DISCLAIMER: None of the characters involved belong to me.

DISCLAIMER: None of the characters involved belong to me.

"Luna Lovegood?" the stern looking witch called.

Luna wore wide eyes and earrings of a strange fruit dangling inches above the Hogwarts crest on her black tie. She squeezed between another few remaining first years and skipped up the short steps to the stool, still staring at the ceiling of the Great Hall, that was illuminated with the stars of the night sky. Her hair fanned out behind her, white-hot like the torches around them. Her skin looked opalescent in the torch light, the same color as the stars. She breathed deeply into her nose and didn't exhale until the worn hat touched her filamentous hair. It must be a boring existance, to be a hat. She then remembered what she'd intended to think to the hat. I think I'd like to be in Hufflepuff. She stared upward as if trying to look the hat in the eyes.

"Hufflepuff?" the hat answered verbally, a few people at the table clapping before they realized it wasn't a definitive answer. "Your persistance and resoluteness are meritorious, indeed. I'm sure you would do well in Hufflepuff, though that decision would likely prove poor."

Poor? Luna answered him. How could you possibly consider it poor if you are also sure I would do well?

The hat considered her logic. "That is quite true; it is your thoughts like that that causes me to believe you may shine elsewhere," he murmured to her.

I do feel Hufflepuff will be more than agreeable, she asserted.

"The wizard chooses his house," the hat said. "But I feel you will do best…" Luna was resigned to the hat's stubborness. He could see her whole brain, so maybe he did know what she did not. She lifted her hand to a necklace made of a butterbeer cork. Her fingers ran in circles around the foamy cylinder. Daddy made it for her; it was especially for her sorting. Guarenteed to keep her free of Nargles and Wrackspurts. Without Wrackspurts, the hat should be able to see her clearly and he accordingly called out:

"RAVENCLAW!"