"Josh, Chris, Naomi. We're the Copper Trio."

"We settled on copper?"

"I thought we should use iron, it's cooler."

"Two against one, Josh. Sorry. Iron Trio."

"Shh. I think it's starting."

He stands on his toes, taking a peek.

The sorting hat's song is a story about the founding of Hogwarts. "... through trials and tribulations they had suffered and oft ailed/ but by bravery, knowledge, cunning, dedication -- they prevailed". There's some whispering when it's done. 

"Wow. I always wanted to hear one of its songs."

The hall falls silent, mostly. A few older students carry on quietly, but not under the gaze of their Headmistress, who stands behind the stool carrying the Hat.

And she begins, rattling names off her scroll.

A lot of students look nervous, and others look excited.

Josh looks determined, more than anything else.

"Fawley, Joshua!" Calls the headmistress.

Hat-wards he goes!

Hat goes on head.

So how do I make us the Copper Trio?

The hat chuckles. I wish I had an answer for that. Now, let's see ... there's some dedication. Almost frightening amounts of loyalty ... and cunning. You'd probably be happy in either. But Hufflepuff's not what you want, is it, Joshua Fawley?

I don't think I like people enough for that- and I can't do hard work if my life depends on it, I need to be inspired. 

If you say so. The hat cries out: "SLYTHERIN!"

"Oh no..."

His protests are feeble compared to the applause that erupts from the Slytherin table- and the boos that come from the other tables.

When Naomi's name is called she bounds towards the stool excitedly. Hello!

Oh dear. I'm afraid I can't send you there. 

What -- no -- but Ravenclaw is the obvious --

When you found out you had magic, your first questions weren't about how it worked. They were about why it was secret. And it shouldn't be, should it?

Well -- no --

Wonderful. Now, the Statute is quite a thorny problem. It sounds like a job for a -- "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table cheers. Naomi sets the hat down and joins them, with a thoughtful expression.

"Oh no..."

He's not able to do much besides complain, really. He's stuck at the back of the line.

Derek, on the other hand, has an appointment with the hat. 

Quick to trust. Desperate to make friends. Fiercly loyal.

Not a hard choice.  

The hat shouts "HUFFLEPUFF!" almost as soon as it touches his brow.