The paddle… please.

‘Well,’ the hat asked. 'What instrument will it be next for this rear, dear? You're certainly brave enough for Gryffindor and a thick paddle might be just the medicine for a stubborn little witch, hmm? Cunning enough to suit a Slytherin's brush too though, now aren't you? A Muggle-born in Slytherin certainly wouldn't be deprived of any discipline in that house. Oh yes, a good brush would see you red-cheeked and in tears every night in regal Slytherin.'

The eagerness in the hat's voice sent shivers of alarm up Hermione's spine and her cheeks unconsciously clenched.

Despite only just learning of Hogwarts, even she'd heard how cruel Slytherins could be to Muggle-borns. The idea of living amongst them, giving every one of them easy access to put her over their knee and spank her bubbly cheeks, sent her head spinning in panic. Being sorted to Slytherin was practically a guarantee she wouldn't be able to sit for the whole year! And besides, she'd already found her dream house.

Gathering her resolve, Hermione answered the hat's query in a whisper so that her gathered audience wouldn't hear.

"The paddle... please."

'Hmm, the paddle you say? Not sounding too confident about that are we though? No, no, no, a quiet little mouse will never do for good old Gryffindor. Let's try warming those cheeks with a good old brush, shall we?'

"No!", she begged in alarm at the idea. "The paddle please! Please paddle my butt!"

'Oh-ho, now that sounds more like a good Gryffindor kitty!'

Roaring laughter immediately replaced the previous sniggers and Hermione felt her face begin to burn as she realized she had spoken loud enough for the entire hall to hear her plea. She felt like sinking into the floor as she heard some of the other first year girls lined up behind her mockingly imitate her outburst. Why did she have to go through this she thought to herself.

'You didn't have to little witch. I can hear you perfectly fine without you speaking aloud,' commented the hat snidely, causing further humiliation to well up and her eyes start to water. 'But, since your tush found its courage, let's give it a go.'

!smack!smack!

!thwack!thwack!

Hermione barely managed to keep her lips pressed together as four heavy impacts landed across her presented bottom. Rocking in place from the sting, she managed to avoid crying out as a burning sensation spread across her rear and... elsewhere.

'I see, I see,' the hat pondered, causing Hermione to relax slightly as she waited for it to dec -

!Thwack!Thwack!

Two more blows landed across her ass, even heavier than the last ones. Caught off guard, she didn't manage to close her mouth in time. As stinging pain erupted across her quivering buns -

"Mmm-ooOOH"

• a loud, drawn-out moan escaped her and echoed across the hall.

Shame seized Hermione as she waited for more laughter to emerge, only to be surprised by... cheering? Yes, the red-cheeked girl thought as she heard the distinctive sound of celebration come from one of the four long tables, drowning out any laughter.

'Ah, so that's how it is,' the hat mused, seemingly coming to a conclusion. 'well then...'