Welcome to my first Harry Potter FanFic, this will follow two challenges of sorts, neither of which I can remember where I found them, If anyone can tell me who wrote them, let me know so I can accredit them properly.

the first is "What if Harry met Hermione instead of the Weasleys at Platform 9 3/4"

the second is the following; "What if the Founders had their own ideas on how to protect students? What if the Sorting Hat was the 'spokesperson' for Hogwarts herself? what if all students were scanned by the hat for any problems as they came in and were sorted? This might wake some people up, or cause problems for plans people may or may not have. Conditions: 1) At Harry's Sorting, the Sorting Hat notices the abuse Harry had gone through at home. Abuse can be Canon or Fanon. It immediately calls a halt to the Sorting, calling for Madam Pomfrey and the head of the DMLE and will not sort anyone else until they arrive. 2) there is no way to get around contacting these people. 3) Only when Harry is in the hands of the Law Enforcement and Healers, will the sorting continue. 4) Dumbledore can be a blind good guy or Dark Lord or anything in between. 5) Harry must get free of the Dursleys for this, they cannot escape punishment. 6) Ships can be any. 7) Harry should get some help from Hogwarts/Sorting Hat. 8) Horcruxes okay, but NO HARRY HORCRUX. Mother's protection would not allow this. 9) Please no DH. 10) No evil!Harry, Grey!Harry or Light!Harry preferable, so long as good sided."

That said; this will be a Harry/Hermione Fic and this will cover all seven years and then a chapter or two of Post-Hogwarts

It was nine o'clock, September 1, 1991, and Harry Potter was worried; his "uncle" Vernon dropped him off very early and he still could not find Platform 9 ¾. He was just about to give up when Hedwig barked at him and pointed at one of the columns, "You think it's that one?" a nod was her reply, "Alright, but if not, we'll have to find something else to try." getting a good lick of speed, Harry was shocked when he went through that barrier and found himself on Platform 9 ¾.

The steam billowing from the red engine was awe inspiring, so much so, that Harry forgot the most basic rule of doors, never stand in them for long.

Crash!

Harry found himself kissing pavement with the feeling of being crushed. "Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't realise there was someone in the way." the young brown haired girl said.

She helped him sit up and dust off, "Hermione Granger," she said whilst sticking out her hand.

"Harry Potter," he replied, taking her hand.

She helped him up and then recognition flashed across her face, "The Boy-Who-Lived?" she whispered.

"Apparently," he scoffed, "I was only told I was a wizard last month by the gamekeeper of Hogwarts."

Shock crossed Hermione's face, "Would you like to sit with me, perhaps I can help you adjust, after all, I've had nearly a year to do it."

Harry smiled and agreed, hoping to make at least one friend whilst at Hogwarts. "First year as well?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, "Yes, and I'm looking forward to learning real magic, have you read your books yet?"

Harry nodded, "Just Potions and Herbology though, my Aunt and Uncle didn't want anything Freakish happening," he muttered.

She seemed dejected at this, "Well, I'll have to bring you up to snuff then."

The next two hours consisted of a crash course of sorts in Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic and Astronomy. Hermione was a natural teacher and, much to Harry's surprise, he was a quick study at many subjects with only History and Astronomy troubling him. At Eleven o'clock precisely, the train began moving, just as a family of redheads practically lept on the train. Harry and Hermione looked at each other with a bemused expression on their faces, "one would think, that doing this probably five or more times, judging the number of children that woman had, they would not be cutting it so fine." Hermione sighed.

Harry chuckled, "I bet since this only really happens once a year, they might forget what time to leave their house."

Before Hermione could answer, they heard a crash come from the corridor. Popping their heads out, they noticed a dark-haired Wizard on the floor with a trunk and a case surrounding him. "Blast those Weasley twins, I swear I'll think of something," he muttered.

