"Hello?"

Kurt looked up in confusion. A girl was standing in the doorway of his carriage. 

“I hope you don't mind me joining you,” a blonde girl with beautiful eyes started, “I heard you on the platform. You're American, right? Like me?” She sounded hopeful. Kurt nodded. “Take a seat,” he gestured her to sit down.

She took a seat next to him. “Hi,” she peeped. “Hey,” Kurt said back.

“I am Lucy,” the girl extended her hand and Kurt shook it, “But today is the start of my new life, so please, call me Quinn. Quinn Fabray.”

“Hello Quinn-formally-known-as-Lucy Fabray. My name is Kurt Hummel. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

It felt silent after that. 

“So… eh, what house do you hope you'll get sorted in?” Quinn tried after a few minutes. 

Kurt shrugged. “I'm Muggleborn, so it's all a little bit new to me. I'll see.”

“Ah, I am pureblood,” Quinn said, “But I honestly don't care.”

Kurt nodded.

The door opened “Hey, is this the American part?” a tough looking black girl asked, “Because I want to join.”

She entered the carriage and took a seat on the opposite bench. “Mercedes Jones, nice to meet ya',” she said. “Quinn Fabray,” Quinn nodded, but Kurt remained silence.

Is this what making friends feels like?

“And you are?” Mercedes asked Kurt. Quinn elbowed him. Kurt snapped out of his thoughts. “Oh, Kurt Hummel.”

“Pleasure,” Mercedes said slowly, “Anyway, I like your sweater.”

Kurt looked down to his Little Mermaid sweater. “You know the Little Mermaid?” he asked in disbelief. “Duh, halfbloodie here,” she pointed to herself, looking proud, “My dad's a wizard and told my mom - oh, forgive me- mum when she was pregnant of my brother. He's a Muggle, though.”

“Muggleborn,” Kurt told her, “Found out a few months ago.”

“Good, let us all share wizard information bla la la and become close friends,” Quinn grinned, “So, pureblood, doesn't care that much about the house, oak with unicorn hair, cat called Charlie, golden cauldron and stuff. You?”

“Wow,” Mercedes whistled, “Halfblood, ‘Puff, vine with phoenix feather, no pets, just a normal not to fancy cauldron and stuff.”

Kurt didn't know what to say.

“Uh…” he tried, “Muggleborn, don't know, uh… I have a wand and uh, owl and stuff.”

Quinn raised an eyebrow. “… O-kay.”

The great hall was beautiful. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Quinn, who was walking next to him, squeezed his hand. “Oh my god,” she whispered, “Oh my god. My sister Frannie told me a lot about this hall, but it's even more beautiful than I thought.”

Kurt just nodded.

Professor McGonagall walked them to an old ugly looking hat, who weirdly enough sang. Even weirder: he sounded good.

Hagrid had told him about the sorting ceremony and now it was really happening. Professor McGonagall started reading from a sheet of parchment.

“Aaster, Mickey.”

More names and a few minutes and several students later, it was Quinn's time.

“Fabray, Lucy.”

Quinn winced when she heard her old name and Kurt wondered what happened with ‘Lucy.'

Quinn made her way to the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head. “Hm.. interesting,” it said, “I see bravery, you overcame a lot in the past, but I also see a goal in your head you want to succeed, selfishly if needed. But I see creativity and knowledge too… I think… I think…”

Quinn closed her eyes and waited.

“Yes, yes….”

She took a deep breath.

“Ravenclaw!”

The Ravenclaw house applauded her and she smiled to Kurt when she passed him.

More names. And then-

“Hummel, Kurt.”

Kurt nervously made his way to the –ugly- sorting hat. He took a seat and professor McGonagall placed it on his head too.

“Interesting,” it said, “You are very brave and I know you don't believe that, but I can see you are. You are harsh and selfish if you want to and you have a goal in your life, but- what is this?”

Kurt felt anxious. What did it see?

“You are very smart. You are a smart young man with a promising future. And creative. I can see you are good with creating things with your hands, needle, tread, beads and scissors.” Kurt blushed. It can see that?

“Yes, yes.”

He looked over to the other students in the great hall. They were all waiting.

“Tough decision, this one.”

Kurt smiled.

“But I think I know it.”

Kurt looked up.

“Ravenclaw!”

Quinn was the first on her feet. She was applauding very loudly.

Kurt made his way to the Ravenclaw table and hugged her tightly. “Welcome,” an older Ravenclaw student shook his hand.

Other freshmen Ravenclaw students embraced him too. “I'm Mike,” an Asian guy hugged him and Kurt was happy to hear another American accent. “Kurt,” Kurt answered.

More hugs and also more names. People all welcomed Kurt like a long lost brother and for the first time in years, Kurt felt like he had found his place.

“Jones, Mercedes.”

Kurt and Quinn turned their heads to Mercedes. She sat down and the hat barely touched her head and yelled “Hufflepuff! Hufflepuff!”