Experience Sharing FINISHED

Aria hadn't slept at last night. How could she?! It was the night before she would board the Hogwarts Express, and make her way to the famous Hogwarts to be sorted! Aria was filled with nothing but excitement, so it was strange that she was so teary eyed when saying goodbye to her mother and annoying brother, Keith. After a long session of goodbyes, hugs and kisses, it was time for Aria to board the Hogwarts Express and make her way down to the famous castle.

As Aria stepped onto the train's stairs up into the hallway, she started to feel more and more nervous. She looked all around her, and saw other students hugging and laughing with one another, like they had known each other for years! Some of them probably have known each other for years! Aria felt very isolated, not knowing anyone and not having anyone to throw her arms around and hug. So she made her way to the back of the train to her own little apartment. Aria stared out the window, trying to block out the sound of all the other students talking and laughing together. She must have been getting pretty good at blocking out the sounds because she almost didn't hear a voice at the door of her compartment talking to her.

Hi! May I sit here?

Aria looked up, hoping she didn't look to startled. She saw a girl with long brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. She looked very tall. How old was this girl?

Sure! My name is Aria.

Aria scooted over to make room for the girl.

Are you a fourth year?

Aria felt instantly stupid. Why did she ask such a rude question! She should have led with 'What's your name?' or 'How are you?' Aria looked down at her knees, feeling stupid.

Elisa stepped into the compartment, and noticing the girl shifting to leave her a place to sit, she gave a little nod of her head and said, "It's alright, I'll sit over there." She sat down opposite of the girl- Aria, her name was.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Elisa, Elisa Wagner." she replied automatically, looking into the soft brown eyes of her compartment partner. Aria was indeed a first year- Elisa hadn't seen her around at Hogwarts before. The memories of the past year- her own first year at Hogwarts, flooded into Elisa's mind. She remembered her first train ride, the Sorting Ceremony, her first glance of the Slytherin Common Room, and of course her own shyness, nervousness, and inability to hold a conversation... She grinned at herself, thinking at the awkward moments she had been through. Her second year wouldn't be as her first... Hogwarts had opened up the shy little girl she once was.

Aria's voice brought Elisa back from her thoughts.

"Are you a fourth year?"

Woah woah woah- I don't look that old, do I? Elisa thought, bemused, suppressing a strong desire to laugh out loud- she didn't laugh, of course, it would've been too impolite, especially since she had noticed Aria was a little ill at ease. It happened for strangers to think she was a bit older than she actually was, but still- a fourth year?

Looking back at the girl, who in fact did seem quite small even for a first year, Elisa said lightheartedly, hoping to make Aria feel a bit more relaxed (she was keeping her head down), "No, I'm not a fourth year, I've still got a couple more years until my O.W.L.s, haven't I? No, in fact, I'm not much older than you are, I suppose. This is only my second year at Hogwarts."

No worries!

It's alright, I'll sit over there. Nice to meet you, I'm Elisa, Elisa Wagner.

The girl sat herself down across from Aria. Now Aria isn't usually shy, but for some reason it was hard for her to look up at Elisa. She was just so nervous. After all, it was her first day of Hogwarts EVER! Her life was about to change for the next seven years!

No, I'm not a fourth year, I've still got a couple more years until my O.W.L.s, haven't I? No, in fact, I'm not much older than you are, I suppose. This is only my second year at Hogwarts.

Well that was embarrassing. Aria knew it was never polite to assume somebodies age, and here she was, guessing this nice girl's age and getting it wrong by two years older that she actually is.

Oh! I'm sorry... I didn't know.....

Aria felt her face getting very red. Gosh! Why was she so nervous?

Sorry. I guess I'm just a little nervous. My name is Aria Wright. I'm from Cambridge. You're a second year right? I'm a first year if you couldn't already tell. Were you nervous your first year?

Aria finally looked up at Elisa and gave her a small smile. Elisa seemed so confident and excited for Hogwarts. It's not like Aria wasn't excited, she was, but she felt like her nerves were not eating up all her excitement. Hopefully Elisa felt the same way her first year too. Maybe that would make Aria feel less alone.

Elisa made a quick wave of her hand followed with, "It's alright" as Aria apologised, her face flushing bright red. It was normal to be nervous on your first train ride to Hogwarts- completely normal, Elisa thought, relating to her own experiences.

The first year girl followed with another apology and a bunch of statements and questions. Another surname beginning with a 'W', Elisa thought. She remembered the agony of watching all her classmates being sorted and waiting for her own turn to come... She hoped this girl wouldn't have to wait long tonight, when Aria's own sorting would come.

