"Abbott, Leah!" Urgh. Why was Leah's name one of the first to be called out? She hated being the first. It made her nervous. "Take a deep breath, and don't be nervous." The girl muttered to herself and walked out slowly to the stool.

The Sorting Hat was huge for her, and it fell right over her eyes. All the nervous girl could see was the black inside of the Hat. It was old and battered compared to her brand new pointed hat. Leah jumped up at a sound in her ears. "Hmm, an Abbott, eh? Yes, you are loyal like your family, but I also see a bit of bravery deep inside your heart. So where should I sort you in?" It was the Hat speaking inside her head. She grabbed the edge of the stool harder. "Yes, yes, I guess you better go to HUFFLEPUFF!"

The last word was roared out to the crowd. Leah the new Puffer, now beaming proudly, jumped down the stool and joined the Hufflepuff table.

Getting judged by a hat. This was just another thing to add to Mitchell's ever growing list of reasons he should have stayed in New York.

Of course, he didn't have much of a choice now. He was in some place called Scotland, according to Grace, after an entire day on a supposedly magic train. Yeah, train, you weren't fooling him. He saw the steam chimneys. It was non-magic.

Mitchell took a deep breath and sat on the stool while the hat was placed on his head. Cool. Now what? Was it supposed to do something? He swung his feet and waited for whatever was supposed to happen. Meanwhile his mind drifted. At least the hat ended up on his head. He was honestly starting to worry it would end up on his foot the way his experiences over here was going.

"Gryffindor!" a loud unexpected voice said. He blinked several times. He supposed that was what he was waiting for.

Now...

Where exactly was this Griffin Door?

Oh! Oh! Oh! It was better than Hope had imagined. The little girl that was buried deep inside of her was showing itself just a bit as she walked into the great hall. Yes, this was where she belonged. Only problem was...which house? Where would she best be able to take over the worldthrive. She felt watched very closely by the older students and professors and everyone really. That was probably the same thing most people were wondering. What house would Hope Evans be sorted into?

She heard her name called and slowly, but confidently, made her way up to the stool. Place me somewhere worth being, she thought as the hat touched her head. Well, look what we have here. Clever and a quick tongue. A walking bit of contradictions. A very highly placed sense of self and a wisdom that is a little beyond your years. Hmmm? Where should I put this young mind eager to learn? Better be...

"RAVENCLAW!"

Hope hoped off the stool, leaving the hat behind, and headed to the table with the student sporting blue. She tied down the little girl inside. Cool and collected Evans. Cool and collected.

Keller, Lana.

That was her. That was HER name. Lana let out a small squeak of excitement as her name was called backwards. She made her way up to the front of the big room and scrambled onto the stool, her feet swinging in the air since it was much too tall for her short frame. A hat was placed on her head and everything went dark. Because it covered her eyes.

It was silent for fourteen and a half seconds before the hat announced, "Gryffindor!" Lana lifted the brim off her eyes and GRINNED when she heard the red and gold table cheer for her. GRYFFINDOR. See? She was right! She knew she'd be a Gryffindor!

She beamed as she jumped off the stool and took the sorting hat off her head. Then she ran to Gryffindor table. Ran. Because excited Lana was excited. Gryffindor!

Bri stood nervously in line with all the other 1st year students waiting to be sorted. She was glad her last name started with G,so her wait wasn't too long.

Soon enough her name was called, and Bri walked up to where the Sorting Hat. When she sat on the stool and had the hat placed on her, she suddenly became quite nervous.

"Well, well. Another muggleborn, I see." Bri nearly jumped when she heard someone talking in her head, before she realized it must have been the hat.
"Where to put you, is the question. I can tell you have a little bit of the qualities of each house.... but your loyalty is the one that shines the most... which only means that you belong in.........

HUFFLEPUFF!!!!!!! The hat yelled the house name out loudly. After that Bri had the hat pulled of her head, and she went over to the table with the Yellow and Black colored banners. Bri was relieved that she was sorted, and couldn't wait to meet her fellow house mates.

The moment of truth!

Silver, fidgeted with a strand of her thick curly hair. Patiently waiting to be called up to be sorted.

