Written for the The Next Gen Competition! (Always Open).
"Weasley, Rose!" Unc- Professor Longbottom yelled. With slow, hesitant steps, Rose made her way to the Sorting stool.
She was about to be Sorted, go into a House that she would be in for the next seven years, and what House that would be would affect people's perceptions of her for the rest of her life. Rose felt like hyperventilating. She was in no way ready for this.
She sat down on the stool, and closed her eyes. She could hear her thudding in her ears and was sure everyone else could too.
"What do we have here?"
She jumped when she heard the Hat talk loudly into her ears, and heard snickers that were almost certainly her cousins.
"Another Weasley. Strong like your cousins, and brave too. You're clever, and you do have some ambition."
'Are you going to Sort me into Slytherin?' Rose asked, fear in her heart about her family's reaction to that.
"What? No, my dear. Slytherin is not the horrible place you think it is, but it's not the place for you. You could be a Ravenclaw, you are smart enough, but you don't love learning like your mother did, and I see my dear, that if you got Sorted into Ravenclaw you know that everyone would compare to your mother more than they already do."
'So I'm a Gryffindor then?'
"You could be, if you wanted to be. You have the potential for great bravery like all your family members before you, but it's not the House I think would be best for you."
'That just leaves Hufflepuff then.'
"I don't understand this stigma around Hufflepuff quite frankly. Out of all the Founders, it was Helga's temper that was the one who struck fear into hearts, and she was the one you truly wanted on your side in a fight. She was incredibly loyal, very hard-working, and amazingly patient, all traits I see in you. You are very much like her in actuality, and I think you'll be the one to show everyone how wrong they are. Oh yes, my dear, I would love to Sort you in Hufflepuff, if you wish."
Rose thought about it. Everyone was probably wondering what was taking so long. They probably just wanted the Hat to Sort her in Gryffindor so it could finish up the other students and then eat. She could do that. But she didn't want that.
It wasn't that she wanted to do something to prove herself, or to break away from her family, but she just didn't want to do something because everyone thought she should. She didn't want to look back on her life and wish that she had gone into Hufflepuff, that she was only in Gryffindor because that's what everyone expected of her.
'As you wish.'
"Marvelous, my dear. HUFFLEPUFF!"