Sorry if this feels rushed!
It was one fateful day. Harry was walking with Hagrid to get his things. However, as fate would have it on this day, was no one else but a muggle couple taking their own little witch to get her things as well. Hagrid stopped them and offered to help, as he was taking Harry around as well. The parents were silently thanking whatever divine force whether it be god, fate, destiny, or even magic. They knew they'd have trouble finding their little girl's things. [1]
"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger." The girl said to the messy-haired boy. She noticed the crack in his glasses. "What happened there?" She asked, which was a valid question that Harry rather not answer but vaguely said "Oh, just an accident with a door. It happens." He didn't add the details of how on Dudley's birthday, Dudley had slammed the cupboard door right back into his face, breaking them. "Anyway, I'm Harry, Harry Potter." He said, copying her greeting. Next thing he knew, she was telling him how she's been hearing his name a lot and he noticed as well. "I don't know why either, Hermione, but Hagrid did make a big deal about it. Along with my parents. I don't know why though, I was raised by my muggle family and had nothing to do with magic until now." He explained. "So neither of us have known about this part of ourselves..." Hermione muttered. "However, my Aunt knew... she lied to me." That's all Harry would say. Why bother telling her about his chore lists or punishments? About how spoiled his cousin was or that he slept in a cupboard all his life and his only friends were spiders. [2]
When they got to Malkin's they sat down. There was a little boy about their age there, blonde, grey eyes, and hair was slicked back with gel, they assumed. To Harry, he looked like a magical version of Dudley. Of course, he should talk about and analyze the boy's character first. The whole time there, the boy would name call on the houses at their school. The boy said Slytherin was the best house. He picked on the house called "Hufflepuff" and then, before it got personal, the two got their robes and Hagrid came and the boy insulted him. Harry quickly got Hermione and Hagrid our if there, and made a decision. That kid was an absolute git. They asked Hagrid about the houses and Hagrid immediately began praising Gryffindor. Yet, quickly like that, Hermione asked if Hagrid was in that house. The man had a blush dust across his cheeks. He said yes. Mrs. and Mr. Granger sighed. Their little girl was very high strung with details. "Then isn't that a little bias? What are the other house's traits?" Hagrid had a memory in his eyes but...wouldn't speak of it. "Ah well, it should be in the book the Ministry give muggle-borns like yer self but I'll tell ya anyway. Ravenclaw traits are Intelligence, Wit, Wisdom, Creativity, Originality, Individuality, and Acceptance. Slytherin traits Resourcefulness, Cunning, Ambition, Determination, Self-Preservation, Fraternity, and Cleverness.." Harry interrupted. "Well, Gryffindor and Slytherin share Determination then," Harry said. Something told the three adults these two would be good friends. "Hufflepuff traits are Dedication, Hardworking, Fairness, Patience, Kindness, Tolerance, Unafraid of toil, and Loyalty." The two felt a surge of emotions towards the boy now; however, they seemed stronger in Harry. This sounds like a lovely house to be in! However, although Hermione did like to think she was brave and all that, she thought perhaps she may be in Ravenclaw. She just knew whatever it was, she hopes it's not Slytherin. Not with that boy, even if she got this fluttery feeling when looking at him.
Harry felt the same.
They went to each store and with some of the extra money, Harry offered to buy a book for Hermione. [3] Looking at her parents, they seemed okay with it. It was a generous thing and if Harry wanted to, who were they to let their little girl not get a book? Harry and Hermione have gotten everything and yet again...the two had one more reason to not go to Slytherin. Voldemort.
However...these two didn't feel frightened to say his name, unlike others... no not at all.
The next day, Hermione waited for Harry. Apparently, Hermione was told by someone she described as the one who explained that she was a witch. They went to find the wall and heard a woman asking her children about where it was. Harry recognized the pattern. Aunt Petunia used it on Dudley when they went to places he managed to get 'lucky' enough to go to. Especially when he went on rollercoasters. It was to make sure he knew where he was going.
