[color=thistle][h2]Amersa Selwyn [/h2][/color][hr][sup]6:50 PM, September 1st  |  Hogwarts, Great Hall[/sup]
The large wooden doors began to creak open, straining under the weight of its iron bolts, to reveal a wide hallway. Torches were lined up on each side of the hall, throwing shadows on the floor and reflecting off the armor hanging on the walls. 

“Come along now,” Professor Walterson clapped his hands as he urged the first years down the hall. “There’ll be plenty of time to explore the castle later.” 

With a last glance behind her, Amersa followed her classmates out of the hall into a type of antechamber that would open to another room. She could hear Alleyne and Delmare whispering to each other nervously while Lyndsey glanced around the room warily. The redhead leaned towards Amersa, “Hey, do you think—”

The door they had just walked through slammed shut just as the one in front of them began to open. The professor smiled at the first-years’ faces as their jaws dropped. Amersa had heard stories and seen pictures of Hogwart’s famed Great Hall, but didn’t realize how little justice they had done it. The smog from Muggle London had made it nearly impossible for her to see the stars at night but the stars dancing in the Great Hall were exactly how she had envisioned them. While the night sky seemed to burn with light, she couldn’t tell whether the candles reflected off the stars or the stars off the candles. Tearing her eyes away from the open ceiling, her eyes rested on the long table at the end of the hall. At the High Table sat the professors, with the four heads of houses flanking the headmaster. Amersa’s eyes widened a little before she remembered what she had read about him in [i]Hogwarts: A History[/i]. 

[i]Current headmaster of Hogwarts, Barnaby Eldridge had been an advocate for the preservation of Mandrakes. During one of his travels he was struck by a wayward spell at the same time he cast a bubble spell on himself. This combination led to an unforeseen consequence - half of his face was permanently frozen into a frown, not much unlike that of a gargoyle. Rather than attempt to find a cure, Eldridge embraced his new features, deeming it one of his “unique qualities.”[/i]

Amersa did not have much time to study the rest of the professors before she was ushered down the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables towards a lone chair. Placed upon the wooden stool was the Sorting Hat, ready to burst into song.

[i]I might be old, I might be gray, but I’m smart enough you see
Everybody eyes on me, I’m wiser than you’ll ever be…[/i]

Professor Walterson nodded to the Sorting Hat in deference and unrolled his scroll to call out, “Jenna Allsop.”

“Lyndsey Hart.”

Squaring her shoulders, the red-headed green-eyed girl walked up to the hat and placed it on her head without pause. The Sorting Hat had scarcely grazed her head before it yelled out “Gryffindor!” Lyndsey smiled confidently as she took her place at the cheering table. 

As Amersa looked at Lyndsey and then at the shaking Alleyne, she knew she wasn’t nervous, yet there was still something bothering her. If she was going to be honest, she hadn’t even given thought as to where she would be sorted. She supposed she would be sorted into Slytherin, like her mother and brother, or Ravenclaw like her father. Amersa knew she tended to have a quick temper and she was by no means dense. Growing up with an older brother had taught her that the small things in life don’t always come easy. Her fingers unconsciously grazed the small diamond shaped scar directly below her left elbow as she stared at the hat, lost in thought.

[hr][i]
[color=thistle]“That’s mine!”[/color] a voice cried out from behind the closed door. The seven year old hit her small fists on the door in frustration. [color=thistle]“Give it back Alec!”[/color]

On the other side of the door her brother smirked, holding his wand in one hand while his other was tightly fisted around a smooth stone. His grin widened as he heard her begin to slam her slim frame against the door. Before she could hit it again, he whipped the door open expecting to see her crash to the floor. Instead, forty-five pounds of dead weight toppled onto him. Amersa quickly recovered, and tried to wriggle his hand open. Unfortunately for her, Alec was four years older and that also meant four years stronger. 

[/i][hr]
“Amersa Sewlyn,” Professor Walterson’s voice held a hint of amusement. 

“Amersa,” Delmare nudged her nervously. “They called your name twice!”

The purple haired girl started with a gasp and her cheeks turned a faint pink. Half jogging to the stool, she shoved the hat onto her head.

[b][i]Ah, a pureblood.[/i][/b] The corners of the girl’s mouth turned down slightly. [b][i]Oh no, don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not going to negatively impact me ruling. Or positively![/i][/b] the voice in her head chuckled. 

[i]That wasn’t very funny,[/i] Amersa thought dryly. 

[b][i]A girl without a sense of humor - Ravenclaw then? No, that’s not it.[/i][/b] The voice went silent for several long moments. 

[i]Did the hat fall asleep?[/i]

[b][i]I did not![/i][/b] the Sorting hat replied indignantly. [b][i]If it’s going to be this way then,[/i][/b]“Hufflepuff!”

Amersa’s mouth dropped into a small ‘o’ as the hat was whisked off her head to reveal the table draped in black and yellow cheering loudly.