"Let's see, oh my goodness - no this can't be happening. I can't see in your head. Can you hear me?" The hat asked in a panicky tone. I could tell the hat was talking only to me, not the other people in the hall, but it was when it said, "Stop the sorting, I need to speak with Dumbledore and the heads of house. Oh, and the girl had better come too."
A puzzled expression was now on everyone's faces. I sat there, absolutely terrified. Then, McGonagall walked over to me, took the hat from my head, and gestured for me to follow. I looked and saw an old, wise looking man, who I knew was Dumbledore, a very very short man, a plump lady and a tall, greasy, hook nosed teacher following. They all went into a side room, but Dumbledore stopped me, "I think it would be best if you waited a moment." Then he followed the other teachers. It was clear I could do what I wanted. I stayed outside though, and soon they called me in.
"Shay, what were you thinking before you put the hat on?" Dumbledore said.
"I was thinking about how I wanted to get in Gryffindor," I told him.
"Are you sure it was that exactly?" He asked.
"Well, mostly I was thinking about how I didn't want to get in Slytherin." I admitted.
He smiled and said, "Well, I'm going to have you try on the hat again, but this time, can you focus on letting the hat into your head for me? Or at least don't think about not wanting a certain house."
I gulped, "All right."
McGonagall sat the hat on top of my head and again I heard its voice, "Let's see if this time… yes, I can. But only what you're thinking at the moment. Think about letting me in you're whole mind. Yes, that's it. Well, you're a Gryffindor," Dumbledore smiled at this, and McGonagall took the hat.
"We'll go back to the hall and you'll be sorted in front of the school. Then we'll resume the sorting." Dumbledore said and we all did.
When I entered the great hall for the second time, I was met the murmurs instead of the beauty. Everyone was standing to get a look at me. Why did I have to be the one the hat messed up on?
I sat on the stool, and put the hat on for the third time. It said, "Now, pretend like you're listening to me."
I am listening to you, I told it.
"Never mind, GRYFFINDOR!" It shouted.
Everyone clapped, and I ran to sit near Lee and Charlie. Both of them were throwing questions at me, but I told them that I would answer later. The sorting resumed.
"McLean, Sarah"
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted before it was even fully on her head.
Why did the hat work for them, but not me?
Then, "Midgen, Eloise"
Maybe Slytherin? I heard the hat ask, even though I was sure no one else but Eloise could. I also knew that Eloise told the hat she didn't want that, even though I didn't exactly hear her. All right then, how about… "HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat said, screaming the last word.
What was wrong with me?
Davis Montague went up next and got Slytherin. The hat didn't say anything to him, but I heard plenty of things he told Nikki Patterson. Are you sure you want Slytherin, you would be a wonderful Ravenclaw… but Nikki refused, so she got Slytherin. I saw that we didn't have to worry much about what house we would get, the hat was giving everyone what they wanted. Adrian Pucey got Slytherin, too, though the hat said nothing.
Claire Phillips went up. Hmm, you'll get wonderful grades, you're very smart, but you'll work really hard for them, and you're really loyal. Would you rather go in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw? Claire told the hat she didn't have a preference, but again, I didn't exactly hear her say it; it was more through the hat. Then I guess you'll be a "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Then McGonagall called "Spinnet, Alicia," and I saw Alicia walk up and sit down.
"GRIFFENDOR!" The hat shouted after telling Alicia that she was very loyal and hard-working, Hufflepuff traits, but would do better in Gryffindor. Alicia came over and sat next to Lee, looking amazingly relived. Thomas Summers and Patricia Stimson both got sorted into Hufflepuff, without the hat saying much. Then Kenneth Towler got into Gryffindor after being very stubborn. The hat had thought that he would do better in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, but Ken wanted Gryffindor, so the hat complied.
Finally, it was Fred's turn. The red head walked up, looking at me first. I smiled, knowing what would happen. He then nervously returned it. He sat down and pulled on the hat, Hello George, the hat said and I smiled again, my plan was working! Well then, Fred will be a Gryffindor, I presume? George nodded and the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" I stood up and cheered as he ran over. We high fived, with wicked smiles on our faces, and turned to watch Fred went up to the stool.
He looked at his brother and me, we flashed him thumbs ups and he smiled. He sat down, and pulled the hat on. Haha, nice trick you, your brother and… Miss Malfoy came up with it? Interesting, it said, then shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
He ran over and sat next to me. "The first trick we pull and no one even knows, a pity," I whispered.
"Quite," he said, then looked over to the last boy. "At least we weren't last,"
The boy was looking very nervous; he was the boy who was acting so sure of himself earlier. "Warrington, Caleb," McGonagall called, and he walked up. The hat decided in record time that he was a Slytherin. It didn't tell him anything at all. I don't believe it even thought anything.
"What happened earlier, when the teachers took you out?" George asked me.
"I'll tell you and Fred later," I told him, gesturing to all the people.
"All right," he said.
Dumbledore stood up and said, "Welcome! Welcome new students! And welcome again to the old! Now, I am rather hungry so let us begin our feast!"
Dumbledore sat down, and suddenly all the plates filled with food. I stuffed myself, not even paying attention to the conversations around me.
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