Author note: Chapter 2 is a quick one. We have finally established that for the most part the same people are going to be in the same houses as canon. Mostly its going to be personalities that are different with the people. Events though will begin to deviate from the canon path in the next chapter. We will still hit some of the fixed points of the first year story, just coming at them from a different direction, and encountering several other events that will arise from the changes. As always anything you recognize is not mine, anything you don't recognize might not be mine either. I own none of this, I disavow any knowledge of this even existing. J.K. Rowling is an awesome woman who wrote and created all of this.

Begin Chapter 2

The rest of August went by quietly for Hermione. Her relatives refused to admit she existed, which suited Hermione just fine. She had been moved to cousin Brandy's second room where all of her broken and discarded things went.

Hermione had named her owl Hedwig after a saint she had found in her book A History of Magic. The owl and her got along quite well as she would actually sit and talk to the owl, finding the conversation to be more stimulating than trying to force the Smythes to acknowledge her existence.

Hermione was trying to figure out how to get to London when she finally decided to bite the bullet and just ask. It was the last day of August and she would need to know if she was going to be able to get a ride or if she would have to start walking now.

"Uncle Claude?" She timidly asked.

He grunted grumpily. Hermione took that as him at least acknowledging her presence.

"I'm going to need to have a ride to King's cross tomorrow morning. I have to catch the train to Hogwarts." she said hopefully submissive enough he wouldn't fly into a rage.

He grunted again. Then sighed saying, "You're in luck as we have to take Brandy to London for a follow up visit. That blasted tail."

"Thank you. I need to be there early as the train leaves Platform 9 and three quarters at 11 o'clock in the morning." She said.

"What platform?" Her uncle turned and asked her.

"9 and three quarters."

He seemed to be amused by that Hermione noticed. "Fine. We'll get you there if that's what it takes to be rid of you for several months at least." Charles grunted.

Hermione didn't want to press her luck so she left to finish packing.

…...

The next morning Hermione and her relatives drove to London. Brandy was sitting as far from her in the car as she possibly could. For some reason her uncle was cheerful. This usually made Hermione nervous.

Reaching the train station her uncle even helped her load her things onto a cart and push them into the station. Eventually stopping to say with a laugh, "Well here we are. Have fun at school. If you can get there."

Hermione followed his pointing finger to see a blank brick wall. There was a sign that said no smoking between large plastic numbers to the left and right. A number 9 and a number 10. She wondered if there had been some kind of mistake or sick joke. She touched the wall and it felt solid and real. She wondered if she tapped the bricks with her wand it would do like the one into Diagon Alley.

Her uncle had already turned and left laughing hysterically so she sat on her cart glumly. At least she was away from him. Maybe someone would kidnap her and take her to an orphanage or into their own home like a stray kitten. Maybe the Hagrid person could help her. At least she was away from the Smythes.

A medium height chubby woman with several children chaotically following her came through the lounge. She was grumping and trying to herd the crowd. "I swear this place is crawling with muggles so much. I have no idea why Arthur always makes us come through this way."

"Because its neat mum." the young girl sitting on the cart pushed by a boy about Hermione's age piped up.

"Yes dear. If you think so. I think it's all such a pointless fuss to get to the platform."

Hermione noticed the oldest boy had an owl in a cage on top of his trunk. Twin boys had trunks and a few other boxes on their carts and the youngest had a girl sitting on his trunk. She hoped that she was his sister and not his pet like Hedwig was.

She decided to follow them since the older woman used the word muggles and wanted to get to the platform, maybe they would lead her onto the mythical 9 and ¾ in time to catch the train.

She saw the oldest boy get a hug and kiss on the cheek before he turned and ran through the no smoking sign on the wall. Not into it through it. One second he was there and the next he was not.

Hermione gasped causing the red heads to all turn and look at her.

"Hello dear. Off to Hogwarts are we?" The matronly woman asked.

Hermione nodded as she wasn't sure how her voice would work at the moment. She was still in shock from watching the boy run through the wall. A solid wall.

"Well come here. We don't bite. Er at least some of us." the woman said with a chuckle, "This is Ron's first year too."
The youngest red haired male smiled at her in a friendly way. She smiled back.

"Right well Fred its your turn."

"I'm not Fred. Seriously you call yourself our mum." One of the twins said stepping into position.

"Oh alright George just go through." She huffed in tired exasperation.

