Oh. My. Goodness. You guys, I can barely contain myself—I’m finally here! After years of dreaming, reading, and hearing endless stories from my siblings, I am officially at Hogwarts! HOGWARTS! *insert happy squeal here.*

Don’t get me wrong, Ilvermorny was amazing, and I’ll always have a soft spot for it. But Hogwarts? It’s like stepping into a storybook! And the best part? It’s practically in my backyard! Okay, not literally, but close enough. I mean, how could I not be over-the-moon excited to be here?

So today was THE day—Sorting Day. I’ve been waiting for this moment forever. All my siblings have gone through it, and now it was finally my turn. I tried to stay calm, but let’s be real, calm wasn’t happening. My heart was racing as one by one, students went up to the stool. The Sorting Hat would yell out their houses, and the tables would erupt in cheers. It was magical—literally!

And then… it was my turn.

I took a deep breath and walked up to the stool. My hands were shaking just a little (okay, a lot), but I sat down and waited. The Sorting Hat barely even touched my head before it shouted—wait for it—

“SLYTHERIN!”

YES! YES! YES! This is exactly what I wanted! I mean, don’t get me wrong, all the houses are amazing in their own way, but Slytherin has always felt like *me*. The ambition, the determination, the drive—I just knew it was where I belonged. And now it’s official! I practically flew off that stool and sprinted over to the Slytherin table. Everyone was cheering, and I could already feel the sense of camaraderie. My housemates were so welcoming, and I can’t wait to get to know them better. This is going to be the best year EVER.

I’ve got so much to look forward to—exploring the castle, learning magic (obviously), and making tons of new friends. Hogwarts is everything I hoped it would be and more. And being a proud Slytherin? It’s just the cherry on top.

Watch out, Hogwarts—Periwinkle is here, and I’m ready to make this year unforgettable!

"Diego Melo-Dreamer!"

Okay, this was it. Diego thought as he took the steps up to the stool. One of the professors smiled at him before he sat down. While facing the crowd, goosebumps started forming. Maybe it was cold or maybe it was the nerves he felt with all eyes on him. He tried to find Vi in the crowd but it was hard to see at this distance. That was he felt the hat be placed on his head.

Hmmm....

Diego blinked. Yes, he knew the hat would talk to him but he wasn't expecting it to sound like someone was next to him as he turned to see no one there.

Interesting.. Very interesting. You've had a difficult journey, and such joy with your loved ones now.

Diego bit his lower lip. Was the hat going to make him relive his memories?

Not to fear, I am here to help. You have a great mind, ready to put to good use... but perhaps not to Ravenclaw's standards. That's okay. You have such loyalty and courage... Yes... yes... I know exactly where to place you.

Diego blinked rapidly as his eyes searched in the crowd before finally. Yes, he saw his friend Zen where she sat at one table. But his eyes wandered before settling on where he found his best friend at last.

You belong in...

GRYFFINDOR!

Diego sighed in relief. Though he couldn't hear himself as the thunderous clapping and cheers. Was that a whistle? He could barely make out someone standing on the table as he quickly wiped the moist feeling in his eyes. Look out, Gryffindor. He was on the way!

The Great Hall was breathtaking. Every bit as magical as Alaric had imagined in the countless stories he’d heard about Hogwarts. The enchanted ceiling shimmered with a velvety night sky dotted with stars, and the rows of students at the house tables filled the hall with excited murmurs. But none of that compared to the pounding of his own heart as he waited for his name to be called.

“Ashcombe, Alaric!”

The words seemed to echo endlessly, and Alaric swallowed hard before starting walking. His legs felt like jelly as he walked toward the Sorting Hat, every eye in the room on him. He climbed the few steps to the stool, sat down, and felt the hat drop onto his head, just brushing his wavy blonde hair.

“Ah, a sharp mind,” the Sorting Hat mused in a low, thoughtful tone only he could hear. “Ambitious, resourceful… and quite cunning. Oh yes, there’s no question where you belong.”

Before Alaric could even respond, the hat boomed, “SLYTHERIN!”

His chest swelled with pride as cheers erupted from the Slytherin table. A wide grin broke across his face as he hopped off the stool and made his way toward his new housemates, who were clapping and calling his name.

This was exactly where he wanted to be. Ambition, drive, the determination to succeed... Slytherin was home. As he sat down among his housemates, Alaric touched the phoenix charm on his bracelet and smiled to himself.

This was only the beginning.

Ugh. Merlin. So many people in one room. Maddox waited for his turn rather grumpily. Social battery at absolute zero.

"Maddox Robicheaux!"

And now he grumpily shuffled up to the stool, sitting down and facing everyone. All eyes in the room stared at him expectantly, hungrily, like each house wanted to swallow him up for themselves. Probably not far off given the shouts and cheers whenever someone was sorted. He just wanted it over with, really.