Ravenclaw...No! Gryffindor....wait! No, Ravenclaw?! The young girl thought to herself, biting down in her bottom lip.

Decisions. Decisions.

"Silver Barry!" The Sorting Hat called out. Silver's felt like jello.

Nodding and slowly making her way up to the hat. Taking a seat and feeling the hat be placed on her head, taming down her thick curls. "Before you start lemme just tell you, if you put me in Hufflepuff I walk!" Silver pointed straight towards the door.

"Ah. Not Hufflepuff?" The Hat replied. "I sense a burning loyal heart." He added, as Silver rolled her eyes. "Fearless. Quite fearless, courageous and very bold." Hat, deliberated for a few seconds. "Gryffindor!" He roared. Silver's face lit up, content with the hat's decision.

"Hedge, Theresa."

Tessa made a face at the use of her full name, but approached the stool anyway. Settling down, she tensed slightly as the hat settled down over her eyes, but relaxed after a moment.

Then, the hat began to murmur in her mind, which also took some getting used to. However, after the hat mused for what felt like a long time, he finally declared:

GRYFFINDOR!!

Her sight was returned to her and she blinked her eyes to adjust. Looking around, clueless as to where to go, she saw a table of people waving at her. Nodding her thanks, she strode over and took a seat.

"That was an experience," she commented, more to herself than anyone else.

To say that he was nervous was a huge understatement. He had heard so many diffrent things about the sorting and how the hat got into your head and figured you out, placing you into a house that was best fit to suit you're true self and stuff. Lex had told him to try and threaten the hat to put him in her house and he had the thought fresh in his mind and it was clear GRAVEY yes gravey, in the hat. He wasn't too sure if her threat was serious but he knew she'd do it if she needed.

Hearing his name called, Jeremiah took in a breath and combed his hands through his hair, which was longer then anyone else he'd seen so far, and walked up to the stool as he kept his head down. He just knew all eyes would be on him at this moment and he didn't want to look back at everyone. Nope, he wasn't up for that.
Sitting down on the stool he kept his face down as the hat was placed on his head gravey, gravey, gravey.. Though in a moment the hat was speaking to him, it sounded as if it were whispering in his ear but he knew better, knew it was in his head, the voice of the hat. It seemed to be taking forever but before he knew it...


GRYFFINDOR

Was shouted out loud and he heard the roar erupt from the red and gold table.... his table.

Were people watching? They should turn around and pretend the Sorting Hat was taking a break. Beverly's hands were tight fists on her lap, clammy and trembling. The stool wasn't comfortable, she preferred a big princess-sized chair, but that was the least of her worries. Current major worry: Landing in Hufflepuff.

It would shame the family. She'd get disowned. Heck, she'd disown HERSELF.

Her hair ruffled as the Hat shrugged itself to life.

BOO! It said in her mind. Beverly jumped, startled. The Hat guffawed. No need to fear me, young witch. I don't have hands nor arms.

It wiggled and Beverly tried not to scream. She wasn't scared of it, she was scared of the results. "So..?" she whispered.

I know your family, your kind, but you make your own destiny, Beverly Juniper Wayne. Intelligence. Ambition. Nerve. Tsk, tsk, such tough decision.

While the Hat mulled things over, Bev kept thinking about three different houses. Three different choices. She always wanted Slytherin, it ran in the family, but she also felt she was one. Then there was Ravenclaw. She knew she was smart, that was a given. But a Gryffindor never, ever.

Beverly grew more anxious as the minutes passed.

"Listen here," she said, shutting her eyes. "If you land me in Hufflepuff I will set you on fire and...and...and end your puny little life."

She thought she felt the Hat freeze on her head, then it announced: "SLYTHERIN!"

Thank you, Merlin! With a sigh of relief Beverly hopped off the stool and sped walked toward her new house table. It worked. Threatening worked! Of course she hadn't meant it, but it worked. :3

Okay this was embarrassing. Was he the only one older than 12 years old getting sorted? He waited patiently to see whether they were others his age standing in the line waiting to be sorted. Now why couldn't they have done his sorting in private. Like maybe the Headmistress's office.

