~Home~

Agnes’ heart sank a little when the doors to the dining room were opened. There were four, rather long tables with students dressed in four colours, segregated into the four colours of their uniforms, and how the woman explained, their houses: burgundy, hunter green, navy blue, and vivid yellow.

The first years were led to the front, where many professors and the Headmaster sat in relaxation. The sorting ceremony began, and a wrinkled looking hat that had dents on it that served for eyes and a mouth were placed on each of their heads.

Students clapped when they earned a new member to their house, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Agnes had just heard “Hufflepuff” shouted and a large applause, when her name was called.

“Deadmann, Agnes…” The woman holding the hat and a large scroll of parchment called, and Agnes made her way up, looking rather red and distressed.

Now very sweaty, she sat and the hat now rested on her head. It felt as though it were a million pounds, weighing her down. She looked down, not ready to handle the many faces staring at her form below, or the Headmasters stare burning into the back of her head.

“Hmm…yes…yes…” The hat spoke. Agnes’ scalp itched as it wiggled on the crown of her head. “There's lots of room for talent, lots of it…you can vastly improve in no time. Ambition is the word, yes...yes...” its voice was a little grim the more it spoke. “I have a feeling you have an underlying personality in which I can't quite see, but it seems very cunning…”

“ You've got no friends, none at all… but I know exactly where you could find some…” the hat said as Agnes’ face burned.

“Slytherin!” It shouted.

The group of Slytherins, once a grave and grim looking bunch, brightened up and clapped, inviting her right over along with the other few first years, her legs feelin useless as she wobbled over.

She felt right at home as she ate, the knot in her stomach replaced by hunger. Besides being awfully shrewd and a bit cold towards others, the Slytherins seemed quite friendly to the ones in their own house, besides casting snide sneers at the Gryffindors.

~~~