Too Tall to be a 1st Year, but surrounded by the lot of them. So he looked around at each new face for a while, taking note of each of the other older looking kids who were probably transferring like he was. Aegis could pinpoint a few here and there, but it was all mostly 1st Years.

This was embarrassing.

Then Suddenly his name was called out. The Blonde strode forward and took a seat on the stool facing the crowd of Students looking forward at him.
"Ah Finally! I see I'm given another Gunter Child, Quite some time really. I feel as though I skipped a Generation!"
Aegis was baffled. "How'd you know I was a Gunter?"
"It's my Job to know these things."
"Yeah, but you skipped one. If you know so much about us, you forgot about Oakey Gunter."
"He was not truly of your Blood, he was Muggleborn. You have traces of the Pureblood Gunter line coursing through you."
"Fine, then. Why're you taking so long?"
"You Interrupted me! I was willing to answer your Questions. Now then let's see. Ah! Your Grandfather, was of Hufflepuff. The one you spoke of Earlier too, he did very well within that House. Head Boy of his Year, you could be just as successful in Hufflepuff."
Aegis shook his head defiantly, almost flinging the Hat right of his head, before even being sorted. "I want nothing to do with Hufflepuff!! It's my Birthday! What else you got as a Gift!? "
"Fair enough, I did feel something else. Much like your Grandmother. She was Very Troublesome
There was some quick still silence. Aegis almost wanted to protest again for being compared to his GeeGee, but instead kept quiet.
"GRYFFINDOR!!"
There was an uproar of cheers coming from the Maroon and Gold Table. The Sorting Hat was removed from his head, and he was motioned to move towards his New House. This is where he'd have to stay for the next 3 Years? Aegis was missing Quodpot, more and more by the minute.

*The moment of truth, literally. Noah had always thought that his sister and him would be put into the same house as their parents, Hufflepuff. His dad always would go on about how the Gardner family was loyal to the end, and distantly related to Hufflepuff and Gryfindor but mostly Hufflepuff. How one was more than the other confused him but whatever. That was what he always thought, until he spoke to that girl in the robes shop. What if he got put in another house that his father didn't like? It added a little nerves to an otherwise non nervous Noah.

Gardner, Emma!

Of course Emma would be first and by the look of it she had the same thoughts as him. Walking up to the hat she glanced over at him. Noah gave her a warm smile to reassure his sister. They may fight constantly but at the end of the day Emma was his twin sister and they loved each other. Smiling little Emma sat on the stool as the hat was placed on her head. It was hardly on her head for a second before it yelled out Gryfinndor! A look of shock washed over Noah as he watched his baby sister (by a minute) walk over to the lion table.*

Gardner, Noah Jack!

*All the color washed away from his face as he headed to the dreaded hat. His legs were shaking and his hands suddenly turned super sweaty. Taking a seat he dried his hands on his pants as the hat was placed on his head.
Hmmm... Another Gardner, but not like the others.
What did the hat mean by that? He was like his family.
Oh no you're not. You have anger in you... lots of anger.
Stupid hat... just put me in Hufflepuff already.
Hufflepuff? Oh no you would not do well with them. But where should you go...
Not Hufflepuff? Then Gryfindor like Emma right? He looked over at Emma who was smiling warmly at him. Wait? How long had he been sitting her with this old hat?
Hmmm old am I? I know where to put you. Slytherin!

If Noah felt sick before it was nothing like how he felt now. He could see his sisters smile fall as a look of worried shock came over her face. Slowly getting up he moved over to the table that was cheering for him. He had family who were put in Slytherin, his aunt Marie after all was in Slytherin. But she wasn't blood family, Gardners are loyal to the end. It looked like the end had come for Noah.*

Tia definitely felt weird standing up here with all the first years. Though she did catch eye contact with someone else who like her seemed older than first year. Fortunately for him, his surname began with G so he didn't have to wait uncomfortably with everyone watching before getting sorted.

