Conversations with a Hat
Have you ever wondered about what goes on between the ickle-firstie on the stool and the Sorting Hat? How much do the first years influence their placement? Or was Harry a special case? What could have possessed the Hat to put people where he put them? Well, now it's time for you to find out.
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This is dedicated to—
Dark Lady of Slytherin, Achin 2 Lick Clays Neck, Pained Soul Wolf Goddess, Rommy, Frankie Beeblebrox, Daintress, deb-sampson, Mrs.ProfessorLupin, SpicySugar, paul, Klutz Kween, Eulalia Jennes, Foureyedsnail, siriusforeva, mrs.shigwa.cobain, JKIJ, Gina, Red Roses2-chan, FlamezFlyer, rubyqueen17, Oxi-Nu, Dreamer16, Gryffindors-Light, Briana Marie, Emerald Flame, SarcasmSage, jbfritz, Princess-Perfect, feltons-babe90099, Squeak4ever, TouchstoneoftheCharter, Riona, Sketchy Cannabis, The Toaster, blackpuppy, dawnmescher, jaimie, greykatt, Susan D, MatureImmaturity, will, saxistwriterchick, SheWolfe7, HG Wannabe, LuvAsInfinity, unicorn11, FrigtninglyObsessed, ocpawnmaster1, GinnyHarryP, Miss_Padfoot003, Lady Zee, YankeeTorp, Lily Mione Potter, lyra, agatha-christie-fan-04, freakyfairy, Marauder Angel, midnight2113, jess131346, Miss-Aurelia, keri, Menace of Mine, Jala, Mew's Dreamer, tall oaks, soccerstarz, Emelie, lala, JoJo, Psyco-chick, Cha Cha Cha Charmin, harry+lissa=luv, Dude, Duckie9, angel05 Aku Maru, *Mac, tennisplaya278, xxGinnyxx, xangel-luvx, midnight's mist, ERMonkey Queen of Insani, Nikki Pikki, Ehlonna Kiirnodel, Merriman Lyon, Happynutcase#1, GirloftheBlueFiresofNever, LUCIUS-is-LUSCIOUS, HYPERdingdong39, neevs, Rouge Mage, chickadee, Deadangel, Illy Aden, Picture Perfect, wintersun, marygirl1118, Valentia, coolcat411, and Mystical Witch.
I think I got everybody, if I missed anyone I am so sorry. As you can see
that's a lot of reviews to reply to. If your name is in bold, I addressed an
author's note just to you at the end of the chapter.
A few general notes: this is the longest chapter so far and I hope you really like it. Keep sending in reviews and requests! The next one is going to be Tonks, and after that I think Draco Malfoy. This might be kind of an odd portrayal of Remus, I don't know. See what you think of it and let me know.
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Remus's Sorting
Remus Lupin stepped forward and walked to the stool as his name was called. His palms were sweaty and he was just waiting for the laughter, the pointing, and the horrified shrieks of, "Werewolf!" He knew outwardly he appeared fine. There was no visible sign of his lycanthropy, but all the same, he feared it and what people would do if they only knew.
He'd come to Hogwarts at the Headmaster's insistence; Albus Dumbledore himself had paid the Lupins a house call. Now, Remus sat on the stool and put the notorious Sorting Hat on his head and waited. It seemed a long moment before the voice started.
"Remus Lupin," it said simply.
"Yes, that's me," was the nervous reply.
"You're a lot braver than you realize."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are," the Hat insisted.
"I'm scared stiff just sitting here. I was afraid to come. If they find out about me…"
"About your lycanthropy?"
"Yes," he whispered fearfully.
"But you're here. You came. That's what makes you brave. You're doing what you're doing even though you're scared. If you weren't scared, it wouldn't be bravery. That's what being a Gryffindor means."
"A Gryffindor?" His eyes widened. That was Dumbledore's own house!
"Yes, I said Gryffindor. You've been brave to bear this burden alone. Only your parents to help you, to comfort you, to be there for you. Brave to make the decision you made about have no friends while here so they don't come to harm. But I've got a proposition for you. I want you to be braver than that."
"Braver how?"
"I want you to make friends. Open yourself up and let them see your emotions and see you for who you really are. Can you do that?"
"I don't know. It's a little intimidating. I've never done that before." He thought about his lonely years, taking solace in books of all sorts, particularly Muggle fantasies. He dreaded shopping trips because he had to meet people, see them. But his parents made him go every so often to keep him from becoming agoraphobic. It wouldn't do to have the boy afraid of people. So he had gone and always felt small and alone.
"There are different sorts of braveness, young one. Be brave! Embrace your emotional side; don't be afraid to make friends. You'll need them. You'll do fine with the other young men I sorted into GRYFFINDOR!"
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Replies—
Dawnmescher—Thanks, I'm going to take a look at that story as soon as I've got some free time. I've been swamped lately and I've to get up early tomorrow to help build the set for the school play.
Gryffindors-Light—Hey, I recognized your penname and I just wanted to let you know I haven't given up on Fortress of Shadows. I've only just hit a huge writer's block with it is all.
Lady Zee—I think I've got so many reviews because I review a lot of stories myself. When people review stories of mine, I try and make it a point to get around to reading some of that they wrote as well as long as it's not above PG (I only read PG-13 once in a while), not in another language, and is from a series or whatever that I know. I haven't gotten much of a chance to do that yet with the reviewers from the story since I've been kind of bombarded but I'm going to try to.
Rommy—Yeah, the Black family were Slytherins. But not Tonks (then again, technically her name is Tonks, not Black, hehe). I do have a theory that Tonks's mother, Andromeda, might have been a Ravenclaw, so I may write her Sorting that way since I'm working on some short pieces that includes her and her being in Ravenclaw.
Briana Marie—I doubt they were friendly and I assume Bellatrix was in Slytherin, but we can't forget that they are cousins. They must have had to be together sometimes.
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Review, you know you want to! Tune in next time for: Nymphadora Tonks!