A/N Please review if you would like me to continue this fanfic. It'd be nice to know who actually reads my stuff.
Rose POV
As soon as we arrive at Hogwarts, a huge man with a beard who is carrying a lamp calls, "Firs' years! Fir' years, follow me!" We are led into small boats in groups of three or four, but I sit alone with Hagrid. He talks nonstop about magical creatures until we get to Hogwarts. All I can think about is the Sorting. As Professor Kirkwood leads us to the Great Hall, I wonder nervously about my parents' expectations. Mum said she would love me no matter what, but I'm not sure I believe that. Where does she want to be? I know Dad wants me in Gryffindor, but Mum was in Gryffindor, too. Was that what she wanted? Maybe I belong in Ravenclaw. But I feel like Mum did, and she went to Gryffindor.
Where do I belong?
"Weasley, Rose." I freeze, my hands trembling. I almost trip over my own feet as I make my way to the stool where the Sorting Hat awaits. Taking a deep breath, I jump onto the stool and flinch as the Sorting Hat is placed on my head.
"Another Weasley, eh?" it says.
Was I brave enough for Gryffindor?
Smart enough for Ravenclaw?
Loyal enough for Hufflepuff?
Ambitious enough for Slytherin?
"We all know where the rest of you went, but…"
But what? I bite my lip.
"What to do, what to do…" it mutters.
Please, I think.
"Please what?" My eyes grow wide.
"You—you—" I stutter.
Would you prefer me like this?
I almost fall off of the stool. Yes, I answer, wonder filling my mind. How—
Magic, dear. It laughs. Magic.
His words unnerve me, but at the same time they make me hungry for answers.
Where do I belong? I ask.
Where do you want to go?
I don't know. I don't know what I want.
It's not that you don't know. It's that you cannot decide.
Tell me your options, dear, and I will help you.
Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. The other ones don't fit me.
Hmmmm… the brave and intelligent. What do you see yourself as?
Intelligent, I think. Everyone says I've inherited me mother's brains, but I'm not sure if Ravenclaw is what I want.
What about Gryffindor?
I don't think I'm brave. At all.
Is that what you think, my child?
Yes. I know I'm not courageous like the rest of them. I don't know why, but I know I fear so many things… I can't be brave like them.
You can be brave and still fear things, my dear.
I duck my head. Well… everyone else in my family is so… open. I don't think I belong there.
You are a conundrum, my child.
How so?
You are very complex. You can be brave and smart, you know. Your mother is.
I know but…
But you're different?
Yes. I grip the seat of the stool. Everyone's staring at me.
Don't worry about what they see, Rose. Worry about what you see.
What if I don't belong where you put me? What if everyone hates me?
Don't worry about the what-ifs. You are brave and smart. I can tell. You will find a way to belong no matter where I put you. I bite my lip. Rose, where do you want to go?
It takes me a while to make my decision.
I see.
Wait, wait, wait! I cry out in my head. I want you to tell me something.
Anything, my child.
Do you… do you really think that I'm brave?
Of course. You are brave, curious, intelligent, creative, intuitive, kind, and loyal.
I sigh. Thank you.
I only tell the truth, my dear. The Sorting Hat shifts on my head, and roars.
"RAVENCLAW!"" Much to my surprise, the Great Hall explodes into applause. Or, at least, the Ravenclaw table does. Beaming, I hop down from the stool, but not before whispering a thank you to the Sorting Hat. Joining the torrent of blue and silver ties, I am patted on the back and congratulated.
Scorpius sits down on the stool now, nervously rubbing his hands. Suddenly he stops. I smile.
A/N How about that hat, huh? Good? Bad? Review!