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Looking away from her father, Sophia noticed the pointy hat placed on a stool that would decide which house she would be sorted into. Despite her feelings of apprehension, since she hated when all the attention was placed on her, she was excited to see which house she would call her own for the next seven years. It took a minute before Sophia realized that names were already being called.
"Lavender Brown!" The girl walked over to the hat and sat on the stool looking like she wanted to shrink into oblivion. The Sorting Hat pondered for a moment and then shouted. "Gryffindor!" The Gryffindor table clapped loudly and happily received her. Names continued to be called and Sophia waited patiently shifting from foot to foot.
"Sophia Darlow!" She was called! Sophia froze momentarily as all eyes shifted to where she was standing. She walked up to the stool and sat down shakily. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head and it began to speak so only she could hear it. "Hmmm… Sophia Darlow. You are very interesting. You are very intelligent but also cunning. So many secrets and you have such an unusual past. Hmmm… So where to put you… Ravenclaw!" Sophia breathed a sigh of relief. It would not have been bad to be placed in Slytherin, but Sophia was tired of the dungeons since she spent most of her life there. She knew her father was probably a bit disappointed but since she knew her mother was a Ravenclaw, he would not be upset. After all, she wasn't sorted into Gryffindor. He hated that house for some reason. A roar of applause sounded and she joined her new house. Sophia cast a quick glance at her father who wore his usual face of bored indifference, but then he located eyes with his daughter and she saw the smallest flicker of pride dart across them. She broke the eye contact and looked up at the stool waiting for everyone else to be sorted.
"Theodore Hughes!" The boy from the train stood up and took his place on the stool still with a big smile on his face. 'Does he ever not smile? It's a bit unnerving…' The Sorting Hat was on his head deliberating. "Gryffindor!" It said at last. Sophia felt a pang of disappointment and cast her face down for a moment. She wanted Theo to be in Ravenclaw with her but she knew she would make friends in her new house.
After all the names were called, a huge feast appeared on the table to everyone's delight. Students were happily getting to one another or catching up. After the meal, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and gave his welcome back address, which also consisted of warnings about restricted locations. Sophia made a careful note, she did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble.
The Ravenclaw prefect Robert Hilliard led Sophia along with the other first year Ravenclaws up to the tower. "We are the luckiest house if you ask me. We have a big airy common space and an excellent view of many locations around Hogwarts including the Lake, the Herbology Gardens…." Sophia stopped listening she was taking in all the excitement around her and enjoying her chance to finally see the castle she had been living in for years.
Robert answered the riddle and the entrance to the tower opened. Sophia entered the common room and was amazed by how spacious it felt. The arch windows had blue and brown drapes on matching the dark blue carpet on the floor. Sophia loved the color blue, it reminded her of the ocean peaceful yet strong. She could see herself enjoying this place. There were plenty of bookshelves and nooks and crannies for her to sit in and feel at peace and she loved the majestic feel of it all.
Sophia quickly claimed a bed next to a window with a view. After the dungeons this change of scenery was happily accepted. However, she knew her room in the dungeons was still waiting for her and took a mental note to visit her father at some point when she could slip away. For now, she settled onto her bed and relaxed. She wondered briefly about the boy from the train and if he was enjoying his new house as much as she was. She heard the prefect calling everyone back into the common room. 'Oh no… it's time for ice breaker games.' A feeling a dread washed over her knowing she would have to divulge information about herself and know that at some point all eyes would be on her again. 'I hope I don't say something incorrect or embarrassing.'
