This hellacious nightmare was apparently reality and after enduring a both a train ride and a carriage ride with people she didn't even care to remember the faces of - and hadn't bothered to ask their names - she found herself ushered to the front and surrounded by the minuscule new additions to the castle. Wonderful. Pulling at her robes, which she naturally disdained, she glanced back toward the door wondering if it were at all possible for her to skip this part.

Because that hat looked like it might carry disease and there was no way she was putting that on her head.

Nicole Iver. Nicky's head swung back toward the front and she grimaced. Well, now anyone paying attention knew her name because it was hard to miss the tall blonde in the sea of dwarves. In normal circumstances, Nicky liked being the center of attention, but sitting on a stool, very obviously out of place, while some ancient, daft, grimey hat smashed her updo, was not exactly what she had in mind.

"This better be quick..." she muttered under her breath as the hat rested on her head. She squirmed as it moved and she could hear it inside her head. That was tremendously unsettling.

Her inner monologue, alternating between Portuguese and English, continued rapid-fire, listing all the way that her being sent to Hogwarts was the worst thing to ever happen to her and how hideously unfair the entire thing was. She thought about Tali and Davi and Delia and Carlos. They'd be on their way to school right now, not sitting down to their own opening for a few hours yet. She thought about the grounds and the trees and the way the air felt on her skin and... Merlin, she even missed the caiporas.

If the Sorting Hat was trying to talk to her, it was being completely ignored, cut off, pushed aside, by the blonde's stewing anger. It was almost as if the hat were trying to get a word in edgewise inside her mind, and was failing because her own inner narration was covering it up.

It wasn't until she looked up that she realized that hat had spoken aloud and announced her house and she'd completely missed it. Heat rising in her cheeks, she muttered a soft "where?" under her breath, silently grateful that the hat repeated itself. Ravenclaw.

"Like it even matters," she said, grumpily, pulling the hat from her head and tossing it to the ground.

And with that, Nicky stomped down to the table, eyes searching for a spot away from people.

Contessa Elena de Luca was proud to be from a Slytherin heritage. Both of her parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. were from Slytherin. The de Luca were proud of the fact that they were pure blooded Slytherins. Contessa was starting to worry that she might not be able to go home after today. She eyed the hat, nervous and rocked back and forth on her heels. She would never be able to show her face again if she got anything other than Slytherin... Her thoughts stopped as she heard her name. Contessa rolled her shoulders back and strode to the stool, sitting down. Before the hat could touch one hair on her head. "SLYTHERIN" Contessa sighed, in relief, and hopped down, starting for the table.

Miranda walked up to the stool on which the sorting hat sat. She slowly turned around and sat down. She was nervous. Not because she hoped to be in a cetain house but because she still had yet to make any friends. The whole way on the train and noone even said hello.... She was busy thinking through all of this when the hat Proclaimed " Hufflepuff! Shrugging as she stood up she walked silentl;y towards her new house table and took her place on the bench.

Gulp. That was her name. Melo, Isabella. Trembling with anticipation, Isabella stepped up to the hat stool. She stumbled a little, but luckily it was before she was out in front of everybody, so some of the other first years’ bodies blocked 90% of the people in the Great Hall from seeing her trip. Right. Sit on the hat stool. Don’t fall off. Isabella practically dove onto the stool, she was so worried she was going to fall over. She gripped the edges of the stool very tightly as the hat was placed on her head. Don’t fall off.

She startled when the hat started talking inside her head. Was that supposed to be happening? Was she going crazy? No? This was normal? Isabella heaved a sigh of relief and tried to concentrate on what the hat was saying. She could do well in Ravenclaw, blah blah blah. Isabella wrinkled her nose. Her mother had been in Ravenclaw, and while she loved her mother dearly, she didn’t like learning. She'd rather be dancing or playing hockey or Quidditch than stuck sitting all day with her nose in a book.

As she waited patiently for the hat to make its decision (was it taking a long time? Isabella felt like she’d been sitting here for too long, and people were staring at her), Isabella wondered what house her little brothers would be in somday. Isabella thought she’d like to set a good example for her brothers, so they didn’t feel like they had to be in Ravenclaw just because their mother had been.

