CHAPTER 4

"What the…?" Harry asked dumbly. It was the only thing that came to mind at the wild sight laid out before him.

His eyes slowly traveled over the grinning faces of his friends, gathered together in a rather remarkable imitation of the large sitting room in Lily's tower. Streamers and confetti were hung in every corner and strewn across the floor. There were even bright balloons in every color that had been charmed to continually float around the room. As he read the large "Happy Birthday, Harry!" banner hanging above everyone's heads (and brushing against Hagrid's forehead) it finally dawned on Harry that this celebration was meant for him. All those hours spent downstairs in the Defense classroom suddenly made sense.

"But... My birthday was three weeks ago."

Hermione wore the same eager look on her face that she had in class when she knew an answer but their teacher refused to call on her. Although his friend looked ready to burst, it was Ron who spoke first.

"There was, ah…" he glanced nervously at Snape, "A lot going on then, mate–"

"And Harry, have you ever actually had a birthday party?" Hermione interrupted, unable to keep quiet.

He hesitated. "There was my eleventh birthday when Hagrid–"

Hermione made an impatient noise. "That was definitely a great day for you, Harry. But have you ever had a proper party, with presents and birthday candles and friends?"

"Well… Err…" Embarrassed, he gazed around at all of their smiling faces before sighing in defeat. "No. I've never had a party."

"Then get in here already!" Hermione said in a bossy, impatient tone. And when he didn't move fast enough for her liking, she snatched his wrist in a firm grip and dragged him further into the room.

His friends surrounded him then, everyone patting him on the back, giving him brief hugs, or squeezing his arm in affection. Hagrid bear hugged him so fiercely that he lifted Harry more than five feet into the air, and it took a few minutes afterward before his ribs finally stopped aching.

It wasn't often that he was the center of attention, and it was uncomfortable to say the least. But Harry couldn't fight the inevitable; as he was tugged throughout the room by an insistent Hermione, his friends and family's elation became infectious. Within minutes Harry could feel the uncertainty draining from his tense muscles, and he began to relax and truly enjoy himself. So this is what it feels like to have a birthday party, he thought.

After Hermione hauled him around and there was no one left to greet, Harry was unceremoniously plunked into a throne-like chair at the head of a long table placed in the middle of the room. The chatting party-goers drifted slowly to the table to take their seats around him. Waiting for everyone to get settled, Harry's eyes wandered around the large tower room.

It was astonishing to think that this was all for him, and Harry had the feeling that he looked like an owl as he gazed around at the burst of colorful, festive decorations. Plucking a large silver goblet from the beautifully set table in front of him, he couldn't help but smile as it immediately filled with pumpkin juice.

The Room of Requirement seems to know me better than I realized, he considered as he sipped his favorite drink and continued gazing at the room over the rim of the heavy cup. But he promptly choked on the sweetened liquid when his eyes fell upon a small table against the wall that was practically groaning under the weight of many colorfully wrapped parcels.

Are those all for me…? Even Dudley never got that many presents! It was as if they were attempting to make up for a lifetime of meaningless, forgotten birthdays. His shocked gaze collided with his father's, and the corner of Snape's mouth lifted in a knowing smirk. With a small electric shock, Harry realized that was exactly what his friends and family were attempting to do.

As everyone made themselves comfortable and quieted around the large table, Harry saw the headmaster hand a tattered, dirty piece of fabric to Hermione. It wasn't until his friend gave that same piece of fabric to him that Harry realized it was the Sorting Hat.

He could feel his friend's and family's eyes on him as he gazed in confusion at the hat in his hand.

"Err… What am I…?"

"I thought it would be fun for us all to have personalized party hats," Hermione said cheerfully, as if that explained everything. But Harry just gave her a blank stare.

"Party hats?" he asked in bewilderment. "Doesn't the Sorting Hat just sort students into their Houses?"

