There weren't many people in the wizarding world who could claim that they had been sorted TWICE. Kane felt just as nervous as he had during his Ilvermorny sorting...but this time was a little less scary. Back then, he'd been DYING to be a Wampus like Brent...it had seemed like the end of the world when he didn't get there. He learned that he didn't need to be just like his older brother, however, and now he wasn't afraid of getting into a different house than him. In fact, he was CERTAIN they wouldn't be in the same house. He'd be genuinely shocked if they did!

Kane wasn't expecting to be called so soon. Apparently transfer students didn't go in alphabetical order because Brent hadn't gone yet so...ok. Here it was, the moment of truth! Hopping up the steps and sitting down on the stool, he waited anxiously as the hat was plopped over his bright blonde hair.

He hadn't really expected it to TALK right into his ear, and he jumped just a bit as it began to speak to him.

"Well well well...transfer student, are we? Getting more and more of those every year...hmm, let's see here...Slytherin is out for sure. You're driven to help others and see the good in people...but also daring. A bit TOO daring sometimes? Hmmm...well that rules out Ravenclaw as well. Down to two...I'm thinking...yes, that seems right. Best put you in...

HUFFLEPUFF!"

Kane heard him yell the last bit to everyone, and he grinned as the hat was pulled off his head. He knew it was going to be either that or Gryffindor!

Smiling at his brother and giving him a thumbs up for good luck as he passed, he hurried down to his new house, eager to meet his new classmates.

The other first-years stood surrounding Sinead were abuzz with discussion of which house they'd all end up in, but she didn't feel particularly motivated to join in. It didn't have to matter too much, right? There'd have to be somebody she could get along with in every house, and they'd all go to the same lessons. All the same... she felt a little yearning to distinguish herself somehow, though she wasn't sure if that was more to join her stepbrother in Gryffindor, prove her intellect by being a Ravenclaw like her father, or just stand out from the crowd by taking ages to Sort or something.

Whatever she was hoping for, she didn't have time to work it out before her name was called- stupid that it surprised her, really, when she knew it was going to be alphabetical order anyway. An expectant quiet fell in the hall as she stepped over to the stool- she was unsure of how she felt but she didn't think it was nervous, exactly. More like that this was the real start of her school career. And somehow, she had to get it right.

Her family had told her exactly what to expect as the hat dropped halfway over her eyes, and she sat straight backed on the stool, chin lifted and jaw tight, as she awaited the hat's verdict. Prepared as she thought she was, though, she didn't really expect the low chuckle the hat seemed to give directly into her ear.
"Oh, I see... you could do well in Ravenclaw, there's no doubt about that. Yes, you've got an inquiring mind to rival many of them..." Sinead couldn't help but feel slightly victorious at this observation- if a magical, psychic hat had basically just told her she was clever, who was she to question it? This train of thought only seemed to amuse the hat further, though, as it gave another quiet snicker to itself. "Ah, but that's only what lies on the surface... yes, look a little deeper, it's not hard to see, there's some real ambition in there- so it'd better be-
SLYTHERIN!"

This last word was roared to the hall at large, prompting the Slytherins to stand and applaud while the other houses clapped politely. In truth, Sinead had never expected herself to end up in Slytherin- but now she thought about it, she rather liked the idea, and was already feeling a certain house pride. Carefully making her way off the stage and across to her house table, she glanced up and caught her stepbrother's eye- and while he pretended to make a gagging face at her being sorted into Gryffindor's traditional rival house, she saw from the easy smile which showed behind the grimace that he was just pleased for her to have made it to Hogwarts and through the sorting without any mishap. Which, she thought as she took a seat at the Slytherin table, she was too.

So this was the famous sorting hat that had many stories about it. It certainly didn't look like anything other than a regular witch or wizard's hat but Olivia kept quiet just in case somehow the Sorting Hat called her out on her most inner thoughts. As she watched students get sorted, she wondered what the Sorting House was speaking to each of them about. Would the hat put her in Slytherin like Simon?