Okay, this was taking too long. Isabella was done being patient. Not realizing she was doing it, Isabella started tapping her left toe against the leg of the stool. Come oooon, it doesn’t really matter what house I get put in, she thought to herself (and to the hat). It’s not as if it’ll stop me from being friends with anybody anyway. I wasn’t paying attention to what house my friends from Diagon Alley and the train were put in… but really, doesn’t matter anyways. I’m good at fitting in. Just maybe not Slytherin, I heard they’re cranky. Oh and not Ravenclaw, I don’t want to be just like my mother. Gryffindor would be fine. Yeah, Gryffindor’s good. Put me in Gryffindor, I heard they’re nice and rambunctious. I’m rambunctious. Oooh, or which team has the best Quidditch team? I want to be on the best-

Isabella’s thought was cut off mid-stream as the sorting hat shouted “HUFFLEPUFF!” Surprised because she’d gotten used to the hat not shouting, Isabella jumped and nearly fell off the stool before she even tried to stand up like a normal human being. She took off the hat and started toward the table. Her new table. Her house table. Hufflepuff. Right. Hufflepuff. That was cool. Yay!

Whoa.

So this was the Great Hall that her mum and dad loved to tell stories about. Vivian had really wide eyes as she examined the room. The ceiling was so high. It was crazy. Was this castle really ancient? It didn't seem like it. Oh well, that only meant that the house elves in this place did a splendid job! And her dad told her before she entered the Hogwarts Express that the house elves should be one of her first stops this year. You know, for marshmallow refills. Edmund Fairfield knew and was a hundred percent aware that his daughter's stash of marshmallows wouldn't even last until Halloween.

Vivian sort of just stood there with the rest of the new students in front of the stool and the EVER SO FAMOUS SORTING HAT. OMIGOSH LOOK IT. Also, did anyone know how terribly old that thing was? Why was she just about to put that thing on her head? NOBODY TOLD HER ABOUT THAT TINY DETAIL. She was going to panic right on the spot any moment. Merlin. Breaaaathe, Fairfield. Ya got this!

Except if she got Sorted into Gryffindor, then she don't "got this". Only her parents and Uncle Chris would know what Auntie Elise would say about that. As a young girl, it was always to Vivi's amusement when her aunt and dad argued about the entire Gryffindor thing. But now... NOPE. It wasn't amusing anymore. She was panicky and scared. Vivi took deep breaths as she waited for her turn and watched as her fellow first years got sorted too. Small claps. Yay for them, though. Congrats on surviving the most horrible three or so minutes in their entire life.

"Fairfield, Vivian Iona!"

GUH. So the Sorting Hat chooses NOW to meet her? The eleven year old slowly went up and, for a moment, STARED at the Sorting Hat. Really, daddy? This was the Hat you've been praising? An old and dusty hat? Wow. Just wow. But did Vivian have a choice? No. She sighed, sat down, and slipped the Hat on her head. It was so big that it actually covered her eyes. All she saw was total blackness. "Is it normal to not see ANYTHING?" Vivi asked loudly. Nobody told her that, either! She was mentally sending scowls to her family. RUDE.

There was complete silence and the blonde felt as if she could hear her heart beating until... Merlin, another Fairfield?

Someone was speaking to her. Well, in her HEAD at least. Normally, Vivi would panic at something unusual happening but that was a very RUDE hat. "'Scuse me! What's wrong with being a Fairfield?" She remembered her mum telling her that the Sorting Hat did seem like mentally talking to her. So that must be it then, right? However, she didn't care. The voice in her head was rude. Nothing wrong about being a Fairfield, child. Your father is Edmund and your Aunt must be Elise, am I correct? Vivi swore she heard a grump in her head too.

But OOOHHHHH IT KNEW HER DADDY AND AUNTIE. Vivi bounced a little on her seat, the hat on her head was bouncing with her too. Her eyes felt like they were watching life and death with the shift between lightness and darkness. Owww. "Yeah, yeah! You knew them? That's absolutely cool. They've told me a lot of stories about you, did you know? Although they may have missed out the tiny detail wherein you were ancient and dusty and...."

Quiet, child. "Ohumsorry."

And then there was that silence again. First, the Hat talks to her about being another Fairfield. Second, it asks her if she was related to her dad and aunt. And now, it chooses to remain silent? RUDE. IT WAS SO RUDE. If there wasn't a hat on her head at the moment, the blonde would've stuck her nose up in the air. "Just don't place me in Gryffindor, okay? Not that I don't like my daddy's house but you know, my Auntie doesn't like it. She liked arguing with my dad about it all the time. OH, and..."

