I'm staring, confused, at this ugly old hat when suddenly it bursts into song.

You may think I'm old, that's true

but this goes centuries back

and every year I see through

more history changes to fit in the new

Might you be Ravenclaw, smart and wise

Or Gryffindor, brave and bold?

Hufflepuff, loyal, kind,

Or Slytherin, the ambitious kind?

Now I've been sitting on the same shelf

for more than a hundred years

And I've learned what we call ourself

Is not just who we are

I'd like, this year, to not divide

Your souls nor your mind

Lets make friends because you'll find

Though sorted we are of the same kind

And darkness seeps within the cracks

Of those with a closed mind-

I turn to Christina, who's watching this with rapt attention. "Is this hat for real?" She doesn't respond.

Hats don't have vocal cords. What- oh. Magic. I zone out for a few minutes, still I snap back when the name CARLA, ABANIO is called.

When Nox (NOX, ALDAIN) is sorted into Gryffindor, I immediately, internally beg that I won't get any classes with him.

Pleasenopleasenopleasenople-

"Are you. Um. Ok?" Christina whispers, her eyebrows drawn together.

"Huh? Yeah. Why?" 

"Um. You're whispering please no."

So maybe it wasn't as internal as I thought. Either way, I-

"SILVER, MIDWINTER!"

I jump. "HERE!" I automatically shout.

Laughter breaks out in the halls, and my cheeks redden ever so slightly. "Sorry," I say, testing out my accent. "I'm knackered."

I'm stared at, so when I sit down on the chair, the old hat placed on my head, I shut my eyes.

Hmm. Tricky, tricky. Not Hufflepuff. Your personality is a little too brash for that.

Um. Is this hat really talking? In my head? How- ah. Magic.

Gryffindor would fit you better, but you've got a this thirst for knowledge. You want to know The Secret, and you'll burn the world down for it. That's a dangerous combonation.

Well, the best to aid you in that search would be RAVENCLAW.

Applause breaks out at the blue people. I glance down at my blue friendship bracelet. At least it matches.

I get a little pang in my heart thinking of Lila and Sasha. I walk it off, flouncing to the ravenclaw table.

An older girl claps me on the back. "What's your name, eh?"

A girl my age beams at me. "Hello! I'm Karla!"

Karla shakes my hand. "Silver," I reply. "What about you?" I direct the question to the older girl.

"My name's Julia," she answers.

I jerk out of my seat then sit awkwardly down. "That's my stepmom's name!"

She looks interested, but then Karla interrupts with, "You're American?"

Julia looks like she's feeling second hand embarrassment. "Ow! What the heck, Julia?" Karla hisses, leaning down to rub her ankle. "It's a perfectly normal question!"

"It's fine," I say, slightly bemused. "Yeah, I'm originally American, but I moved here a few years ago."

"Oh, cool! Why's that? Your stepmom you told us about?"

I raise my eyebrows. "Mhm, nice guess. Are you a second year, then?"

She nods, placing a finger over her lips.

A hush falls over the auditorium. I look around, confused. Sorting must be over, then. Dorm time?

A/N this chapter is shorter than the last (I think?) because I really need to go back to the book just to get the beginning day order back into my memory. I'm going to try posting a chapter a week, although I might be facing a burnout because I'm writing more this weekend.