The fourth year decided to focus her attention instead on the staff dias while she could see them up closer and she found herself wondering how many of them were here 8 years ago when her brother was here and furthermore, if any of them would realize the connection to their former colleague. Considering the surname variance, she guessed they wouldn't, but who knew what sort of family history was available.

Mancini, TiaMarie

The Headmistress probably knew. Not that she expected it to ever come up but who knew? Twirling a lose strand of dark hair around her finger, Tia hadn't even realized her name had been called.

Mancini, TiaMarie

After the second time, the fourteen year old found herself flushed with anxiety and embarrassment, quickly unraveling her hair strand behind her ear and hurried to take the seat on the stool .

Ah yes, I was hoping you would show up. I remember when your brother was sorted. You're quite loyal and protective, I see... You would do well in Hufflepuff, but no there's more.... The voice stopped talking into her ear and Tia found herself frowning at the old hat's rim. Yes, you have this thirst for knowledge. This innate curiosity. Well then, better be,

Ravenclaw!

Breathing a sigh, she pulled the hat off her head and set it down on the stool after standing up and bounded her new family for the next four years, as she thought excitedly on the prospect of writing home tonight or in the morning. Pao would be thrilled considering he totally called it first.

Echo was so scared, which house was she going to be placed into. Watching the two others go up she saw that one was going to be placed into Gryffindor and the other Slytherin. before she could turn and run for the door and try to find her way back home her name was called.

"Duchannes, Echo"

She gulped, and quickly placed her hands in one another to keep them busy. slowly making her way up to the stool she sat shakily on it and looked up to see the hat being placed on her head and instantly a voice started talking. "ohhhh.. what a wonderful adventurous mind you have here." she moved her head around.. she didn't know what to say "t..thhhannnkk... youu" she stuttered out.

"you can get into some trouble, but your a great friend... but where to place you" she grabbed her robe, and gripped it tight.... "well... I shall place you where I placed your father..." okay.. now she was confused. her father never told her what house he was in... if he did she wasn't paying attention.. then the hat thing shouted.

"SLYTHERIN"

she heard a table on the far right cheer as she got up and went to join them, happy that the experience was over.

As Kate stood on the floor with all the other first years, she fidgeted and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She wanted to go up there now! Her last name started with an A. She had to be among the first few, right?! Her eyes were wide and glowing as she watched the hat (THE HAT!) come out and be perched upon a stool. She looked at every crease of it as it came alive and began to speak to them. OH, WOW!

"Addison, Kate!" someone said.

Kate wanted to burst through the crowd like someone had suddenly lit a fire, but she contained herself. She walked up to the stool and hat calmly but with a wide smile on her face. She didn't want anyone to hear her and think she was childish, so she did an inner squeal of excitement as she took a seat.

"An excited little one, I see," the hat said. "Hmm. Now where to put you?"

"Hi, Sorting Hat. My name's Kate, and I want to be a Ravenclaw," she said inside her head. She'd heard it could still hear you that way. But could it? She fidgeted again, squirming this way and that in an excitement she couldn't control right now.

The Sorting Hat cleared its throat, probably trying to wait a bit while the little one underneath it got still. "A Ravenclaw? Hmm," it pondered. "Your mother's house, I recall. But a Gryffindor your father was..." Several seconds passed, and Kate guessed the hat was trying to figure out a few things.

"I don't want to jump headfirst into danger," she answered, still speaking inside her head. "I want to take the logical approach to things." She wanted to reason with the sorting hat, not just let it call out the first house that came to mind. She could tell it was considering Gryffindor for her, too. "There are more traits to a Lion than that one," it told her. "Hmm..."

The hat was doing an awful lot of those hmm's. Kate decided to stay quiet now and let it work its magic. Whatever house it decided on, she'd take it with her head held high. "Logical, sensible, friendly, and brave," it said aloud. "Ambitious, too." There was another hmm and also a sigh. Kate's face wrinkled into a slightly worried expression. How long had she been up here now?