"SLYTHERIN!"

It stopped her mid-sentence. Sorting Hat was rude! But... JAW!DROP. Slytherin? But... but... how? Still confused, Vivi carefully took the Hat off her head, stood up, placed it back on the stool, and awkwardly made her way to the table with the BLUE banners.

Oh wait, wrong House. LOL.

Vivian sent a scowl back to the Sorting Hat before walking towards the Slytherin Table. Well, at least she was like Uncle Chris now... right?

Evie waited patiently for her name to be called from the line of other first years, standing on her tip toes she peered up and over the students in front of her to see a stool with an odd looking hat sitting on it. She watched in awe as the first student was called, they sat down and then loudly she heard the hat scream "Gryffindor" was her mind playing tricks on her?

After waiting for what seemed to be forever, Evie heard her name being called. Slowly she weaved through the other students in front of her and made her way to the front of the great hall. She stumbled up the two steps to get to where the stool was sitting.

Sitting carefully onto the narrow stool, taking the hat in her hands and slipping it onto her head. She really didn't know anything about any of the houses, she only knew their names. She listened closely as she began hearing a voice "hmmmm.. Interesting mind that you have here. Smart, witty, brave, you could go far with the right house. I think you best be Gryffindor."

Evie smiled and hoped that her new friends would also be in her house. She really enjoyed the train ride much more than she thought she would. "Please let them be in Gryffindor too!!" The brunette offered up a silent prayer.

Kye had walked in feeling like cattle. Like they were moving some new species from one area to another, as all of the older kids sat there and watched them. She had never felt so gawked at... Although she could see why, at least partially... This was some of those kids last year, and some of them were probably just remembering their own experience...

Kye looked around her... good lord some of the people walking with her looked absolutely petrified. Get a grip, she wanted to say to them. It wasn't until they had finally gathered in front of the staff table, that Kye took some time to look around the Great Hall. Okay, this place was rather amazing... The ceiling was a replica of the sky and it was a beautiful sunset-ish color at the moment. The four House tables dominated the Hall, and the banners that hung from the ceiling looked majestic. Good lord this place was beautiful. She couldn't help but feel a total happiness inside that she got to spend the next seven years here. She surveyed the teacher's table and almost as soon as the list of students' names was presented, it was her turn.

"Atwater, Valkyrie!!"

Crap. She had briefly forgotten it was alphabetical. Kye swallowed the saliva she had accumulated, and made her way to the little stool and the teacher who had been talking. Honestly Kye hadn't listened to hear the professor's name. She couldn't help but feel that the silence that had followed her name lasted at least ten times as long as it really was.

She eyed the staff table a bit closer as she walked up and lingered on the Headmaster before turning around and sitting on the stool. Ew, that hat looked disgusting. She was having mixed feelings. The hat looked gross, but she also couldn't help thinking that every wizard that had attended this school had put on that hat. Her parents, her grandparents, and every famous wizard in the UK. That was it's own feeling.

The Sorting Hat was placed upon her head and she sat straight on the stool, aware of the sheer amount of attention she had at this moment. She savored it.

You like having all eyes on you, hmmm?
What?
It's understandable child... just amusing. Now let me work.
The Sorting Hat seemed to be delving in to her brain because she heard little thought noises here and there. Was there going to be any interaction here or...? The Sorting Hat was mumbling to itself, which resonated in Kye's head.
Ambition... Intelligence... Lazy... Unapologetic...
Kye hoped beyond hope to get one of her parents' Houses. She couldn't bare being a Gryffindor, they always seemed to be pompous and thought they were better than others because of wizards way before their time. No. Kye believed in being an individual who made her own path and became great on her own. And she hadn't heard much good about Hufflepuff either. How many great wizards had really come from Hufflepuff? Seriously, she wanted to see a list.
That I could provide... I have seen many different types of people come out from each House and your bias is deeply rooted. Shouldn't you follow your own beliefs and let them be individuals too? Just food for thought...

Okay okay but can you hurry this along? It feels like it's been half an hour...
Time always seems to go by differently when one is with me, the Sorting Hat seemed amused. Well, it seems that you could do well in either of the Houses you have choiced yourself with.
Well good! Kye thought to herself, almost out loud. During this time it had gone through her head that perhaps she preferred Slytherin to Ravenclaw. It was nothing against her mother's House of course, but she thought that Ravenclaws were known for brains... but not much else. Slytherins were known for their cunning, which she would love to blossom within herself simply because anyone could check out books and study hard and in this way she felt that she could triumph both traits.
Well I think you've made your choice, young Valkyrie.
With baited breath, Kye eyed the Great Hall and in a blast much louder than she had anticipated she heard the Hat choose:

SLYTHERIN!!!