Hoping that no one was paying attention to who was being sorted...and trying to stay as low to the ground as possible, hoping to pass off as a tall....very tall first year, Sander walked over and sat on the chair.

Okay hat do your thing? Can I bribe you to put me in the house I want? Yeah like a couple of Cornish pasties....

He felt the hat move around on top of his head. Yeah...yeah...hard to figure out huh? Yes read what I'm thinking.....brain waves sending friendly thoughts of nice house.

....and then the hat yelled out.....

HUFFLEPUFF!!

Wait what? Hufflepuff. He quickly looked as the colors changed on his robe. Yellow and Black?

Oooookkkaaayyy....he was definitely glad he was only going to be here one term.

This was odd and when Bart something was odd it had to be odd, but a hat telling you what house you were in? Weird at his old school they asked you questions on your personality and put you based on your answers. This was more interesting at least, but still odd. He watched the students going up one by one. Watched the hat call out the houses and houses cheering. The entire thing was just different and he couldn't take his brown eyes off of it.

Maroon, Bartholomew

Really the professor dude or lady who called his name again? He looked, but whatever didn't matter they had to call him by that name. He hated that name. Sulking a bit he move up to the hat and plopped down. Once he couldn't see anything he listened to the thing talk. Did anyone else find this creepy?

Hmmm tricky tricky this one is. Full of ideas even though not sure some are the brightest. Don't like books I see, but very hands on...

"Hey.. hey hat dude or just hat don't put me in some lame house. I want in with he fun people and and one with less Prefects like Mo said." Yes he needed a house like that. He knew Charely, Wade, and his mum would be excited for him to be Hufflepuff, but after Alexa and Mo saying things he was positive that was a lame house or something.

Shhh... Patients, no I would not say you have those, though Loyalty yes, but no Hufflepuff is not the place for you. Let's see oh yes Wit you have, but intelligence and knowledge my dear boy hmmm no not Ravenclaw..

Glare Bart was glaring into the hat, "On with it.. come on where do I go. Hurry up" This hat was taking too long. It needed to decide fast or he might just decide for it. "Oh and not with panty girl. No don't put me with her." He couldn't be in the same house as that girl. No that wouldn't be good.

Let me think..decide for me? Now that is a thought.. Where would you want to go. You are cunning and you use your resources well. Yes Slytherin would possibly be a place for you. Hmm interesting though bravery and nerve I see both of those things. Gryffind..

"YES THERE.. THERE.. PUT ME THERE" he was yelling at the hat he didn't care. That was where Alexa was and she said he would be cool if he was there so that was where he had to go. So old creepy hat better get him there.

but you would be good with Slythering.. No need to shout boy. You will go to GRYFFINDOR

He threw the hat off and left it to whomever and jumped off the seat. Gryffindor he didn't know what the hell that was, but he was in it and he was cool now right?

"Kaze, Haruka!"

Haruka looked up quickly at the old hat sitting on the stool as her name was called. The Sorting Hat, she recalled. Her heart was beating hard in her chest as she approached it, keeping tight to herself and looking straight ahead to avoid the gazes of the others. She steadied her breath to calm herself and, even though she was a nervous wreck on the inside, she managed to show a collected demeanor.

She sat down on the stool, looking up and forward until the hat was dropped onto her head, at which she relaxed her eyes and her nerves settled a bit as she was now blind to the curious onlookers. "Are we calmed down, now?" Her insides jumped at the hat's voice. It seemed unnecessarily loud, she thought, but it was probably because she was wearing the hat. "Kaze, huh? Can't say I recognize the name, and I remember them all." The hat went quiet for a bit. "I see. Mahoutokoro is where the rest of your family attended, yeah? So you're the first of your family to attend Hogwarts!" Haruka nodded as the hat let out a loud, boisterous laugh.

"Hmm..." The hat continued. "There's honesty and kindness in your heart, that much is obvious. You're rather tolerant as well, and not afraid of some hard work." The hat grunted. "you can be a stubborn one as well, can't you? And you tend to keep to yourself." The hat nodded. "But you hold to your beliefs and you're as loyal as the best of them."

