Dedicated to @PotterFreak_12
Word count: 704 words
Quill: Eagle feather quill.
Parchment: 1 roll
Ink: Black ink.
(The word count does not include the words in or above these brackets)

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Gryffindor, brave. Ravenclaw, smart. Slytherin, cunning. Hufflepuff, helpful. Gryffindor, brave. Ravenclaw, smart. Slytherin, cunning. Hufflepuff...

The list of houses ran through her head as she stared at each table in the Great Hall. Nervous chattering erupted in short bursts around her but she remained silent, staring in wonder at the sight before her.

The ceiling gave the illusion of...well, no ceiling. Stars like silver specks in the patchwork of darkness shone bright and the moon, a half moon, just showed over the side. The stone walls joining with this magical ceiling shone almost gold in the glowing light of the suspended candles that hung, by themselves, just below the sky. Flagstoned floors were brushed to perfection and, for a split second, Lorelei wondered if the students themselves had to do that. No, that would be preposterous.

She shook herself slightly, getting rid of those excess thoughts, and, for the first time, focused on the actual people inside the room. Boys and girls, ranging from twelve to eighteen, sat, chattering excitedly around four long tables.

From where she was standing, just inside the great wooden doors, on the far left sat kids of all ages, with yellow and black scarves draped carefully around their necks - the house that Lorelei could only assume from the hushed conversations on the train, was Hufflepuff. The occupants of the next table along all adorned deep green scarves and, from what she could tell, was the house Slytherin. The next table was clad in dark blue scarves and, from their demeanor and absolutely relentless chatter, simply had to be Ravenclaw. That left Gryffindor then and, as she looked at the red and gold scarves, she felt a warm tingling feeling spread throughout her.

At the far end of the Hall lay a set of stone steps which, after four or five, gave way to a table seated on the stone floor. Sat solemnly...save from a couple of clearly drunk ones, the teachers looked sternly, albeit with a slight twinkle in their eyes, across the Hall. The professor who had brought the children into the Hall - Professor McGonagall - was the only one stood and, at the bottom of the steps, started to arrange a dusty old pointed hat on top of a rickety old stool.

She finally straightened up and a stray wisp of grey hair fell down from underneath her hair before she beckoned for the kids to join her. The first-years started to walk, feeling slightly like a herd of cattle as they were guided to the front. She waited until they had all joined her before speaking softly to them, a stark contrast to her stern face. "When I call your name, come up to the stool and I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head."

During McGonagall's brief speech, Lorelei could faintly hear the 'Sorting Hat' singing to the rest of the students.

"You may belong in one of those four,

Cunning Slytherin,

Smart Ravenclaw,

Helpful Hufflepuff,

Or brave old Gryffindor."

The song ended with those last five lines and the Professor stepped up to the stool, accompanied by joking cheers and rounds of applause. Producing a thickly wound scroll from within her robes, she started to speak.

"Aaspeth, George."

It only took a while for the first eleven kids to be called up and, all of a sudden, it was her turn.

"Lorelei Kytherna." She walked slowly towards the stool, each step feeling more unreal than the last. She sat, almost as if in a dream, upon the stool, almost falling off at first but finally regaining her balance. Then her vision went dark and a scent of must filled her nose.

"It's okay, it's just me...the good old Sorting Hat. Now, let's see. Wow, you are quite divergent aren't you? So many beautiful qualities, caring, mischievous, intelligent and courageous. Goodness gracious. But so much sadness as well. You have been so brave. Oh...I know exactly where to put you. GRYFFINDOR!" Lorelei jolted as the Hat called out. A huge cheer went up from the far left table and the Hat was lifted off of her head. Stepping gingerly toward the table, she searched fervently for a space. Walking down the side of the table, she almost squealed as someone grabbed her hand, pulling her into a seat.

"Hi, I'm Callum."

"..and I'm Elijah."