Before she could think anymore on the matter, her name was called next. Taking a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, and lifting her chin a little higher, she approached the stool. Sitting down on it, the hat was soon placed on her head. It hummed. "A Holden, eh? I remember your brother. Very quiet but extremely ambitious and bright. I wonder how you would do in Slytherin.." muttered the Hat. "You seek answers. Intriguing. You and your brother are more alike. Perhaps Ravenclaw? Though I'm tempted not to place you there for you also seek adventures...Thus I shall place you in Gryffindor!"

Gryffindor?

Wow. With a smile on her lips, Olivia thanked the hat and left to go find a seat at the Gryffindor Table. Adventure awaited her. She wondered if she would recognize anyone that she met in Diagon Alley there.

For merlin sake, how long would he have to stand here? His feet were killing him as he watched each kid sorted into their houses. Damn his surname. Why his name had to be so far back when compared with the other new transferies here. No one told him there would be a large number of them this term. How this school got so popular over the recent years, James had no idea. His mom must had skipped the news or something. Either that or had no concerns over her son's safety at all.

Don't get him wrong, he loved his mama. She worked hard to get him into Hogwarts. His last track records in school weren't exactly great either. At least, it wasn't Durmstrang. He yawned out of boredom as he waited his turn to be called. James wasn't nervous, heck he was ready to get the whole process over with. He was in Horned Serpent back in llvermorny, now he wondered what house he would be sorted into this time.

After several students later, his name was finally called and he was made to sit on a stool which looked like it was going to give out anytime soon. He waited not so patiently as this infamous sorting hat sat on top of his head.

"Ah, another Severin. Your father shared the same brilliant mind as you when he was first sorted into his house, did you know? No? Well I can tell you that you could do well in Ravenclaw. You have talent, my boy, and a thirst for greatness. Hmm, but where shall I put you?" James eyes darted towards the Slytherin table. "Exactly. Better be SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin table roared with applause. James couldn't help but grin. He hopped out from the stool and made his way towards the Slytherin table, rather pleased with his new house. Guess Anthony was right after all.

Oh, blimey. How nerve-wracking.

Charlie stood in line with the other first years, waiting to be put on display in front of the whole school. If she were being honest, this was not her idea of a pleasant time. Had it never occurred to the founders to make the sorting a more private affair?

Well, she'd just have to make sure to get it done as quickly as possible. She'd be on and off the stool before her house could even be named- well, figuratively speaking, of course. She didn't want to break any of the rules either.

The shuffling of feet could be heard quite loudly against the stone flooring, and Charlie's nervousness grew exponentially the further she got up the line. As she watched others get sorted, cheers ensuing shortly after each individual sorting, she came to the conclusion that her chances of messing this up were low. That is, of course, if she didn't trip on her robes whilst walking to the stool, fall off said stool, fall down the steps, or anything of the sort.

Okay, so, maybe it wouldn't be that easy, at least for someone like her who had the tendency to overthink on occasion.

"Lewis, Charlie!"

Before she knew it, it was her turn to go up. Her fists were clenched tight at her sides, enough for her knuckles to turn quite pale, as she walked up to the stool. Charlie sat down on it, and an old, patched-up hat was placed on her head.

It was a good thing that she heard about how the sorting went down on the train, because a talking hat (which this hat turned out to be) would most certainly have caused her to fall off the stool. That would not be fun.

"Ah, Charlie Lewis... completely new to the wizarding world and its workings," the hat began to whisper in the girl's ear. "Some would fear new things such as this, but you welcome it. You see this as an opportunity to learn and to broaden your horizons. You see this as a chance to not stay in your shell, but to emerge from it. You are not without your reservations, yes, but what sets you apart is your desire to continue on despite them. Gryffindor would suit you nicely because of this, yes, but I think it will have to be...

