Chapter One
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me, they belong to JK Rowling.
Synopsis:
In an alternate Hogwarts, Hermione Granger is sorted into Slytherin, where power, cunning, and ambition reign supreme. As a Muggle-born witch, she faces hostility and skepticism, especially from Draco Malfoy, who sees her as a threat to his influence over their house. But Hermione quickly learns how to navigate the treacherous waters of Slytherin, proving herself a formidable rival in both intellect and magic. Alongside unexpected allies like Luna Lovegood and Theodore Nott, she battles not only prejudice but also the darker forces lurking within outside of the school's ancient walls.
Hermione must outwit her enemies while discovering her own potential for ruthlessness. In Tethers of Fate Hermione must decide just how far she's willing to go to survive—and conquer—the world of Slytherin.
This is a story of ambition, betrayal, and the grey areas of morality where power lies not in purity of blood, but in the mind.
Hermione stepped onto the train platform, the chaos of children and parents swirling around her like a storm. But she remained calm, her sharp brown eyes scanning for an empty compartment. She wasn't in the mood for company. Not today.
She slipped into the first empty compartment she found, shutting the door firmly behind her. Sinking into the plush seat, Hermione gazed out at the platform. Families shared tearful goodbyes, laughter, and last-minute waves. But her own parents... they had simply dropped her off at the station. Quick, formal, and distant. It hadn't been the same since her eleventh birthday.
She couldn't forget that day, no matter how much time passed. A witch. That's what the man had called her. He had spoken of magic as if it were real—as if it were normal.
Hermione had known. In her heart, she'd always known magic existed. How else could anyone explain what had happened to Kelly Wood when they were six? The teachers tried to explain it away, and her parents, well, they didn't want to talk about it. But Hermione had seen it for what it was: the unmistakable power of magic.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud bang as the compartment door swung open.
"Oh," said a dreamy voice. A blonde girl stood in the doorway, her wide eyes scanning Hermione.
"Hello," Hermione said carefully, her gaze flicking over the strange girl.
"You've got a lot of wrackspurts in your head," the blonde declared matter-of-factly. "Do you want to borrow my earrings? They'll leave you alone if you wear them."
"Uh…" Hermione stammered, confused. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Wrackspurts. They're invisible creatures that fly into your ears and cause confusion." The girl pointed at her head, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world.
Hermione's hand instinctively moved to cover her ears. She was confused, after all. "Right. And your earrings... they stop them?"
"Yes, dirigible plums," the blonde explained, as if that cleared up everything.
"Oh..." Hermione said, still baffled but intrigued. "Maybe we could make a pair together? I wouldn't want to take yours."
The girl's lips quirked into a soft smile. "That would be fun. I'm Luna Lovegood."
Luna Lovegood, Hermione thought, taking in the sight before her. Luna seemed like a sprite from a fairy tale—flowing blonde hair, a bright yellow dress, and enormous pink glasses perched atop her head. Hermione briefly wondered if fairies were real in this magical world too.
"I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger," she replied, holding out her hand. Luna shook it enthusiastically, stepping fully into the compartment and closing the door behind her.
"Well, Hermione Hermione Granger, are you a first year?" Luna asked, perching herself across from her.
"Yes. I'm new to all of this. The professor who came to visit called me a Muggle-born."
Luna nodded sagely. "No wonder you don't know about wrackspurts. But that's okay. I can help you. I love questions. What do you want to know first?"
Hermione's gaze drifted to the wand tucked behind Luna's ear. "Is that safe?" she asked dumbly, feeling a little overwhelmed by Luna's strange but captivating energy.
Luna giggled. "Oh, of course! It's the best place to keep your wand. That way, I can pull it out faster than someone who has it stuffed in a pocket or sleeve."
Hermione blinked, considering it. "That... actually makes sense."
"I can show you how to hide yours in your hair," Luna offered, grinning.
Hermione smiled back. "I'd like that."
"Now, ask me something you really want to know," Luna urged.
Hermione hesitated, then pointed at the large pink glasses sitting atop Luna's head. "What do your glasses do?"
"They help you see creatures, like wrackspurts and nargles. They're normally invisible to the human eye."
"Can I try them?" Hermione asked, curiosity piqued.
Luna handed them over without hesitation, and Hermione slipped them on, peering around the compartment through the odd lenses. The room looked mostly normal—until something darted out of her suitcase.
