"Save me a seat," Olly whispered to his sister when her name was called for the sorting.

When he and his siblings waited for something, Olly always came last. 'O' came fairly late in the alphabet so he was always after Colin and after Ellery. But he didn't mind. He liked watching them go before him. It was especially exciting to watch Ellery and she went first to get sorted. The excitement he felt for her rivaled the anticipation he felt for his own sorting. The only downfall in this case was that the surprise would be ruined. Because he knew that wherever Ellery got sorted, was where he would get sorted too.

Borzekowski-Thomas, Oliver

He only paused for a second after his name was called, to grin at Ellery and send her a thumbs up, before dashing forward and taking a seat. It was his turn. The moment had finally arrived. He was there, at HOGWARTS, about to be SORTED. Olly could barely contain his excitement. It took all of the first year's concentration to keep from bouncing in his seat as the hat was placed on is head. IT WAS TIME.

The hat was too big for him, and it fell over his eyes as it was placed on his head. Olly waited, unsure exactly what to expect. Would the hat talk to him? Normally, he would have asked Ellery for every detail but obviously that had not been an option in this situation. So he waited, completely in the dark both literally and metaphorically. Finally he did hear a voice. It didn't seem to enter his ears, but it was perfectly clear in his mind nonetheless.

"That was your sister who was just up here." It was more of a statement than a question so Olly figured it didn't need a response. He didn't know how to go about responding anyway. Did he speak aloud? That seemed stupid, considering the hat was speaking only inside his head. It could read his thoughts, so did he only need to think to respond? "You're very close," the hat continued. "You would do anything for her." Yes, Olly thought fiercely, and that seemed to be the correct way to respond. The hat didn't speak again, it seemed to be considering.

Another long period of time passed with only silence from the hat. How long had it been since the hat had first been placed on his head? It seemed like forever to Olly, but that was because he was the one up there. He just wanted the hat to hurry up and sort him already. He already knew where he was going, he just needed the hat to yell it out so he could go join his sister with the Gryffindors.

"Slytherin!"

What?

Olly's entire world froze. He had to have heard wrong, because there was no way he could be a Slytherin. No way he could be something or somewhere without Ellery by his side. It could not be happening. Everything was moving in slow motion, and he was nearly blinded when the light returned to his eyes.

Even after the hat was removed from his head, Olly sat for a few moments. He was frozen in shock, unable to move. His eyes were wide, staring toward the Gryffindor table. Toward his sister and the space next to her that was supposed to be for him. They were always together. How could he possibly bear to be apart?

His lower lip wobbled and his eyes burned with the threat of tears. But somehow Olly forced himself to stand, and wretched his eyes away from Ellery. He turned and walked toward the Slytherins. Away from the Gryffindor table. Away from his sister.