Welcoming Feast/Sorting Ceremony

Serenity stood in the line, looking more than a little disappointed. She had failed to find Angel's compartment, and had only gotten her uniform on just in time.

Kelsi was jumping up and down on her feet happily, next to Robin, who looked much calmer, but still quite happy. Kelsi was just rubbing her hands together and her eyes were glowing brightly and she kept pulling up her skirt because it was too big. She looked around at all the other heads- each one was taller than her- it was quite annoying.

Mélenie continued to struggle with her ponytails. Despite the odds, one of them had in fact come loose, and she had tried and failed to emulate her sister's work of it. One of them was now a good three centimeters lower than the other. Oh, wait, was everything starting? Where had the boats gone?

Amanda followed the line, standing beside Mélenie. Her head was stuck in the position of up as she stared dreamily at the ceiling. It was like art to her... which just excited her more and more to learn magic starting with tomorrow's classes. She was rocking back and forth on her heels, trying to contain her excitement. "Isn't it amazing?"

Libby was bouncing on the balls of her feet, looking around excitedly. She had never been singularly so excited in her entire life--now was the time that she would be Sorted, and start off her career at Hogwarts. She was ready to explode from the sheer joy of it all.

Kelsi noticed a really tall head in front of it and pushed the person. "Move it, shortie!" she yelled, even though she was the shorter one. "Unless you let me on your shoulders, in that case, I'll be honored of being shadowed by you!" she yelled up at the tall girl.

The house tables silenced as a prune like woman, who seemed like deep inside she could be motherly, very deep inside mind you, came to the sorting stool with a scroll in hand. Silently, Mcgonagall set the hat on the stool so it could begin its song.

"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,
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 dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and 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've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks 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!"

And so, it began.

"Astor, Melenie."

~

"I just got lost in the sea of people---oh, you're up!" Amanda nudged Melenie with a smile.

"What?" said Mél, looking up at Amanda while trying to smooth out her bangs. "Did you say something-- OOH! OOH, THAT'S ME!" She pushed her way through the herd of first years and sat down on the stool, smiling like a goon.

Serenity saw Melanie and Amanda and charged right up to them. "Hey guys! Where'd you go?" She whispered, trying not to interrupt anything.

Melanie Astor. That name sounded so familiar... but, could it be?

Rachel gazed up at where the sorting hat stool was, and her stomach gave a little jump! It was Mel! What the heck was SHE doing here?! She couldn't have been a witch.

The hat awoke as it was plopped upon Melenie's head, it's stitch mouth opening and speaking in a voice similar to that of when it sang.

"Another Astor! Almost all Gryffindors in the family. You're more sly and mischievous than one usually is, and for that... Slytherin!"

Amanda cringed, knowing that was what Mel did not want to hear.

"Brown, Libby!"

Indeed, the poor girl looked absolutely heartbroken. Keeping her eyes down, she hopped off the stage and found herself a seat at the Slytherin table. Everyone looked so... green.

Rachel breathed aside a relief. She knew that wasn't going to be placed in Slytherin, that was for sure. But, she said a quick prayer for good measure.

Libby pushed past the first-years with ease, and eventually arrived at the stool, plopping down excitedly. She looked pretty happy, like she wouldn't care what House she got sorted in.

The hat was dropped on her head rather unceremoniously, it's musty smell becoming more and more overwhelming with each head.

"Hmm... rather bold and blunt, but not in the bad ways... It could be called courageous. And for that, Gryffindor!"

"Moreno, Rachel!"

Rachel's throat suddenly dropped towards her stomach, and her legs were shaking slightly. Maybe she was a coward after all. But, she threw her shoulders back, and marched straight up to the hat, trying to look as brave as she could possibly be.

Serenity, on the other hand, was beaming at Liv's sorting. She was trying not to show it, but now she had a legitimate excuse to visit Angel's house, and a free pass in. Hogwarts was going to be so much fun!

The hat came down to her nose.

"Hmm... Moreno... you are many, many things. But your over arching trait is what defines you. That trait? Wit. Which makes you a Raven Claw!"

"Potter, Amanda!"

Rachel, with a confident smile, slipped off the seat and walked towards the applauding Ravenclaw table.

Amanda ignored the turned heads every once and a while as she walked through the crowd, sitting down on the stool as she awkwardly shifted her weight around. It was quite uncomfortable with everyone looking at you. Her nose wrinkled at the awful attic smell of the sorting hat.

"A Potter. It's been a while. Both of your parents were in Gryffindor, but your traits show what you yourself are. Raven Claw!"

Amanda blushed when the applause came, it was just like everyone else's but when it's your own it's just so... magical. She scrambled off the stool and to her table, sitting beside the girl Rachel.

"Cruise, Kalyanna!"

After a few more names had been called, Mél began thinking. Why hadn't she sat with Angel? Why hadn't it occurred to her while she was on the stage to try and pick him out from the sea of nobodies? Who were these people? When were they going to eat?

Kelsi ran up happily, and jumped onto the stool. She was totally confused. Either way, she let them put the disgusting old hat on her head and her grip on the stool tightened as she scowled in disgust. Ewwwwww! she screamed in her head.

The sorting hat awoke yet again. "Your hyper activity is... tiring to even witness. But you are yourself, which is courageous. For that, Gryffindor!"

"Cruise, Robin!"

So Rachel was now in Ravenclaw. Whoop.