Note: Another update for this one, after this chapter we are gonna se a bit of a time skip and that's where the main plot will actually start.

This fic definitely is a bit longer in the lead up to the main story but I wanted to take my time to set the tone of this story and give everyone an idea of who Hermione is as a person as well as get you all thinking about those changes I've made.

This mainly follows Canons timeline but there will be more changes and differences so keep an eye out.

I hope you're all doing well, as always Reviews and feedback are always always appreciated.

All my love, Nell xoxo

~ Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ~
~ September 1st 1991 ~
~ Hermione's POV ~
It wasn't much longer before she heard the train whistle and felt it begin to slow down, warning her that the train was about to arrive in Hogsmead. Once the boys had left her carriage and she had got changed the rest of her journey had been just as peaceful as the start. Allowing her to refocus on what was important and mostly forget the incident and the information she had learned. Dismissing the worry she felt as something to deal with later, once she was settled into her classes and life at Hogwarts.
She had immersed herself back in her book, Crooks purring contentedly next to her as they quietly enjoyed each others company. When she heard the whistle she finished her page, taking note of it for later she slipped it into her bag and opted to carry Crookshanks with her. His presence giving her a little comfort through the nerves that she had began to feel grow within her. She was nervous about where she would be sorted. The four houses all took pride in different attributes and based on what she had seen and heard so far, her sorting would define how she was seen for a long time.
She knew Slytherin wasn't an option, there had never been a muggle-born sorted into that house in the history of the school and she knew most of its occupants were pure-blooded with a few half bloods thrown in. They were said to be the most prejudice and she had no doubt those boys from earlier were members of that particular house. Draco Malfoy would more than likely end up there she was sure.
Hufflepuff was also a house she thought to be unlikely, they were famous for their kindness, their loyalty, patience and gentle nature's. Most Herbology specialists and Healers had come out of Hufflepuff and while Hermione knew she was a kind person and most definitely gentle in nature she had very little patience for people, she didn't like them and didn't particularly want to be seen as approachable.
Gryffindor, known for their brash nature and bravery, and Ravenclaw, known for their intelligence and wit seamed to be the two main contenders for her and she couldn't figure out which one she would end up in. Ravenclaw seemed to be the most obvious option, she knew she was clever. She had always been more intelligent than anyone in her peer group in the muggle world but she knew herself enough to know that she could also be stupidly brave. Her sneaking out of the orphanage to visit the magical world being a prime example. Had she been caught she knew the consequences would have been rather dire for her but she had done it anyway.
Though she supposed that her sorting could go any which way and she couldn't really dismiss any potential outcome, to do so would be presumptuous and entirely daft.
Exiting the train Hermione heard an overly large bearded man standing at the platform, heralding all the first year's to him.
''Firs' years, firs' years ower hear please" he boomed, his voice gruff but warm and Hermione wondered just who he was. She followed along beside the other first year students. Keeping to herself as much as she could though she smiled politely at anyone that smiled at her, offering a quiet hello when she had no other option. It wouldn't do for her to make any sort of enemies this soon and doing so would be counter productive in her plan to blend in as much as possible.
Leaving the platform in a rather unorganised line of students they were led down to a dock and Hermione felt the air leave her throat in a silent gasp at the view from the Dock side. She could see the castle that was Hogwarts lit up at the other side of the lake. The water between them and the school shimmering gently. It was breath-taking and Hermione found herself mesmerised by the way the torch lights flickered on the water surface seamed to twinkle as if they were stars.
It made her excitement grow as they boarded the small row boats and Hogwarts in all its glory against the clear night sky was enough for her not to mind in the slightest when a dark haired girl clung to her as they crossed because she was scared of drowning. She simply wrapped an arm around the terrified girl and kept her gaze fixed on the castle and all its glory. She felt herself fall in love with the place a little as she looked at the place that was to be her home for the next nine months. As they disembarked and she felt her feet reach solid ground she helped the girl who had clung to her up onto the embankment and straightened the girls robe for her. She quietly inspected her. The girls dark hair hung loosely down to the middle of her back, her dark brown eyes were kind and she smiled shyly at Hermione noticing that she was being scrutinised. Breaking her own rules of solitary life Hermione decided to offer the girl her hand in greeting.
