Erin shivered, pulling her cloak snugly up to her chin.
"Firs' years! Firs' years! Over here! Alright there, Harry?"
Erin recognized the enormous bearded man from the pub, and was relieved, once again, to see his beaming smile.
"C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step now!" he added, as Erin and several of those near her slipped and stumbled their way up the steep and narrow path. The darkness seemed to intensify as they made their way further along the path.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," she heard Hagrid ("He's the groundskeeper at Hogwarts," Harry had told her.) call back to them, "jus' round this bend here."
The path widened, and Erin felt her breath catch in her throat. Before them loomed a great lake, like a puddle of black ink. On the other side of the lake was a mountain, and atop the mountain perched a magnificent, vast castle.
There was a loud "Oooooh!" as the other student came round the bend and beheld their magical destination.
Tower after tower reached towards the sky, and tiny lights winked on and off in numerous windows, giving the warm impression that they were expected.
They followed Hagrid to a fleet of small boats, floating in the water just off shore.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, and Erin felt a shiver of anticipation. She had always loved the water. Her mother claimed she had been born on a stormy night and, since then, had found comfort in its presence in any form. Erin saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione climb into one little boat, followed by the boy with the toad whom she had first noticed that day in the pub. Erin, smoother her hair with one hand, and looked around a familiar face. It was hard to see in the darkness, and finally she gave up and climbed into one of the little boats.
She was joined by a small, agile girl with amazing red hair that fell past her waist. She smiled and introduced herself.
"I'm Erin. Erin Stephens. What's your name?"
"I'm Ray." Said the girl, with a big smile. "And this is Dorian." She added, gesturing to a girl with wild, dark brown curls and gold-rimmed glasses, who had followed her into the boat. Dorian and Erin smiled at one another, but then they all fell silent.
It was a cool night, but the air was calm with little breeze, and the water was almost supernaturally still as they glided towards the other side of the lake. Erin could hear Hermione chattering about the spells she had already memorized, but even she fell silent as they swiftly approached their destination.
The immense Castle seemed to loom over them as they drew near. Everyone stared silently at it as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliffs on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid, and Erin immediately obeyed, ducking her head as the little boat carried them through curtains of ivy into a hidden opening in the face of the cliff. They were carried along a dark tunnel, lit only by the lantern, which Hagrid gripped firmly in his massive hands. Erin felt her breath coming more quickly. As much as she loved water and the great, wide outdoors, she detested, feared really, the musty, low, closed-in feeling of being underground. And underground was certainly where they were. She felt the tension alleviate as they climbed out of the boats onto the rocks and pebbles of this sort of underground harbour.
Hagrid was talking, but Erin was not listening. She followed Ray up the steps to a huge, oak door. Hagrid raised a massive fist and knocked three times.
The door opened to reveal a severe-looking black-haired woman in dark green robes waiting there.
"Here they are, Professor McGonagall, all the firs' years. Safe and sound," Hagrid said.
"Very well, Hagrid. You may go to the feast now."
"Did she say 'feast'?"
Erin turned to see a small, wiry boy with long brown hair, and excited eyes.
Professor McGonagall gave him a piercing look and he quickly fell silent. She turned, leading the new students into the castle.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Erin sighed with relief as they filed into the entrance hall. The stonewalls were lit with flaming torches that reflected brilliantly in the floor-length windows nearby. The ceiling, Erin was thrilled to notice, was so high tat she could barely make it out. They followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor and into an empty chamber. They could hear the steady drone of hundreds of voices coming from a doorway nearby. The rest of the school must already be at the feast, they realized.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said the Professor. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because..."
Erin's thoughts drifted away from Professor McGonagall as she examined the other students around her. Most seemed tense with nerves, but a few, like her, already seemed to know what to expect. One of them was a pale, pointy-faced boy with slick blonde hair and cold-looking grey eyes. He met her glance, and smiled coldly, his eyebrows narrowing. His eyes seemed to follow the length of her robes, and glaring she turned her attention back to the Professor.
"Now form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Erin's stomach seemed to drop to her knees, as she got in line behind Ray. She could see Magenta. Harry, and the toad boy several people up from her. They all looked as nervous as she felt.
