After about ten minutes of mindless wand-waving and word-shouting, I flung myself against the wall and slid onto the floor. My head rested on my knees so I couldn't see anything. Why did nobody think to give me the password before I left this morning?

A rumble came from the doorway, and the eagle began to spin. Stairs began to form as the eagle seemed to fly upward. Following the path, I ran into the Headmaster halfway up the stairs.

"Oh, Carrie," he said, smiling. "I didn't expect you to be back so soon."

"I've actually been here for a while, sir," I said. "Your password is very hard to guess. I'd say you're well protected in that office of yours."

Dumbledore laughed. "Well, of course I am," he said. "Just a hint for you, I only choose my favorite candies for my passwords." He chuckled to himself. "Nobody knows all of my favorites, so I won't be walked in on during my afternoon desk-naps."

"You're kidding," I said, gasping with laughter. "You take naps on your desk?"

He acted with mock-offense. "Of course I do," he said. "If the students can do it, why can't the teachers?"

We laughed for a while. And he invited me into his office.

"What can I do for you, little house-elf," he asked.

"I wondered if I might be assigned my house today," I said. "Since I have my wand now." I flicked my wand out of my pocket and showed it off to the man.

Dumbledore admired it, as if it were a great treasure. "It is beautiful," he said. "I must send Ollivander my thanks." He handed the wand back to me. "As for your house, I'm afraid the Sorting Hat is out at the moment. But I'm sure I can find some way to sort you, if you insist on having your house today."

"Thank you," I said. "I would appreciate that."

Wandering about his office, Dumbledore pulled all manner of objects out of drawers and off shelves, just to replace them with a sigh. "What can I use as the Sorting Hat today," he muttered to himself. "Ah! This is perfect." He flung a scarf over toward me and said, "Hold this up for me?"

I held the scarf, as he had asked me. The poor thing was threadbare and falling apart, but it looked very warm, and seemed like it had been soft at some point.

Waving his wand, the headmaster muttered an incantation at the scarf. It flew up out of my hands and began glowing. Slowly, the scarf flew back down, and flung itself around my neck. Surprised, I tried to pull at it.

"Leave it be," Dumbledore said. "It is deciding your house."

The scarf seemed to be mumbling to itself. "Courageous… Hard-working… Kind… Loyal to a fault…" It sighed audibly. "Dumbledore, this is hard. How does the Sorting Hat do it all the time?"

"Years of practice," the old wizard laughed. "Just do your best. I'm sure you'll make the right decision."

"Alright," the scarf mumbled. "She has plenty of the qualities of a Hufflepuff, but she's as smart as any Ravenclaw… But she's very brave, and strong-willed."

Dumbledore smiled. "What is your decision, scarf?"

"Give me a minute," it said, exasperated. "You give me this job, and expect me to do it well, then give me time!"

The old headmaster chuckled. "I think she's a bit upset with me," he whispered to me. "But, you'll definitely end up in your proper house this way. She's a bright scarf."

Looking down at the scarf, I realized he was referring to the print. I laughed, which upset the scarf.

"Alright already," she screamed. "Gryffindor!"

Dumbledore took the scarf from around my neck and whispered praises to her.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she muttered. "Just don't expect me to do it again, alright? One time was enough. I don't want the Sorting Hat's job every time he's out for cleaning."

"I promise, you'll only have to do it in special cases," he said. With a wave of his wand, the scarf went back to the way it was before. Just a threadbare accessory of the past. "Well, are you quite pleased with her decision?"

I nodded. "Very."

He walked over to a large closet and pulled out two black robes with burgundy trim, a few grey sweaters with a Gryffindor crest, one pair of black pants, two black pleated skirts, a burgundy and gold striped tie and matching scarf, and a pair of plain black shoes. "This is your uniform," he said, smiling. "Treat it kindly, and be sure to have it washed when needed."

"I know a couple of laundry-elves that will help me wash it myself," I said. "If I'm still allowed in the kitchens to see them, that is."

A loud roar of laughter came from deep within Dumbledore. "Why would you ever want to go back to the kitchens," he asked.

I smiled politely. "It's where I came from," I said softly. "And I appreciate the friendship of those few elves that I befriended. Is it alright if I visit them from time to time?"

"Be sure that you don't get pulled back into that work," he said, smiling kindly. "Always take one of those Weasley boys with you when you go. Better yet," he grinned, "take both. I know they share my love of the midnight snacks those house-elves can whip up."