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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Disclaimer: I still own nothing.
A/N: Sorry it's been so long since an update. I warned you it'd be sporadic and depend upon how kind my muse was being. This is the longest Sorting yet! Next chapter will be either Hermione, Ginny, or Snape I think.
Replies: All at the bottom.
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Andromeda's SortingAndromeda walked forward with a regal bearing that belied her nervousness. She walked with all the decorum and grace that being a member of the Black family required. She walked with her nose a fraction of an inch in the air and ignored everyone around. Just as she'd been told to do. She approached the stool and did something no one had done for hundreds of years. Something no one had done since Calypso the Vain had put the Hat on the floor so she could comb her hair before being Sorted. Andromeda took the Sorting Hat and placed it on the floor.
There were shocked gasps around the hall. She ignored the gasps and smoothed her robes before picking the Hat up and placing it on her head. As the Hat was just about to cover her eyes, she snuck a glance at Trixie, sitting at the Slytherin table. Her sister nodded slightly and watched her out of her lidded eyes.
Andromeda didn't let her posture slip, though she nearly did with relief. She hadn't been sure that she was going to go through with it. She'd been trying all summer to think of something that would set her apart from everyone else from the beginning. She was the middle child, but under no circumstance would she succumb to being regarded as the least important. On the train, her brainstorm hit. The Sorting Hat was regarded as the most wonderful thing the Founders left Hogwarts. What if someone put it on the ground? So she did.
"Impressive. You know how to make a first impression last, don't you?" the Hat whispered in her ear.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said primly.
"I think you do."
That voice sent a shiver down her spine, but she stayed rigid.
"Where to put you? Slytherin, Slytherin is for survivors. Somehow you just don't fit there. Hufflepuff perhaps? No, I don't think so. Not especially loyal. Gryffindor? I can sense you had some doubts about what you did. But you did it anyway. No, no, that wasn't really brave. You do have brains though. I can't ignore that. Where to put you?"
"My family has been in Slytherin for generations."
"You're not particularly keen to join them though, are you?"
"Not particularly, no."
"Care to give reasons?"
"Life is about more than survival. Slytherin seems to reek of everyone believing in 'survival of the fittest'. I don't care to be there; I believe there are lines that shouldn't be crossed, they don't. Besides, my brains have a better use I'm sure. I just don't know what it is yet."
The Hat seemed to chuckle. "A little bit of spunk in you after all, I see! Maybe I was wrong to disregard Gryffindor as a choice for you."
"I don't think you were. Bravery is a little to close to loyalty for my tastes. I think you and I both know where I belong."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"For the last time, yes!"
"Good, birdbrain. The perfect place for you is RAVENCLAW!"
Andromeda stood up serenely, taking off the Hat. She placed it gently back on the stood and with a small smile walked to the Ravenclaw table. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. She wouldn't be following the same path as her sister and her parents and the rest of her family. But she wasn't so far away that she would be thrown away. After all, she'd still need them for seven years. Then she could dismiss them. She was a Ravenclaw; she was pretty smart after all, she knew her limitations.
She sat back and watched the rest of the Sortings with interest. Hogwarts just might be pleasant after all.
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Replies:
Mornings Light—Thanks I'll try and do Parvati and Padma soon. I want to figure out why one ended up in Ravenclaw and the other ended up in Gryffindor.
Achin 2 Lick Clays Neck—When? Uh, now?
Crookykanks—Thanks.
Starr—Sorry it's been so long. In the future I could like, email you when I update this fic?
Midnight2113—Thanks. Actually, you spelled ingenious right.
Wings-of-Fantasy—Thanks. I'll try to get to them soon. Probably Hermione before Dumbledore since I've got no clue what to write for him.
Hi Im Crazy—Thanks
Ar-Zimraphel—Thanks.
Tigerlily98—Thanks. : - )
Jess131346—Thanks
Foureyedsnail—Thanks. I was a little worried about the last chapter.
AC—Elvis? Um, I'm only doing HP characters. Besides, I wouldn't even know what house to put him in.
Freakyfairy—Thanks
Padfootlet—Thanks
Frankie Beeblebrox—Thanks. Hehe, yeah, that definition fits really well for techie.
Nastyubervamp—Thanks. Hope you liked Andromeda.
LuvAsInfinity—Thanks. Hope you liked Andromeda. Sorry about the delay.
Jbfritz—Thanks
Wildchartermage—Thanks
YankeeTorp—Thanks. Arthur would be interesting…
Sabrina—Thanks
Blandsaft—Thanks. Glad you liked Draco's, I was nervous about him. Favorite's List? Thanks!
Daintress—Hehe, cute! I like that. But people keep asking me to make the Sortings longer. I like that though, probably more like the Sorting really was.
Lyra—There's a fine line between cunning and smart though, isn't there? And Slytherins are supposed to be cunning.
Feline-go-meow—Thanks. I love theatre too! We did The Pirates of Penzance. It was great. Every show was sold out and we did 13!
Black Slytherin Girl—Yeah, as soon as I figure out how Peter's brain works I'm going to write him in.
Ash vault rose garden—Thanks
*Mac—Thanks! I'm glad you really like everything with Draco, I was worried that it might be a bit off.
Anne—Thanks. Snape will be coming eventually.
Rommy—Thanks
JoJo—Thanks.
JKIJ—Thanks. Yeah that's my list for likelyhood-to-become-evil too. I think that a lot of people are probably either borderline Slytherin/Ravenclaw or Slytherin/Gryffindor. They aren't really that different, there's a fine line. Then again, a Hufflepuff who was super-loyal to a Dark Wizarding family could be on the line too I guess. Really? Gryffindor or Hufflepuff for Draco? I just never saw that. Well, maybe a Hufflepuff since he seems so loyal to his family. Don't worry, I have no intention of doing Pansy in the near future. Which houses do you think Dung and Skeeter would be in? I'm clueless. Hope you liked Andromeda.
Scarred Dragonia—Thanks
ERMonkey, Queen of Insanity—I'll do Hermione soon. I don't know about next.
Mrs.ProfessorLupin—Thanks. Sirius's mother? Wow, I
hadn't thought of her even!
Gryffindors-Light—Thanks.
Wow. 36 reviews for the chapter. My fingers are sore.