HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND; 1ST SEPTEMBER 1977
Hermione woke with a start as the train came to a halt. Feeling disoriented, she took a moment to realize where she was and what was going on. The soft light hanging above their benches illuminated Hermione's compartment. Outside the window, she could see a train station filled with students clambering off and walking in the same direction.
"How'd you sleep, kitten?" Sirius asked in a low drawl, having noticed her waking up.
Instead of answering him, Hermione narrowed her eyes in his direction and looked up to where she'd stashed her trunk. She sighed, noticing that the boys had changed into their school robes while Hermione still wore the trousers and sweater she'd worn to the station. The blasted potions she had to take always exhausted her, and now she was starting her school career rushing so she wouldn't get lost trying to make it up to the school she'd never been to.
Though there was little chance of her losing her way, Hermione still prided herself on being punctual and knew that the Deputy Headmistress was doing her a favor by not having her be sorted with all of the first years. She hated that she wouldn't be one of the first students off the train.
Not answering the boy, Hermione stood, wobbling slightly from the blood rushing to her head before reaching for her trunk. She was determined to change and find the Deputy Headmistress for her house sorting. Hermione grunted, pulling at the handle when the tattooed hand came over the top of hers to help ease the trunk out of where she'd stored it.
"Here," he said, smiling at her. Hermione didn't protest the help, but after what she'd experienced with Regulus over the summer, she was weary of accepting help from unknown wizards. She had learned that their intentions were potentially self-serving and not just being generous to someone in need.
"Thanks," she clipped, turning her back on him and his companion as she opened the lid. The uniform and outer robes she had to change into sat on top, and Hermione looked over her shoulder to scowl at the boys who were still watching her with a curious gaze.
"Do you mind?" she asked, raising a brow.
At the implication of what she needed to do, the sandy-haired boy's face turned red with his embarrassment while Sirius turned a wolfish grin on her. When the outrageous boy opened his mouth to respond, Hermione flicked her wrist with her wand in hand, sending them both toppling backward and landing with a thud outside the compartment.
Another flick, and Hermione cut off the protests already thrown her way as the compartment door shut with a thud and the curtains drawn.
Honestly, she thought, shaking her head as she rounded the space, dressing quickly, knowing she had limited time to get to the school. The uniform was easy to throw on: a thigh-length skirt, an oxford, and a simple grey vest. The tie she'd purchased was plain black with the Hogwarts crest at the knot. Cursing, Hermione dug through the trunk, searching for the thick wool stocking she was supposed to wear, but when she couldn't find them, she left on her plain white socks and slipped into the black Mary Janes, hopeful no one would notice.
Shutting the trunk, Hermione hurried onto the platform. A scarce number of students still lingered, easing the worry in Hermione's chest as she stepped off the train.
"You're late," a low voice behind her said, causing Hermione to startle and turn around. Looking up, Hermione scowled slightly at who had found her.
"I don't particularly think that it's any of your business, now, if you'll excuse me," Hermione said, pushing past the taller boy wearing a green and silver tie and a green prefect badge pinned to his robes. Asserting her independence, she moved away from him, not wanting to acceptanythingelse from Regulus Black.
"As a house prefect, I insist on accompanying you and ensuring your safe arrival at the school," Regulus continued, pulling her trunk from her grasp and setting it with the rest of the school's luggage.
"I think I can find the way on my own, thanks," Hermione clipped, turning on her heels and marching toward where the rest of the students had wandered. "I don't need some patriarchal nonsense–" she began to say when Sirius appeared before her, grinning broadly. "You've got to be joking," she grumbled, trying to sidestep the other wizard, her defiance clear in her tone.
"Kitten!" He exclaimed, and Hermione shot him a look, expressing her distaste for the nickname. "You can ride with me and Pete. Thought we'd wait for you."
Hermione opened her mouth to tell the boy off as well when she stumbled slightly, being tugged away from the tattooed wizard.
