Thank you for being so encouraging!
Disclaimer: All HP characters belong to J.K Rowling
Chapter 2: The Sorting
As Hermione walked into the castle, she realized just how massive it actually was. The main staircase leading to the upper levels was elegantly carved, but none more so than the doors to the Great Hall. She stood on her tiptoes to see if there was any hint of what lay beyond.
While Hermione stood amongst the rest of the first years, she realized she hadn't met anyone her own age yet. The only boy she knew so far was Draco Malfoy, who had declared it to the whole class. As she looked around, she took note of a very scrawny boy with black hair standing next to a boy who had flaming red hair. She decided that if she could work up a conversation with Oliver so easily on the train, she could try and introduce herself now.
She turned to the round-faced boy standing next to her who was looking more frightened than she had ever seen someone. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger," she said with a smile. The boy next to her gave her a nod and stuttered, "I'm N-Neville Longbottom". She felt the need to try and calm him, so she stepped closer and whispered to him, "It's going to be okay Neville."
As soon as she finished her sentence, the doors to the Great Hall burst open and a stern looking woman approached them and introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. She briskly led the way into the hall, and Hermione was awestruck. Above her hundreds of candles were floating on their own, and the ceiling was lit up with thousands of twinkling stars. Just as Oliver had said.
Hermione watched as Professor McGonagall started calling the names of students up to the front to be sorted. She had seen them sit on the stool while the large old hat called out what house was best suited for them. She got nervous as she started thinking about where she could possibly end up.
When her name was called, she stood tall and approached the stool. She allowed Professor McGonagall to place the hat atop her head, and was surprised when it began to speak. Ah Hermione Granger. I can see many different places for you. You have the brains and cleverness for Ravenclaw, certainly, but I see a lot of loyalty as well. Hermione held her breath for what felt like hours as she listened to the hat deliberate where it was going to put her. Perhaps Hufflepuff? No, you're too fierce to be put into yellow and black…what about Gryffindor? At this question Hermione's head swiveled to the Gryffindor table where she locked eyes with Oliver.
Hermione grinned back at him as he gave her a reassuring nod. Already made friends with a Gryffindor, I see. Yes, I see you doing well in the house of the lions. Alright, better be GRYFFINDOR! Hermione jumped as the last part was yelled out to the entire hall.
Oliver was the first one to start clapping and cheering for Hermione as she hopped off the stool and made her way over to his table. She beelined straight for him, and slid down the bench to make room. Hermione sighed with relief as she filled the vacancy he had created. She settled in next to Oliver across from a couple redheaded boys who matched the one she had seen in the Entrance Hall.
She watched more first years be sorted, and before she knew it Neville was sitting on the stool looking even more terrified than he had in the Entrance Hall. She held her breath as she waited for the hat to announce his placement, and was relieved when it also called out 'GRYFFINDOR!'. She cheered as loud as the rest of her new house when Neville headed over to the table, his cheeks red.
She waved him over, and he took a spot across from her and Oliver. The two redheads, twins, turned to Neville as one and said, "Nice to have you in Gryffindor. We're Fred and George Weasley." Neville gave a shy smile and said, "Neville Longbottom."
As Hermione turned to continue watching the sorting, she realized the hall had gone deathly silent when Professor McGonagall called out the name Harry Potter. She watched the scrawny boy with black hair take his place on the stool. The hall was quiet while everyone waited to see where Harry would be sorted. When the hat sorted him into Gryffindor, Hermione was astounded by the thundering cheers and applause that filled the hall.
She laughed when the twins started singing, "We got Potter!" while Oliver laughed and rolled his eyes. The twins nudged everyone down the table and made room for Harry in between them and Neville. As he sat, Hermione gave him a large grin and said, "Welcome to Gryffindor, Harry!"
The sorting finished with Ronald Weasley being added to Gryffindor, the younger brother of the twins she learned, and Blaise Zabini sorted into Slytherin. When Professor McGonagall had cleared the hat and stool away, an old wizard with twinkling blue eyes stepped up to the podium.
"Welcome back for another year at Hogwarts!" said Professor Dumbledore. "I am so pleased to welcome you all back for a wonderful year. I just have a few quick announcements before we can begin the feast." Hermione listened intently to Professor Dumbledore, and made note of his warnings about not going into the Forbidden Forest, and curiously not the third floor either.
After Dumbledore was finished with his speech, he clapped his hands and the most amazing spread of food Hermione had ever seen filled the table. She could almost hear the table groan under the weight of it as she began to fill her plate with a range of vegetables and roasted turkey as the conversation began.
When Oliver handed her a glass filled with pumpkin juice he said, "Hermione I'd like tae introduce ye tae me frien' Percy Weasley." A boy with curly red hair and glasses reached out a hand, and Hermione took it. "It's a pleasure to meet you Percy" she said. There was a snort across the table from Ron, and Hermione turned sharp eyes on him.
Oliver noticed the shift on Hermione's face and quickly interjected, "An this here is me other frien' Jordan McGinley." Jordan was handsome with ice blue eyes and wavy hair. He offered a dazzling smile with perfect straight teeth as he said, "Hi, Hermione."
Hermione blushed and offered him a smile and wave in return. The feast continued as Hermione engaged those around her in conversation. She learned that Jordan and Oliver had grown up near each other and their parents were best friends. She also learned that Percy as the third in line of seven children. Hermione was so caught up in the conversations at the table that she didn't notice the food had disappeared. She was surprised when there was a great screeching of wood against stone as everyone in the hall stood up. Oliver gave her a hand as she clambered over the bench.
She gave him a grateful smile as they stepped behind Percy and Jordan as they made their way towards Gryffindor tower. They chatted aimlessly on the walk up to the common room, and it wasn't until she reached the portrait that Hermione realized she still had Oliver's hand. She quickly dropped it, but didn't have time to be embarrassed as she took in the cozy atmosphere of the common room.
She had barely fully entered the room before Percy was shuffling the students off to bed, saying that they needed a good night of sleep before classes tomorrow. Hermione climbed the girls staircase, and entered her dorm to find three beds in the room, all decked out with Gryffindor red sheets. She introduced herself to her roommates, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, while she began getting ready for bed.
As Hermione settled down in her four poster bed, she couldn't contain her excitement for the day to come. She kept thinking about all of the new things that she was going to learn, and was hoping that she was prepared for it. As she drifted off to sleep, she played over everything that happened that day and decided that Oliver was the best part.