"RAVENCLAW!" it finally yelled.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Kate told it. "I promise you that you won't regret it!" She wanted to be an amazing Ravenclaw! She grinned widely and took the hat off her head. Stepping down, she headed to join her new housemates...THE EAGLES!

Finally. Timila Kyle was going to be sorted.

Upon waitng her turn, the little blonde girl's feet tapped side to side quietly. It was a no brainer that she was getting anxious about being sorted. The type of anxious she got right before her dance competitions back in Terni. Where they used to live before moving to Edinburgh. The type of anxious that made her heart beat fast and want to run out of the place. But Timmy was stuck here for the next seven terms. And hopefully she got a house she wanted to be in. A good house. Not that they weren't good, but she didn't want to be a lion. No matter what Ollie and Jon had told her. She wouldn't accept t too much. But maybe in time it'll grow on her if she did end up with the lions. She saw Ollie go up, smiled at him and inched a bit closer to the front for a better view. Once the sorting hat called out "Slytherin!", the blonde twin beamed. She was a Slytherin just like their mum was. It was a perfect for for him.

"Kyle, Timila!"

BLINK. BLINKBLINK.

Oh right, that was her. Excusing herself as she passed through the other first years, Timmy arrived to the front. Swallowing hard, she walked up and sat on the stool. Timila swung her legs a bit as the hat was placed on her head.

"*gasp!* A twin! Oliver Kyle's twin sister. Hmm, where do I put you? You're a tricky one."

A tricky one? Was that a bad thing? "What does that mean?"

"Never a bad thing, child! But a bit difficult on where to-- You are a Leahey! I recognize this blonde hair anywhere! And those blue eyes! I remember when your mother was here. And your aunt, uncle, Merlin!, even your grandparents! The Leahey children were all put into different houses. Maybe you will keep the traditions going," The hat said, moving Timmy's head to look towards where her brother had joined the rest of Slytherin house. "Now let's see. Hm, you possess qualities from all houses but which ones are stronger? Maybe you'd join your brother and the rest of the Slytherins like your mother was too." The hat pondered and gazed around at all the different house tables.

Timmy was becoming a bit impatient. Was this usually how long sorting took? Couldn't the hat just pick a house and get it over with? The poor child was already anxious enough. "What about Ravenclaw?" She whispered to it.

"Ravenclaw? Hm, you are witty, but no dear." It kept pondering, but not for long. "Aha! I'VE GOT IT! Congratulations, m'dear on being the first Leahey family member to be sorted into----GRYFFINDOR!" The hat called out with much excitement.

Timmy's face fell. She didn't want this house. No. This meant she was like her dad, and Timmy didn't want that. She was practically frozen to the stool. "Are you sure?" She whispered to the hat, but before it could answer, Timila felt the weight of the hat lifted off her head and she hopped down from the stool. This was her house for the next seven years. What will her mum say? Or Jon? The cheering of someone specific made the blonde look up and smile at them. Ollie was happy for her. He didn't care which house she landed in. Head held high, the dancer figured it was best to take pride in her house. Her little feet made their way to her house table. It was official as the hat said it. Timila Kyle was the first Leahey to be sorted into Gryffindor. And she was going to be proud of it.

ROAR!

Standing with the crowd of mainly first years, Dalton's gaze shifted from nervous face to nervous face, wondering why on Earth they all looked so freaked out. He hadn't really been listening during the Sorting Hats song, but had caught phrases about bravery, loyalty, wisdom and ambition, and assumed they were the associations of different houses.

Not that he could remember the names of said houses.

"Fletcher, Dalton."

Barely registering his name being called, it took Dalt a few seconds before he made his way up to the front, pushing through the crowd before him. He glanced at the hat on the stool, then back at the room filled with people looking at him, before putting the hat on his head and sitting down.

