After returning to Harry and Ron's compartment with her robes on, everything was silent. She had heard the commotion coming from said compartment and was wondering what was going on when she saw Draco and his goons quickly leave the compartment, passing her.

Ron went back to eating sweets with a sleeping Scabbers on him, while Harry kept his focus on the passing land, so Hermione did what she does best, read a book.

Time seemed to have flown by because they were all startled by an announcement, "The train will be arriving at Hogsmead train station in fifteen minutes. Please have your Hogwarts uniform on and leave all cages and trunks on the train." After the announcement Harry, Ron, and Neville, who had joined them after failing in finding his toad, walked out to the loo and changed into their Hogwarts robes.

...

Soon after returning to their compartment, lights could be seen from the station as the Express started to slow down and came to a halt. Loud noises followed as everyone started to disembark the train, none more excited and scared than the first years.

Hermione followed Harry and Ron when a gruff voice called "Firs' years! Firs' years this way to the boats!" A man that could be taken for a giant was waving for the first years to follow. She heard Harry call him Hagrid before they started towards the lake to the awaiting boats. "Jus' round this bend yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts."

A chorus of "Oooooh" followed Hagrid's statement.

The little path they had taken opened up onto the edge of a lake. On the other side of said lake, perched on top of a hill stood Hogwarts, with its tall towers and lite torches, bridges from all sides connecting to it, and to the far side stood a forest as big as they could see. Hermione only having been able to read about forest would never had thought that something as beautiful was real outside of books.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a small fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

Hermione got into a boat with a pair of Indian decent twin girls and a strawberry read head that had a little to much makeup for her age in Hermione's opinion. She had a feeling she was not going to like the strawberry head.

As they reach the boathouse, Hermione noticed that Draco was sitting with his friends from his compartment. A loud splash caught her attention and turned to see a long tentacle break the surface of the water and seemed to be waving in the direction of the boats. Smiling, Hermione looked around and when no one was paying attention to the tentacle or herself, she waved at it as it plunged once more into the depths.

It didn't take long after that for the boats to reach the other side of the shore, and into the boat house. Hagrid called out to make sure everyone made it safe and she smiled when the giant of a man gave Neville his toad, Trevor. Once they were all huddled, Hagrid started to make his way up to the castle, the first years following and talking in low voices at the wonder and nervousness. Making it up towards the castle, Hagrid stopped at a set of huge double doors, made sure everyone was present before knocking on them.

The doors opened to reveal a tall, black-haired witch with green robes and stern face that made Hermione stand straighter and know she isn't someone to mess with.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid, I will take it from here."

Nodding, Hagrid turned and walked away, leaving the first years with Professor McGonagall. She turned and led the students into a an empty chamber on the side of the hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in The Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will louse house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

She gave them a stern look before leaving the chamber.

This caused the first years to start talking in low voices, fear and nervousness setting in at what the stern witch had said, including Hermione.

She heard Weasley say that they would to face a troll as a trial, to which Hermione rolled her eyes at the boy's naivete before she started to say spells, potions ingredients as well as plants, believing that they were sorted to the house by taking a test, and whichever results they got determines the house they get sorted into. She didn't notice a certain blond haired boy approaching her until she felt her arm being pulled to the side, making her hold a shout of surprise and turn around.

"Hey! What's the...Malfoy," her voice had taken a dangerous tone. "What do you want now?"

"It's a hat."

Hermione blinked, confused. "What?"

"The Sorting Hat, It's how you get sorted into your house."

Hermione looked at him as if he had grown three heads right then and there before registering what he had said. "A hat...a hat is going to decide the house we get sorted into for the next seven years. There was no mention on Hogwarts: A History about this Sorting Hat."

"That's because it isn't. They wanted it to be kept as a surprise for the new students. A tradition of sorts,  but my father thinks it's a ridiculous idea,"Draco told her, looking smug about that fact.

