PHOENIX TOROS WAS IN THE BUILDING, EVERYBODY!!! FINALLY!

How sweet was this castle, man?! Sure, he'd heard stuff from his brother and the band but he'd never SEEN the place and it was AWESOME. Waaaaay huger than he'd imagined.

He felt kinda out of place, stood around with the young-uns, but at least he wasn't the only one. There were a fair few people who looked around his age stood with him too. Maybe they'd had a small group this year so it was better for transfers? He didn't know, and to be honest? He didn't really care. Right now all he wanted to do was put that hat on and find out what house he was in!

He waited restlessly as the hat sorted people in alphabetical order... Why was T so late in the alphabet, hm? He was almost exploding with excitement when his name was FINALLY called, so much so that he almost knocked the stool over in his eagerness to get the hat on. Phe could hardly contain his grin as he felt the fabric flatten his curls, and peeked up at the brim to listen to what it had to say...

"Hmmm... a lot of loyalty here... a Hufflepuff trait..." it said, and Phe's brain clicked into gear. Hufflepuffs were near the FOOD, right? He could sneak out whenever and have midnight snacks, and maybe he'd take them to his friends in other houses, sneak in or something. Surely it wasn't breaking TOOOOO many rules... "Then again... there's an air of something here that just won't shake..." It paused, and Phoenix was almost TREMBLING with anticipation. "Yes... That's right... GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Phoenix could have "WHOOP"ed... but he didn't. Instead he SPRUNG from the chair before the hat had been removed, and practically bounded over to the Gryffindor table.

HE WAS HERE. Same house as his brother!

AWESOME!


WAAAAAAIT UP...

The hat...

Not even bothering to look sheepish, he strode back to the stool and carefully removed the hat, making a show of dusting the rim before putting it back on the stool...

"Sorry mate..."

BACK TO THE TABLE.

The brown haired boy was an absolute nervous wreck, looking around to see if he could spot a glimpse of Tessa in order to calm himself down, but he couldn’t see her. The hat was talking. They had a talking hat that would be used to decide which house they would be in. How on earth would a hat be able to do that? Couldn’t they fill in a survey or something?

But instead he watched the others get sorted, a few people seeming about as uncertain about this as he currently did.

“Stark, Leonard” his name was called, and slowly he managed to wander up with his legs shaking, feeling as though they were about to give out and looking as pale as a single white cloud in the clear sky.

What was this hat going to do with him? What if they wouldn’t be able to sort him into a house?

Leo’s legs managed to hold his wait until he reached the front, practically just falling down onto the stool before the hat was placed on top of his head.

”Hmmm… this is something rather interesting” a deep voice said in his head, causing the poor boy to flinch slightly.

”What are you doing?” he asked in confusion, having heard the voice in his head. He was certain he hadn’t heard the hat speaking to any of the others while they were being sorted… was it in his head somehow? How long would this take? How long had he been up here? When would this just be over so he could join a table and pretend that this had never happened?

”Yes, definitely most interesting… but I know exactly where to put you Mr Stark… you’re a lot like your father” the voice continued in his head causing Leonard to perk up.

”My father?” he questioned, wondering if the hat would be able to tell him anything about the man that he had never met. The man he never knew anything about.

“GRYFFINDOR” it yelled, but as the hat was removed from his head he was more confused than ever before.

At least it was over.

Honestly, Bianca wasn't sure why she was even here waiting for the hat to decide which house she was going to be in. She had already decided on the house she was going to be in and everything else was just so... silly. Plus, the hat wasn't even sparkly. It was just wrinkly and... old looking. Like an old lady.

She couldn't wait for her turn though. Not because she wanted to put the hat on but because she liked having people look at her. Once she was up there eyes would be on her. But she needed to get rid of that amazed look on her face first. The castle had just been... it was really pretty; much prettier than she had anticipated. And the whole floating candles thing? Bianca wanted that in her own room. Could she hire the architect who designed this place to design her bedroom? She was sure her mother wouldn't mind all too much.

Caruso

Oh cool. Someone had the same name as her. Caruso...

OH WAIT. That was her. Grinning, Bianca tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked towards the hat, waving to everyone. She was sending telepathic messages to the Gryffindor table people because hey they were going to be her housemates soon. She sat down upon the stool and let out a deep breath. Was she nervous? Maybe but she wasn't going to admit it. What was there to be nervous about anyways.

"Interesting..." WOAH. Who was saying that? Oh right. Hat. That was on her head now. What was so interesting. "Bianca Caruso... you want to be Gryffindor?" Bianca's face may or may not have been scrunched up trying to send the same thoughts to the sorting hat about being in the house of red and gold. "Are you sure you don't want to be-" "Gryffindor" Bianca muttered quickly, cutting the sorting hat off.

If Bianca could see the sorting hat's eyebrows, she was pretty sure they'd be raised.

"Well... if you insist... GRYFFINDOR."

She had already bedazzled her robes, as if she'd be in any other house. Pffft. The hat was removed from her head and the new lion stood, gave a bow to the other students before grinning and walking towards the Gryffindor table.