They followed the professor out of the chamber, through a pair of enormous double-doors and into the Great Hall.
Chapter 22: Cassandra Serenity
The boat ride to the castle had been a wonderful experience for Cassandra. She had always loved the water, but having grown up near the ocean had played a big part in that. As she climbed into one of the small boats she looked around and noticed two girls who looked so much alike that Cassandra could only guess that they were twins.
A bit shyly Cassandra spoke up "Hi, I'm Cassandra Serenity."
Both girls turned back and Cassandra could see even more how alike they were. "Oh hello, I'm Parvati Patil and this is my sister Padma," said Parvati as she motioned towards her mirror image. The two girls were very pretty with long dark hair and perfect skin. Cassandra couldn't get over how pretty the two girls were and she started to feel a bit less self-confident.
As Cassandra, Parvati, and Padma had been making their introductions another pretty girl had walked up and sat down in the boat with them. All three of the girls looked at this new girl and smiled. "Hello, I'm Lavender Brown" said the new girl with a bit of a giggle as she spoke. Each of the other girls reintroduced themselves to their new friend.
Just as they were finishing up their hellos the boats began to move. Sliding through the water with the greatest of ease it felt like the boat was floating on air rather than moving through water. Coming around a bend their mystical destination came into view and a single sound came from the students as a whole "Oooooooooh!"
A breath caught in Cassandra's throat as she looked up at the magnificent castle before her. It towers reaching up to the heavens with little lights in random windows. Making it look almost as if the stars themselves where residing with in the castle.
The large man who had lead them all to the boats was now calling out "Heads down!" And as Cassandra lowered her head the students passed through a thin veil of ivy into a secret cave entrance. The only light now was that of the lantern heeled tightly by the large man in front of them. The single lantern only allowing for part of the cavern to be illuminated by its light and leaving the area beyond its small circle as dark as a raven's tail feather.
The boats came to rest beside a stony staircase that seemed to go on forever into the darkness. Following the large man the student began to climb the moist steps up and up until they reached a huge oak door. With three loud knocks the door opened and Cassandra could just make out voices ahead of her. However, before she could figure out what they were saying the group of first years was moving again and Cassandra followed steadily behind. Moving deeper into the castle Cassandra wondered where they were going.
Finally they had entered an empty chamber and the students fanned out a bit more allowing Cassandra to finally get a good look at the group around her. She noticed the red haired boy, Ron, talking lightly with a girl who had carmel colored eyes. Beside Ron was Harry Potter, though he was really looking rather pink at the moment. Cassandra also noticed Magenta and Erin off in the distance.
Soon an older looking woman with dark hair and a green robes appeared in the room and told them all about the houses, points, and the sorting hat. Cassandra had know all about this before, but the time for the sorting was coming closer and a slight lump had developed in her throat. Where would she be placed? Her mother had been in Ravenclaw, but her father had been in Gryffindor as well her grandmum. Secretly she hoped to be put in Gryffindor because she had always wanted to be like her father even though she knew little about him other than the stories her grandmum had told her.
The older witch was now looking at all of the first years "Now form a line and follow me" she said in a voice that let you know to listen to her no matter what. Cassandra quickly followed suit and found herself between a boy with sleek blonde hair and rather nasty disposition as well as another boy with short and neat cut brown hair. This second boy looked a bit more friend than the blonde one did.
Cassandra took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment as she tried to prepare herself for what was about to happen. However, nothing could really prepare her for what happen when the door to the chamber opened and group of first years began their walk out into the great hall.
Chapter 23: Daniel SmithDaniel had not survived close to three rough years in one of LA's worst boys' homes without developing a finely honed sense for observing people. He could already see the friendships starting to form. There was a black-haired boy with glasses and a scar on his forehead whom everyone seemed to be staring at. He was already friendly with the youngest of the redheaded boys in the gaggle Daniel had met earlier.
He looked around, seeing more. There were four pretty girls together, including two Indian-looking twins, and a girl with long and wavy red hair. Another long-haired redhead (one who had an interesting Australian accent) was part of another group of girls, including a shy-looking girl with golden-brown hair and brown eyes, a tall and vaguely tomboyish-looking girl with wild magenta streaks in her hair, another one with wild brown curls, and two others who he couldn't really see well (he was, after all, short).
