Snippet #2626977

Aaron was watching nervously with the rest of the first years, Alfie's muffled humming drifting up to him from inside his pocket. His train ride has been significantly improved once he'd switched to the other compartment. Keoni, Irma, and Annabellla were all fairly decent people. Aaron wasn't sure what to expect from the sorting ceremony. He wanted to say that he was sure he'd get into slytherin- everyone else in his family had. They were an ambitious family, and Aaron would love to do something good with his life. However, a small trickle of fear and doubt nibbled at the back of his mind. What if he got Ravenclaw instead? His family would probably be ok with that, but not as pleased. There were a few Ravenclaws in his family. He just had to hope for one of those too. Surely if not Slytherin then Ravenclaw, right? He was... smart? Aaron frowned suddenly. What if he went up there and the hat told him he wasn't meant for any house. What if it told him he was a squib. He'd never really tried to much magic before... Suddenly Aaron was very frightened.

"Aaron Wicks!"

Aaron's head popped up, eyes wide, staring madly at the professor that had called his name. There it stood on its stool, the sorting hat. Aaron hesitantly walked up to it, sat in the stool and placed the hat firmly on his head. "Yes... very interesting. Very successful pureblood family, passion I see, to follow in your family's footsteps. Clever, courageous. I see many aspects of every house in you." The hat paused, as if trying to draw out the suspense for its own amusement. "But I see greater motivations for you, loyalty, kindness, passion, love, sacrifice. You want to please your family because it would make them happy, not because you want to be as ambitious as them." Aaron closed his eyes, wishing silently the hat would say slytherin. "In that case.... HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hufflepuff? Hufflepuff?!?

Aaron sat dumfounded for a second before the thundering chorus of cheers greeted him from the merry hufflepuff table. Aaron wobbled out of his seat and walked feebly to his table where he was clapped on the back by some older kids. Aaron flumped down into a seat and frowned. Hufflepuff? His parents would disown him. They wouldn't pay for his school supplies. They'd never love him after this. A hufflepuff. What a disgrace to the Quicks' family name. Yet oddly, Aaron was glad. He didn't want to be a slytherin or even a raven claw. He looked around, smiling laughing people. People looking at him concerned because he was frowning. People caring about a person they just met just because he didn't look as happy as everyone else. Sure he may be a Hufflepuff, but he finally felt like he belonged.