"It does much more than that, Harry." Dumbledore answered with an amiable smile and a very prominent twinkle in his clear blue eyes. "The Sorting Hat is able to use the magic imbued within it in order to perceive not only a person's wants and needs, but also their personality. Rather like this remarkable room, I suppose. So, if you request a party hat that is suited perfectly to your personality, it should be able to provide you with one."

"We may have to examine that hat, George," Fred whispered loudly, and Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the twins.

Turning his gaze back to the headmaster, he asked, "So do I just… put it on?"

Dumbledore's smile widened. "I honestly don't know. The idea of party hats never occurred to me before Ms. Granger questioned if it was possible. Give it a go my boy, and see what happens."

As Harry slid the old fabric hat onto his head, the first thing he noticed was that it no longer slipped down over his eyes. I suppose I've grown since the last time I wore it, he thought. And he almost jumped out of his chair when a second voice answered his thoughts.

"Yes, you have indeed grown since last I sat upon your head," the hat murmured into his ear. "Grown… But not changed much in any other sense. There is still bravery in spades, and a stubborn streak that can be as helpful as it is detrimental. You still possess strong loyalty for friends and – what's this? A family now, I see? It's a good thing your heart is so capable of love, Harry Potter. Your destiny depends on it. But for now, your generosity and an eagerness to show your gratitude overtakes all."

With that, Harry felt a second cap settle onto his head beneath the Sorting Hat. Gently removing the scruffy fabric on top, he heard a throng of "Ooooh's," from his enthralled friends, as well as an excited, "It worked!" from Hermione. Curious, Harry removed the second hat from his head in order to examine what he'd been given.

It was a typical muggle style baseball cap, something that Harry had seen many times before he'd known he was a wizard. He knew that this style of hat usually sported the logo of a famous sports team like football or cricket. However, this particular cap was a bright shade of Gryffindor scarlet, and where the sports logo would normally be found, there was a life-size, animated snitch that proceeded to flutter its long wings and fly in circles around the brim.

Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, that's fantastic! I guess the Sorting Hat really does–"

But he yelped in surprise and almost dropped the thing when the snitch began to glow, and real snitches suddenly burst from the animation into the air above everyone's heads. They hovered there for a few seconds before each took off in different directions. The entire table burst out laughing, and on instinct Harry reached out and snagged one as it flew past.

"They're not as fast as the real thing," he noted. "I guess they are supposed to be caught." And as he held the small golden ball, it suddenly popped open and dissolved, leaving only a small trinket in the palm of his hand. "They have prizes inside!" He said in excitement, holding up a struggling black bishop from a Wizard's Chess set for all to see. "That must be what the Sorting Hat meant when it said I wanted to show gratitude to my friends and family."

"They must be party favors," Ginny said happily as she swiftly hooked one from the air. Laughing, she showed off her nose-biting tea cup.

Jilly attempted to snatch one as it flew past, but wasn't fast enough. With a deep chuckle, Hagrid plucked the snitch out of the air and handed it to the young girl. "Thanks, Hagrid!" Jilly replied, enthusiastically sharing the prize of Bertie Bots Every Flavored Beans with the half-giant. Harry found himself laughing again, because somehow Jilly seemed to get all the normal flavors, while Hagrid made disgusted faces with each bean he bit into.

"Ron next!" Hermione insisted with a wicked grin, and Harry had to admit that his red-headed friend looked a bit apprehensive when Harry handed him the Sorting Hat. Everyone waited with baited breath, and a few moments later Ron was sporting a newsboy cap that had a miniature whomping willow growing from the top, as well as a small replica of his father's flying Ford Angelia that flew in continual loops around his head. Grinning, Ron swatted at the little blue car as if it were an exasperating fly. Harry almost laughed pumpkin juice out of his nose as the willow proceeded to whack Ron in the face with a long branch. The miniature car then added insult to injury by colliding into Ron's temple.

"It's about time you were punished for that little incident," Snape murmured darkly, and the rest of the table erupted in laughter.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up," Ron grumbled as he rubbed the side of his cheek. Even so, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk when he met Harry's gaze.

