AN: Written as part of the Ravenclaw homework at Hogwarts Online. Challenge was to: "Write a story about a Ravenclaw, any Ravenclaw, but one which shows their Ravenclaw talents - cleverness, thinking outside the box, cunning without the Slytherin guile, courage without the Gryffindor recklessness - you get the picture."

Don't know if I managed to meet all the criteria but I tried :)


It is silent as darkness fall. Not the pitch black of a starless night, but the musty brown of a darkened corner; tiny slithers of light creating shadows within the shadows and the appearance of almost seeing. It is heavy, the air confined and musty. It is probably very unhygienic.

A slightly affronted voice brakes through the deadened silence, hmm rude but quite clever, cunning yes, yes, it speaks slowly, pretending to think, and then there is a long pause. The Hat is waiting, expecting the horrified reaction of a Weasley, for the indignant rage at a slight implication it might place them in Slytherin.

The Hat sighs, clearly annoyed, you're right of course; your family always brings me much amusement. As if a Weasley would be anywhere but Gryffindor. HA! You're brave too aren't you?

Rhetorical question, the Hat knows more about those it sorts than the students themselves.

True, true. But you are brave; you're not scared of this sorting are you? Think you'll go exactly where you're meant. Well you will, but is it where you think? Hufflepuff is not for you, that's for sure… not phased by that? Don't hold loyalty in high esteem?

Loyalty is a valuable virtue, but intelligence means loyalty is not misplaced.

Got an answer for everything don't you? I know where you want to go. But will you fit in there? the Hat mused, drawing out the process. What is the purpose of this ritual? It is symbolic, there is history, tradition, both important and the anticipation obviously provides many with enjoyment. But surely it would be more effective for the Hat to simply announce the student's house without the whole rigmarole of these pointless discussions.

You would deny me the one time of year for conversation? You want me to simple tell the Hall you're a Ravenclaw, without giving you a sense of what that means? Of what it means for you? You're intelligent, logical and take great joy and pride in knowledge yes, but no one student is all one house, there are parts of you from every house, and parts of you that fit nowhere. I could put you in any house I want even if I knew you wouldn't fit in.

Anger directed at you is never nice to experience, it creates upset. It causes that irrational feeling in your stomach. It…it hurts.

Now, now there's no need to cry. I just forgot you were only eleven, for a moment. You talk like a…well, never mind, but it was the intelligent, rationalisation that got me. Listen up kid. Of course you're going where you belong, not to worry, but there is purpose in my little discussions, I help set students on their path, give them a little insight into who they are. So here is some advice: don't think that logic is the be all and end all of everything. After all where is the logic in a talking hat?

Gryffindor put a spell on his hat, and now it can talk.

Smarty-pants, really better be….

RAVENCLAW