Slytherin.

"Slytherin." You don't even have to think. You're a poor boy, with big ambitions. Diana seems a little bit more wary of you, and Coral's eyes take on a intrigued glow. House prejudice isn't as bad as it was in previous years, but old habits die hard and even magically gifted folk have their cliques. "Oh c'mon, I'm not gonna go **** Eater on you guys all of a sudden." They both laugh thankfully and the matter passes, the rest of the train ride continues with careless talk , it's also fraught with the difficulty of trying not to look at Coral's plump juicy legs, wrapped up in soft black material and topped off with those lacy white heels that show off her pink painted toes. "We're nearly there." Diana looks out the window and points. You look, a massive structure looms in the distance. Magical, ancient, and filled to the brim with knowledge. The high tops of the towers rise into the sky with majesty, cutting into the clouds with brave appeal. The largest resides in the middle, with a majority of the other towers being on the right side. "C'mon lets get our stuff." Coral begins unpacking her bags without any preamble. You take a deep breath in and unpack your stuff, when you step out of the train you're struck by the beauty of the forest and how cool the air feels.

You can feel a difference in your body, it's like the atmosphere is super charged with energy. It tingles on your skin and fills you with renewed vigor. "You guys feel that?"

You spot Diana rubbing her arms through the fabric of her sweater. "It feels like magic." Diana laughs and runs her fingers through her hair. Everything feels better, it looks better, nothing hurts, and nothing weighs down on you. You would cry if you weren't in the presence of two absolute DIMES. You could get used to this feeling, the other students begin filing out of the train as well. Some falter at the knees and many sighs of relief can be heard as people feel the effects of Hogwarts's magical aura. This is where you are meant to be, all along, no matter where you were before, or how you ended up here.

Determination fills you up like a fresh glass of water and you begin walking towards the school.

The way there is filled with the sights of magical creatures and fauna. Bright bugs float and hum around, spreading strange pollen over even stranger flowers. The trees glow with soft light that comes forth from the very edges of their leaves. The lights are purple and intoxicating, it draws you forth with its hypnotizing colors. "Careful now son." A giant of a man, old and wrinkled puts a hand on your shoulder. His shoulders are as wide as a car bumper and he has on a long leather trench coat. His hair is a shaggy mess of white and gray, and his eyes are an Earthly brown. "You take one whiff of that and you'll be running naked through this forest for the next forty minutes. Not something you want on yer first day. Trust me."

Please God let Diana or Coral sniff it. Please, just this one favor. "Thank you sir." You nod to him and steer clear of the mist. "No problem lad, and no need to call me sir." He chortles. The massive man acts as an usher for the incoming first years, pointing out magical beasts and plants to be careful of, the hike lasts maybe ten minutes but every second is filled with new knowledge. Coral is practically salivating next to you. In a short matter of time you arrive at the grand gates of Hogwarts. The crowd of first years is mostly silent, save for some whispers here and there. The gates open and a tall professor wearing green robes steps through. His face is stern, but his eyes twinkle, he's long in the limbs and a later on in his years. "Welcome to Hogwarts first years! I am Professor Longbottom." He says it with a smile. "This is your first step into a new world. I hope you are all as prepared as you are excited." The man lifts his index finger and the gates melt away into nothingness to reveal the Grand Hall in all of its glory. "Please, come in. This is your home now."

It's the food you smell first, day long train rides work up quite the appetite, and right now the savory scents of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and soup laden with soft veggies are wafting through the air. Then you see just how grand the Grand Hall is, the ceiling looks like it never ends, and the walls are so lavish and ornate you want to puke. Rows and rows of students are laughing and speaking in their seats, none are touching the food however. The marble floor taps against your shoes as you find your way to the main stage. Waves of whispering wash over you, already the rumor mill is beginning to churn. A tall woman with light brown hair is standing behind the podium. You feel thousands of eyes lock onto your group and the hall goes silent. Life never tells you when it's about to change, it just does.