Hermione stared at him before remembering his hand was still holding her arm, making her voice take a steel like tone. "Aren't you worried that you'll be seen with someone like me?"She still has the memory of when he reacted to her saying she was a 'muggleborn' and his reaction because of it. She wasn't going to forgive him so easy or quickly.

His eyes moved to his hand still holding her, realizing what she had said before turning to her with sadness and pain in his eyes, but still he didn't let go of her arm.

"I...I'm sorry about what I said in the train. It's just that...if my father finds out-"he stops, unable to speak more of it, so he tries to convey with his eyes what he couldn't with words. He watches as her eyes soften a little and, taking a risk of sorts, loosens his hold on her arm and she shakes his hand off gently and stays were she was. "Listen Gra...Hermione, I want to be friends with you, I really do. It's just that-"

"If word got out to your father that you are with a muggleborn you would be in trouble or something along those lines," Hermione finished for him and watched as he lowered his head some and then nodded slowly, avoiding eye contact. She was about to turn around before he gently took hold of her wrist and looked at her again.

"We can still meet and hang out...it will have to be in secret that's all." He said with some hope in his voice. Hermione on the other hand thought about what he said. While she did want to be his friend, she isn't at all thrilled about the idea of being kept a secret as if she were some sort of dirty secret. She wanted to say no, she really did but looking into his eyes and noticing that he was holding his breath for her answer, she held her tongue and realized that if she asked to be friends like normal, he could get in serious trouble.

"So you want to be friends with me, but in secret correct?" At his nod she continued. "Fine, I can agree to that."

The look of utter relief and the smile that made its way onto his face made her smile as well.

"Thank you Hermione, thank you."

With a final nod on her part, Hermione turned once more and walked away, leaving Draco in that spot. She was still nervous about the upcoming sorting but a scream from some of the first years interrupted her train of thought and looked to find a few pointing at a pair of ghosts that floated into the chamber. They were arguing about someone named Peeves and would have kept arguing were it not for the return of Professor McGonagall, who told the ghosts to leave. She stated that it was time for them to be sorted and walked out with them in tow towards another set of double doors that opened on their own and Hermione took in the sight before her.

The Great Hall was alight with hundreds of floating lit candles, five tables occupied the space. Four of them were filled with young and older students alike while the fifth at the end of the Hall was occupied by what Hermione could only guess was the staff. Looking up, she found that the ceiling was enchanted to represent the outside sky. It was beautiful overall, the only thing that seemed out of place in the Hall, was a stool that was occupied by a very old, very worn out hat that was patched up in some places.

Professor McGonagall stood to the side as the first years all stopped before the hat, and the entire Hall went silent, looking towards the hat.

Then, a tear in the hat appeared and began to sing:

"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 black,
Your 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 ,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in ,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old ,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in
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!"

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

After the applause stopped, Professor McGonagall stepped to the side of the stool with a scroll in hand. "When I call your name, step forward and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbot, Hannah!"

Said girl walked forward, sitting on the stool as Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head, covering most of her forehead. There was a pause before-

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table to the right started to cheer and clapped as Hannah took of the hat and quickly walked over to it, her robes and tie taking her house colors of yellow and black.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The second table to the left clapped this time, several Ravenclaws even stood up to shake hands with Terry.

"Broclehurst, Mandy!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Brown, Lavender!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione watched as the strawberry blond girl from before now known as Lavender sat with the rest of the Gryffindors, more specifically next to a pair of redhead twins.

"Bulstrode, Millicent!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Hermione watched as the new Slytherin joined her house and felt a bit of a shiver run down her spine from said table.

The sorting kept going like that until-"Granger, Hermione!"

Slowly, Hermione walked up towards the stool and sat down before the Professor put the hat on her, which went all the way down her forehead and obscured her sight for the most part, when she heard a voice in her mind that almost made her jump.

"Well, what have we here? It has been a long time since one of your kind has stepped foot in Hogwarts."

"You know what I am?"

