Emma van Elst
snakes 𝜗ৎ Y1
TIMESTAMP ; september 1, 2025. evening REPLIES ; open! i realize now that this should have been posted in the sorting section, but oh well, too late now ig
“𝖛an Elst, Emma!”
Emma sucked in a short breath when she heard her name– seeing as she was towards the end of the list for the sorting, she had been waiting in anxious anticipation for a while before it was finally her time to walk up to the hat.
With only a few more anxious first years still waiting, she made her way up to the stool and plopped down in front of the whole student body, their eyes fixed on her.
But before she had the time to feel self-conscious, she heard a voice in her head– or maybe it was whispering to her? She didn’t really know.
“Hmmm, I can see a very conflicted mind,” the hat spoke, “but I can also see a lot of potential.”
The hat was quiet for a moment, then started muttering as though it were talking to itself. “Analytical … practical … just … we have a great deal of ambition too, don’t we? You seem to want to forge your own path, rather than take what is already given to you. It's very admirable– and makes you a great fit for … SLYTHERIN!”
An immediate smile formed on Emma’s features as she started towards the cheering Slytherin table. A sense of relief flooded over her as she sent polite smiles to those congratulating her on the sorting. It was her first inkling of feeling that she belonged in the castle.
Last edited by Emma van Elst on 23 Jun 2026, 18:00, edited 5 times in total.
snakes 𝜗ৎ Y1
Lena was the one she sat next to, she had been sorted into the same house, just moments before. She looked up from the book she was reading, and gave the girl a warm smile and muttered up a quiet "Congratulations!" Lena was still nervous about what this new identity meant for her. She nervously pick at the skin on her fingers. She looked back over at the girl. "My names Lena" She spoke softly, but wasn't the best at maintaining eye contact. She looked up at the night sky. "My dad actually told me about the great hall when I was younger and how you could see the sky. I never imagined seeing it in person like this." She stared at the stars for a long moment, thinking to herself. The sky looks so peaceful It made her forgot about her nervousness about being sorted into the one house that her family disapproved of. "Well, welcome to the table!"
Lena picked up at the book once again, smiling at the girl once again before starting to read it again, hoping to make some friends, she knew she was awkward and not really great at speaking. She got lost in the book she was reading, sitting there until the end of the ceremony.
Last edited by Lena Lott on 6 Jun 2026, 05:16, edited 1 time in total.
‧₊˚✩
✩˚₊‧ "She lives in day dreams" ‧₊˚✩ ✩˚₊‧
Emma van Elst
snakes 𝜗ৎ Y1
TIMESTAMP ; september 1, 2025. evening MENTION ;@Lena Lott
𝔏ena was sweet, Emma thought as she looked over to the girl beside her, not even watching the end of the sorting ceremony, her nose instead in a book. A bit shy, but sweet.
The girl had spoken to her so quickly and softly that Emma had barely any time to respond to the girl’s trail of thoughts as they emerged, and she simply replied in polite smiles before the girl was resubmerged into her novel and Emma was, once again, watching people get called up to the stool and having the whispering hat placed on their head.
With the anxiousness of awaiting the sorting now over, Emma felt herself melt into the Great Hall more, taking Lena’s comment as encouragement to gaze at the ceiling, painted with tonight’s cloudless, starry sky, and the hundreds of floating candles overhead.
As the ceremony finished and the long, bare wooden tables were instantly replaced with a feast, Emma started to feel more at home, eating the delicious food the house elves had prepared for them, and chatting with her fellow housemates around the table.
The elves here were much more skilled at cooking than ours at home, Emma thought simply, but happily. This is some of the best food I’ve ever tasted.
But of course, all good things come to an end, and soon the tables were laden with an array of finished plates and desecrated food platters.
As the room came to stand, Emma brushed past Lena once again. She was so quiet, she had almost forgotten that she spent the entire ceremony beside her.
Reminded of the girl’s greeting, Emma tapped her on the shoulder.
“I don’t think I remembered to introduce myself,” she stated. “Emma. Emma van Elst. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
She held out her hand to shake, politely.
“What dorm are you in?”
snakes 𝜗ৎ Y1
Mention: @Emma van Elst
ooc note: my quote box wasn't working.
Lena had barely touched her food. Lena was startled at her touch, looking up from her book. "Nice to meet you, Emma." She gave her a soft smile as she shook her hand."Dormitory of Narcissa Malfoy." She walked next to Emma, she barely looked up from the book as she walked, as they walked back towards the commons together. "Did your parents go to Hogwarts too or.." Her last name sounded familiar, maybe something she had seen in a book, or one of her dad's old yearbooks.
As they reached the commons, she sat on a couch, still wondering why the name sounded so familiar, but she decided not to think about it too much. When she was sitting on the couch, she was still reading, barely even noticing that Emma had sat next to her. "Do you have something your most excited for this year." Every word Lena spoke was soft and gentle, she felt out of place.
The rest of the commons was filled with roars and hollers, and kids playing games. I wish there were some peace and quiet. Lena thought to herself, her face still buried in her book. She tried to get comfortable, but couldn't focus much with all the noise. She could just go to her dorm room, but the couch was more comfortable than her bed. Emma's really pretty Lena thought to herself, unable to focus on her book anymore. She ended up closing it and setting in her lap. She glanced back over at Emma, wanting to say something, but she couldn't form the words.
‧₊˚✩
✩˚₊‧ "She lives in day dreams" ‧₊˚✩ ✩˚₊‧
Emma van Elst
snakes 𝜗ৎ Y1
TIMESTAMP ; september 1, 2025. nighttime MENTION ;@Lena Lott
𝔈mma shook Lena’s hand softly, and turned back to walk down to the commons with her. Emma couldn’t believe that this would be her first time walking down to the common room. The Slytherin common room, to be precise. Not Hufflepuff, though she knew her father would be proud; not Ravenclaw, like her mother; not Gryffindor (God forbid); but Slytherin. It made her feel like her own person, in a way– out of her parent’s shadow.
The thought filled her with excitement as she and Lena turned down the corridor out of the Great Hall, and made their way to the Grand Staircase. The girl had her nose back in her book, barely even watching the swiveling staircases in front of her as the horde of new (and experienced) Slytherins descended to the Dungeons.
“Did your parents go to Hogwarts too, or…” Lena spoke from beside her.
Emma watched as the girl barely looked up from her book, almost like she was trying not to look at her.
“Yes, both of them,” Emma responded firmly. “My mother was a Ravenclaw, and my father was a Hufflepuff.”
The pair went quiet as they walked into the common room, and Emma was in awe at how beautiful it looked. The room was lit with the blue-green hue of the lake, with large, comfy couches and gigantic windows.
Emma watched as Lena went towards one of the couches and curled up with her book. The majority of the common room was running about, hollering.
The group that Emma was speaking with at the feast were roughhousing by the window, but Emma decided to sit by Lena once again. She seemed nice enough, just socially awkward.
“Do you have something you’re most excited for this year?”
Lena finally looked up at Emma, and Emma smiled at her.
“Potions, definitely.”