then allow me to demonstrate."

Turning to her brother, Hermione held out her hand saying, "Harry, your glasses."

Frowning, Harry took off his glasses and handed them to the bushy haired girl asking, "What are you doing?"

She didn't answer, but instead snapped his glasses in half. Ignoring Harry's shout, she took her own wand out and pointed it at the broken glasses in her lap incanting, "Oculus Reparo."

In an instant, Harry's glasses rejoined from two pieces into one whole set, his glasses mended back to their original state. Handing them back to her brother, Hermione turned to Ron with a smug smile saying, "That is a real spell."

Ron's face turned an ugly shade of red before leaving their compartment, going back the way he came from in anger. The moment he was gone, Harry turned to his sister and asked, "Did you have to do that?"

"He was trying to impress with a fake spell and didn't. I simply did what he couldn't."

"But you didn't have to shame him, Smarty-pants."

The brunette shrugged before giggling, Harry rolling his eyes playfully while shaking his head. He glanced out the window and saw the sun slightly low in the sky. He thought about how long they had been traveling before saying, "I think we'll be arriving at Hogwarts soon."

Hermione looked out the window as well before saying, "We should put on our robes, then."

Agreeing with her, Harry set about putting his robes on, leaving the compartment to put them on in the restroom. Hermione did the same when he returned, and soon they were ready to arrive at Hogwarts.

In the early hours of the evening, the Hogwarts Express finally pulled into Hogsmeade Station. The doors opened and the students piled out onto the platform. Harry and Hermione followed them as well, following the students wearing the same robes they were with the Hogwarts crest. Up ahead was a giant of a man calling out, "All Firs' Years this way! All Firs' Years come with me!"

Following his bellows, Hermione and Harry joined the rest of the incoming First Years over to the big man. Once it seemed all the new students were in front of him, the large man introduced himself as Rubeus Hagrid and told them he would lead them across the Great Lake to the castle known as Hogwarts. He then instructed them to get into the many boats waiting to float them across, four students to a boat. Harry went to go to one, only to suddenly be grabbed in a huge hug by Hagrid.

"Harry! Oh Harry, it be good to see yeh!" Hagrid cried happily, hugging the boy to him that he had dropped as a baby.

Harry groaned and patted the half-giant, straining out, "Please put me down."

Hagrid did so and looked the boy over. He had known it was Harry the moment he saw him, the boy the spitting image of James, and those eyes were strictly Lily. He was so glad that despite the fact he dropped him that night and Harry had gone missing all these years, he was alright and was here at Hogwarts. Putting a large hand on his small shoulder, Hagrid told him, "I know yeh don't know who I am, but I'll explain everything later. Come see me in me hut sometime an' I'll explain it all."

"O-Okay," Harry replied before hurrying over to a boat, Hermione waiting for him in it along with a redhaired girl who introduced herself as Susan Bones, and a boy named Dean Thomas.

Once all the boats were full and Hagrid was in the lead boat, they all floated magically across the Great Lake up to Hogwarts. Exiting the boats, they followed Hagrid to the large doors of the castle, the doors opening to reveal Professor McGonagall waiting for them. Harry and Hermione smiled upon seeing her, glad to see a familiar face. McGonagall gave them a small smile before adopting her usual serious face as she looked at the sea of fresh faces.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and your Transfiguration professor," McGonagall spoke. "Follow me into the Great Hall so we can get you all Sorted into one of the four Houses and begin the Welcoming Feast. And don't dally."

The older witch turned and strode towards the doors of the Great Hall, the First Years following behind her. The doors opened and they were greeted by a large room with four long tables filled with students, as well as a large table at the front of the room where older witches and wizards sat. Those must be the professors, Harry thought. As they continued walking, he heard his sister talk about the night sky enchantment above their heads in the ceiling. Ahead of him, he noticed a stool with a withered old hat upon it. He wondered what it was there for.

Once they reached the front of the room in front of the stool, McGonagall explained that they were to be Sorted into a House by way of the Sorting Hat. No sooner had she said that, the Hat sprung to life and began singing, detailing each Hogwarts House a student could be Sorted into. Harry thought all of the Houses seemed like a good choice to be put into, and wouldn't mind being put into any of them. Leaning towards to Hermione as he listened, he murmured, "Ravenclaw has your name written all over it."

Hermione shushed her brother and shoved him playfully, a smile spreading on her face while he laughed softly. Before long, the Hat finished singing and everyone applauded it. McGonagall took out a scroll of parchment unrolling it as she said, "When I call your name, come up and sit on this stool so I can place the Sorting Hat on your head. Once the Hat calls out your chosen House, go join that table and wait until we are finished."