After Ron came Hermione. As she removed the Sorting Hat, Harry couldn't help thinking that she looked like an extremely bushy-haired, female version of Sherlock Holmes. The only difference between her and that of the famous old detective was that Hermione's version of the detective hat had a small book leaning open atop the brim.

"Well, that's not too bad," Hermione chirped as she ducked a snitch and proudly placed the hat back on her head. "I don't mind being known as–"

But suddenly the pages of the book rapidly flipped, as if the paper were caught in a strong wind. Hermione's gaze became distrait and unfocused, and when the pages finally stopped moving she declared, "The Hogwarts school motto is Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus, which from Latin translates to, 'Never tickle a sleeping dragon.'" Blinking furiously and with a gentle shake of her head, Hermione's eyes seemed to clear as she looked around the table in openmouthed shock as once again the table erupted in laughter. . After a moment she turned to Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall and asked, "Isn't that from Hogwarts: A History?"

Ron groaned loudly he overdramatically scrubbed a hand across his face. Harry grinned when he saw Ron and Snape make eye contact, and for once the two seemed to be in complete agreement. Typical know-it-all, their matching smirks seemed to say.

Next came the headmaster, who received a bulky, lilac colored turban like those worn by Indian royalty, complete with long peacock feathers and a massive golden gemstone set into the area above the forehead. The turban was so ornate that the partygoers almost missed the round candy dispenser nestled into the fabric, which ejected lemon drops on demand.

"I may just wear this delightful hat all the time!" Dumbledore announced with a broad smile as he popped one of the bright yellow candies into his mouth and passed the Sorting Hat to Professor McGonagall, who primly placed the Sorting Hat atop her bun.

"Och, look a' tha!" She cried excitedly a moment later, her brogue suddenly very thick as she pulled the new hat from her head. "A Scottish tam! And it's even sporting tha Glenn Clan tartan." She proudly held the large, floppy beret up for all to see, and Harry couldn't help thinking that it looked rather like a lumpy, felted pancake. The only thing that distinguished the bonnet – other than green and black flannelled colors – was the large fluffy poof at the crown that looked remarkably like a green version of Ginny's pygmy puff, Arnold.

Professor McGonagall used her wand to undo her tight bun and delightedly settled the beret atop her now loose hair. Harry had to admit that even if it did look like a pancake at first, when worn the beret did make her look rather fetching – for a teacher.

"It looks nice, Professor," Hermione said with a smile. "You'll have to tell us stories about your clan some–"

Although Harry and the others seldom saw their Transfiguration professor in her animagus form, the room seemed to know how strongly the catlike traits had merged with her personality. Because at that moment the plump little green poof sprouted small, stubby wings, and with quiet peeps, took off from atop the tam and began fluttering around Professor McGonagall's head. Within moments the normally severe, stern professor was gleefully batting at the poof in a very catlike fashion, and with a very Cheshire-ish smile across her face. It was Snape who gave an insolent snort and started laughing first, but within moments the rest of the shocked onlookers joined him.

As McGonagall handed the Sorting Hat to Hagrid, the half-giant smiled at the tatty old fabric as if it were an old friend. "I wadn't sure I belonged at Hogwarts till this hat sorted me inter Gryffindor," he murmured, gazing fondly down at the thing. Harry couldn't help thinking that he knew exactly what his giant friend meant.

When Hagrid finally placed it upon his head, it was with enormous reverence, and only mere seconds later the hat provided him a most appropriate cap. Although Harry had to admit, it took him a moment to see it since the oversized fur cap was almost hidden within the half-giant's wiry hair. In fact, it was only the enormous raccoon tail hanging down past Hagrid's ear that finally gave it away. That and the small, ruby-colored dragon breathing fire atop the fur hat as if it were a conquering lord.

"Look at the wee little devil!" Hagrid announced proudly. His hair had been singed badly enough that the half-giant had to continually pat down on the burning strands to keep his head from bursting into flames. But even so, it was obvious how much he loved the little dragon.

