The dining hall was completely illuminated by candles that danced among the ceiling and vast candelabras along the sides that painted the house banners in long golden colors. The students already here were happily settled into their various seats as the first years were being lined up outside.
The Gryffindor table was especially abuzz as Fjalla had them all bouncing. Her whispers had them excited for these new students. The only table, in fact, that seemed quiet was Slytherin. They had none of the high house children coming of age, so they weren't expecting many, if any, new members.
The Hufflepuffs were happily rubbing their hands as they knew the feast to come. Many had aided the chefs in the preparation and they were eager to see how everyone enjoyed it. Many were discussing newer dishes like garlic honey biscuits and other baked treats.
The Ravenclaws were quiet, but they often showed their excitement through other means than just bouncing joy. Though one could be mistaken when the CotM club at the far end turned on some music and started dancing while they waited.
The headmaster and teachers line the back table, happily chattering and bouncing new ideas for classes as the head of House Magicks, Professor Toxina, watched with a quiet eye. One of two new teachers, she was an immigrant offered a chance to teach her ways. A porcelain skinned woman with thick and radiate white hair that would someday be purple, others black, that was always perfectly brushed. Her beautiful purple eyes were rarely focused on any one thing for long, like a mother always checking on her children.
"It will be quite the year. I can feel it." She sipped at her goblet full of water as her white robes were adjusted with a free hand.
Professor Tilia nodded in affirmation. "Something feels special."
Tolia chuckled. "Careful now. Don't jinx it."
Tilia giggled and swatted at her playfully. "Oh shush and let us enjoy ourselves."
"Suit yourself." She answered with a warm chuckle.
Ron laughed at the buzz and energy in the room. "Yes. Yes I can feel the winds of change blowing." Stroking his beard as he mused on his feelings.
The doors finally began to open as the grounds keeper, old Rubius Hagrid, led the slow march of the young ones as the students all stood in excitement. Four particularly intriguing students caught Fjalla's ear as they were still talking quite avidly despite the growing quiet around them. "Aren't we chatterers.." she mumbled with a grin.
Ronald clapped once as even the four children quieted, standing up slowly now. "Today, we welcome our newest students. A glorious day, full of new adventures for these so lucky of friends yet to be made." Two of the staff placed a podium and a chair down as Ronald drew a very old witch's hat on the podium and stood before the table now.
"Come, and let us find where you shall call home." Beckoning to the crowd as Hagrid laughed and motioned for them to walk forward towards the elderly man. They all giggled and gasped in awe as their eyes wandered around the old enchanted hall and magically wonderful ceiling.
"First, Harry Trelda." As the headmaster motioned for the boy as he slowly approached the seat.
Barbara watched with a fixated gaze as her hand held close to Hales arm. Her eyes were locked on the hat.
"Everything ok?" Hales asked, noticing the grip.
Selena noticed too. "You alright?"
"Ya Barbs." Justin added in beside Selena.
"I saw it before. It will try and take you away." She whispered, huddling closer to her three friends.
"Hales McGonagall." The Headmaster said next as he motioned for them to approach.
"Hey, I'll be right back. Promise." They whispered before walking towards the seat and slowly sitting down.
Barbara watched quietly, eyes only now moving to fixate on Hales'.
The hat was lowered slowly onto them and began to animate as it had a few times already. "Yes. Yesss.. a wild mind, but a quiet voice. Strong heart indeed, oh yes. Gryffindor!"
A little stunned as they stood up slowly, their robes magically became adorned in their new color as Fjalla was the first to greet and bring them over, only for Hales to choose to stand beside their friends while they stood beside the Gryffindor table.
"You know they will grow apart when you separate houses hun." Fjalla tried to explain.
"No. They won't." They returned with a smile as more names ran through. Justin was then called, and he soon approached the chair with a soft gulp.
He sat down down with a little bit of a thump of a flop. Ronald chuckled as he placed the hat on him.
"My... My... You have Quite the story. Quite the story indeed. Such courage. Such cunning. Yes, but also such love. Hufflepuff!" It shouted to Justin's shock, rising slowly as he was quickly snatched up by a swarm of squeeling and excited second years.
Hales chuckled while Selena laughed at how cute it had been. Justin seemed so flustered and happy as he was carried like a wave to a chair nearest to them. Selena's eyes twinkled a little, watching how he smiled.
"Selena Lovegood." She bounced.
"That's me! Wish me luck!" She said to Hales and Barbara as she hugged both before running up and sitting with dainty perfection.
"Oh you are a wild one. Brilliant, yes, but so bizarre. I recognize these thoughts. There's only one place for the likes of you... Ravenclaw!" As that table clapped excitedly as Selena bounced up and giddily ran over to meet all of her new house mates. She waved to Hales and Barbara, casting a little spell to the shock of the professors as all four could hear each other now as clearly as standing beside one another.
"There we are. Now there will be separation." She smiled proudly and was adorned in cheers by her new fellow Ravenclaw.
Dozens of names oassed by, until only Barbara remained. She gulped nervously. Her eyes fixated fearfully on the hat.
"Lastly, but certainly not least. Barbara Scanlan." He said to booming quiet.
The girl nervously approached the chair, glancing back at each if her friends before looking at the Professor. Ronald could see this girl would find a great amount of security in Hufflepuff, or perhaps even Ravenclaw. He slowly lowered the hat and let her be sorted.
"Now this is strange... Strange indeed. You will be a prodigy. Yes... Yes there is such potential in this one. Such ambition."
Barbara gulped softly at that.
"There can truly only be one place for such a mind. Yes."
She started to mutter a quiet ask, before the hat answered all her fears.
"Slytherin!"
The room went dead silent. The formerly disinterested table of Slytherin slowly looked at Barbara with extremely judgement stares. She could already hear whispers of her new house mates about her lack of fame or heritage. A nameless nobody in the house of Slytherin was clearly seen as a mistake of some sort.
"We get the scraps."
"She looks weak."
"Good for practicing curses at least. Live in little slave again. Just like the good old days."
She could hear all these whispers as her eyes shook. Her hands began to rattle in their white knuckle grip on the chair. Her breathing was starting to speed up before she felt three hands on her shoulders.
Hales spoke up first. "Are you sure Headmaster?"
"Surely she doesn't belong with... Them..." Selena added, casting a distasteful glance at the Slytherin table.
"Can we get a do over?" Justin grumbled as he glared at the hat.
"I am afraid the matter is settled, children. For now, please, return to your tables." He motioned them back, though his mind was struck by such sudden rushes to what they considered danger.
Begrudgingly, the four slowly began to return to their seats as Barbara quietly gulped. Hales say right on the side now, facing rhe Slytherin table while Barbara sat right across and turned in her chair to face them.
Haunting whispers came quickly as a feast formed, but Barbara seemed to have little interest in the food. Hales was face deep in a turkey leg by the time she notices Barbara watching them, her pencil sketching across a little black book she always carried.
"What's this?"
"Your diiiary?" A Slytherin snatched at it.
Barbara ripped it back, hissing lowly. The student seemed a bit shocked to hear someone hiss, more so with how close it sounded like an actual snake. The girl's stare became genuinely venomous.
"Wow, so serious."
"What a creep. Bet its full of weird stuff."
"Yeah."
Barbara ignored them as best she could as her pencil scrawled away at word after word. Hales smiles slowly, watching that precious kind of focus in the girl. It made their heart beat a little quicker, each and every time they saw it. They wondered what was behind her smile, when she saw it for a moment before stolen glances that Barbara thought she was being sneaky about.
Hales smiled a little more. They would figure it out.