Disclaimer: If I were rich...

A/N: This one's pretty short. I love writing interactions between the hat and Dumbledore.

Quote 43. "When God gives you lemons -- find a new God!"


Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore sat at his desk, musing something. The exact nature of his thoughts were unknown, though many of the portraits privately thought and expected that the current Headmaster was pondering something marvelous, such as the exact equation of magical thought to ghostly activity, or what lingered under the cloak of a Dementor. The Sorting Hat, sitting on its perch atop several old books and dustless, thanks to a nifty permanent cleaning spell implemented by a past Headmaster, who had noticed the buildup of dust and - well, other items of disgust - and had fixed the problem, did not care. It was taking a nap.

"What is the muggle phrase for looking on the bright side?" Dumbledore suddenly asked. The portraits looked at each other, startled, then shrugged, their hopes dashed to pieces. They should have known better than to expect something normal from Dumbledore. After all, with a name like, well, any of his names (with the exception of Brian), one could hardly expect normal thoughts.

"Why do you care?" piped the high, reedy voice of Phineas Nigellus, former Slytherin Headmaster.

"One must have an understanding of all sorts of people, Phineas," Dumbledore replied simple. Phineas snorted. "I believe it is, 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade'," he continued, ignoring the portraits.

The hat opened one eye. "Lemons?" it wanted to know.

"Yes."

It closed its eye and said dryly, "I prefer, 'When God gives you lemons - find a new God."

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore gave this some thought as the Sorting Hat drifted back off to sleep.