Originally Posted by swaEEtt

Hallie stood with her shoulders square. She had wanted to look around at this "Common Room" but their Prefect was speaking and it would be rude to allow her eyes to wander. She listened and absorbed what was being told to her, taking mental notes. She observed that the Prefect was very,very pretty and probably very smart and charming if she landed herself in this seat of power and responsibility. Hallie took note that this girl was someone to admire, but also someone to ask about being successful here at Hogwarts. Not just yet though. One problem at a time.

Her posture was stiff and her breathing very controlled. She was still trying to hold in her overwhelming need to collapse to her knees and weep--mustn't do that in front of people. She was doing a remarkable job of maintaining her cool yet uptight stature as she listened intently to the older girl's speech. The only sign that she was uncomfortable was her knuckles closed tightly over a stretch of the fabric on her skirt, clutching and wringing it with worry.

Once the pretty Prefect was done speaking, Hallie moved only her head to glance around the room, letting it swivel on her shoulders like a bird. Yes...this room did appear to be very....common. At least it was warm and welcoming enough. She wondered if Coral's common room was nicer. It probably was. She was slowly accepting that her twin was the one who was going to get all the good things in life.

Halcyon waited her turn to speak privately with the Prefect. Elodie, she had said her name was? "Um. Pardon me." Her grip on her skirt fabric tightened. "My name is Halcyon, well, Hallie, really, and I, I think I have a few questions about the sorting process. If that's alright?"

Speaking and making sure she came off as "mature" and "respectable" was difficult when this upset, but she had to try her best. After all, only one chance for a first impression on any of her new school mates.

"My sister was sorted into the wrong house," she said very quickly, a small break in her composure. It didn't occur to her that she could be the one who was sorted incorrectly. She wondered once she said it if maybe this was one of those schools that could punish you for saying anything bad about it. She hadn't read anything like that about Hogwarts, of course, but as their arrival here approached she has found herself getting more and more irrationally frightened about the institution. It was home-schooling's fault that she didn't know how things were run around here. All the same, she thought it best to amend her statement to be less rude against the school.

"Well maybe not sorted wrong, admittedly I don't know very much about how it is done. But we were separated and I'm very confused." Her voice broke a little. She was trying very hard not to appear upset. "I've changed my mind, I think my only question is when I'll be able to see her again? We're twins...She doesn't do very well without me..."