"I'm Hermione Granger" she offered quietly, smiling gently when her hand was shook firmly. Something that pleased her, Matron had taught her from the time she could adequately coordinate hand eye movement how to shake someone's hand properly. Engraining the knowledge that even something as simple as a hand shake could tell you a lot about a person. A weak handshake was, according to Matron, a sign of a weak character.
"I'm Cho, Cho Chang, it's nice to meet you Hermione" the girl responded and Hermione nodded to show she had heard, opting to lapse back into silence. They walked quietly back to the castle, content to walk side by side, neither girl keen to break the silence with meaningless silence.
The man who had been their guide so far stopped them abruptly at the steps of the castle entrance, telling them to wait for Professor McGonagall to fetch them so they could be led inside before the man strode away.
"...Hand me down robe, you must be a Weasley" a familiar sooty voice grit out, drawing the brunettes attention and she knew she had tuned in halfway through some sort of conversation. Draco Malfoy stood at the front of their group, a sneer plastered to his face, aimed in the direction of one of the red headed boys she had followed onto platform 9 3/4 earlier. Beside him stood a dark haired scruffy looking boy with glasses.
"You'll soon find that some wizarding families are better than others Potter, you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there" Malfoy continues and Hermione finds herself wanting to curse him. Not because of what he had said but because of how arrogant he sounded. His prejudice she could excuse, after all how could he be blamed for believing in that which he had been taught his whole life. His arrogance however, that infuriated her. There was no need for his arrogance because she strongly believed in the whole upbringing was not an excuse for poor behaviour, after all she had surely proven that upbringing didn't weigh much in a person's kindness. If anyone had a right to act insufferable it was those who had experienced hardship, trauma and pain yet here she was and here he was. His arrogance shinning while all she wanted was to fade into the scenery.
She hadn't heard Mr Potters response nor did she notice Professor McGonagall arrive on the steps but it was the older woman's voice that drew her out of her head.
"...if you will follow me in to the great hall. The sorting ceremony shall begin promptly" shaking the thoughts that still lingered in her mind she let herself be carried along by the thrum of students as they entered the great hall. A room that was just as beautiful as the outside grounds had been. It had four long tables, each sporting their respective house colours. The ceiling was adorned by low hanging chandeliers, candles and the constellations shone above, charmed onto the ceiling. She silently wondered how many of her peers had read the passage in Hogwarts: a History that spoke of the charmed ceiling, though she chose to keep such a statement to herself. She didn't want to make a name for herself, and certainly didn't want a repeat of muggle school where she had been known as a know-it-all.
The bullying had been horrendous and she refused to become a victim of the same treatment here. Not here. In a world so full of wonder she still wasn't convinced she wasn't actually dreaming, vividly.
"Abbot, Hannah" Professor McGonagall called, drawing her attention from the delightful sight above her, to the front. Taking in the raised dais and the large elongated table that sat at the back of the platform. Teachers lining it at one side, facing the student body. Professor McGonagall stood at the front, holding an old tattered wizards hat. A dark brown wooden stool beside her.
Hermione watched enthralled as Hannah Abbot sat on the stool, a look of nervousness overtaking her features. The hat was placed on her head and Hermione beamed when it came to life suddenly, talking away without sound as it studied the mind within the head it was placed on.
It was silent for a few moments before the hat opened its mouth. "HUFFLEPUFF" it declared before falling still. It happened just as her book had described it would and she felt anticipation coil in her stomach as she continued to watch.
Slowly each name was called and one by one her peers were placed. Each respective house rejoicing for each new student that joined them. Her new acquaintance Cho Chang was placed in Ravenclaw. Hermione thought it a good choice. Cho's quiet intelligence was definitely clear to anyone that paid attention to the sheen of knowledge that gleamed in her eyes. Once her own name was called the young brunette took a deep breath, centring herself. She made her way up to the stool. Professor McGonagall offering her a reassuring smile, squeezing her shoulder in encouragement as she placed the hat on her head.
"Hmmmm little lost girl, little lost girl not for long, isn't your mind a wonder" a voice filled her mind automatically, startling her a little and confusing her greatly. Whatever did this strange hat mean? Little lost girl? She knew exactly where she was so she wasn't lost was she? "Where to put you... hmmm difficult choice I see. A mind bright enough for Ravenclaw, brave enough for Gryffindor, loyal as a Hufflepuff and as cunning as a Slytherin. All good choices. You'd fit them all..." the hat continued to ramble, seemingly listing off pros and cons as to where she would be best placed but making no real progress. She zoned the voice out, letting it rant and ramble to itself all it pleased while she took in the students around her. Gryffindor seemed a rowdy bunch, littered with redheads. They were laughing and joking, twin boys seemingly in the centre of it all.