So the squid did not eat him and he was here in the Castle. Dante would say that was a successful beginning to this school term. This Hall was pretty awesome, if all the people were not watch them about to get sorted. Much better if this was just them in a quiet room off to the side. Yep, that would be a lot better.

Since he was about to get sorted. You do start to think of the houses you would like to be in. Dante favorited Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Though Gryffindor would not be terrible either. Probably will be Ravenclaw since his brother was one and all.

Dante did not have to wait long for his name to be called. Seeing as it started with a B. Dante walked up hoping the hat would not give him hat hair. He cared a little about his hair. Just not as his hair obsessed brother. Now it was time. Dante sighed as the hat yet on his head and was to big for his head and stopped at his nose. Talk about looking awkward. "Ah..there is a thirst to prove yourself and smarts...Plenty of that." Yes he knew he was pretty smart hat. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. "No need for the attitude. Your brother was more humble than you and a lot less likely to hurt himself" Again thanks for point out the obvious. Here Dante though this hat was a genius. "Look at that, i see cunning in you. More cunning and ambition than that original sarcasm you love to use in your head."

Why did the hat go silent. Probably ignoring him now. This was weird. He was just here in a gigantic hat with everyone watching him.

"SLYTHERIN"

Slytherin. Just like that. Well, Dante could live with that. He did look good in green. The hat was removed from his head and he patted his head just to check for hat hair. And yes there was some there.

Stupid Hat, Dante thought walking over to the Slytherin Table.

"Jin, Tessa!" she heard her name being called out. She pushed through the crowd of first years and walked up towards the hat. She couldn't help but feel the dread of what was to come, what if her new house didn't like her? Or that she didn't like them? She felt the hat rest on top of her head. Interesting. Very, interesting. I know just the place for you. She felt her anxiety rising before hearing a loud voice calling out, "RAVENCLAW!" She got up and scurried to the ravenclaw table, looking over at the Gryffindor table and her friend Leo.

"Thornton Baines?" The voice rang out, but Thornton wasn't exactly sure where it had come from (too short to see!)

Thornton timidly stepped up and sat on the stool and wiggled as he sat. Hit bit his lip at the hat was placed over his head and came down so far it blocked his vision.

Hmmmm. Potential. Ambition. Caring. Strength of Character. Wit. Where to put you, where to put you. Thornton squirmed, hearing the hat whisper in his ear. What did that mean, where to put him?

A bead of sweat trickled down his neck. I just want to do well here, he thought. I want to study hard, learn a lot, and just do well.

He looked up, as if he could see inside the hat, to urge it to just decide.

The wheels are turning, I see, he heard. A quick mind. We'll put you in..

RAVENCLAW!!

Thornton smiled as the hat was removed from his head and he hopped down from the stool. Ravenclaw! Now, what exactly did that even mean?

A sore thumb, that’s what she stuck out like. Or a nail that wasn’t fully in the floorboard. “Seriously, they are so short” she cringed and glanced around at the little kids by her. Some of them hardly even made it past her hips, heck she stuck out in normal crowds already but this was ridiculous.

Casting her eyes around the great hall she couldn’t help but send her friend from Diagon Alley a quick somewhat sarcastic smile. Hopefully he’d get the hey look I’m a giant aspect of it? After all she was an over six feet tall girl wading in a sea of five-foot (at most) tall kids. Seriously. She was like a giant among men.

Heck, this could be interesting.

She almost didn’t hear it, her name being called.

She wasn’t nervous at all when she put on the hat. That is, until she heard it talking. What the heck? A talking hat was weird. And not to mention it would make ANY person look slightly mental.

”Ah” it was cooing into her ear muttering things as if it was trying to get deduce something about her…or it was about to sneeze. ”Do I need to give you a tissue hat?” she laughed out to the hat, more tittering sounds just emanated from the saggy smelly and very decrepit old raggedy hat that sat on her head. ”brave…stubborn, not the brightest I see”.

Okay no one told her the hat was rude!

She could SO easily send it flying into that large old fireplace and be done with it. As she stewed on the hats very cruel words, even if they were true, she heard it…and every else did it seemed. The hat was no longer muttering at her it was yelling in a booming tooth rattling voice.

Seriously? Did it have to be that loud?

”GRYFFINDOR!” what? Was that were the not-so-bright stubborn people lived? She glared up at the brim of the hat and before she could send the cruel thing aflame it had been removed from her head, like someone knew she was up to no good.

HUMPH.

She sent her friend Kace a quick thumbs up and glanced around for the girl she had met at Diagon Alley, Kara…maybe they were in the same house? She hadn’t seen her sorting…she hadn’t been paying attention. But still. She made her way over to glittering red and gold table full of bold smiles and well…a certain sheen of crazy fearlessness seemed to glint in the eyes of the her now housemates.

Here he was. Ready for the sorting.

Hugo walked slowly towards the Hat, he stared at it before sitting down. The hat was now on top of his head "Foster. Hugo Foster" his eyes looked up "You have an interesting mind, very interesting. A mix of the four houses and it's quite hard to select the correct house for you..." Hugo frowned. Are you serious? It shouldn't be. Well, at least for the Hat because he was the sorting hat. "Clever, ambitious, loyal, smart, brave..." the hat made a short pause "I know where you would do best Hugo eagerly waited for the answer. "Hurry!" he muttered.