"Don't bother." The hat spoke as the eleven year old went to push the brim up over his eyes, and he hoped the jump he made wasn't noticeable. The hat announcing houses to the room at general had been weird enough, but speaking into his head? That was another level, and he wasn't sure how much he was liking this 'magic lark', as Aled would have called it. At the thought of his friend, he couldn't help but wonder what house the ginger boy would have been placed in. The brave one, or loy- "We're not here to sort your Muggle friend, boy."

Muggle? "Non magical. Curiosity, I detect. But maybe that's just due to you having no knowledge of the world. Not much desire to learn, either." As right as the hat was, Dalton still found it insulting to hear it said to him, and grimaced a little, glad that the hat was covering his face. "You're loyal, yes - but only to those you trust, and they're few and far between."

It was starting to feel like he'd been sat up on this stool forever, and the boy tried hard to keep his thoughts blank. "But behind your nerves, you're ambitious. Cunning... Angry..."

"SLYTHERIN."

Taking off the hat and putting it down, Daltons eyes roved to the table that was clapping, clad in green, and remembered what the girl in Diagon Alley had said. Amelia. 'Slytherin's impressive.' And while he didn't know what that meant, it still gave him a little boost, to lose the frown (although he still didn't smile) and to make his way over to his new house.

Oh oh! It was now her turn to get sorted! REALLY nervous because she really wanted to be placed in Slytherin she sat down on the chair, ready for the sorting had to be placed on her head! But... What would she do if... If... she would be placed into one of the other houses? She would be humiliated! Her whole family had been sorted in Slytherin and SHE wanted to do the same!

With her fingers crossed she felt how the hat was placed on her head and she heard how the sorting hat was whispering something in her ear, something only Cahira could hear...

You're smart and you can be a real bully if you want to... You're having really a lot things to become a real and good Slytherin but... I also sense a lot bravery inside of you... And you also will be a good Gryffindor if you really want..." The sorting hat whispered some more things in her ear but she shook her head and looked irritated.

"I don't want to be placed in Gryffindor, that house is stupid and i don't want it!" thought Cahira back to the sorting hat, still crossing her fingers that she wouldn't be placed in another house than Slytherin and then... Then she heard it, the sorting hat spoke out loud this time!

He yelled: "Slytherin!

Relieved that she had been placed into Slytherin but also irritated that the sorting hat had hesitated and also had thought about Gryffindor was something she didn't liked but... That would be her secret! Smiling widely she walked toward her new house table, relieved to see her new house and all the students who were also sorted into Slytherin!

It wasn't every day you rode across a pitch black lake in little boats on a particularly starry night. The fact that they were riding towards a really nice looking castle was a bonus. Granted, he spent quite a bit of the ride comforting a seasick Echo, but it was still pretty good. He did notice that only first years seemed to be on the boats, however, which raised the question on how the other students made their way to the castle. Well, that was a question to be answered next year, he supposed.

So they were led through a few corridors and then they were in this huge hall where the ceiling looked like the night sky and Brian was in AWE. Was that the actual night sky or did it just look like the night sky? If it was raining, would it be really cloudy? Brian had so many questions, like how were the candles possibly be floating and where were the food and why were there four tables in different colours?

He was pretty sure that he'd seen it all when the tattered hat on the stool spontaneously burst into song. Not into flames, into song. It was using one of its seams as a mouth and could magic be any cooler? Okay, now he had seen it all. So four houses, each with its own set of fascinating attributes that Brian was not really paying attention to and something about friendship. Yeah, that was about the gist of the song.

"Woods, Brian."

You could imagine that he was quite in a daze, because when they called his name, he was only barely coming back down to earth. He might not even have noticed if it wasn't for the one other person remaining who practically shoved him at the hat. So he sat on the old stool and put the Singing Sorting Hat on his head.

He thought all the crazy stuff was over, so you can imagine how high he jumped off the stool when he heard the hat talking in his head. It's really a wonder he didn't topple over and injure himself.

"Hello, Brian."

"AAAAHHH! How can you talk? I don't remember hearing you talking. Were you talking this entire time? Can everybody hear me?" Clearly, he was the epitome of chill.

