[color=gray][h2]Delmare Montague [/h2][/color][hr][sup]7:22 PM, September 1st  |  Hogwarts, Great Hall[/sup]
“McFinley, Frederick,” the Sorting Hat called from where the previous student — a droopy-looking boy with a flop of unkempt brown curls who’d been crowned a Ravenclaw — had placed it on the chair in the middle of the platform at the head of the Great Hall. A freckled boy with a broad grin and ginger curls walked up and was promptly announced as a Gryffindor, prompting him to head over to the tables dressed in deep reds and golds where the rest of the house cheered loudly.

“Eep it’s going to be my turn soon,” Alleyne said, looking at Delmare and Amersa in distress. The blonde girl had expressed interest in joining Ravenclaw but was worried she wouldn’t make the cut.

[color=gray]“You’ll be fine,”[/color] Delmare reassured her, [color=gray]“You’ll be sorted into the house you’re best fit for — the hat will take care of everything. I heard it takes your thoughts into account too. Besides, Lyndsey did fine, right?”[/color] she asked, nodding at the girl in question who was now seated with the cheering Gryffindors. Alleyne began to protest, but she was already being summoned by the Sorting Hat.

Watching as her friend walked up and picked up the hat with hesitation, Delmare became a little nervous as well. While she’d had a mind to join Ravenclaw, she wouldn’t mind being sorted into Slytherin either — her brother had been, so it wasn’t unforeseeable. Gryffindor, as Delmare saw it, didn’t fit her much, and Hufflepuff didn’t fit her at all.

“Ravenclaw!” the Sorting Hat pronounced, jolting Delmare out of her thoughts. Cheering erupted from the tables draped in blue and bronze as they welcomed their latest member. Delmare clapped along with their cheers, glad that Alleyne had gotten into the house she’d wanted — and would fit well in.

[i]All right, Delmare. You’re going to walk up there, put the hat on, and get sorted into Ravenclaw,[/i] she told herself, taking a breath to calm her nerves as her name was called. Walking up, she reached out for the hat and placed it on her head carefully, not knowing what to think.

[b][i]So you want to be a Ravenclaw, do you?[/i][/b] a voice asked, echoing inside the chamber that was Delmare’s head. Delmare tensed up reflexively, alarmed at the sudden booming, but the voice went on. [b][i]No need to be alarmed, I don’t bite. No teeth. Now, let’s see… Lots of Ravenclaw in here, yep… Some Gryffindor too, although not much… Slytherin for sure. Say, why limit yourself to Ravenclaw? You’d have so much more potential as a[/i][/b]”Slytherin!”

Whooping erupted from the tables decorated in the Slytherin colors of green and silver as Delmare stood up shakily and took of the hat. Placing it on the chair where it was before she arrived, she walked over to the Slytherin table shakily, a big grin on her face. “Glad to see you’ve joined the best house, first year!” someone shouted. Delmare nodded, the grin still on her face as she sat down next to one of the previously announced first years. Making eye contact with Amersa, then Alleyne and Lyndsey, Delmare beamed.

[hr][sup]7:47 PM, September 1st  |  Hogwarts, Great Hall[/sup]
“Alright children!” Headmaster Eldridge said, rising from his seat with a half-smile. “The school year has begun, and I wish you all the best of times at Hogwarts. But first, let us enjoy the bountiful feast that’s been set before us — I myself am looking forward to the Hodgewinkle pie.”

As soon as the man sat down, the Great Hall was abound with the clamorous shuffling of plates against utensils. Students fought over who got the most of this and who avoided any of that, stuffing their mouths with either words or food.