"I'm not George I am Fred." The boy laughed then charged the wall, his twin gave their mother a quick hug and kiss on the cheek then followed his brother swiftly as she shook her fist after him in frustration.

"Right now. The trick is really simple. Just believe you can go through and make sure to keep moving quickly. The barrier won't let anything moving too slow through." The matronly woman said turning to Ron and Hermione."Best to hit it at a run if you're nervous."

Ron nodded then after the girl jumped off of his trunk he charged the wall. Slipping through in the blink of an eye.

Hermione gulped and lined her cart up. With an encouraging nod from the woman she jogged toward the wall focusing her belief on passing through the barrier. She felt a strange shiver go through her like she had passed through a sheet of cool water and then she was on a crowded platform. A huge crimson steam engine sat panting and huffing like some living beast. Bright red and gold cars lined up behind it had teens all trying to climb aboard. While adults and younger children stood on the platform chatting or waving tearfully.

She passed by a short round faced boy complaining about his lost toad to a tall severe looking woman with a stuffed vulture on her hat. Hermione had no idea what to think about that so kept moving. Finally reaching a car she tried to pull her heavy trunk up the stairs. Her weak muscles in her slender arms were just not up to the task.

Suddenly a hand picked up the other end, "Hello. You look like you could use a hand."

She looked at the tall curly red haired boy with a gold and scarlet badge on the robes he was wearing. "Oh thank you."
"You're welcome. I am a prefect so its my duty to help." He said smiling as they lifted the trunk into the car. Finding a close compartment he helped Hermione lift it into the luggage rack, "Don't worry about at the other end. The castle has people to take care of your luggage."

"Oh that's good. Thank you."

The boy nodded as he left to go see about other students who needed help. Hermione settled into her seat as Hedwig smoothed her feathers inside the cage.

The boy named Ron knocked on her door, "Do you mind if I join you. Everyplace else is full."

Hermione had never been allowed to talk to anyone her own age. Brandy and her gang had always driven anyone who had tried to befriend Hermione away. "Yes please."

Ron plopped into a seat after he tossed his beaten, strapped together, trunk onto the luggage rack with Hermione's limited help. "Thanks. By the way I'm Ron. Ron Weasley." He said cheerfully.

"My name's Hermione." She paused as she didn't know if he would react like the people in the pub, "Hermione Granger."

His eyes grew wide as he stared at her, "Blimey. Are you really her? Do you have the. You know the thing?"

Hermione wasn't sure what he meant until he reached up to his forehead. She shrugged and lifted her bangs exposing the lightning bolt scar over her right eyebrow.

"Bloody hell. You are her." Ron gushed.

"Yes. I suppose so." Hermione agreed.

"Wow." He gushed then looked abashed, "Oh I bet you get a lot of adoring fans bugging you."

Hermione smiled, "No not really."

The train began to move distracting both of them as they watched the station slowly recede from them. It began to move quicker through urban sprawl then suburbs until it was finally speeding along rural lands and small villages.

Hermione had been silent while watching everything she knew slide by her outside the window and going forward into the unknown. The boy had seemed to fall silent as he either didn't know what to say or was struggling with his own emotions. Finally Hermione asked, "So do you play Quidditch?" Maybe he could explain what the blonde boy had meant.

Ron's face brightened like a supernova as he grinned from ear to ear. "Oh absolutely." And then he was off talking about the games he and his brothers had back in the orchard at their home. How their little sister kept trying to sneak out and join them even though she was too small and not very good, according to Ron.

Fortunately Hermione did not have to do more than nod and say a few vague comments of agreement as she let Ron go on about the various tactics and tricks he and his brothers would do during their games. Although she did have to wonder about how skilled and talented Ron was in relation to his poor hapless brothers as he put it.

She then listened as he went on about the various professional teams and how the school rules differed from the professional league rules. She was not sure she understood all of the rules but was beginning to understand the basic concept of the game when Ron finally seemed to wind down.

"So yeah that's about all there is to know about Quidditch." He said with a nod.

"Oh. Well I wonder if I'll be any good at it. You see I've never played before."

"Oh well don't worry there's loads of first years who've never played before or done spells. I grew up in magical household though so can do plenty." He stated with a bit of braggadocio.

Hermione chuckled, "Really? How many?"

