FicFan.org

"Granger, Hermione!"

'Leia' marched up to the stool, head held high and a confident smile plastered to 'her' face. 'She' hoped nobody noticed that 'she' was holding 'her' hands in fists so tight 'her' nails were almost drawing blood.

There was only one way to do this…

"Gryffindor", Harry started chanting in his mind, while the Hat wasn't even still on 'her', "I'm a Gryffindor; Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor…"

The Hat chuckled and murmured in his mind: "Gryffindor? Perhaps. Let's have a look…"

"No", Harry denied, "Gryffindor. Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor…"

He kept reciting the same word over and over without pause: "Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor…"

The Hat sounded a bit annoyed: "It's not a 'pick your favourite' contest, you know: saying the word over and over won't help you get your wish! You don't get to choose, child."

Harry was tempted to point out that he had chosen the First Time, so obviously the option was there, but he refused to let himself be distracted from his mantra. The only thoughts he allowed for longer than an instant were of red and gold – not red and gold things, just the colours, the Gryffindor colours.

They provided a sort of background to his litany: "Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor…"

"Oh, fine, whatever! Have it your way then!" exploded the Hat irately.

Harry fought down the smirk and the impulse of crowing in delight and instead kept up his mantra without faltering – it wasn't official yet after all.

Eventually, the Hat sighed.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted.

With a whoop of joy, 'Leia' wrenched it away and sauntered to the red and gold table, bestowing 'her' attractive smile to 'her' new Housemates.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6685668/8/