Chapter Text
The Headmistress’s melodic Scottish accent filled the Great Hall, commanding the attention of the rapt students.
She discussed the important first steps in their magical education, and the role their houses would play in their time at the hallowed Institution.
She then cleared her throat, and continued.
“Now that the first year sorting ceremony is concluded, please welcome this year’s transfer students to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft & Wizardry…”
Pandemonium broke out.
Eager students, new and old, scanned the Great Hall looking for the famous Ilvermorny transplant rumored to be joining their ranks.
“Have you seen her yet?”
“Nahhh- but the Prophet DEFINITELY said she’d be here today.”
The hat sorted two to Ravenclaw and one to Gryffindor- and then the weight of expectation hung in the air.
Headmistress McGonagall cleared her throat with a pointed look at Hagrid , who merely shrugged his shoulders.
“Washroom,” he mouthed in exaggerated fashion which was met, in kind, with a clearly unamused expression.
Loud stomping footfalls were soon heard and a breathless explosion burst into the great Hall in the form of one Katherine Elizabeth Bishop, the Seventh year transfer student from the United States.
“Sorry! Sorry.. some demented miniature ghost pushed me down a flight of moving stairs..” she said, breathlessly.
“Ah, yeh met Peeves! Right annoying, that one is,” acknowledged Hagrid as he cast a sympathetic look towards Kate.
“Right?” She agreed.
The Headmistress cleared her throat, and the Great Hall immediately silenced.
“Well then, last student to be sorted. Come forward, dear,” The Headmistress gestured. “7th year- Katherine Bishop.”
Kate seemed almost nervous as she lumbered up to the well worn hat. She placed it on her head, and then the hat could be heard mumbling to itself.
It mumbled.
It continued mumbling.
Finally after five minutes had passed, the Great Hall started buzzing again.
What was taking so long?
‘Very difficult…’ it murmured.
A pair of steely green eyes locked in on the hat and its clear internal conundrum.
“Why doesn’t it just bloody put her in damn Gryffindor and let’s be done with this distraction!” Muttered a blonde with an intricate braid running halfway down her back.
“Grumpy monkey!” Chuckled her housemate. “You sound annoyed, Yelena!”
“I am! This is asinine. Put her in the house with the puffed out blowhards. We know that’s where she’s going.”
A deliberate chuckle was heard on Yelina’s other side. Sonya, dressed immaculately in her expensive Slytheryn robes mused, “I wouldn’t be so sure. Five gallons says she goes to Ravenclaw.”
Yelena looked at her, her face expressionless.
“What?” Sonya said, regarding Yelena defiantly. “I heard she skipped a grade because she’s intelligent.”
“I’ll take that bet,” Bucky chimed in, downing his pumpkin juice in one swig.
He looked at Sonya knowingly. “Double or nothing she comes to us.”
“What?” Sonya laughed. “You’re on, Barnes.”
“Like taking Botts from a baby,” he laughed. “Last summer, I met her aunt. Her mom is a direct descendant of the original 28. Her dad is from some wealthy family in the US.”
Sonya scowled. “We’ll see.”
Yelena was ignoring them both, instead watching that Bishop girl fidget relentlessly under the clearly undecided hat.
Yelena observed.
She cocked her head, slightly, watching intently.
She silenced the chatter around her, instead focusing on the woman in question.
Why is this such a struggle? She wondered to herself.
Then she realized the answer.
This is a struggle because this girl is complicated, Yelena thought, answering her own question.
Huh. That is …unexpected.
She continued taking in the subtle clues before her. Nails bitten to the quick; expensive tailored robes that were very wrinkled; long athletic legs clearly well toned…
Yelena’s eyes trailed down the length of those legs, until they noticed something interesting.
Thick, fuzzy, and very purple socks.
“Well, those things clash with all the house colors, pretty much.” She muttered to herself.
Yelena paused.
Self correcting, she added, “Well, all except-”
Yelena declared it at the same time as the hat’s proclamation.
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
TBC.