She thinks. I'd be fine in Hufflepuff, too, if sorting ends up weird. I was assuming I'd end up there probably anyways...

Hufflepuff House has a great deal to commend it, the hat says, and I have no doubt you'd grow into a fine wizard there as well.

Okay.

I think we're all set, Miss Evans.

Thank you.

She takes the Hat off her head and hands it back to the professor before sliding off the stool.

The alphabet progresses inevitably toward Granger.

She runs for the hat's seat, full up of nerves and excitement both, and jams the hat on her head.

Hello. Now what do we have here? 

I'm Hermione Granger, she says.  Pleased to meet you, Mr. Sorting Hat.

He chuckles. Thank you, Miss Granger. The pleasure is mine. 

Grin.  Thank you!  So... how does the Sorting work?

Well, I look into your mind - like I'm doing now - and I think about what sort of person you are, how that sort of pertain learns, what sort of person you could become, and I ask what sort of person you'd like to be. I generally try to put people in Houses they'll get along well with. For class size reasons, I also try to sort the Houses evenly, so often I decide how to sort people who are very balanced or unsure between multiple Houses last, depending on where there's openings.

Well... she says pensively.  I think I could see myself fitting in any of the Houses... but I would quite like to go to Gryffindor.  I've read a lot about Albus Dumbledore, and I think I'd like to grow up to be like him.

The Hat chuckles. I could see you in any of the Houses as well, Miss Granger. I can certainly try to get you into Gryffindor.

Thanks.  I do think there's a lot to admire in all of the houses, I'd like to grow up to be curious and hardworking and ambitious too... but that doesn't always come to much if you're not willing to stand up and say, this is wrong, and that takes bravery above all, I think.

Very much so. 

I do believe you'll go quite far, Miss Granger. 

She grins and bounces.  Thanks, Mr. Sorting Hat!

Chuckle. 

Now, unless you have something else to ask right now - and if you simply want to talk later, I'm usually in the Headmaster's office - I think this is enough for the Sorting. 

All right, thank you.  And she returns the Hat and departs.

Next up is - well, another G, but next up among Harriet's friends is Neville.  He is also nervous and excited both, but in different proportions, and approaches the Hat more hesitantly.

Good evening. 

Hello, he says timidly.

Hm. Quite a few notable traits - but I do believe you fit best in Gryffindor, Mister Longbottom.

That... doesn't sound right, to him.  It doesn't quite come out in a sentence, like the Hat's words do, but - he's always so scared and nervous of everyone and everything, and Gryffindors are supposed to be big brave heroes, and - and everyone would be able to tell he's not what a Gryffindor is supposed to be, and what if they make fun of him -

Sometimes the path between who we are and who we want to be can seem very, very long, standing at the beginning. No one is static, Mister Longbottom, and you would be quite surprised at the paths many people have walked.