Hello hello everyone!

I think I got everything out I wanted to in the last chapter/interlog. Hopefully it wasn't too boring to read. As I stated before, I am looking for new Beta readers at this point. If you are interested, please message me about it.

Hermione Lyra Malfoy-Riddle: Uh, if Hermione is a orphan her guardian is Albus Dumbledore anyway can Hermione be a PurebloodSlytherin! Great chapter!

I don't think it's too crazy to think that the magical guardianship could be transferred to someone else. Especially in Hermione's case. While I like Albus as much as the next guy (though that may not be true from some of the Harmony stories i've read) I think both he and McGonagall could see the plus it would be to her life to have a woman as the guardian to a magical witch instead of a man. They would be able to form a much closer bond than if it were the other way around. Same goes for if Harry had McGonagall. As for the comment on Hermione being a pureblood, I don't think that'd work with the prophecy that was lined out, but it sounds like an interesting story idea!

Viola1701e: oh and they meet...no Ron? thats a good thing :)

He might not stay out for long, but I intend on trying to keep the prat-y-ness of him down to a minimum.

SSTB: How did Voldemort attack both of them? Wouldn't he have "died" from the first time the killing curse rebounded, thus rendering him unable to try it again with the other?

Don't want to give too much away, but what I will say is think of magic as if it were a kinetic energy.

Thank you all for the reviews! I wont delay any further, but to the 5 others who reviewed and were not mentioned, thank you for your support and comments! I promise I do read them all.

Quick shoutout to Majerus who has been working as my Beta reader for the last two chapters. There have been slight edits to those chapters so if you would like to go back and read them to see if anything specific has changed, be my guest. However they are mostly grammatical and slight fixes to character and dialogue.

Enjoy!

"Order! Order! Order!"

The Speaker's cries were drowned out by the great roar which had come over the Magical Commons. Members of both the government and the opposition yelled back and forth with a ferocity only rivaled by their propensity for lying.

The Speaker, obviously enraged by the children he seems to watch over not listening to him, belowed "ORDER!" one final time, causing both sides to pause. As the comotion died down, The Speaker looked towards the members of the Opposition with contempt.

"Would the honorable member for North Shropshire please refrain from making any ad hominem attacks on the Right Honorable Leader for the Government. Mr. Minister, you may continue."

Fudge, obviously taken aback by the comment about life outside of work, gave a small nod to The Speaker. Gazing out onto the small crowd of MW's in front of him he wiped the sweat off of his brow, stood up, and continued with his speech.

"Mr. Speaker, the members of the opposition are right when they make argument f-for the opinion that a man's right to defend themselves from forced c-c-coercion is paramount in law, however that does not mean that we must outlaw the use of Veritaser-"

Without missing a beat, 7 MW's - or Members of the Wizengamot - from the opposition side, obviously eager to gain a photo opportunity as well as a good line in tomorrow's Daily Prophet, stood up announcing their wish to speak. It was quite obvious to the young minister that the members of the Progressive Front wished to ensure he was given no chance to allow for his side of the story to be heard. Relenting as was custom, he gave a sigh, before motioning to the MW for Brent North, Bane Grunnion, to speak, and sat down once more.

"Mr. Speaker, Would the Right Honorable Leader for Government wish to comment on the House of Magical Lord's recent ruling of DMLE v. James Fortescue in which the defendant was found guilty by reason of confession under veritaserum despite his confession being later found to be false?"

"The absolute git! Of course i'm going to comment on it! That's what this whole emergency meeting was about!" Fudge thought to himself. He stood back up.

"I thank the honorable member for Brent North for his concern and would like to take this moment to express that I am just as surprised as any member for the opposition. However, in regards to the debate today, I do not believe that the use of veritaserum has run its course in our legal system to the point that we must be rid of it entirely."

Several other MW's stood up to once again make their voices heard. As was custom, the Speaker called on someone from his side of the bench after calling on someone from the opposition. Once more, Fudge sat down.

"Thank you Mr. Speaker," began Malfoy, "Would my Honorable Friend for the Leadership of Government be in agreement with me when I say that a confession for a crime under veritaserum cannot be found false as it is impossible to lie while induced with its effects?"

