Sophia Brandt and the Brooch of Isolt Sayre

The Arrival

AN: This chapter goes out to @voidlahey, who has been an amazing reader and has stuck with my stories for so long! Readers like you inspire me to keep on writing.

The next week was filled with anticipation.

Sophia went to Callum every day for news on who the four champions of Ilvermorny were rumored to be. She'd heard Grace's name a few times, and many others that she vaguely recognized as potential choices. She knew that they were supposed to be announced at the Opening Ceremony, but she just couldn't wait to see who it would be.

However, more exciting was that the other students from Mahoutokoro and Castelobruxo were supposed to be arriving Saturday morning.

Sophia hadn't heard of the two other Wizarding schools until now, which apparently, was normal. Each Wizarding school accepted only students from its continent, she'd learned, so naturally she would only attend Ilvermorny. Sophia and Rosie had gone to the library to look up the two schools.

Mahoutokoro was one of the smallest Wizarding schools in the world, and it was rumored to be somewhere in Japan. Other than being extremely good at quidditch, the graduated students were also supposed to be very intelligent and diligent.

Castelobruxo, on the other hand, was located deep in the Brazilian rainforest, and accepted students from across South America. Their wizards and witches were especially good with flora and fauna, advanced in Herbology and Magizoology.

Upon reading that, Rosie had poked Sophia in her side. "Just like your parents!"

Sophia's spirit had deflated a little at the thought. She'd known so little of her parents, even before they disappeared. She wondered if they had ever gone to South America and studied the magical beasts living there, but supposed she might never know.

Still, Sophia couldn't wait to meet these other aspiring witches and wizards.

On the morning of their arrival, Sophia sat down at the breakfast table across from Callum and Rosie with a plan in mind.

"What're you smiling about?" Rosie asked, suspicious.

"I think we should go down to Mayflower Landing," Sophia told them, feeling a little mischievous for saying so. "To see all the students when they arrive."

"But there's an assembly!" Rosie said, glaring at Callum. "My mom will be so mad at me if I don't go. I know she'll notice I'm not there."

"What's the assembly even for?" Callum asked, taking a break from eating to join in on the conversation.

"It's a ceremony honoring the brooch of Isolt Sayre," Rosie explained to him. "They're moving it out of the artifacts gallery into the Great Hall."

"So, some dusty old jewelry is being moved and you'd rather see that?"

"I agree with Callum," Sophia said. "Let's go down to Mayflower Landing."

Rosie rolled her eyes. "Fine. But if my mom is mad at me, I'm going to tell her that you guys dragged me there against my will."

Sophia laughed, then continued eating. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Noah was sitting at another table, surrounded by other second years. So, he was still giving her the silent treatment--and worse, now he seemed to be avoiding Callum and Rosie too. She sighed, then took a bite of her eggs. They were cold.

Sophia, Callum, and Rosie headed out for the gondola platform, which already had a line forming for students who wanted to go down to greet the arriving students. All the way down, Sophia felt giddy with excitement, and she knew even Rosie was excited, even though she kept complaining about missing the stupid ceremony.