Harry nodded slowly, waiting for her to leave or start treating him as if he was incompetent. He was surprised, however, when she did neither and continued on.

“This is so cool! My aunt is deaf and I learned how to sign when I was little!” she said quickly. At this, Harry was astounded. She knew how to sign?

You know how to sign? Harry asked.

Yes, I have known how since I was five replied Hermione.

Harry could not believe it. After he had learned to read lips, he had gone to a regular school. There, everyone had treated him as if he was stupid, talking loudly and slowly. It depressed him at first, but after a while, he began to accept it. His teacher, who he called Aunt Claire, always told him to ignore those people and that they were missing out on knowing a great person. She always managed to cheer him up when he was feeling lonely and took him places when the Dursleys would let him. They treated him horribly to say the least. They told him to do something when he wasn’t looking at them and then punished him for not doing it.

Now here was someone who could understand him and even wanted to talk to him. She didn’t treat him differently just because he couldn’t hear her.

Hermione told him about how she learned to sign and about her. She already knew about how his parents were murdered (he was still getting used to the truth about that) and how Voldemort had tried to kill him. He told her about his teacher and the Dursleys, although he left out how they treated him.

A few minutes later the train began to slow down and through the window they could see the lights shining out of a large castle. Hermione pulled on his arm and they worked their way onto the crowded platform. Many students stared openly at him as they passed, but Hermione just pulled him along with her towards a huge man waving a lantern. He was ushering students towards a lake with several boats along the shore. They all got in, and the boats rowed themselves across the lake towards the gigantic castle. When they got out, a stern looking witch standing at the top of the stairs to the entrance greeted them. They all gathered on the stairs and were waiting for what to do next.

She was saying something but Harry couldn’t see her very well due to the students in front of him. When several turned and looked at him, Hermione signed to him

She wants to see you. She paused when the woman said something else and then, and me as well with a shrug.

He followed her up the stairs to the woman who let them into a side room. She spoke first to Hermione.

“I am Professor McGonagall. What is your name?” she asked by way of greeting.

“Hermione Granger” she replied.

“Miss Granger, I see you have become acquainted with Mr. Potter here and know of him being deaf. I noticed you can sign too and I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yes, Professor.” Hermione replied.

“I am asking if you would be willing to act as his translator while he is getting used to the school and help him out as needed.”

“Of course, but I don’t think Harry needs much help.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can read lips.” Harry said, causing the professor to jump slightly.

“Oh! I’m sorry Mr. Potter. We knew nothing besides that you were deaf. However, I would still like for Miss Granger to accompany you for a while. Come see me and Professor Dumbledore after the Welcoming Feast.”

She left and they followed her out of the room back to where all the other first year students were, as Hermione told him. They had barely walked out of the room when the main doors were thrown open and Professor McGonagall waved them forward and into a large hall with four long tables where all of the other students were sitting. At the head was another table, but this one was filled with teachers.

They lined up facing the rest of the school and a stool with a battered hat upon it was placed in front of them. It appeared to talk, as a rip opened up in the front and began moving. When it was finished, Professor McGonagall told them that all they had to do was place the hat on their heads and it would sort them into a House. Hermione, who was standing next to him nudged him and mouthed ‘I'll tell you later.’

The professor began calling out names, and a student would walk forward and put the hat on. The rip would open again and call out something and they would go sit at one of the four tables.

When Hermione was called, she went to the table at the far right, which was decorated with red and gold. Next to it was a table in green and silver, then one in yellow and black, then finally on the left side a table with blue and bronze.

More students were called until he saw Professor McGonagall call out “Harry Potter”. Heads all around the hall looked right at him when he walked forward and placed the hat on his head. When he put the hat on, he could hear a voice in his head. “Hmmmm… Potter, eh. You have the markings for Slytherin, but I think you would do better in GRYFFINDOR!!!” The hat must have shouted some of what he heard in his head because the table with red and gold erupted into applause and Hermione was waving him over.

Harry sat down and watched as the rest of the new students tried on the hat. Several came to the Gryffindor table, including one of the boys with red hair that he had seen in London who sat next to him but didn’t say anything to him. When all the new students had tried it on, the stool was removed and an old man wearing purple robes stood up.

“Tuck in” was all he said and suddenly food appeared on the golden plates before them and everyone began to eat.

Harry enjoyed all the wonderful food that appeared. He ate more than he had ever eaten before in his life, or more like had ever been fed. The old man stood up again once everyone had finished and made a few announcements. Harry caught something about a forest, banned items, and the third floor before the school was dismissed and everyone stood up to leave. He was going to follow them when Hermione grabbed his arm and signed we still have to meet with the professors.

He had forgotten all about that during the feast and turned to see the old man and Professor McGonagall looking at him from the top table.