Next came the twins, who each received a bright yellow hard hat like those worn by muggle construction workers. On top of each hard hat was yet another muggle contraption: a red and blue strobe light, like those that graced muggle police cars. The twins looked delighted once Harry, Hermione, and a very giggly Jilly explained what each feature was used for in the muggle world.

"Those are hard hats," the little girl clarified, "So that bricks and stuff don't fall on their heads."

"Is that normally something muggles do? Throw bricks at each other?" George asked.

"That doesn't seem very safe, especially for the non-magic folk." Fred chipped in, and even Hermione was forced to laugh at their confused expressions.

"They aren't worn by all muggles," she explained with a kind smile. "Just those who work as builders on construction sites."

"Ah, of course. And what of these little gems?" George asked, pointing to the square-ish police light atop his head. "Muggles use these, as well?"

"Policemen use them when they're chasing bad guys!" Jilly announced.

"Police are the muggle version of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad," Harry hurried to explain when he saw the twins' confused looks. "Of course, the muggle versions usually come equipped with–"

At that moment the strobes suddenly came to life, drowning the room in red and blue lights as the double wail of two sirens pierced the air. Everyone seated around the table threw their hands over their ears, wincing at the loud, keening sound. Everyone but Snape, who cast a lightning quick finite spell.

"Wicked!" The twins cried gleefully in unison.

"If that ever happens in my presence again, you'll be explaining in great detail how those infernal things taste when I shove them down your throats." The threat would have carried greater weight if both Lily and Dumbledore hadn't immediately started laughing. Snape leveled a glare at the two of them that could blister metal.

"I think it's my turn," Remus muttered, eyeing Snape with a wary look. Quickly taking the Sorting Hat from the twins, he immediately shoved it onto his head. All eyes were drawn to him and a small "Ooooo" went around the table as he lifted the Sorting Hat to reveal a lavish, plum-colored velvet cap. The silk band was woven with intricate stitching, and there was a large plume of ostrich feathers on one side.

"That is an Elizabethan tall hat worn by English noblemen during Queen Elizabeth's time, if I'm not mistaken," Dumbledore explained. "Nobility suites you," he said to Remus with a quirk of the lips. But the man never responded, suddenly only having eyes for Tonks.

Sitting across the table from him, Tonks blushed as his gaze continued to linger. "It looks good on you," she murmured with a shy smile.

"Can one desire too much of a good thing?" Remus responded.

Harry didn't fail to notice that for some reason, his answer gained Snape's attention, as his father sat up straighter and was suddenly studying the man intently.

Tonks looked away from Remus, continuing to blush under his steady gaze. "Well, let's see what the Sorting Hat has in store for me, shall we?" she asked as she held out her hand. However, the moment that Remus placed the tattered hat into her outstretched palm, he grasped her by the wrist and placed a tender kiss on the back of her fingers.

The room went silent with shock. Although they all had speculated about Remus' growing feelings for the young Auror, he had never done anything quite so… public. Or so bold.

Tonks however seemed ecstatic, and her face was wreathed in a large grin as Remus slowly and regretfully released her hand. Her eyes never left his own as she placed the Sorting Hat atop her head. There was an audible gasp from every female as she removed the hat a few moments later, and Harry supposed he could see why. Tonk's cap looked more like a very wide, thick headband with a veil in the back than it did an actual hat. But it was very glittery with diamonds and pearls, which Harry supposed was why the girls liked it so much.

"Mum, she looks like the portrait of the Queen in our tower!" Jilly exclaimed with excitement. "The one with red hair!"

Harry knew the portrait Jilly spoke of – a regal, almost severe-looking red headed woman who always spoke kindly in welcome when he passed her in the hallway. "Wait," He said in surprise. "She's a queen? I never knew there were any magical monarchs in Europe!"

Hermione arched her brow in a very Snape-ish way when she answered. "You shouldn't sleep so much during History of Magic. That's Queen Elizabeth I – which I guess explains their party hats."