"SLYTHERIN!"

REALLY? He was in the same house as his dad! He couldn't wait to write and tell them. This was great. He was a snake now. Hugo smiled with satisfaction and made his way to...to...wherever everyone was going.

Dot was well used to going last, what with having been a Wojack her entire life, and since this wasn't much of a thing to her anyway, she spent her time waiting by watching the staff up on the dais. They were dead amusing, even if she didn't know who anyone was yet. Once she got to her seat, she'd squish in next to Dima and he'd tell her who to like and who to avoid.

Not that Dot was any good at avoiding, but she'd try. For Dima's sake.

FINALLY, she heard, "Wojack, Charlotte," and Dot skipped up to the stool, pulled the hat down over her ears... and waited. She didn't even sit down for the full first minute, since she figured it was such a waste of time. Dot was a Ravenclaw. She was gonna go with Dima and Kyroh and Maddie. She was.

Didn't the hat know? "Ravenclaw," she poked the brim with her fingertip, just to see if it was awake. It was talking to other people, so why wasn't it talking to her? "RAVENCLAW." She poked it again.

No, really, what was going on up there? Was it nap time? With a heavy sigh, Dot pulled up the brim of the hat and peeked out to see if anyone had noticed that she was being ignored by an article of clothing. It was bad that she couldn't even see her friends, because they might have been of some comfort to her right about now.

"Ravenclaw, you big dumb hat!" She flicked the brim viciously with a freckled finger, over and over. "I'm going to be with Dima."

Almost as if the hat had been waiting for some unknown signal, Dot could practically feel it take a deep breath before it spoke to her. "Slytherin."

WHAT? NO. THAT WASN'T A VERY FUNNY JOKE. She flicked it again, muttering RavenclawRavenclawRavenclaw over and over, but the hat was ignoring her again. She wasn't going to be with Dima and Kyroh and Maddie. She wasn't going to Ravenclaw.

She was a big stupid Slytherin.

It sucked that she had to wait for so long just to sit on a little stool and have a hat possibly mess up her hair, but Ruby wasn't nervous. It didn't matter to her where she ended up since she had already checked to be sure that she looked good in all the different house colours. What was there to worry about really? She stood there with one hand on jutted out hip, the other idly fluffing at her hair and watched as name after name got called for Gryffindor.

....

.... well she didn't want to be in the common house. If everyone was going to be there then even if Zahra was one of them, she didn't want to be.

She looked out at the tables, making the most of her vantage point to scope out important things, like cute boys and possible competition, and also picking out faces she recognized from the trip to Greece. Oh my Merlin when was it going to be her turn? Ruby whispered a few words of encouragement to her brother since they were waiting together, and then her name got called.

Banner, Ruby

That was her, yes. She sauntered the the stool and sat down on it, crossing one leg over the other and giving a queenly little wave out at the watching masses and a little wink or two here and there, the receivers of said winks knew precisely why. The hat was lowered onto her head and she hoped it wouldn't catch at her hair and mess it up.

...

.....

... Wasn't the hat supposed to talk to her? It wasn't saying anything at all! No greeting, no conversation, it was ju--

SLYTHERIN!

Rude much?

"Hello to you too, you grotty, ridiculous excuse for headwear!" Hmph! Ruby stood up and flounced toward her new table and housemates, without a backwards glance at the hat which had been SUCH a disappointment.

Probably nobody would be surprised.

"MR. W. HUGHBERT."

Oh crud. That was him.

Hugh wasn't one much for panicking in front of large groups of people. He'd been paraded around by his family his whole life from fancy event to fancy event. But all those people were old, not with the times, yo. This crowd was predominately his peers and they were all watching. Weird transfer kid. He hadn't anticipated the looks. He hadn't anticipated being looked at much at all.

This was scary. He'd admit it.

He hobbled up to the hat, not without tripping over his own feet once or twice, and threw himself into the seat. Hugh swore he heard something sigh at his fumble. Oh hey! It was the hat.

"Yo hat man. Whatta do-"

"Don't," the hat finished for him. Hugh squirmed in his seat and folded his hands in his lap patiently. See? He could be good, man.

The accessory poked around in his brain, he could feel it. It was warm and icky and intrusive. "Hughbert comma W-"

It was Hugh's turn to echo back the don't. He hissed, "I go by Hugh, man. Don't rat me out first day. I've gotta live with this. You don't."

If he could have seen the hat he would have imagined it looking put out with him. Whatever. His first name was his-- no one else's.

"Now, Hugh," the name was laced with teasing, "I'm sensing you're a little bit of a-- what's the word..."

"Original bro?"

"Spazz." The hat finished clearly. "I'm also sensing you're not much for getting any of this wrong. Perfectionist....or at least an attempted perfectionist. I daresay you come up short in that category."

The hat poked in his head a little more. Hugh flinched. This was child ABUSE, yo. These were his thoughts.

"You're loyal. Perhaps misguided and intelligent. That last is shocking."