RAVENCLAW!"

Applause and cheering erupted from the table of blue-robed people, which she concluded to be the Ravenclaws. And she was one of them now. They were her people. Wow. It was really happening.

She headed towards the table to go join her new people.

Slate was not sure what he expected. Although, he was sure a hat wasn't on the list. Then again, maybe he should have expected something like this. They had cockroach snacks here. They got to school by running at a wall to get to a train.

So of course a hat would determine his family. Whatever that meant.

He took a seat when called up. Then the hat was placed on his head. It was uncomfortably large. Not large enough to fall over his eyes, but it did droop over his forehead. He was very aware of how ridiculous he must have looked. This was not how hats were meant to be worn.

O__O

Did that thing just...? He resisted the urge to grab the hat and chuck it right across the room. Things we not supposed to talk. He was half worried he was going insane when the thing SHOUTED.

Slytherin.

What was that? Whatever it was lead to the possessed hat being taken back and him directed in the direction of the table.

If the utensils started singing at him, he was OUT.

Okay, so, Liam was having a hard time not appearing like he was totally freaking out about the sorting. A lot of things had happened lately, what with getting his Hogwarts letter and riding the Hogwarts Express and most things in between, and this was one of those things, like getting his wand, that would determine his foreseeable future.

He was freaking out. In a good way. But he'd like to think he was at least hiding it.

Because he had to be Cool for his sister. It was important that he acted like he knew what was going on. His parents had prepared him for this whole thing anyway, so he did know what was going on.

It was still exciting.

The eleven-year-old felt like he'd been waiting forever, though. The joys of having a name in the middle of the alphabet. He watched everyone in front of him be sorted and join their house and each person just made Liam more antsy. Finally it was almost his turn, and he watched his sister go before him... then his name was called.

"McKinley, William!"

He made his way up to the front of the room. The sorting hat fell over his eyes when it was placed on his head. And the thing immediately started talking.

"Another McKinley. I see a lot of kindness in your head. A lot of loyalty." There was a pause, in which Liam's eyes fell on the Hufflepuff table. The hat continued. "But there is more than that, as well. Ah, yes. I know where to put you.

SLYTHERIN."

Beaming, Liam hopped off the stool as soon as the hat was taken off his head. He happily joined the green table, perfectly content with the hat's decision. He was ready for this. Slytherin!

"Westwood, Brent."

As the words were spoken, Brent felt a slight flush go over his face and his stomach did a really quick flip. He didn't know what it was about getting in front of people, or in this case the whole school, but it made him really nervous. At least he was sure he would be sorted. At Ilvermorny, he had those first year jitters and wondered what would happen if he was secretly a squib, and he ended up getting placed nowhere. As a fourth year, he knew that wasn't the case. So what was it then? He guessed it was the fact that he was at a brand new school in a brand new country and was being put on the spot in front of everybody.

Ahem.

He tried to act as calm and collected as possible and he approached the hat. "What's up, Hat?" he asked, managing a smile as he took a seat.

"What's up, Hat?" the Hat replied. Brent could tell the Sorting Hat wasn't really pleased with that greeting, but Brent thought it had been nice of him. After all, that was how he usually greeted his friends, so wouldn't that have been what the Hat wanted? Apparently not.

Brent decided not to say anything else as he awaited his fate.

"Hmm...daring and brave. Traits of a Gryffindor, indeed," the hat continued. "But there's ambition and drive in this head of yours. You'd make a great Slytherin, I see. So which one then?"

The hat seemed to pause and think on that one for a while, which caused Brent to think, too. He'd been almost sure he'd be a Gryffindor, but that Hat had said something else, too--drive and ambition, and Brent really liked those traits. He was an avid Quodpot player, and there was nothing he loved more than winning.

"I hear those thoughts, young boy," the Hat said, and Brent gave a wide-eyed look. Whooooa. "I'm sure now..."