Ron seemed to deflate, "Well maybe not that many, I can do a few."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rat. A rather old, fat and decrepit looking rat Hermione thought. Brandy would have already screamed and run through the compartment in terror.

"I've been trying to work on this one but I'm not sure its a real spell. My brother's told it to me." He explained as he drew a rather worn and old wand from his robe. It had nicks and chips out of it a and a few shining silvery hairs poked out of the end.

Before the boy could do anything the compartment door opened and two more boys stood in the entrance. The round faced one from the platform Hermione recognized while the other one had messy black hair, deep emerald green eyes that looked at them with a burning curiosity.

"Hello. Sorry to interrupt you." The black haired boy said in a firm and controlled voice, "Have either of you seen a toad? My friend here seems to have misplaced his."

Hermione and Ron both shook their heads, the round faced boy slumped before sying thank you and shuffling off. The black haired boy looked expectantly at Ron and smiled.

"Oh are you doing magic? I've already read our charms book and found some of the spells quite brilliant." He said entering the compartment. "Did you know you have dirt alongside your nose?"

Ron reached up to rub his cheek while the black haired boy drew a shiny new wand, "Here. Allow me. Scourgify."

Ron yelped as the spell rubbed his face clean. "Bloody hell. Warn a fellow next time."

Harry looked surprised, "Oh. Sorry."

"Who are you anyhow?" Ron demanded as Hermione tried not to laugh at the way Ron's face was scrubbed red

"Oh. My apologies. My name is Harry Potter. Pleased to meet you." He said extending his hand after flipping his wand casually to his left hand.

Ron glumly shook it saying, "I'm Ron. Ron Weasley."

` Harry nodded then turned to Hermione who wondered about this new boy. He seemed rather formal yet impulsive. "My name is Hermione."

The boy smiled as he shook her hand, "Hermione? You wouldn't happen to be Hermione Granger would you?"

Hermione slumped dejectedly, apparently her fame was such she would never escape it. "Yes I am." She confessed.

The boy's eyes grew wide as he said, "Oh my. I've read all about you and your family in Great Magical Events of the 20th century as well as the Who's Who of the Magical World."

"Oh." Hermione replied sourly, "Does everyone know about me?"

"Probably." Ron replied, "But look Harry she doesn't want to wallow in her fame."

Harry nodded acceptingly, "Very well then. You were about to do a spell?" He said turning the emerald gaze onto Ron as he sat beside Hermione.

Ron gulped as he was put on the spot. Taking his wand he waved it in circles over the rat's fur, "Sunshine, butter, daisys mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!"

With a slight squeak the rat rolled over but nothing else happened aside from the smell of slightly singed fur wafting across the compartment.

Harry seemed rather unimpressed, "That didn't seem to do what you wanted it to. Are you certain that was a real spell?"

"That's what my brothers told me." Ron protested.

"Well according to the Magical theory and Practical Application Manual magic is about intent and will as much as it is about strength. Perhaps you need to focus harder." Harry stated.

Ron's face began to turn red in a way unrelated to the earlier scrubbing but before he could say or do anything the door flung itself open again.

Hermione stared in consternation at the new intrusion. The blonde haired boy from the clothing shop was standing there looking smugly into the compartment. He had a tall muscular looking brute standing behind him on one side and a short squat thug on his other. Hermione suddenly had an image of the three being a parody of the Prime Minister and his guards. She stifled a giggle.

"So is it true Hermione Granger is coming to Hogwarts?" Draco asked the compartment at large looking directly at Hermione.

"If she is of age of course she would be coming to Hogwarts Mister?" Harry asked calmly.

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy and you are?" The blonde smugly declared.

"Harry Potter. Pleased to meet you." He said extending his hand.

Draco scowled, "Potter? That's a rather common sounding name."

Harry stood with his hand extended uncertainly but said, "It is I suppose. My family are from Crawley."

"Oh and what sort of people are they?" Draco inquired sharply.

"Well they're dentists you see." Harry said proudly, "They help people."

"Den-tists?" Draco asked snidely.

"Yes. Doctors for people's teeth. You see."

Draco interrupted dismissively, "I know what they are mudblood. You may stop talking."

Ron snorted angrily as Hermione reaffirmed her earlier assessment. She was definitely not going to like this pompous little blow-hard.

