The sorting ceremony
As the train chugged along, the scenery outside the windows changed from bustling towns to rolling countryside. The excitement in the air was palpable as the students changed into their Hogwarts robes. The train finally slowed to a stop at Hogsmeade Station, a tiny, dark platform and the cold night air mixed with the excitement made Hermione shiver.
A giant of a man was waiting for the first years on the Station. He was the tallest man Hermione had ever seen, she was reminded of a text she had read in one of her magical books about giants, even though for a giant he was too tiny. He had thick black hair and a matching beard, his eyes dark but twinkled with kindness despite his intimidating size.
“Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here!” The giant shouted. “C’mon, follow me. Mind yer step, now.”
Slipping and stumbling, they followed the man down a steep and narrow path. The path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Hermione couldn’t believe her eyes, she had never in her life seen a more beautiful building. A lot of the other first years stood still for a moment taking in the view in front of them, then the giant, who’s name was Hagrid, Hermione learned form Harry, led them to little boats sitting in the water by the shore.
“No more’n four to a boat.” Hagrid called. Hermione and Neville followed Ron and Harry into a boat, then the fleet of boats took off, gliding across the lake. Every time Hermione looked up to the castle, the sight took her breath away. It just looked so much like something out of a fairytale.
At the castle Hagrid led the first years to the castle where Professor McGonagall greeted them, telling them about the sorting ceremony and the four houses. While they waited for the ceremony to start the children kept talking to each other, about which house they wanted to be in and which houses they wouldn’t like to be in.
“I am sure, I’m gonna be a Gryffindor.” Ron said, “At least I hope so. All my siblings were there.” Neville and Harry nodded.
“Yeah me too, Gryffindor sounds like the best house to be in.” Neville said. Someone behind them snorted.
“Please Longbottom, don’t make a fool of yourself. Everybody knows you belong to Hufflepuff.” The arrogant voice of Draco Malfoy said behind them. The four turned around facing the blond boy.
“Just leave us alone.” Hermione said, seeing that Neville was obviously hurt by the statement. “And what do you have to say to this Granger?” Malfoy said, looking her up and down. “You don’t even deserve to be here. I hope you don’t get into any house. Then you can just go home to your beloved muggle home.” Malfoy spat the words out, looking at Hermione with hatred in his eyes.
Before either Ron or Harry could say anything, Professor McGonagall came back into the room, Hermione who had seen the anger in the boys eyes was rather glad that this fight was interrupted.
“Move along now.” The professor said with a sharp voice. “The ceremony is about to start. Form a line and follow me.”
Hermione felt a ping of excitement in her stomach then getting behind Ron in line, they walked out of the chamber and through giant double doors into the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a sight to behold, thousands of candles floated above four long tables where the rest of the students were sitting. At the top of the hall was another long table where the professors were sitting. In front of this table Professor McGonagall led them, so that they stood facing the students and the teachers behind them.
Above them the ceiling from the Great Hall looked like the dark, starry night sky they saw outside. “It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A history.” Hermione explained to everyone who wanted to hear it. She was proud of herself that she seemed to know so much from studying the past few weeks, but Malfoys words still in her head.
Maybe she wouldn’t be sorted into any house. Maybe Draco Malfoy was right, she didn’t deserve to be here. She was, from all the other first years she had met today the only muggleborn. Maybe this was a mistake and when she would sit on the stool in front of the whole school, the hat would just start laughing or not say anything at all.
Fear overwhelmed her, but happily her thoughts were interrupted by the hat itself, because it started singing. The sorting hat sang bout the qualities valued by each of the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor for bravery and chivalry, Hufflepuff for loyalty and hard work, Ravenclaw for intelligence and wisdom and Slytherin for ambition and cunning. The hat emphasized that it could see into the students minds to determine where they truly belonged, ensuring they were placed in the house that best suited their traits and potential.
After the hat was done singing the whole hall burst into applause.
“When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted.” Professor McGonagall explained, then calling the first student to be sorted. Hermione couldn’t remember ever being so nervous before in her life.
“Granger, Hermione!” Professor McGonagall called and Hermione stepped forward, her legs feeling like jelly. She sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head.
“Hmm,” a voice inside her hat murmured, “A brilliant mind, a thirst for knowledge... but also great ambition to prove yourself worthy... hm... curious.”
“What’s curious?” Hermione thought.
“Its curious how so many houses would fit you, but I only see one that will do what needs to be done. You will do great things Ms Granger. Great things I am sure of it. Don’t question my choice, you will know soon enough why it had to be this way.” The hat said mysteriously, then it shouted, so that everyone could hear it: “SLYTHERIN!”