Rushing to his side, Hermione helped him up whilst Harry arraigned his luggage, "Bless your souls thank you both, mind if I ride with you both, it's tradition for some of the older students to intermingle with the younger ones," he asked. When they nodded, he shook their hands, "Thank you kindly, I'm Alba McGonagall, yes I'm related to the Depute Headmistress, and yes, I'm not in her house."

Hermione was amazed, "How are you related? What house are you in?"

Alba chuckled, "She be me Grandmum and I'm in Slytherin, third year too. My, you're inquisitive, I'm thinking Ravenclaw or Slytherin, I'm usually right but you could be in any house, as for you Mr Potter, I've got no bloody clue, you've got traits of all four houses yet nothing tieing you to one in particular."

Harry was shocked, "How did you know?"

Alba chuckled "Two things, I can see your bangs are hiding your scar, you might want to do a better job than that," he said, and Harry moved more hair to cover it. "And secondly, I came with Grandmum every now and then to the Potter house and met you all those years ago."

They sat in relative silence after that, with the only noise being the violin Alba brought, a great many people entered their compartment to find Harry Potter, but Alba would send them on their way before they got a look at him, especially the youngest of the Weasley brood as he was loudly proclaiming that he would be his "Best Mate" much to Harry and Hermione's amusement.

In no time at all, they were entering Hogsmeade 'Station' Harry could barely call it a halt. "Firs' years ove' here, Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid called.

Alba waved them off "See you at the castle you two!"

They walked through the village of Hogsmeade and reached the boats and though Hagrid called four to a boat, Harry and Hermione were on their own, the others seeming to give them a wide berth. Soon, Hogwarts came into view the castle was a wondrous sight and soon they encountered Professor McGonagall. "Welcome to Hogwarts, 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 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 lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."

With that, they were waiting outside the Great Hall and soon students were muttering about the Sorting with crazy rumours flying. Harry and Hermione shared a smile, Alba mentioned that the Sorting was nothing more than wearing a hat whilst it determines, based on your traits, which house to place you in.

Entering the Great Hall hand in hand, they sat on the benches when the Hat 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 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!

With the (Odd?) song out of the way, names were called "Abbott, Hannah" then, "Hufflepuff" and on and on it went until "Granger, Hermione" a moment passed before the hat called out "On Hold!" much to the shock of all. Hermione could do very little except walk back to her seat, but she did not seem upset about it. Malfoy was placed in Gryffindor, much to his consternation. Then at long last, "Potter, Harry" and the murmuring started, Harry was able to ignore them and sat upon the stool. "Ah Mr Potter, the one Miss Granger wanted me to talk to, let's see what she's on about."

"Hermione wanted you to talk to me, why?" Harry thought.

The hat didn't reply for a moment, then, all of a sudden, "What the bloody hell happened to your childhood!"

Harry scoffed, "What childhood?"

"Exactly, one moment please," then the hat bellowed "Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Hermione Granger, Conference room one NOW!"

Paled considerably, McGonagall asked, "And the Sorting?"

"Is on hold!" Snarled the hat.

Soon everyone named was in the conference room and the hat spoke again, "Right Albus, contact Madam Amelia Bones of the DMLE, Minerva, get Poppy, quickly now!"

Knowing that they would get no answers until it was done, the kids were left with the hat when Hermione spoke up, "How bad is it?"

The hat grimaced, "Not good; Mr Potter, would you like me to explain or would you like to?"

"Please do," Harry said, suddenly feeling very small and very scared.

Hermione, seeing how he was shrinking back into a shell, carefully took his hand, and said "It's alright Harry, I'm here for you," before pulling him into a gentle hug.

This was the scene that the adults walked into, the hat, taking charge, said, "We'll leave them be for now, I've placed some of Harry's memories into the Pensieve, please look at it now."

