The Boys Who Lived | The Philosopher's Stone | (Hermione X Male Reader)

Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat

At once, the door flung open. Standing there was a tall witch with black hair and emerald-green robes. She had a very serious look, and Y/N immediately concluded that she was not someone to cross.

"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide. The Dursleys' entire home could have fit inside the Entrance Hall because it was so large. The ceiling was too high to make out, and a majestic marble staircase facing them went to the higher floors. The stone walls were illuminated with flaming torches similar to those at Gringotts.

Down the flagstone floor, they followed Professor McGonagall. The rest of the school must already be here because Y/N could hear hundreds of voices coming from a doorway to the right, but Professor McGonagall led the first-years into a small, unoccupied chamber off the hallway. They crammed in, standing a little closer together than they normally would have, and cautiously looked around.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches or wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

She briefly focused on Neville's cloak, which was attached behind his left ear, as well as Ron's dirty nose. Y/N and Harry anxiously attempted to flatten their hair.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," Professor McGonagall said. "Please wait quietly."

She exited the chamber.

"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked Ron.

"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."

Y/N felt a terrible jolt in his heart. A test? Before the entire school? But what on earth would he have to accomplish when he was not yet familiar with magic? This was something he hadn't anticipated when they arrived. He cautiously peered around and noticed that everyone else appeared to be in great fear. Not many people besides Hermione Granger were speaking. She was muttering quickly to herself about all the spells she had learnt and wondered which one she would need. Y/N made a concerted effort to ignore her. Y/N had never been more anxious, not even when he had to deliver a report from school to the Dursleys explaining how he had accidentally coloured his teacher's wig blue. He maintained a focused gaze on the door. Professor McGonagall was about to return and escort him to his fate at any moment.

Many people behind him yelled and caused him to jump nearly a foot in the air.

"What the -?"

He and the people around him gasped. Some twenty ghosts poured through the back wall. They moved around the room conversing with each other while barely batting an eye at the first-years. They were pearly white and slightly transparent. They appeared to be at odds. What appeared to be a small, chubby monk was saying, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -"