Hermione Granger and the Displaced Sorting

Chapter 10

Hermione Granger and the Displaced Sorting

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 10

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: Another chapter done! If I'd been following my original outline, this would mark the 1/3 done point of this year, but I've been enjoying fleshing out the story and slowing down the narrative now that Hermione's at Hogwarts. I hope that's not a disturbing change from the way the first story skipped and hopped months at a time. I kept the pace up fast on that one in my eagerness to get where we are now, at Hogwarts with everyone. My apologies if you continued here, hoping for that same style of writing!!

September 2nd, 1992

On her way back from the greenhouse, she recognized Central Hall and the sun depiction over the library doors. Praising her good fortune, she rushed into the welcomed sanctuary, glad not to hear any footsteps trailing her.

The librarian was in this time, sitting at the large desk with a pointed, beaklike expression on her face.

Squaring her shoulders, Hermione approached. "Hello, my name's Hermione Granger."

"Madam Pince," the lady replied.

"Nice to meet you. I was wondering if you had any maps of Hogwarts. It's quite a large castle, and I find myself getting lost rather easily."

"Oh, my dear, that's what the prefects are for. If you get lost, find one of them, and they'll guide you on your way."

"Right," Hermione nodded, wondering if they were tasked with waiting outside the first-year classrooms for the first week of school or so because she hadn't really noticed any of the badges since they led them to the dormitories last night. "Well, in case there aren't any around, do you have something like that?"

Madam Pince tilted her head. "I'm afraid not. Hogwarts is a magical, almost sentient building and is constantly changing. I'm afraid any maps we have would be outdated horribly and lead you astray."

"Oh," Hermione nodded. "Uh, well, can you explain how the library is sorted? Is it by subject and then author?"

"Sorted?" Madam Pince repeated.

Hermione's heart dropped. "It's not sorted?"

"Well, in a way, I suppose. You'll find the first year—no wait—" She squinted at Hermione once more. "Granger, you said? You'll find the second-year books that way."

"And what if I want to research something not taught in the curriculum?"

"I'm afraid the only system we have is by curriculum as our students find it the most helpful and learning things beyond one's ability can become dangerous, fast. It's safer and more streamlined for the library to be this way, and I'm sure you'll grow used to it in no time."

Hermione's smile strained as she nodded and left, finding herself exploring since she'd only sat in the middle and appreciated the architecture and design.

She found some tables up the spiral staircases on the second floor that were out of the way and set up shop there, quickly finishing her letter to her parents as well as the assignments for the first day of class.

A quick glance at her wristwatch showed that nearly two hours had passed, and she was really hoping that she'd be able to track down Flitwick now. Hopefully the upper year classes had ended by this point.