H is for HATSTALL


When they dropped the Sorting Hat on her head and it fell over her eyes, Lily was the only one of all the first-years who put her hands around the brim and heaved it upwards.

"I like to be able to see, thanks," she said when McGonagall looked at her strangely.

"Hmm, let's see," the Hat whispered in her ear, and Lily kept a placid expression on her face (even though it startled her and her heart was hammering), because everyone could see her and Severus had warned her not to let her Muggleborn-ness show on the very first day.

"Nice to meet you," she said kindly to the Hat.

"So polite," the Hat mused. "First student to address me politely in eons. Maybe forever."

"Oh." Lily felt a blush creeping into her cheeks. "They must not have been brought up very well, then."

"Many of them were brought up by wizards, Lily Evans. But not you. No, not you."


"What the hell's she doing?" James whispered to Sirius Black. "Is she having a conversation with it?"

"I dunno." Sirius craned his neck to see over a tall boy with white-blonde hair. "Oi! Evans! It's a Sorting, not a tea party!"

But he didn't say it loudly enough for anyone but James to hear.


"There is an open-mindedness in you, Lily Evans," the Hat said, "that would make Helga Hufflepuff proud."

"Oh, that's so kind of you to say," Lily said with a smile. "So Hufflepuff, then?"

"No. No, there is a better House for you, I think."

"Ravenclaw?"

"Not Ravenclaw."

"Slytherin, then. With Severus."

"Gryffindor, Lily Evans. You possess vast amounts of courage."

She felt her mouth drop a little. "Listen," she said a little more quietly. "I dunno if you can tell, but I'm terrified to be here. Not brave whatsoever. I really think you'd better go with Hufflepuff."


"How long's it been?" Sirius asked. "Five minutes, yet? Is she a Hatstall?"

"Only four," James said. "But she might get there." He sighed enviously. "And to think we sat in a compartment with her!"


"If I end up in Gryffindor, I'll be the most cowardly student they've ever seen," Lily explained. "I really wish you'd reconsider."

"Tell me, Lily Evans, why did you agree to come to Hogwarts?"

"Because I got the letter. And Sev - "

"Are you afraid to leave behind the world you know?"

"Yes. Of course."

"And you did it anyway?"

"Only because Severus is with me."

"So you found your courage to come here out of loyalty to your friend, is that right?"

Lily didn't say anything.

"Lily Evans, I have never been wrong about a student. But I'll let you in on a secret: every student has traits from every House within him or her. It's the House itself that cultivates the traits - the House itself that nurtures one characteristic over the others. My job is to determine which parts of you will best flourish when nurtured. And I can tell, Lily Evans, that you belong in GRYFFINDOR!"

The last word was a shout that echoed through the Great Hall, and a very numb, very confused Lily stepped off the stool and went down to join her new family.


"So?" Sirius asked as the next student approached the Hat. "Hatstall, or not?"

James checked his watch and shook his head. "Four minutes and fifty-nine seconds."

"Ah, well. Almost."


[Fiddler on the Roof Character Challenge: Hodel - write about a child leaving home and venturing out into the world.]

[Fiddler on the Roof Song Challenge: Far From the Home I Love - write about leaving home for the first time.]

[So You Think You Know Your Character Competition: Lily Evans - What traits do you share with your Hogwarts House?]