So now was the time.

Honestly Noah should have set up a wager with several of the folks he had met in Diagon Alley or the ones who had been reconnected with. Often talk had found its way to Hogwarts houses, what the houses were like, and what the houses meant. Then the conversation would suggest that the former Pukwudgie ought to be a Hufflepuff. Ever since getting confirmation from multiple sources that he would indeed be a Hufflepuff, the fifteen year old transfer was delighted for this moment. He tried to act calm, cool, and collected which he almost succeeded at. Every now and then, he'd rock back and forth impatiently waiting for his turn to have the hat placed on him. Well... Considering his last name was Nam, he was dead stuck in the middle. 14/26 to be precise. 7/13. Well if you looked at it that way, he was much closer to the later half of the alphabet and perhaps the line. He didn't know all the students' last names in front of him or behind him so he decided to just wait.

And finally the time had come.

"Nam, Noah."

Hearing his name, he took a step forward with a confident air about him - his shoulders were back and he wore a content smile on his lips. He made his way up to the stool then turned around to take a seat on it. The hat was then placed on his head.

"My, oh my.. What do we have here... Another transfer.. My.... A desire to help and please your fellow mates... Loyal... indeed." The hat paused. "But there's this... unyielding fire... passion... courage... but heart....."

His eyes widened. He wasn't brave surely! He was... he just talked his friends out of doing silly things like when Islay suggested that they tried to get into the Tower of London to grab the jewels when they were exploring London with Jude and Chloe. He wondered where Islay and Jude had ended up. Chloe was certainly hanging out by the Ravenclaw House table. The boys thought had gone elsewhere while the Sorting House still mumbled.

I'm... thought he taking a deep breath as he tried to get a word in with the Sorting Hat who continued to ignore him. He took a deep breath, hoping that the Sorting Hat could read his mind. Hufflepuff.... The Sorting Hat paused. "Why that house...?" Noah paused. Everyone tells me that I should be there.. The Sorting Hat chuckled. "And where do you think you truly belong? I see courage... an inner strength.. a desire for knowledge and truth... but the courage is overwhelming and untapped. With great coaching from the Lions, you could be even greater."

"GRYFFINDOR!!" proclaimed the Sorting Hat.



Time froze... momentarily as Noah tried to process what just happened. He didn't have much time to think because he was brought back when the hat was lifted off of his head.

Gryffindor... Wait.. Did HE get a say in it too? He paused momentarily, then stood up, and headed down the stairs towards the Lion's table. He shot a glance towards the Hufflepuff table, spotting Kimmie, and smiled sadly. Maybe in another life he could end up there? He straightened his shoulders, commanding himself to stand tall once more. Perhaps Gryffindor wouldn't be so bad?