Hugh squinted and whispered back, "And unimportant in the grand scheme of traits, hatty."

"Perhaps," the hat mused, "I'm sensing Hufflepuff in you."

Hugh froze and repeated the mantra in his head over and over again: not Hufflepuff. His family, the Pureblood elitists they were, would flip if he came back with any sorting that was irregular. Anything outside of Slytherin. And he didn't want to be sent back home by the woman's command so soon because of this STUPID hat.

"I am not stupid, Mr. Hughbert. But if it's Slytherin you desire then Slytherin it shall be."

It was what he desired. He wanted to STAY here. Going home was not an option.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Boom pow! He was up and off toward the table.

Just, ahem, not before he tripped down the stairs.

"I'm fine. It's okay."

He. Was. Finally. At. Hogwarts.

And it was already SO worth it.

If his dad could see it like David was right now, he SURELY would have admitted he should have let him come here sooner. 'Cause this place was awesome.

The fifteen-year-old didn't even care that he had to be among the little eleven-year-olds to be sorted. 'Course there were loads of others around his age too so that was cool. Made it less awkward. Not that HE would've been awkward 'cause he was totally awesome and relaxed and excited. Was being relaxed and excited at the same time possible? Apparently.

He watched as some of the others were getting sorted and then-

"Hensley, Peter."

"David," he corrected automatically. Peter was his dad's name, not his. But anyway, he stepped forward and sat down as the hat was placed on his head. His uncle had told him all about this part, so this was when the hat was supposed to talk to him and tell him what house he should be in.

...

...

Any second now.

...

...

...

???

Oi, are you broken already? he said - er, thought - to it.

"I'm thinking, child," the hat said.

Well think faster, I'd like to be sorted before I graduate.

The hat sighed. "Rudeness won't get you into a house faster. But...yes...I see... I know the best house for you."

Finally.

"Better be...

GRYFFINDOR!"

YES.

That was his uncle's house, exactly the one he wanted to be in. Good job, hat.

Grinning, David took it off his head and dropped it back onto the stool, heading for the lion table.

Rawr.

He had marveled at the ceiling all the way to the front of the hall, stared at the rows of student tables, and gawked at the staff table. LOOK AT THEM ALL!... and then he waited amongst the group of first years for sorting. From where he stood, somewhere in the back, it felt like an eternity. In all seriousness though, why had he not thought to change his name to Browne? It would have meant sorting SOONER rather than later, and he was being UBER impatient. Rogers was SO LAME.

His lameness was eventually rewarded though, and after hearing the hat shout GRYFFINDOR, GRYFFINDOR, GRYFFINDOR... seriously, was there no quota? ... RAVENCLAW, SLYTHERIN.. and so forth, it was HIS turn.

Rogers, Ezekiel.

........

Yep, that was him alright. He didn't hesitate to step forward and claim his spot on the stool. This was HIS moment in Hogwarts history, HIS MOMENT! Pushing his way past and clinging to the stool with both hands as the hat was placed on his head, he waited...

"AHA!" came a voice in his head... that was not his own. MAGIC HAT VOICES! DUUHHHHH.

Zeke grinned, keeping his own voice to himself, wondering what would come next, a million and one questions about the hat came to mind. Did it like first years? Did it like sorting ceremonies? How long did it take it to think of its song? Did he steal the lyrics from someone elses head? Did he ... or was it a manly sounding she???... get used when it wasn't the start of term feast? Did it fear dust and mothballs? ....

"A curious mind I see, but you're no Ravenclaw..." the voice drawled slowly, stating the obvious that Zeke so much despised. Really though, was that supposed to be an insult? Because it sure seemed like it. Did he know Emily was a Ravenclaw?! THAT SHE WAS HIS MUM NOW?! Wasn't it possible to be a Ravenclaw because of FAMILY ties???.... Could he not, follow in her footsteps? Even if he wasn't smart enough? Couldn't it be his CHOICE?

"Some things are more complex than you realise... and for that reason, you don't belong there... Hufflepuff however..."

NOT HUFFLEPUFF! NEVER HUFFLEPUFF!

"You do, and I'll make sure I find a way to burn you," came his response in a threatening but hushed voice. He'd sooner die than wear yellow... being close to the kitchens would have its perks though, or so he'd heard.

"... interesting. You'd do well in Slytherin, and Gryffindor too. You have strong values and will do anything to achieve them... yessssss... I know just where to put youuuuu..."

.....

Gryffindor! Zeke finished for him. Hopeful.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat roared in the same moment.

And yet another Lion was crowned... there really was no quota for these things then, huh?

Zeke beamed, flashing his pearly whites at the first years still left to be sorted. He spared a wink at Paige, hehehehehe, he'd see her soon, or something. Stepping down, Zeke's eyes flashed to the table making the most noise. Red and gold. He'd found his new home!... and so he scampered toward them.

Ackerly, Layla.

A voice rang out announcing each of the students names to step forward and be sorted. With her A surname the fifteen year old was one of the first to be announced. She felt foolish stood amongst all the eleven year olds but it was comforting to see quite a few older students there too, transfers she supposed. None quite like her.