She let out a small yelp of surprise, but before she could examine it further, the door burst open once more.
"Oh," said the blonde boy standing in the doorway. Hermione hastily removed the glasses, eyes widening as she took in the newcomer's cold, sharp features.
"Oh, to you too," Luna said, her voice now tinged with a slight chill.
"Found yourself a friend for your delusions, have you, Looney?" the boy sneered.
Hermione's jaw dropped at the cruel remark. "That's incredibly rude," she snapped, her tone icy.
The boy ignored her, glaring instead. "Who are you?"
"Hermione Granger," she replied, her chin lifting defiantly. "And who are you?"
The boy's grey eyes flicked between her and Luna, his lip curling in distaste. "You're friends with a Mudblood? How low the Lovegoods have fallen."
With that, he stalked off, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione's chest tightened. A familiar, sinking feeling of not belonging tugged at her. Even here, she was different.
"Who was that?" she asked, her fists clenched in anger.
"Draco Malfoy," Luna said with a sigh. "He's my cousin."
Hermione frowned. "I'm sorry."
Luna shrugged. "Don't be. He's always been like that. Spoiled and bitter."
"What did he mean by Mudblood?" Hermione asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Luna's eyes darkened. "It's a horrible slur for Muggle-borns. He wouldn't say it in front of Aunt Narcissa, though. She'd wash his mouth out with soap."
Hermione bit her lip. "So, people here have a problem with someone like me?"
"Not everyone," Luna said quickly. "Just the old families. Most don't care. You'll be fine."
Hermione nodded, though doubt still lingered. She glanced out of the window, steeling herself. She would show them all. She had a place here, just as much as anyone else.
"You have just as much claim to your magic as anyone," Luna said firmly, as if reading her thoughts. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Hermione smiled gratefully. "Tell me more about this world."
With a grin, Luna launched into tales of magical creatures, enchanted objects, and ancient stories as the train hurtled toward their new home.
When the train finally screeched to a halt, Hermione felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Stepping onto the platform, she clutched Luna's hand tightly, her anchor in this strange, new world.
And as Hogwarts came into view, its grand silhouette rising against the night sky, something inside Hermione clicked. This was her beginning, and nothing—not even a boy like Draco Malfoy—would stand in her way.
"It's beautiful!" she breathed, a sense of belonging stirring within her as she gazed at the soaring towers.
"It really is!" Luna echoed, her eyes sparkling. She stumbled slightly, too captivated to keep her balance, but Hermione steadied her.
"First years, over here!" a giant of a man called, his voice echoing like thunder across the stone courtyard.
The girls hurried toward him, craning their necks to get a better look. He was a half-giant, as Luna had noted with wide eyes, and Hermione couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and trepidation at his size.
"Follow me please! - Hello Harry!" Hagrid boomed, clapping a small skinny boy on the shoulder.
"Keep up now, the boats are just here." Hagrid said, leading them down a dimly lit path that wound alongside the dark lake.
"No more than four in a boat!" Hagrid warned, observing a group trying to cram a fifth student onto their already teetering vessel.
"Can I join you?" a small, pudgy boy with sandy hair asked shyly, glancing nervously at the duo.
"Of course, Neville, there's loads of room!" Luna smiled, gesturing for him to hop in.
With a clumsy scramble, Neville joined them just as Hagrid tapped his pink umbrella against the side of the boat, sending the first-years gliding across the shimmering lake.
"Can you believe this is going to be our home for the next seven years?" Luna mused, her voice filled with awe.
"Home?" Hermione echoed, feeling a mix of hope and apprehension. "What if we don't fit in?"
"Oh, don't be silly! We'll make our place here, no matter what," Luna replied with infectious enthusiasm. "And I can't wait to see what creatures live in these walls!"
"Hogwarts: a History said the Forbidden Forest is full of them, but it's off-limits," Hermione cautioned, though her curiosity sparked at the thought.
"Why? Rules can't always keep us from exploring, can they?" Luna grinned, her carefree spirit lifting Hermione's worries.
As they reached the shore, they hurried to follow Hagrid into the castle, but not without a few slips and near-collisions along the way.
"Lost a toad, did you?" Hagrid called, scanning the crowd for the culprit.
"Trevor!" Neville exclaimed, nearly diving off the boat in his eagerness to retrieve his pet.