Finally, something he could work with. He would have to thank Malfoy later for throwing him a bone.

Standing up, Fudge smiled. "I do agree with my Honorable Friend for Westminster North in that point and would like to say that I will be addressing these points and further in my statement."

Seeing there was one more member from the opposition standing up, Fudge without thinking motioned for the opposing member to speak and sat down.

"Would the Honorable member for Westminster North be in agreement with me then when I equate a certain unforgivable curse to the use of Veritaserum?"

The commons erupted into a absolute frenzy of yelling and screaming. As both sides made their ways to the center of the commons house, The Speaker could be heard yelling "Order! Order!" over and over again as he stood up. No one seemed to acknowledge either appeal to tradition.

Both sides shoved, punched and kicked at each other for several minutes. As the fighting eventually died down, and the whips for both sides were able to corral their members back into their pens, The Speaker looked on in absolute disgust.

"The Chair is absolutely disgusted with all of you. Particularly you, Mundungus Switch, for instigating this fight. The Chair Adjourns this sitting on the grounds of grave disorder, and will think about allowing another sitting once the government and the opposition wish to stop behaving like children. Adjourned!"

Fudge, enraged he was not able to make his points on the ruling, stormed out of the commons and made his way towards the main lobby of the Ministry of Magic. When he was almost to the Floo Network, however, he was confronted by the Chief Warlock himself.

"I do not wish to speak to you at this time Albus." The Minister commented, "I have just come from a rather heated debate and do not wish to hear again why the other Magical Lords were wrong, and you were right!" Fudge tried to make his leave, but Dumbledore reached out his hand and placed it on his shoulder.

"I have not come to gloat minister." The headmaster, obviously trying to cool down the frustrated head of government, gave a small smile as the frustrated Fudge turned his head, he continued and said, "I wish to talk. Preferably over a drink." Fudge smiled.

"A shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen. Always the do-gooder aren't you Albus?"

"...After Sirius came and rescued me from the Durselys, I lived with him until leaving for Hogwarts today. He says i'll be going back to the Dursley's during the summers, but at least I get to stay with him for holidays." Harry finished.

"Well, I suppose my life could be worse." Hermione mused. The story the boy had just spun was not a kind one. Though not different from her own: Told his parents were killed in a home invasion when he was young, raised a muggle for his whole life, and notified that he was a wizard after receiving his letter from Hogwarts. It was astonishing to say the least. Pondering for a moment, she decided to ask the question she had been holding off on.

"Harry… Has anyone ever called you-" She began, but was interrupted by the door to their carriage being rudely opened by a boy and what could only be described as muscle.

"Well if it isn't the Children-Who-Lived themselves." The young blond haired boy smirked as he stared into the shocked pair. "I guess you're Potter. Already friends with the stinky mudblood? Such a shame." The boy flipped his hair in the most patronizing motion Hermione had ever seen. "You'd be smart to leave this carriage and make friends with real wizards Potter. Not rubbish that should've been taken out long ago." He looked towards Hermione only for a moment, before switching his gaze back towards Harry. Continuing with what seemed to be his rant, he said, "If you wish to join us, we will be in compartmen-" the blond began, before having his speech trail off as Harry looked at them with utter confusion:

"Who… are you?"

The boy, obviously taken aback by the unfamiliarity with his family, cleared his throat, and made Harry wish he didn't ask.

"I am Draco Lucius Malfoy. 23rd descendant of Lucius Malfoy the First, and 1st in line for the house of Malfoy." The boy said, laying his hand on his chest as if to motion towards himself. Sensing the duo was not impressed, he continued, "You've heard of us haven't you?" He asked sarcastic astonishment. "Wait no!" He finished, mockingly, "You both grew up as muggles! What was that like? I wouldn't know obviously, but It's always cool to see how the other half lives."

The duo sat silent as they stared at the boy. Distaste growing with every word which came out of his mouth. Hermione had already decided she did not like the boy once he had introduced himself by stating his lineage. "Only pompous brats would base their life around people who came before them." She had concluded. Looking over to Harry, she expected his face to reflect the same. However, while obviously not enjoying Malfoy's presence, his face expressed less of exasperation with the boy, and more of boredom.

