Disclaimer- As always the idea of Hogwarts and those associated with it belong solely to JK Rowling.
Befuddled Sorts
From a small jolt as the train turned Jessica awoke, bleary eyed and slightly nauseous, realizing that train rides didn't quite agree with her. Not sure of how close they were to Hogwarts, she decided to slip into her school robes. Slowly uncrossing her legs and returning them from the seat to the floor she leaned over and began to rummage around in her suitcase, pulling out a black robe. With a yawn she stood and stretched, then pulled the robe over her head and sat back down, smoothing down the hair that was now standing upright. Suddenly, the train lurched forward and Jessica fell onto the floor. For the second time that day she began to laugh and looked up to find herself lost in those beautiful blue eyes again.
He looked surprised to find her there and blushed. "I was just.. The driver wanted me to inform the passengers of our arrival." He said this all in a rush and took off, slamming the compartment door behind him.
Picking herself up Jessica wondered what his problem was, or if it was her. "No need of worrying about boys," She scolded herself. "I'm at Hogwarts now." An insanely happy grin spread onto her face like a rapidly spreading virus.
She began to lug her luggage out the compartment door when she noticed everyone else was leaving theirs behind. So, following suit, Jessica did the same and made her way over to a giant beast of a man yelling for all first years.
He instantly noticed her, being a few inches taller than the others, and smiled surprisingly warmly. "Ya' must be Jessica. If Dumbledore hasn't been talkin' of you a great deal.. It's a great shame you wasn't here three years earlier," and then, raising his voice, "Follow me!"
Jessica followed, barely noticing the eyes all pointed at the back of her head, and got into the front of a boat, looking nervously at the lake beneath them as the boats began to move across the water. All doubts or fears were put to rest when the castle came into view. Jessica blinked, sure it was a dream. It was more magnificent than she had ever dreamed, and the first years behind her obviously felt the same way.
As if in a daze, Jessica followed the others out of the boats and up onto the main grounds and into the castle. So, there they stood, straining to hear the sounds of nearby students, huddled as a nervous group. A elderly and strict looking woman with dark hair and a seemingly permanent pout entered the room and smiled grimly for a second at the new students before her lips formed the pout once again. "I am Professor McGonagall," She said, crossing her hands behind her back and pacing in front of them. "You will be led into the Great Hall in a matter of seconds where you will be sorted into the appropiate house, either Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff." Her eyes searched the mass of students, landing on Jessica, gave her a curt nod as a sign of acknowledgment and then turned, opening the tall doors and leaving the students behind her.
They quickly caught up, however, staring at the never ending ceiling which seemed to fade into the night sky, the four long tables with rows of students, and the one at the front where the professors were seated beaming down at them all, except for one particularly greasy one at the end who seemed to be sneering. They once again formed a small huddle, this time at the bottom of a few steps, staring up at a wooden stool and a ragged looking pointed hat.
"Before the sorting begins, Dumbledore would like to say a few words," The professor said, taking a position beside the stool.
Dumbledore, who sat in the middle of the front table of professors, wearing a dark blue robe this time, stood and smiled down at the new first years, winking affectionately at Jessica before beginning. "Not only have we been honored with the presence of our new first years this fall, but also with a new fourth year," Jessica could hear those behind her begin to chatter aimlessly about this, and upon waiting for them to silence, Dumbledore continued. "After a minor mistake, Jessica Nicole will be joining us as a fourth year and wonderful addition to our school," At this he sat down. Jessica looked curiously at him, surprised at the use of her middle name. Her mother had forbidden her to use their family name, but how did he know that? With a smile to herself she realized that a man like Dumbledore would have his ways.
"Nicole, Jessica!"
She walked briskly towards the stool upon McGonagal calling her name, and sat as she lifted the hat and set it on top Jessica's head.
"I knew you were missing," It whispered in her ear, "But I didn't say anything because I know of what is to happen." Silence followed this, as Jessica sat bewildered, wondering what it meant. "Considering that, I suppose Slytherin would seem like an appropriate choice to most, but no the right place for you is none other than.. RAVENCLAW!"
The last comment was one that everyone heard, and clapping followed as Jessica, quite confused, made her way towards the table at which they were beckoning her, which she correctly assumed was the Ravenclaw table. After a few pats on the back Jessica sat back in her chair, desperately trying to make sense of the hat's comments, not being brought back to reality until the hat cried out "Slytherin" while sitting upon the last first year, Urethra, Kayla's head. Those sitting at her table were staring at her expectantly and she smiled nervously, attempting to rid her thoughts of the before comments.