William Doren's Sorting Ceremony

As the Sorting Hat was placed on his neat head, William's view of the Great Hall and its students were removed from view by the dark flap falling over his eyes.

'Hmm, not as easy to place as your sister,' said the hat, in a voice only he could hear. 'But no matter, we'll surely find the house where you ought to be.'

A brief pause, as the hat considered William's fate. 

'Yes, I see the potential for Ravenclaw,' the hat said, tone neutral. 'You've a ready mind, I see. You would do well there...'

The hat was about as hard to read as other students were for William, especially as even the tone didn't give much away. All he got a sense of was that it lacked certainty or confidence yet. A decision hadn't been made, and perhaps William's input was relevant? What a new concept, someone asking him what he thought... 

'Or perhaps Slytherin?' the hat's tone rose a little, as if something clever just occurred to it. 'Yes, there's ambition, I see. Resourceful, too. Hmm, you would go far in Slytherin -- there's no doubt about that. So where to put you?'

'Quite the stubborn one, aren't you?' The hat sounded amused; its tone was no longer neutral, and the confidence crept in. 'Slytherin, eh? Hmm, well if you're sure...'

Yet there was a pause, as if the hat wanted to double-check. A brief hesitancy in the moment, yet the declaration that followed (for the entire hall to hear) could not be more certain.