The grey-eyed boy with the two thuggish bodyguards was talking to a new arrival, a dark-haired boy with pewter-colored eyes. The former was discussing "mudbloods," and the latter appeared to be wishing he was somewhere else at the moment.
Daniel noticed his shopping buddy, Matt, standing alone, close to the three kids he had seen earlier with Cedric. He went over to the group. "Hey, remember me?"
"Of course," Matt said. "I lost you at the station. What happened?"
"Lost in all the chaos. Listen, I want you to meet some other folks I met: this is Susan, and Justin, and Ernie." He pointed each of them out. "We rode down together."
"Nice to meet you," Ernie said. "Are you American, too?"
"No, thankfully," Matt said, earning a dirty look from Daniel.
Professor McGonagall entered the hallway and instructed them to follow her in. As the group filed out, in came the red-haired prefect who had stopped the incipient fight between him and Malfoy's thugs. "Daniel Smith?"
Daniel raised his hand. "What?"
"For you, from Professor Dumbledore." The prefect slipped out and returned quietly to his table.
Daniel unfolded the note and read it:
Dear Mr. Smith,
Since you were American-born and raised, our quill did not record you on the standard roll. Your name has been added, but you will be the last to be sorted. Please don't be alarmed by this.
A. Dumbledore
Headmaster
"What was that all about?" Matt asked as they entered the vast chamber.
"I'm being sorted la. . . . " Daniel trailed off in awe as he entered the awesome room, full of floating candles and with the bewitched ceiling.
McGonagall presented a four-legged stool to the group and placed a patched old hat on it. To the amazement of all, the hat began to sing.
Chapter 24: Sebastian Stirling"I can't believe you've kept this from me! I'll never forgive you for it!" Sebastian remembered yelling to his parents a few days ago when his boring-yet normal- life changed forever.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mr. Stirling," the driver of the carriage said. Sebastian looked out and saw the enormous castle before him. It was almost unbelievable. But he couldn't help but smile. He would be seeing Alondra sooner then he had hoped.
"Sebastian," a deep male voice said, Sebastian turned to face his father.
"Yes, father?" he asked curtly.
"Remember, Sebastian, you are to stay away from that Bracho girl...she is a mudblood! While you...you're a pureblood and too good for her friendship now," his father sneered and Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the man before him.
"I'll never understand why! You were fine with us being friends up until a few days ago...when she found out about her gifts and you told me about mine. Besides, she's attending this school as well, she's a witch in training!" Sebastian argued.
"She's a mudblood! Only here because of some pathetic coincidence that she inherited her great-grandmother's gift for magic." Sebastian's father retorted angrily. Sebastian scowled and looked away from him.
"Also...remember to look out for Draco Malfoy, now that is a friend you're allowed to have. His family is wealthy, and he's a pureblood as well," his father continued. Sebastian shook his head, but relented.
"Yes, father," he replied solemnly.
"Very well, and make your mother and I proud, son. Remember, us Stirling's have been in Slytherin for centuries...don't ruin it," he concluded and Sebastian frowned and stepped out of the carriage and followed the escort into the school. The structure and just feel of the place made Sebastian feel strangely at ease.
"Mr. Stirling, first years are right over there...be quick and discreet about your tardiness. Good luck," the escort said and Sebastian nodded running over to the crowd of kids, he noticed the elder woman that was talking eye him but said nothing. He breathed casually and looked around him.
"Stirling!" a familiar voice called him. He saw Draco Malfoy walk over to him.
"Malfoy," he greeted the blond haired boy steadily. Draco cracked a smirk and nodded. Sebastian then heard a distinct giggle and his heart bumped rapidly.
"Alondra," he mumbled when he saw his pretty strawberry blonde haired best friend smiling sweetly to a red-haired, and a raven-haired boy. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at them and he heard Draco chuckle.
"You know her?" Draco asked curiously. Sebastian nodded unconsciously.
"She's easy on the eyes, a pureblood then?" Draco suggested. Sebastian turned to look at him and shook his head.
"Do you think about anything other than social status?" Sebastian asked seriously, but pretended to joke. Draco laughed mysteriously and patted his back.
