Rowan Haywood

Book 1 : Chapter 2 - The Sorting Hat's Decision

As the students walked inside, many students stared at the hallways, including me, who were following Profressor McGonagall while she explained each of the houses, its history, and the dorm rooms and common rooms. Some gasped while some were nervous and/or excited. We all stopped in the middle of the Great Hall and waited while Professor McGonagall brought out a old and battered looking hat, which I assumed was the Sorting Hat since it's the only one that's brought out and placed on the stool. "That's the Sorting Hat?" one of the kids behind me whispered to another kid with glasses.

"Hah...Gossips." I sighed. It's not like I hate gossips but I don't really like it since it makes things more complicated than it already is in most cases. "I know how you feel." I turned to my right and saw that it was Harry, who talked to me. A small smile touched my lips and I nodded. "It's kind of annoying and frustrating when your famous because of your parents or things that you remember." "I know, right!" We stared at each other before laughing out loud. "Ha..." I wiped a tear out of the corner of my eyes before taking his hand and shaking it. "You know what? I like you. I feel like we're going to become great friends."

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and
I will tell you Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve,
and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on!
Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The students are sorted in alphabetical order. When it is Hermione's turn, she is placed into Gryffindor. I took a mental note about how the Sorting Hat takes a while to place one in a certain house. Professor Mcgonagall said that it was called a "hat stall" when the it takes more than 5 minutes to choose. She also explained that she herself took 5 and half a minute before the hat finally decided that she's a Gryffindor and not Ravenclaw. Hermione almost got a hat stall while the hat took 4 minutes and was placed in Gryffindor.

"Haywood Rowan."

Everyone in the hallway became quiet while I was uncomfortable by the silence. I sucked it up and walked towards the Sorting Hat while trying to look confident. I placed the hat on my head and waited. I can hear the sorting hat taking its time, murmuring that I was a difficult case. According to the hat, I somehow had "Plenty of courage, determination, Bravery, and Daring.", "Tactical, smart, witty, and very creative.", "A strong sense of justice, strong dedication, generousity, and loyalty.", and very "Resourceful, ambious, able to adapt in different surroundings, and cunning." I crossed my fingers because I desperately wanted to be in Gryffindor.

Reasons on why I wanted to be Gryffindor is because 1. Red is my favorite color, 2. I value Bravery the most out of all of them although loyalty and honesty was tied as a close second. 3. Although I wanted to be the greatest, also wanted the fame and recgonization that comes along with it. There are many more reasons why I want to become a Gryffindor but it's not meant to be "exposed" right now.