Hermione Granger's Sorting Ceremony

"Granger, Hermione!" Professor McGonagall read aloud from the long roll of parchment in her hands.

Hermione almost ran to the stool and eagerly put the hat on her head. And then, she waited.

"Hmm, very clever, I see…" a voice whispered on her ear. "With quite a thirst for knowledge…"

Hermione had read about the sorting process in «Hogwarts a History», and knew that whatever she thought about at the moment, the hat would "hear". Besides it had said in its song that «There's nothing hidden in your head, the sorting hat can't see».

"Hmm… You would be a good Ravenclaw… but there's more to you than just wit and cleverness… I see bravery as well. Hmm… You could fit in Gryffindor too…"

The hat went quiet as though as it was thinking about it. Hermione waited patiently, waiting for the hat to decide.

"You have both the qualities of a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor… I see that you could do great in both of them… Even so, you're more of a Ravenclaw… you're clever, smart… Yes. I think Ravenclaw would be a good house for you. They could help you in your quest for knowledge, no doubt at all… Yes, Ravenclaw is the right house for you…"

The hat when silent once again, and Hermione waited. It seemed that the hat's resoluteness was only apparent. It seemed to have some doubts still lingering. Hermione didn't dare to move, she was eagerly hearing what the hat had to say. It seemed that she was drinking its words… She had read a lot on the sorting and on the four houses and she thought that Gryffindor was by far the best one, even so, she could deal with being a Ravenclaw. After all, they seemed to like to learn new things as much as she liked…

"You seem to like Gryffindor more than Ravenclaw…  Well, you could fit in both of them, but Ravenclaw will help you achieve knowledge, while Gryffindor will help you develop your courageous side." The hat said. "They won't understand if you want to be in the library studying, they will think it is a waste of time… Ravenclaw would be a good house… That's for sure… But then, there's all the brave side of you…"

But Gryffindor is the most respected of the four houses… Hermione thought.

"Oh, yes, indeed…" The hat commented. "You seem very resolved about wanting to be in Gryffindor… sure you think that being in the house with the best reputation will be the best for you in the future… Well… Ravenclaw is a good house as well. Yes… You would be great in Ravenclaw… but if you're that certain… GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione smiled while she took the hat off of her head. She got up of the stool and walked proudly to the Gryffindor table that was cheering her selection. She thought that after all, she would be a good Gryffindor.