I stepped while the boys floated outside. Making sure there was a soft place to land I said the counter-curses…a little too quickly. They both dropped like a sack of potatoes onto the ground and before they stood up I ran as fast as I could towards the boats where all the first years were departing. 'Oi you! What do ya think yer doin? You aren't a first year!' I looked towards a very tall, bulky man with the wildest appearance I had ever seen, it had to be Hagrid. 'Um, is it Hagrid? I'm the new transfer student, Marina Eve. I have yet to be sorted. So sorry for the inconvenience!' I heard him give out a cheerful laugh before replying. 'No harm done, I've been expecting you actually…been wondering where you went. I thought you'd left with the carriages!' I smiled warmly at him as I got onto a boat with a couple of terrified first years. 'Hello, what are your names?' The two first years, both girls seemed to have calmed down and answered brightly. 'My name is Daphne Greengrass and this is my friend, Sabrina Grimm.' The journey to the castle on boats was wet but quite enjoyable…for me. 'Is it true that there's a monster in this lake? My sister said that it ate first years!' I laughed and shook my head, 'A giant squid lives in the lake but it doesn't eat meat, don't worry.' I winked at them and they began to fall at ease.

By the time we reached the warm hallway of the castle, even the most soaked through robes were dry. 'Now you will all be sorted into your houses shortly, any questions after that will be to your house leaders and prefects,' It wasn't hard to see who was speaking as I was the tallest among all the students and was quite happy to see my great-aunt, back in shape and in full form. Before she opened the doors she gave me a wink and wished me luck. Many of the first years clung to each other in fright of the great hall and all the seniors watching them. I entered casually at the back ignoring all the stares I was receiving. Then I saw Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna, I exchanged smiles and waves with them before joining the line of first years who were staring at the sorting hat. Quietly I scanned the hall searching for the two boys who I'd left outside the train's door. Surely they'd made it on time? The scary thought lingered in my mind preventing me from hearing my name being called out. 'Marina Eve? Would you please come forward now?' My great aunt's strict voice jolted me back to reality and I immediately and swiftly took my place on the chair, waiting to be sorted.

I felt the old and wise hat being placed on my head and when my great aunt's hands had left it, it began to slide down, covering my eyes. It began to speak, 'My, this is a hard one isn't it? What house to put you in? Daughter of a green and a red, very difficult decision.' My eyes grew wide, I was happy no one could see them. 'How do you know all this?' If I could have seen the face of the hat, I would have been able to see a huge grin worthy of belonging to the Cheshire cat. 'I can see into your mind, and I see much promise in you.' I wasn't sure what to have made of that but I was getting anxious. 'Mr. Hat, exactly where are you putting me?' I swore I heard the hat snort, 'Mr. Hat? Oh dear perhaps I should put you into Hufflepuff!' I took that as a compliment considering it meant I was nice. 'Let's see if you can answer this riddle. What comes first, the phoenix or the flame?' I thought about the question and wondered if he was planning to put me into Ravenclaw. 'A circle has no beginning.' I was starting to get really curious about which house I'd be put in now. 'Give me to professor Mcgonagall. I need to have a word with her.' I cautiously lifted the hat and shook my hair…hat hair…yuck! I stood up and walked towards my great aunt. I could sense every eye on me right at that moment…I even heard a few gasps. With one eyebrow raised my great aunt took the sorting hat from me and took part in a conversation of whispers with him. After what felt like five minutes, she told me to return to the seat. I sat once again, this time making sure I didn't look into anyone's eyes. The sorting hat was placed once again onto my head and after a moment of confusion, 'Slytherin!' I stiffened as he said it, I knew there was a rather large chance I'd be put into Slytherin…but I wasn't ready and wasn't sure if I'd ever be ready. I stood up carefully, scared I was going to fall on the way to the silver and green decorated tables. There was a hush among the Gryffindors, all of them had expected I would have been put in their house considering my family. Even I had thought I would have been put into Gryffindor…but no matter, I would soon find Slytherin wasn't as bad as they made it out to be, hopefully.