"Don't worry, being nervous is completely normal, especially the first day. I, for one, was as nervous as you are- or maybe even more. I remember to have felt a need to apologise for everything and anything, for one", she chuckled.

"I'm from Scotland, although people can't normally tell that by my accent- my family spends quite a big part of the year in London, since both my parents work there. We're still Scottish, though." Elisa added on.

Good, she thought to herself. Conversation skills improving alright.

Beaming, Elisa looked out of the window. They were already speeding through the outskirts of London.

Don't worry, being nervous is completely normal, especially the first day. I, for one, was as nervous as you are- or maybe even more. I remember to have felt a need to apologise for everything and anything, for one.

This made Aria feel a whole lot better. She was glad that she wasn't the only one who felt so nervous on their first day. While Aria knew that other students must have felt nervous too, it was worried that she was being more nervous than she should.

Heh. Thanks for saying that. I am pretty nervous! My whole family went to Hogwarts so I know it'll be amazing, but it's still super nerve wracking, you know?

Elisa went on to introduce herself to Aria. She said that she was Scottish, which was a suprise to Aria since Elisa didn't really have an accent. But the mystery was solved when Elisa explained that she mostly lived in England.

Well, it's nice to meet you Elisa. It's good to know that I'm not the only one who is nervous on their first day. Are you still nervous now that it's your second year though? I mean, now that your sorted and know how everything is?

Aria looked out the window, with more questions popping into her mind about Hogwarts, ready to ask Elisa. She felt her excitement grow as the City of London was left behind, and the train started getting closer and closer to her new home.

The tension around the little first year girl evaporated. Great, Elisa thought to herself.

"Well..." she thought about the girl's question, "I know that I'm not as nervous as I was last year... I think the excitement of returning to Hogwarts is covering over the nervous part of me. This year I'll be able to properly enjoy the feast, at least. You see- I wasn't exactly expecting to land in Slytherin."

Elisa chuckled with a sad little smile. She hoped Aria wouldn't be sorted in a house she didn't want to be in. Speaking of which-

"What house do you want to be in?" she asked the girl. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, probably... Elisa thought, judging by the girl's looks. She might be wrong, though, for she had been terribly wrong on herself.

For the 10 year old Elisa, the only two possibilities were either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. After all, she was a straight-O student and never failed a teacher's task. She was also a 'compassionate little soul', her mother would call her affectionately. As for Gryffindor house, it wasn't impossible, but Elisa had never been very brave. But out of everything, Slytherin? 10 year old Elisa had been terribly stereotyped about the House of Slytherin. She had though that all Slytherins were dark wizards- or evil, in some way or another.

So one could imagine the total shock that went through the little girl as the rusty old hat called out, 'Slytherin!' to the crowd. It had been like a word that doomed her to a fate of evilness.

That was all, of course, completely nonsense, but Elisa had still spent a few nights crying in her pillow. Afterwards, she realised most of the Slytherins were fairly normal people.

Aria's voice made Elisa's mind float back to reality.

I know that I'm not as nervous as I was last year... I think the excitement of returning to Hogwarts is covering over the nervous part of me. This year I'll be able to properly enjoy the feast, at least. You see- I wasn't exactly expecting to land in Slytherin.

The frightened Aria. Aria's entire family bloodline has gone to Hogwarts and been placed in Ravenclaw. All Aria wanted to do was get sorted into Ravenclaw. And to hear that another person was placed in a house that wasn't what they thought they were going to get scared Aria. After all the sorting hat is unpredictable. Just because's Aria's family was placed in Ravenclaw doesn't mean that she will be too.

What house do you want to be in?

This gave Aria something to think about. Of course she WANTED to be in Ravenclaw, but what did she think she was going to actually get? Aria was very kind, so it was possible she could get Hufflepuff. She was brave, but wouldn't like to go on adventures with dragons and such, so does that mean she wouldn't get Gryffindor? And Aria wanted to get straight O's so badly! Does that make her ambitious which will place her in Slytherin? Oh just imagine how disappointed mother will be if she is placed in Slytherin.

Well, my whole family for years has been in Ravenclaw. So I would really like to be in Ravenclaw too. I'm pretty nervous about the sorting ceremony actually...

It then hit Aria there was actually a 75% chance she wouldn't get Ravenclaw. What would her reaction be? Will she cry in front of the whole great hall?!