"Something caught in your throat? I don't need to be introduced to you. Red hair, freckles, a hand me down wand and robes. Another poor penniless pathetic Weasley. Amazing your parents keep having children, but then I guess animals do breed litters." Draco sneered venomously.

Ron leapt to his feet, dropping the rat onto the seat beside him, causing the two thugs behind Draco to growl and clench their ham hock fists. The taller one looked like he actually began to salivate like one of Aunt Marge's bulldogs at the thought he would get to commit violence.

"Alright. There's no need to fight." Hermione said icily. "I think its time you left Mr Malfoy."

"So the mighty Granger is associating herself with mud-bloods and blood traitors. You should really reconsider that. I could introduce you to some of the proper sort of people."

Hermione felt that anyone Draco thought was the proper sort would not be the sort she wanted to associate with. "I think I can figure out who the right sort are for myself." She haughtily declared, "Now good day Mr Malfoy."

With a final sneer he turned and trailing his goons who looked disappointed went back up the corridor.

Harry stood blinking like he didn't understand what happened turned to Ron, "What is a mud-blood?"

Ron sighed as he sat down, "A mud-blood is an insult. It means the person thinks your blood is dirty and unclean."

Harry seemed to consider that for a moment then with a sad smile said, "Oh. Uh thank you for your time then. I uh. I had better resume helping Neville find his toad."

Before Hermione could say anything the black haired boy left their compartment. He looked like he was trying to hold back tears as he left.

Ron slumped back in the seat, "My dad and his dad have a history together."

"Oh?" Hermione asked casually leaning back to try and calm down.

"Yeah. My dad works for the Ministry and his dad works for the other side. I bet he'll be in Slytherin for sure." Ron grumped. "All the bad people go into Slytherin."

Hermione raised her eyebrow at the absolute conviction in Ron's voice but then Draco himself had said he hoped to wind up in Slytherin like his father. That alone was reason enough for her not to want to be put into that house.

"So where do you want to wind up?" She asked to try and get the red-head talking about more happy subjects again.

"Oh. I'll probably be in Gryffindor like all the rest of my family. There hasn't been a Weasley in any other house ever." Ron replied.

They started talking about the various houses and what each one was like when the trolly came by with all sorts of foods on it. Hermione's stomach grumbled loudly reminding her that the thin soup and single slice of bread she had eaten that morning was hours ago. Leaping up she looked over the variety to see if they had any Mars bars. She had only ever tasted three in her life and they were treasured memories of the sweet bliss.

"Uh do you have Mars bars?"

"No miss I don't. I'm sorry. I have choclate frogs, bertie botts every flavor beans, pasties of all sorts and a few other things."

Hermione looked at Ron who was still sitting in the compartment, "What do you recommend?"

Ron shrugged, "I dunno. Mum packed me a sandwich so you get what you want."

Hermione took several of the galleons out of her pouch and said, "Can I have two of everything?"

The trolley lady smiled as she off loaded the various sweets and snacks into Hermione's arms.

Ron's eyes grew wide as Hermione began to sort out one for each of them. "These aren't real frogs are they?" She asked when she reached the chocolate frogs.

Ron shook his head, "Nah they're just enchanted, they've only got one good hop in them. Sides its the card you really want."
"The card?" Hermione asked as she unwrapped her frog which made a tremendous leap out of the window to live a life of freedom and national pride until the summer temperature reached the melting point of chocolate.

She frowned briefly then decided that eating something that had been enchanted to move was a bit too weird for her right now. Looking at the card she saw a bespectacled old man with a beard to his waist smiling at her. Teh name under the picture said Albus Dumbledore and gave a long list of his accomplishments on the back. So this is what the illustrious headmaster looked like.

"So who'd you get?" Ron asked carefully unwrapping his.

"Albus Dumbledore." Hermione replied as she read the back of the card wondering why you would want to use dragon's blood for anything as well as who Nicholas Flamel was.

"Oh yeah. I've got like a dozen of him in my collection. I'm only looking for a few of the rares." Ron said more carefully gnashing his teeth on his frog, "Oh. I got another Circe. Here you can have it for your collection."

"Uh thanks." Hermione said flipping the card over, "Hey the pictures gone!"

"Well he can't stay around all day." Ron said like it was common knowledge.

Hermione frowned at him but when she looked back the picture had returned and winked at her. "Sorry, I'm just used to pictures that don't move."

"Really? So weird." Ron said with a snort.