"Oh," was all he could think of to say. But he nervously flicked his gaze towards his father to see if the man had heard Hermione talking about him sleeping through class. Fortunately for Harry, Snape seemed to be completely focused on Tonks and Remus, both of whom were now gazing at each other with dewy, love-struck expressions.

"Nymphadora," Snape called down the table, emphasizing her name in an irritated tone as he scrubbed an exasperated hand over his face. Everyone's eyebrows rose in surprise as they looked warily at one another, for it was well known how much the Auror abhorred her given name. But when she didn't respond, Snape called out again, louder this time. "Nymphadora! I would like to get through my meal without vomiting my food back onto my plate due to your public displays of affection. And pass the Sorting Hat, if you please."

Completely unruffled, Tonks never took her eyes from Remus as she carelessly tossed the Sorting Hat toward Neville, who was sitting to her right. Although he almost dropped it, Neville managed to catch the Sorting Hat before it hit the ground. Attempting to be discreet, the entire table could still hear when he asked Tonks, "I thought you didn't like people calling you by your first name?"

"What's in a name?" Tonks murmured with a dramatic sigh. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Snape suddenly groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly irritated.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, his eyes flicking between his father and the adoring couple at the other end of the table.

"They are speaking in Shakespeare quotes! Fools…" Snape growled, glaring at the two of them.

"O, I am fortune's fool!" Remus suddenly cried as he grasped both of Tonks' hands within his own and gazed at her as if he never wanted to let her go.

"Do shut up!" Snape snarled, but the table only burst into laughter again.

"I think it's quite lovely," Luna mentioned in her airy way, openly watching the pair. "They make a sweet couple. I hope they kiss."

"I know a lady in Venice who would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of a lover's lips," Tonks sighed dramatically.

Neville glanced wide-eyed toward his friends at the other end of the table, clearly uncomfortable at being forced to sit so close to the lovebirds. Harry and Ron snorted loudly into their cups as Neville scooted his chair away from Tonks before placing the Sorting Hat on his own head.

The Sorting Hat bestowed a wide-brimmed straw hat to the normally apprehensive boy. Harry had seen Professor Sprout wear something similar on numerous occasions when the sunny weather had permitted the class to work outside. Because Herbology was Neville's best subject, it seemed an appropriate choice. As he happily handed the Sorting Hat to Luna, she noticed the small addition on the crown of his new sunhat.

Oh look!" she cried excitedly. "There's something pulsingon top of your head!"

"What?!" Neville asked in a horrified tone, and his eyes immediately clouded in apprehension. Nevertheless, he bravely took hold of the straw hat's brim and lifted it gently from his head. After only a moment, the nervous expression on his face morphed into one of elation.

"It's a cutting of a Mimbulus Mimbletonia!" He cried.

"What is that?" Harry asked, swallowing back his disgust at what looked like a small grey cactus that slowly pulsed and undulated within is little pot. Even more disturbing was that instead of having spines like a normal cactus, this plant was covered in angry, infected-looking pustules that looked ready to burst at any moment.

"It's really rare!" Neville replied, gazing down at the small plant with excited awe. "It's just a baby now, but when it grows a little bigger I'll be able to milk the boils for their stinksap, which you can use to nurse sick animals." Milk the boils? Ron mouthed in revulsion, and Harry couldn't blame him. But Neville didn't notice, and his eyes flicked nervously toward Snape as he quietly continued, "It's also a really powerful potion ingredient."

His father's dark eyes narrowed upon his friend, and Neville paled under the man's intense gaze. Harry was about to say something to distract his father and let Neville off the hook, but Snape spoke first.

"Well done, Mr. Longbottom."

All eyes at the table (except Remus and Tonks) widened in surprise at the potions master, for it was extremely rare to hear him bestow a compliment to anyone, but especially Neville. His father continued addressing the boy as if he hadn't noticed the shocked expressions. "Do you happen to know the use of potions for which Mimbulus Mimbletonia stinksap is an ingredient?"