"You're all right Stirling," Draco said and shook his head. Sebastian half smiled and looked to Alondra again, his eyes steadily on her. He saw her spin around and look about her, as if knowing someone was looking at her. Sebastian then smiled genuinely.
"I don't care what father says, even if Alondra is a mud...muggle, she has magical abilities that no pureblood has," he told himself silently and nodded. He then turned to look at the professor.
"Now form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Chapter 25: General"… for I'm a thinking cap!" the Sorting Hat finished. The dining hall burst into applause.
Professor McGonagall picked up the hat. "Please come forward when I call your name," she said. "Abbot, Hannah."
A blond girl with pink cheeks stepped forward. The hat was placed on her head. Moments later, it bellowed, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Hannah hurried to the Hufflepuff table, finding a spot next to Cedric Diggory. Several of the students shook hands with her.
"Susan Bones."
"Good luck," Daniel whispered to Susan as she advanced trepidaciously to the front.
The hat went on her head. Then: "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Slowly, the crowd of first-years began to dwindle as the hat continued its work.
Chapter 26: Alondra Bracho
"Alondra Bracho!" Professor McGonagall pronounced and Alondra felt her heart flop and the beginning of a hyperventilation coming on.
"Ok...relax," she told herself steadily and stepped forward. She daintily sat on the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head.
"Aha! The long awaited Bracho girl...yes, I remember your great grandmother clearly...a powerful mind, excellent memory, plenty of courage, and proud, very proud! Yes, you possess those qualities too...it's all here in your head...but where oh where to put you?" the sorting hat whispered into her mind, Alondra bit her lip and shut her eyes awaiting the worst.
"Hmmmm...with your gifted mind Ravenclaw would be suitable...but no, you're magical skills and talents are quickly arising...yes, no doubt about it, you belong in...GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally shouted and Alondra opened her eyes to see the students clap loudly and the Gryffindor table cheering louder than any other. Fred and George whistling, Katie and Angelina beaming and Oliver nodding proudly. Alondra smiled genuinely at them and Professor McGonagall removed the hat from her head. Alondra then saw Ron and Harry clapping happily for her and giggled, when suddenly her heart stopped and her ears caught the sound of...
"No!" a familiar voice seemed to call and then disappear in the sound of cheers and claps. And then the sight of a boy standing not too far from them caused a familiar shiver run down her spine.
"Sebastian?" she mouthed to herself. It was Sebastian and he looked pained, and upset. Had he said, "No"? But why? No what? Alondra was so confused that she hadn't moved from her seat. She was just paralysed in shock. What was Sebastian doing here? And looking so stricken?
"Miss Bracho...the Gryffindor table awaits for your arrival," Professor McGonagall finally told her. Alondra snapped out of her daze and nodded. She stood and quickly made her way to her house table, when Sebastian discreetly took a hold of her arm and looked her straight in the eyes and caramel met grey.
"I'm sorry..." was all Sebastian said and let her go, Alondra furrowed her brows even more confused. She opened her mouth to ask why, but he moved away from her and she frowned deeply. Sighing reluctantly, she ran to the Gryffindor table where everyone clapped happily for her and Angelina and Katie embraced her happily. Alondra forgot all about Sebastian then and indulged in the feeling of having new and caring friends.
"Way to go, kiddo. I knew you were a shoe in for Gryffindor!" Oliver said smiling sweetly at her, and patting her back. Alondra giggled.
"Thank you!" she replied happily, and Fred and George gave her a quick hug as well. Then they finally sat, with Fred, George and Oliver on one side of her and Angelina and Katie on the other. Alondra breathed in relieved and thrilled to be a part of the Gryffindor clan now. She looked back to the sorting line and awaited for the rest of the names to be called out...hoping for certain people that she had seen in line to be in her house as well and hopefully become friends...and she also waited for one name in particular...Sebastian Stirling. And finding out why he said "No!" when the sorting hat called "Gryffindor" for her and for what he was sorry for.
"Let's continue..." Professor McGonagall called as she read the next name off her long list...
"Magenta Coldren!"...
Chapter 27: Magenta Coldren
"... Magenta Coldren!"
