Nervous, she was very nervous... nervous, yet excited.

Valerija had remained very quiet throughout her trip to Hogwarts, first on the train because she had been so tired (and nervous) that all she could do was sit and observe others as she enjoyed occasional short naps. Her parents had been right, staying in London a little longer before the journey would have been wise, but she missed home already... so it had been worthwhile making the extra trips back and forth.

There was a knot in her stomach as she watched others be sorted before her. Some first years and other transfers like herself. Her gaze took in every emotion that crossed each persons face as they approached the sorting hat, wore it, and realised where their home would be. Mostly, she saw relief. Val crossed her fingers, hoping for that same sense of relief.

This had been the right decision, she was sure of that much. Durmstrang would not miss her.

"Radić, Valerija."

*GULP*

That was her!

Biting her bottom lip, Val stole herself a moment of wide-eyed wonder before urging herself forward and taking her place on the stool. Without realising it she had stopped breathing, holding some air in her lungs. Her fingers, in their usual fashion, began to fidget, first with smoothing down her skirt, and next with the hem of her pullover.

"Aaahhh, a Radić, I've not had the pleasure in sorting your kind before."

The sound of the sorting hat in her ear was oddly soothing, and somehow she relaxed on the stool, a smile lifting the corners of her lips. Of course, the sorting hats words were true, or at least, they made much sense. All the family she knew attended Durmstrang... she was the first to attend elsewhere. For once it was her and not her brother that was the black sheep of the family.

"There's ambition I see, a thirst to prove yourself... but perhaps stronger than that is your kindness...... yes."

The sorting hat's commentary piqued her interest, what exactly did her mind and soul reveal? That's what it did, was it not? Searched their souls?

"You possess a maturity and cleverness of sorts, though not in the most conventional of ways... but where to put you?"

What that meant she had no clue, but eagerly listened, finally releasing the breath she'd been holding and inhaling another as if only now realising how good oxygen felt to her body. Her chest was tight with nerves. Where would she belong? Would she belong?

"I know! You'll do well in..."

"Hufflepuff!" roared the sorting hat.

Hufflepuff.

Hufflepuff!

She'd already seen a bunch of her other peers be sorted there, and the welcoming cheers of the yellow-clad table warmed her cheeks. Val grinned, hopping off the stool as the hat was removed from her head and skipped down to her new House table.

Excitement!