The Sorting Ceremony
It was the Sorting Ceremony, and whilst she knew that all it entailed was putting on the Sorting Hat and the name of your chosen house being called out, Saito Hisana was nervous. As in she was absolutely bricking it. She felt sick and her hands were clammy as they clutched desperately to the hem of her skirt. It was a good job she was sitting down.
A comforting hand rested on her shoulder. "It'll be fine," Miyako reassured her.
"But what if-," Hisana whimpered.
"It's going to be fine." Miyako smiled soothingly and took hold of her hand.
The doors to the Great Hall lurched open, creaking and groaning and the first years were called through, all wide-eyed and slightly dazed. One lad had evidently fallen into the lake. He was absolutely sopping wet and squelching his way down the line. His peers were trying their best to stay as far away as was polite, but the stench still carried. Not that it seemed to bother him. In fact, he appeared to be thrilled that he'd had a close encounter with the giant squid and he was sporting a particularly lumpy looking toad draped in pondweed as some sort of crown. Hisana noted that the toad, poor creature, did not look nearly as impressed.
One by one, the students were summoned, but Hisana barely noticed. There was only one name that she needed to hear. Finally her name was called. She stumbled forward towards the stool, nearly tripping over her too-long robes. Hisana was on tenterhooks with bated breath, her silent plea echoing through her mind. Please be Ravenclaw, please. She crossed her fingers. If she was placed in Gryffindor, she'd be with Renji, although Hisana wasn't so sure that would necessarily be a good thing. Hufflepuff would be okay. It would be safe. Please be Ravenclaw. Please not-
"SLYTHERIN!" Rukia had barely put it to her head when the Sorting Hat's voice echoed loudly through the hall. Hisana slumped in her seat, her head falling soundly to the table.
Nanao pushed her glasses smartly up her nose, nudging Hisana with her foot from the opposite bench. "Cheer up. At least she's got Kuchiki to keep her in check."
Hisana looked up at her, wholly unconvinced and whispered shakily, "We're all going to die." Miyako struggled to keep her sniggering in check behind her hand.
Hisana turned to face her sister, smiling wanly and giving her a half-hearted wave. Rukia, for her part, looked pleased as punch, and Professor Shihoin seemed to be appraising her in a manner that caused Hisana no small amount of concern.
She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a handful of coins, before placing them squarely on the table. "Three galleons says I'll have gone grey by Christmas."
Nanao considered this for a moment before retorting decidedly, "Four says she'll have blown up the boys' dormitory by October."
Miyako was cackling mercilessly before adding to the pile. "TEN says she'll have done all of the above, caused a blizzard in the school, and given Kuchiki a mental breakdown by Easter."
Hisana turned back to her sister who gleefully gave her a thumbs up. The elder Saito gulped and opened her mouth wordlessly, before simply pushing the pile of money towards Miyako. "I think you might be right."