Setting the cards aside Hermione began looking through the other items and talking to Ron about each of them.

…...

By the time they had arrived at Hogsmeade Hermione was feeling slightly sick from the sheer rush of sugar she had ingested. Along with several meat pies and other savory snacks. She hoped she wouldn't get sick. Ron though seemed to have a cast iron stomach and was already wondering what they would have for the welcoming feast.

"Firs years! To me! First Years ta me!" Hermione heard the bellowing voice of Hagrid and made her way there. She had left her trunk and owl like she had been told but only reluctantly. Brandy had a very unfortunate habit of acquiring anything that had been Hermione's so she tended not to let things out of her sight.

"Ermione! Glad ta see ye made it." Hagrid beamed happily at her.

"Yeah Hagrid. This is Ron." She said gesturing to the Red head who was following her like a lost puppy.

"Eh? Yer no like yer brothers are ye?" Hagrid looked suspiciously at Ron.

Ron shook his head looking up a the tall, hairy man, "No. I'm much better behaved."
Hagrid looked skeptically at him but grinning said, "Alright ye. Four to a boat."

Hermione and Ron joined the boys Neville and Harry in a boat. The other boys smiled in acknowledgment but seemed too nervous to say anything else. Hermione felt the same. They waited while others made their way. Soon Hagrid stepped into a boat by himself and the small craft all began to follow in his wake. The rocking of the boat made Hermione's stomach feel even more upset and queasy until she was soon leaning over the side heaving its contents up.

Staring into the water as Harry gently patted her on the back awkwardly she saw a giant white eye staring back up at her. The eye was part of some huge beast she thought briefly before she leapt backwards almost landing in Harry's lap.

"What?" Ron exclaimed as she fell to the bottom of the boat gasping and pointing.

"Th-there was something huge in the water!"

"Oh. Probably the giant squid." Ron said with a shrug.

"A what?" Harry asked incredulously. Hermione was too unsure of what she had seen to say anything else,.

"According to Fred and George there's a large squid that lives in the lake with the merfolk and others. I thought they were having me on so I asked dad and he said its been there for a long time."

Harry scowled, "That's not right. Squids are a salt water creature and do not live in fresh water lakes like this."

Ron looked at him dryly, "You know this is a magical valley right?"

"Well of course I know that. In Hogwarts a History it was noted that the four founders had after their travels arrived in this valley due to a dream Rowena Ravenclaw had." Harry began in what sounded like it was going to be a long lecture.

Harry kept talking, but Hermione tuned him out as she leaned back against Neville's legs. He was sitting bolt upright and tense as she did so but that was preferable to sitting on the bench wondering if a giant squid was going to think about having some first year sized snacks.

…...

The fact Harry had stopped talking made Hermione open her eyes. Discovering that he was staring at something behind her she turned and saw the castle for the first time. It was a huge edifice sparkling and glowing with lights on a tall rock outcropping. The parts that were not lit blotted out the sky with their presence.

Soon they passed into a cave and began the climb up some steps. A slightly chubby blonde girl offered Hermione a mint.

"Thanks."

"Its okay. My nerves are so bad I almost did the same thing." The girl said with a polite smile, "I'm Lavender Brown." she said by way of introduction.

"Pleased. I'm Hermione Granger." She sighed waiting for the glance towards her forehead everyone in the magical world seemed to do.

The blonde did not glance though and simply nodded, "I thought so. This is Parvati Patil and her sister Padma. She's Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott."

Hermione liked the chatterbox friendliness of Lavender and hoped she would wind up in the same house. She said hello to the other girls. A few of them seemed just as nervous as Hermione was so she felt a little bit better that she was not that unusual.

They reached a small antechamber where a pair of adults were waiting. One of them a tall stern looking woman with a tartan baldric over her dark green dress. She had Slightly graying auburn hair tied back in a bun while the other was obviously the matron for the school. She was an average height slightly built woman with a friendly smile.

"Perfesser McGonnagal. I present to you the first years. Safe and mostly sound." Hagrid said giving Hermione a wink.

"Thank you Hagrid. You may go on ahead and enter." The stern woman said with a nod.

"Miss Granger please step forward."

Hermione hated being singled out for anything. Either Brandy would get jealous if it was something good or she would use it to make fun of Hermione. Still she needed to step forward.