"So many questions, boy. I've got half a mind to put you in Ravenclaw."

Did Ravenclaws ask a lot of questions? "And what's the other half saying? Not that I don't want to be in Ravenclaw, but yeah. I like the idea of not being in a house where everyone's really smart. I'm not that smart."

"Well, as daring as you might be, I don't think Gryffindor's the place for you. Or Slytherin for that matter."

Right. Brian was going to pretend he knew what those were and that was totally paying attention during the song.

"Maybe Hufflepuff. You're a hard worker... loyal to a fault. You could fit in either house, boy."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, no, of course not. Just makes my job a little more difficult, don't you think?"

"Ah."

The hat HMMed and Brian was just a little bit scared. Why was the entire hall staring at him? IT WASN'T HIS FAULT THE HAT WAS SO INDECISIVE, WAS IT?

"Which is the house with the fun people?" he asked after a long pause. Mr Hat, you asleep or something?

"Oh, that one's easy," it said, as though it had just received an epiphany. IT HAD SEEN THE LIGHT. AND IT WAS LIKE THE FOOOOOOG HAD LIFTED. "That would put you in...

...HUFFLEPUFF!"

Brian almost took the hat down with him, barely remembering to put it back on the stool as he tried to figure out which table was the Hufflepuff table. Probably the one with the red tablecloth. Red sounded like a Hufflepuff colour, right? He was OFF to the Hufflepuff table or so he thought.

"Holloway, Nicole!"

Nicole heard her name being called out after a short wait. She made her way through the crowd consisting of mostly first years and other transfers and reached the Hat. She could not help but feel anxious, not knowing what was about to happen. The girl had watched as the hat sorted one student after another, but had no idea what went on in its mind if it had one while it thought.

Soon enough, she felt the hat being placed on top of her head. "Hmm," Nicole was surprised by the small voice in her ear and a bunch of questions popped up inside her mind. "I'm not answering any questions now, young Holloway," the hat said and cleared its throat. "You don't have a bad mind. Friendly and patient too, now that's interesting."

She squirmed uncomfortably on the stool and thought, 'Can you put me in Ravenclaw like my father?'

"Ravenclaw?" said the hat. "I'm sure you would be great in Ravenclaw, but there are other houses that could help you out further. If you are not going to take your words back, better be -" the tension rose as there was a pause. "RAVENCLAW!"

Nicole got up and ran to the Ravenclaw table with a smile. She looked around the hall and saw her friends at their respective house tables. This was her home for her next six years of school.

The hat was ancient, or it least, it looked ancient and Damien had was suddenly thinking about mold and germs, and the lack of proper hat care, but then it was placed on his head and it smelled, clean and the edges where it touched his skin felt velvety smooth and he sighed.

He’d heard the hat sing earlier, would it be singing now as he sat? Telling the world all it’s observations about the inner workings of Damien’s mind? That wouldn’t be a very pleasant experience.

No, it most certainly wouldn’t.

Excuse me?

You’re excused.

No, no, I didn’t mind it like that; I meant I was surprised, I didn’t think you’d be talking in my head. I feel a little like I’m going crazy, now.

You’re not going crazy Mr. Anderson-Belfort, son of Aiden and Clarissa, with parents as silly as yours I highly doubt something as simple as a hat speaking to you would be enough to throw you over the edge.

Damien shrugged, the hat had a point, his life was full of insanity nearly every other week something ridiculous was happening in his own home, let alone all the times he’d ended up slipping into pocket dimensions or breaking the laws of the universe.
Fair enough. So where am I headed?

You’re tricky, young man. You have a clever, witty mind and a bountiful curiosity, but you have a deep loyalty to others… A heart that is big enough to love everyone, but the cunning to know who is trustworthy and who is not… Bold, not as reckless as your father, but the trait is there within you… and brave, always willing to help those around you, to protect your loved ones…

It was strange hearing the hat lay out his personality like this and knowing, without even a hint of doubt that the Hat was speaking the utmost truth. He felt a bit naked.

