"Stevens, Mishenka!"

Mason felt sick as she made her way towards the stool and the sat down as gracefully as she could muster. She put the hat on her head and closed her eyes.

"Interesting,” muttered a small voice, bouncing around in her head. “I sorted your father and his before him, but none of them had a mind quite like yours. A mind for plans and thoughts, represented mostly by those in Ravenclaw. You hold a certain cunning and ambition that so greatly fits with Slytherin, and the power, yes the power!"

“But you have courage. Nobility that fits well in Gryffindor. Oh? You don’t want to be in Gryffindor do you? Very well . But there is more to you."

"You have a powerful mind, great and fast-witted! Gifted, some would say!”

No! I don't want to be a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw!

That was all that Mason thought as the hat said that. I don't belong in the house of the brave or the fast of wit. But then . . . where do I belong?

“No? Well then. What of Hufflepuff? You have a kind heart and loyalty, loyalty to a fault it would seem. . . well if you want it, then it is yours. You will be-

"SLYTHERIN!” declared the hat in ringing tones.

Her heart missed a beat and then began to beat normally again. She belonged with the snakes. The knot in her belly loosened and she could breath again. Mason had always know deep down that she would be a snake, and she was more than happy to have been sorted there.

A smile was plastered on her face as she removed the hat to great praise from her new House. She stood up and beamed as she walked happily to the Slytherin table.