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Saffron noticed about the new group of first years was how confident they looked in comparsion to how she personally felt, on her first day in the school a year ago. A stream of students made their way through the center of the hall, coming to a halt in front of the staff table. She only had eyes for her siblings and when she finally spotted them, her heart skipped a beat.

Rachel and Rowan were stood right next to each other, exchanging anxcious but excited glances with one another as they waited for Professor McGonagall to commence with the sorting. Neither of them could see Saffron, for which Saffron was grateful. She felt on the verge of tears seeing the two of them standing there. She was unable to put it into words how proud she was of the two of them for quite simply being there.

The twins had lived their whole entire lives in Squires. They had seldom left Holyhead before coming to Hogwarts and the fact that the two of them looked ready to begin a new part of their life was remarkable, to Saffron at any rate. They seemed to be coping with it effortlessly, which was a stark contrast to her last year, as her struggle was noticeable to every single person who saw her.

Barely paying attention to the Sorting Hat singing its song, Saffron just watched her siblings watch the hat, until Hermione knocked her out of her reverie with a poke to the side.

"What?"

"Snape's not in his seat," Hermione whispered to her only inaudibly.

Saffron looked away from the twins and to the staff table. Hermione was right. Snape was noitceably absent from the full staff table, coincidently on the same day Harry and Ron were likewise noticeably absent from the sorting ceremony too.

"Do you think he's gone looking for the boys?" Saffron asked Hermione confusedly, furrowing her brow in the direction of Snape's empty seat.

"It's very possible," replied Hermione, leaning in closer to Saffron. She too had a puzzled expression on her face. "Maybe Ron's parents have dropped them off, they might have used that car of theirs to bring them here . . . or maybe they've set up a fireplace for them to use either,"

"Typical Harry," remarked Saffron with a frown. "No wonder everybody thinks he just wants attention. He doesn't exactly do himself any favours, does he?"

Hermione shook her head, deep in thought, evidently internally theorising as to the whereabouts of Harry and Ron.

Once the girls stopped talking, the sorting ceremony had gotten underway, and Saffron went back to feeling nervous for when the names of her brother and sister would be called out.

"Creevey, Colin!" said Professor McGonagall. A small boy with blonde hair ran forward, nearly tripping on the way, before forcing the hat down onto his head.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Saffron clapped as the first Gryffindor was sorted and smiled at how excited Colin looked. She hoped desperately that her siblings would feel the same feeling should they join her house.

It was surprising to see just how quickly the line of first-years dwindled down. One by one, the first years joined their respective houses, with predictably contrasting reactions to where they ended up. For example, Harper, Leon, looked absoutely mortified to be placed in Slytherin (much to the chagrin of those students) whereas Lovegood, Luna, looked to be so indifferent to where she had ended up, she went to walk to the Hufflepuff table instead of her designated Ravenclaw one.

But Saffron had only ever been waiting for two names.

The first being "Mitchell, Rachel,"

"Ooh, Saffron," Lavender practically squealed at her from across the table, as Saffron watched Rachel's legs finally start to tremble as she made her way up to the stool. "Are we going to be getting her? I could do with another test subject,"

Saffron snorted amusedly. She loved Lavender. The girl was a ball of energy and put that energy into perfecting what she aspired to do in the future. That being hair. Lavender was a natural and Saffron was always happy to lend hers in order to not only help Lavender get better, but reap the reward herself.

"I don't think so," Saffron whispered across to her, not taking her eyes off of Rachel. "She'll end up with Maya, I imagine my brother will end up with us, which probably won't be any use to you,"

The Sorting Hat was wide enough to cover Rachel's entire face so that all anybody could see was her brown hair being played with by her shaking fingers. What Saffron wouldn't give to be able to hear the Sorting Hat's voice again, to listen to what it had to say to her sister.

However, it didn't seem to matter. As a decision was made after what must have only been twenty seconds.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Saffron's eyes widened, though not out of shock. More out of realisation. She had considered the prospect of Rachel joining Hufflepuff house, as her personality certainly aligned with those generally belonging to a Hufflepuff. But she never really considered it was much as she had done so for the other two houses that she saw as options. In spite of any of this, Saffron felt delighted for Rachel, as the whimpering smile on the girls face told her that she was satisified. Rachel was joining the house their father was in, after all.

Little time could be put into thinking about Rachel, as Professor McGonagall called the next student up: "Mitchell, Rowan,"

Rowan was shaking, however less than Rachel, which Saffron knew he would consider a win. Swinging his arms backwards and forwards until he got to the seat, he took his place under the hat and gripped the edges of the stool tightly.

As Saffron awaited the hat's decision, she crossed her fingers and suddenly felt herself feeling more nervous for her brother. She wanted him to end up in Gryffindor with her. He was her closest companion in Squires and she bonded with him inordinately more than either of her sisters. Rowan getting sorted into Gryffindor would give them a further chance to strengthen their bond and give Saffron the opportunity to keep a closer eye on him to ensure he was okay.

Anything but Slytherin or Ravenclaw, she thought. So he wouldn't be in a situation with snakes or Maya to contend with.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Damn," gasped Saffron, throwing her hands onto her face.

The logic behind the hats decision didn't make her feel any better.