The hall was abuzz with chatter, friends who hadn’t re-joined one another on the train now flowing in conversation. Voices shouted from one house table to another, although the table swathed in green and silver remained within their own company. One such girl who was laughing and talking was Astrid Turpin, second born child to Auror Gregor Turpin and his wife, healer Cassia Turpin. Her older brother Erik had left school before summer and was now in training with the Falmouth Falcons, the most violent team known to Quidditch. Her brother held the Hogwarts record for most broken bones, being one of the most infamously powerful beaters the school had ever seen. Erik had been somewhat of a living legend among the halls, and had been incredibly popular amongst boys and girls alike. He had also been one of the toughest students, her and had such an influence on her school career that every boy took their safety in their hands if they dated her. At the time it had been horrific and she had to keep her relationships quiet, Erik always had an eye and ear out for his popular younger sister.
But now she was here without him, about to watch her younger brother Jory be housed. She was also free to talk and flirt without the warning eye of Erik, her final year would finally be her year. And so she laughed and she talked, exchanging flirty little stares with the odd guy or two. She sat amongst her usual group of friends, Lily, Marlene, Karen and Flora. The five of them had been incredibly close since they first met all those years ago. Lily was her closest friend, although the pair was vastly different at times. Lily now sported a shiny badge reading Head girl, and already it was causing her to be a damned sight more serious. Having just returned from escorting the students in, she pushed her red hair back from her shoulders, the scent of cold entwined with the heavy tresses. “There’s a transfer” She told Astrid, who was now staring at her plate with a desperate hunger.
“Oh really, didn’t know they do that” Astrid replied, pushing back her hair. It seemed to have grown even more over the summer, the wavy locks now reaching her waist and no short of fullness.
“Yeah, she is from France” Lily replied, her eyes catching James as she sat down and blushing a little. Astrid watched her and smirked as she looked over to James, who sat across the bench and a little to the side of them. And as she looked to James she caught the stare of Sirius, who offered her one of his most devastatingly charming smiles. In return he gained a rather dry look, but it ended with the smallest of smiles as Lily continued to talk in her ear, though she didn’t really listen any more as McGonagall came out onto the stage, a grim faced Filch placing the stool and the tatty sorting hat onto the platform.
As the doors opened and the shaking first years poured in, Astrid straightened up and looked over to the gaggle, her eyes quickly picking up her blonde haired brother. She beamed with pride, as her friends turned around and all cooed at how cute he was. “Oh I hope he gets Gryffindor” Astrid said as she watched them group together, McGonagall going through the usual spiel about the process, Astrid indulging in conversation with Flora, ignoring the warning stares she was getting from Lily.
When it came to her brother’s name, Astrid straightened up a little and at last paid attention. The hat was barely on his mop of curly hair before the seam of the hat split and roared out “Gryffindor!” Astrid was amongst the loudest as she cheered and applauded, offering her little brother a beaming smile as he rushed back along the bench to sit with the other first years, offering an eager wave to Astrid. Once he was seated her attention was once more slack as she went back into conversation mode, looking up every now and then, and trying to ignore the growl of her stomach.