Pandora Malfoy and the Philosopher's Stone

Chapter Seventeen: For Your Own Good

"Hmm..." said a small voice in my ear. "Interesting. Very interesting indeed. You have power of astonishing quality, Pandora Malfoy. And the only golden phoenix in existence is bonded to you, too. But let me see — you are fair, and do not fall into the same traps of thinking as most people with your status as a Pureblood from one of the so-called Sacred Twenty-Eight. You are certainly courageous, and you are wise beyond your years. And, of course, there is the ambition, determination, and resourcefulness of the house you are expected to get into. But is that enough to place you there?"

Yes! I thought, gripping the sides of the stool. I have to be in Slytherin, anyway. Just put me there!

"Perhaps," the voice said, "but then again, perhaps you are more suited to another house? You certainly have a keen mind, and a thirst for learning—"

No, please, I need to go to Slytherin.

"But will you be happy there? Happiness can be found with lots of people, not just with your family — and you are hardly happy for most of the time you spend with them, anyway. If you were to go to Slytherin, you would spend your time at Hogwarts pretending to be something you are not. If, however, I were to put you into Gryffindor—"

No! I thought desperately. No, I can't go to Gryffindor! Father would be furious!

"Self-preservation is certainly a Slytherin trait," the hat said thoughtfully. "Then again, such self-sacrificing behaviour would be more of a Gryffindor trait..."

I have to go to Slytherin, I thought again. I have to.

"No, your Slytherin traits are less prevalent than those of Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff, or, indeed, Gryffindor," the hat decided. "Now, Hufflepuff — you are fair, patient, kind, hard-working, and dedicated, although your quick temper with your brother counts against you, as does your willingness to hurt your friend by cutting ties with her whilst you are at Hogwarts, even if you believed you were helping her — and yourself."

Can you please stop talking about my traits from other houses? I have to go to Slytherin! Nothing else is even an option!

"Ravenclaw — well, you are highly original... although mostly because of your birth, not through a 'trait', so I suppose it should not count... you are intelligent, wise, and you enjoy learning — not only traditional things, such as Charms, and Defence Against the Dark Arts, but also more abstract things, such as human behaviour, and just finding out about the world you live in. You have an open mind, and are very accepting, but perhaps not creative or witty enough."

Just... please. Just stop this and put me into Slytherin with my brother. Father'll kill me if I go anywhere else!

"Your Gryffindor traits — you are reckless—"

I am not!

"You befriended a Muggleborn even though you knew it would make your father very angry if he found out, which is certainly reckless — as is your hidden collection of Muggle items, and your habit of reading Muggle books whilst in the same building as your father."

I guess... but that's just one trait! I still don't see why I can't go to Slytherin!

"You are incredibly strong — perhaps not physically, but certainly mentally, and with time, your magic will catch up to that mental strength — and have gone through years of abuse without losing your sense of who you are and what you believe in. You are courageous, and are not afraid to stand your ground when something means a lot to you. You are willing to put yourself in danger to help others, you have a strong sense of adventure, you are chivalrous, and you are not afraid to tell the truth, doing so even if it puts you in harm's way. You are also short-tempered when it comes to certain things, which is common within Gryffindors, even if it isn't a trait the house is known for."

And my Slytherin traits?

"Very well. You are clever, ambitious, determined, resourceful, and have some self-preservation — although not enough of the latter for it to count towards anything much. You are not, however, traditional in any sense of the word, you are more of a follower than a leader, and although you have power within you, you do not crave it."

But you could still put me there! I argued. I can't go anywhere else, I just can't! Draco's in Slytherin, and I don't want things to change between us like they will if I'm not put in Slytherin with him! And Father would be furious with me — more than he ever has been before, more angry than that horrible, horrible Christmas, even! But because I'm not home, he'd take that out on Mother and Dobby, and then when he next saw me I would get punished really badly, and I don't know if I would even be able to survive that — and even if I did, he might still disown me or something!

"I am not responsible for what happens when I sort students," the hat said. "It has been my job for centuries to sort them where they fit best, not where they ask me to be sorted."

Please, I have to go to Slytherin!

"You will not be happy in Slytherin. I have to sort you into the house that will be best for your mind, for your power, and for the good of everyone."

Except my own good, apparently, I thought angrily.

"This is for your own good," the hat argued. "Now, you could equally be Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. Which would you prefer?"

I would prefer to go to Slytherin!

If I had been speaking aloud rather than just thinking these words, I would've been yelling by now.

"That was not one of the options."

I don't care!

"I, however, do care. Which of the three options I gave you would you prefer?"

I can't go to any of them, I thought, getting desperate again now. I have to be in Slytherin. Please, I have to be.

"You cannot be a Slytherin! In fact, the longer this goes on, the more I am seeing just how different you are to your brother. He was a Slytherin through and through, but you — no, you are absolutely not. And I am now beginning to rule out Hufflepuff, too — your patience is slipping, and with it goes your kindness and your tolerance. You are also the furthest from impartial at the moment."

That's because you're being ridiculous!

"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor?"

Slytherin.

"Once again, Slytherin was not an option."

Then I'll make it an option.

"You cannot do that."

Just watch me, I thought irritably. I pick option three — Slytherin.

The Sorting Hat made a strange noise, almost like a sigh, then said, "Very well. I know where I have to put you."

Finally!

"Yes, you truly only fit into — GRYFFINDOR!"

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Word count: 1156