Possibly unnecessary disclaimer: Last time I checked I was NOT J.K Rowling. Feel free to believe, though, for I don't want to burst your bubble, but I don't own Harry Potter. Or Theodore Nott. Or the Sorting Hat, no matter how much I wish I did.

Professor McGonagall was tired.

All she wanted was to enjoy the feast and get some rest, but noo, she had to call out the names of the first years waiting to be sorted.

At least it was going smoothly. She was well into her N's and more than halfway through the line of kids. She looked to the next name and called it out.

"Nott, Theodore!"

Nobody moved.

Suddenly, a small, wiry boy whispered to another boy, "Go on. What are you waiting for?"

"Why can't you do it?" replied the other nervously.

"My name's Theodore," stated the first boy like it should be obvious. "Is your name Theodore?"

"N-no, it's Tyler, but-"

The first boy, Theodore, cut him off.

"Then go up there!"

"But it doesn't work that way!"

Theodore seemed to be getting impatient. "What's so difficult about it? She wants all the kids whose names aren't Theodore! My name is Theodore, yours is not."

Now he appeared to be addressing the whole crowd of first years.

One timid-looking girl spoke up. "But that's not the way it's worked before. Why change it now?"

Theodore gave a frustrated little sigh. "Because Professor McGonagall has been teaching here a long, long time, my dad said so! She's finally losing her patience and I don't blame her. Not to mention she's tired and wants this Sorting over with. She also likes me- I could tell from the moment I arrived! She'd like to hurry up the Sorting, but wants to give me a few moments to decide what House I want to be in. So, everyone who's not me, go on up there!"
The quivery-looking girl managed a squeaky, "But-"

Theodore cut her off. "Don't question it! Would you dare to disobey a direct order from the Deputy Headmistress herself? Would you like her to put you in detention before term even starts?"

That did it. The girl ran up to the Hat, took a seat, and jammed it on her head. A few moments of silence before,

"HUFFLEPUFF!"
She ran down to the applauding table.

Before Professor McGonagall could step in and set things right, the next kid was up.

And so it went, each first year dashing up to the stool so quickly she could not get a word in edgewise.

Finally, once the Sorting was nearly over, Theodore Nott strode coolly up to the Hat, and when it shouted,

"SLYTHERIN!"

The Transfiguration Professor knew exactly what was running through its mind, and it had nothing to do with blood purity or a father that once may have worked for Voldemort.

AN

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