Hermione Riddle

Chapter Six

We turn our heads in unison to the monstrous voice. Standing near an expansive lake is the giant oaf from Madam Malkin's. Draco and I groan loudly, and receive a nasty look from fellow students, but, whatever.

"So, we hav' ta' get across the lake to Hogwarts on these boats," says the oaf.
"Why are you so big?" asks a small, mousy-haired boy.
"'Cos I'm a half giant, that's why. Now get in the boats, no more'n three to a boat," the oaf replies. Draco, Pansy, and I get in a boat, whilst Crabbe, Goyle, and another burly looking boy get in the one next to ours. When we reach the other side, we finally get a look at Hogwarts. It's not that great, compared to the pictures I've seen of Durmstrang, but it will have to do.

"Follow me, up 'ere," booms the oaf.
"Excuse me, what's your name?" squeaks a puny, black-haired kid.
"Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts," Hagrid replies.
Draco snorts loudly.
"What's so funny?" Asks Hagrid.
"What kind of name is that?" Draco sniggers.
"Better than yours," replies Hagrid. I'm sure I heard him mutter under his breath, Little brat.

We follow Hagrid up the stairs, and are greeted by an old witch, literally.
"How old you reckon she is?" I snicker to Draco.
"About 205," he replies.
I laugh loudly, much to the old witch's distaste. "Excuse me, what's your name?"
"Hermione Riddle," I respond.
The old witch gasps loudly. "Y-y-y-y-o-u are He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's daughter."
"Surprise bitch, and what are you going to do about it?"
The old witch is lost for words.
"Excus' me, Professor McGonagall will not be spoken to like tha' again," says Hagrid.
"And what are you going to do about it? Weren't you the one who got expelled in third year?"
Hagrid's face burns bright red, and his temper flares. "How do ya know abou' tha'?"
"I have my sources," I smirk sarcastically.
Professor McGonagall walks down the stairs, and grabs me by the collar. Suddenly, Draco slams his fist into McGonagall's face, and she stumbles backward into the crowd of anticipated first-years. I swing my leg back and smash it into her ribcage. "AAARRRGGGHHH!" She screams. Hagrid comes over and grabs both Draco and I by the collar and storms upstairs with us. We  kick furiously, but with no successful outcome. He takes us inside the castle and bursts into a giant hall filled with students and professors.

"What is this madness?" asks an old man with a long silver beard and thin glasses. This must be the "world-famous" Dumbledore. God, he looks like such an idiot.

"These two are causin' mayhem outside. They punched an' kicked poor Professor McGonagall.

"I shall call for Madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore says.

"Shall we sort 'em now, so we can get their Head of House to sort 'em out?" asks Hagrid.

"Of course," responds Dumbledore.

Draco and I are ushered toward the front of the room, where a old, bent hat lies on top of a three legged stool.

"Young man, if you would like to take a seat on the stool," Dumbledore says to Draco. Draco runs to the seat and shoves the hat on his head. As soon as it touches his head, the hat yells, "SLYTHERIN!" The table situated in the centre of the room, covered in green, must be the Slytherin table, because they yell in excitement. "Riddle, Hermione!" yells Dumbledore. I eagerly walk over to the Sorting Hat, amidst whispers of my surname circulating in the student body. I put the hat on my head and wait for it to yell "SLYTHERIN!" but it never comes.

Instead, it yells, "GRYFFINDOR!