Hermione Granger and the Displaced Sorting

Chapter 9

Hermione Granger and the Displaced Sorting

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 9

A/N: This is going to be a running author's note, but if you read on fanfiction.net and enjoy this story, make sure to have my username saved in case my account is deleted. I post on AO3 and Wattpad as well under the same name.

New A/N: Of my originally planned 30 chapters for Chamber of Secrets, we're only at chapter 9, and so far that number has jumped to 34. I get caught up in fleshing out the interactions, the explanations, the details... so I hope you're in for the long haul! It's going to be an epic ride.

Also, I made an update to Chapter 8. Based on the "Original 40 List," a combination of Rowling's notes of all the students in Harry's Year, and fan sleuthing, I added another Slytherin boy. He's not a prominent character in my story as of this moment, and on the list, it was just "A. Runcorn" since Rowling's thumb covered everything but the "A." Fans said that to round numbers out, since they had 18 girls and 21 boys, that it would be a girl, bringing the totals to 19 female and 21 male. However, I think it makes more sense if the numbers aren't so even. Hermione being in Slytherin adds another female already, and I think a prejudiced pureblood like Albert Runcorn would've liked to have had a "Jr" and spurned a female heir (secretly perhaps, but certainly not giving her the same initials as himself). So, the A. Runcorn from the Original 40 list is now Albert Runcorn II, which opens the possibility of more Malfoy-like confrontations in the future if I decide to make Malfoy more likeable. Those details, Hermione's pairings and friendships, are still very much up in the air.

Again, minor, minor change, but hopefully it lets you see how much I try to research, and maybe this will earn me a little leeway if I make mistakes 😉

September 2nd, 1992

The period didn't get better as the lesson droned on. Several students fell asleep, but even if she were that kind of student, Hermione wouldn't have had that luxury because the professor somehow found it necessary to call on her several times. Perhaps because he wanted to test her knowledge in person. The History of Magic exam had only been written, so Professor Binns hadn't needed to come by in person for a practical exam. As it was, she didn't get to learn any other names in the entire two hours.

The Ravenclaws and the Slytherins that hadn't fallen asleep must've found his calling on her odd because they kept glancing her way.

The time couldn't have dragged on slower. She barely concentrated on her notetaking beneath the scrutiny. Thankfully though, it drew to an end. Professor Binns concluded his lesson for the day, and dismissed them with a simple, "Have a good day, Miss Granger."

Hermione internally winced at once more being thrust in the spotlight and vowed to not volunteer any answers in her other classes. It was all she needed to be labelled "precocious but pretentious" again. Her primary school teacher's words echoed back into existence at the most inopportune times, making her realize how deeply they'd imprinted themselves into her subconscious.

Students stood. The Slytherins had transfiguration next with Hufflepuff, and though there were two exits on opposite sides, all but a few of the students left via the Transfiguration Courtyard, so Hermione gathered her books and followed, doing her best to keep her head down.

So she wasn't looking up when she ran into a tall wall.

"Watch it, Mudblood," a voice sneered.

Hermione looked up from her books, realizing she'd run into Gregory Goyle, but it wasn't him that'd spoken. It was the much smaller platinum blond boy beside him.