As the large door opened up the first thing Marisa could see inside the castle was a tall, black-haired witch standing there in emerald green robes. She looked stern and Marisa looked over to where Alice was before Hagrid spoke. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid rumbled."
"Thank you Hagrid, I'll take the students from here." She pulled the door further open allowing the first years to see into the gigantic entrance hall. The ceiling was too high up to be make out its details with a marble staircase going up to the upper floors. McGonagall motioned with her hand to follow as she started to head inside. She led them into a side room which had the first years stuffed together more than they would have liked.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into the houses. The Sorting will give you something like your family while you stay at Hogwarts; you will sleep, eat, and do classes with your house. The four houses are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Each house has its own history and has produced outstanding wizards and witches. While at Hogwarts you will gain house points for triumphs and rule breaking will take away those points. When the year is over the house with the most points will get the house cup."
She'd look over the various students before continuing to speak. "The Sorting ceremony will begin a few minutes in front of the rest of the school." With that she left letting the room to who knows where as Marisa started to speak to Alice.
"What do you think we will have to do? I don't suppose it'd be using magic but this is a school for teaching magic…" Marisa mused as Alice looked at her doll before looking at Marisa.
"Well I don't know about it, but Shanghai thinks you'll do fine whatever it is we have to do." Marisa looked a bit confused as she looked at the doll before speaking somewhat.
"I never did ask who your parents are and where is your animal I didn't see one with you?" the redhead asked confused.
Alice grinned widely as she held her doll out. "Oh, my mother Shinki gave me this doll she made using her power, It allows her to leave messages when need be and is a great helper!" Marisa internally grinned at how happy Alice looked.
As the two witches conversed with one another the professor came back and spoke bluntly. "Form a line, and follow me." Soon enough everyone was in a single file line and had exited the chamber, across the hall and through a pair of double doors. The sheer elegance of the great hall stunned Marisa who had lived in general poverty with her master for years with golden plates and bowls.
After a few minutes a single stool was placed in front of the first years and soon after a old and frankly ragged hat was placed on it. None of the first years knew what to expect of this and few a few seconds there was complete silence. Then the hat moved with a rip forming into a mouth and it started to sing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, and your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and I can cap them all there's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see, so try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, where live the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, an chivalry set Gryffindors apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal, those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you have a ready mind, where those of wit and learning will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin you will make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands though I have none for I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Marisa started to clap as the whole hall burst into applause as it finished singing. It bowed before becoming quite still. Marisa looked a bit bummed out at the fact that all that seemingly had to be done was putting it on her head. A few seconds passed as McGonagall stepped forward with a roll of parchment before speaking.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted, Abbott, Hannah!" Marisa could see a girl shuffle up to the stool and put the hat on her head which went proceeded to fall right down over her eyes and then sat down.
A few moments later the hat cried. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Marisa could hear the cheers of what seemed to be the Hufflepuffs as she waited for her name. Soon the girl who called herself Hermione was called by the professor and in a mixture of running and jogging picked the hat up and slammed it down. A moment later the hat screamed. "GRYFFINDOR!" Marisa could start to feel herself getting butterflies in her stomach as her mind started to wander. What if she got placed into a house that would make her look bad? What if Mima grew displeased at her school grades.
Soon it was her turn to be picked while she could hear some whispering she ignored it as she walked up taking a good look at the sorting hat up close and putting it on.
"Well now, you are quite a difficult choice one of the most difficult to be exact… you have lots of ambition great for a Slytherin, though you work harder than most people you know when alone making you a prime candidate for being a Hufflepuff; but you also have plenty of courage which would put you right into Gryffindor; and you also would make a great Ravenclaw due to you being a genius and your thirst for knowledge…" a quiet voice spoke in her ear as it contemplated what house she should be in. "You would excel in any house but which one you should be is the question."
As the seconds ticked by and it brought up points about each of the houses to try and find a good match for this person it sighed as it grew quiet for a few seconds before speaking with a new found vigor. "Well then, in that case I think GRYFFINDOR!"
Clapping could be heard from the Gryffindor table as she walked over and took a seat.
