Hermione Granger and the Displaced Sorting

Chapter 13

Hermione Granger and the Displaced Sorting

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 13

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: There isn't a lot of information on the comings and goings of the upper year Slytherins due to the 3rd limited POV Harry Potter is told in, so the two seventh years are not canon—except for Gemma Farely's name.

September 19th, 1992

Hermione cleared her throat, staring at the upper year and wondering what her ulterior motives could be.

Farley straightened from the wall to circle Hermione, and she refused to turn to keep the head girl in sight. That would be a sign of weakness. Instead, she kept her confidence in her shield and glued her gaze on the door to freedom, so close yet so far.

"You know, Granger. There's been a lot of speculation surrounding you."

Hermione's brow arched, a mirror image of her expression after she single-handedly froze two dozen pixies with a single spell. "Are there."

Farley reappeared in her line of sight, her head tilted. "You didn't phrase that like a question."

"That's because it wasn't. This is only my third week at Hogwarts, and it's disappointingly obvious how much stock the students here put into gossip. Why would I be surprised to find out there were stories circulating about my admittedly odd arrival?"

Farley hummed, her bright red lipstick and perfect teeth smiling in an empty expression. "Yes, let's start with that, shall we? How did you come to be a second-year student in your first year?"

"Yes," a male voice agreed after a quiet pop, making both the girls startle to see Lucan Sallow standing there, glancing down at a small elven creature, different but most certainly sharing some characteristics with Erl. "I second that motion."

Both girls didn't move.

Sallow patted the small creature on the head without losing his hand or finger, so the tiny elf was certainly tamer than even Erl bound. "Thank you, Moppet. You're a true gem, as always. Hogwarts is lucky to have you."

The creature smiled before popping away.

Sallow transferred his charming smile to them. "Now, where were we? Discussing Hermione Granger's origin story?"

Farley stalked forward, finally finding her words. "You can't be in here, Sallow. It's against the rules."

Sallow shrugged. "Would a Hogwarts' elf really help a student break the rules? Lighten up, Farley."

Hermione had straightened. "Hogwarts has elves?"

Sallow and Farley ceased their bickering as they noted her question. Hermione cleared her throat, trying to act less eager as she relaxed her stance.

Sallow laughed. "Ha, she's hopeless!" He fixed Hermione with double raised brows. "How did you end up in Slytherin? The second years are going to eat you alive!"

Hermione frowned. "They can try."

Oddly enough, Sallow seemed inclined to agree. "That's true." He began wandering around the room, inspecting the beds. "What with your wandless—" He glanced at Farley and emphasized, "—nonverbal magic." He began rifling through drawers.

"What are you doing?" Farley all but shouted, none of the cool, collected demeanor in sight. "You can't just help yourself to the girls' dorms and then proceed to further invade their privacy."