You said that you weren't expecting Slytherin. How did you handle your surprise? I'm super nervous I won't get the house I'm expecting.

Elisa could imagine the flurry of thoughts going over Aria's brain. Yes... Ravenclaw would suit her.. the Slytherin thought.

"It's normal to be nervous... I haven't seen one person not being nervous for their Sorting..." Elisa said as Aria marked a pause. It is a life changing moment after all... Elisa added to herself. Her own ambitions sent her in the House of Slytherin- she had finally discovered her strongest personality trait- ambitious. Knowing that, she slowly came out of the shell she was locking herself in.

As though the first year could read Elisa's mind, Aria asked, "You said that you weren't expecting Slytherin. How did you handle your surprise? I'm super nervous I won't get the house I'm expecting."

"Oh well... Handling surprises was never my strong suit," Elisa answered with a slight chuckle, "You see, I was entirely expecting to be a Ravenclaw- smart, witty, good grades... That's exactly me! Or at least so I thought. Waiting to be sorted, I can't say I wasn't nervous- I was, but I knew where I would be going- well, I thought I did. Then that whispery voice of the Sorting Hat in my ear talked to me... I was unable to speak back and tell it I didn't want Slytherin- I think my brain just froze when it heard the word 'ambition'. I knew, of course, that one of Slytherin's most distinctive traits is ambition."

Elisa couldn't seem to stope anymore.

"Then, well, I got sorted into Slytherin. I think that for a few seconds I sat there, on the stool, unable to move. Then somebody took the hat away and the next student was called. I remember to have stood up, and and to have walked rigidly to the Slytherin table. If the Slytherins were cheering for me, I didn't hear that. I was only turning the same words over and over in my head: 'doomed to become a dark wizard."

Elisa paused. Though she was long past the stereotype of all Slytherins being evil, the memory of the event still made her a little grim.

She wondered whether she should share this last part- it was quite personal. Yes. a determined voice in Elisa's head affirmed. She should share, so that Aria would be prepared for whatever happened that night.

She went on talking after a few seconds' wait.

"I was holding back my tears at the start of term feast- I truly didn't want to look like a crybaby in front of every single person in the school. But when returned to the Slytherin common room and started writing a letter to my parents, I could hold it no more"

Elisa sank into her own words, a slightly sorrowful look passing through her face.

She quickly shook herself up. She had talked way too much about the negative feelings, she wouldn't be surprised if Aria ended up horrified.

"I mean- I'm super bad at dealing with surprises- especially negative ones, but- I-I'm sure you'd do better. That is- if you don't get sorted in Ravenclaw- which- I doubt would happen..." Elisa blurted out.

Great, she thought. She had done it. Now Aria would be absolutely terrified. That wasn't what Elisa wanted.

Calming down, Elisa said in what she hoped was a more light hearted tone, "I mean... That was my first reaction. Afterwards, an older student came and talked some sense into me. I felt a lot better afterwards, and now I can even say that I'm a proud Slytherin!"

She hoped she hadn't traumatised Aria... That really wasn't what she wanted.

OOC Notes: Sorry for the long post Elisa felt the need to talk a lot.

Oh well... Handling surprises was never my strong suit.

Elisa went on and gave the story of her sorting ceremony. Aria's stomach dropped when Elisa said she wanted Ravenclaw... but she got Slytherin. Elisa said that she was scared she was "Doomed to be a dark wizard". Aria was now frozen in fear. Is she too confident about getting into Ravenclaw? Aria's whole family was in Ravenclaw, but that doesn't mean that Aria would be too!

Aria continued to listen to Elisa's story, and how she was fighting tears during the feast. Aria's late father had told her the best part about Hogwarts was the first night feast, but what if it was ruined by Aria getting in the wrong house?!

I mean... That was my first reaction. Afterwards, an older student came and talked some sense into me. I felt a lot better afterwards, and now I can even say that I'm a proud Slytherin!

Aria knew that Elisa just added that part to make Aria feel better. But was it actually true?

Do you really mean that? Are you really happy in Slytherin...? ...Or do you still wish you were in Ravenclaw?

Aria decided to change the subject. This was making her nervous, and she didn't want to be to worked up before she even got to Hogwarts! What she was also really curious about was the classes. Aria was set on getting perfect grades. Aria knew what the core classes were; Charms, Astrology, History of Magic, etc. But that's pretty much ALL she knew.

What about the classes? Are they hard? How are the professors? What's your favorite class?

Aria gave an apologetic smile to Elisa for asking so many questions.