The adults did as they were told and a quarter of an hour later, they emerged; Madam Bones and Professor McGonagall red with rage, Dumbledore white with fear, and Madam Pomfrey quite green. Minerva turned on the Headmaster, "Dè an t-ifrinn fiadhaich a bh 'ann an Alba a' smaoineachadh air Albus, dh 'innis mi dhut gur e an seòrsa bu mhiosa de mhugairean a bh' annta, ach an d 'èist thu, CHA BHI!"

"Minerva, you can rip Albus a new one later, I'll even join you, but right now, you're scaring Harry," Madam Bones said, attempting to placate her friend.

McGonagall paled considerably, "I'm so sorry Harry, I should have a better hold of my temper."

"Then I shouldn't mention that these were some of the worst with one of the best?" the hat casually said.

Minerva and Albus sank into chairs while Madam Pomfrey rushed out of the room when she returned, the hat asked her to check Harry, "There could be complications that we don't know about."

She ran her spells and her face tightened and she noticed everyone looking at her, "Let's put it this way, a muggle would have been dead long before this."

The room gave a collective gasp and Harry groaned, that was just what he needed, another reason to stand out. Hermione though noticed this and leant into his ear, "I don't think any less of you, and you'll always be 'just Harry' to me." At this, Harry clung to Hermione as if she would disappear, when he started shaking, she whispered, "It's alright, let it out Harry," while rubbing his back as soothingly as she could, thankfully, he listened to her and they held each other while the adults looked on.

Amelia and Poppy started making arrangements to correct this situation while Minerva stared down Albus, soon though, the hat said, "We need to head back to the hall and continue the Sorting, do you feel like you can do that?" at Harry's nod they began walking back. "So Harry, where to put you? You've got traits of all four houses, what is your preference?"

"Just put me with Hermione," Harry thought, "I need all the help I can get."

"Right then," The hat billowed, "Hermione Granger and Harry Potter are in SLYTHERIN!"

Much of the hall was in shock, never had there been a duel sorting, much less a Muggleborn in Slytherin much less a Potter. Making their way to the Slytherin House Table next to Alba, the Sorting continued, the only shock is that of the entire incoming First Years, Harry and Hermione were the only Slytherins. Soon the feast was over and they were let to the house common room where Professor Snape ran down the rules for his two new First Years. At a much closer range, Snape could see clearly what warranted concern from one of his older snakes. "Mr Potter, I can tell why you were called off during the Sorting," he began, noticing Harry's discomfort, "I have potions that can help you recover quickly and effectively by taking them once a day, I will speak with the School Matron about it, would you like that?" at Harry's nod he continued, "I don't know what your life was like exactly, but I know what it should have been, I may not of been best of friends with your Father, but your Mother and I were best of friends at your age, tomorrow I'll bring some of her things, would you like that?"

At that moment Harry broke down into tears, Hermione cradled his head, "I think Harry would like that sir," she replied.

He nodded and turned to see Alba with his violin, walking over to him Alba remarked, "It looks as though he could use it, sir."

Snape agreed "More than you know Mr McGonagall."

That evening the soft strings of violin music echoed around the House of Snakes, helping the young sleep and calming the older. Snape was in his office when he walked over to his Floo, "Depute's Office!" he cried when Minerva's head appeared he told her what had happened. "... I thought he was supposed to be safe, where the hell was he?"

Minerva shook her head, "Petunia Dursley's."

"That explains it," he muttered, "Tunie hates magic, she hated her sister, the stories she told of her summers, I think she downplayed it."

"Oh no, Severus, Amelia and I are going to 'speak' with Albus tomorrow after lunch, would you like to offer your perspective?" she asked.

A smile crossed his face, "I get the feeling you've already had the starting of a 'conversation' with him, I would love to join."

Minerva looked down, "I shouted at him in Gaelic. In front of Harry no less."

Severus looked surprised, "Well that's a first, you'll have to provide a Pensieve memory to your cubs to show just why no one with any sense dares argues with you."

With that, they both went off to bed, little knowing that Hogwarts would never be the same again...