"Yes ma'am." she said reluctantly stepping forward.

"I understand you did not have a good journey across the lake." Professor McGonnagal asked more softly in her tone.

"No ma'am. My nerves got a bit rough. I was given a mint though."

The matron nodded approvingly, "Ah. Good. And you are feeling better?"

"Somewhat." Hermione squeaked uncertainly.

"No more than is to be expected." The matron asked waving her wand in Hermione's general direction. She gave a slight frown as a warbling tweedle emanated from the wand but otherwise did not react.

"No ma'am." Hermione replied.

"Very well. Unless there is anyone else who is not feeling well I shall return to the Great Hall."

When no one else spoke up the matron nodded to the professor and left.

The professor smiled down at Hermione who was unsure what she should do. "Everyone please. May I have your attention?"

Everyone had already been watching the proceedings with quiet murmuring but this caused everyone to stop making noise.

"Thank you. In a few moments we shall enter the Great hall where you will be sorted into your houses. During your time at Hogwarts your houses will be like your family. This does not mean that the other houses are the enemy or to be ignored, bullied or in anyway dismissed as inferior, MERELY different." She said with a glare around the room, the icy stare lingering on a certain blonde male Hermione thought.

A tall willowy teen girl came into the room, "They're ready for you Professor."

"Thank you Cassandra." The professor nodded. "Very well every one line up."

…...

Hermione gaped in awe as they entered the long and wide great hall. She stutter stepped as she looked up to see there was no ceiling, just a night sky."
"I read in Hogwart's a history its just a charmed glamour that reflects the night sky or other scenes if the headmaster chooses it." Harry declared even though no one asked. Ron grumbled something on Hermione's left but no one else said anything.

The other students at their tables all watched the first years enter with a few of them leanign over to whisper and point. She tried to pretend they were pointing at someone else but had a sinking feeling it was herself that was the focus of everything.

Coming to a stop in the center of the hall Professor McGonnagal stood and addressed the long table at the front of the room, "Headmaster."

"Very well Minerva." Albus Dumbledore said as he stood smiling down at them. Hermione recognized him from his card.

"Greetings to all of you. Welcome to Hogwarts. I sincerely hope you will find your stay to be most beneficial." he said with a smile. While he was talking a stool with a dirty ancient pointed hat sitting on it was placed at the center of the table.

"I am certain some of you with older siblings have been told a great many tales, including that you would wrestle a troll or be asked to perform some feat of legerdemain to be sorted. Alas it is nothing that flamboyant." he said with a chuckle as the hat opened a tear along its brim and began to speak in a deep resonant voice.

"I can tell you are looking at me in wonder

Trying to figure if I should be torn asunder.

Let me tell you not to judge based on what you see.

Although I'm not very pretty.

I am very smart and can see deep into your heart.

As the Hogwart's Sorting Hat it my duty,

To place you'll do your best

In the house that you should be.

In the house of Gryffindor?

Where the brave and the daring go,

Chivalry, honor and pure of heart

setting them apart.

In Slytherin you could be placed,

though many call them two faced

they are just cunning and use their wiles

hiding their fangs behind their smiles.

In Ravenclaw you could be,

a ready and curious mind

with wit and learning the world to see.

In Hufflepuff go all the rest,

this does not make them less than best,

it makes them just and loyal

unafraid of toil.

Have no fear I look into your heart and not your head.

So soon we shall see where you shall find your bed.

There was a brief smattering of applause then Professor McGonnagal picked the hate up and called out "Abbott, Hannah."

The hat sat on her head for a moment then with a female voice called out "Hufflepuff."

It went on like this for the various students ahead of her alphabetically. Susan Bones went to Hufflepuff as well. Lavender Brown and Fay Dunbar went to Gryffindor. Soon her own name was called and she walked gingerly to the stool. Noticing that everyone had gone incredibly silent and even Dumbledore was looking at her. The hat felt cool on her head as she heard the strange voice in her head.

"Such an interesting heart and soul.

A thirst to prove yourself is your goal

a desire to punish those who hurt others,

you would have comfort if you had your druthers.

In short I could see you do well in Slytherin."

Hermione shook her head whispering "No please not Slytherin. Not Slytherin. I don't want there."

"You don't want Slytherin?

"That would be a good place on your road to power.

"Living in a dungeon and not a tower.

"Though I see you would not do as well.

