"Now, for our American exchange students. CHASE, ANNABETH!"

Annabeth closed her eyes as the hat descended.

A demigod! Yes, a daughter of Athena. I see that you get your sharp mind from her. Now, your other traits include pride and ambition. You've been tested, child, your whole life. People have put you down and insulted you, but you've always gotten back up. Normally, persistence is a Hufflepuff trait.

Pride and ambition are more common in Slytherins, though.

Goodness, this is quite difficult.

Then again, demigods often are.

You are also determined, hard-working and often independent. Qualities usually found in Slytherins or Hufflepuffs.

Your wit makes you an excellent candidate for Ravenclaw, though.

Perhaps...

"RAVENCLAW!"

Annabeth went to sit at the blue-robed table, next to a blonde girl who was staring at the ceiling.

Chiron had said one of the demigods was a Ravenclaw. This would make her job very easy.

...

"Jackson, Perseus!"

Percy strolled up to the stool, schooling his face into an indifferent expression.

Another demigod! We're very fancy this year, aren't we? 

All right.

I see bravery. Yes, a good amount.

You always put others before you as well.

Never selfish, eh?

Must drive others crazy.

This is very easy.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Percy went to go sit down, and narrowed his eyes at the woman in pink, seated at the teachers' table. She obviously didn't belong.

...

"LEVESQUE, HAZEL!"

Hazel officially had seen it all.

A cussing horse, two different in a golden donut and cereal diaper toddlers.

Now a talking hat.

She definitely hadn't been hallucinating for the last year.

As the hat lowered over her eyes, Hazel tried not to get claustrophobic.

Claustrophobia, hm? Unusual for a daughter of Pluto. Yes, I've met some of your siblings, but it was a few centuries ago. I doubt that even you would have heard of them.

Normally you'd be a great match for Gryffindor, but I see in your mind that Slytherin is necessary for you to succeed in your quest.

Hazel thought with all her might, Please put me in Slytherin. There's someone there that I need to get.

The hat sighed. Very well.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Zara and Kyla immediately made room for Hazel, smiling.

Hazel sat down, put on her best pureblood-rich-bratty-rude smile and tried to blend.

...

Annabeth went to the Ravenclaw table, where she was met with eyes the color of storm clouds when the ocean reflected off of them.

The girl attached to the eyes waved. "I'm Luna! Ooh, you have a lot of Nargles. Come sit, if you'd like, but I'm afraid it'll ruin any chance of popularity you have."

Annabeth grinned. "Popularity never really mattered to me anyway."

"Wow, you're just not like the other girls, are you? Loving the 'girls who like pink are superficial and shallow' vibe. Great first impression." A voice crooned from across the table. Nick (probably Nicola or Nicole) Jefferson, a black-skinned girl with a transgender pin on her Ravenclaw robes. She flipped her box braids and pulled out a tiny mirror and mascara, expertly applying it.

Annabeth groaned internally, because she had been giving off the "girls who like pink are superficial and shallow" vibe.

...

Percy walked toward the Hufflepuff table, blinking in confusion when no one scooted over for him. Finally, a boy moved, with light brown skin and blue eyes. Percy vaguely remembered him from the train station, and then it clicked.

Luke Jefferson.

Luke.

And those blue eyes...

Wow.

The world really had it out for Percy, didn't it?

Because the only person who was friendly in Hufflepuff House so far was a boy with Luke Castellan's name, eyes and scar.