Chapter 3
"So, Hermione," Harry said after catching and eating a chocolate frog. The trolley had just come around and I had to stop Harry from buying everything on it but he still brought snacks for the three of us. "What did you mean before? When you said that there was a lot for me to learn," he clarified.
"Oh, well, you're 'The Boy-Who-Lived', Harry," I said. "A lot of people will expect a lot from you and some may try things like reading your mind to find stuff out about you. I'm a Natural Legilimens and I'm really talented in Occlumency so I was going to teach you, and now Ron, both." Ron looked in awe and Harry looked confused so I explained Legillimency and Occlumency to Harry.
"You'll teach me how to read minds and see people's memories and stop others from seeing mine!? Cool! Thanks, Hermione!" Harry said.
"Yeah, thanks!" Ron said.
"You're welcome," I said. "Now, back to studying. In an hour, I'll leave for Harry to change since Ron and I are already changed."
"Okay," Ron said.
"Yeah," Harry said.
...
"How do you know him?" I ask Harry ask we get in the boats.
"Hagrid took me to Diagon and told me that I'm a Wizard," Harry said as a brown-haired boy got in our boat.
"Cool," Ron said before turning to me. "So, are you going to start our lessons after we're Sorted?"
"No," I told him. "I think two days. It's already late and I want to find the library tomorrow and check out some books so the day after that's best."
"Okay," Ron said. I turned to the brown-haired boy.
"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger," I said to him. "And, you are?"
"Theodore Nott... Are you the girl Malfoy was talking about? The one who thought powerful Wixen should be at the top and not just Purebloods?" The boy asked.
"Yes, why?"
"I completely agree with you. Two of the boys in my playgroup, if you could even call it that, growing up, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, are Purebloods but they're also so stupid. They can't even think for themselves they just follow Malfoy around like Crups! I'm glad someone understands the true meaning of what it means to be Wixen. Oh, by the way, you can call me Theo," Theo said.
"Yeah. The Blood Purity of a Wixen isn't the only thing that people should care about," Ron said. "Power and knowledge are what matter most... I'm Ron Weasley, by the way."
"Harry Potter," Harry said to Theo. I listened to Theo's thoughts.
'It's clear Potter and Weasley fully believe in Granger's theory just like Blaise, Greengrass and I do. It is a very interesting theory. Even Malfoy, Parkinson, Davis and Bulstrode found it facinating! Of course, Crabbe and Goyle didn't but they'd be hindered in a power-based hierarchy and they're not in a Pureblood-based hierarchy. Hell, they were barely able to understand what Malfoy was talking about! The real question, though, is if the premise that it doesn't matter what someone's Blood Status is when it comes to magical ability can be proven. If the Blood Status of several Muggleborns and Half-Bloods can be proven along with proving their magic stronger than those of proven Purebloods, then the theory could be proven... But there is currently no way to prove someone's magical power level and Blood Status can only be proved through Heritage Tests at Gringotts.'
"He does bring up an interesting point there, Pet," Bella said.
"Yeah," I agreed. "He does. We'll have to come up with some sort of Spell or Potion or combination of the two to prove what someone's magical capabilities are but we did already know that a person's magical level would have to be proved first."
"Yeah," Bella said. "We did."
"It's nice to meet you, Theo," I said.
"It's nice to meet you too, Hermione," Theo said.
...
Harry, Ron, Theo and I made our way up the stairs, making sure we stayed at the front. We stopped at the top in front of Professor McGonagall. "Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said after everyone had gotten up the stairs. "Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be Sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin."
"I can't believe she's giving you the exact same speach she gave my year when we arrived at Hogwarts. That was in 1962!" Bella exclaimed.
"I get it. You're old. Now quiet! I'm trying to concentrate!" I yelled at Bella in my head. Bella made a noise of disbelief.
"Oh, you did not just call me old, missy!"
"Oh, please! My Grandmother was born in 1943. You're only 8 years younger than her and you're a decade older than my Mother!"
"Shut up, Pet! I'm not old! You're so mean and rude." I snorted.
"Yeah, I learned from the best." Bella huffed at my words.
As I tuned back into my surroundings, I noticed Professor McGonagall was gone and Draco was moving to in front of Harry. "Harry, Granger, Nott. I see you've become friends," Draco said.
"Yes," I responded before the others could say anything. I noticed a few others looking at us with interest at my declaration, including Theo himself, but everyone else was whispering about Harry. "We've also made friends with Ron here." I gestured to Ron and Ron looked at Draco as if he was trying to figure out if he should hate him or want to be his friend due to Harry and I's friendship with him. Draco, however, was analysing Ron.
"I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. You'll probably recognise my name, however, I've no need to ask yours. Red hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." Ron looked annoyed at Draco's words.
"You'll soon find out that some Wizarding Families are better than others, Potter," a fat, short, black-haired boy said.
"You don't need to go making friends with the wrong sort. Malfoy can help you there," a tall, broad, black-haired boy said.