"Sirius," Regulus growled at him, pulling her around the waist and tucking her protectively behind his back so the other wizard was out of view.
"Reggie," came the response, though long gone was the playful and teasing manner in which he had been addressing Hermione, replaced with a similar tone as Regulus. "To what do I owe the honor of being addressed by the new Black Heir after being disowned?" He said mockingly, giving a slight bow at the waist.
Her curiosity, always seeming to get the best of her, had Hermione looking around the taller frame of Regulus to watch the interaction. Her brows shot up, shocked at the resemblance of the two wizards facing off. They were nearly identical, though Regulus stood slightly taller than Sirius, and his rounder face made him appear marginally younger.
"If you didn't sully yourself with blood traitors and mudbloods, then maybe Mother and Father wouldn't have disowned you," Regulus replied smoothly, the aggressive tone replaced with indifference. "If you'll excuse us," Regulus snipped, taking Hermione by her arm and dragging her along with him.
Looking back at Sirius, who was still standing on the platform, watching Hermione as Regulus pulled her along, she swore she saw a look of shock that morphed into amusement cross the other wizard's face before she turned a corner.
"Black!" Hermione protested, trying to dig her heels into the ground as they continued moving, but the slick stone they stood on made it impossible. "Regulus!" She continued, pulling on her arm in an attempt to dislodge herself, but it was of no use. Reaching the mud path, Hermione squealed when Regulus swept his arm under the back of her knees and carried her bridal style toward the awaiting carriage.
She swore under her breath, his warm hand cupping her exposed thigh, and Hermione wished she'd spent more time looking for the blasted stockings.
When Regulus set her in the carriage, Hermione clamped her knees shut, aware of how exposed her legs were. Regulus didn't miss the motion, his nostrils flaring in her direction as his eyes roamed over her bare knees and thighs. The skirt rode up before she pulled at the hem to right it after his handling of her.
"You are acting like a caveman," Hermione snapped, pulling her shoulders back so that her spine was straight, and turned to look out the window as the carriage jerked into motion.
"How do you know him?" Regulus asked, ignoring her comment, not taking offense to her statement, instead jumping straight to the topic he wanted to discuss.
"I don't," Hermione replied, narrowing her eyes to the boy across her. "He sat in the same compartment on the ride here. Not that it's any of your–"
"Hermione," Regulus warned, cutting her off. Hermione bristled at the interruption but kept her mouth closed, thinking it might be better to stay quiet than push him further.
The remainder of the ride passed in silence, and Hermione peered out the window, watching the forest as they rode down the dirt path. The rain that had collected in the branches dropping onto the top of the carriage was the only sound she could hear as Regulus also said nothing, letting the silence fill the space.
When they reached the castle, Hermione looked up at the enormous structure and gasped as her magic swirled inside her chest. Across from her, Regulus was still watching her. His black, wavy hair was pushed out of his face, and his grey eyes roamed over her as if waiting for her to do something.
"Where are you supposed to go?" Regulus asked, not moving from his seat, instead watching Hermione.
"That's none–" Hermione started but closed her mouth when he raised a brow. With a sigh, Hermione turned to look back out the window so she wasn't looking at him anymore. "I'm to meet the deputy headmistress to be assigned my house before the first years," Hermione answered.
"Did she say where you were to meet her?" Hermione could see the dark-haired wizard moving toward the carriage door from the corner of her eye. Turning to face him, Hermione watched as he climbed from the carriage before turning back to extend a hand to her expectantly.
Giving into his whims, Hermione accepted the help. Ducking her head, Hermione stepped out and looked at the grand entrance, where students were still filing in. The massive stone castle had glowing yellow light from the candles lit, making it seem more mysterious and enchanting.
The other students met with their friends lingering, none hesitating as they raced up the stone stairs and through the grand oak doors. Hermione glanced at Regulus beside her, whose gaze was locked on her, entirely ignoring the others glancing their way before walking inside.