HUFFLEPUFF

Haruka inwardly sighed when the hat announced her house. Black and yellow. As the hat was removed, she looked for the table with black and yellow, but it wasn't to hard to find, what with the cheer and applause erupting from it. She quickly walked to her new table, looking down the entire time.

As soon as Gwen realized what was going on, she was grateful her name was thoroughly middle-of-the-alphabet. That way she didn't have to go first, and she didn't have to be the last person standing up there. She watched with interest as students before her got sorted. It was really cool. There was a magical hat that looked inside your brain and decided which qualities you had the most of, then moved by itself, and spoke. Gwen had never seen anything quite like it, and she had been exposed to a lot of strange magical things within the past few weeks.

Finally it was her turn. "Jensen, Gwenhwyfar" was called out, and she made her way over to the stool. The professor had pronounced her name correctly at least. The hat was dropped on her head, and Gwen gasped as it started talking. It seemed as though only the person wearing the hat could hear it. She even peeked out at the students seated at the long tables to make sure they didn't know what it was saying to her.

After what seemed like an eternity to Gwen, though in reality was only a brief moment, the hat opened it's brim wide and shouted "Ravenclaw!" She knew which one that was. One of the students a minute ago had been sorted there. The hat was taken off of her head, and Gwen headed over the the blue and bronze table, trying desperately to look confident about it.

Grace had been waiting for this moment for basically 11 years. Ever since she had heard about Hogwarts from her mother she had known what house she had wanted to be in. Of course she would want to be a hufflepuff. Her mother was there, and so was her step father. So it was obviously the best house. Suree her father hadn't been a hufflepuff. But that was only a set back. She would be a hufflepuff wouldn't she? She had to be. Two out of three over ruled right? Okay. So maybe it would depend on her. But she was going to ask to be in Hufflepuff. It was her destiny. She wanted to be like her mother. She couldn't be like her mother if she was in another house. And hufflepuff really did rule. They'd won the qudditch championship last year, so it was obviously the best house to be in.

She practically skipped up to the stool when her name was called out. Finally. It was her turn. She beamed, plopping down onto the chair, and the hat was put on her head. She was so little that it slipped right past her ears, and covered her whole face. Oh Grace good look. Good look. "Please be hufflepuff. Please be Hufflepuff" She whispered knowing that there was going to be no other house for her. "Pleassee." She would have screamed it if it would have gotten her into the house.

The hat was taking it's time. She was sure it was. It felt like forever and forever. Did the hat usually do this? Take forever. It was whispering into her ear of course. Obviously seeing that she wanted to be in hufflepuff. But then. It could see Slytherin in her. "NOoo. Nooo. I want hufflepuff!" But apparently the hat saw more of her real father in her.

It was still a good five minutes later before the hat finally shouted out. SLYTHERIN

The new slytherin pouted as she got off the stool, and made her way over to the slytherin table not looking too impressed. She didn't want to be a stinking snake.

His right index finger and the tip of his nose hurt as he was standing in line, waiting for the students who stood before him to get sorted. Instead of looking around, admiring the Great Hall for the first time with its enchanted ceiling and the long house tables, Kevin was more focused on rubbing his nose. The clothes pins he had to wear during the train ride that one of the Professor's had transfigurated on his finger and nose as punishment, weren't there anymore because she had said till after the train ride. But he just KNEW that the tip of his nose was red.

His heterochromia colored eyes moved towards the staff table, looking for the woman who had done this to him when his name was being called. He jumped, slightly surprised that they did not call him Kevin...but Kenji. How did they know his REAL birth name?!

Shaking his head, Kenji or Kevin as he was called in England, pushed the thought away and stepped forward. He sat on the stool, his feet not touching the ground but they were hovering above it. The hat was placed on top of his head and he was in darkness as it fell over his eyes.

A voice began to speak and from stories that his mother and father had told him he knew that only him could hear the voice until the hat was off of him. He listened as he spoke about Kevin's verbal bravery. His tendencies to not give up so quickly and his lack of common sense. Kevin mumbled a few words under his breath but the hat ignored that.