McGonagall looked down at her parchment and called out, "Hermione Granger."

Hermione took and deep breath before going towards the stool, telling herself to relax as she did. Harry heard Ron tell someone she was mental, causing him to frown and glance at the redhead. He and everyone else waited for nearly five minutes for the Sorting Hat to call a House name, many students beginning to whisper about Hermione being a Hatstall. Confused, Harry asked the boy next to him, a platinum blond with grey eyes and pointed face, "What is a Hatstall?"

"My father told me it is when the Sorting Hat takes longer than three minutes or so to choose which House a student should go in," the boy answered. He looked at him for a moment before saying, "You must be Harry Potter. My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Draco held out his hand to Harry, to which Harry shook replying, "Pleased to meet you."

Finally, the Sorting Hat shouted out, "Ravenclaw!"

Ravenclaw House cheered while everyone else clapped, and Hermione hopped off the stool after McGonagall took the Hat from her head. Harry watched as she went to the table of Ravenclaws to sit, her Hogwarts crest tie turning to blue and bronze, and the crest on her robes turning to that of Ravenclaw House. McGonagall then called Draco's name, to which the Hat immediately placed him in Slytherin, barely even sitting on his head. As Draco went to join the sea of green, Harry heard Ron say, "It figures Malfoy would end up in Slytherin. Nothing good comes from that House. They're all a bad lot and become Dark witches and wizards."

There were some agreeing murmurs to his words, and Harry frowned finding what the redhead said to be mean and prejudice. Why would he single out a House like that and say everyone in it were bad and would become Dark witches and wizards? It wasn't right, and Harry doubted it was true. He personally thought it would be nice to be Sorted into Slytherin House, or any House for that matter.

The Sorting continued until there were only two students left standing, him and a boy named Neville Longbottom. Neville got called first and was Sorted into Gryffindor, and then it was finally his turn. McGonagall looked at him and said, "Harry Potter."

A silence fell over the Great Hall, everyone focusing on him rather intently; it made him nervous. Harry took a deep breath before walking up to the stool and sitting on it, McGonagall placing the Hat on his head. It was quiet for a moment before Harry heard a voice in his head that wasn't his own.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. I was wondering if I would ever sit on another Potter's head. You are a rather interesting case, that I can see. And because you are interesting, it causes a dilemma. Which House should I put you in? I could put you in Gryffindor, I could place you in Slytherin, you'd even fit into Ravenclaw. Why, I could even put you in Hufflepuff, though I'm sure you don't belong there."

Harry sat quietly, waiting for the Hat to make a decision, all the while trying to ignore the many eyes on him. He did glance over at McGonagall almost anxiously, to which she quietly told him, "It's alright, Mr. Potter."

After another minute, the Sorting Hat spoke to him again.

"Well Mr. Potter, I've narrowed it down to two Houses. I believe you will do exceptional in either one. You will be great in either of the ones I have chosen, though I know which one I shall place you in. Yes, I definitely know where you will go. Unless you have a preference…"

Harry simply shook his head, as he didn't have a preference of which Hogwarts House he wanted to be placed in. Satisfied with the boy's answer, the Sorting Hat spoke one final time.

"Alright then, Mr. Potter. Better be…Slytherin!"

As McGonagall took the Sorting Hat from his head, a stunned silence was what met Harry at the Hat's decision. However, the silence was broken when Slytherin House erupted into cheers, clapping enthusiastically as Harry went to join the Slytherin Table, his tie turning green and silver, and his crest being that of Slytherin House. He sat next to Draco who shook his hand once more saying, "Welcome to Slytherin, Potter."

Harry shook his other Slytherin's hands, looking over at Ravenclaw Table to see Hermione clapping for him as well. Once the cheering died down, Professor Dumbledore stood and gave his welcome speech before announcing the beginning of the Welcoming Feast, plates and platters of food appearing on every table. As the students tucked in, Harry glanced up at the Professor's Table, taking notice of a dark, brooding man dressed in black with greasy-looking hair staring at him intently. He gave him a tentative smile before his green eyes looked over to see Dumbledore looking at him as well. The small smile that was on his face immediately disappeared seeing the old man's less than happy face. Harry averted his gaze, turning his attention back to Draco and the surrounding students. Even so, he couldn't help but feel he needed to be on his toes concerning Dumbledore. After all, this was the man that would possibly take him from his family if he found out. And considering his reaction to him being placed in Slytherin, he needed to be extra cautious.