She stepped forward and sat on the stool that contained the hat which was placed onto her head. She looked utterly disinterested. She did not care with which house she would soon belong with. Nor was she bothered by this pompous ceremony and grand feast. The school in its whole did nothing for her. She just wanted to be back home, in the middle of a large city with her friends. Not here. Not ever here.

“Your lack of interest would signify Slytherin to most.” The hat started to talk and Layla glanced upwards with a slight frown on her face. What was that supposed to mean? “But I see things differently.”

Her eyes glanced upon the Great Hall with the students sat in four distinct rows. All their eyes fell upon her and for once the Blonde felt embarrassed for her situation. She wasn’t one of those ‘centre of attention’ type of people. Layla blended into her crowd easily. It was even more embarrassing to see the first years glancing up looking all wide eyed and intrigued as to what would happen next.

“You lack ambition” it stated simply. She supposed that could be true. Layla knew that she was perfectly capable of doing things but sometimes she just did not want to try. “You are intelligent. Perhaps not the sort of wisdom that many would assume. You are capable of being book smart but you’ve often been pushed back.” She guessed this was all fairly nice information and pretty accurate. “And your individuality shines through.” Okay, this was getting a little tedious now. It was all well and good being told all the attributes of yourself but having them blasted across hundreds of students was just a little over the top.

“I see where you belong now…” It stated. She took in a breath of anticipation. She didn’t actually care where she would be sorted, she didn’t want to be here in the first place but there was still an air of nervousness around her. If she really did have to stay, this would be where she would spend three long years in.

“RAVENCLAW” it shouted as Layla glanced over at the cheering house of blue and bronze. She tilted her head to take them in before taking the hat off her head, standing up and placing it back on the stool. Ravenclaw.. Much unlike her brother who had been a Slytherin.

She headed towards the Ravenclaw table and sat herself down away from the other students. She didn’t care to talk, she was a little hungry.

Ceorlic stood amongst the sea of small 1st years, and other transfers waiting to be sorted. He kept his head straight and his eyes locked onto the sorting hat watching it being placed on others heads and hearing it yell out the Houses. He honestly did not care where he was placed. He kept a small thought in the back of his head as to what houses his Older Brothers were sorted into YEARS before him. Cullen, he took pride in being a Hufflepuff. While Caelan....Caelan??? What was Caelan, he never talked about it much.

His mind went even further and he began to think about where his Father was sorted, was he even a Student here? It wasn't fair that he barely knew anything about the man. Not even what his favorite Pizza topping was. Ceorlic liked spicy sausage, it gave the pizza a bit of a kick with each bite, even more than pizza though the Fifteen-year-old loved Pumpkin Pastries. He was excited to learn that Cullen was going to start farming a small pumpkin patch in a small clearing past the Forrest they lived in....

STRIKE-GALBRAITH, CEORLIC!

...He heard his name and began walking towards the stool...

How excited would Gabriel Banner be when he hears this! Who will be suppling who with Pumpkin-y treats now! He would called Ceo the Pumpkin Savior. Gabe would probably run away to his little cabin home more often. Ceo liked him, he was funny. Also a lot like him minus those ridiculously thick-rimmed glassed. What would he look like with thick rims like that? Really dumb thats what...

GRYFFINDOR!

Would they even fit his face? Why should he care he'd never need glasses. Ceo had excellent vision. Maybe he could buy the kind that don't have glasses in them...He sat on the stool for a few moments longer, letting his mind wander away from him even further. When was he going to be sorted?
Was the Hat having trouble placing him? He blinked and looked around the Great Hall. He was getting a lot of silent stares, glares, and cold looks from each table, but the Gryffindor one seemed to be most excited, noting a few cheers here, and there from them... also a lot of clapping.

WAIT! Where was the Sorting hat? He looked over to his side to see that the hat had been removed. Also a few finger jabs and cold stares in the direction of the Lion's table to get up and go there.

"OCH! A'M SORRY!!" He blurted out rather loudly has he rushed over to his new Home.

“Blake. Samson Trevellious.”

Sam cringed--was that laughter--as he approached the front. Anyone who knew it LOVED to declare his middle name to the masses, didn't they? He sat and the hat was placed on his head.

“Slow to magic but certainly not slow by all means.” The voice.. the voice of the hat was IN his head.. It wasn't his own usual confused inner monologue he could hear; no, it was coming FROM the HAT. This school was the best. It was like being at a theme park 24/7. How could his cousin be so morose about all THIS? Talking hats, invisible flying skeleton horses.. and they'd only just got here. He looked up, trying to see the hat. He liked to see a person's face when they were talking to him. Not that this hat was 'people', but it could talk. And that was enough for Sammy.

“Brave.. brash.. You're an ambitious sort aren't you, boy?” Sam scrunched up his nose and spoke with.. Ooh.. the power of his mind right back to the hat. “Compliments, hat. Compliments. You want to make a lad blush Gryffindor red?” Aye.. he knew the houses and what they represented. “You could do well in the Lions den.” It stated. 'What about Ravenclaw?' Sam spoke telepathically to the hat, his expression strained as if he was trying really hard to make himself heard. Layla had been sorted into Ravenclaw moments ago. Keep it in the family?“Not slow, but you're no Ravenclaw.” Back came the voice.