"This I can tell. So I have a better place for you to show your face."

The hat shouted in that deep resonant voice, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Everyone seemed to be shocked for a brief moment before the Gryffindor table broke out into an ecstatic shouting celebration. Hermione stood shakily as Professor McGonnagal smiled proudly at her.

She found a seat at the end of the table as people tried to shake her hand and clap her on the shoulder. Trying not to flinch as she realized they did not intend to hurt her she sat quietly watching the rest of the sorting.

Neville Longbottom caused the hat to sit quietly before he was sent to Gryffindor by that deep voice, Draco Malfoy did not even have the hat touch him before it screamed in a sibilant voice Slytherin. Parvati joined them in Gryffindor and Padma went to Ravenclaw. Harry Potter came to Gryffindor. After that Hermione didn't know anyone and didn't pay close attention.

After the last first year had been sorted the hat and stool were taken away and Albus stepped up to a lectern, "Ahh good. Good, my friends. Welcome back for another year of learning and hopefully you remember at least a little bit of it. To our new comrades we hope you soon become as familiar and pleased with our home away from home as the others. Now I shall not prattle on much longer but wish to give you a few announcements before you fill your stomachs, though hopefully not to the point of bursting." Albus said with a wink Hermione swore was aimed at her.

"First off I want to congratulate Professor Quirrel for accepting the post of Defense Professor, secondly in similar vein our caretaker Mr Filch has a list on his office door of prohibited items. I advise you to peruse it at least once to avoid dire trouble." He chuckled as if to downplay the dire trouble.

"These last two announcements are of course the most important. The Dark Forest is expressly forbidden to any unauthorized explorations. And I do mean any." Albus seemed to firmly fix his focus on two red haired angels with tin halos.

"The Third floor corridor in the east wing is also expressly forbidden to anyone who does not desire a most painful death." Dumbledore intoned.

Everyone at that point began to look at each other with rising murmurings.

"Now now. Let's agree that youthful curiosity should have reasonable boundaries and go on from there. Now the last thing I have to say before we eat is Neep, Fleem and Nikto." he clapped his hands and food suddenly appeared up and down the tables.

Hermione bit her lip as she smelled all sorts of meats from the serving dishes, fresh baked breads, vegetables and bowls of stew danced in front of her. She licked her lips as she took the serving implements and began to load her plate. She was never given more food than the Smythes could spare, although their plates never seemed to be short of food.

Thinking of her relatives briefly Claude was a tall but heavyset man, with graying hair and a perpetual five o'clock shadow. Ophelia was tall and thin like a person had been placed in a shoe stretcher although she ate like a horse she never gained anything. She and her husband though had produced a girl that sat between the two of them somehow. Her figure was chubby with unlost baby fat but had the height of her father. She also had the grace of a cow on roller skates Hermione thought.

Digging into the food she listened as her fellow students began to talk and speculate on what was behind the third floor corridor, as well as what would happen in their classes this year.

She tried to determine which professor was which by staring closely at the high table. She saw a very sallow looking, hook nosed, black haired professor at the end of the table. He was talking to Quirrel who had his back turned to her.

Suddenly the sallow man looked up and stared back at Hermione. When he did so she felt a sudden stabbing pain go through her head from her scar backwards.

"Ow!" She exclaimed softly before frowning. The older red head who had helped her onto the train sat looking at her.

"I must have bitten my lip." She explained quickly, even though she had been rubbing her forehead.

"Ahh. Okay." He said, fortunately the only one who had seemed to notice.

"So who is the black haired professor at the end of the table?" She asked.

"That is Professor Snape. He teaches potions but its the Dark Arts he'd rather be performing." Percy stated.

Hermione frowned until a dozen ghosts came floating through the walls flying around the room until four settled down. One per table it seemed.

"Hello. Dear me it seems like First Years are getting shorter every year."

"Hello Nick." Percy said calmly as the ghost walked the middle of the table causing ice to form on the juice pitcher.

"Nick? This is Nearly Headless Nick?" Ron exclaimed to the ghost's disgust.

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Harry questioned with a scowl.

"Like this." The ghost said tipping his head sideways as if he was tipping his hat to a lady. "Thanks to a fool of an executioner with a dull blade I remain unbeheaded."

Ron laughed, "Now that's a sight. So where is Peeves?"

