Penny stuck close to Harry's side as the group followed Professor McGonagall through to the Great Hall, the whole group looking around in awe at the size of the Hall and the ceiling enchanted to reflect the sky outside, the stars twinkling as they all gazed upward. She relaxed as she felt Harry's awe washing away his unease, shifting to just hold his hand as they lined up before the older students. Professor McGonagall brought out a four-legged stool and an old hat, setting the stool on the floor and the hat on the stool. She then stepped back...and the Hat began to sing.

Penny listened to the song, which was about which qualities had someone fit in each house, and that the Hat would pick which House you belonged in by looking into your mind. Apparently, Gryffindors were brave and defined by daring, nerve, and chivalry. Hufflepuffs, on the other hand, were just, loyal, patient, and hard-working. Ravenclaws, on the third paw, were the brainiacs focused solely on learning for the sake of learning, while Slytherins were cunning and apparently ruthless, in that they'd use any means to achieve their ends. She frowned as she thought about all of that. While each House seemed to have its good points, she could see the drawbacks thereof.

Gryffindors being brave, daring, and having nerve meant that they would face any challenge, meaning that if danger loomed you wanted Gryffindors at your back. On the other hand, going too deep in that mindset would result in recklessness, meaning that having Gryffindors around might bring trouble. Hufflepuffs being just and loyal meant that they would be staunch allies whatever happened, but going too heavy into patience and hard-working could lead to becoming too enured to hardship, and that was asking for trouble. Ravenclaws would be the ones to have the answers to most questions...but that included questions that maybe shouldn't be asked. And while cunning was always welcome when it came to problem solving, ruthlessness could come too easily over time...

She was broken from her thoughts as Professor McGonagall started calling students up to be sorted. Nearby, Ron let out a breath of relief. "Looks like you were right, Penny," he offered warmly. "I'm gonna kill Fred. 'Wrestling a troll' my eye..."

Harry chuckled a bit at the banter, but it was plain he was getting nervous all over again. Penny pressed against him to offer comfort...and to her pleased surprise, Hermione also pressed in close, though trying to act like it was the press of bodies and the nervous students that pushed her against him rather than it being a conscious choice to offer comfort. As far as Penny could tell, she was the only one who noticed that, but it was a nice gesture.

Mr's. Interchangeable were the first two names Penny recognized of those called up to be Sorted, and both were soon placed in Slytherin. Not long after, Hermione was called up to be sorted. She jumped away from Harry as her name was called only to try and act like she hadn't, heading up to place the Hat on her head. After a time, the Hat placed her in Gryffindor. Neville was next, and he stumbled on his way to the Hat, nearly falling over. After a rather long time, the Hat eventually placed him in Gryffindor, only for him to almost run off to the table with the Hat.

Penny could feel Harry starting to get nervous and uncertain, so she wrapped her arms around him to offer comfort. She didn't care who looked or saw or what they thought, because she could feel that it was helping him to calm down. To her surprise, Ron rested his hand comfortingly on Harry's shoulder to try and reassure him. She sent Ron a grateful smile at that, and he lowered his gaze looking flustered.

"Potter, Harry!" McGonagall called out.

As everyone in the Great Hall started whispering, Penny released him and gripped his free shoulder. "It's okay," she told him reassuringly. "It's just a Hat. It's just a personality test. You have nothing to prove." She nuzzled his ear with her nose for extra comfort, and then gently nudged him forward. He managed to make his way to the stool and donned the Hat.

"Hmm..." the voice of the Hat murmured in Harry's mind in the darkness beneath the brim. "Difficult...very difficult. You have plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. Goodness, there's a lot of talent! And you definitely want to prove yourself...hmm, there's an odd twist to that desire-oh!" The Hat seemed to chuckle to itself. "Well that twist's for later. But still, where to put you?"

...can you put me with Penny? Harry thought silently, hoping the Hat would hear.

