Hermione Granger and the Sorcerer's Stone

The Expressway to Hogwarts

The platform was packed with people all rushing to get onto the Hogwarts Express.

It looked like hundreds of kids went to Hogwarts. Hermione pushed her cart off down the platform then began walking around the train, where the sound of laughter, owls hooting, and cats meowing roared in her ears. It was only ten thirty on the clock. 

She looked around for what felt like forever, when finally Hermione found someone in their robes, and they were in Ravenclaw apparently.

Hermione knocked bravely on the compartment door.

The girl pushed open the door and Hermione came in with a smile.

"Hello. I was just wondering due to the fact that I'm new here and I wanted to find out as much as possible about Hogwarts and its Houses, and students, and founders - well anyway I was wondering if you could perhaps tell me a few things about Ravenclaw House and perhaps tell me the pros and cons and if you think I would make a good fit for your House."

Hermione was out of breath when she finished but she looked calm and breathed normally.

"Whoa - that was a mouthful - even for a Ravenclaw. And we've been known to ramble on a bit ourselves. Let's see. Well, I just love our common room. It's way up high! We get lots of sunlight! There's a large library, almost as large as the normal library. Our colors are blue and silver. Er - I do suppose you'd make a good Ravenclaw. I can't really think of any cons except - well sometimes I feel a bit like I'm almost unoriginal."

Hermione nodded.

Just what she had suspected.

"Thank you for your help! Really!" Hermione walked out and began walking up the compartments again, just looking for a Gryffindor or Slytherin she could talk to.

After walking up and down the compartments for twenty minutes she finally saw a compartment full of four whole Slytherins, wearing their robes and laughing. There were three boys and one girl. The three had short dark hair, and pasty skin, and the girl looked sort of like them, except she had out of place freckles and tanish skin. Perhaps she had dyed her hair, and the boys were maybe related.

Hermione, again knocked politely.

"COME IN!" the girl's voice bellowed. 

Hermione sighed and then entered. 

"Hello. I'm new to Hogwarts. I'm a first year, you see. I wanted to know why you think being in Slytherin is the best at Hogwarts. I'd like to know so that I can make my decision before it's too late. My name is Hermione Granger and I'll be willing to stay here no matter how long it takes so that I can get a good idea."

"I like your moxy," said one of the boys, a rather large one.

A skinny, tall blacked-haired boy nodded with a smirk. 

"I love Slytherin 'cause we're always winners," answered the boy. The other three nodded. "We win at everything. Quidditch, the House Cup - both of which have been ours six years in a row. We just can't be beaten," bragged the last boy.

The girl smiled then finally spoke again.

"I don't know how we could be beaten. We're too cunning - too charming - too smart. The other Houses have nothing on us. You know what they say - if placed in Slytherin you're destined for greatness!"

"What about your common room?" asked Hermione.

"We're down in the dungeons," the girl went on.

"Right in the middle of the Black Lake," smirked the thick boy.