Melitta and Thea held hands as the first years marched to the front of the Great Hall. "Hansi!" Thea waved to their brother, who sat near the entrance at a table of green-clad students. He raised one eyebrow and, when no one was looking, waved back. Second years were supposed to be above such things.
Hänschen had explained the Sorting that summer, so Melitta didn't find it as exciting as Ernst seemed to. It was almost dull, just a talking hat naming houses for people they didn't know.
Wendla went to Hufflepuff and a jittery boy with glasses greeted her. Hufflepuffs were tough but too innocent. Gryffindors had guts and you could get them to do whatever you wanted if you made it a challenge. Ravenclaws…curiosity killed the cat. As for Slytherins, they might rule the world if they didn't sabotage each other first. At least, that was how Hänschen put it. It was nice to have a brother who taught you things.
Otto became a Gryffindor. Thea clapped for him, but he only had eyes for Anna.
They got toward the R's and Melitta did some serious thinking. Her name came before Thea's; she would be Sorted first. It didn't do to leave these things to chance, or what a hat thought of the inside of her head. "Rilow, Melitta," the headmaster called from the scroll. She stepped forward, crossed her fingers and toes, and closed her eyes as he set the Sorting Hat on her head.
Before the hat could say anything (Hänschen said it had a big mouth), she thought firmly, Excuse me, sir?
I'm not called sir often. This is a pleasant surprise. How may I help you?
I want to be in my sister's house. She's next, so if you'd sort her first and then put me there, that'd be good of you.
Are you sure? I know already where you'd fit.
That's nice, thank you. I want to be with Thea.
Suit yourself.
Melitta took the hat off and handed it back to the headmaster. He stared at her, and she adjusted her skirt as she realized the entire school was staring with him. "You can go on. I'll wait here."
He harrumphed and read, "Rilow, Theadora." The hat didn't sit long with her before it declared her "Slytherin!" The girls could see Hänschen's pride across the hall. Thea hesitated for a worried glance at Melitta before rushing to the Slytherin table to hug her slightly disgusted brother.
"Röbel, Ernst," the headmaster called.
"Excuse me," said Melitta, tugging on his sleeve, "I'll just be a minute." She gestured to the hat, which he grudgingly allowed her to take.
I'm back, she thought. Could you proclaim me a Slytherin too?
I would have anyway. Congratulations, Slytherin!
Forgetting her embarrassment in the wave of applause, Melitta thanked the confused headmaster and allowed Ernst to take his turn (he was a Hufflepuff).
Thea knocked the wind out of her in her embrace and Hänschen ruffled her curls. "The whole family!" Thea beamed. "Aren't you proud of us, Hansi?"
"I wouldn't expect anything less," he said.