Rebirth of Lady Morgana

The Sorting Hat

The train whistle blew its final note as Morgana and Anthony stepped off the Hogwarts Express, their new friends trailing behind. The station buzzed with the excitement of new beginnings.

Morgana felt the comforting weight of Mordred, happily wrapped around her shoulders, while Merlin perched contentedly in her arms, watching everything with his keen eyes. The diverse group of friends followed the bustling crowd down the platform to where Hagrid stood calling out to the first years. "Firs' years! This way now! Firs' years! C'mon now don' be shy!"

Fred, George, and Lee Jordan broke away from the group, waving cheerfully. "We'll see you lot later at the Sorting!" Fred called out.

"Good luck on the boats, ickle firsties!" George added, their teasing tones filled with genuine encouragement.

Hagrid's booming voice cut through the noise, resonating above the clamor of the platform, "Firs' years! C'mon now! This way to the boats!" His towering figure waved them towards a path that led away from the train and towards the lake.

As they made the trek along the well-beaten path towards the shoreline, the excited chatter among the kids echoed in the cool evening air. The path was lined with tall trees whose branches swayed gently in the breeze, and the ground beneath their feet crunched softly with each step. Morgana walked beside Anthony, her eyes taking in every detail-the glistening surface of the lake visible through the trees, the scent of fresh water mingling with the earthy smell of the forest, and the soft glow of the moon just beginning to rise in the sky.

They found themselves joined by two other students, a tall, dark-skinned boy and a girl with a cool, composed demeanor. The boy had a confident air about him, while the girl's posture was elegant and poised.

"Well met, Heirs Potter. I'm Blaise Zabini, Heir to the most Noble House of Zabini," the boy said with a nod, his voice smooth and assured.

"Well met, I'm Daphne Greengrass, Heir of the Noble House of Greengrass," the girl added, her voice polite but distant. "You're Morgana and Anthony, right? Draco mentioned you when I passed him to change our uniforms on the train."

Morgana smiled, nodding. "Yes, that's us. Well met to you both."

Anthony gave a small wave. "Yes, well met. It's nice to meet you. Ready for our first night at Hogwarts?"

Blaise smirked. "Absolutely. I've been looking forward to this for years. The stories my mother told me about Hogwarts-it's going to be amazing. And now we finally get to experience it ourselves."

Daphne nodded, her eyes sparkling slightly with excitement despite her composed demeanor. "I've heard so much about the Sorting Ceremony. It's one of the most significant moments of our lives as young witches and wizards."

The group made their way to the lake's edge, where sleek wooden boats awaited with lanterns hanging off the ends, casting a gentle glow on the water's surface. The boats looked ancient yet sturdy, their polished wood gleaming under the lantern light.

"No more 'an four t' ah boat," Hagrid called out to them as he clambered into his own small boat, leaving no room for anyone else. His large frame made the boat look almost comically small, yet it floated effortlessly.

The twins quickly joined Draco and Neville, who was cradling Trevor's terrarium protectively, in their boat. Draco, ever the one for dramatics, held his head high, while Neville looked a bit nervous, his eyes darting around as if expecting trouble at any moment.

Meanwhile, Hermione paired up with Vincent and Gregory, and they were soon joined by Pansy Parkinson, her short brown hair in a bob-cut. She greeted Draco warmly with a familiarity that spoke of long acquaintance.