"Will the first new student please step forward." The Headmistress's voice is amplified through her wand, it fills the hall with her sultry tones, her voice is like a velvet blanket settled on top of fresh snow. The giant man that was with you on the hike taps a girl on the shoulder and coughs. The girl looks around in surprise. "Well, here goes nothing." Diana walks up the steps towards the Headmistress, her legs seem even longer in the spotlight. The older boys in the audience seem to appreciate the eye candy as you see several pockets of whispering erupt as she takes center stage. "Please have a seat."

Diana sits down and the Headmistress summons a necklace from thin air. It's silver and looks cold to the touch, freezing actually. Diana gasps a little when the metal touches her fair skin, as soon as it does the locket on the necklace clatters open and reveals a small mouth which shouts out in triumph. "GRYFFINDOR!" The red and gold section of the Great Hall make sure to let their newest house member know that she is more than welcome. Diana takes the necklace off quickly and heads down to her new house mates, the applause is deafening.

"If I don't get in, I'll walk back out. That's what she said." You can barely hear your dark haired friend over the din, Coral has a distant look in her eyes. "You know I wish I could be as decisive as she is."

The heels were certainly decisive . "You just have to know what you want." You offer. Coral looks like she's repeating your words in her head. She looks down, then back up at you. "Thanks." She's smiling.

"Next!"

More names more houses and more cheering. It seems like ages until you're finally called up. Coral bids you good luck and tells you to keep in touch. Something you will be sure to do. As you ascend the stairs you get your first good look at the Headmistress. She's actually quite pretty, her skin is soft and supple and her hair shines with bright youth. She looks like a woman far younger in years. She smiles as you approach and gestures for you to take a seat, as you sit down a firm hand comes down on your right shoulder. The Headmistress then puts the silver necklace around your neck. You feel an instant connection with the necklace and locket. It's tight and feels fraught. A voice comes from the locket, it sounds ancient and tired. "Oh my. If these students had half as much ambition as you, maybe this school would not be in such a sorry state. Your heart yearns for so much. But do you understand the price of desire, young prince? My, I don't think you even care. You'd do well in Gryffindor you know, they would be as the shield as you are the blade. Somewhere you could trust others. But no, you would only come to resent their familiarity. So be it then, in the pit of snakes you will be tried and tested."

"SLYTHERIN!"

You lock eyes with Coral. She seems to be reading your mind. You try to give her an encouraging smile before stepping down from the stage. Before you do however, you swear you can hear an almost imperceptible whisper grace your left ear. "Good luck." You look behind yourself to see the Headmistress smirking. Was that the locket's voice? Or hers? Confused but undeterred you walk towards your new housemates. They roar and smack you on the back, you expected something a bit colder from the house known for it's prowess and ambition. But the Slytherins seem to be just as welcoming as the other houses, "What's your name mate?" A handsome man with a shock of orange hair shakes you by the shoulder. He seems to be an older student. "Turner. Turner Hallow."

"It's good to have you in our house Turner. I'm Martin Kruger. I'm House Leader for Slytherin this year. I'll be guiding all you first years along for the next few weeks. If you have any questions just come to me alright?" He's polite, but opaque, his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes and you can tell he's analyzing you closely, he's not one to scoff at the poor quality of your robes so it seems he's half decent. You shake his hand with a firm grip, you know his type. Cordial, even kind, very sociable, but it's best to beware. "It's a pleasure to meet you Martin, I'll be sure to come to you if I have any questions." You smile and take a seat next to a couple of other first years. The food looks mouthwatering, but you can't dig in before the Locket is done speaking. You listen to more names with half an ear, until finally, "Coral Oversea please step onto the stage." The crowd hushes again and Coral walks onto the stage. She looks stunning in the dim candlelight, fairy like and elegant. The locket settles neatly around her slim neck, Coral's eyes close and scrunch up in concentration, or maybe pain?