"SLYTHERIN!"

Well, today had just been a rollercoaster of emotions and it wasn't done yet! This moment's particular twist was one of quiet excitement that bordered on anxiety. Hazel had been wondering and questioning about houses for nearly a year at this point, eagerly interrogating every adult she knew about their house. Best she could tell, they each had their own strengths and none was really better than the other on its own. But it seemed like each person had a house that was best for them.

So Hazel was torn. Part of her wanted to be in her daddy's house. But he'd told her that his dad had been in a different one and how he'd apparently broken a long Pryce tradition but didn't know that until he was 15. It was.. a long story he promised to tell her when she was older.

Part of her wanted to be in whatever house Derf ended up in. She knew that if they were separated it would be fine and they'd figure out a different way to spend lots and lots of time together, but it would certainly be easier in the same house.

And part of her just earnestly wanted to know where the hat truly thought she fit. A place that was hers. A place she belonged. Part of her wanted the hat to tell her who she was. What stuff, of all the stuff in her life, was what mattered and made her her.

Martin-Pryce, Hazel.

Moment of truth. The red-head slowly made her way up to the stool and closed her eyes almost immediately upon sitting. She could feel the hat lowered onto her head, and her whole body tingled, whether from anxiety or excitement, she couldn't tell.

Interesting. Oh interesting the hat began. Adopted by a Ravenclaw but birthed by a Slytherin. Hmmm.. Nurture or nature or neither for you... Daddy has prepared her for this. The hat knowing more about you than maybe even you did. It had happened to him in his sorting. Even so, the hat talking about both Tiberius and Alix was disorienting and Hazel had to open her eyes to focus on something so she wouldn't topple right off the stool.

But what about you... fearlessness, I see. Curiosity, too. Drive. Such big dreams for such a tiny person. Hmmm. But these things aren't at the heart of who you are. No no. I see friendship and loyalty and compassion at your core. Better be....

HUFFLEPUFF!

As the word left the hat's mouth and carried over the crowd, Hazel's mouth split into a grin. Uncle Jake's house! She'd have to tell him right away, soon as she got to her room.

Her room in Hufflepuff!! And with that, Hazel slipped off the stool and ran to join her house.

This was supposed to be super intimidating, right? Life changing even!

So obviously, Zara was at a bit of a lost for words as she first entered and saw the sorting hat. Years of hearing about what would happen when it was her turn to be sorted. This was huge! Sorting was a big thing and it was happening! It was the beginning of something and there were obviously nerves present. Who wouldn't be a bit nervous and in awe of what was happening. Zara knew and expected the nerves, but she still watched in awe as names were called before her. She wanted to see things with her own eye before it was her turn to be sorted. There was time to observe she told herself. Monroe was in the middle of the alphabet and Bale needed to be sorted before her anyway. He was older anyway and hello, alphabetical order!

Glancing around, she spotted a few familiar faces as she heard their surname called. It was time! As she whipped her attention back to the hat, she heard its announcement of her brother's house and then her own name called. So much for watching with her own eyes. It was her time now!

Plopping herself on the stool, she glanced up as the hat was placed atop her head.

"Ah, another Monroe. Two this year. I wonder if what I saw in your brother is the same in your. No. No. We can't expect to have the two of you in one house. No. Both too inquisitive to be placed together. But I see courage like your father in you as well. But two Gryffindors is enough for one home, so Gryffindor is out. A great Hufflepuff you could make, but no. You aren't as patience as you appear. No, two down and two to go. Yes, I see cunning and resourcefulness in you. Creative and oh, there is ambition in there too....but no, you are much like the other women in your family. I can see it so clearly now. It clearly must be


RAVENCLAW "

Blink Blink

It was said and done, the hat had spoken and as it all settled in she removed the hat and thanked it. "Thank you, Mr Sorting Hat." Handing it back before she hopped off the stool with a bright smile. Her mother was an Eagle and so was her auntie, so it really shouldn't have been that much of a surprise.

