The Houses Competition

House: Slytherin

Class: Herbology

Prompt(s) (Emotion) Courage

Word Count: 617

Beta: Ash Juillet, Dhrish, Hope.

Neville thoughts and feelings when he is being sorted into his house

The Cowardly Lion

His heart pounded in his chest like a drum solo. His palms were sweaty and his hands were trembling, and nausea clawed at his throat as a swarm of butterflies took up residence in his stomach; not to mention the chills and numbness that ran throughout his entire body as Neville made his way up to the front of the Great Hall and sat down on the stool as he was about to be Sorted into his Hogwarts house. This was the one moment that would define who he was for the rest of his life.

His feet hovered above the floor as he sat down on the unstable stool, its back leg three inches shorter than the other two. Neville's right foot swayed nervously as the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, dropping over his eyes. The darkness only increased his panic.

"Nervous, m'boy?" The Hat spoke as it settled itself on Neville's head, letting out a small hum once it got comfortable. "Not to worry, dear one, I'm sure we can find a House that will become your family."

Neville's eyes widened the moment the Hat spoke. A chill ran down his spine, towards the tips of his fingers as his leg increased with its nervous movements, making the stool wobble even more.

Ignoring the boy's discomfort, the Sorting Hat began its analysis, letting out a long content hum before it spoke, "Loyal, kind, generous. I must say, my boy, you belong in Hufflepuff...Yes, Hufflepuff would be very good for you." The Hat was about to call out the house when Neville began shaking his head furiously.

"Calm down, dear boy. Don't you want to be a Hufflepuff? They are a wonderful bunch! I can take a deeper look if you like," the Hat said before going silent again.

Desperately, Neville tried to think brave thoughts, anything that could help get him into Gryffindor. Suddenly, his parents popped into his mind. Sadness overwhelmed Neville as he thought about his mum and dad, afraid that he would never be able to live up to them. What would they think of him if he wasn't in Gryffindor, if he wasn't as brave as them?

"Your parents!" the hat suddenly spoke, spooking Neville a little. The Hat tried to reassure him by saying, "Both of your parents were in Gryffindors, weren't they? Don't want to let them down? I can assure you, my boy, your parents would be proud of you no matter what house you end up in."

Disappointed, Neville couldn't help the tears, grateful that the brim of the hat kept his tears from rolling down his cheeks.

"Now, now, you mustn't cry. Hufflepuff isn't a bad house; many great witches and wizards have come from Hufflepuff, and I'm sure you will be just as great."

Neville couldn't help but feel resentment for the Hat. Why couldn't it just sort him in Gryffindor? He wasn't supposed to be in Hufflepuff; he was supposed to be brave like his parents.

The Hat let out another long hum. "Perhaps there is courage in you after all. I'm going against my better judgement, as you so desperately want me too, but since your parents did well in Gryffindor, perhaps you will follow in their footsteps."

Neville let out a huge sigh of relief as he felt all the weight he had been carrying since he got his Hogwarts letter disappear.

"I will leave you with this before I let you go. Courage isn't just a matter of not being afraid; it's about being afraid but still doing what is right," the Hat said before taking a deep breath. It shouted for the whole hall to hear, "GRYFFINDOR!"