Only a few years ago a small boy sat where a girl was now seated. He had prayed to whatever gods there were out there or whatever force there was for one thing - "Not Slytherin, Not Slytherin, Please not Slytherin..."

And he'd gotten into Gryffindor. Everyone in the school now knew his name; in fact, who didn't know Harry Potter?

But this story isn't about him.

This story is about a different kind of person. Our story starts exactly where Harry's did - sitting there under the overly large Sorting Hat, waiting to be sorted. Waiting for destiny.

The Sorting Hat, despite what some people might tell you, is your destiny. It's almost funny how something like an old hat can decide how your life is going to turn out. But it's true - at Hogwarts which House you're in means everything.

And right then in that Great Hall, listening to the murmurs around her, a small girl sat with her eyes tightly closed, praying to the gods for only one thing - "Not Hufflepuff, Not Hufflepuff, Please not Hufflepuff..."

All her friends, who had been sorted before her, got into Gryffindor. Couldn't she get into Gryffindor? Or even Ravenclaw, where all the brilliant ones were, even though she wasn't all that smart? Slytherin, even. Slytherins were the cream of the crop - everyone either hated or loved them. At least they felt something for them. Hufflepuffs were just...bland. They reminded the girl of the color beige - boring, something people painted their living rooms then covered up by expensive paintings.

'Not Hufflepuff, you say?' The Hat was talking in her ear...oh, god, she was going crazy... 'What is there to be ashamed of, hmm? Why so adamant?'

This hat was seriously asking her this? Seriously?? Didn't he - it? - of all things know that Hufflepuff was the laughing stock of the school? Overlooked, stepped on...Hufflepuff! The name was enough to make her want to gag.

"Hufflepuff!"

People were cheering. Why the hell were they cheering? Oh god, wait, the hat said Hufflepuff?! No, but it couldn't say Hufflepuff -

Professor McGonagall smiled, pulling the hat from the girl's head. Her smile looked more like a pity smile than anything. The girl pushed off of the stool, trembling as she walked towards the Hufflepuff table. Of course the Hat didn't listen to her. Why would it? It was probably biased towards Famous People or something.

The girl sat down between a pretty blonde girl and a stern-looking 7th year. Glancing over at the 7th year, she noticed that the yellow badge on his robes had faded to an almost beige-like color. How fitting.

This year - and every year afterwards - was going to be hell. She could feel it in her bones. Feel how disappointed her parents would always be - but they would never tell her. Feel how all of her friends would never acknowledge her. Feel how no one would ever notice her.

No one but the other Hufflepuffs. And that wasn't saying much.