Next was Simon's turn as he heard his named called for the Sorting.

He was absolutely nervous.

the young boy's face flushed red at the sea of students before him, then to his side all the adults, the Professors.

As the Hat was lowered to his head. He realized. He wouldn't know what to say to the Hat if the Hat started talking to him. Like what if it started listing all these things about him, and out loud?!

Then he felt the brim of the Sorting Hat touch the top of his head.

The Hat mumbled something. Simon couldn't even make out what it had said.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

and that Table. The one covered in a sea of Yellow and Black gave him some quick cheers and applause.

Sweet Merlin! Th-that was Warfield's House!! That man will freak out when he learns he got sorted there too.

Wh-what? But...everyone else got these long elaborate descriptions of themselves?! It wasn't until it was all over that deep down Simon did want the hat to detail things out for him.

The Hat was barely over his head for 5 Seconds.
He hopped off the stool. Looked at his New House quickly then hurried on over to sit with his new housemates. Better their than up here.

Robes still dripping wet from his little mishap on the boat ride over in which he had fallen out of his and into the Black Lake after having mistaken a protruding rock for a merperson - it was DARK and the lights from the castle reflecting on the water had played a MEAN trick on his young eyes, okay? - Derf waited with his fellow first years shivering for more reasons than simply because he was cold and damp.

This was IT. This was what mum and dad called a 'defining moment' and this was one in particular that the 11-year-old had spent the entirety of the summer agonizing over. Mum had been a Ravenclaw. She had also been the Gryffindor Head of House for a while which made her an honorary one...but he wasn't brave like her at ALL. He ran away with shrill screams from flesh eating shrubs while she basically cuddled with them. Mum had been so excited to send him off to school. So excited and proud and he was admittedly nervous about letting her down by being sorted in the 'wrong' house. Even if mum had assured him that there was no WRONG house.

Dad had never attended Hogwarts, so there was no house legacy there that he felt like he HAD to uphold...which brought him SOME relief as he squirmed in place waiting for his name to be called.

But then there was his HERO. His IDOL. His INSPIRATION. Newt Scamander. He had been a Hufflepuff and Derf would give ANYTHING to follow in that man footsteps. Well...no...okay...not ANYTHING. He wouldn't give up his mum or dad or Jessa or Hazel or his pet newt or chocolate - no wait...he could do without chocolate he supposed - or the ability to read or free will... there just were SOME limitations on what he would give to follow in the great magizoologist's footsteps, and he would leave his thoughts at that.

"Ashburry-Hawthorne, Derfael!"

Holy flaming salamanders...that was HIS name! One of the benefits of having a last name that started with an 'A' being that he could get his turn over quickly...which was a VERY good thing as it was precisely in this moment that he realized something. He had a real need to ... er ... secrete.

"Fat's-s-s us-s-s," he whispered to his enchanted trouser pocket where his warty newt, Scamander, rested. Swallowing, he slipped a hand into said pocket to feel the newt's semipermeable glandular skin as he took small rapid steps up to the stool. Bright blue eyes locked on that hat as it was moved over his head and momentarily crossed as he tried to follow its movement down as it was placed upon his head.

The hat instantly came to life, wiggling and fitting itself best it could to his small head, which was something mum had warned him about so instead of jumping with surprise he was boyishly giggling with delight. It DID feel weird...and kind of neat too.

"What have we here?"

"A person, S-sir. Mis-ster. S-s-sir Mis-s-s-ster S-S-Sorting Hat...an 11-year-old boy to be precis-s-se," he chirped helpfully.

But apparently that had been a rhetorical question from the hat because it did NOT say thank you nor really acknowledge that he had spoken at all.

"Child of a Ravenclaw I see...oh yes...there is creativity...yes...much of that...and a bit of a quirky intelligence... a strong sense of individuality and acceptance of people and things that others would consider weird....traits befitting of those who are sorted to soar among the eagles..."