Finally, they stood before the towering entrance doors, following Hagrid as he knocked three times, the sound echoing ominously through the darkness.
The doors creaked open to reveal a tall woman with sharp features and a pointed hat. "The first years, Hagrid?" she asked briskly, her eyes darting over the group.
"Right you are, Professor McGonagall!" Hagrid replied, and they entered the Great Hall, its vastness overwhelming.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. You will soon be sorted into your houses, which will be your family here. You'll share classes, common rooms, and earn points for your house through your accomplishments," McGonagall explained, her voice steady and authoritative. "At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the House Cup."
Hermione felt her heart race. She wondered idly what house she would be in, originally, she had longed for Slytherin but after meeting Draco Malfoy she was unsure if they would welcome her. Ravenclaw would suit too, she supposed.
"The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own character, history, and values. Your experiences at Hogwarts will be shaped by your house, so think carefully about where you belong," McGonagall continued, before nodding sharply and walking through the main doors.
"How do they sort us?" Hermione whispered nervously to Luna.
"I think it's a test of sorts," A ginger boy replied, forcefully making his way into their conversation. "But I hope it's not painful like Fred said it might be."
"Painful?" Hermione's heart sank, and she glanced around at the frightened faces of her peers.
Suddenly, a ghostly procession glided through the back wall, sending shivers down Hermione's spine. The translucent figures engaged in quiet conversations, oblivious to the first-years.
"What's going on?" she whispered to Luna.
"Ghosts!" Luna exclaimed; eyes wide with wonder. "There's the Fat Friar! I bet he'll be nice."
"New students?" the Fat Friar chimed in, his jovial demeanour softening the tension. "I hope you'll be joining my house!"
"Now, now, we need to keep the line moving!" McGonagall interjected sharply, returning to usher the first-years forward.
As they walked into the Great Hall, Hermione felt a surge of awe. The room was illuminated by thousands of floating candles, casting a warm glow across four long tables filled with students. The ceiling, bewitched to mimic the night sky, sparkled above them.
"Did you know its bewitched to look like the sky outside?" Luna whispered, never tearing her eyes away from the illuminated sky.
"Hogwarts: A History?" Hermione murmured in return, captivated by the magical atmosphere and belonging she felt in Luna's presence.
As the sorting began, Professor McGonagall called out names one by one, and Hermione's heart raced with each declaration. The moment Hannah Abbott was sorted into Hufflepuff, Hermione felt a wave of relief.
"Gregory Goyle!" the professor called; Hermione tensed as the hulking boy was sorted into Slytherin.
"Hermione Granger!" Professor McGonagall called, and a chill ran down Hermione's spine. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head, feigning confidence as she walked towards the stool. She glanced back at Luna, who gave her an encouraging thumbs-up.
As the hat fell over her eyes, a deep voice echoed in her head. "Hmmm..."
"S-sorry," Hermione whispered back, startled.
"Not to worry. Now, let's see here." The hat paused, and Hermione felt memories flash through her mind. "Plenty of knowledge and a thirst for it too."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at that. Her father used to tease her about cramming too much information into her head. But then her smile faltered as sadness washed over her—her father hadn't spoken to her much since last September.
"An even bigger thirst to prove yourself, though. Ambition like I haven't seen in a long time. Rowena, she would have loved you, but Salazar, he would have coveted you, made you great."
Hermione felt a spark in her chest. "I want to be great," she whispered.
"Well, that settles it then. Better be SLYTHERIN!" the hat yelled.
The hall erupted into applause as Hermione stepped off the stool, her heart racing. She glanced back to see Luna's supportive smile from the line of first years, and she felt a flicker of hope.
As she took her seat at the Slytherin table, she was greeted by curious and slightly disdainful stares.
"A Mudblood in Slytherin? What a delightful surprise," sneered a tall boy with crooked teeth, his eyes glinting maliciously.
Ignoring him, Hermione set her jaw, resolved to prove herself. This was her moment to shine.
Across the hall, she caught sight of Luna joining the Ravenclaw table with a bright smile, and for a brief moment, the weight of Slytherin's reputation felt heavier than before.
Once Luna was settled, Hermione's tension eased slightly. She knew it wouldn't always be easy, but with new friends like Luna—and the determination burning inside her—she felt ready for whatever lay ahead.
Together, they would carve out their place in this magical world.