"I was bored, tired, and cleaned a bunch of stuff." Harry answered. "Not fun. Not fun at all. Like the magical world a lot better."

Hermione almost choked on her own breath. Did Harry just agree with this… egocentric brat? Harry wasn't like that. Or at least, from what she had seen, he wasn't.

"See? I told you Crabbe! Even the Boy-Who-Lived thinks the magical world is better than the muggle one! I can't wait to father hears of this!" Malfoy laughed.

"What's you're stupid dad gonna hear about now Malfoy?" A voice yelled out from down the hall.

The blonde smiled to himself once more, before turning back to Harry. "It seems you have more admirers Potter. I'll let you deal with them."

With that, the boy was off. His goons following behind him. Hermione was dumbfounded. With the three of them, she had expected intimidation, coercion, and blackmail. Instead, they asked a question, laughed, and left. She turned to Harry once more, but noticed he had stood up to close the door. His face was as bland as if he had simply been out for a morning stroll.

Before he could close the door however, he was met with three red heads standing in the threshold. Wait… Was there two of them or was she seeing double? Regardless, the younger one, a first year at best, spoke first.

"Sorry about that prick. Gives us trouble every year and now you have to worry about him too." The young boy held out his hand, "I'm Ron. And you're…" the boy stopped short as he stared up at the scar on Harry's forehead. Harry, obviously noticing the boys eye movements, subtly brushed some hair over his scar once more. It wasn't enough.

"You're t-the Boy-Who-Lived!" He began.

Harry, still not use to his new nickname, rubbed the back of his head embarrassed. "Yep… Thats me." He replied, not really sure what to say.

"No one's seen you in 10 years! Where did they hide you?!" Ron nearly yelled.

However, before Harry could respond, the boy's brothers cut him off. "Alright ronnie boy, poking into other peoples business is our business. You keep to memorizing Quidditch names." Before the boy could respond, he was being pulled out of cabin. The other boy, the boy to the right of the one who looked just like him, finished where the other started.

"We better be going. Gotta find a carriage and this one seems to taken. You two have a nice journey."

And with that, along with a few comments Hermione could make out of earshot about it being Rons fault they were late to the carriage leaving, they were off as quickly as they had come.

Harry looked out the threshold with bewilderment. He sighed

"Well. I guess we're more famous than we thought."

Closing the carriage door, Harry soon found himself deep in thought. On the outside, he appeared to be reading Hogwarts: A History, But on the inside, he was trying wrap his head round what this all meant.

"The Children-Who-Lived huh? I guess it could be worse. At least I've made one friend here. More than I ever had back at the Dursleys."

The boy looked up. Hermione was sitting with her hands in her lap staring out the window. She looked to him for a moment, realizing he was staring at her, and averted her eyes. In what he could tell was nervousness, she dusted non existent dirt off her robes.

It was then he remembered something!

He forgot to put on his robes!

Springing up from his comfortable sitting position suddenly, and by consequence making Hermione jump, Harry began rummaging through his trunk looking for his nice dress robes which he had bought only two days before. Finding them under a dress shirt he had brought along just incase, he looked towards the girl who had been sharing the compartment with him.

"Mind stepping out for a sec? I have to change."

Hermione obliged, and stepped out of the carriage. Just as he got finished changing, he could hear the trains whistle signaling that they had finally reached their stop.

"Firs' years! Firs' Years! Come over here!" A bellowing voice cried out. Over the heads of the large crowd, the distinct figure of what Hermione could only describe as a giant could be seen. He wore an old coat and appeared to have a beard which grew longer than even her own hair.

"Who's that?" Hermione whispered into what appeared to be her friend of circumstance.

"Hm? Uh… Hairgrid… I think. Something like that. That's what Sirius called him at least." The boy answered, looking quickly at the towering figure, before turning his head back towards where they were walking.

"Hairgrid? Well that certainly would be apt." Hermione joked trying to sound nonchalant. On the outside she assumed she was putting on a convincing demeanor of calm. At least, she hoped she was. On the inside however, her inquisitive mind was racing with questions.

"Why do we have the same scar? Why were their situations so similar to one another? Why did that blond call us the Children-Who-Lived?"

