When I settled down at my chair, next to Ginny's I could only think one thought. Who was I, to claim to be important enough to be sorted by the hat? Who was I to step out there, taking the time of that stunningly accurate hat, powerful and magically influenced by Dumbledore himself? I had surely heard of all those things, that Dumbledore would make a speech and that the Sorting Hat would give us the name of the house we would be in from that very day on.
It would soon be found out, that I was a Muggle-born and horribly displaced, led here by mistake. I had no magical powers. Maybe I was a Muggle... Yes, I had heard enough to know everything about myself, about myself being either Mudblood or - even worse: just a Muggle. I had read enough to know, that I would never want to be in Slytherin, but did I know in which house I wanted to be? I flinched as my name fell; I stood up and put the Sorting Hat on my head. An awkward silence welcomed me. "Shit", I thought slowly. I was really not magical at all. How embarrassing. Suddenly an odd voice spoke to me. "I don't know. I am going to say your name out loud, then you can decide" I winced at the thought of all the people looking at me, how all the people from the houses I would not chose would soon loath me. I did not want to be stabbed by looks every day! In my panic I let a little scream out "No!" The hat instantly told me to shut up. "Can't… can't you just say Gryffindor?" I asked hesitantly and the same moment I thought it the hat spoke the word. Relieved I took him off and strode to the Gryffindor table.
Nobody seemed to have noticed the weird thing that had been going on while the hat was on my head. I didn't bother telling anybody, whom should I tell anyway, Ginny was the only person I trusted at the moment and she was too busy hugging her brother, overjoyed to be in the same house like every other family member of the Wesley's. I cursed myself for having the name Zolas which had forced me to be the last one called out.
"Did the hat say Slytherin first?" somebody behind me asked. I shook my head. "No. Why?" It was an older boy, year 2 or 3 I guessed. He shrugged "Just because you shrieked no while wearing it..." He did not seem to be insulting me and yet I felt as if I had to defend myself.
"Mind your own business" I hissed at him. His kind voice was not so kind anymore when he answered me. "George. Actually I just wanted to make you feel welcome here but you seem to be too ignorant to worship our friendliness" I did not reply. Why on earth couldn't I answer him? He went away without waiting for me to apologise or talk again. My appetite was gone now. I just stared at the food, wondering what the next day was going to bring me. I had never been popular but I had also never had enemies. I disliked the red-haired boy who had disturbed and confused me that bad.