"Without a doubt the most boringst sod I have ever met!" Vienna Riveria might've been the perfect angel of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, but her grace did not extend to Hermione Granger for ever since the day Hermione became first acquainted with her in elementary, she had been nothing but a clown to the children that made up her town's jewels.
"Five years later, I still feel the same way about you as I did when I first met you!" Enid Roman shrieked to gales of laughter as all 8 girls of the friendship group giggled in Hermione's direction.
I can't decide what's uglier. Your name or yourself.
Hermione clenched her hands in fists and dug her nails into the insides of her palm to prevent from saying anything that would result in a fight.
It was childish to think fighting back with a group of 8 girls was going to work in her favour. So she kept quiet - something she had been doing all these years.
"Well, look at that. There goes the bell," Ms Longstocking's voice meandered over to the girls. Instantly all laughter faded and they returned to their work with perfect stillness. "And to think this year has come to an end. Hermione, lovely work, why I really ought to keep it for next year to show the other kids, you haven't lost your brilliancy all these years young lady."
The teacher glanced over the essays they had been writing.
"Thank you," Hermione said cordially back.
She had been perfect in the eyes of the teachers, parents, and kids who weren't too caught up in schoolyard politics of her hometown, but ever since day one she had always been an outsider, an outcast, never considered one of the cool kids or permitted entrance to that elusive inner circle no matter how hard she shined in other areas, and somedays - it didn't even feel like her hometown.
Still, there was nothing to do. No ways of changing the status quo that would work. And so Hermione largely bit her tongue and tried to continue with her life as best as possible, sometimes trying to wriggle her way up the friendship group that had always marked her as someone to pick on, but had never quite rejected her outright, always, still an outsider. A clown. Someone to pick on. The lowest ranking member of the group.
Eleven years of life - soon to be twelve - and that hadn't changed.
"There's a letter for you. Whatever could it be," her mother said to her later at home.
"Not anything from school I heard of," Hermione said truthfully. She rarely got letters and she sensed curiosity from her parents.
"Go on, open it," said her father.
After opening it, reading and digesting it to herself, Hermione looked up, a little flustered as she explained what it was.
"So will you go to the new school?" asked her mother.
Hermione received many offers of acceptance to many schools, they had all thought the rounds would be over by now, but this one seemed the most longest-running, prestigious (within it's circles, that feel was just evident of the paper) and also with a touch of mystery that any child longed for in the adventurous next stage of their life.
Hermione had never done much new things before. Perhaps it was the sheer magic of the letter (Hermione almost didn't believe it was real even though the truth that she was magical had been there all along), or the fact that she didn't see any point in staying there, and longed for something new, but Hermione said yes without even a split second's hesitation.
And so she was going to Hogwarts.
Once it hit that it was real, Hermione could feel her thoughts changing. Hogwarts and the wizarding world sounded like it's own society. There had to be the queen bees, the losers, as there always was. And whereas Hermione was sick, tired and fed up of her place in the piteous muggle world that never felt truly accepting of her, she was more ambitious this time around. A little more darker. The angel on her shoulder told her to get good grades, help others, and generally be nice and agreeable. But the devil lurking in the shadows said niceness had never got anybody anywhere, and that if Hermione was truly going to live, and go places in her life, she had to play cunning.
She was going to be the most feared person, in the wizarding world or the muggle world. And soon the whole world would bow to her feet. She wasn't not going to take life by the horns and see where it went. Already, she could feel an inner spirit or fire awaken inside her that perhaps had been there all along.
"Have you seen my toad?" a boy whom Hermione heard his grandmother call Neville asked her. She deduced his parents must've not been that free to avoid dropping him of at King's Cross and in another world might've perhaps felt sorry for him for being so alone and helpless, and clearly looking the endearing clumsy type, but she could already feel herself knowing he wasn't a good friend to be associated with for all these years.
You will attract the laughter that he attracts from others.
She thought to herself.
Be better. Different. I will achieve the success here that I didn't get in the muggle world.
"No sorry," she smiled curtly with a shake of her head. Then she turned around and walked on the train, picking a compartment of girls that looked similarly dressed to her - upper middle class, although Hermione was quickly becoming aware of the fact they were actually beyond that judging from their clothes, necklaces and earrings that they casually wore among their Hogwarts robes.
"I didn't say you could come in," said a pug-faced girl. Chewing gum as she eyed her down. The others turned to sneer at Hermione as if on cue and that's when she instantly knew they were a clique who'd formed before Hogwarts.
"I didn't know of a train compartment with more interesting company. Your names?" Hermione was smart about her response, refusing to be kicked out of what was evidently going to be a formidable and envied clique at Hogwarts all throughout the years from her senses.
"Get out," said a tall and already stunning blonde girl, glaring at Hermione.
Everything is the same. She thought. Everyone looks so nice but it's all the same games, all the same drama, the same politics. I shall have to play my way very carefully here. I want to be successful. I want to be the most admired, the most envious, the queen of the wizarding world. Why?
