𝟏.| ✬ 𝒟ℯ𝒶𝓇 ℬ𝒾𝓁𝓁, ✬ {ℬ. 𝒲ℯ𝒶𝓈𝓁ℯ𝓎}

\𝒻𝒾𝓋ℯ\

~

"First years, this way! First years!"

Eleanora searched the crowd to find the speaker until Beatrice grabbed her arm and breathed, "Ohhhh, look!"

Eleanora turned and saw the largest man she'd ever laid eyes on. He towered over the eleven year olds, waving them along with enormous hands. He had a shaggy mane and beard that practically covered his face, all except for his eyes, which were a warm, tender brown. "First years!" he called again. "Follow me!" The girls pushed their way through the throng towards the shouting man. Eleanora squeezed her hands into fists underneath the sleeves of her robes, trying to distract herself from the overwhelming noise and the hundreds of things to look at around her. "Four people to a boat, come on, first years!"

Eleanora hadn't seen the boats at first. There were about twenty of them, all lined up in a row at the side of a large, inky black lake. She shivered despite the warm, early September air around her.

"Share a boat with me?" Beatrice asked. She was much quieter now with the crowd around them and the dark shadow of the castle looming in the distance over the lake. Eleanora nodded and they both climbed into the nearest empty boat they could find. Eleanora stared over the side of the rocking boat, but quickly pulled herself back. The lake was pitch black. Beatrice shivered. "A bit creepy, isn't it?" she said.

"Yeah, you'd think they'd have a more... I dunno, magical way of getting there, wouldn't you?" said Eleanora.

Beatrice looked thoughtful. "I think there's a different way of getting to the school that the older kids use. Want to try and find it?"

Eleanora considered this for a moment, but before she could decide, two other students stood over their boat. One of them, a short, skinny brunette girl spoke first. "Do you mind if we sit here? The rest are full." Beatrice shook her head and patted the seat next to her.

The girl took it. Eleanora slid over to make room for the dark haired, dark eyed boy who was standing right behind the girl. "Phillipa Lee, it's nice to meet you," she said in a lilting, gentle voice.

Eleanora shook her hand, which was warm and soft. "Eleanora Marks-"

"Marks?" the blonde boy interrupted. "I know your family, they're friends with mine." He stuck out his hand to shake hers as well, which she did more hesitantly. "Marcus Flint."

"I don't know them very well. I grew up with my mum," she said quietly.

The boy sneered. "That's right, with the muggle you dad ran off with." He said it like it was meant to be an insult, so Eleanora wasn't exactly sure how to respond.

Luckily, Beatrice interrupted. "Well anyways, do you think they'll have any good food tonight? I'm starving."

~

When they got to the school, the first years all filed into the entrance hall, marveling at the castle's adornments. Eleanora had never been anywhere as big as this, but at the same time it felt warm and comfortable- almost familiar. Still, she could feel her stomach twisting at the idea of the sorting. She realized with a sinking sensation that she had forgotten to ask her father how exactly they sorted students into their houses. She could only find a little comfort in the fact that everybody else in the hall looked just as nervous as she felt. She only calmed down when she saw Minerva McGonnagall stride into the hall to address the students.