Originally Posted by BlueCrow

Nathalie watched with interest as Sara was sorted. Poor child had been a bundle of nerves on the train - scared that she'd disappoint her parents by being sorted into a house other than Slytherin. With four older sisters in that house already, she had a lot to live up with. But it had turned out alright, and Nathalie gave her youngest sister an encouraging smile as she took her place at the end of the table.

She glanced along the table, seeking her other sisters. Anneliese was with her fellow fifth years, and Sylvie and Laurelle were with a mixed group of fourths and thirds. Her expression became bleak for a moment, reflecting that there should have been a brother sitting with the second years; but they had lost him shortly after his birth, which meant that Nathalie was stuck being her father's heir. She shrugged; her brother was only a vague memory to her.

She glanced at the students on either side of her, and nodded at the boy to her right, trying to remember his name. She knew him by sight from the common room, of course, but didn't think she'd ever spoken to him before. "Pleasant journey?" she asked, making polite conversation as her mother had taught her.