Her mind raced at 100 miles a minute. There were so many inconsistencies with the story. She was the Girl-Who-Lived! Child who defied the odds and bested the darkest wizard of the last generation!

Except now, a boy, with the same story as her, had appeared right in front of her, and no one had ever thought to mention him to her!

Approaching the castle, she noted to herself to ask Harry about the whole situation further when they got a chance to talk in private. For now a tall, older looking woman stood at the gates of the keep and she was garnering the attention of every first year around them.

"Thats McGonagall!" One girl whispered, her excitement obviously not contained by her mousy demeanor.

"Didn't she fight the Bellatrix in a dual and win?"

"No way! She fought Cicely Spijker not Bellatrix!"

As the two children squabled, the lady, dressed in a green silk robe, strode towards the group with not a step out of sync.

"I faced neither a sadist nor a scum like them. My role was support and research." She smiled looking at the two children who were now blushing with embarrassment.

"Are they all here Hagrid?" She asked, now confirming that Harry had in fact, heard his name wrong.

"Suppose so Professor. May 'ave lost a few of 'em along the way though!" He bellowed with a great laugh that put a smile even on the strict McGonigal's face.

"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here." With a flick of her wand, the door opened, and Hermione had crossed her Rubicon.

"The point of no return."

The office of the headmaster was in an uproar as Dumbledore walked into the room. Taken aback by the paintings out of character liveliness, he looked up and gave a resounding question.

"What seems to be the problem Professors?"

All the paintings turned and looked down towards the latest headmaster to be in their shoes. Some gleeful at his return, others dismissive at "wise fool."

"It has been not 30 minutes, and the two chosen children have found each other! You had a hand in this Dumbledore! I won't have you interfering in these students lives!"

The painting, that of one Dexter Fortescue, points his finger at the incumbent headmaster, obviously distraught at outreach into their lives. Dumbledore, obviously, was not impressed by the threat.

"They would be the hubbub of the school mere minutes after walking into their sorting. They would know of each other anyways, so I do not see what is wrong with giving them a push towards a new friend. Merlin knows they deserve it."

"Regardless," the former headmaster refuted, "using charms on the young girl to make her enter the carriage? You know very well as Chief Warlock that using charms on others without consent is illegal!"

"Yes it is." He commented. "And the charm I used would permit me to suffer at most a fine of 20 Galleons. So which charity shall I make the donation out to?"

At this, the old wizard faltered, and whispering under his breath "that's not the point" he crossed his arms and turned his head away from the Bearded Warlock.

"Very Mature Dexter." A lady, Elizabeth Burke, glared at him as he turned his head. "Regardless of you paying or not paying a fine Dumbledore, the point still stands. Why must you meddle in their lives? Let them live and meet each other naturally. Do not tell me you are playing matchmaker while they are so young."

At this, several of the paintings gave a hearty laugh. Dumbledore, cluckling himself, threw his hands up in a mock surrender.

"Do not mistake my machinations for anything such." He smiled. "Although there is never enough love in the world."

With a chuckle, he held up his right hand up, and covering his heart with his left, he began to recite an oath.

"I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, will not interfere in the lives of my students any further. I so promise." He said, reciting the phrase in a rhythmic tone as if he were being forced to do so.

"There. Are we all in agreement?"

Several of the statues nodded their heads and others expressed their satisfaction.

What they did not see, was the headmaster slowly cross his fingers.

"SLYTHERIN!"

The crowd cheered as the newest edition to the Slytherin house, Gregory Goyle made his way towards the table. He sat next to his fellow pawn Crabb, and awaited their fearless leader to join them.

"Granger, Hermione!" the Deputy Headmistress called. As she did so, the crowd began to whisper.

"Granger? The Girl-Who-Lived? I hear she's as smart as they come. Definitely gonna be a Ravenclaw.

Ravenclaw…

Hermione thought about it for a moment. Obviously, she would fit in with Ravenclaw. She was not one to brag but to deny she was not smart was simply false. If she were placed in Ravenclaw, she would feel at home with plenty of others who truly wanted to make the most out of their time here at Hogwarts.