Ravenclaw table sat quietly, all watching her as she watched them. They looked organised and united in a way none if the other tables did. They had left a gap in the middle of the table for the first years. Each new addition to the house had been welcomed and directed to sit in the middle of the table, flanked by the older years. It made her smile to see the way they embraced the new comers.
Hufflepuff had a similar set up, but she could see the mischief and barely restrained energy contained at the table and it made her cringe slightly. It wasn't a bad thing at all, she just didn't know if she could deal with that energy on a daily basis.
She only spared Slytherin a brief glance, refusing to consider a future in that house. Under Mrs Lestrange's protection or not, she doubted she'd fit in very well there. Yes she wouldn't be attacked out right thanks to the meddling woman but she knew she would still be a target for those that saw them self as her betters. She rolled her eyes internally because even if Matron was not here she'd still face a punishment if she were caught acting so un lady like in public and the woman found out.
She sighed quietly, growing a little weary as the sorting hat continued to ramble in her mind while the students grew more and more impatient as the seconds ticked into minutes. Before she knew it, twelve minutes had already passed and her bottom had grown quite numb from sitting on the hard wood of the stool. Her back protesting the position also.
'Oh for goodness sake pick one please, there's only four houses, one of which we both know I cannot be placed in because of my blood status, another I'd be entirely uncomfortable in so that leaves two. That's a 50/50 chance of picking correctly' she finally snapped in her mind. Stopping the hats rant in its tracks.
'Oh well then, with that retort there is only one place I'd feel comfortable putting you in despite how unhappy it'll make him. He would prefer you in his house. But very well' the hat replied matter of factly before declaring loudly.
"Ravenclaw!" And the hat was finally lifted from her head. Hermione grit her teeth st the thunderous applause around her. A response she was sure had mire to do with the students relief at the sorting finally moving forward than her personally. Not that she minded.
She smiled politely as the older students embraced her, guiding her to an open seat right beside Cho, the other girl beaming at the brunette happily.
"Well that took a while didn't it" the girl stated, turning back to watch the rest of the students. Hermione didn't feel the need to reply. She could hear the whispered speculation around her. Students talking about how it had never taken so long to sort anyone before. Not even professor McGonagall had taken that long as a hat stall when she was sorted.
She didn't think it mattered very much. It was what it was. She had been sorted and that was that. She was just glad she hadn't been placed in Slytherin. Especially when Draco Malfoy was placed in that house.
From then the sorting continued without flaw, students were sorted quickly and the only thing to happen apart from her own hat stall worth noting was Harry Potter who after a four and a half minute hat stall was sorted into Gryffindor. She had read about Harry Potter in some of the wizarding books she had gotten her hands on over the summer. He was merely two years old when he had apparently killed the darkest wizard in history. Although she didn't think the man could have been as powerful as he was made out to be if a mere infant was able to defeat him, not that all the information available had made sense. It didn't add up and she was sure it was something that she would have to look into more in order to understand what had happened better.
After the sorting, Hermione watched in awe as Headmaster Professor Dumbledore snapped his fingers. Food the likes she had never seen appearing on the tables in front of her. It caused her stomach both to lurch in both hunger and protest. Weary about indulging in such rich foods when she had not had much exposure to anything other than the horrific sludge served for every meal at the orphanage.
She looked around wearily seeing that everyone, staff and students alike were tucking in with vigour. Seemingly not phased by the lavish meal. There was everything on the table, from golden brown Yorkshire puddings, to well cooked meats vegetables, soups and stuffing. If that wasn't enough to fill her with apprehension then the cloyingly rich scent that filled the air would. It was all so... expensive and she didn't know where to start.
With a small pop, startling her a bit more than she would like to admit. Hermione's plate filled with a small portion of food. A little bit of roast ham, a Yorkshire pudding and some veg. She glanced up, looking around for the answer to whom had noticed her hesitation and relaxed marginally when she found Professor McGonagall smiling down at her reassuringly, offering her a polite nod before turning to her own food.
Hermione smiled to herself, feeling her fellow classmate Cho rest a hand on her back gently, a silent reassurance and acknowledgement of support offered in such a simple gesture. It made her feel warm. Included and as if she truly did have the world at her feet with endless possibilities for the first time in her life.
She decided in that moment to simply let whatever was to happen happen and dismiss all that had come before, her rocky start on the train and her pure blooded stalker included. She wanted this year and every other year to come to be just as pleasant as the last few seconds of her life had just been.