Then something strange happened. The hat spoke in his ear about LOYALTY. This made the eleven year old frown because if there was something that he wasn't, it was being loyal to people. He cared about himself and had trouble making friends so why? Why the loyalty part? Was this a future prediction? Was HE going to be loyal? to what? his housemates? Had the hat seen something in him that he hadn't discovered yet? WHAT?!

He heard a chuckle now, a mysterious one that made him want to find out what was happening at all cost. He was still wondering what the hat had meant that he hadn't heard it say "GRYFFINDOR!" And he just sat there. The hat still placed over his head for another good five seconds.

Only when he saw the Great Hall again he realised it was over. WAIT! WHAT WAS HIS HOUSE?! He had been so deep in thought! But he didn't have to ask again for he noticed one table, the Red one cheering and he knew he was a Gryffindor.

The best way to describe Jordan as he stood in the great hall of Hogwarts was culture shocked. His mouth probably hadn't closed in the past hour, what with the train ride and its trolley full of magical treats (of which he'd had entirely too many), the boat ride across the lake, and now this: floating candles everywhere, the entire hall packed with students in their uniforms, and the (rather intimidating) table full of professors at the head of the hall.

To sum up, Jordan felt very small and out of place at that particular moment in time.

That feeling of intimidation and nerves certainly didn't decrease as other students were called forward to put the sorting hat on their heads. Even if he'd walked into the hall feeling confident, the mood from the other first years was affecting him. He reached down and put a hand on the wand holster he'd been so proud to buy.

I'm supposed to be here. I'm a wizard. That thought calmed him more than he thought it would.

The long wait was abruptly over as the professor in charge of the ceremony called his name, and he hurried forward and climbed up onto the stool. Once he'd plopped his butt down on the seat, he laced his fingers and kicked his feet back and forth, waiting for the massive hat to lower into his head.

It didn't take long. As soon as the hat landed, it started poking around in his head and...

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"...Huffle what?"

One table was cheering, so he headed for that one.

Watching from the sidelines with all the other new kids, Amber's forefinger moved to her mouth where she began to chew nonchalantly at her nail. Her gaze left the proceedings temporarily to look at the boy beside her who was rubbing at his nose. Looked sore, she observed. Or maybe he had a head cold..

Hmm..

Anyway, back to the sorting and the nail chewing. Kids were being called out alphabetically by the weird!cool hat and Amber stood, occasionally switching her weight from one foot to the other; a glimpse of her nervous energy. 'M'. She would have a wait, but she would be one of the first Mmms on the list.. Observing was fascinating though and she couldn't deny that she'd rather procrastinate going out there than having her mind read while everyone watched.

"MACKENZIE-HUGHES, AMBER."

At last she was called. The small girl straightened up, removed her finger from her mouth and made her way to the stool at the front of the Great Hall. She gazed at the four tables. A sea of faces looking back at her and she gulped. The hat was placed on her head and all her focus was now on the voice inside her head which was COMING FROM THE HAT!

'Cooooool!'

She couldn't help a little giggle, her eyes moving upwards to try and look at the hat as it spoke to her. Something about being 'warm, loyal, giving.' 'Hufflepuff' was floated about which Amber had heard previously and thought it to be a very funny word. Then 'Gryffindor' and the words 'bravery and justice.' ...But, 'oh no', apparently Amber was 'much too subtle to belong in Gryffindor.' The hat seemed to be doing some SEEERIOUS thinking. Amber was beginning to think that maybe she didn't fit in anywhere..

But as soon as those thoughts entered her mind, the hat yelled, "SLYTHERIN!", making her jump and then smile embarrassedly at her audience.

The hat was removed, she got up, feeling a little dazed, blinked and looked over at the kids in green before heading over to join them.

"EMERSON, ASTRID SAMANTHA!"

This made the sixteen-year-old brunette look up. What? That was her name. She couldn't have possibly heard wrong, right? Astrid looked at the others around her. She didn't understand why her name was called but then..... OOOOH. Right. Sorting. Uhm, okay. So this what it then? She'll finally get Sorted into a House. Hopefully Gryffindor because she just FELT her inner-Lion tingling a bit. Also because of Quidditch Captains with nice teeth reasons.

Astrid walked forward and eyed the Hat. So that was that talking Hat then? Okay. It didn't look the that pretty hat she expected but at least she'd only have to wear it once in her lifetime. She took the hat from the stool, wore it, and sat down.