"Healing potions, sir." Neville immediately answered. "Especially those that help treat life-threatening conditions."

Snape was silent for a long, drawn out moment. Neville squirmed nervously, but never broke eye contact with the man.

"Twenty points to Gryffindor, Mr. Longbottom – when school is actually in session, of course," his father finally said. "In addition, I will give you thirty points extra credit in my class for each vile of Mimbulus Mimbletonia stinksap that you are successfully able to procure."

Neville beamed at the man's unexpected praise. Harry and the rest of his friends grinned and patted his back in congratulations, for they all knew how terrified the boy was of the dark professor.

Although he didn't say so out loud, Harry wondered what use his father could have for fresh vials of Mimbulus Mimbletonia stinksap, seeing as he was no longer the Hogwarts potions master. But then he considered that whoever was going to take his place in the potions classroom would probably be just as happy with a steady supply of such a rare ingredient.

Neville ducked as a snitch whizzed past his head, but the large grin was still in place as he handed off the Sorting Hat and said, "Here Luna, it's your turn."

The girl had to be nudged once more, as she was dreamily watching the many snitches zipping through the room. But she must have been paying attention to the interaction between Snape and Neville, for when she finally took the Sorting Hat she said, "Well done, Neville. You're very brave to mention potions with the professor right here. I think you're a lot smarter than he gives you credit for."

Luckily she placed the Sorting Hat on her head promptly afterwards, allowing everyone to gloss over her spectacular ability of getting straight to the heart of the matter while at the same time making those around her extremely uncomfortable.

Harry grinned to himself. He really did enjoy Luna's company.

The Sorting Hat was on point yet again, for the cap that it bestowed to Luna was as unique and eccentric as the girl herself. It constantly changed colors and emitted small puffs of glittery sparkles, which would then rain down around her. But the most exceptional feature of the hat was definitely the twisted purple horns that sprouted outwards directly above each ear. Although no one else at the table seemed to recognize the horns, Luna immediately knew what thy were.

"Crumple Horned Snorkack horns!" she cried excitedly. Harry clearly caught Hermione rolling her eyes, but his friend was nice enough not to say anything.

Next to receive the Sorting Hat was Ginny, who flashed a furtive glance at Tonks and her veiled headband, then sent a sidelong glance at Harry before placing the hat on her head.

Maybe she really likes sparkly things, he thought, and decided to remember that helpful bit of information come Christmas.

Harry liked the fedora that Ginny received received much better than Tonks' jeweled, veiled headband. The off-white fedora had a Gryffindor-scarlet hat band, and made Ginny look even feistier than she already was. The brim was pulled low over her forehead, and Harry thought the hat complimented the curve of her jaw and long red hair. He was just admiring how the honey color of her eyes fairly sparkled in the shadows beneath the brim when Ginny caught him staring. Harry looked sheepishly at his friend and she gave him a confident, impish smirk in return.

"What's that flying around your head?" George snickered, and it was only then that Harry noticed a cloud of tiny black creatures fluttering in constant loops above her.

"They look like flies," Fred laughed in a mocking tone. "The Sorting Hat must know that you buzz around like a fly that can never be swatted."

The twins began to laugh in earnest, neither noticing Ginny's eyes narrowing dangerously upon them. Harry felt irritated on Ginny's behalf and wanted nothing more than to tell the redheaded twats to shut it, but there was no need. As one and without a word from Ginny, the small black creatures hurtled themselves across the table and began to pelt and attack the twins in earnest.

"What the– Ouch! " George cried, attempting in vain to protect his face with his arms.

"Ginny, call them off!" Fred yelled as he tried to swat the little things out of the air.

"Lemme get um," Hagrid grunted, and he held out his hand and began to softly croon and tweet in a strange, high pitched whistle. After a moment the creatures abandoned their attack on the twins and settled tranquilly on Hargrid's outstretched hand. It was only as Harry saw them hanging upside-down from Hagrid's large fingers that he realized–

"Jus wha' I thought!" Hagrid exclaimed. "They're tiny bats!"

