Sorting it Out

Author: LVB

Disclaimer: Everything Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling/WB etc

Summary: "Sometimes I wonder if we sort too soon..."- Albus Dumbledore. Astoria knew that the Sorting Hat had given her a choice but maybe, just maybe it would have been better if she hadn't been given a choice at all.

A/N: I was thinking long and hard about the Sorting Hat and the consequences of being placed into a House and the result of placing with your family. This is what was born.

Part One: Hogwarts, My Home

"Hogwarts is so wonderful!" Daphne gushed to a quiet Astoria, as she fixed her school robes in the train compartment. They had just found an empty carriage in a fairly crowded train and Daphne kept eyeing the doors to see if any of her Slytherin housemates would join them for the long journey. Astoria remained quiet. Receiving her Hogwarts letter had been very exciting and Daphne had spent the entire summer regaling her with stories of the school.

"Now, Astoria," Daphne began as she checked her appearance in a small mirror. "You mustn't be frightened when it's your turn to be Sorted."

"Why would I be frightened? Does it hurt?" Astoria asked timidly.

"Of course not, silly!" Daphne replied, snapping the mirror shut. "It's just that most of the First Years have no idea where they'll be placed. It's quite sad to look at, really,"

"So what does that mean?" Astoria asked, still not quite understanding the point her sister was trying to make. Just before Daphne could open her mouth to reply, the carriage door opened and two girls dressed in Slytherin robes entered the small compartment.

"Pansy! Millicent!" Daphne squealed in delight and jumped out of her seat to greet her friends. Astoria looked on, full of curiosity. Daphne had always claimed to have best friends in Slytherin House but not once had she heard from them during the summer holidays. Perhaps that is what Hogwarts girls were like. She wouldn't know, obviously.

Daphne air-kissed both Pansy and Millicent's cheeks as Astoria turned to stare out the window. "How was your summer?" Pansy asked as she sat across from Astoria, ignoring the younger girl.

"Oh you know, we visited the summer house in France and had a quick visit to Spain, the usual," Daphne boasted. Astoria fought to hide her smirk—they had done no such thing; rather, they had spent most of the summer tending to their elderly grandmother who had come to visit the estate.

"Hey, who are you?" Millicent asked Astoria bluntly.

"Oh, how rude of me!" Daphne said dramatically. "This is my younger sister, Astoria,"

"Oh how lovely!" Pansy gushed as Millicent sat back, eyeing her off. "You'll do great in Slytherin, we need more of, you know, our kind," she whispered conspiratorially.

"What do you mean, our kind?" Astoria asked politely.

All three girls looked positively scandalised by Astoria's question.

"Purebloods!" Daphne hissed in an astounding mimicry of her House's founder.

"It's absolutely disgusting the amount of half-bloods and Mudbloods roaming the halls of Hogwarts these days," Pansy added. "Slytherin House has even been accepting disgusting half-bloods into the house. That's why it's so important Purebloods, like yourself Astoria, get Sorted properly."

"But what if I'm not Sorted into Slytherin?" Astoria asked, a little boldly.

The compartment was silent for a moment.

"Don't be absurd, Astoria," Daphne huffed. "You're my sister! Of course you will be a Slytherin!"

Astoria thought back to the information Professor Dumbledore had sent with her Hogwarts letter. The Four Houses of Hogwarts, it had read. Ravenclaw: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure. Most students in Ravenclaw House perform remarkably in their schoolwork and often take all or most Advanced classes up until their NEWTs in Seventh Year.

The girls began to chatter and Astoria simply looked out the window.

Hogwarts castle seemed foreboding as Astoria lined up with the other First Years. It would soon be her turn to wear the Sorting Hat. The young boy in front of her had just been placed into Hufflepuff, and the House table was erupting into cheers, welcoming their new member.

"Astoria Greengrass," Professor McGonagall called. Astoria took a deep breath and made her way up to the front of the hall. Astoria briefly thought about what Daphne had said just before they parted ways to go to the castle.

"Don't forget to relax when you're being Sorted, Astoria! I'll be waiting at the Slytherin table for you."

"What if I'm not Sorted into Slytherin?" Astoria asked again, finding what little strength she had.

"Astoria, every Greengrass has been Sorted into Slytherin. Why should you be any different? We're family, silly, and family always stick together."

Astoria caught a glimpse at the other House tables as she walked up to the front. First she saw Hufflepuff, all wearing matching smiles, reserved for their new members. Then she spotted Gryffindor, which boasted the great Harry Potter himself. Astoria barely batted an eyelid; matters of rivalry and blood status did not concern her. Another important thing she noticed was the sheer amount of red-headed Weasleys occupying the table. Her eyes then flickered over to the Ravenclaw table. She spied two students who looked like sixth years, animatedly scribbling on parchment, doing a puzzle she supposed.

Finally her eyes rested on the Slytherin table as she positioned herself on the chair. Her eyes met with Daphne's and she smiled encouragingly. Most people in the Great Hall seemed fairly disinterested in her own Sorting. She was a safe bet.

The hat enclosed over Astoria's head. "Ahhhh, Miss Greengrass, is it? Yes, I have certainly placed a few of you over the years!" Astoria shifted, wondering whether anybody else could hear the internal dialogue going on seemingly inside her head. "You're a Pureblood, coming from a very wealthy family and have quite the family history in Slytherin, if I'm not mistaken, hmm? I should know, I put them all there myself. But there's something quite different about you, my lovely little Pureblood. You are quite smart and so very ambitious. I have half a mind to put you in Ravenclaw!"

Astoria gasped, startled. "You mean, I'm not going into Slytherin?"

"That's the thing nobody ever tells you, my dear. At the end of the day, there is a choice. Ravenclaw would help you achieve your dreams but Slytherin is where your family is. You are smart but you are also cunning, Astoria Greengrass."

Astoria met Daphne's eyes, which had taken a panicked look to them. Astoria and Daphne were as different as night and day; Daphne chose to believe in the Pureblood nonsense the rest of her family believed in. Astoria could care less. Life was supposed to be about living, not about deciding which witch or wizard deserved to be there in the first place. She had been so excited to read about Ravenclaw. Advanced Potions, Advanced Runes, History of Magic...they were the classes she wanted to take, to enjoy, to feel the challenge.

"Your time is running out, my pretty. What is it to be? The House of your dreams, or the House of your family?"

Astoria paused and took a deep breath, closing her eyes to break the stare of her worried sister. They may be different but there was nobody else in this world Astoria loved more. Nobody. "I want to be in Slytherin," she whispered.

"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat shouted, not missing a single second.

Slytherin House began to erupt into cheers, standing to welcome their newest member. Daphne enveloped Astoria into a hug as she joined her table. "See, I told you!" Daphne beamed.

Astoria took one last look at the Ravenclaws, who looked completely enthralled in their puzzles and chatting amongst themselves.

She had made her decision. She squeezed Daphne back. It would be alright, she supposed. In the end.