For a First Year yet to be sorted, Minerva McGonagall was not nervous. She stood confidently in the line of First Years, as one by one her future classmates began to get to be sorted. However she was anxious. But whatever it was the Hat called out, she'd take it in stride. Unlike the other First Years, Minerva's parents never bothered to try to surprise her with the idea of a hat telling her where she'd belong for Seven Years. Being surprised is not a McGonagall trait, and it is never encouraged.
So while the other Unsorted Students were nervous wrecks, Minerva was confident she'd see that beautiful Raven on her badge (or at the very least, a Snake). It wasn't that she wanted to be in Ravenclaw or Slytherin; it was simply that no McGonagall ever went somewhere other than those two Houses. It wouldn't be shameful to be in another House, however it would be different.
"McGonagall, Minerva" She didn't stroll, she didn't have a swagger about her. She simply walked to the three legged chair, closing her eyes and placing her hands delicately in her lap. She sat with a straight back, her mouth set in a determined line as the Hat came onto her. She was going to go to Ravenclaw, at least in her mind.
Hmm… That's interesting for a McGonagall. The new feeling of a usually inanimate object searching through your mind to look deeper into yourself than you have was, in Minerva's opinion, a tad odd. However she wasn't fazed at all
Ravenclaw please, I do not believe I belong in Slytherin.
While I do agree with that statement, I also do believe I see a brave spirit in here. You know it's not Destiny for a McGonagall to be in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. It is in fact a possibility to end up in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Now that is not what a McGonagall is told. A McGonagall is told that she/he is perfect in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, and therefore that McGonagall proceeds to walk to the Ravenclaw or Slytherin table to a dull applause. However, the Hat apparently didn't want to follow the normal procedure for Minerva.
Somehow I have doubts believing that.
Ah, but you aren't sorting yourself are you? A low chuckle emerged from the hat, and now all eyes were staring at Minerva for producing that reaction where as before, most of them were ignoring her.
Well, I just don't believe that I belong anywhere other than Ravenclaw. I'm not sly, I can be loyal but it's not my most dominant trait of the four, and I'm not br-
You're brave. Braver than you think. You may be smart, but it's not your Destiny to go to Ravenclaw. Rather, let's put you in-
"GRYFFINDOR!" Judging from the silence, no one was expecting her to go to there. Minerva walked over to the table no McGonagall had ever sat at, and a strange feeling came over her. For some reason, it seemed this was the table in which she belonged. When she looked over to the hat, she saw a faint smirk. Because they both knew that she broke the McGonagall rule. And that's never being surprised. The fact that she did so proved that she was going to be different. But good different.
My first attempt at a Sorting Fic. What do you think?