A/N: Here it is, the first chapter of Ren Smith and the Merlin Legacy. Enjoy!

~CHAPTER 1~

The Sorting

"Smith, Lauren!"

Ren watched the entire hall disappear before her eyes as the large Sorting Hat dropped onto her head. The hat was scary. As other kids had gone up and assumed their place on the three-legged stool, she had seen their faces go from fear to surprise as it appeared to be communicating with them. She expected the hat to start shouting at her in her head, or worse, say nothing and just shout out a house.

But, as was custom for Ren Smith, nothing went according to what she expected. The hat didn't say anything when it was placed on her head. It just felt like a normal hat. Well, it was as normal as a singing hat belonging to a magical school that sorted new students into groups could be. The hat didn't do anything magical in her brain, as far as she could tell. Ren fidgeted. The entire school was looking at her intently, waiting for the hat to announce a decision. They expected her to be conversing with the hat right now, discussing which house would be best for her to spend seven long years in. But nothing was happening! She looked over at Professor Longbottom, the deputy headmaster, and tried to convey the panic she was feeling.

He merely smiled and winked at her.

It didn't console Ren at all.

The hat kept its silence as she debated what to do. Some kids, like the Malfoy and Potter boys, had taken a lot longer than the others to be sorted. Malfoy had taken a good five minutes, and Potter a few minutes more than that, before they had both been placed in Ravenclaw. She searched the third table from the left and found them, sitting as far away from each other as possible. They looked happy with their houses, though. She thought they were famous, because of all the whispers that had popped up when their names had been called. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to be in that house after all. Maybe she should just take the hat off her head and shout Ravenclaw herself…

They would laugh if you did that.

Her eyes bulged. So THAT was what everyone was so surprised at.

Yes, yes. I'm surprising. I get rather tired of it, year after year. Sorry I'm late, I got…caught up. You are quite a remarkable child, did you know that?

But I'm only ten years old, thought Ren; all these other kids are better than me.

Do not think that way! The voice roared in her head. You have a great destiny before you, I can see. Such a destiny would qualify you for Slytherin, like your father…but I do not sense this is the right fit for you.

Hold on a second. My father? My father's a muggle. He didn't go to any magical school, let alone a British one. How can you know about him?

It is not mine to say how I know your father, only that I have only seen a mind like yours once before. But back to Sorting. You know, the student is the one to draw me back to this topic, but I'm doing it this time. You are most unusual. Unusual indeed. I've never had to put up with that amount of thoughts before. And yet I do not see that you are skilled in Legillimency. I only assume you got that from your father.

Um Mr. Hat? Maybe it would be best if I got Sorted. Some of the older students were looking at her with contempt for taking so long.

Ah, yes, of course. Slytherin, while it may have worked for your father, will not suit you. You're certainly ambitious, and you have a great destiny, but it is not the house for you. Too rigorous in the wrong ways. But Ravenclaw, that is plausible. You could succeed there. And you already have some friends there.

What friends, Ren thought. I didn't talk to anyone on the train, and I kept to myself in line. I'm a loner, just like I was at my elementary school.

Hmm…Hufflepuff would be good for that…you are very dedicated, willing to put in every effort. You could go into Gryffindor with that quality as well…so where to put you, where to put you…

By this time, most of the students were talking to each other. A few groaned loudly and clutched their stomachs, feigning extreme hunger.

You are brave, you are hardworking, you are smart…Hermione Granger had these qualities and did remarkable in Gryffindor, but you are not Miss Granger. You are smart. And quick to understand, but you need a close environment, especially in your future. You have the ability to be placed in any house, really. It depends on you.

I don't know where I should go! I just got here. Isn't deciding your job?

It's only my decision if there's a clear choice. In this case, there isn't.

But you're supposed to be the hat that looks into kids' heads. You're supposed to know who they are and who they're going to be before they do. Can't you do that for me?

Not exactly. I can't see what you're going to do. I can only see the qualities that might take you there.

But earlier you said you saw a great destiny ahead of me.

Ren thought she heard the hat sigh. And that is exactly what I am looking for in an attentive student of… "RAVENCLAW!"

Professor Longbottom started in the hat's sudden decision. As he stood up to come take the hat off Ren's head, it spoke its last few words to her.

Take care, Ren. Good luck.