T H E G R E A T H A L L
The wide doors opened to reveal four tables filled with hundreds--if not a thousand--veteran students, not particularly assigned to a table for the evening. Each watched with earnest and curious eyes as a wave of first years stepped warily into the great hall. Candles lit up the room, floating under the ceiling displaying a clear, starry night. Dumbledore welcomed them with open arms and a smile upon his bearded face, speaking of the wonders to come.
The first years listened intently to his words, and gazed in awe as McGonagall held up the sorting hat--legendary in its ability to talk, and place each student in a house based on their values and traits.
And such was the hat to place Odette Anson in her beloved house--Slytherin. The house of cunning, cleverness, and ambition. Which in her opinion was very fitting. (Apparently not to her fellow classmates, who were and are still hesitant of her blood status).
She smiled, leaning to a Ravenclaw girl to her left. "Really brings back memories, doesn't it?" She asked quietly. "I remember being a wide-eyed fishy just entering this big pond. Fun times," she mused, eyes trailing after the first to be called up to receive their house.
Ciara was glad to be back at Hogwarts after a long summer filled with endless hours of boredom and burning hot sun baking her alive.
She glanced at the majestic enchanted ceiling, and the floating candles that seemed to wink at her with their feiry glow. She saw the first years filing into the hall and smiled. She recalled her sorting fondly. She'd been a bundle of nerves, yet deep down inside, she trusted the hat. She knew it was weird, trusting an object, but it was no ordinary object. Magic was threaded through every fiber of it's being, that she knew.
As she observed the scene before her, a girl in robes with the Sytherin House crest stitched into the side leaned over and whispered "Really brings back memories, doesn't it? I remember being a wide-eyed fishy just entering this big pond. Fun times." Ciars nodded in agreement. "Yes, it was a rather fun time. A time when this was all so new and entrancing...it still is, and so many secrets lie within these castle walls. Excellent metaphor, by the way," she spoke, in a hushed tone as the first name was called and a nervous looking student went up to the stool. She watched as he sat, squirming with anticipation. Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on his head. After a few moments, the hat called out "HUFFLEPUFF!" And the student handed the hat back to McGonagall before scampering off to the table decked with black and yellow, the symbol of a badger proudly displayed. Ciara loved watching the ceremony. Seeing which first years were ro become members of her own house, and the other three houses. A small smile spread across her face.
She glanced at the majestic enchanted ceiling, and the floating candles that seemed to wink at her with their feiry glow. She saw the first years filing into the hall and smiled. She recalled her sorting fondly. She'd been a bundle of nerves, yet deep down inside, she trusted the hat. She knew it was weird, trusting an object, but it was no ordinary object. Magic was threaded through every fiber of it's being, that she knew.
As she observed the scene before her, a girl in robes with the Sytherin House crest stitched into the side leaned over and whispered "Really brings back memories, doesn't it? I remember being a wide-eyed fishy just entering this big pond. Fun times." Ciars nodded in agreement. "Yes, it was a rather fun time. A time when this was all so new and entrancing...it still is, and so many secrets lie within these castle walls. Excellent metaphor, by the way," she spoke, in a hushed tone as the first name was called and a nervous looking student went up to the stool. She watched as he sat, squirming with anticipation. Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on his head. After a few moments, the hat called out "HUFFLEPUFF!" And the student handed the hat back to McGonagall before scampering off to the table decked with black and yellow, the symbol of a badger proudly displayed. Ciara loved watching the ceremony. Seeing which first years were ro become members of her own house, and the other three houses. A small smile spread across her face.
Sh snickered, "Why thank you. That is how I felt my first year. Then I moved up in the food chain and here I am--big bad fourth year. Am I right?" Of course, she only meant it metaphorically. Although, it really did seem like a food chain at times.
The next student called up strode with pride to the stool. He sat down, skimming over the tables filled with people with a smirk on his face. "That one's going to be trouble," she whispered. "SLYTHERIN!" The hat called, and she cringed. "Great. I'm gonna have to deal with it."
"Anyways, what's your name?" She asked. "I'm Odette Anson. A fourth year." Judging by her looks, the Ravenclaw was around her age. Possibly in the fourth year as well. However, one must not judge based on looks. Once there had been a sixth year she had mistaken for a third year. Which the memory still haunts her to that day.
The next student called up strode with pride to the stool. He sat down, skimming over the tables filled with people with a smirk on his face. "That one's going to be trouble," she whispered. "SLYTHERIN!" The hat called, and she cringed. "Great. I'm gonna have to deal with it."
"Anyways, what's your name?" She asked. "I'm Odette Anson. A fourth year." Judging by her looks, the Ravenclaw was around her age. Possibly in the fourth year as well. However, one must not judge based on looks. Once there had been a sixth year she had mistaken for a third year. Which the memory still haunts her to that day.
The girl gave a slight laugh, and began speaking. "Yeah, it kinda does feel like moving up a food chain," Ciara responded. She watched along with the Slytherin girl as another first year took his seat on the stool, a smirk alighting his face as the hat was placed on his head.
"That one's going to be trouble," the girl whispered. Ciara heard the hat call "SLYTHERIN!" The girl cringed. "Great. I'm gonna have to deal with it," she spoke, unenthusiasticly.
"Anyways, what's your name?" She asked, drawing Ciara's attentiom away from the ongoing sorting ceremony. "I'm Odette Anson. A fourth year."
"I'm Ciara Kayal. Fourth year as well," she responded. "Nice to meet you."
"That one's going to be trouble," the girl whispered. Ciara heard the hat call "SLYTHERIN!" The girl cringed. "Great. I'm gonna have to deal with it," she spoke, unenthusiasticly.
"Anyways, what's your name?" She asked, drawing Ciara's attentiom away from the ongoing sorting ceremony. "I'm Odette Anson. A fourth year."
"I'm Ciara Kayal. Fourth year as well," she responded. "Nice to meet you."