"Bats!" Ron gasped through sudden peals of laughter. "You – you idiots!" he wheezed while looking at the twins. "The Sorting Hat must know how good she is at the Bat Bogey Hex!"

"Go on then," Hagrid murmured to the miniscule bats covering his hand. "Go on back t'yer mistress." And just like that, they flew as a single cloud back to Ginny.

"I like this hat," she said with a smile as she tilted her head so she could eye the tiny creatures appreciatively. "I may have to wear this whenever I'm home at the Burrow, so it can help me put obnoxious older brothers in their place." She met Harry's gaze once again and gave him a small wink. Harry's stomach unexpectedly felt like he had swallowed the cloud of tiny bats.

He didn't have any time to focus on that however, because it was Jilly's turn with the Sorting Hat and a sudden question had just popped into his mind.

"Professor Dumbledore," he asked as he turned toward the man. "What about Jillian and Lily?"

"What about them, Harry?"

"Well… they've never been sorted. Can the hat tell us what House they belong to?" The rest of the table fell silent at his question, and Dumbledore considered him with a warm smile.

"As for Jillian," the headmaster said with an apologetic look at the young girl. "I don't believe the hat will be able to sort her until she reaches the age of eleven."

Jilly grinned at the old wizard and shrugged unconcernedly. "That's ok. I didn't even know I could do magic until a few weeks ago. I can wait." Then her face got serious as she asked, "I can still get a party hat though, right?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, my dear. I don't think that will be a problem." His eyes twinkled as his gaze flicked to Lily. "No you, on the other hand, are definitely over the age of eleven."

"That I am," Lily agreed brightly.

"Indeed," the headmaster murmured with an affectionate wink. "And although I've not heard of the Sorting Hat being used on adult, I see no reason why it wouldn't be able to tell us the House to which you should belong."

"Well that's easy," Ron confidently declared as he grinned across the table at his second cousin. "She's a Weasley, so she'll obviously be in Gryffindor."

"As the Head of Gryffindor House, I can officially say that we would be honored to have you!" Professor McGonagall said kindly with a wicked grin at Snape.

Harry almost laughed as, out of the corner of his eye, he caught his father indignantly roll his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Lily could be placed in Hufflepuff," Hermione said with a shrug and a smile. "She's obviously a hard worker, and dedicated. But we wouldlike to have another Gryffindor in the House." Lily blushed in pleasure, beaming at the girl.

"Well, she's intelligent and clever," Luna announced in her dreamy voice. Lily's blush deepened as she smiled warmly at Luna, as well. "She may well be a Ravenclaw–"

"And we'll never find out if everyone keeps talking," snapped Snape. "Let's get on with it." However, his voice softened when he gazed down at Jillian and said, "Go on Jilly. Let's see what kind of party hat you receive."

"I hope it's got a unicorn horn like Luna's!" she said eagerly.

"Oh, these aren't unicorn horns," Luna gently corrected. "They're Crumple Horned–" But she fell silent at Snape's dark glower. Lily elbowed him in the ribs with a warning look before looking back down at her daughter.

"See? Lily's brave like a Gryffindor," Ron declared in a loud whisper.

"Go ahead, Jilly-Bean," she encouraged. Jillian attempted to place the Sorting Hat on her head, but it was so big that her entire head fit inside. Everyone at the table (even Snape) chuckled as they heard the muffled giggles from inside the hat.

However they fell silent as they heard Jilly cry, "Oh! It's talking!"

Moments later she struggled to remove at the Sorting Hat, and Snape lifted it off for her. Jilly was wearing a crown made entirely of large, sweet-smelling, pastel colored flowers of all different kinds. There was an immediate array of feminine, "Oooooo's," and even Neville made a noise of appreciation. Harry recognized the blooms from his years tending Aunt Petunia's garden: roses, dahlias, hydrangeas, peonies, and even dainty, tiny forget-me-nots. A delicate butterfly fluttered from blossom to bud, its wings opening and closing in a soft, rhythmic pattern. And jutting from the middle of it all, directly above Jilly's forehead, was a dazzling unicorn horn.