It had been a few minutes now and the Hat was still muttering away on his head…

Hat, can you do me a solid? It was a long shot, but he had to try. What was that sound? A… chuckle? Could magic Hats chuckle? Damien supposed they could.

I will try, Mr. Anderson-Belfort, what is it?

Can you please put Rorie Hazlewood and me in the same House? She’s my best friend and… She’s scared, she doesn’t like it here for some reason and I want to be able to be around her to help her adjust, please?

I will try, as I said, but that is not a promise I can keep. Your request shows bravery, Mr. Anderson-Belfort, bravery and a fierce loyalty and deep love… and so I think it had ought to be…

GRYFFINDOR!!!!

His eyes were wide, mouth agape, nope, not what he’d expected at all and even as he had closed his mouth, taken off the hat – after thanking it, of course – and making his way to the sea of red, he still could not believe it.

Damien Anderson-Belfort was a Lion, who knew?

Standing in the line of eleven-year-olds, only dotted with a few older, of course Ariel was nervous. Probably just as nervous as the First Years, and it was clear from her expression. Her face was pale and she looked like she might vomit. She wouldn't, but her stomach was twisting in every direction, full of butterflies.

From what she observed, there was nothing to be frightened of. You simply sat, put a hat on your head, and it called out which table to sit at, which were conveniently under respective House banners. However, something about this entire Hall of students - peers - and staff with their eyes fixed on you was very unsettling. When her name was called, Ariel gave a small nod and swallowed the lump in her throat as she slowly stepped forward.

As soon as the hat was on her head, she startled from the voice. She sat up straighter and blinked at an empty space in front of her. And she'd thought getting onto the platform was the most extraordinary magic she'd encounter. Now she had inanimate objects....animate...and talk to her....and read her mind...and be ridiculed by it, which was rather rude. Yet, her and the hat held a small, short conversation inside her head, at the end of which, Ariel startled again when it shouted in her ears.

"Ravenclaw!"

With a shaking hand, Ariel removed the hat, set it back on the stool she just occupied, and made her way to the cheering blue and bronze table.

Sorting hat, eh? He was curious to experience this whole sorting thing. Although, he did feel ridiculous among those short ickles who were waiting for their names to be called out just like he did.

"Malloy, Dante"

Yup, that's him. Glad that he no longer had to wait, Dante immediately marched up to the stool and sat down slouching his shoulders as the hat was put upon his head. He made eye-contact with his brother once before focusing on his feet. Okay, now what ? Was it going to take long?

Not so patient, are you?

Dante arched an eyebrow at the voice that sounded. He did know it could talk but hearing it was still surprising sort of. "Nope, I'd rather finish fast and figure out my status already," He replied.

Mmmm...I see a little bit of-

"Do you have to talk aloud? Can't you think and figure it out silently," He groaned. This was taking longer than he thought it would. And he was getting hungry. It didn't seem to take that long with the others, or did it ?

No, this is not how it works but I do think I know where to put you

This was actually good to hear, meant he didn't have to stay sitting here for everyone to stare up at him. It was getting annoying and he could no longer fight the urge to make faces at people. "Could you like hurry? This chair isn't the most comfortable thing to sit on," He complained.

Stop rushing me, kid, this is a huge thing.

And the sixteen years old did know that part but he wasn't the type to show that he was stressed. He preferred playing it cool and keeping the worry buried for only himself to see. He did care about which house he ended up in, he certainly didn't feel like Ravenclaw suited him depending on the brief research he did during summer. Hufflepuff seemed a little bit boring and a lot of effort. And it seemed that the hat finally quieted cutting Dante's thoughts that were useful enough to determine his house, it seemed.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat finally announced and it was immediately removed as Dante stood then walked down towards the Slytherin table. His brother better be sorted there, too. He was actually glad of the decision cue the smirk that tugged at his lips.