Magenta took in a long, rattling, nervous breath, she could feel everyone staring at the pink and black haired girl standing, pointing to herself. Some were laughing, including the blonde haired boy she'd met while trying to load her luggage onto the train.
"Um, me?" she asked quietly, feeling like she was riding a roller coaster and had just gone down the big drop. Her legs were all numb and her breathe caught in her throat when McGonagall nodded. Magenta was not one to shy away from things, but right now she was almost as scared as she had been in the Moor Castle massacre. "Um... okay." She whispered and somehow managed to push herself forward and sit down on the stool where the Sorting Hat was.
McGonagall placed the hat on her head and blocked out all the eager faces of the students. Now, there was a whispering in her ear.
"... ah, Magenta Coldren, I've been anticipating you, you know. Your Mother and Father were here once, yes, in Ravenclaw. But you, I'm afraid, don't quite fit there. You're very smart yes, and many don't see it. You're sly, too, a tricky one, very mysterious when you want to be. You are good at keeping secrets, and your loyal. You'd work well in Hufflepuff. But you're very bold, and brave as well. You have talent, yes, lots. Well, I suppose it should be..."
Magenta felt herself go entirely numb. The Hat shouted the last word...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Magenta sighed in relief and hopped up and ran to the table. As she passed, Cassandra and Erin caught her eye. She smiled at both of them warmly. She scanned the faces of the students and ended up sitting across from the girl that and just been sorted before her, named Alondra Bracho When she sat down, Alondra smiled warmly at her, her caramel eyes lighting up. Magenta smiled as well.
"Hi, I'm Alondra!" she whispered. Magenta nodded.
"Hi, I'm Magenta!" she replied. "I like your name, its pretty."
"I like yours too." said Alondra. "Shh..." she said, pointing towards the front of the Hall.
The Sorting continued as McGonagall called the next name.
Chapter 28: Holly Ethers"Ethers, Holly." The woman called Professor McGonagall called Holly's name. Holly trembled, then started pushing through the crowd to the front. Someone stuck out their foot, causing her to trip into a boy with green eyes and messy black hair. "excuse me," se mumbled, looking back to see who tripped her. It was Draco Malfoy. Her father knew her father, so they had met. But she didn't like him. She got up on the stool and McGonagall put the hat on her head.
"Ah, the Ethers girl. I remember your father and mother quite clearly. Slytherin and Ravenclaw." Holly gulped.
"Yes, that's right"
"Hm, but where to put you?" Holly bit her lip. If she got sorted into Slytherin, she's take the train back home. She didn't care if her father denounced her; she wanted to be in any house but Slytherin.
"You are clever enough to be in Ravenclaw, oh yes, and still ambitious enough to be in Slytherin."
"Father was certainly ambitious!" thought Holly bitterly. Her mother had been killed by You-know-who just after she was born. And she knew her father had turned her mother in, for he did not speak of her fondly. She would find the proof her father had turned in her mother, she didn't know what she would do after she and the proof, but she would prove he had done it.
"Well, I think there's only one for you, GRYFFINDOR!"
Holly froze for a second Gryffindor? but then McGonagall took the hat off and she walked to the Gryffindor table. Two girls who had already been sorted sat there, and she sat next to the one with purple hairstreaks.
"Hi, I'm Holly. Erin and Magenta, right?" They both nodded, and the one called Magenta opened her mouth, but McGonagall cleared her throat and called the next person.
Chapter 29: Mathew Ford"Justin Finch-Fletchley?"
Justin nodded to the others and then proceeded to the stool. The hat was barely on his head for a second before it bellowed, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Well, he and Susan will be together," Daniel, said to Ernie, who nodded. Hufflepuff's reputation was not the best, but all of them agreed that it beat Slytherin.
"I guess I'll be up soon." Matt looked nervous.
There was, however, one more name on the list: Seamus Finnegan, who was placed (after a long hesitation by the hat) in Gryffindor. Then, Professor McGonagall read the next name on the list, and this time it was: "Matthew Ford."
Matt and Daniel exchanged glances, then Matt turned, weaving through the first-years and walking up to the front of the hall.
"Where you think your friend's gonna be?" Ernie queried.