“SLYTHERIN!”

Wow.. oohkay.. so no room for negotiation here?

The hat was removed from his head and Sammy bowed jovially to the clapping.. and then headed off to join the students at the Slytherin table.

Was it his turn yet?

No, really, when was the hat going to get to the Os? Archie wanted to go join his house already. All these people seemed to be taking forever, and Archie already knew which table he wanted to be sitting at. Couldn't he just go join them already?

"Ogden, Archie."

Fiiiiinally! Archie skipped excitedly towards the hat, skidding to a halt just in front of the stool, and plopped it on his head. And then there was a voice in his head. The hat was speaking to him! Archie gave a little a squeal of delight. No wonder everyone had be taking so long!

"Your loyalty betrays you, Archie," the Hat stated, as Archie wondered whether he could speak to the hat back. Did he just have to think and the hat would understand? "You'd do well in Hufflepuff. Thrive, even." Archie shook his head stubbornly, causing the Hat to fall down over his eyes. Ravenclaw, like my cousins. Ravenclaw like Kalla and Garrick and Benjy.

"Hmm, you're determined for sure. And a keen mind too. Attentive... It's difficult for sure...but I think you'll do well in..."

...Archie held his breath, hoping that the Hat really could hear his thoughts. Blue. I want to be blue. I belong there with them. He said it with everything he possibly could.

"...Ravenclaw!"

Ravenclaw? He'd done it! Archie beamed as the hat was taken from his head, leaping up and grinning at the Ravenclaw table. He already knew where it was, but the clapping from that direction soon confirmed it. He waved excitedly at his fellow housemates, and headed over to join them. He was BLUE!

This was a big day honestly, being in a crowd of first years had definitely not been something that he was expecting but Clyde was happy although the nerves of actually being at Hogwarts without anyone to look out for him though he had been a New York kid, tough enough to handle himself at all of 11 years old without knowing any magic whatsoever.

Once he had been led into the Great Hall, all he could do was look around and notice how big everything seemed but what managed to catch his attention the most had been the four tables that must have represented the four houses which made up this school. Was hard to figure where he wanted to go the most because there were stories about all of them. Least from what he could have remembered about hearing them from his brother since going to this school was big. Definitely big.

Before anything else was known, he quickly followed a group of students towards the front of the room and saw an old hat sitting on a stool, what was that doing here? Maybe it had something to do with figuring out what house he was going to be placed into, but that was when it spoke.

“Deneau, Clyde!”

Whoa, did that hat just speak? Guess it had and ‘parently he was expected to go up there, so without further delay, he walked up to the bench and sat down before having the strange talking hat placed onto his head which was when things got really weird.

“Hmm, another Deneau I see.” the hat spoke. Wait, the hat knew Austin? Weird. “Well let me see where to put you.. hmm, interesting. You are very tough, one to rush to the battle of anyone in danger. The heart of a Lion. Perhaps Gryffindor would suit you, but maybe not.” Clyde didn’t want to go into the Gryffindors because they were always the ones to get into trouble, at least from the old stories that he had read about the history of Hogwarts.

“A smart boy, very keen on knowledge but the ambition in your blood runs strong. I don’t know where to put you.”

When the hat went quiet, he couldn’t help but get a little scared because maybe the hat wasn’t able to place him in a house and then he’d have to go home or something.

“I see you will do well in…”

Another pause.

“SLYTHERIN!”

Wait, he got into the same house as Austin did! Clyde knew that he had to write his brother soon to tell him the news but as soon as he heard the cheer coming over from the table of his new housemates; he immediately got up from the stool and headed over to join them. Hopefully the hat got things right.

Ophelia stood in line, her stomach trying to decide whether it was going to be totally dramatic and puke on everyone or be completely normal. And the firstie wished it would just pick a side already. Because this whole waiting in line thing was soooo not her speed. It would be better if she was an only child for sure, no other brothers and sisters having been through these halls. Yeah, could someone make that happen please? Because right now her stomach had been leaning towards puking and there wasn't much sign of turning back.

"Clarke, Ophelia." Almost not hearing her name, the girl moved her blonde hair to the side and gulped before walking up to the stool in what she assumed was a walk but might have been a half shuffle. There was no telling. Everyone was in the Great Hall. EVERYONE. This was like that dream she had where she was in her skivvies at the grocery store, except last time she checked she was fully clothed --thank, Merlin-- and there weren't what seemed like a billion of her peers staring back at her. Fixing her deep brown eyes at the door in the back of the hall, she resigned herself to the task of getting sorted.

"Not the smartest in your family, are you? Pigheaded too. Stubborn as a mule, but also the peace-keeper between your family." Okay, ouch. It was a hat. On what grounds did the brown piece of felt have to insult her? The tanned girl was about to open her mouth to respond when it continued. "But you're not dumb." .....Thanks? This hat knew too much about her. It was weird. Pieces of felt fabric shouldn't know too much about their wearers, magical or not.