You're kind of difficult to sort, my dear.

... IT WAS SPEAKING TO HER IN HER HEAD. WAT. THAT WAS SO COOL YET SO WEIRD BUT LIKE OKAY CHILL ASTRID.

"So, you're putting me in Gryffindor?"

No, child.

"You know Mama Alice won't be happy about that, right?"

It is not my fault that you do not suit well in the Lions' Den, young one.

"Okay. Look it, bud, I am not 'young'. I'll be seventeen on December and that means I will be of age." Annoying hat was annoying.

I heard that. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH.

And then a few seconds late, the Hat yelled, "SLYTHERIN!"

... Okay. She knew some of the Snakeys there so no big deal. Astrid stood up, placed the hat back on the stool, and walked over to join the Slytherins in their 'Snakes Pit'. Though it would've been better if she were a Gryffindor. Hmph.

BRISTOL! shouted the Hat, and Bristol walked towards the Hat nervously. Would he out her? Her mother would be so disappointed if she was sent back. As the Hat was placed on her head, she just kept telling herself again and again that she was a smart homeschooled girl, and she would face whatever came with a brave face.

"I should be in Ravenclaw!" She said that to the Hat, ready to go on the offensive.

"Eager aren't we?" Said the Hat in a sly way that made Bristol wonder if he was on to her. "Why Ravenclaw?"

She mustered courage. "I'm a homeschooler."

"Yes?" The Hat asked in a slightly amused tone.

"And homeschooler's are the smartest kids, dochya' know?"

The Hat chuckled. "Hogwarts will teach you much, there are parts about yourself that even you don't know. Better be Hufflepuff!"

So this next part of her Hogwarts experience seemed a bit intimidating, but at least she didn't think it would be as terrifying as that boat ride. She would just be put on display in front of the whole school much like her underwear had been on the train ride here *blush*.

Brynn stood in the crowd of first years and transfer students, waiting for her name to be called. Why did hers have to be near the end of the alphabet? It only meant that she'd have to stand her longer, growing more and more nervous by the minute. She chewed on her lower lip as she waited for her turn, glancing around the huge room at the tables full of students, wondering where she would be spending the next seven years.

The eleven year old became so lost in her thoughts she hadn't been aware of any of the other sortings until her name was called. Oh. Her turn? Brynn stepped forward to take her seat on the stool and have the hat placed on her head. She tried to look around for Bart, wondering where he had been placed. She hadn't seen and she knew that he would have had his turn already, his name coming before hers in the alphabet.

Her own thoughts taking over again, she was almost unaware of the murmuring coming from the hat, suddenly pausing in thought and looking up, trying to see the hat on her head. Then suddenly it stopped.. before calling out, "RAVENCLAW!"

Ravenclaw? Which one was that? Brynn squinted out at the four tables full of students before determining that Ravenclaw was the blue and brownish one. She searched the table for a moment before hopping down off the stool and slowly making her way over there.

"Edayson, Josette!"

The sound of her name made her jump a little bit. But at first, she froze just standing there. Her blue eyes just staring at the old sorting hat on the stool in front of her. She'd seen multiple others go before her and watched as they had gotten sorted hearing the hat call out four different house names that each person would be sorted into. Not only that, there was a table for each house that seemed to cheer at the mention of each sorting. It was all very new to her, this sight of cheering people, such happy faces. This was certainly going to be included in her letter to her father when she had the chance.

Coming back into reality, her tiny feet shuffled forward towards the stool & the old looking hat which sat upon it. Taking a moment to climb upon the stool, the hat was then placed on her head. She jumped once she heard the hat spring to life as it began to speak. 'Hmm...Well this is certainly different...' Different? What was different? 'I'm sensing a lot of knowledge...Very bright...Seems so familiar, to one I have sorted long ago...How very peculiar...Something certainly mysterious about this one..' Josette couldn't help but feel so confused about everything that was being said. 'I believe the best sorting for you would be in......

'RAVENCLAW!'

