Her first steps into the Great Hall would be some of the most important steps she ever took.
As she stepped in line behind Professor McGonagall, she felt her heart leap into her throat and throbbed in time with her footsteps. The room around her was breathtaking, the ceiling above bewitched to look like the clouded sky above the castle. Thousands upon thousands of candles floating above her head, illuminating the faces of the students watching them. A warmth filled her from her toes to the end of her chestnut hair, a grin spreading across her face as she marveled at the glory of the room around her. The high ceiling made her feel small, a feeling that she didn't completely dislike, since everyone probably felt as small as she did. It was a mutual smallness.
The gnawing nervousness in her stomach was kept at bay by her joy, even though she felt the stare of hundreds on the back of her neck, causing the hair there to stand on end. As she stopped at the front of the room, she turned to look behind her for a familiar face, her cousin or the boys she had met on the train, but her vision blurred as she felt tears pool in her eyes. She could not pin point the source of them, but it would be wise to assume they were from the joy she held, or the nervousness she hid. In the back of her mind she could hear the dull murmur of someone speaking, but all she could hear was the swirl of questions, worries and excitement that twisted in her mind.
"Josephine Desmarias!"
Her head turned to the voice of Professor McGonagall who had rolled out a very long piece of parchment. As Josephine hesitantly stepped towards the stool and the ratty old hat in front of her, she wondered how long she had been lost in thought, and if McGonagall had called for her more than once. She slowly sat down, the stool creaking as she did. Her chest tightened as she felt the hat slide down over her ears, the fabric rustling. Soon after it had settled, a soft voice in her ear caused her to jump.
"A little old for this aren't we? Well no matter, a house can be chosen at any age. Hmm…you're brave, yes very brave for making such a change dear. But then there are the nerves. A little worried aren't we? Where to put you…where…you could do well in…no…there's a better choice than that."
Her eyes drifted towards a table to her left as she caught a flash of red hair leaning out from the rest of the black shrouded crowd. Two flashes. The voice continued.
"No, no, I think the answer is really quite clear." She bit down on her lip, closing her eyes as she stopped breathing.
"Gryffindor!" the hat called out loudly, soon afterwards being lifted from atop her head.
She grinned, taking in a deep breath and stepping off the stool, almost skipping towards the table that had since erupted in applause, a few whistles breaking the roar. One dark haired boy reached out his hand to meet hers, another older looking girl patting her on the back as she walked past. She took a seat next to a girl with sandy blonde hair who was talking to a curly haired boy with crooked teeth. The sorting continued on, name after name being called as more and more students joined their house. As Josephine looked around to find her cousin, hoping to catch his eye, she noticed two identical red heads sitting a few chairs down on the opposite side, besides a dark haired boy in glasses and another, ganglier, ginger boy.
After sorting had finished, the Hogwarts choir stepped in front of the students to sing a song very fitting for such a school, large toads accompanying them though the lyrics. Josephine enjoyed the music, the whimsy of the castle, its students and traditions slowly melting away the prim and proper ways she was accustomed to. When the song had ended, she clapped politely, smiling as the headmaster gave a short speech. And with the closing of the speech, the feast began, food appearing before her in the blink of an eye. As mountains upon mountains of food unfolded before her she grinned widely, immediately piling food onto a plate and forgetting any manners she may have been taught.
"You look like you've never seen food before. "said the gangly red head sitting across from her thought a mouthful of food. The frizzy haired girl next to him elbowed him in the side, curling her lip at the gravy smeared down his chin. Josephine smiled, laughing a bit despite the nagging fear that he was judging her. Though with his display, she highly doubted it.
"Well, the last school I attended was a little too attentive to the "figure" of its students. They do not have food like this there. French portions are much smaller." She said, popping a roasted baby potato into her mouth with a smile.
"So you're from Beauxbatons? I've read about the school." questioned the girl across from her with the frizzy hair, placing her hands into her lap. Josephine nodded, covering her mouth as she finished chewing.
"Oui, I am. My name is Josephine. It's a pleasure to meet you..uhm.." she trailed off, not knowing any of their names besides the twins.
"Hermione. Hermione Granger." Said the girl bluntly.
"Ron Weasley." Mumbled the boy next to her through a mouthful of pie. The dark haired boy said nothing. He was seemingly preoccupied with something, so she didn't bother him. He seemed to have enough on his mind right now.
She reached for another bit of bread, watching the boy across from her make a big deal in retelling his family's vacation to Egypt. She was a little upset when the twin red heads, whom she assumed to be his be his brothers, leaned down the table and snatched the paper from him and joked that he was going to bore all the first years and the new girl out of their minds before they'd even gotten to the dormitories. Looking up and down the table as she ate, Josephine couldn't help but feel at home.
After she had completely stuffed herself to the brim, having eaten more food than she ever has, Josephine exited the Great Hall after the Headmasters speech to the first years. Following yet another red headed boy, she was almost to the staircase when she recalled McGonagall had asked her to see her after supper. Looking around for someone to help her, she quickly caught the frizzy haired girl, exiting the hall behind the rest of her house. Josephine gently touched her arm as she passed; causing the girl to turn abruptly.
"Excuse me, but could you tell me where classroom 1B is? Professor McGonagall asked to see me."
"Sure, I'll lead you there. You might want to pay attention so you know where the class is though…" And with that the girl headed off down a corridor, Josephine following close behind.
The halls twisted and turned, doors appearing almost out of no-where at all and disappearing without a trace. Finally Hermione led her to a door that was cracked just an inch, light streaming through it.
"There you go!" said the girl cheerfully. "Good luck finding your way back!"
Josephine only nodded, saying a small thanks before stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.