At yet, as she walked towards the simple stool and the patchy hat, time seemed to slow down. Would she fit in Ravenclaw? Sure she was smart, but was that all she was good for? What good is smarts if you can't apply them. And what of the new development with this Potter boy? Obviously they were connected somehow, and she was determined to figure it out.

Was that worth sacrificing taking the best house for her?

Was Ravenclaw the best house for her?

As she sat down on the seat, she was surprised when everything turned to black.

"Oh my what a mind we have here. Hmm. Very inquisitive aren't you. Wondering how exactly im able to read your mind like this. Maybe you'll ask Dumbledore later how it is done."

"Wha- You can read my-"

"Thoughts? Why yes I can! In fact I process them a second before you do! No matter. There seems to be a lingering in that brilliant head of yours. A lingering relating to your destiny Ms. Granger."

"You know my destiny too?"

"I know many things Ms. Granger. But what I know most is the house you wish to go into in your heart of hearts. You must tell me though. Are you sure?"

Hermione stilled her will. This was a strict divergence from the plan she had made whilst studying Hogwarts and its traditions. But, as any good tactician knows, a good plan rarely survives first contact with trouble.

"My you are a bright one. Shame Ravenclaw can't have you. Oh well."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The shout echoed throughout the hall and not a moment later the Gryffindor table erupted into cheers. As the young girl made her way to the table, a smile of pride made its way onto McGonigal's face.

Harry stood dumbfounded as his new friend made her way to the Gryffindor table. This had caught him completely by surprise. From what he understood of the four houses, and keep in mind what he knew came only from his skimming of Hogwarts: A History Ravenclaw was a much better fit for this mousy bookworm of a friend he had made. Yet, once again, their paths had crossed.

Harry had no doubts in the house he would be being placed in. After being told of the true origins of his family, he learned of his fathers place in the House of Gryffindor. Many times Sirius had informed Harry of the hijinks which his father and himself had partaken in, and the wonderful time they had in Gryffindor. He wished with his heart of hearts to be in this house and he knew he had the courage to do so.

Yet, Harry was nervous. He was not sure what to expect when the hat was lowered into his head. Did it read your mind? Did it consider his past, his wants, or his future? Most importantly however, did it smell?

"Perks, Sally-Anne!"

The moment of his sorting approached quickly. He knew he was next. All he had to do was have trust in the hat. It had never been wrong before after all!

Well… How you measure being wrong in sorting of houses was beyond him, but Hogwarts: A History wouldn't lie!

"Potter, Harry!"

Again whispers arose through the hall. This time not of what house he would be placed into, as that was quite obvious, but what it meant.

"Potter's gonna get placed in the same house as Granger! How poetic is that?"

"I wonder if they both received special training from Dumbledore? They gotta be wicked good at spells and they are only first years!"

"Poor souls. At least they will have each other in Gryffindor. Unless that stupid hat has some vendetta against them."

This last comment shook Harry. Why was everyone so confident in his placement in Gryffindor? And what was this about the hat having a vendetta? Was that just a joke?

Stealing his resolve, Harry sat down on a hard wood stool, and watched as his vision disappeared into darkness.

"Hmm… Not a bad mind yourself you know. The other one was sharp, but you're not far off. You wouldn't do too poorly in Ravenclaw yourself you know."

Harry's heart faltered. What was this hat talking about? Everyone was so confident in his placement in Gryffindor! What did this hat see in him that the others didn't.

"Oh calm down child i'm only speaking in jest. While what I said was not wrong, you would be a much better fit in Slytherin."

The hat let out a bellowing laugh as Harry's face paled.

"Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin." Harry repeated over and over to this hat in hopes someone would somehow hear his prayer. That someone, whether the hat or something else, must have heard him.

"Easy lad. I'm only playin' with ya. You may be cunning, but your destiny requires you somewhere else. You know it in your heart of hearts. You must tell me though. Are you sure?"

"Not Slytherin!" Harry yelled in his mind one last time. He hadn't even registered anything the hat had just said. The hat, holding in yet another laugh, relented.

"Well you aren't accepting enough to be a Hufflepuff. So I guess that leaves only one choice.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I swear these just keep getting longer.

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