"Ahh the poltergeist thought it would be a funny prank to eat his shoes and seemed to enjoy the flavor. So he did not stop with his shoes and began to work his own way upwards until he wound up unexisting himself from this local continuum. No big loss as he was a particular annoyance that shall not be missed." The ghost declared floating upwards.

Hermione had closed her eyes as this was starting to come close to being an overwhelming day. She only hoped her things had made their way to wherever this Gryffindor rooms was located and Hedwig was being taken care of.

…...

Percy led the first year Gryffindors up the wide marble staircase that spiraled through the core of the castle. Each floor had two or more wings jutting out from this core with a broad a wide open atrium filling the core. Hermione glanced over the railing and saw the pattern in the stones far below formed the face of a dragon. She was sure Harry would be able to explain that from the book he was always quoting.

Reaching a large painting of a rather attractive heavyset woman wearing Roman style clothes at the end of a dead end corridor Hermione frowned until the painting spoke.

"Password." She inquired boredly.

"Kapus Draconus." Percy confidently replied.

Taking her goblet she swallowed from it while everyone stood shuffling nervously. Percy frowned, "Capus Draconis." he repeated.

"There you go dear. Enunciation is everything." The painting said as she swung open to reveal a very interesting room.

It was a large round comfortable room with two sets of stairs spiraling away from a common center point. A large fireplace with a couch in front of it sat to the right of the door while several large chairs and tables were scattered about the room. All of the furniture in bright brass and crimson colors. A large stained glass window stood in an alcove between the stars. Several other windows around the tower had heavy stone frames with leaded latticework holding the glass.

"Welcome to Gryffindor Tower. This is our refuge from the rest of the castle and you may not bring any friends from other houses into our tower." A tall curly brown haired boy said. "There are certainly enough other places to interact with any friends you develop in other houses. While curfew for the castle is 9 pm the tower does not have any bedtime. You are all old enough you should be able to understand when you need to go to bed."

Hermione noticed the older students already going up the two stairs. Boys to the left and girls to the right. A few of the older ones taking a moment to give a chaste kiss to their close friends.

"As you notice boy's dormitories are to the left while girl's dormitories are to the right. Professor McGonnagal is our head of House. Her office is at the end of the corridor near the main staircase. If you need anything I am Scott the seventh year boy's prefect and this is Amanda my counterpart." He said gesturing towards a short chubby redhead with a broad smile.

"Are there any questions?" The boy asked. When no one replied he nodded then said, "Good night."

Hermione agreed wholeheartedly with the idea of going to bed. Climbing the stairs she discovered the first year dorms were the next floor up. Lavender, Parvati and Fay were right behind her into the room. A large comfortable looking four poster bed for each of them sat in a wheel along the outer walls. Their school trunks sat at the end of the bed with a small table beside each bed.

Hermione grabbed her pajamas out and changed quickly. Sliding into the bed that was hers, for the next several months at least she tried to ignore the bloated sensation from eating so much and after a few tosses and turns to get comfortable was soon sound asleep.

…...(End of Chapter 2)

Bones71: Thank you. I was following the book a little too closely i see. Also darn editing software. Technology is wonderful, until it isn't.

Browneyedgirl1590: Thank you. I enjoyed reading the Lemony Snicket books to my kids and they enjoyed them being read to them.

Manwe Illuvitarian: Yep. Another one. And this time we are going to try and keep it light and fluffy. So no sex, no major violence, and no gore. And yes the first two chapters are essentially a retelling of the first book. With a few minor changes and tweaks to set things up for later. Next chapter will be when things start going down a different path and we start seeing the real changes to the universe. So hang on and enjoy.

KGFinkel: Better to be famous than in famous. Lol. It is interesting to be typing Hermione instead of Harry for a lot of this for vernon and Petunia we may encounter them or not. I've not decided. I do know that Dr james Potter and his Wife Dr Lily Potter (nee evans) have a quite nice practice in a quite nice neighborhood with quite nice patients. So its quite nice.
I will have the Smythes somewhat similar to the Dursleys physically but not too much. We will learn tidbits about everyone through memories and sidebars as we go.
Thank you for the heads up. I missed a few things. Got more of them fixed.

LeoniusDong: No Hermione is not going to be quite as moody and brooding as canon Harry. She will have some emotional scarring to get over at first from the developmental experiences she had but by the end of the story should be a lot more well adjusted.