“You've been wondering whether I put you in the right House', said the hat smartly. 'Yes...you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said before' - Harry's heart leapt - 'you would have done well in Slytherin-'
Harry's stomach plummeted. He grabbed the point of the hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his hand, grubby and faded. Harry pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling sick.
'You're wrong', he said aloud to the still and silent hat. It didn't move. Harry backed away, watching it...”