Getting the hang of it

by kleineanna

So, here's 30 short conversations between different characters, set in the Hogwarts and post-Hogwarts era, exploring things I've wondered about. The stories were written to celebrate my little brother's 30th birthday (happy birthday bro!) and each chapter title describes him somehow. Whether the stories themselves reflect on him, I'll leave up to you...

10. Gryffindor

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you think you were sorted into Gryffindor?"

"Well… I knew I didn't want Slytherin, even told the Sorting Hat so."

"Yeah, I know. But why Gryffindor though? Why not Ravenclaw, of Hufflepuff?"

"Son, really. Ravenclaw? Me? 'Wit and learning' don't really describe me, now do they. And Hufflepuff, yeah, well, I maybe have some of their loyalty, but certainly not their patience! And I'm not really a hard worker. So, Gryffindor it is."

"Oh, yeah, ok. I can see that. But why then wasn't aunt Hermione sorted into Ravenclaw? I mean, she's basically their ideal student!"

"You know, I've often wondered about that myself. I don't know though, maybe the Sorting Hat felt that her bravery was a more important part of her personality than her cleverness? She thought so, at one time anyway. She once told me that she thought friendship and bravery were more important than books and cleverness."

"Really? Aunt Hermione said that?"

"What did I say, James?"

"Oh, hey Hermione. James and I were wondering about the Sorting Hat and why it makes the decisions it does. Like, why you were sorted into Gryffindor, and not Ravenclaw."

"… Aunt Hermione? Are you blushing?"

"Well…erm… it's because… Remember, I was just eleven at the time, didn't know anything…"

"I'm eleven!"

"Yes, that's true. But… oh well, I was a pretty foolish eleven-year-old, I think. Pretty full of myself. And erm, I asked the Hat to not put me in Ravenclaw."

"Really? Why? It seems that you would really fit in with the Ravenclaws!"

"Yeah, Hermione. I never knew, but I always wondered. You'd have been among like-minded students there, with peers who could actually keep up with you in an argument."

"Yes, well, that was exactly the reason. I'm not proud of it, actually…"

"I don't understand."

"Oh, if you insist! Just…, don't you make the same childish choices, James, when it's your turn. I…erm, I asked the Sorting Hat to not put me in Ravenclaw because… because I liked to stand out in class. To be the smartest in the room. So there, now you know."

"… right… Well, now I know for sure why the Hat sorted you into Gryffindor. Cause if that isn't pure Gryffindor pride, I don't know what is!"

Hermione's face made a good match for her Hogwarts house as well, at that point. It matched the house colour perfectly.