Because I have never deserved anything less.
It had always grated at Hermione that she had been the best at her hometown but somehow unable to ascend anywhere. Always mocked, never truly living the respected nor admired person she already thought she would be.
"Now now, she is somewhat well-of. Your parents estate?" the original girl said, rolling her eyes up slowly to look at Hermione. Her attention was on Hermione for the barest of seconds, as if she was a messiah greeting a slave, making Hermione feel like she had to struggle to think of something to impress her.
Hermione hadn't been particularly dressed up - even at her slightly preppy elementary school she had known there were other families wealthier than hers so wealth was never an angle that was truly advantageous for her to play in the past, but she supposed a few pieces, like her shoes or her wristwatch (an expensive Christmas present her father had got her), gave it away.
"My parents don't have one in the classical sense of living of their land. But they have a lovely home and a dental surgery," Hermione was prepared to make it clear her position as an upper middle class family that still needed to work to make a living was still a very respectable and enjoyable one.
"Oh. Work," the original girl stuck up her nose at Hermione.
"Whatever is her name?" another girl asked.
"Hermione Granger, what would be yours?" she said.
"Pansy Parkinson," the girl who seemed the most respected and feared out of the group of girls said, smiling at Hermione as if she was a little pathetic, "my parents don't bother with work. I wouldn't know how to talk to someone who did."
"Daphne Greengrass. Same," drawled the blonde girl. They both refused to fully look Hermione in the eye. It was clear she was bottom there.
"Well that's very wise of them. If they have enough capital, they can just invest it and just enjoy all of the simple luxuries of life," Hermione found herself saying. She hadn't expected there to be so many people who were so casually rich they didn't even need jobs to make a living, but it was not something unheard of either. There were some people like that at her elementary school so Hermione was familiar with the types. She was a bit surprised to meet two in one day already however.
"Tracey Davis, what house are your parents from?" a skinny girl with glasses and brown hair looked at Hermione.
It quickly dawned onto Hermione that these girls may have expected her parents were witches and wizards too. Hermione knew immediately there would be some witches and wizards completely new to the year like her, but she had also known there would be ones who'd been magical for generations and suspected there might be some sort of hierarchy on it.
"I don't care much for houses," Hermione said, trying to feign indifference.
"Celestia Juneberry. Don't worry, I'm new to the wizarding world too," said a pretty girl with mousy blonde hair who hadn't changed into her robes yet. She was elegantly dressed in pinks and whites which spoke of at least an upper middle class wealth. In fact, all of them did. Tracey couldn't have been lower than middle-class. Remembering the students on the platform Hermione had the feeling they were easily the wealthiest and classiest of all of Hogwarts, possibly the wizarding world if two of them were so wealthy they didn't even need to work. Clearly people she would be very cautious of.
"I don't worry," Hermione tried to separate herself from Celestia. Even though they had only met for a few seconds the shorter girl was already giving of nervous and clingy vibes, and Hermione didn't want to be considered a scared nervous first-year like her.
"It's okay to be worried. I was too for months before I came here. I want to get into Ravenclaw, everyone else?" Celestia chatted for a bit.
Hermione felt her heart sink. The idea of Slytherin had caught her eyes as she read Hogwarts: A History, for what felt like the millionth time at home, fantasising about her journey at Hogwarts, but a leopard couldn't change it's spots and given Hermione's previous track record all throughout elementary school, Ravenclaw felt like the most familiar house to her. She would be able to live similarly to her elementary school years and be left in peace to do so, with little expectations to be anything beyond that. Gryffindor was another house which drew her in, to have the courage to change things, but ultimately, Ravenclaw was the easiest idea for her to digest and as Hogwarts drew nearer and the enormity of a full seven years at boarding school and all it's challenges came, Hermine had considered Ravenclaw, to be her home and thought she would have the highest chances of fitting in, adjusting, and doing well there.
A little part of her was sad it wouldn't be in Slytherin, which sounded like a useful house to be in if one knew how to play their cards right, but Ravenclaw it had been that her heart was set on.
"Ew. Ravenclaws lack connections, influence, power. They get nowhere except when they realise the truth and by then it's too late to suck up to anybody," Pansy drawled in a voice that suggested she knew everything about connections, influence and power.
I want to show you that you don't and I will end up having more than you. Hermione thought. Although you probably do have more connections, influence and power and will continue to be able to play that card for a very long time yet.
"Hufflepuffs are homely dorks," Daphne sneered. The two richest girls were the most snobby towards everyone, as it was quickly becoming apparent.
"Gryffindors are the ones most likely to get themselves killed in the process and not live to see the end," said Tracey, "bravery doesn't benefit the person doing it necessarily."
"You're all desperate to get in Slytherin then?" Hermione tried to sound indifferent. By virtue of all seeming to mutually get of on the insults and none disagreeing with anybody it would appear as though they were all aiming for Slytherin, or perhaps, less repulsed by it than any other house. Hermione hadn't realised houses were such a big deal until now but she supposed every place had it's politics.