As soon as he sat the Hat was held over him, and before it could even touch a wisp of a hair on his head—

"SLYTHERIN!"

Ah, good, it was done. Maddox shuffled stoically off to his house table as they all wooped and cheered.

———

Felicity felt a little bit silly standing up and waiting to be Sorted with all these little eleven year olds, but it wasn't so bad. Getting Sorted was an honor, especially as old of a tradition as it was. Part of the reason she was excited to be at Hogwarts was because of all the history the place held, and the Sorting Ceremony was a deeply ingrained part of that. Plus it was an all-you-can-eat kind of event.

"Felicity Morose!"

Felicity glided forward dreamily, flouncing as she made her way to the—

WOMP.

Oops. She took a little tumble there. In front of everyone. There wasn't even anything to trip over and yet, down she went. How unfortunate—but that's alright! She dusted herself off and wasn't even thinking about how that was her first impression for the entire school (no really—she wasn't, no joke).

Felicity sat herself down on the little stool, pleased as a peach, and hummed to herself. Some people were looking and laughing, some looked a tad concerned for her, but she couldn't fathom a reason they'd have to be worried (again, truthfully, she couldn't!). The Hat was placed down on her head, and then she started bouncing a little with excitement.

Ah, eager, aren't we? said the Hat, Well, let's see here...hm...you're a peculiar one, aren't you? Away with the fairies? Good-natured, gentle...well, not all the time it seems...can take a beating like nobody's business...I think I know the place for you—

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

As soon as the Hat was taken off of her she skipped on over to the rest of the badgers, delighted that the entire occasion went so smoothly!

"BARRINGTON, CALLIOPE!"

The brunette didn't waste a second as she strut forward and out of the mass of black robes waiting to have their names called and took to the steps leading up to the stool, the soles of her feet beating against the stone drum skin beneath her. Her wand fitting had not exactly gone according to her heart's desires, but she had decided that she didn't totally loathe the brittle spruce tucked within her wrist holster. While not entirely keen in having the same core as mamma, her sights set on something much more glorious like the sphinx talon in dad's, it was fine. It would be fine. It would be fine because she decided that it had to be fine - plus the bit of music she had engraved upon the wood helped the whole aesthetic.

A couple of shallow breaths and Calliope's bum was nestled on the stool and the Sorting Hat wiggling itself into position upon her head.

"Ah, another Barrington...very musically inclined as your father but lacking his patience and acceptance of things and people as he...I see..."


She nodded eagerly because, well, duh. She didn't need some old hat telling her such things AND she already knew she was not meant to be in Ravenclaw like him and her sister. For one, it always bothered her that their mascot was an eagle instead of a raven, which she supposed was supposed to be some sort of ironic twist of humor or subverting expectations but...it still bothered her.

"Hard work comes easily to you, yes, particularly in those endeavours to which you feel yourself drawn to most...and extremely loyal as well...hmm...you would make a fine H---"

"No," she snapped, fingers coiling around the rim of the stool. "No...thank you." An afterthought of politeness but also...just no. She was no badger either though she had heard from Uncle West how he had been considered for it as well and how the emeralds and the golds were practically two sides of the same galleon. And, let's be real, pseudo uncles were just always way cooler than your own dad sooooooooo following in the superior cool strides of Uncle West and Uncle Ascanius had a bigger appeal! ...and maybe a DASH of Uncle Dante, but just a smidge of a dash.

"Ah...I see...yes... Ah, you're a curious one indeed... ambition in your heart, cleverness in your mind. Music, a true passion... a thirst for greatness, but... what is this? A desire to shape the world around you with creativity, too."

The Hat paused, the silent tension growing.

“Yes... yes. I see...better be....SLYTHERIN!"

A smile tugged at her lips and soon spread into a wide grin as she slipped off the stool and double timed the rhythm of her feet against the floor to scamper over to the Slytherin table and join her classmates - she couldn't WAIT to write home about this!

Zephyr's eyes darted every which way from the moment he stepped off the train. Scanning the boats and the water and the lights outside, and then the corridors and the great hall and the lights above and the magical sky ceiling and and and-

"Amstern, Zephyr!"

He scarcely had time to settle in and admire everything when his name was called. It was almost disappointing that his last name was toward the beginning of the alphabet, but then he also realized he could soon study the great hall from his HOUSE table, and so his ecstatic grin did not falter as he hurried to the stool. He sat, and the hat was placed on his head.

"Ah, yes, another Amstern I see... Hmm, but where to place you?"