Also, the peace-keeping thing was true. The tanned girl would gladly fight her next door neighbor and come home with a bloodied nose and a black eye, but when her siblings or parents started to argue, she was usually the one to run into the fight and stop everything from escalating. People were allowed to fight of course, she and the neighbor boy beat each other up on a weekly basis, but not her FAMILY, OKAY?

"You value adventure, I see." This was draaaggggiiing on. Couldn't the hat just tell her that she sucked at life or was an Eagle or something? This was getting on Ophelia's nerves. She wanted food and feast time, not some stupid felt piece of headwear telling her that she wasn't smart. Like, how rude WAS that thing? It was true, yes, but still! You didn't just SAY it! That was like saying when your mother gained weight, or when your sister's nose was big. It didn't end well. Yes, she was getting sassy with a hat over here.

"You also see things a bit differently from your family, I can see. You like to learn hands-on and teach yourself while they prefer things taught to them. But you value learning. You want to get your hands on everything you can find, and since you started to read, you felt more lifted than you ever known."....... Okay, where was this going, hat?

"RAVENCLAW!" As the hat boomed it's final choice, 'Ophie felt like she was going to pass out. This was great! The legacy of all Ravenclaw's was continued! She didn't have to worry about disappointing her parents with house placement! Beaming at the people below in their tables, Ophelia took off the hat and ran to Ravencalw table, with a little bounce in her step. Now only to get the food around here.

She was at Hogwarts. That was the one thing that kept running through Brooklyn’s head, especially the part where she was going to get to be here for the whole seven terms, which made her want to stick her tongue out at her sister. She’d only gotten to come here for three, and while Brooklyn missed California, the accomplishment made up for it. Not to mention, she was going to get to find out what house she was in before almost everyone. That made her happy, because she deserved special treatment. She wouldn’t have to get nervous like everyone else, if she ever got nervous at all. She hadn’t even looked at the interior of the castle with the wide eyes of just about every other first year. Instead, she’d had the speculative look that had been on her face ever since the boat ride. All of this was going to be hers. Okay, everyone’s, but as far as she was concerned, it was hers. She was queen and now she had a real life castle.

“Andrews, Brooklyn.” A little smirk appeared on her face as she heard her name called, and she walked up to the stool proudly. All the people watching her didn’t bother her one bit. She’d looked over at the table on the dais where she assumed the professors and stuff were as she sat down, analyzing their appearances and trying to decide who she might find interesting before she’d suddenly found her view obscured by the rim of the mangy old hat that had been on the stool when they’d first arrived into the hall. She hadn’t paid attention to the few who had been Sorted before her, so that had been a surprise.

A mental sigh happened, only to be interrupted by the sound of a voice in her head. “Hmm.” She glared at the inside of the hat, a partial view of the table spread out in front of where she was seated visible underneath the brim. Nobody treated her like she was something to be experimented on or something. You’re being rude, she thought. “There is a fine line between entitled and rude, child. Perhaps you need to learn the difference,” came the reply, as she figured out it was the hat that was talking. “There is intelligence in you, and bravery, but you rarely choose to show it. You choose not to show who you really are, yet you feel like you’re better than anyone else.” I am better than everyone else, she insisted. “A princess, correct?,”came the reply and she sighed again. She preferred queen, but she was her daddy’s princess, so she didn’t respond. “Ambition runs deep in you, and cunning. While you perhaps would do well to learn a bit of humility, which Ravenclaw could give you… She glared at the interior of the hat again. She refused to be the same as the others in her family who had come here.

“Ah, of course. There is only one place we can put you…” and she was left to wait several seconds, still glaring at the inside of the hat before it finally spoke again, this time out loud.

”SLYTHERIN!

Thank you, she thought, even as the hat had been lifted off of her head and she was able to stand again. Not to mention see again, which she preferred. Especially when she saw the people at the green table clapping. She had gotten where she wanted to go, and it didn’t even matter that she saw the older boy who she had run into in Diagon Alley sitting amongst the students there. They had come to an agreement, as far as she was concerned. He wouldn’t be any trouble. After a moment, hearing the next name being called for their turn to be Sorted, she stepped down and made her way over to her table.

Gwen anxiously waited her turn, glad that stupid boat ride was over. It wasn't completely horrible and she didn't die so it was all good in her eyes. She tugged on her robes, wanting it to go faster. Thorny was already in Ravenclaw. Well, at least she'd have classes with him. She highly doubted she would end up there. And wouldn't ya know it. Hugo was a Slytherin. She honestly wasn't super shocked by that one but still.

Then there was a bunch of people she didn't know. And older kids. Why were the older kids getting sorted now? Unless they were transfers like Eden. Speaking of Eden, where was Eden. Anyways. Waiting sucked. Gwen began to bounce around.

"Gwenyth Samson." She wrinkled her nose. She as going to have to correct these teachers. It was Gwen. Just Gwen.

Gwen walked up to the stool and took a seat. She tapped her fingers with pure excitement. No nerves or anything. She just wanted to know where she belonged.