The locket remains silent for nearly thirty seconds, already longer than the rest of her class. The crowd seems to grow uneasy. Just as the tension becomes to much to bear, the locket eeks out a response. "Ravenclaw..." Coral stands up swiftly and almost tears the locket off of her before rushing to the blue section of the Hogwarts houses. Her classmates welcome her in with open arms and confused looks, they've never seen a Sorting go like that.

The headmistress' expression is unreadable, her eyes are clear and absorbing. "My dear students, t'was the last of our first years. Another sorting gone by, I'm moved to tears. New witches and wizards of Hogwarts I bid you a fond welcome. So wonderful it is to see this hall once again filled with fresh faces and eager minds. I hope each and every single one of you finds exactly what you need here within the hallowed walls of Hogwarts. In the coming year, you shall surely face trials, tribulations, and ordeals, but please bar that and dig into your meals." The candles rise up from their places and float around the Headmistress in a haunting effect With that, the Headmistress disappears into a puff of smoke and the lights go up. "Blimey. She certainly knows how to put on a show."

A boy named Jules Kard remarks, laughing as he piles his plate high with mashed potatoes and pork chops. "You can say that again. What do you think she meant by trials, tribulations, and ordeals." Another first year pipes up, you don't know her name. "Harder exams?" A few of the newer students groan. "No way, not harder tests, I'd rather have to duel a vampire than that." The girl sitting next to you says. Her eyes are emerald green and sharp as knives. She's beautiful, like a piece of jade sharpened into a blade. Her hair is light brown and her skin is tan, you can't really make out her ethnicity.

"Maybe she's going to get rid of OWLs and NEWTs?" Jules says, waving a piece of pork in the air.

"Now that would be a dream." Martin says this without looking up from his plate of hotcakes. "She did seem pretty ominous about the whole thing though."

"What was it like last year?" You ask.

"Last year? Well... she wasn't here last year, not for all of it at least. Headmistress Granger came in at the tail end. My memories a bit foggy, it was a while back, and I got injured in a Quidditch match near that time, hasn't helped me remember things any easier that's for sure. All I remember is that the old Headmaster said that she was an esteemed Witch in many fields. Then poof, he's gone. Think one of the teachers said he was off to Cambodia or something."

You nod along with what Martin is saying. It sounds like Hogwarts is in for a big shift, not that you really care. All you can think about is how great it is that there's unlimited gravy. You scratch your brains for anyway you can sneak some food into your dorm. Then it hits you that you'll be able to eat again in the morning, this is the first time in a while you haven't had to worry about your next meal.

After chatting and eating for an hour or so Martin stands up. "Alright Slytherins. It's time for the best part of the night. The dorm tour."

You've tried to ignore it, this feeling building deep in your gut, a thick sphere of mystery surrounds Hogwarts. You can feel it in your blood, you feel restrained, held down, captive, the garden path is too sure, all you want right now is to run headlong into the wild. The feeling won't leave, so many factors, details to note, people to remember, and at the core of it is this unease. Is it anxiety? Is it excitement? You grit your teeth, you're just overwhelmed with all that's happened. You take a deep breath and try to relax. The different houses filter out of the Great Hall through different exits, you manage to catch a glimpse of Diana, heading upwards towards the Gryffindor towers. She smiles and waves at you, then turns to talk to a tall guy with dark red hair. You smile back and follow the Slytherins down into the depths of Hogwarts. "Exciting huh, I've always loved dungeons." The jade eyed girl says to you. A bit unhinged but okay, also a little kinky. You chuckle a bit, "Yeah, I love dungeons, can't wait to see the chains."

Her eyes glint in the dim torchlight as the bare traces of a smile drag along her lips. "Here it is boys and girls." Martin stops you before a large ornate door. "Password is Hepzibah. It changes every month so make sure to look at the bulletin board."