Chapter Text
Harry stared at the sorting hat with trepidation. What if it decided he didn't belong to any of the houses? What if it sent him back to the Dursleys? What he wasn't actually a wizard, and this was all one horrible misunderstanding?
"Potter, Harry," Professor McGonagall called out. Every eye in the room turned to him, and Harry shuffled forward, back hunched with embarrassment, and took a seat. The sorting hat was placed upon his head, and his view of the room was blocked as the dark fabric sank over his eyes.
"Hmm, you're a difficult one, aren't you? Well, boy, I can assure you that you are a wizard – it's all here in your head!"
Harry resolved, in that instant, to be the best wizard he could possibly be, no matter how hard it was. To be able to escape the Dursleys was a dream come true, and he never wanted to be sent back there.
"Interesting… Slytherin would be a good fit for you, such ambition…"
Not Slytherin! Harry begged silently. He wanted to be with Ron, or Neville, and certainly not Malfoy.
"Are you sure? Yes, I see that you are. Well… you've helped me make my decision… it'll be HUFFLEPUFF."