A bit more time passed till it was Alice's turn to be put into a house. The blonde haired girl walked up set the doll down by the stool picked up the hat and sat down before setting it on her head. Out of everyone Marisa has seen up to this point Alice was the one she liked the most here. A few seconds passed as the hat contemplated Alice's place in Hogwarts before yelling.
"Gryffindor!" Marisa's grin turned into a full blown smile as she clapped for the blonde.
A few names passed as Malfoy got picked for Slytherin; and he looked to be incredibly pleased with himself.
Then it was time for Harry to get picked. She was quick to note the murmuring about him as they stared at the wizard. Marisa looked over to the redhead before speaking. "Why is everyone trying to get a good look at him?
Hermione looked over before speaking and giving an informed answer with a fairly snotty tone. "He killed you know who. And survived the killing curse." Marisa nodded as she'd have to take a look at more in-depth to see who Harry Potter was times like these was when Marisa wished Mima was there to help with her studying and research.
A few minutes passed as the hat yelled once more "Gryffindor!" once they heard the words everyone at the Gryffindor table erupted into applause and to a lesser degree Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw as well.
After sitting down Marisa sighed as she waited for it to end; Ron got into Gryffindor and soon after the last of the first years got sorted. McGonagall rolled up the scroll and whisked the Sorting Hat away. Looking at the large table she could see a few people before pointing at Dumbledore. "That's Dumbledore." Alice nodded as she took a good long look.
The old man spoke with a vigor that Marisa hadn't heard from him the last time she saw him. "Welcome! Welcome to a brand new year at Hogwarts! And before we start out banquet, I'd like to say a few words. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" And he sat back down as Marisa looked baffled at what he said.
"Huh, i guess that makes sense? Not sure how I should be reacting right now." She mused as the various plates, bowls, and other various dishes were filled with various foods that Marisa hadn't seen before as she looked at them. She quickly prayed before taking another look at the many foods.
Looking nearby she could see some more traditional Japanese foods probably thanks to her coming from Japan. Seeing the odd assortments of food the British students saw it took some coercing on her part to get the others to try at least a bit of it. Soon enough desert came and gone as the students started to talk about family and various topics. Whenever it came to Marisa she deflected and redirected the conversation as she didn't wish to deal with the topic of Mima just yet. Maybe she would tell them in a couple of years, maybe not, she didn't know, nor did she care to find out.
Soon enough Dumbledore got to his feet once more and the entire hall grew deathly silent as the warlock coughed before speaking. "Ahem, Just a few more words now that you have filled yourselves with food and drink. I have but a few notices to give to you. First years note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils; as well as a few of our older students would be wise to remember." His gleaming eyes glanced over at the Weasley twins before continuing.
"I have also been requested by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will also be held in the second week of the term anyone interested should contact Madam Hooch, And finally, I must say that this year the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone who doesn't want to meet a bloody death."
Marisa smirked slightly as Alice was one of the few to note Marisa was thinking hard and long about this while also having a smile that was clearly up to no good. "You can't be seriously thinking about seeing what is there are you?"
Marisa looked over before waving a hand and whispering. "Of course not, the yokai back home are enough to tide me over before I want to do stupid stuff."
Soon enough the school started to sing as Marisa shrunk down not exactly being one to sing as she waited for the song to end. Once the song did end Dumbledore wiping his eyes spoke once more before waving them off to bed. "Ah, music, A magic beyond all we do here! And now, off you go to bed!"
As the group of Gryffindor's walked to a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink dress. "Password?" she asked as Marisa tipped her head and the prefect spoke. "Caput Draconis." The portrait swung forward to reveal a hole in the wall and the students started to scramble in with Marisa having a fair bit of trouble for her tiny size alone.
As Alice, Hermione, and Marisa got to there dorms they sighed as Marisa pulled out the broomstick she was given for her birthday only to see Hermione's gaping face. "You know brooms aren't allowed in school." The witch sighed as she put it back not wanting to argue any more tonight.
"Well i'm going to bed; you two should as well." Marisa mused as she slipped into her nightgown and out of her clothing the stardust witch went to bed sound asleep not truly prepared for the road that lay ahead.