"Hogwarts will always welcome you home."
As time passed, Jessie and the younger girl made conversation and small talk every now and then, and eventually, they arrived to the old school. When the train had come to a complete stop the students began to exit the train, taking whatever they brought with them. Meanwhile, Jessie had only the small book bag with her as she usually left her things at the school in her dormitory, as her family practically forbid her to take anything from school with her, aside from her cat and owl, and a few other small things that could fit in the bag. Jessie sighed and stood up, as Fenrir jumped off of the seat next to her and onto the floor and followed her out the door.
Eventually, she was lost among the crowd of students and slowly the crowd made their way into the castle, and took their seats in their respective spots depending on what houses they had been sorted into years ago, while the first year students remained standing and awaited being sorted into whatever house they would be put into for the remainder of their time at the school in the following years to come.
Jessie took her seat where the rest of the members of her house were, seeing some familiar faces among the Slytherin house, as well as some in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and of course...Gryffindor. Patiently and silently she waited as the Headmistress stood up from where she was sitting at the center of the long table at the front and center of the Great Hall.
"Welcome, to new and old students. To those who are new, and to those that may be coming here for your final year, may the Sorting Ceramony begin." she spoke with viger and nastalgia, as she always loved seeing who would be sorted into what house.
Thankfully, the girl she had been traveling with so far had been kind enough to her, and made her feel at slight more ease as they made small talk all the way there. From what their life was like outside school, allbeit the older girl was more reserved for what she said, to the life they'd be living at school, to how magic worked at the school, etc. Finally the train had made its way into the station, and slowly stopped, and eventually, the students began to disperse.
In the past, first years would be separated from the older students and would arrive at the school on small row boats, but with the events that had happened years ago, they couldn't risk something happening again and had since combined the means of transportation for the younger and older students. Violet watched as Jessie stood up and grabbed her things and left the small couch, leaving Violet alone, who only clambered her things together and quickly tried to follow Jessie. But she was lost amongst the crowd and was pushed back as she saw Jessie disappear into the crowd of older students.
Eventually, the large crowd had made its way to the castle, and eventually up to the long stairs cases and pathways, and eventually the long halls that lead into The Great Hall, where the Sorting Ceremony would be held. Violet could feel a tightening in her chest, as well as her palms beginning to sweat as she knew what was going to take place.
Soon, the older students took their seats where Violet guessed they had been sorted into, the four well-known houses. She wondered what house she would be put into, and what kind of friends she would make along the way, only time would soon tell. As she was lost in her thoughts, she was taken out of them as Violet heard her name be called from the crowd.
"Violet Marsden, please step forward!" Headmistress McGonagall exclaimed as she looked at the small group of remaining students. She had taken into account that this year had been the smallest group of first years in the past recent times. Odd happening to be sure, she thought to herself.
The young girl blinked and slowly felt her feet move forwards in the direction of the hat that who she assumed was the Headmistress she had been told about. Violet nervously moved forward until she was at the small, wooden seat that was before her, she took a deep breath and turned around, sitting down on the small wooden fixture beneath her. Violet closed her eyes as she felt a slight pressure on her head as the old leather hat was placed.
"Hhmm..." the article of what would be clothing began to mumble under its breath. "What do we have here...A Marsden...A bloodline I haven't had the pleasure of in some time. Tell me, Violet, what do you treasure most?" it questioned the young girl as it sat upon her head.
Violet's eyes widened as the hat spoke to her, and thought to herself. What did she treasure most? By that, did it mean what virtue did she treasure most? Bravery? Ambition? Cleverness? No...While she did treasure those, they weren't her strongest.
The hat made a small nod of what would be its head, if it had one. "I see. So...The House that best suits you is..."
..
"Hufflepuff!" the old hat exclaimed after a moment of silence.
Violet's eyes opened as the hat spoke, and felt her heartbeat speed up a bit as it was revealed what house she would be put into.
The hat was lifted off of her head by the Headmistress who gave her a kind smile and nod of her head as she spoke, "Hufflepuff it is, Miss Marsden." she gave the young girl a smile once more as she waved her on, and began to read the rest of the few names that were on the parchment paper.
Violet gathered her thoughts and nodded as she stood up, and walked to the crowd of Hufflepuffs that gladly welcomed the new addition to their House. Violet couldn't help but smile as the older and fellow younger students welcomed her with open arms and cheer and hugs.
As they all settled down they watched as the rest of the first years were sorted. Some more went to Hufflepuff, then to Ravenclaw, and the most were then evenly split into Gryffindor and Slytherin. And after all was said and done with the Sorting Ceremony, the Great Feast began as food was brought out and placed infront of the students. Who all began to dig in and chat amongst their fellow house members and friends.