“What?” said Hermione loud. She still had the hat on heir head, but it went still, saying nothing more, Professor McGonagall took the hat from her head, because Hermione wasn’t moving. What happened? How was this possible?
Even the professor in front of her didn’t seem sure, if the sorting hat had been right about this decision.
“Well, it seems you’re about to be in Slytherin.” McGonagall said, sounding as unsure as Hermione felt. Behind her Hermione could hear the professors talking and the students began to wonder why Hermione wasn’t walking to her house.
“Go on the, child.” The Professor said after a few seconds, “We can talk shortly.” She added looking at the hat in her hands. Hermione then walked with wobbly knees to the table on the right and sat down. Nobody congratulating her and she could feel the teachers who knew she was muggleborn look at her curiously.
I think never before was a mugglenborn sorted into Slytherin she thought over and over. This was not what she had wished for and not what she expected but she also thought about the words from the sorting hat “ You will know soon enough why it had to be this way” There was a reason to its decision and Hermione wanted to make sure to prove herself worthy of the hats choice.
Trying to see this positive Hermione saw how Ron, Harry and Neville got sorted into Gryffindor, and also how Draco Malfoy became a Slytherin. When he sat down he just looked furiously at Hermione saying for everyone at the table to hear but quietly enough so that the teacher didn’t hear him: “I will make sure that you will regret ever coming to Hogwarts you unworthy muggleborn.” This was Malfoys way of making sure everyone of the Slytherin students knew that she was a mugglebron. While everyone at the table looked at her, waiting for her to respond, Hermione decided it was better to lay low for the time being.
After the feast, a tall, dark-haired professor approached her. Hermione had never met him before, but she recognized him from her reading as Professor Snape, the Head of the Slytherin House.
“Miss Granger, a word in my office, please,” Snape said, his voice low and serious.
Hermione followed him, her heart pounding. Professor McGonagall had told her, that she wanted a word afterwards. So maybe she would be with Professor Snape. Hermione followed the dark professor, they walked a while until they reached the office of the Professor. Snape’s office was dimly lit, with shelves lined with jars of strange and sinister-looking ingredients. The office had a fireplace which was, to Hermione’s delight, lit because she was freezing down here in the dungeons of the castle. He gestured for her to sit.
“Miss Granger,” Snape began, his voice cold and precise. “You are the first Muggle-born to be sorted into Slytherin.” He stated, Hermione didn’t know what to respond.
“As this is also new to me I wanted to assure you my guidance even though you are muggleborn, the hat sorted you into Slytherin, which makes you for me an equal to your peers.” He said, his voice and face serious. “But sadly I know for a fact that some of your peers won’t see as an equal. This will not be an easy path for you. However, I want you to know that I will take you seriously. If anyone bothers you, you are to come to me immediately. Do you understand?”
Hermione nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and fear. “Yes Professor, thank you, very much.”
Snape’s expression softened slightly. “I am also offering you the option of a single room, to ensure your safety and comfort.”
Hermione shook her head. “Thank you, Professor, but I’d like to stay in the normal dormitory. I want to be part of the house, not separate from it.”
Snape studied her for a moment before nodding. “Very well. If you change your mind, the offer stands.” Hermione didn’t know what to respond, she felt such a deep feeling of gratitude towards her head of house.
“For now, I will bring you back to the Common Room.” Professor Snape stated leading her through the dungeons. He stopped in front of a bare stretch stone wall, and then said: “Salazar” a wooden door grew out of the stone swinging open.
“Remember the password or you won’t be able to enter your common room.” Professor Snape said. “I will leave you now. I am happy that you are in my house, I hope you will do me proud Ms Granger.”
“Thank you for everything Professor.” Hermione said, then took in a deep breath and entered the Slytherin quarters. The common room was a long, low-ceilinged room, the walls were made of rough stone, giving the room a cold an ancient feel. Greenish lamps hang from the ceiling on chains. The room seemed to be partly under the Great Lake that the first years crossed on the boats, because behind some of the windows you see the green-blackish water.
An older student was kind enough to point out where Hermione’s dormitory was, which was a big relieve for her but when she entered it, there were three other girls already inside. They went quiet when she entered, Hermione suspected that they had talked about her.
“Hi,” she said shyly, gathering all her courage. Nobody answered her. They just looked at her. Then another girl came from another room on the other side. She was tiny, black haired girl, who smiled at her.
“Hi, I’m Daphne Greeengrass, you can take the bed, besides me. I’m not going to ignore you like the others.” She said obvious annoyed by the behaviours of the girls. Hermione’s heart jumped with relief.
“Thank you so much, I’m Hermione.” She said shaking Daphnes hand.
“Welcome to Slytherin,” Daphne said, “you made quit the entrance.”