"Of course I do Miss Granger, but fear not. Your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you...by the way, what's your name?"

"My, my I can't remember the last time someone asked for my name," the hat said with a small chuckle. "My name is Conroy."

"Conroy...it means 'wise advisor' doesn't it?"

"You would be correct Miss Granger."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Now what say you about sorting me?"

"Right you are Miss Granger. You have quite the brilliant mind, curious with a thirst for knowledge, but I also see bravery the need and want you have to prove yourself to others. Hmm...okay, I wish you good luck in your coming years here at Hogwarts and future."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione smiled and took of the hat, setting it on the stool before heading towards the Gryffindor table. Her robes already changing to the scarlet and gold colors that represent said house.

She never noticed a pair of grey eyes following her as she sat with the rest of the Gryffindors, sadness in his eyes.

Just like the rest of the house, Hermione clapped when a new student got sorted with them and was happy when Neville was sorted to the same house as her.

When Draco's name was called, Conroy barely grazed his blond covered head before he was sorted to Slytherin. He made his way towards his friends looking a little smug but his eyes, Hermione noticed, weren't as happy as his expression and body language.

"Potter, Harry!"

The entire Hall broke into whispers when they heard that name being called. Hermione watched as the boy she had met in the train slowly made his way to the stool and she noticed, with some alarm, how thin and small he looked for his age. She then remembered the clothes he was wearing before were too big for him. She focused again on the present as the hat seemed to take the longest to sort him.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Every Gryffindor burst out in cheer and clapping when he got sorted into said house. She could hear the Weasley twins chanting "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

The sorting seemed to have moved faster after that, the young Weasley also being sorted into Gryffindor. Finally the last student by the name of Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin before Professor McGonagall made the scroll vanish and took away both the stool and Conroy.

Once everyone was settled, Professor Dumbledore stood and everyone turned to him.

"Welcome students, old and new to Hogwarts. Before we can enjoy a delicious meal, here are a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

"Thank you."

He sat down and the students clapped, the first years confused at his words but it was quickly forgotten when the plates before them that were empty had been filled with delicious smelling and looking food.

The Hall was alight with conversation, some about how they had spent their summer, others about their lineage, but for the most part it was just friendly chatter and answering questions that the new students had. Hermione herself had started a conversation with a Prefect by the name of Percy Weasley. She was starting to wonder how many Weasley's were out there but didn't ask. She turned when she caught part of the conversation was having with the Gryffindor ghost, Sir Nicholas or 'Nearly Headless Nick' making Hermione frown.

"How come you're 'Nearly Headless'?"

Her response was in the form of him pulling his left ear and showing how his head hanged by a tendon of skin still attached to his body.

Hermione wasn't really bothered by that, but she was careful in eating her food. You would think being a mermaid she would be used to gruesome sights, she wasn't. Her parents made sure that whenever a fight broke out, Hermione was as far away as possible so as to not get injured but also see exactly what was happening. Sadly that didn't stop any of them from seeing muggles or her own kind die from time to time. Her pod wasn't violent, but muggles weren't the only danger to them, the wildlife around them was too.

The main course was replaced by desserts and Hermione watched in glee as it did. She had taken some treacle tart and started to enjoy it. She hadn't realized how much time had passed until Professor McGonagall called for attention as Dumbledore stood up once again.

"Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.

Hermione noticed that his eyes landed on the Weasley twins, who returned his look with innocent smiles upon their faces.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house team should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a painful death."

Hermione felt chills go down her spine at his words, hoping he wasn't serious, but knowing that he indeed was.

"Now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"

And just like that, Hermione's and Draco's first year at Hogwarts began.

It's here! It's finally here!

I am so sorry that it took me forever to update. Life wasn't being really kind to me and had a lot of set backs. Not to mention that my computer is a piece of crap when I want to type and update.

The sentences and paragraphs that are underlined are direct passages from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The bold sentences represent speaking mentally (Telepathy)

Hopefully I can post the next few chapters quickly.