Oh sweet sighs of relief. Kye got off the stool and made her way to the sea of green, a smile growing on her face as the Slytherins applauded their newest member.

Rebecca was , in one word, excited. Her mother had told her that every first year got sorted in to their Houses but she had never been told how it was done. However, instead of feeling nervous, the eleven year old bounced on her heels as she looked over the heads of the students in front of her to see the front. A hat came in view and Bec, thinking that she would have to perform magic in front of it let out a disappointed sigh when all they needed to do was put it on their heads and it would yell out their House for everyone to hear.

Her last name started with an M. So that meant that she was somewhere in the middle. She saw her saviour ( Isabella) getting sorted in to Hufflepuff and Bec clapped enthusiastically for her. As well for Evie, another girl who she shared an compartment as she got sorted in to Gryffindor. She had no idea who the others were but she kept clapping each time someone got sorted.

“Meadows, Rebecca” Bec continued to clap until she realised that it was her name that had been called and she walked over to the front. Now she did feel nervous but she tried not to show it as she sat down on the chair. The Sorting Hat brushed the top of her head when it already shouted.

-GRYFFINDOR!-

What? That was it? Slightly confused , Bec stood up from the chair but beamed as she spotted the red table and rushed over to it.

Skylar had anticipated what was to come for YEARS before she was actually ushered forth into the Great Hall amongst her fellow first years. The perks of having older siblings and parents and extended family and friends telling you EVERYTHING you needed to know plus more. But no matter how many stories they told of the castle and the train ride and the sorting process, nothing could compare to actually finally being here herself. The anxiety for where she was destined to be for her next seven years. She hoped it would be with Hattie or Hazen, but she'd be okay with Vivian whom she just met too because for one, the girl had MARSHMALLOWS.

Gazing around at the great hall - up at the magnificent ceiling - behind her at the staff dais with the quite large cat sitting up there - Skylar wondered how long this could take.... And just as she wondered, it was then that she heard her name:

Diggory, Skylar Natasha

Did they HAVE to use her full name? Well this was it. The moment of truth. Would her Hufflepuff Perfect Prefect Parents produce a third Ravenclaw?

Sitting down on the stool, Skylar waited anxiously as the hat got placed over her head and fell instantly to cover her eyes. Uh, can't see anything? But she supposed that was kind of the point of it.

Hmm, another Diggory ... very interesting... you've got a ready mind, I see. Curious one you are. You've got this spirit in you. You'll do anything for your family and friends, I see...

Duh. I love my family. SO where do you see me doing well? She wanted to know. Plus she was getting hungry.

But also not very patient... but you've got this ambition to shine. You want to be seen and heard. Yes... I know just where to put you...

Slytherin!

Staring blindly as the hat was removed from her head, Skylar blinked a few times to regain her sense of balance before hopping off the stool and heading towards her new house table. One away from where her parents shined. One away from her siblings. One where apparently she was destined to make her choices and journey and could shine, as the hat said.

To say that he was excited was an understatement as he bounced on his feet waiting for his name to be called. Why did his last name have to start with an 'M' he was always last for everything that way. Ugh so annoying!!! He was in a world of his own thinking about his toad when someone nudged him and told him to go. "OH!" It was his turn. He ran, yes, RAN up to the stool and had a seat as the hat loomed over his head. He was reallly hoping to be Gryffindor like his dad, OR maybe even Hufflepuff like his mum. Both of those were superb places to be in the 11 year Olds mind so you can imagine the look of pure terror on his face when the hat barely touched his red hair and shouted

RAVELCLAW!!!!

"WHAT?!?! NO, NO NO, that's wrong." he grabbed the hat as the professor started to remove it amd held it back on his head. "no, dumb hat... gryffindor or hufflepuff, please." and he sat there, holding the hat much to the professors dislike as the hat was...... silent.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?!

He had been preparing for this his whole life and Blue definitely did not match his red hair... he was going to die.

Okay, this was it. Oooooh, there were so many people. None of whom she recognised from the train. But then, she'd only met two people on there to speak to, and they were at their tables because they were older than her. She had to go through the hat thingy first.

