Sorting a Longbottom

"Abbot, Hannah..."

I couldn't help shivering as Professor McGonagall called the names, I was so nervous. Why, oh why is L so close to A in the alphabet, I thought. It'd only been ten minutes, and they were already on the late Bs! I don't even need to try the hat on, I thought, I can already see what's going to happen. I knew for sure that I was going to put the hat on, and it would announce to the rest of the school that I didn't deserve to be there - that I was a squib after all. I could just picture the lot of them laughing at me: Professor McGonagall saying, "Oh, dear me. Our mistake, I guess. Now, back on the train you go," Great-Uncle Algie saying, "Well, we could always try again. C'mere to this window, Neville," my Gran's disappointed face when I came home and she realized I wasn't a real wizard after all. Then, an even worse idea floated through my head: what if it didn't even sort me at all, just sat there until one of the Professors yanked it off my head? That'd be the perfect way to make a fool of myself in front of everybody. I was shaking so badly out of fear that I was worried I'd fall over.

"Crabbe, Vincent..."

I'd been nervous for weeks before I came to Hogwarts. Great-Uncle Algie had kept telling me not to worry, that I'd do fine. The day he bought me Trevor, he said to me, "Neville, dear boy, you know you'll do us all proud. You're a Longbottom, and there's nothing grander. Now, come over here, and let's pick out your toad." "Nothing grander" - easy for him to say, he hadn't had to be tossed out a window to make sure he was magic, had he? Gran had scolded him for half an hour when he'd dropped me, but everyone else treated him like a hero for finally finding my magic. I was relieved that I'd be able to go to Hogwarts, but I was also scared. What if I wasn't good at magic? What if nobody at school liked me? What if I couldn't do well on my tests?

"Entwhistle, Kevin..."

On the E's already! I wildly thought, is that hat rushing to get to me? Is McGonagall that anxious to get me out of the way? Whatever happened, at least I didn't have to worry about Trevor. After that huge man had found him in the boat, I'd made sure he was locked in my trunk before we kept going. I really hope he stays there; he's not that big a toad, and he might get hurt if he gets lost again. I was glad I had a pet; that way, even if I didn't end up with any friends, I'd have something to keep me company this year.

"Granger, Hermione..."

I wondered what my parents would have thought if they could have seen me up there, shuddering like one of Gran's Bouncing Bulbs a week after re-potting. I'd gone to see them only a week before. For a moment, they flashed through my mind; sitting in the room, surrounded by Cushioning Charms, their eyes staring blankly into space. I was so young when they left. I missed them so much.

"Longbottom, Neville..."

It was time for me to go and get Sorted. I walked up to the stool with my legs shaking so badly I was sure my knees would go out, and I sat down. I put on the Hat, and it slipped down over my eyes; I couldn't see a thing.

"Well, Mr. Longbottom. A little nervous, are we?"

It was talking to me. The Sorting Hat was talking to me. I let out a tiny, hysterical laugh, which I was sure nobody could hear through the thick fabric of the Sorting Hat. Well, at least one magical person wouldn't mind talking to me.

"Come, come, Mr. Longbottom. You needn't fret like that. I'm sure plenty of people enjoy talking to you. Miss Granger did help you with your toad, didn't she?"

It could hear what I thought? That explained how it sorted people. I guessed; it read their minds. I decided it'd be best to try to think directly to the hat. That way, nobody would hear me make a fool of myself. Well, that didn't really count, did it? I mean, I'd asked her to help me. If I hadn't, nobody probably would have given me a second glance. And how did you know that?

"Oh, don't let me worry you. Like my song said, I can look into your mind. It makes things so much easier - but that's beside the point. You needn't concern yourself about what would have happened had you not asked Miss Granger for help, because you did ask her. You managed to overcome your fears in order to find help to look for your toad. But in any case, your mind's wandering. Now, as for what house you belong in... ahh, yes. I think you'd make a good GRYF..."

Wait! I panicked a bit. You think I'm supposed to be in Gryffindor? Why? Gryffindor's supposed to be for brave people!

"Right." I could hear an amused tone to the word.

Then I don't belong there. I'm not brave at all, I've known that for years. I should probably go into Hufflepuff; isn't that where all the duffers go?

"Wait just a moment. Hufflepuff is not a house of duffers, just as Slytherin is not a house entirely peopled by monsters. I populate each house with a range of students, each of which has a range of abilities. You really should know better, Mr. Longbottom.

All right, I'm sorry, I thought. But still, why do you think I belong in Gryffindor? I'm scared of everything. Everybody knows it. My Great-Uncle Algie once made fun of me for being scared to death by a garden gnome.

"My dear Mr. Longbottom, I mean no offense, but you're still young. You have quite a bit to learn yet, and I don't just mean magic. Trust me when I say this: it shows more bravery to admit that one has fears and to face them than it does to try to show no fear at all. Even Godric Gryffindor himself was not without fear. I should know - I was his hat." You deserve to be in Gryffindor, and you want to be in Gryffindor. You can trust me on this - as I said, I can always tell.

I was still a little confused, so I just thought, OK, and sat there. The hat had given me quite a lot to think about.

"As you have given me, Mr. Longbottom. I must thank you; it is nice to have things to think about when one is a hat. Now, are you ready to be sorted?"

Yes, sir, I think so.

"Very well, then. As I said, you'll go into GRYFFINDOR!!"

The last word was shouted aloud for the whole hall to hear. As I stood up, I could hear the applause coming from the table to my right. I ran that direction.

"MacDougal, Morag..."

Whoops... I'd forgotten the hat. Blushing, I took it off my head, and ran it back to the stool. I was afraid the rest of the Gryffindors would be embarrassed to have me in their house, but when I came back, they were still grinning good-naturedly at me. A couple of red-haired boys sat me in an empty seat, and I looked around.

I was in Gryffindor. I belonged in Gryffindor.

I really hoped it was true.