The Hat chuckled in response. "Not the first time someone asked me to sort them with a friend. Still, I haven't seen in her head yet, so I've no idea where she belongs yet. But is it really so important to be with her? I mean, you're only eleven, after all...oh, I see you don't know what I mean by that, never mind. But still, you made several friends on the train, why is she more important than them?"

Harry thought about that for a time, thinking over the interaction. Penny had decided of her own accord that he was worth investing in, determined to give him ten years worth of affection to make up for him not having it. He still wasn't quite used to it, but feeling Hermione join - however briefly - had helped him wrap his mind around it somewhat. All that time he'd spent with the Dursleys, being told he was worthless, a freak, an unwanted burden...and then for Penny to decide he was worth investing so much of herself in on a whim, for his sake...

"Sounds like it's less about her and more about you," the Hat pointed out thoughtfully. "Even if you don't end up in the same House, you'll have plenty of time to spend together over the next seven years. But that's not what the Sorting is about. The Sorting is about you, and where you belong...where you will be great. Now, where to put you?"

Part of Harry wanted to think 'Not Slytherin', if only to not end up in the same class as Draco - even if "Mr's. Interchangeable" might make that tolerable - but he hesitated. If this was really about what was best for him...well, if he was someone that was worth investing in...

Where would I stay me? he asked hesitantly.

The Hat paused for a time, then let off an indulgent chuckle. "Of all the questions I've been asked when Sorting that influenced the decision, that's probably the most important...and yet the least often asked. To stay you, is it? Well, let's set aside your abilities and look at who you are, then, hmm? While you do want to prove yourself, that isn't your defining trait. Your life so far has enured you to hardship, pain, and toil, but you don't like that part of your life so it's definitely not you. You certainly have it in you to be cunning and clever...but as much as Salazar would have adored teaching you, what his House has become includes a certain degree of ruthlessness that simply isn't you. And while you certainly have the brainpower to be great in that way, you haven't had a chance to freely exercise it before now so it isn't really you. In fact, as far as who you are...why, the most recent demonstration of your inner self was when you were ready to stand up for Penny against Draco, but didn't because she didn't seem upset and didn't want to fight her battles for her if she didn't want it. How very...chivalrous of you. That's who you are...GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry let out a sigh of relief as he stood up, removing the Hat. He didn't know yet if Penny would be in Gryffindor with him, but Neville and Hermione had already been Sorted into the House, so at least there were two people. And from the sound of what had been said before, Ron in all likelihood would be too. So he wouldn't be alone...

Penny watched Harry be welcomed at the Gryffindor table with a warm smile, even if the Weasley Twins' shouts of "We got Potter!" felt a little over the top. When Ron was called up to be Sorted, she gave him a pat on the shoulder and a whispered, "Good luck," and it wasn't long before he was sorted into Gryffindor. There were only two left, herself and another boy she didn't know.

"Wyrm, Penny!"

With that call, Penny went up to the stool and slipped the Hat onto her head, ignoring Draco's muttering at the Slytherin table where he was deliberately getting her family name wrong. Far from the first time she'd had that taunt thrown at her.

"...oh my goodness!" the Hat murmured in shock as it was placed on her head. "Well, this is certainly going to be an interesting seven years. Let's see where you go, shall we?"

Can you put me in Gryffindor with Harry? she asked silently. He really needs hugs.

The Hat chuckled indulgently. "I certainly saw that coming. My dear, it is honorable that you want to take care of the boy, and speaks highly of you that you are doing so, especially so selflessly...but I'm afraid the very reason you're asking me to Sort you that way is the reason why I can't."

...what?

"Think about what I said in song about what qualities fit what House. Think about what qualities you're demonstrating here." The Hat chuckled again as Penny's gaze lowered. "Oh, don't be like that! Nowhere in the rules does it say you can't be friends with those outside your House, or spend time with them. The only rule in that regard is that you sit with your House at the start and end of Feasts. Outside that, you can spend whatever time you want - before curfew and outside classes, that is - with the boy and give him all the affection you desire and he needs. But such a compassionate outlook and dedication to tending to others...the only place for you, Miss Wyrm...is HUFFLEPUFF!"