A/N: Sorry this is such a short chapter but I really needed a filler before the next one. So here is a short bit of happiness before the angsty continuation. Hope you enjoy
The chill of the night air was quickly suppressed as light and warmth spread over the students entering the large castle for the first time. While traveling to Hogwarts by boat had been thrilling, the fog floating atop the water made the trip a cold one and the students now walking through Entrance Hall were grateful for the warmth. Standing several heads taller than the rest of the group, Belle was able to view the castle in all its glory at every point. She was quite certain that her jaw would be permanently fixed in a gape before much longer.
Having seen her fair share of Entrance Halls to schools such as this, Belle originally believed that she had seen it all. Yet now her breath was taken away at the magnificence of it all. The Entrance Hall alone was beautiful in an old-world manner. Stone walls lit by torches and hanging lanterns created a warm and comforting light that surrounded those who walked through the doors. A large staircase led up from the Entrance Hall, promising adventure with each step. Doors led away from the Hall in every direction implying the ridiculously large scope of the castle.
Belle's attention was peeked as a severe looking witch in a pointed black hat cleared her throat at the front of the crowd. "Welcome to Hogwarts," the witch began in curt tone. "I am Professor McGonagall and I will be leading you into the Great Hall in just a moment. Each of you will be sorted into one of the four houses here at Hogwarts. Your house will become like your family while you're here. You will sleep, eat, and go to classes with your house and you will be given opportunities to earn points for your house. Any rule breaking will result in loss of points for your house."
The Professor continued her introduction, but Belle's mind began to slip as McGonagall named each of the four houses and the heads of each house. Not for the first time, Belle began worrying about which house she'd be placed in. She desperately hoped to it would be Ravenclaw. The thought of a houseful of students who valued learning and knowledge above all else thrilled her beyond words. Maybe there she wouldn't be such an oddball. She held no allusions that she wouldn't still be considered nerdy, but perhaps in a house of similar individuals it wouldn't be as noticeable.
Plus, there was the added bonus of already knowing a Ravenclaw in her year. Spending more time with Rumpelstiltskin certainly appealed to the young beauty for reasons she had yet to fully contemplate. Truthfully though as long as she wasn't placed in Slytherin, she assured herself she'd be happy.
Before Belle could fret any further the large double doors behind McGonagall swung open and the flood of first years poured through. Stay calm, its okay. Belle reassured herself, stamping down her nerves as best she could.
All of her worries flew from her mind as she beheld the Great Hall. Four massive tables full of students lined the path to a stool at the back of the hall. Candles floated through the air providing the area a surprising amount of light. However, it was the ceiling which brought a gasp from her lips. Enchanted to mimic the night sky, the ceiling gave the room the appearance of having no roof. Tonight, it seemed the would dine under the light of the millions of stars which filled the galaxies.
Reluctantly pulling her gaze back down to earth, Belle searched the faces at the surrounding tables. She recognized Gaston sitting amongst a group of guys at the table to her far right. Try as she might though, she couldn't find the one face that she was most desperate to see. At least not until she made it to the end of the hall closest to the staff table. Finally, she found him, sitting next to a blonde witch with a crazy look about her. Despite being close to the other students, it seemed as if Rumpelstiltskin determinedly kept himself at a distance from them.
Catching her eye, a small smile tugged at Rumpelstiltskin's mouth. Good Luck he mouthed. Belle felt her heart skip ever so slightly at that and the weight on her shoulders lessened just a bit.
Belle turned back to face the stool as McGonagall placed a ratty old hat on the stand. The history behind a magical object like the Sorting Hat was enough to excite Belle but knowing that said hat had also been used to help defeat Voldemort just a few years prior made the whole event even more surreal. The garment would decide much for her in just a few moments, yet all she could feel at the moment was pure awe.
A seam along the bottom of the hat opened as the strange little object began singing. Its song extolled the virtues of each house as well as the history of the school. As his song came to an end, Belle found that she no longer cared which house she was placed in. She was at Hogwarts, and nothing could ruin that.
While the sorting felt as if it strung out for hours, Belle knew it was barely fifteen minutes before she was called up to the stool. She'd sat and listened as a dozen students were sorted into the varying houses. Each one had cheered as a new member joined their table. It seemed as if Hufflepuff had done the most cheering so far.
Shaking the whole way to the stool, Belle tried her best to calm her nerves. As she took her place on the stool the old hat was placed on her head and fell down to cover her eyes.
Hmmm a wizened old voice spoke in her ear. I know just where to place you.
"Ravenclaw," the same voice shouted for all to hear.
The whole ordeal had taken less than ten seconds and yet Belle's heart was beating far faster than normal. Apparently, she was perfectly suited to the house of her choice. Sliding off the stool with a huge smile plastered across her face, Belle's eyes found Rumpelstiltskin's. Cheers exploded from the Ravenclaw table as she made her way over and slipped into the seat beside her new friend and housemate.
High fives, handshakes, and pats on the back left her feeling elated, but it was the quiet "I knew it" from Rumpelstiltskin that meant the most.
Belle continued smiling as dinner was served and as she made pleasant conversation with those around her. She'd finally found a home and she'd be damned if she would allow her father to move her from this one.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I'm still accepting prompts so if you'd like to see something let me know.