"She said the entrance of the Great Hall," Hermione finally answered, looking back at the castle and away from the boy. When he said nothing, Hermione looked back at him again, and Regulus extended his arm to her expectantly. Scoffing to herself, Hermione accepted the offer and allowed Regulus to lead her.
Hermione wanted to fidget as more of the passing students stopped to watch Hermione being escorted by the Black Heir, but she kept her chin raised and shoulders back as she moved past the crowd and into the entrance hall. Hermione scanned the crowd, assuming it would be obvious who she was supposed to be meeting with when her eyes landed on a tall, stern-faced witch about her mother's age.
In her heart, Hermione knew that the thin woman in the emerald green dress robes and the neat brown hair tucked under a matching emerald and gold witch's hat was who she was looking for. Hermione's magic soared in her chest, and without a thought, Hermione released Black's arm and made her way through the throng of students until she was standing in front of the tall witch.
"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione asked, already knowing the answer.
"You must be Hermione Greengrass," the woman stated, her brown eyes looking over Hermione over her spectacles. "If you'll come with me, quickly. I still need to get to the first-year students once they've gotten to the school," the professor explained, turning and leading Hermione away from the crowd.
Upon instinct, Hermione glanced over her shoulder and jumped slightly when she saw Regulus still watching her. He had not moved into the hall with the rest of the students. He watched her until Hermione turned the corner and was out of view. Soon enough, Hermione was alone with McGonagall in a smaller dining room with a few round tables and plush chairs near a burning fireplace, making the room feel intimate and welcoming.
"If you'll take a seat, Ms. Greengrass," the older witch said, gesturing toward a short wooden stool.
Nodding her head in agreement, Hermione shifted so she was perched on the stool, unsure of what would come next. When Professor McGonagall produced an old, tattered, and patched brown hat, Hermione's eyes widened, though she did not protest when it sat on her head.
From readingHogwarts: A History,she knew that the hat had once belonged to Godric Gryffindor and that each of the founders had embedded some of their magic and traits in it so that students could be sorted into houses that best suited them.
"Ah, well, what do we have here?"A deep voice inside her head sneered, causing Hermione to jerk and look around."You have a lot of courage, that's true…you wouldn't be here if you didn't…"
Hermione squinted her eyes, wanting to ask what the hat meant, but it continued.
"Brilliant mind too, perhaps as much, if not more so than Rowena herself…"the hat continued, causing Hermione to take a deep breath.
"But no…with your adoption…the heritage you can claim…with your ambitious nature…it better be…"
"SLYTHERIN!" The house shouted, causing Hermione to jerk back, looking up at Professor McGonagall, who was nodding her head knowingly.
"What–" Hermione's eyes widened, and looked down at the tie that had transformed from all-black to green and silver. "No…that's not…I can't be…" she whispered, closing her eyes as the hat was removed from her head.
"Very well, head on into the Great Hall if you will, Ms. Greengrass," McGonagall said, stepping out of Hermione's way, not having heard the younger witch's protests. "Professor Slughorn will be your head of house, and your timetable is available tomorrow. Ask any of your house's prefects any questions that you might have. Now, if you'll excuse me," the woman finished, gesturing toward the door for Hermione to leave.
Hermione stood and walked toward the door with shaky legs, wondering how to avoid Regulus Black now.
Notes:
As of January 2025, this entire story has had a facelift, and I would recommend a re-read.
My goals for 2025 include graduating from my master's program (this May!), getting divorced, and finishing up all my WIPs (this one included!) With school ending for me (seriously, I could scream with excitement), my free time will significantly increase. However, I'm still working 45 hours a week, doing a research project, and taking classes.
2023 Sarah was very optimistic about her update schedule and her marriage. 2025 Sarah is much more realistic and knows that things don't always go to plan, but you roll with it.
Anyway, onward and upward, my friends. May toxic Regulus fill our cups this year and bring us all the joy.