Ch. 3 The Sorting Hat

Kira moved to a small car with no other students and tried to think. What if she was different from her family. Her family always spoke of destiny, but maybe she was destined for something else. Should she just let the sorting hat do it's job? Or insist on continuing the family tradition. What to do, what to..

"Mind if I join you?"

The small voice came so unexpectedly Kira nearly jumped out of her seat.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, I was simply..."

"I wasn't frightened!" Kira shot back, "I was just in deep thought when you interrupted me." So the stress of the day was getting to her... She caught herself after the look on the poor girls face and quickly replied, "Please, sit down. I'm sorry about that, just a little worried about my first day. What is your name?"

"I'm Charis. Charis Dawn, and yours?"

"Kira Kuroi"

"Kuroi? I've heard of your family," Charis said as she shifted a bit in her seat. "Your family has a long line of... Great... witches and wizards, what do you have to be worried about?"

Ugh, not even at the stupid school and I'm already being compared to my family. Maybe I should say "not Slytherin" so I could be my own person for once. "It's a lot to live up to," was the only reply she could muster. "What about your family? Do you they have a favorite house in mind for you?"

Charis shifted in her seat a bit again. She knew all about the Kuroi's and their pure-blood legacy. But Kira seemed nice enough. Maybe she was different? Charis held her head high and replied, "both my parents are muggles. They're just happy if I'm happy, so any house is fine. I suppose you will be a Slytherin?"

"That's actually what I was thinking about when you interr... I mean... Joined me. I'm not so sure if it's the right house for me or not. Just because your family has always done one thing... Doesn't necessarily mean you should right? I don't know. I did snap at you awful quick. Maybe I'm Slytherin to the core..."

"But Slytherin isn't just about darkness," Charis interjected, "sure, they've had their share of dark wizards and witches, but Slytherin is about ambition. Plenty of good comes from Slytherin as well. Just like darkness has also come from Gryffindor. And Hufflepuff produces greatness too despite them being the blunt of every joke. Many of the houses are misunderstood. They don't determine your destiny, just your surroundings." Charis was very wise. There were stereotypes associated with the houses, but they weren't cookie cutters for each student. Many broke the mold. "Maybe, you will bring a new perspective to Slytherin. I can see your different." Charis said with a smile.

Different. Always different.

"Don't worry about it. Just be yourself wherever you are. Hogwarts is a great school and we're lucky to be in any house!"

"You're right I guess. Do you at least have one you favor?" Kira asked hoping to shift the conversation away from her.

"I think I would like Hufflepuff. Loyalty. Acceptance. Equality. I value those things. And I greatly respect Helga Hufflepuff for paving the way for... Non-magic folk to learn as well."

She sure knows a lot for a muggle. I'd peg her for a Ravenclaw.

"Guess we will find out soon enough!" Kira said as she looked out the window. The train horn sounded and Hogwarts appeared in the distance.

They got off the train and headed into the beautiful castle. Hogwarts was even greater in person than in any book she had ever seen. In the commotion of exiting Kira had lost Charis, but it gave her more time to think anyway. She liked to be by herself. She was a bit of an introvert and Charis appeared to be someone who could talk all day. "Wanting to be in Hufflepuff? She must be mad. I didn't even think that was possible," she thought to herself.

The more Kira thought about it the more she realized she truly didn't belong anywhere. Not at home with her deranged family, not in any house at Hogwarts. She was tired of being labeled. She just wanted to be herself, but she didn't even know where to begin! Maybe the hat would know. Maybe that would be a good place to start. She decided as she walked up the stairs into the great hall that she would let the hat decide her fate.

Kira was near the middle of the line of first years with her last name. Charis would be sorted much sooner than her, and there was a great commotion about several students wanting to be a Gryffindor because Harry Potter had been sorted into that house the year before. Charis walked up to the stool as professor Mcgonagall put the hat on her head. In no time at all the hat shouted "Ravenclaw!"

"Ha, called that one." Kira said, louder than she intended. "Glad I can place everyone else and have no idea where I belong." She murmured.

Several students had been sorted into each house by the time Kira walked toward the platform. She recognized Draco Malfoy at the Slytherin table, the Kuroi's were distant relatives of the Malfoys and the Lestrange's, so they had often had play dates as small children. He smiled at her and she became intensely nervous again. "Maybe I should just say Slytherin... But then I'll never really know where I belong... But maybe it's best... Maybe I don't belong anywhere..." Kira mumbled to herself as she walked up the stairs. She shook off her thoughts of doubt, held her head high, and didn't even wince when the hat hit her head.

"Ahhhh I see..." Whispered the sorting hat. "Curious case we have here... Quite curious. You have no input yourself as to where you want to be sorted eh? Leaving it all up to the wise old hat? I see very much greatness in you. You could flourish in Slytherin... But ah, despite your proud bloodline you're quite humble. Fine trait of a Hufflepuff. But alas, what courage! The lions scarlet and gold would fit you fine! But my, what a conundrum, you also have a terrific mind!"

The hat went on and on but Kira would not give in. She must know where she truly belonged. She must not sway the hats opinion.

"Ok, if you have no opinion in the matter... I can honestly say you don't fit perfectly anywhere."

Gasp!

"Alas, lucky for you... Hufflepuff takes the uncertain few. HUFFLEPUFF!"

The hat had decided.

And Kira's heart fell.