There is more to the wizarding world than houses, surely. But I will pretend I love my house until it no longer suits me to pretend I care for such things as houses anymore.
"Desperate? It's practically our birthright," Pansy said. After that Hermione was treated to a long description of how her family had been in Slytherin for generations, likewise with the majority of Daphne's relatives. It was quickly apparent Slytherin was the house that attracted a lot of the better of families in the wizarding world. Whether the house truly taught the secrets to success or those who were drawn to it already had the secrets of success within them, was probably arguable, but for the time being, it did not do to criticise Slytherin. There were too many students in the house whose true influence and power Hermione couldn't quite see, and whom if turned mean or nasty could probably ruin her, that she did not want to tussle with - for now.
They were not particularly likable people however. If it weren't for their power.
"I guess I could do with Slytherin. It's oddly comforting in a way. You will always have no shortage of ambition to do what you want," Celestia said thoughtfully.
"I know everyone's secrets. I was always the one others came to at my boarding school before here. Slytherin suits me," Tracey said.
That drew Pansy and Daphne's interests - the two girls had been tutored by no shortage of expensive governesses in practically all subjects before Hogwarts, and so Tracey begun a long series of tales of the various pranks she lead, sneaking out of campus and so on, at her boarding school. Tracey was a halfblood but well of enough to go boarding, and very cunning and crafty as well. Quickly it became apparent she was a bit of a dare devil, wild, but cunning and shrewd. Someone whom could be very charismatic and captivating at times. Hermione didn't want to get of on her bad foot either.
Even the quiet Celestia, Hermione didn't want unleashing her bad side to her. All in all she felt like she dominated no one in her year she had met so far. Except for Neville however Hermione was too ambitious to consider him much of a person to feel proud of being generally considered better than, or having more power over.
By the end of the train journey Hermione marvelled at how much more knowledge of the wizarding world and it's inner workings she already had.
You've already thought your way through all of these houses. Analysed them ad-nauseam I see. Already composed lengthy essay-like thoughts on why you would or wouldn't be in each house, which would suit your interests better...
There was no hiding anything from the sorting hat as it tumbled over Hermione's thoughts, highlighting a lot of them that she usually suppressed or packed down. Not wanting to admit the fullness of her own thoughts at times.
It's actually closer than it seems. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin. Oh yes, the angel and devil from each house is calling over all your shoulders. You would find great meaning in all three of them. Hufflepuff...is not right for you in this life I'm afraid. The only one I'd rule out. Well...
"WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU...SLYTHERIN!" the hat said.
Hermione walked over to the table with shaky legs.
"Well done. It doesn't look like we have anyone in poverty living here!" Pansy shrieked once the feast started.
Pansy, Daphne, Tracey and Celestia had all made it.
"We sort of got along already on the train," said Celestia, "or at least were all on the same page about Slytherin."
"I hate poor people," said Daphne, stabbing at her meal with her fork.
"Draco...Malfoy..." a boy that had triple the air of Pansy was introducing himself to the newcomers. Hermione also met Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Nott. The Slytherin boys had the pretentious habit of going by their surnames whereas the Slytherin girls didn't. Malfoy was the richest, instantly obvious by how much Pansy seemed to fear him a little and desire him all at the same time, but very subtly that Hermione could just about pick it up because she was observing the dynamics so strongly, Crabbe and Goyle were Malfoy's lackeys, wealth and pureblooded, influential with no need to aspire to anything in life, they weren't people Hermione wanted to mess with.
Zabini was smooth and charismatic. Nott was dark, scowling but yet gave of no less of a sense of power than Malfoy did.
Quite frankly none of them were friends but neither were they anyone that were easy enemies.
Hermione made it her goal to not invite any more trouble with them.
She was happy she was sorted into Slytherin, though a part of her ached for Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, where it seemed she wouldn't have to feel like she needed to prove herself as much, to achieve in Slytherin to live up to her promise, but now that she was there, she knew she was going to work her way to the top of the wizarding world.
Afterall, if it weren't for a few rich people living here who seem to rule anything. It seems like the world is truly quite small and I can ascend to the top eventually.
Oh...to be a king or queen of something. It was a childishly delicious thought that did not stop being delicious in the spirit of Hogwarts which only seemed to further it with it's castle like demeanor.
And so...the best, most interesting, and exciting years of her life were ready to begin...
Author's Note: Millicent isn't in this story because I had this story idea (of exploring the pureblood world) and many different ways it could be written before. I wrote fanfictions exploring this idea in different ways before but never liked each one so I kept taking it down. The most recent one had a separate storyline for Millicent where she wasn't in Hermione's year due to circumstances (but is very much still in the story) and I was still in that story's universe when I wrote this one (which I like more) so that's why Millicent wasn't written in this story. However I wrote too much of the other chapters to change it so Millicent would just be...assumed to never exist here? But Celestia is an OC I enjoy writing so hopefully she's still an interesting character to read about.
