Author's Note: I noticed that there are no stories like this one on so I decided to write one myself, also this fanfic will have Harry with Tonks, and Ron with Hermione among other couples. This is an AU fic of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. Please enjoy the story, review, and try to put all comments as kindly as possible. Couples other than the mentioned couples may or may not be permanent so make sure to read to the end to find out.

A/N: This starts at the sorting and there have only been a few small changes to the story before this part. In this version of the story Madam Malkin's was the last place that they went to so Malfoy had already been there and they had not had the conversation where Malfoy mentions Quidditch, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Other than that the story has gone on the same as usual, for the most part.

The Sorting Hat's Deciding Factor

By, TippyToe Zombie

Chapter One: Where to Put You?

The Sorting Hat had just finished singing as Hannah Abbot went up to be sorted, becoming the first new Hufflepuff in her year.

After hearing Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin called out for about half an hour it was finally Harry's turn to be sorted, so he went up to the hat sat down on the stool and the Sorting Hat began to talk to him. "Hmm," it said. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes–– and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting so where shall I put you?"

Harry didn't respond to the hat as it spoke, constantly comparing reasons that he could do a good job in one of the houses. Finally the hat said to Harry, "You know I have had plenty of students who I could not decide where they would go and I had something that I would always do in those situations. One boy was a very intelligent and very courageous person who could do well in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. In another situation there was a girl with as much ambition and courage as any Slytherin or Gryffindor, so I couldn't decide. I have had these situations for many years and it took me quite awhile to find a suitable way to choose a house for them. Then I realized that one of the houses was for those who did not fit in the other three houses, so why couldn't that house be for those who could do well in any of the other houses, so I guess the best house for you would be…" The hat paused before shouting, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Harry moved along to the Hufflepuff table where he was greeted by Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, and Justin Finch-Fletchley who had also been sorted into Hufflepuff. He decided that if he was going to be in Hufflepuff then he should try to become friends with the other people in his house. He was so busy getting to know his new friends that he didn't notice a girl with purple hair at the end of the table gazing at him curiously.

Well that's it for the first chapter, I hope you enjoyed it, I'll try to update soon and I'll make the next chapters longer. This is based on a theory I have about the Sorting Hat noticing Harry's Slytherin traits MORE because of Harry NOT wanting to be in Slytherin. Please read and review, but be nice and now to end I have one thing left to say.

"I am the TippyToe Zombie,

I Like to Limbo,

Often I fall on people's heads."

R&R, Bye.

rettoP yrraH now t'nod I .S.P