Fractured

"Coco, Maddie, wake up! I think we're here!" Oliver shouted as he hurled himself onto the both of us. We both lifted our heads and managed to force out long groans, as we sat up and rubbed our eyes. "Here already, are we?" I asked. "Already? It's been hours! You and Maddie fell asleep on each other, the same way you used to when Father would read to us when we were younger." I smiled as I reminisced about our childhoods together. While the twins were my cousins, they were also the closest things I had to siblings. We would spend many nights together, with one of my aunts or uncles watching us for the night while mum had to work. Finally awake, I jumped up from my seat and wrapped my arms around them both. "Everyone ready?" I asked, beaming with excitement. "Wait-" Maddie interjected. "Coco, before we go, remember that no matter what houses we're sorted into, we're still family and nothing will ever change that." "Ever!" Oliver said confidently. I hugged them tighter, finally letting go as we rushed to grab our belongings from the luggage trolley.

As we approached the school, my eyes struggled to take in all of its beauty. It was massive! If it was THIS beautiful on the outside, what would the inside be like?! I thought to myself. "You coming?!" Maddie shouted at me, releasing me from the daze I had found myself in. "Yes, of course! Sorry!" Thank Merlin for the many teachers and older students helping us first years carry our luggage into the castle for us. I was worried I'd miss something the castle had to offer if I was forced to drag my belongings with me everywhere tonight. I caught up to the twins, and we linked our arms with one another as we entered the Great Hall.

"Students, please find your way to a seat and we will begin our sorting ceremony!" a woman announced from the podium. She was an older woman, glasses rested on her face, her faded red hair pulled back. The longer I looked at her, the more she reminded me of the uncle I had forgotten to address at the station earlier today. Softly, mum's voice replayed in my mind, and I knew that HAD to be Headmaster Weasley.

The twins and I sat down together at the first table we came across. No house banners had been hanging above them yet, although something told me that would change once the ceremony had finished. "Look at all this food!" Oliver exclaimed. He was right, there was so much of it. And a good thing too because I was starving! We wasted no time making our plates and indulging ourselves in the feast, knowing that our names would not be called until the ending portion of the ceremony. While I loathed the anticipation roaring inside of me while I waited for my name to be called, I found myself rather grateful for the fact that I had plenty of time to eat. With my stomach full, I could finally focus and relish in the moment like I wanted to. I could genuinely enjoy it for what it was instead of my mind taking me away in its constant thoughts, like it did every other minute of the day. "Cordelia Sallow" the Headmaster shouted from her stand. "Here we go!" I thought to myself as I jumped out of my seat.

I walked up to the podium and sat upon the chair in front of me. I took a deep breath and as Headmaster Weasley placed the Sorting Hat on my head, I began to think about my mother. I wondered what kind of student she was while she attended. How she had met everyone in our little family. If she was ever scared like I found myself at times.. I took another deep breath and the Hat screamed out "HUFFLEPUFF!" As I walked towards the table full of my new house mates, I looked over at the twins. They were both standing, cheering and applauding over the fact that I had been sorted into the same house as Mum and Auntie Poppy. I shot them a wide smile as I sat down.

Maddie would be the first to be called between the two of them, since roll call always went in alphabetical order. Oliver always joked with her that he was the best twin because he was older by three minutes, but I knew that she would hold her name being called before his over his head for many years to come after tonight. "Madeline Weasley!" the Headmaster shouted. Maddie rose from the table and a soft chuckle left my lips as I watched her stick her tongue out at her brother. There it was, her one-up on Oliver. She sat in the chair as her Great Aunt welcomed her with a gentle hand on the shoulder and a captivating smile. "GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat screamed out. Of course it was Gryffindor. That's where Uncle Garreth had been sorted when he was a student. Guess maybe I was hopeful maybe at least one of them would be sorted with me, so I wasn't alone.

"Oliver Weasley!" the Headmaster called out. My hope started to fade, as I had an inkling in my gut that he would be sorted with his twin. But nonetheless, I still cheered for him. His Great Aunt welcomed him onto the stage just the same as Maddie, and placed the hat on top his head. "GRYFFINDOR!" Damn, I WAS alone - but at least they had each other. I found solace in that much. The ceremony came to an end and a roaring cheer filled the walls.

As the older students began collecting us from the table, the twins and I locked eyes with each other, signaling an eager thumbs up to remind us all that everything was okay. Once I had that reassurance, I could bring my attention back to following the line of my housemates to our new dormitories.