They waited and the older woman noticed them. "Oh hello, dears. First time?" She asked. They nodded. Hermione was shaky even back there. Go through a wall? "Yes ma'am, just a little nervous." Hermione said. "That's alright dears, it's Ron's first time as well." The woman said. There was something off with the boy they stared at. They ran through the wall and went to find a seat together. They didn't let anyone else in because they wanted to be alone.
A little after the train started moving, they were greeted by a Trolly witch. Harry got snacks and got Hermione to at least try the chocolate frogs and then she agreed to more sweets. A voice in his head said 'and that's how you break the taste buds will of a dentist's daughter.' It was funny, to be quite honest. Halfway through, they heard a boy looking for his toad. Getting up, they decide to help. It was the right thing to do.
So, the two go door to door until they went everywhere they could. Harry had to hide his glare when he saw the boy from Malkin's. So they broke the news and Neville said he'll ask the Trolly witch if she's seen him and keep a lookout. They got changed as well, since they thought they were arriving soon. They went back to their seat and finished up the sweets.
Upon arrival, they heard Hagrid calling all the first years. Harry was excited. Hermione was excited. Too much excitement. The two got in a boat with Neville Longbottom and Terry Boot. They all sat in ah at the castle structure of a school. Then as they would come to the next stop, they get off the boat and go up the stairs to the hall. There they meet the one and only...Professor McGonagall.
"Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and meet your classmates but before you take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. There's a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. And while you're here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the cup-" suddenly her speech was interrupted by Neville. "Trevor!" His toad was by her feet. He muttered "Sorry." and then she said, "We will begin momentarily." So they were left to wait. The two huddled in a corner, trying not to be seen. The boy was small, Hermione was actually taller than Harry. Not by much, just a few inches. They noticed the boy from Malkin's actively looking for him, or what they assumed was what he was looking for. After learning he was "the boy who lived" wouldn't anyone? Hermione was able to hide him long enough that Professor McGonagall came and said for the first years to follow her into the Hall.
In the Hall, they are met with the face of the older years and the staff. Up in front of the staff table was a stool and a hat.
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
Everyone clapped. Then McGonagall said for all of them to line up and come up when they heard their name.
"Abbot, Hannah" a girl came up and sat down. It didn't take long before they heard from the worn looking hat "Hufflepuff!"
"Bones, Susan" another girl. She looked sweet and she sat down. It barely was there for a full ten seconds before the hat shouted "Hufflepuff!"
"Boot, Terry" the first boy. They sat with him on the boat. It took a good two minutes before it shouted "Ravenclaw!"
"Bruncklehurst, Mandy" the hat wasn't even there long. Only five seconds. It shouted "Ravenclaw!"
"Brown, Lavender" It took five minutes and then hat shouted "Gryffindor!" The two friends frowned at the catcalls and whistles the house gave.
"Bullstrode, Millicent" the girl went up to the hat with pride and within three minutes the hat shouted "Slytherin!"
"Finch-Fletchly, Justin" "Hufflepuff!"
"Finnigan, Seamus" Harry got this bad feeling from him. Something wasn't quite right... "Gryffindor!"
"Goldstein, Anthony" the boy walked up with this grand appeal and didn't seem as caring for it. He seemed to do it for himself alone and the hat had shouted "Ravenclaw!"
"Goyle, Gregory" it was one of the blonde boy's friends. To be honest with Hermione and Harry, he was the first bodyguard. "Slytherin!"
"Greengrass, Daphne" this girl was just as prideful as the Millicent girl. She was blonde as well. Harry started looking at himself and thought that maybe he should stop judging blondes just because his family looked like they wore blonde wigs. "Slytherin!" Or Maybe not...
"Longbottom, Neville" he walked up there and nearly tripped. He sat on the stool and after a full four minutes the hat finally said "Gryffindor!"
"Macdougal, Morag" "Ravenclaw!"
"MacMillian, Ernie" "Hufflepuff!"
"Malfoy, Draco" he walked there as prideful-no even more prideful than the two girls who were sorted into Slytherin and the hat had barely touched his head when it shouted "Slytherin!"