Her parents had told her what to expect, but she was still a bit taken aback to see it being placed on her fellow pupils head, and move about. IT MOVED. THAT WAS SO COOL. Must have been weird though, cos apparently it talked to you. A hat that talked. Having been surrounded by magic since she was little, it still made her oooooh and ahhhhh when something happened that she hadn't seen before. Like talking, moving hats.

She bounced on her toes, trying to get more of a view up the front where all the adults were. Was that a cat? Shannon squinted and frowned and hmmm'ed as she shuffled forwards, her eyes firmly fixed on the animal on the top dais.

Camilleri, Shannon Louisa

Hmm? Oh! That was her! Ooooohhh.

Picking up the bottom of her robes, Shannon trotted forwards, grinning as she hopped up onto the stool and awaited the hat being put on her head. As soon as it was it began talking. Saying things about her, and her mum and her dad. They'd both been in Ravenclaw, because they were super smart. But she wasn't sure she was smart enough herself to go in there. She was....

Loyal. You are loyal. Hmmm, yes. I can see that. And a ready friend to all.

"Well, yes. I hope so. But.....am I good enough for Ravenclaw?" She didn't know if she was supposed to speak back to it, or even if it could hear her. So she whispered her words, and closed her eyes tight, transferring them via thought too. Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw.

You have such an obsession with Ravenclaw, child. It does not do to get so fixated on one thing. Now......I sense more intelligence than you think you possess, but to my mind greatness comes in many forms, including the ability to help others above ourselves. To be compassionate. Which you are. So for that reason you would be best served in....

HUFFLEPUFF!

Wait, what? Hufflepuff? Really? Shannon frowned deeply, confused. But.......she didn't think anyone in her family had been in Hufflepuff before. Mind you, she hadn't actually asked, beyond her parents. And she quite liked Badgers, she supposed. They were cute. And, and......the hat thought she was compassionate? Awww. Okay, no this wasn't so bad. Being good and loyal and friendly and compassionate was just as good as being smart. Yes. It was.

Taking a deep breathe, she jumped down and scooted off towards the Hufflepuff table, ready to put some of her friendliness to use. FRIENDS I AM HERE.

Selina was honestly getting quite bored of standing with the other first year students, waiting for her name to be called, she had lost the people she'd shared the train with long ago, not that she minded.
With a last name of Valentine, she knew that she'd be one of the last called, although she noticed that the names didn't seem to be called in any particular order, so maybe not.

She had finally regained her usual poseur. Her black robes he had realized made her pale skin and hair look almost transparent, almost like the ghosts that fluttered about the room, and had made her usual pale pink eyes appear almost red. She was quite liking this new appearance as it made her look even more formidable. She could imagine herself sitting high on a throne peering down at those below her, as they quivered in fear of her ghostly appearance and red eyes.

It was at this moment, lost in her daydream that her name was called:

"VALENTINE, SELINA"

Selina quickly ran her hand through her hair so that to portions sat neatly over the front of her shoulders, and straightened her posture. Head up and robes following around her feet like smoke she made her way up to the podium where the sorting hat sat.

Frankly she wasn't looking forward to putting on the old beat up hat, that was probably to big for her. But Selina sat down on the rickety three legged stool and allowed the hat to be placed on her head. It balanced precariously on her hair and suddenly there was a voice inside her mind that wasn't her own.

"Well, well, well, what have we got here." The hat whispered in her mind,
"Ambitious definitely, and very cunning, but not I feel a Slytherin, even with these trait"
Selina's heart sank, she glanced over at the Slytherin table in remorse, she had been counting on getting Slytherin.
"I see an affinity with plants, and a strong will for leadership," the hat continued, "And even a good heart, there is much kindness and loyalty hidden behind all these layers. Better be,"

"HUFFLEPUFF"

The hats voice rang over the hall, as Selina jumped up off the stool throwing the hat violently to the floor. Hufflepuff!?! She'd show them. She looked over at the Hufflepuff house table in disgusted and stalked over to it. This was absurd.

A pounding heart beat, flowing faster and faster.

That was all the twelve year old could here, the sound of his heartbeat. Ethan stared at the mass of students around him in horror. It was all a bit of a shock to his system, he wasn't used to this many people.

Was it to too late to go home to the comfort of his room?

After taking a breath to himself with his eyes closed, he began what felt like a tremendous journey. Every step toward the sorting stool appeared to take every effort. Yet, he was getting closer. Just extremely slowly.

