Chapter 7
Hermione Granger was first at the steps of the gates for her first day at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. A bright witch with a secret, she was trying desperately to keep. Both of her parents are muggles. Not that she was ashamed, but a witch born to muggles is rare. When the headmaster visited her family last year it had been a shock to learn that magic was real at that she was a witch. Further Dumbledore explained that within the magical community people with one or two muggle parents could face discrimination. He suggested she only share that information to those who she trusts.
Hermione felt like she had found people she could trust. She had studied diligently all summer not wanting to fall behind her classmates. She was quick-witted and highly intelligent. She devoured books on history, magical creatures, spells, and even potion making. Harry, Ron, and Draco all seemed like good friends to have.
She knew Ron and Harry seemed to have grown up knowing about magic, but she was unsure of Draco he did not say much on the matter. To her Draco seemed astute and very refined. She was relieved she had made some friends. They all stood patiently as the big wooden door creaked open to reveal the cobble path that led to the castle.
Harry was animatedly talking to Hagrid the grounds keeper that Had retrieved them from the train. Seeing a witch with a tall pointed green hat with great emerald robes to match Hagrid said, “The firs’ years, Professor McGonagall.”
“Thank you Hagrid I will take it from here.”
Hermione upon hearing this was Professor McGonagall recalled that she had read about her in, “Hogwarts: An introduction.” she was the Deputy Headmistress, their transfiguration professor, and head of Gryffindor the house Hermione admired greatly.
Professor McGonagall led them into the castle through two gigantic doors. “Right first years, listen up.” She peered at the first row of them; Hermione, Draco, Harry, and Ron with a slight hesitation on Harry. “Welcome to Hogwarts. Just inside is the great hall where you will be celebrating start of the term. Before you take your seats however, you will be sorted into your house for the entirety of the time you are here. Your houses are especially important. You will stay in the same common room as your house. Each house is very close and often friendships that are formed in your house last lifetimes." Hermione’s stomach filled with butterflies at the word lifetimes. “The sorting hat will sort you into one of four houses. There is Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each is unique and each will guide you to success. Any question?”
“Yes, where do pure bloods go?” Everyone turned to look at Draco Malfoy with a half grin on his face.
“They go where they are placed…I am sorry your name?” Professor McGonagall queried.
“Darco…Draco Malfoy.” He said with all the confidence of an aristocrat.
“Ah… Mr. Malfoy… the sorting hat will sort you out like everyone else. Please wait here quietly.” And she opened the great door and moved into the great hall.
Harry turned to Draco, “You are pureblood? Why did you not tell me I am too.”
Draco looked very satisfied with himself, and Hermione suddenly felt ill. She looked at Ron, hoping beyond hope she was not alone. Ron saw her face and abruptly said” That stuff does not matter though, right? I mean we have loads of friends who are not pure bloods.”
Hermione’s hope resurfaced only for Harry to chuff, “Right mate, how many?”
“Loads.” Ron said as if that was more detailed than he had said before. Hermione’s hope was fading.
“Right.” Harry Laughed “Ron you’re a good man, but your pureblood too, right?”
Ron turned red, the entirety of the first-year students was looking at him” Yeah…, but they are not prejudice it just ended up that way.”
“I am not prejudice either.” Harry said putting his hands up in surrender, “I just think it is nice knowing where you come from. And there is nothing wrong with Draco wanting to stick with his own.”
Just then the big doors opened. The first years lined up against the wall. In alphabetical order they were sorted.
“Hufflepuff...Ravenclaw!” The animated hat yelled as he sorted them. Hermione was hoping they would all end up in the same house, but she started to think she should look for new friends. Ravenclaw seemed nice, she did like to study. She recited in her head the attributes of each house; Ravenclaw the house of wit. Gryffindor the house of bravery. Hufflepuff the house of the fair and kind. And Slytherin the house of cunning.
All of them sounded fine enough to Hermione except for Slytherin. There sigil was a snake and something about that creeped her out. She had no problem with an actual snake, but her love of books told her something was off about that choice.
Suddenly she heard, “Hermione Granger!”
She headed to the front of the four long tables full of curious eyes. She sat and the hat was placed. In her mind she heard it, the hat talking. “Yes, a brilliant mind! A quick study. Oh, but there is something else here… something dark, willing to do anything to help friends…hmmmm… your heart is conflicted…a strict rule follower…. unless…” Hermione’s stomach felt like a snake was wriggling inside. Now the voice was echoing through the halls in her ears and out of her mind, “Best be Gryffindor!”
This was met with load applause from the table full of bright red and gold banners. They shook her hand and offered her a seat among them.
Soon it was Draco Malfoys turn. It seemed like it took less time than anyone else’s, “Slytherin!” the hat shouted. She watched him beaming as he headed to the far table with green and silver banners.
There was definitely something she did not like about that house and wondered if she misjudged Draco as a friend. There was a bit of sadness though that she would not see her friend much after this. She realized that this house sorting thing was depressing. What if families were separated. Hermione had more empathy than she knew what to do with.
She was deep in thought as the sorting continued and she hear, “Harry Potter!” A collective gasp filled the hall. Hermione thought something awful had happened but when she looked up all she saw was her friend slowly making his way to the podium with every eye on him. He looked just as confused as she felt. Even Ron was looking at him and he knew him. The headmaster smiled from his great table at the front of the hall and gave Harry a reassuring look. Harry looked at a dark-haired professor who nodded approvingly at him. The sorting hat was placed, and the room held its breath. Why was everyone so tense? It took a seemingly endless amount of time for him to be sorted when finally, the hat yelled out,” Slytherin!” only to be met with utter silence. Draco stood slapped Harry on the back with a big smile and showed him to his place.
The sorting continued awkwardly and eventually the energy returned, but it was not the same. Hermione made a mental decision to ask someone about this later. She was a bit in the dumps as they continued sorting. Was she really going to have to find all new friends? Everything happened so perfectly on the train. Making friends was a rare thing for Hermione as most believed she was weird.
“Ronald Weasley!”
Hermione crossed her fingers. Out of all the friends she had made on the train Ron was the one she felt she had the most in common with.
“I know just what to do with you…Gryffindor!”
Hermione suddenly could not contain herself she jumped up with the other Gryffindors and welcomed Ron with a big hug. He turned beat red and sat with her.
“I was beginning to think I was son my own.” She told Ron as the feast ensued.
“Oi, all my family becomes Gryffindor.” He was talking with his mouth full. Hermione found this disturbing, but he was all she had so she smiled. “What about you Mione, does your family get sorted into a specific house?”
“Erm… no…none of my family goes here.” She said hoping he would drop it.
“Oh, they go to Durmstrang or something?”
“Yeah, yeah.” She said and quickly stuffed turkey into her mouth to avoid further speculation.