In the month he had been waiting in Diagon Alley, Harry had also considered whether he should change his Hogwarts house. It would make for a new experience, he had supposed, and he could learn more about another house. However, he always came back to the same answer in the end. While he would have to put up with Ron, Gryffindor was a good house that had brought him many good memories. He could not think of another house he would prefer to be in.
As they waited, Professor McGonagall produced and unrolled a scroll, before beginning to read through the listed names.
"Abbott, Hannah!" The girl stepped over to the stool and took a seat, while Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. For a moment, there was silence, until finally the hat shouted. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The hall broke out into applause as she stood up and walked over to her new house.
"Bones, Susan!" Their new red haired friend glanced back at them nervously, but seemed to relax on seeing them smiling at her reassuringly. Taking a seat, the professor lowered the hat on her head. Again, silence ruled for a time, until finally the hat decided. "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry and Hermione desperately tried to hide their shock, as they and the hall clapped for the new Gryffindor. They glanced at one another, both looking deeply surprised at this unexpected outcome. Had they really had that much of an effect on her that the hat would change its mind? They were brought out of their musings by another name.
"Granger, Hermione!" With a final reassuring squeeze of his hand, Hermione confidently walked up to the stool and sat down, the hat soon placed on her head. After a very short wait, the Sorting Hat spoke. "GRYFFINDOR!"
'No change there, then!' Harry thought gladly, as he and the hall clapped loudly.
After the hat had announced its decision, Harry heard a groan of disapproval from behind him. With a backwards look, he saw that it had been Ron Weasley. Harry glared at Ron angrily, making the boy shrink into himself and look away.
"Longbottom, Neville!" Hearing another name he had been waiting for, Harry turned back to see his other friend be sorted.
The first time around, an anxious Neville had tripped and stumbled his way up to the stool, before running off with the hat still on his head, making a fool out of himself. This time, however, he had no such issues. He glanced back at Harry, who smiled and gave him a thumbs up. Neville grinned in reply, and walked confidently up to the stool. With the hat on his head, the room was silent for a short time, before calling out its answer.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry smiled as Neville, still grinning widely, hopped from the stool (sans the Sorting Hat) and took a seat next to Hermione. As the Sorting proceeded, Harry only paid passing attention to the other names to make sure nothing else had changed. The names of the other students came and went until finally, Harry's name was called...
With a slight difference.
"Potter-Gryffindor-Ravenclaw, Harry!"
Nearly everyone in the Great Hall gasped in shock, before falling silent. As Harry walked forward towards the stool, he could hear the quiet whisperings of students around him as they excitedly questioned one another.
"Did she say Gryffindor? AND Ravenclaw?!"
"Is that the Harry Potter?"
"Does that mean he's the heir of the founders?"
Ignoring the speculation of the students, Harry strode forward confidently and took a seat on the stool. Professor McGonagall, shocked by the additions to his name, remained unmoving for a moment before placing the hat on his head. Almost immediately, the Sorting Hat began to speak in his head.
'Well, well, well.' The hat murmured. 'I must say, this isunusual. This is yours and Miss Granger's second sorting now, isn't it my lord?'
Harry froze in shock. Almost immediately, his mind began to panic. How could the hat know he had been sorted before? Sensing his panic, the hat began to chuckle before moving to reassure him.
'Fear not, my lord.' The hat soothed. 'My knowledge of your past life has much to do with the enchantments placed upon me by the founders. When I look into a mind, I can see what has happened, what will happen, and what could happen. I know you are here for another chance to be victorious. I will tell you now, that both I and Lady Hogwarts are behind you.' Harry frowned at that, before thinking.
'Did you say Hogwarts?' Harry thought confusedly. 'How can a castle be behind me?' Before the hat could answer, another voice spoke in his mind.
'I am more than a castle, my lord.' The voice was clearly youthful and feminine, and felt oddly motherly to Harry. His eyes widened at the presence, and he felt an urge to bow.
'Forgive me, Lady Hogwarts,' Harry apologised, surprised by this turn of events, 'I had no idea that you were sentient!' The voice laughed musically.
'There are no apologies necessary, my lord.' Lady Hogwarts assured. 'I would delight in speaking with you further, but regretfully I believe Coronam needs to speak with you more to sort you. When you have the time, please come to the Room of Requirement, and ask for a room to speak with me. I will wait. Farewell.'
'Farewell, Lady Hogwarts.' He thought. As he felt the presence depart, he turned his attention back to the hat. 'Your name is Coronam?'
'Indeed,' the Sorting Hat replied, 'it means crown in Latin. It was the name given to me by Godric and Rowena.' Harry nodded in understanding. 'Now, back to your sorting. This has taken much longer than usual. Since I have sorted you once, and you did well in that house, I see no reason to change. Is that agreeable?'
'Certainly.' Harry thought back. 'Thank you, Coronam.'
'You are most welcome. Good luck, my lord.' Coronam then spoke aloud. "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table exploded into cheers at the announcement, with the rest of the hall clapping politely but disappointedly. As Harry walked over to the Gryffindor table to take the other seat next to Hermione, the volume of the hall was challenged by the chanting of Fred and George Weasley.
"WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!"
Flushing slightly at the attention, Harry took his seat and settled back to watch the rest of the sorting. Much to Harry and Hermione's immense disappointment, Ron Weasley was also sorted into Gryffindor. Harry groaned unhappily as he realised that he would have to share a dormitory with him again.
'Another seven years with that walking snore machine...' he thought disgustedly.
With the Sorting Ceremony completed, Albus Dumbledore stood and walked over to the golden podium in front of the staff dining table. As he approached, everyone in the hall fell silent and turned to face the headmaster.
"Welcome!" The elderly wizard boomed, beaming down at them. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words." He paused for a moment. "And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" He smiled brightly at them and added. "Thank you!"
The hall erupted into cheers and applause in response. As Harry clapped with the other students, his eyes were fixed on the headmaster as he walked back to his seat. A feeling of anger welled up within him as he thought about all the harm the man had caused him and others for his 'Greater Good'. As the wizard turned to face them and sit down, Harry tore his eyes away. Amanda had given them some basic occlumency shields, but he didn't want to chance it by staring at him.
Shaking his head of his rapidly darkening thoughts, Harry instead turned his attention to the golden plates that had now filled up with the massive feast. As they ate, Harry and Hermione got to know Neville and Susan a bit better. They both realised that in the original timeline, they had neglected their friends who weren't Ron or each other. With a quick shared glance and a small smile, they resolved to change that this time around.
Now that the formal part of the evening was over, Harry reached into his robes and pulled out his Stetson hat. With a surreptitious tap of his wand, it returned to its normal size and was quickly placed on his head. Having seen the wizard previously wearing the hat on the Hogwarts Express, Neville cocked his head at Harry curiously.
"Harry, I need to ask," Neville said interestedly, "what's with the hat?"
"What, my Stetson?" Harry replied, surprised someone had asked. Neville nodded.
"Yeah, why are you wearing it?" He asked innocently. Just as Harry opened his mouth to reply, Hermione answered for him.
"Oh, don't you know Neville?" Hermione asked, casting a teasing smile at Harry, "apparently Stetson hats are cool..."
Neville and Susan both chuckled at Hermione's well meaning jibe, even more so when Harry pouted playfully. Seeing the lack of sympathy from his friends, Harry lightly whacked Hermione's arm and threw her a mock glare.
"Don't mock the Stetson!" He said warningly, before joining in with a new round of laughter.
Soon enough, the feast had ended and the first year Gryffindors were led to the portrait of the Fat Lady by the fifth year prefect, Percy Weasley. As the portrait swung aside and they entered the common room, Harry smiled at the cosy space. The bright, warm room was the focus of a lot of good memories for Harry, and hopefully would be again.
As people began to filter to their rooms, Harry came back downstairs and sat in his favourite armchair in front of the fire. He closed his eyes and relaxed, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the squashy seat. His rest was interrupted by a voice from behind.
"Harry?"
As he turned around he saw Hermione, in pyjamas and a dressing gown, standing by the stairs. He smiled and invited her to come sit next to him on the large chair. She gladly obliged and the pair sat side by side, enjoying each other's company.
"Harry," Hermione began after a while, "what are we going to do about this year? Should we change anything?"
"I'm not entirely sure." Harry replied thoughtfully. "This year wasn't really much of a problem for us, was it? We won quite easily and stopped Voldemort, but the Philosophers Stone was destroyed. If we can try and get it, I think we should. The Stone would be a valuable asset to have, wouldn't it?" He paused for a moment. "To be honest, I'm more worried about next year."
At this, Hermione nodded in agreement, and bit her lip as she began to think. Upon seeing this, Harry smiled warmly at her and chuckled. Breaking from her thoughts, she refocused on her boyfriend, and blushed at the affectionate expression.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"You know, when you're deep in thought," Harry explained, "you bite your lower lip?" Her eyes widened and her hand reached up to her mouth.
"I do?" She asked self-consciously.
"It's not a bad thing," he added quickly, "I just think its...cute." He blushed. Hermione stared at him for a moment, before a sly smile grew across her face.
"You think I'm cute?" Hermione asked teasingly, chuckling as his blush deepened. "That's good to know, Harry, thank you." He ran his hand through his hair, and smiled crookedly.
"You're welcome," he murmured, embarrassedly.
As it was getting rather late, Hermione pulled Harry into a tight embrace, wished him a good night, and walked over to the dormitory stairs. Before she went up, however, she paused and turned back to him.
"Oh, and Harry?" Hermione called, waiting until he looked at her. "Just for the record, you know when you give me that lopsided smile of yours?" She smiled mischievously. "I think that's cute, too." With that, she turned back and walked up to her dormitory.
As he watched her go, Harry grinned at her parting words and chuckled. Heading up the stairs to his dormitory, he saw that all of his roommates were already asleep. Dressing for bed as quietly as possible, Harry climbed into his comfy four poster bed, drew the bed hangings closed, and lay back.
So far, things were going well. And hopefully they would continue to do so. As he began to drift away, his thoughts lingered on his beautiful brown haired best friend. He smiled as he thought of her, and soon enough he fell asleep.