A tiny, little, split-second had passed in between the time when Brent picked up the Sorting Hat and when he suddenly felt a really strange hooking and tugging feeling. His eyes widened, and his first instinct was to reach for his wand. That very well might have been the next thing he did; however, the sudden appearance of a bright light began to blind him, and his hands flew to his eyes in an attempt to shield them. He had to keep holding on to the brooch and the hat, though. He'd worked way too hard to get them to lose them now.

He increased his grip on both his findings as he continued to shield his face from the light. What in the name of Merlin was going on?! He was almost sure the challenge was over, but was he being portkey-ed somewhere else entirely?!

Sensing he really was somewhere else entirely, Brent removed his hands from over his eyes and peered around. "Duuuuude! Where am I?" he asked no one in particular. It looked like a cross between a hospital and a really, really white dorm room. There were others in here, too---sleeping for some really odd reason. How and when did they even get here? These thoughts and more were running through his mind, when a man approached, and Brent might have been afraid, except the man greeted him with a smile.

"A daydream?!" he asked. Duuuuude. Hold up. WHAAAAAA?! Had any of this really happened?! AT ALL?! He had so many questions, but the one thing that bummed him out was that he had been super excited to say that he had once traveled beneath the Whomping Willow and into the REAL Shrieking Shack! And now that victory was really no longer his.

Still somewhat confused and still having tons of questions, Brent stood up and ran a hand through his hair. Apparently, the viewing area was on the other side of the door, and that seemed to be the best place for him right now. "Thanks," he said, giving a quick wave to the Ministry employee.

...and so he opened the door, left the room, and ventured out into the viewing area to meet his friends and hear the standings.