"The Sorting Hat told me that unicorn magic is inside me, if I just allow my heart to be open to it," the little girl said in reverent awe.

"Truer words were never spoken," McGonagall murmured with a warm smile at the girl.

"I can introduce ye' t'some real unicorns, if ye'd like," Hagrid rumbled as his black beetle eyes shone with pleasure.

"You can?!" Jillian cried.

"O' course!" The half-giant boomed happily. "We 'ave a herd 'ere in the forest – I take care o' em. I'll take ye t'see 'em anytime ye'd like!"

"Oh mum, can I? Can I please?" Jillian begged, bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement.

"Only if you pass the Sorting Hat," Snape murmured in mock exasperation. But even as his father's lips quirked in amusement, Harry had to admit that he'd never seen the little girl move so fast. She hastily shoved the tattered hat into her mother's lap.

"Oh…" Lily murmured, suddenly looking very nervous as she gazed down at the scruffy fabric in her hands. Glancing uncertainly at the many expectant faces around her, she passed the hat onto Snape. "Why don't you go first? I can't even begin to imagine the kind of party hat the Sorting Hat would give you."

"Yeah, Dad! You go!" Harry said with high-spirited enthusiasm, knowing how much it would get under his father's skin. Judging by the blistering glare the man gave him, Harry had succeeded brilliantly, and he struggled hard not to laugh.

Fred suddenly raised his glass in a toast to Snape. "Here's hoping for a giant snake–"

"–So that it will eat all of Ginny's bats!" George finished, clinking his goblet against his twin's. When their hats suddenly exploded with lights and the sirens started blaring atop their hats, Harry's father looked like he wanted nothing more than to launch himself across the table and strangle them both. The twins visibly blanched as he drew his wand, but he only ended up shooting a rough finite spell their way once more.

"Personally I'm hoping it'll be a snake big enough to eat the two of you," he growled darkly. And then he promptly plunked the Sorting Hat onto his head.

A long moment passed, as everyone waited with baited breath to see what kind of hat Snape would receive. But after long moments when nothing happened, they slumped with disappointment back into their chairs.

"I think it knows that I will throw it into the fire if it dares to present me with any sort of ridiculous headwear," Snape announced, sounding pleased. But as he continued talking, suddenly his features began to change. Within moments, the same scruffy, muggle movie star that had taken Harry, Lily, and Jillian to Diagon Alley only a month previous was now sitting before them. And the best part was that his father didn't even seem to notice as he smugly declared, "I doubt a hat is even needed for the Head of the noble Slytherin House."

"True nobility is exempt from fear!" Remus suddenly called from down the table, his gaze finally broken away from Tonks as he grinned at the Brad Pitt version of Snape.

"Here, here!" The twins cried in unison, and everyone around the table burst into hysterical laughter. But to Harry's (and the twins') absolute delight, no one seemed inclined to divulge to Snape what the Sorting Hat had done.

With an irritated roll of his now piercing blue eyes, Snape dragged the Sorting Hat from his blond head and handed it back to Lily. "Sorry to disappoint," he said pompously. "I suppose I'm just not party hatmaterial."

"No, I suppose you aren't," Lily said, biting her lip and unable to meet his eyes lest she laugh and give it all away. Thankfully she now didn't seem as nervous about being sorted, and as she slowly moved to place the Sorting Hat upon her own head, she playfully asked the table at large, "So what House are we betting on?"

Raucous cries of "Gryffindor!" filled the chamber, followed by a few softer calls of, "Hufflepuff! Ravenclaw!" But as she placed the hat upon her head and it took long, drawn-out moments to decide, a loud chant of "Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor!" began in earnest.

The chanting grew so loud that it almost drowned out the Sorting Hat when it suddenly opened it's fabric mouth and cried, "SLYTHERIN!"