At last he sat. Eyes closed, tightly.

If he couldn't see them, they couldn't see him. Well, not really, but it gave him a spot of comfort.

"You're a very quiet one, although with reason, I see" ,the hat began to boom it's words.

Deep breathes Ethan, deep breathes.

"I remember your sister, similar to you in some ways. Yes. Ahh..but you, your reason and mind is strong which is why I shall place you in...


RAVENCLAW!!!"

With a tiny peek Ethan began to freak out all over again. He'd hoped to become a Hufflepuff, to be with the friendliest of them all. It was coming though, he knew he wasn't enough alike. He was the farthest thing from being a bubbly Hufflepuff, but deep inside he had a friendly heart. His reason just tended to rule his heart. His mind was in charge. Of course, he'd belong in Ravenclaw.

Practically shaking with fear, the timid teen barely uttered a word to the hat. He stood, slowly and began the journey to his new family.

Family. Yes. Perhaps if he saw them like that, his unease would dissapear?

Hattie was so excited. She was finally going to get sorted. She could not wait. She wasn't nervous. She had waited for this day since she had known what Hogwarts was. She was really excited to get sorted, and find out what house was hers. Of course she had her own choice, the one she really wanted to be in. But honesty she really didn't care what house she was in. Her older siblings were slytherin and gryffindor, so really she'd be at home anywhere. But deep down she wanted to be a hufflepuff. She was a mother's girl at heart, and wanted to be just like her mother.

Her choice of hufflepuff was tested though, when her best friend was sorted into Slytherin. Oh. No. They were supposed to be in the same house. Maybe she could follow in her big sister's house too? But she wanted to be a hufflepuff. Maybe it would be good if Skylar and herself weren't in the same house. Though it would be so weird if they weren't together all the time.

Soon it was her turn and she was hearing her name being called up. The blonde girl beamed and stepped up to the seat. She was so excited. She was finally going to get sorted. The hat was put on her head, and then it began talking to her.

And talking to her.

And talking to her.

Was it supposed to do this much talking? She really was not sure at all. Oh. It wasn't sure where to put her. Hufflepuff (yay) or Ravenclaw. Oh? Ravenclaw. That was interesting. She could be with Noah! That would be so much fun. And Ravenclaw as new. But she did really want to be in hufflepuff.

"Please Hufflepuff. Please hufflepuff" She murmured quietly. She really wanted to be in Hufflepuff. She closed her eyes and just wished that the sorting would be over. Surely people were staring at her. She must have been on that seat for at least 5 minutes. she'd heard of hatstalls but she didn't think she would be one herself.

Finally. The hat was ready. And shouted out

HUFFLEPUFF

With a beam, and a bit of an achy rear Hattie jumped off the seat and hurried over to her new table at the Hufflepuff house. She was very happy. She couldn't wait to owl her mother to tell her that she had been sorted into the same house!

After a somewhat unpleasant train ride, Fiyero was hoping the sorting ceremony would improve his mood, or at least distract him. His eyes scanned the Great Hall for his cousins, one at the Ravenclaw table, one at the Slytherin, and the remaining two at the Gryffindor table. One of his Gryffindor cousins caught his eye with an encouraging wave, while the other shot him a look that said, You'd better end up in Gryffindor or I'll never speak to you!

Fiyero was hoping for Gryffindor himself, but he supposed Ravenclaw or Slytherin wouldn't be too bad. At least he knew people there. Though if the train ride was any indication of how his sorting would go, he'd probably end up in Hufflepuff, the one house where he didn't know a single person - not to mention the fact the his grandma found Hufflepuffs "unexceptional" and would probably disown him if he went there!

"Jones, Fiyero Keyne!"a voice called, jerking him out of his thoughts. He inwardly groaned at the sound of his full name. Apparently no one had told the teacher in charge that he preferred to be called Fiy...

He was keenly aware of the eyes turned to him as he made his way to the stool at the front of the room, putting the battered old hat on his head. It barely had time to flop over his eyes before it shouted

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Fiy's two Gryffindor cousins went crazy. Zarina cheered so loudly that he was surprised she hadn't lost any house points yet, while Killian shot their Ravenclaw and Slytherin relatives a smug look. Wow, that was fast, Fiy thought as he hurried to join his new house, but he supposed it didn't matter how long it had taken the hat. The important thing was that he was a Gryffindor!