I think any of the four would be interesting! he said (thought?) back to the hat. And he did mean that. He had family members in all of the houses, though Hufflepuff was predominant. His great-grandda and his aunts Regina and Naia and Kimmie were pretty great, and they all said his grandda was too, even though Zeph had only met him when he was a baby, so he wouldn't be upset to be in that house. And his mom had been a Gryffindor, so that would be fun too. And his Uncle Luke had been Slytherin, and Zeph thought his uncle was the coolest, so that house would be loads of fun too. And his nan and Mark had been Ravenclaws, and that house sounded so cool TOO.

So...yeah, there really were no downsides here, in his mind. There was lots to learn and to become from all of them. And Zephyr was more than eager to get started.

"A ready and open mind, yes, curiosity abounding... Loyalty and boldness, to be sure, but with thoughtfulness and care... Yes, indeed, I know exactly where you belong.

"Better be... RAVENCLAW!"

Aw, yeah! Thank Merlin it hadn't taken too long.

Grinning, Zephyr hopped off the stool and headed for the eagles.

It was all so very different.

So far none of this was like his old school, and though Alexei had been prepared for that (his parents had been careful to walk him through exactly how different it would be, and what to expect) knowing it and living it were very different things.

It was just a lot. There was so much going on, so many sights and sounds and smells, all of it doubly (triply, quadruply, etc) overwhelming in its newness. Alexei tried to appreciate it, knowing that it was a big day, a special day, a special moment, but couldn't stop thinking about how the cuffs of his robes chafed against his hands, how the fabric felt like it was weighing him down, how his tie seemed determined to choke him. How people kept knocking against his shoulders and his back, how someone's breath kept tickling his neck and had to keep shrugging and squirming away from them because it was driving him crazy, how the light of the candles and braziers and their reflections in the dark windows were playing havoc with his eyes and giving him a headache.

Alexei stayed close to Elena as the sorting progressed, but that was another thing that wouldn't leave his head, tainting this moment with nerves beyond any sensory irritation or the unease of knowing he would soon be at the very centre of attention. He had a bad feeling about what was coming. His татко had tried to prepare him for this, too, for the possibility that they'd end up in separate houses, but Alexei had been way ahead of him. It had occurred to him months earlier, though he'd never actually put it into words.

As Alexei preceded Elena alphabetically, this was one of the few situations where he would lead, and she would follow. Hopefully all the way to the house table but... well, that remained to be seen.

They wouldn't have long to wait, either, as 'Petrov, Alexei' was the next to be called up.

A nasty jolt in the pit of his stomach, distracting him even from the annoyance of his mispronounced name. He glanced at Elena, then walked towards the stool on tiptoe. He'd been so focused for most of that day on all the daunting changes and missing his parents and on the likelihood of being split up that he'd barely spared a thought to worry about the house itself. Not that it was really anything to worry about, but it now struck him all too suddenly that this Hat was about to look into his mind, to make a judgement about him, categorise his personality into one of four possible options. Alexei wasn't at all sure which house he'd go to, and it occurred to him now what an uncomfortable concept it was, that this Hat was trusted to know him better than he knew himself. And not even to really know him. More like to generalise him based on a few seconds or minutes (which didn't seem much better) of analysis.

Well, it didn't matter. It was happening either way. Alexei sat on the stool, and the hat was lowered onto his head, mercifully blocking out the sight of all the faces turned towards him. He gripped the sides of the stool and grimaced slightly as the Hat spoke into his ear. At least he couldn't feel it breathing.

Hmm, what do we have here? Not a bad mind, not bad at all, creativity, and a passion for knowledge. Not just intelligent, but clever too, and I see clear ambition... though no desire for the limelight...

Alexei said nothing. He tried to think nothing too, but that had never been a very attainable thing. He focused mainly on listening, and trying to figure out where the Hat was headed, and whether any of those things might also apply to Elena.

I see loyalty here too, though of a selective sort, and a capacity for kindness, though somewhat lacking in selflessness... and... ah, yes, you know how to balance the scales, how to recognise certain advantages...

This last part did not make much sense to Alexei, and he was so stuck on trying to puzzle it out that he might have missed the final part of his sorting, had the mention of houses not immediately grabbed his attention, not to mention the volume of its final judgement.

You might do well in Ravenclaw, perhaps even Hufflepuff could serve you well, but I think, on balance, it ought to be...

"SLYTHERIN!"

The hat was lifted off of Alexei's head. He blinked in the sudden brightness and rose to his feet, seeking out Elena's face in what what was left of the crowd of students to be sorted. Slytherin wasn't so bad... he'd not been expecting it - if he'd had to guess then Ravenclaw, like татко, or Hufflepuff had seemed most likely - but it made him slightly more optimistic. Elena could go there too; it didn't seem impossible. And their dad had been a Slytherin.

