Hogsmeade wasn't really anything new to Sophie. She'd been here lots of times. Her grandparents lived here, along with her two aunts.

These first year boats, though? Yup. They were new to Sophie. She kept thinking about that ride across the lake as she make the journey over the rocky path that led to the Black Lake.

WHOA!

That meant she'd be sorted soon!

A trickle of excitement rushed through her as she stepped up to the boats and eyed them as if one was better than the other. In the end, she took the one in the front, because if anything crazy ended up happening, at least everyone else would see her before she had time to meet an untimely death.

Because this was Hogwarts, after all. Those things did happen.

She lowered herself into the boat and waited for three others to join her.