The first years were grouped together at the front of the Great Hall, all of them buzzing with nerves and excitement. Finally, McGonagall began to read off the list of names and they all became silent, watching with wide, curious eyes as the sorting began and they were each divided into one of the four tables behind them.
It seemed a long time for the sorting to come to a close and finally, only one student stood there as Professor McGonagall called off "Weasley, Victoire" from the parchment.
She tried to appear confident as she climbed the steps and sat on the stool, catching a glimpse of all the faces looking back at her before the hat slipped onto her head, drooping halfway over her eyes and obscuring her vision.
What's this! Yet another Weasley?
Her family had told her all the exciting details of Hogwarts, but they had neglected to mention that the sorting hat would talk to her. She nearly gasped out loud.
Ah, what to do with you? Hm… very complicated. You're loyal, no doubt. But there's courage and great ambition here in your head. What to do, what to do?
What do with her? Well, Gryffindor of course. She was a Weasley, she belonged in Gryffindor. Her father was a courageous curse breaker, he had fought in the war and her mother had been one of the selected champions for the Triwizard Tournament all those years ago, her parents were both great examples of what bravery was. Surely there was no question about where she would go.
But those are your parents, not you. You could be great anywhere, surely you know. You have to make your own path.
She bit her lip, uncertain. She'd always thought she would be in Gryffindor, never had any doubts. She knew her parents wouldn't be disappointed in her no matter where she ended up, her mothers' old school hadn't even had houses.
You could even excel in Slytherin… You have a sly mind, you're a quick thinker. You could break apart from your family tradition and achieve greatness there, you know…
No! She went rigid on the stool. She was her own person, no matter the house, and she didn't need to be put in Slytherin to break apart from her family name. 'I'm proud of my family and what they've done!' She thought viciously, angered at the very thought that she shouldn't be, even if that hadn't been the suggestion at all.
Ahh, such determination. Well, if you're sure then no doubt it's going to be… GRYFFINDOR!
Sighing with relief, she hopped off the stool after what seemed like an eternity though it had only been a mere pause of time and headed to the table decorated in gold and scarlet, where the applause was greatest.
"Welcome to Gryffindor, Victoire."
She smiled at Teddy as he welcomed her, moving over the make room for her at the long table as the plates began magically filling with piles of food. She felt right at home already, confident that this was where she belonged.