Lily Potter sat patiently on the stool, waiting for the Sorting Hat to make his decision. She was sure she'd be in Gryffindor, just like her brothers, parents, grandparents, and cousins.

"Hmmm, a very complex mind, yes, very difficult…" Lily wasn't worried by the Sorting Hat's musings. Albus said the Sorting Hat took nearly four minutes to decide which house to put him in, and he was still a Gryffindor.

"Smart, very smart…"

"Kind, yes, with a pure heart…"

"Sneaky…cunning…"

"Bravery, yes…but you don't know how to use it…"

"Shy…but willing to make friends…"

Lily was growing bored. How long had she been sitting here? The silence usually present while people were being sorted by whispering between the students. Lily couldn't hear it, but she was sure it couldn't be good.

"I'd very much like to be in Gryffindor," Lily told the hat meekly.

"Ah, like your father you are, you want to make your own decisions…your father was brave…but Slytherin could have done him good…Still, perhaps Gryffindor was the proper choice for him…"

Lily sighed. It had to have been at leas five minutes now. What was going on?

"Quiet, but you're willing to speak your mind…"

"Won't tolerate bullying…"

"What's this…? Goodness, how could I not have seen it before! Better be…GRYFFINDOR!"

Lily fell off the stool. She had been so worried. Grinning, she walked over and sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"You broke the record," Albus whispered to her. "The longest anyone's ever waited to be sorted was seven and a half minutes, and you were up there for ten!"

Lily's eyes widened. Had she really?

"Lovegood-Longbottom, Luanne!"

Lily watched as her best friend grimaced at the use of her full name. Well, technically her full name was Luanne Lucy Lovegood-Longbottom, but this was close enough.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Lily clapped as Luanne walked over and sat by her. "I hate my name," she complained. "Why did Mum have to like her last name so much? 'I am an independent woman, and my name will live on through my children!'" Lily laughed as Luanne imitated her mother's dreamy voice.

"Well, No matter how we are here, all that matters is that here we are!" Luanne announced.

"What?" Lily asked, her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.

Luanne shrugged. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "But Mum says it all the time."

No matter how we are here, all that matters is here we are.