"Hmmm..." Then the hat started mumbling. "I see a lot of ambition here and the need to succeed. But it's not the most important thing. Not quite into intellect as your mother. Ravenclaw definitely wouldn't fit." Gwen raised her eyebrow. You remember my mother? "Of course I remember your mother dear. Your father too. However I don't think I see you following in either of their footsteps though..." Okay. So that meant Gryffindor or Slytherin. The hat went silent for a moment, mumbling here and there.

"I know just where to put you...GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Gwen smiled wide as applause erupted and the hat was taken off her head. She was going to have to start all over with the friends thing seeing as everyone else was somewhere. But she'd manage. She skipped over to her new house table.

Rob waited for his turn amongst all the younger students, feeling somewhat out of place but he just brushed it off. He just waited, and waited to see what was going to happen.

"Robert Triton" He heard his name called and upon realizing that the teachers didn't yet know his preferences he smiled at the teacher. "I prefer to be called Rob." He walked over to the stool and took a seat, calm, perhaps way calmer than most of the students around him.

He smiled softly when the hat was placed on his head. "Ah, I see a lot of courage here, a desire to prove yourself. A bit like your mum in that way, but Alas you don't belong in that house. I see Honesty, Caring, Hard working, but a bit of shyness too. I think I know where you belong....HUFFLEPUFF!"

Rob took off the hat, whooped and ran off to join his new friends at his house table.

Sapphire waited as patiently as she could for her turn. Having a last name starting with "W" would mean she'd be one of the last to be called.

She looked around the Great Hall, at all the students who had already been at Hogwarts at least a year. There were a couple who smiled at her. Sapphire gave them a small smile but quickly looked back at the Sorting Hat.

And at that moment, she finally heard her name called. "Wulfweardsweorth, Sapphire!"

She took a deep breath and walked anxiously up the steps. She glanced up at the professor holding the Hat, hoping to meet friendly eyes, then turned and sat down.

"Wow. There are more students than I expected," Sapphire thought. The view disappeared before her, however, when the Sorting Hat was placed over her head. The front covered her eyes and rested on her nose.

"Hello," Sapphire said, unsurely. "I'm -"

"Sapphire Wulfweardsweorth," The Sorting Hat said. "Well...it's nice to meet another Wulfweardsweorth after all these years. Hardworking, protective, loyal."

"Like my dad. He was a Hufflepuff," Sapphire thought.

"Yes, like your dad. I remember," The Sorting Hat continued. "Headstrong, honourable, brave."

"Like my mother. A Gryffindor." Sapphire smiled. People had always told her how much she looked like her father, but that her temperament was more like her mother. She heard the opposite about her younger sister, Amethyst.

"Yes. And now you know they were right." The Sorting Hat said proudly before his voice boomed throughout the Great Hall. "Gryffindor!"

Gabriel....COULD. NOT. BREATHE.

Yes, yes...He was standing in line with his sister...and then...what? No, he and Ruby couldn't be accused of being close...in public...but he was CLINGING TO HER NOW...but then he wasn't...because she was walking towards some manky old hat and a wooden stool! What? Had someone said something about the hat and stool? How were they important?

Gabe trusted nothing about this situation. Everyone looked suspicious...and uh, people were LOOKING at him. WHY WERE THEY LOOKING AT HIM?!

There were a bunch of faces in the room...and colors. Swirls of color since his vision had blurred, possibly due to impending tears. He'd read about this school, of course, when they'd been told they were being shipped off...by Linda...but he hadn't imagined it'd be...this vast...or crowded...or....

Oh, no...He was about to have a panic attack...

"Gabriel Banner."

Wha....What?

He didn't move at first...opting instead to stare at the hat and stool...and keep staring. Yep, Gabriel was perfectly fine to just...not move. Until someone pushed him foreword...and with the momentum from that, he fumbled his glasses a bit...but wordlessly made it to the stool. Then he was at the stool. He'd watched Ruby put the hat on...and she hadn't died...So...that was a good sign. Maybe.

...but....WHAT IF HE DID, THOUGH? WHAT IF HE WAS.....DIFFERENT?!

............Not that his intelligence or ability would be questioned here. He was clearly more brilliant than most the people in the room (student wise)...but he was, essentially, TOO TERRIFIED to think about THAT now.

It was odd, to say the least. His mind seemed to be time jumping...as he stared down at the hat...but then he was sat down with it on his head. Uh...

What.

Gabriel waited for something to happen...hair sticking to his forehead with sweat, eyes wide and gazed over, hands clammy and cold. He didn't know what he was expecting...The hat had shouted houses for people...So...imagine his shock when it started TALKING to him. Why....was it talking to him?

Why are you scared?

Why WOULDN'T I be scared? Better question.

I'm simply a hat. What harm could I do to you?

...........Uh. You could drive me insane. Yes, you could. I've read about it as a practice. Dark magic driving people to their limits and then making them do awful things.

...because this was a conversation in his head...apparently, it was much easier to talk. Hmm. Duly noted.

Over-analyzing a bit, aren't you, Mr. Banner. I'm simply trying to determine from your state of mind which house would best suit you on your way to learning all that Hogwarts can offer.

..........Yes....to that first bit.

...I believe we have our answer.

"RAVENCLAW."

....He could've said words....but unfortunately, Gabriel had fainted.