The Potter Family || Book One

Chapter 4 | Hermione Granger

"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl said, after sitting down.
The boys were done their chocolate now, and were ready for conversation.
"I know you're Harry Potter, but who are you?" She looked from Harry to Ron.
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron announced, to Harry's surprise, proudly.
"Nice to meet you, Ron."
"You too."
"So, you're a first year, too?" Harry asked Hermione, and she nodded.
"I'm hoping to be in Gryffindor. What about you?"
"Yeah, I'm hoping I'll be a Gryffindor, too. My parents were Gryffindors." Harry felt like he'd been punched in the stomach the moment he mentioned his parents. Did he really miss them already?
"Yeah, me too," agreed Ron, and the boys looked to Hermione.
"My parents are muggles," Hermione replied. "That's why Draco called me...you know."
"Mudblood?" Ron asked, and Harry elbowed him in the ribs. Hermione frowned.
"Yes," she said, turning away to face the window.

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When they arrived in the Great Hall (after getting in a boat over a huge lake, lead by a giant), all the first years were lined up to be sorted. Harry was so nervous he couldn't tell if he might pass out or throw up.

He wanted - needed - to be in Gryffindor; that's where his parents had been, and Ron and Hermione were sure that's where they'd end up.

A professor who's name Harry couldn't remember called out names, and one by one students walked up and sat on a rickety old stool. The places the sorting hat on their heads, and joined a house.

Harry couldn't stop thinking he would end up somewhere without his new friends, not where his parents had been. Or worse - if he ended up in Slytherin.

"But what if I'm in Slytherin?" He asked for the trillionth time.

"Well, if you are, just don't become You-Know-Who's sidekick and kill us. Please." Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs, and he winced. ("Ron! That's not helping!")

"You won't be, Harry. You're parents were in Gryffindor. And you don't seem very...Slytherin-y."

Harry tried to feel reassured. It wasn't working.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione marched up to the stool and sat down. She didn't appear to be nervous or excited, but she sat down on the stool.

The hat had barely been sat on her head when it yelled, "Gryffindor!"

More names were called. There were loads of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, and fewer Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. Eventually, Harry's name was called.

He gulped and walked up to the stool. When he sat down, he saw all the eyes staring at him, the hundreds of students and dozens of teachers. He squinted his eyes shut.

"Gryffindor!" Harry was so relieved, he felt like he might collapse. He ran over and sat down next to Hermione. She smiled at him.

The pair waited patiently for Ron's name to be called. Dozens of names were called, and Harry was shocked. Were there that many wizards?

"Weasley, Ronald!"

Ron looked to Harry and Hermione, sighed, and then walked up to the stool. He sat down, closing his eyes in fear.

"Gryffindor!" Ron didn't look the slightest bit excited; he sighed in relief and stumbled over to the Gryffindor table, and sat in between them.