"I dunno. He seems smart, brave, and ambitious enough to do well anywhere."
The hat took a long time with Matt, but it finally made its choice.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Matt headed for the Ravenclaw table, and McGonagall called the next name.
Chapter 30: Cassandra SerenityCassandra had watched how little by little her fellow first years had been sorted. Standing in front of the whole school her nerves were on edge, but at the same time she had a small voice inside of her telling her everything would be alright. Cassandra had watched as her new friends like Magenta, Padma, and Parvati had been sorted into their houses. She was glad that no matter what house she was sorted into she would have some friends, well unless the unthinkable happened and she found herself in Slytherin. The thought sent a chill up her spine and Cassandra visibly shook for a moment.
Professor McGonagall was now calling out the next name "Potter, Harry." A hush seemed to fall over the school as the raven-haired boy slowly made his way up to the stool to be sorted. Everyone was wondering the same thing inside their minds and Cassandra was no different. Where would he be sorted too? The question seemed to linger in the air as he sat down and McGonagall placed the tattered hat on his head.
Looking around some people looked as though they might be holding their breath, but for what reason Cassandra couldn't figure it out. Harry was famous yes, but he was just a boy too. A somewhat shy boy from what Cassandra had noticed of him. The time seemed to tick away. The hat had not sat on anyone's head for this long before. What does it feel like Cassandra wondered.
Finally after much time had passed the hat spoke out in a bellowing voice "Gryffindor!" The whole school seemed to jump to life again as the cheers poured out of every person there. Even Cassandra couldn't help but cheer for Harry. However, her cheers quickly failed her as McGonagall motioned for silence to continue the sorting.
"Serenity, Cassandra" said McGonagall in her calm, but steel voice. A large lump seemed to have formed in Cassandra's throat at that every moment. Taking a deep breath she stepped forward beyond the other first years and made her way over to the stool to be sorted.
As she sat down McGonagall placed the hat on her head. The hat slid down before her eyes so that she could not see out to the school watching as she was sorted. A wave of relief filled her until she heard the voice of someone or something else in her head.
"Ah yes, I see so much of you from here in your head" the voice said. Cassandra wasn't sure what was going on, but she could feel someone moving through her mind looking at memories and thoughts as they passed in front of her conciseness. "It's all here you know" the voice said again. "Your past, your present, and your future all inside your head you know. I see things coming that you don't even realize yet. But that's not why I'm here now is it" the voice seemed to laugh to himself over the matter. "Let me see, you have smarts there is no doubt about that and a drive to prove yourself as well, both good qualities, but where to put you. There is something hidden in here as well, secrets yet to be spoken. Slytherin might be the house for you, but no you have much more strength inside you. Hufflepuff might be good for your loyalty and devotion, but still not quite right. Ravenclaw for your brains, yes you would do well in Ravenclaw. No, there are things to be learned and only one house can give you those lessons, so it has to be" the voice was now screaming outside of Cassandra's mind "Gryffindor!"
Professor McGonagall reached down and took the hat from Cassandra's head making the world visible to her once again. A wave of excitement filled her as she beamed with joy from having been sorted into Gryffindor. However, at the back of her mind there was something tingling, something that was nagging at her. What had the voice meant by secrets yet to be spoken? Cassandra wasn't sure what that had meant, but it all seemed to slip from her mind as she made her way over to the Gryffindor table. It seemed there was a large number of Gryffindor's this year, but that would be fine with her more new friends to make.
As Cassandra found herself at the Gryffindor table she was greeted with smiles and handshakes. It felt warm and inviting just like a real family would feel. Sitting down Cassandra noticed that she was sitting directly next to Harry, his face still a bit flushed from his encounter with the sorting hat.
Cassandra smiled warmly to Harry and leaned in a bit to whisper to him. "It's ok Harry, I think we all got a bit nervous up there." Harry looked at her through his glasses with his emerald green eyes and Cassandra was taken back for a moment. The green of them was so beautiful, but there was something else inside of them that Cassandra could see, but couldn't name. Harry gave her a small and awkward smile in return and spoke in a hushed voice "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Professor McGonagall was now calling the next first year to be sorted
"Stephens, Erin."