The hat was then lifted off of her head & Josette slowly got down from the stool. She looked towards the table of cheering students who were wearing robes & ties with the color blue on them. That must have been the house, no less. Josette began to make her way towards the table, but kept looking back at the hat behind her as its' words kept ringing through her ears. What had the old meant by what it spoke?

......'Something very mysterious about this one..'

Hayley bounced on her toes, and peeked over the shoulder of the child in front of her to get a good look at the other child on the stool, waiting to see what happened when the hat was put on his head, before straightening back up and staring down at her hands. The eleven-year-old repeated this a number of times while waiting in line, nervous and excited all at the same time. When she wasn't bouncing on her toes, watching that stool and hat, the little Diggory was looking behind her, past the student in back of her, in search of her friends equally anxious faces. Gracie, Noel, Bri, even. And then, as an afterthought, her blue-grey eyes traveled quickly toward the table of scarlet and gold. Chels house table. Were was she? It was much too hard to tell if her other best friend was seated amongst the waves of students from where she stood in line for sorting.

"Diggory, Hayley!"

Eyes growing wide, Hayley took a deep breath. Lost in her own silly thoughts, she hadn't even noticed they were on D-surnames. And that was her name, of all names. Deep breath. Slowly but surely, the little girl's legs carried her toward the stool until she took her seat upon it, and waited for the hat to be placed on her head. One more look back toward the waiting first years, Hayley gave a thumbs up meant for those she knew, and even those she didn't, before everything went dark and there was a new voice in her head. Or maybe not in her head at all.

One small hand reached up to push the old worn hat up just a bit so it wasn't covering her eyes anymore, Hayley held her breath.

Ah, yes, another Diggory.. and much like your parents, I see. You're heart is pure.. loyal and just, as were your parents when they sat in this spot with me on their heads.. but there is more than that.. you're an adventurous one, but not fearless.. daring, maybe.. but for what reasons?.. Hufflepuff or Gryffindor may be a match for you..

Hufflepuff, please be Hufflepuff, please.. Hayley exhaled quietly, eyes shut in anticipation.

Is that what you wish? To be in Hufflepuff, like your parents and the rest of the Diggory clan before you, child? Hmm.. determined and fair.. loyal, but do you have what it takes to follow in your parents footsteps? A lover and healer of creatures, and a Quidditch star? Hmm.. I see a thirst for knowledge in you, intelligence and wisdom beyond your years.. a strong curiosity that gets you in trouble at times.. you will understand one day.."

I'll understand what?

"Ravenclaw!"

That was not what she'd expected. Hayley waited for the hat to be lifted from her head, mouth a gap, before hopping up from the stool and pressing her lips together in a smalllll uncertain smile as she headed off toward the other Ravenclaws.

She wasn't a Hufflepuff, but a Ravenclaw. Hayley wasn't sure whether to be happy and smile, or frown because she didn't get into Hufflepuff. Her main thought was on her bedroom at home, though, with their bright yellow walls.

"Hawthorne Sweeney!" Hathorne bit her lip and froze in the crowd. THe normally outspoken girl was frozen in fear. "Hawthorne Sweeney!" the professor yelled again. She took a deep breath and walked up to the stool and sat down gingerly. The hat was placed onto her head and it began to whisper in her ear.

"Well then, a Sweeney, eh?" The voice reverberated through her skull. "Your fathers ambition, and a natural talent for Potions. Your mothers loyalty and a love for all beings. Of course you don't remember your mother well, no. But you are brave, not in the face of danger but brave in social situations. You are also intelligent. Not just naturally knowing what to do but intelligent enough to read and figure things out. So where to put you..."

I would really like to be in either Slytherin or Hufflepuff.

The sorting hat chuckled in her ear. So you fancy yourself an ambitious Slytherin, like your father. Or the loyal Hufflepuff like your mother.

Hawthorne looked into the sea of faces and picked out a familiar face. Leah was siting with a grin at the Hufflepuff table. "Friends already, I see. Better be...

Hawthorne held her breath.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

A small smile crossed Hawthornes face as the hat was lifted fro her head. Her mother had died when she was five, but her father always told her she was so much like her. But could she fill the shoes that were no longer there?

She scurried off the stage and towards the other puffs.