"Potter, Harry" Professor McGonagall read the next first year name off her list. As anticipated there was instant murmuring throughout the hall. People were craning their heads to catch a glimpse of The Boy Who Lived.
Harry approached the stool with shaking legs. He wasn't used to all eyes on him. He wasn't used to the spotlight. He liked to linger in the shadows and observe. He liked the silence of the back alleys he wandered at three am. He liked…
"Well, well you're nothing like your parents are you?"
There was a voice which seemed to be directly in his mind, something that put him very much on edge. Harrys hands gripped the lip of the stool he was sitting on so tight that his knuckles went white. Scenes from Harrys life played out. The first time he felt the sting of his uncles belt. The first time the teacher told him he needed to stop vying for attention by making things up about his cousin. The first time his Aunt…
'GET OUT OF MY HEAD!' he silently shouted.
"Ahh Mr Potter, it seems you have had an… unfortunate… set of circumstances surrounding your upbringing. Never the less I must sort you, after all it's my job, my soul reason for existing. Now you would fit most places, except I think maybe Slyth-"
'NO!'
"No? Why ever not?"
'Why would I want to go to the house that's known for it's cunning? Not very smart, or very cunning if you ask me. In fact it's quite daft.'
If the hat was capable of being shocked it would have been. In fact if it had the ability the sorting hat's jaw would have hit the floor.
'What was that house about all the rest and loyalty?'
"Hufflepuff…"
'That's where I want to be. '
'You said you had a reason to exist?'
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat roared.
Harry didn't hear it murmur 'may Merlin help them.' As it was ripped off his head.