"Malfoy can make his own decisions Thing 1 and Thing 2." I heard various snorts, giggles and chuckles from those in the crowd, including Harry, who understood the referrence. I turned to Draco. "Draco, it's your choice if you want to continue giving my theory a try or not but if you do, please don't judge Ron on his family." I turned to Ron. "You too. I know the Malfoys and Weasleys typically don't get along but that doesn't mean you two have to not get along." Draco and Ron thought for a second before Ron held his hand out to Draco. Draco took another couple of seconds before shaking it right as Professor McGonagall walked back over. Draco moved out of the way.
"Well, done, Hermione," Bella said. "There hasn't been a Malfoy or a Weasley to even tolerate someone from the other family in centuries." I beamed at Bella's praise.
"We're ready for you now," Professor McGonagall said before turning to face the double doors behind her. "Follow me." The doors opened themselves and we followed Professor McGonagall. As the black-haired girl next to me stared at the ceiling in wonder, I decided to tell her a fun fact. The girl had been one of the few interested in my declaration of friendship.
"It's not real, the ceiling," I said to her. She's actually kind of cute.
"Shut up, Bella!" I told her after she chuckled.
"Sorry, Pet," Bella said but I could tell she wasn't actually sorry.
"It's just bewitched to look like the night sky," I continued. "I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." When we reached the steps up to the staff table, Professor McGonagall stopped.
"Will you wait along here, please?" Professor McGonagall requested. Right next to her was a hat on a stool. "Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." She turned to face an old guy who stood up from his golden throne-like chair which looked nothing like the simple chairs the rest of the staff had.
"Bit of a show-off, isn't he?" I asked Bella and she chuckled.
"Like you can talk, Pet. You love showing off your intelligence... But, yes, a bit would be an understatement," Bella said.
"Wait, what did he just say!?" I asked Bella in concern.
"He said that the Forbidden Forest is, surprise surpise, forbidden! Oh, and he also said that the 3rd floor corridor on the right side is out of bounds to those who don't want to die a painful death... It's kind of weird that he said that, though. He could've just said they were doing some construction. Pointing out something is forbidden that usually isn't to a bunch of teenagers, let alone Gryffindors, is kind of begging for someone to go there."
"Yeah... Wait, why's that girl walking over to the stool?"
"You sit on the stool, the Sorting Hat's placed on your head, it hears your thoughts and then shouts out your House based on your personality."
"Oh... That's... Okay, sure."
After Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan had been Sorted into Gryffindor, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, the fat boy from earlier, Tracey Davis and Gregory Goyle, the tall, broad boy from earlier, had been Sorted into Slytherin, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley had been Sorted into Hufflepuff and Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Michael Corner, Stephen Cornfoot, Kevin Entwhistle and Anthony Goldstein had been Sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor McGonagall called my name. I walked over to the stool, turned around, sat down and felt the Sorting Hat placed on my head.
'Interesting... You're a very... Intriguing individual, Miss Granger.'
'Oh... Thanks.'
"Get on with it, you stupid Hat!" Bella yelled.
"Bella! Don't be rude. We don't want to rush... The Hat?"
'They/them is fine, Miss Granger. But Mrs Lestrange does have a point.'
'Oh, she doesn't like it when people call her Lestrange.' I mentioned after hearing Bella's growl.
'I'm well aware,' they said with a chuckle. 'You're clearly very brave as you're fighting for your theory, even trying to convince several Blood Purists as your first believers. However, I believe the noise levels and unseriousness of the Gryffindors would do your head in... Also, while you are loyal, I doubt the socialness of the Hufflepuffs would suit you. That leaves Ravenclaw and Slytherin... Slytherin would be the best as, while Ravenclaws pride themselves on their intelligence, schoolwork is not always their priority and they would pass up the opportunity to study in favour of their preferred pursuits... However, there's never been a Muggleborn Slytherin before... You're ambition alone makes you perfect, let alone your cunning, deviousness and resourcefullness. However, even with your theory, Slytherin won't be the easiest path for you.'
'I've never taken the easy way out.' I smiled as Bella agreed with me.
'It's your choice... Ravenclaw or Slytherin, Miss Granger?'
'Slytherin, please.'
"Better be... Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat yelled. Those at the Slytherin table politely clapped, my new friends cheered and I quickly made my way to the Slytherin table.
"Well done, Pet," Bella said. "I'm so proud of you." I grinned at her words.
The rest of the students were Sorted with everyone whispering when Harry's name was called and the Gryffindors were all outraged when Harry and Ron were Sorted into Slytherin. The others in my year and their Houses were: Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones, Ernie Macmillan, Lily Moon, Oliver Rivers and Sally Smith in Hufflepuff, Neville Longbottom, Roger Malone, Parvati Patil, Sally-Anne Perks, Sophie Roper, Amanda Runcorn and Dean Thomas in Gryffindor, Sue Li, Isobel MacDougal, Padma Patil and Lisa Turpin in Ravenclaw and Daphne Greengrass, a cute blonde girl, Draco, Theo and Blaise Zabini in Slytherin.
"Can I have your attention, please?" Professor McGonagall called out.
"Let the feast begin," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hands and food appeared on the tables.
...