The Serpent and The Bird

Welcome to Hogwarts

Her palms were sweating terribly, but it helped that it was raining.

Everleigh Grayson looked up to the beautiful and immense castle that occupied her entire view. The magnificent structure was quite a change from Ilvermorny School, where she had spent the last seven years of her life learning magic and how to wield it. However, the previous institution did not have college education, so the eighteen years old found herself resorting to use the exchange program between schools. And there she was. In the Highlands of Scotland, the middle of nowhere, for at least four more years. It was going to be okay, she thought to herself.

She ventured inside of the castle, praying that the sorting ceremony had not commenced, or at the very least not finished. The map provided to her by Professor Fig, her mediator between schools, led her to the Grand Hall, doors already closed. Fantastic. However, there was a figure pacing just outside. Everleigh recognized professor Fig.

- Ah! There you are! - He had a comforting smile. - I trust your travels were safe and you found the castle with no problem.

Everleigh nodded.

- I did, professor. The information you provided was very useful (she has gotten lost three times). I found the castle right away (one of them was in Wales)

- Oh, good. The are almost done with the Sorting Ceremony. Better hurry.

Professor Fig turned around, opening the door to lead the way. Everleigh took a deep breath and followed his steps inside the Grand Hall. Hundreds of faces turned to look at her, and suddenly she wanted to hide her head in the dirt and keep it there. Not only she was late to the sorting ceremony, she wasn't an eleven years old. She was an adult, a transfer and an American. Triple points for whatever house she would land in. Their selection system was definitely something, though.
She could walk only so quickly behind professor Fig, so she kept her head down for the most part. The Hall was silent, except for some whispering among students. One table particularly, was even suffocating laughter. That ought to be the Slytherin table. Everleigh had wished for any house but them. Their reputation definitely preceded them.

- We have one last student, professor Weasley. - Professor Fig indicated a seat in the middle of the podium for Everleigh to sit, and a woman in dark robes placed the talking hat on her head.

Of course the hat took its sweet time to assign a house to her. The girl couldn't do much but repeatedly think that anything but Slytherin would be best for her. Please, anything but Slytherin.
After a few hmms, and mumbled words, the hat spoke out loud.

- The choice is clear, then. GRYFFINDOR!

A round of applause and screams came from a table with red banners, and suddenly a weight had been lifted from Everleigh' shoulders. She was finally breathing properly when she sat down in the Gryffindor table. A lot of students patted her back and welcomed her to her house.

- Hello! I'm Garreth Weasley! Welcome to Gryffindor. You must be Everleigh Grayson. Everyone is very excited to meet you.

Who was everyone exactly, she wondered. Although the nervousness was eating her alive, Eve just smiled back, a bit tense.

- I didn't know transfer students were so popular here.

- Oh well, they are! Transfer doesn't happen very often. A lot of countries have their own school and universities. It's also rather difficult to come to Hogwarts as an eighth year. You must be an exceptional witch.

She tried not to blush at the compliment. Another girl next to her jumped in the conversation.

- Why, thank you, Garrett. It's great to know that us, tranfers, are valued after all.