"Moon, Kevin" "Gryffindor!"
"Nott, Theodore" "Slytherin!"
"Parkinson, Pansy" "Slytherin!"
"Patil, Padma" "Ravenclaw!"
"Patil, Parvati" "Gryffindor!"
"Perks, Sally-Anne" "Gryffindor!"
"Potter, Harry" the room got quiet. All eyes were on Harry. Then whispers surfaced. 'The boy who lived!' 'It's him!' 'In our year?!' They wouldn't stop but all Harry would repeat was "anything but Slytherin" in a nearly silent whisper. As the hat was placed on his head and the hat started speaking to him. The hat said he could do great in Slytherin. The hat said it was all in his head. Then he finally said "Boy, I can't send you there with all this Slytherin talent...but since this'll be fun..." the hat shouted "Slytherdor!" Everything was silent until a "What?!" Came from the staff, except Dumbledore. "What?!" Came from Slytherin. "What?!" Came from Gryffindor. "What?!" even Came from Ravenclaw. However, positive and easygoing Hufflepuffs shouted "Cool!" However the trend set in the rest of the unsorted "What?!" Dumbledore asked for silence and then said "He gets both houses. The houses Slytherin and Gryffindor. Harry, please step to the side behind Professor McGonagall." Harry did as told as like all the other students...his tie changed color. Red and Green. On his robes was the patch where normally a Snake, Eagle, Lion, or Badger would appear but instead was some hybrid. [4]
"Granger, Hermione" after that she walked up to the stool. Something of a similar conversation came up with Hermione. Then the hat shouted "Gryffinclaw!" More shouts but it was calmed down twice as fast and Hermione stood beside Harry. Then...
"Weasley, Ron" The two felt this disturbing gut feeling. The kind you get when someone cruel and unruly was around. This is the same feeling Harry would get from Dudley and his Uncle. Not even Draco Malfoy gave him this feeling despite their similarities. The hat shouted "Gryffindor!"
"Zabini, Blaise" Harry looked at the last boy and he got this weird feeling. His stomach got all twisted like butterflies were trying to escape. What is this feeling, Harry thought? Then the hat shouted "Slytherin!" Harry thought again...maybe Slytherin wasn't as bad as he thought...
A table was transfigured and McGonagall said they would sit there for now, until the old table was brought back in. They smiled and sat. They got food and such. Harry looked at Hermione's robes.
He smiled. Hermione was, however, reading more into this as they ate and she pointed it out. Yep, absolute Ravenclaw side. "Hybrid Houses are Hogwarts Houses that are rarer among students. As where many will go into one, two houses will be picked and become one house. Slytherdors are both reckless but cunningly so, some say they have a hero complex that over time can become corrupted by their Slytherin side if not reminded of Chivalry. Gryffinclaws are dangerous in the eyes of many students. The perfect mix of muscle and smarts."
"Hm... so Hybrid Houses...aren't we special snowflakes."
That night they were taken to a separate dorm entirely by McGonagall on the second floor. They had to decide on a password every week together. The painting before a was a girl named Glinda [5] Restilin. Most called her The Fairy. The two had separate rooms of course. Harry's reminded him of Russians for no reason in particular. There was just a theme that it reminded him of. Hermione's reminded her of Romans or Greeks. The rooms were cozy in different senses. Harry's was cozy in a Royal way. Or maybe a wealthy way? Hermione's was cozy in library way. It was quiet and you could smell fresh books and some ink. The two agreed though, they felt safest in their rooms.
They slept in peace... except for this nagging feeling from the back of their minds. [6]
Edited;
Editor notes:
1 ~ This is a perfect way to express our favorite giant's moral code.
2 ~ Stop leading my hand to punch Dudley. I have to write about him in a good light, don't you know!
3 ~ That is absolutely perfect.
4 ~ That sounds like Hufflepuffs alright.
5 ~ How dare you reference a musical...
6 ~ Fuck.