He flashed the faintest of smiles at Elena before following the cheers to the Slytherin table. The whole thing had lasted less than a minute, but he was relieved it was over all the same. He joined his table and melted into the crowd, watching as his sister was sorted next.

It was all happening so fast. A good thing, Bria decided, because t gave her very little to to fret and fuss over what was ahead. In one moment, she was waiting along with her fellow first years on the dock and the next she was disembarking from that very boat and being ushered up to the castle. Now, well, now she was once again clustered up and awaiting her turn with the infamous Sorting Hat. And, with her last name being towards the beginning of things, this ought not take too long either!

"Ashburry-Hawthorne, Briallen!"

Could the Sorting Hat work its wonders on all the chickens back home? What about Thistle? The hatchling was the most peculiar little hippogriff and Bria was feeling a little some sort of way about not being able to clean off their feathers when they once again broke into the pantry and covered themselves in honey once again.

".....Ashburry-Hawthorne, Briallen?"

Picketta was a Hufflepuff like papa, that much she was certain. Perhaps an unconventional mold of one but still it would surely be the hat's decision where it given the opportunity. Hufflepuff's colors were delightfully similar to a bumblebee's...or perhaps more a kin to the sun and the night sky mixed together. A golden yellow like the bright, warm sunshine that makes you feel all cozy and happy, like when you’re curled up with your favorite book or when you’ve just had the best, most delicious breakfast with a large mug full of warmth. And the black, well, that’s like the midnight sky, super mysterious and strong, kind of like a shadow, but also like a really comfy blanket that makes you feel safe and warm in the middle of the night.

".....Ashburry-Hawthorne, Briallen?!"

Which of the creatures back on the reserve were Ravenclaws like mum and nani? The blonde did feel a certain pull towards the eagles and its striking combination of blue and bronze. Blue is like the deep, endless sky on a clear day, full of possibilities and adventure, like when you’re looking up and wondering what’s out there in the world. It’s not like any ordinary blue either—it's the kind of blue that makes you feel smart, like you’re on the verge of figuring out a huge puzzle. And bronze? That’s like this rich, ancient color, kind of like a golden treasure, or like the metal you’d find in some old, secret study full of dusty books and magical artifacts. It has that feel like you’re on the edge of discovering something amazing...

"ASHBUTTY-HAWTHORNE, BRIALLEN!!"

Oh.OH HEY! That was her!

"Coming!" she chirped gleefully, unawares that her thoughts had swept her far from the Great Hall and thus her name called entirely more times than was necessary. Her heart galloped and leapt as the hat settled upon her head, springing to life before she could even say 'flaming salamanders, and 'hmm hmm'ing quite loudly.

"Ah, I see, yes, very well indeed. Much drier than your father. Means you have more sense about you, hmm, gifts from your mother surely, yes..."

Well, she was not quite sure what that was supposed to mean exactly, but it pleased her to have her parents referenced and praised (?) so quickly. So she smiled and wiggled into a slightly more comfortable position on the stool.

"Curious… I see, yes, and quite spirited… with a heart full of wonder, too. So much potential. So much passion for the life of this world. And yet… there’s something else. A spark I sense. A spark of bravery....both compulsive and reckless yet poised and purposeful...Ravenclaw would nurture your cleverness...Hufflepuff would celebrate your loyalty and natural compassion… but your spirit, hmmm, yes, it calls out to be more...to be free..."

Again, she was not sure what all that meant but it all sounded lovely. Mum and papa would be pleased and proud regardless of where the Sorting Hat placed her and yet something the hat had said now...something about this notion of freedom and her bravery resonated a bit differently and she could almost hear the echoes of her parents, perhaps even the hat itself in some pseudo memory, speaking to a willingness to stand up for what was right. She was daring because she felt something deep within her, something that pushed her to act. But she did really like yellow, it felt all warm and cozy, like a sunny afternoon nap with a pet and blue like like looking through an old book and finding something no one else noticed...together they made green but the hat 'tsk'd' quickly as that thought slithered across her brow. Yellow and bronze made a kind of orangey color...orange like fire...fire like red, crimson...crimson, a color not just about action, but heart! The kind of heart that stands up for what’s right, even when it’s hard. Gold, a friend of yellow, that isn’t just about winning, but honor. The kind that comes when you stick by your friends, face down danger, and never give up.

"Agreed. Better be... GRYFFINDOR!"

And just like that, another milestone in the books for Bria! It had gone by incredibly quickly for the blonde, another blink of the eye, but in actuality had been quite different. Giving a whistle akin to a eastern meadowlark, sweet and harmonious in tone like spring itself, she skipped off to the Gryffindor table and managed not to fall flat on her face as she tripped down the stairs from the stool.