'Wintergreen, Pax!'

As a shy-looking girl named Noriko Wakahisa, who had just been sent to Slytherin, made her way over to her new house,  Pax breathed out slowly through his nose, then made his way carefully over to the Sorting Hat. He'd been daydreaming about this moment for years, almost as much as about receiving his acceptance letter. As the brim of the Hat slipped down past his curls and almost blocked the rest of the Great Hall from view, Pax clasped his hands together to keep them from trembling with excitement.

Where would he be Sorted? Ravenclaw, like his dad? Gryffindor like his grandfather? Hufflepuff like Gran?

You're a tricky one, the Hat said in that quiet voice he'd heard about from his father. No shortage of personality. Now... where will you thrive?

Pax retrod the internal debate he'd had ever since his dad had explained to him the differences between the Hogwarts houses. Not brave enough for Gryffindor, not cunning enough for Slytherin, not clever enough for Ravenclaw... As the seconds ticked on, the shaking in Pax's hands was less to do with anticipation, more to do with nerves. What if he wasn't good enough for anywhere?

Don't sell yourself short, the Sorting Hat told him. You may not be quick of wit, but you do have a love of learning. Cunning, definitely not, but you want to achieve something with your life. As for bravery, do you not have a history of standing up for others?

Only a little though. Pax shifted uncomfortably on the stool. How long had he been sitting here now? Where there even any other students to go after him? He couldn't remember. What if everyone was getting really hungry and eager to start the feast, and he was holding them up? And that poor girl who had fallen in the lake, Eirene Antosomethingorother, she shouldn't be made to wait any longer than necessary.

You think about others a lot, don't you?

Of course he did. Why else would he stand up for his friends when other kids poked fun at them? He knew how it felt to be in their place. He just wanted to be fair.

A great believer in equality.

Well, yes. Everyone should be given the same chances.

Just as you should be given the same chance to be Sorted properly. Now, stop being so impatient. Don't worry, you're not nearly the longest to sit here, not by a long shot.

Pax felt his cheeks heat up a little, and started fidgeting with the sleeves of his robes. This was harder than he had expected, and classes hadn't even started! Not that he shied away from hard work, of course, but still...

Yes, your conscientiousness is one of your biggest assets, isn't it? Or one of your biggest flaws. Still, it's obvious now. There's really only one place I can put you.

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

Pax gave a sigh of relief and removed the Hat. Then he caught sight of the Hufflepuff table, shouting with delight and waving him over. A sheepish grin played across his features. Maybe it had been worth the Sorting Hat taking a little time to think where to put him. Fairness, loyalty, hard work... Hufflepuff seemed like a great house. No, scratch that. The best house. His house!