"I like s-s-soaring," he nodded subtly, making sure not to make any BIG gestures in case doing so made the hat slip right off his head. "Mum s-s-says I'm a fair flyer for my age!"

But again, the hat did not respond to him. Was he meant to keep quiet? Was starting to feel that way. Oops. Sorry?

"Oh..but your acceptance goes far beyond...to a trustworthy heart...fueled by an unyielding compassion and curiosity...loyal as well are at your core...hmmmmmmmm...where best to put you...."

And then the hat stopped talking. And moving. And NOTHING was happening at all.

HAD HE JUST BROKEN THE SORTING HAT?! WAS HE GOING TO GET EXPELLED?!

Palms sweating and his need for the loo increasing with every passing second, Derf's eyes widened and just STARED straight ahead and TRIED his best not to squirm too much while he waited and struggled to remain completely stationary for SOMETHING to happen.

And then, finally, after what had felt like an eternity - but was actually 5'37" as he would come to know later - the Sorting Hat began to move once more. MUCH to his relief - which almost cause OTHER forms of relief to happen but he was able to hold it all in.

"....yes...better be... HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hufflepuff? HUFFLEPUFF?! HUFFLEPUFF!!!

Derf's face instantly lit up hearing that because it...well...it felt right. Thanking the Sorting Hat with a gleeful grin, he hopped off the stool - almost a little TOO fast - and wiggle worm waddled down towards the house tables...and then right out of the Great Hall to go find the loo before he secreted his excitement all in his trousers.

HE WAS A BADGER NOW!

A Meles meles, to be precise...if he was not mistaken. Which he was fairly confident he was not.

Zoryn was beaming so hard, that her smile threatened to fall right off the edge of her face. Except here’s the thing, she didn’t NEED a sorting ceremony. She already knew which house she was because she decided ALL BY HERSELF on the train! And she tried to tell that to the Professor keeping them all in line, but they wouldn’t listen!!! Also… She was soaking wet. Soaking wet and shivering hard from jumping into the lake only moments earlier.

But she had to SAVE Derf, so it wasn’t her fault. Ahem.

So she stood in place (albeit, begrudgingly) and waited, shivering all the while. She hated waiting.

The good news: SHE WAS ALMOST UP! The bad news: It was taking FOREVER. What the heck did the hat have to say to them anyways? Like, it was a hat (they can talk here, apparently! A ratty, old— OOOOOH! Maybe THAT’S why it was taking so long. Old people really know how to drone on and on and on and on and on and— Oh, HER TURN.

Once her name was called, Zoryn practically SKIPPED to the stool, her shoes making squish-SQUISH as she ran. Front and center, wearing the biggest, most charming smile she could possibly muster. The nice girl on the train said the Gryffinhouse was the best one. SO she had to be impressive if she was gonna snag her seat there. All strategy, folks.

“Hi Mr. Hat… Or Mrs. Hat… Or Ms. Hat?… Or uh, y’know, what the heck are you?” She had seen it talking to the other kids before her, and Zoryn A. Spinnet would be no chump. She’d start the conversation off, to make a good impression. Her mother always said that being shy would get you nowhere. And Zoryn didn’t want to go nowhere. She wanted to go to THAT table.

The hat let out a low grumble as it began mumbling things in her ears. “Friendly… But ambitious… Curious, but rash…”

“Oi, grumpy! I asked you a— Y’know what, never mind. I need to be in THAT house,” popping up from the stool she let her hand shoot up so that she was now POINTING right at the one her new friend was sat at. All concerns about good impressions evaporating from the wet ends of her tiny curls. And then suddenly she was being motioned to sit down and no, wait. DID THE HAT GET IT? Did it see WHO she needed to be with? Just to be sure she waved her pointing finger around a little bit longer before planting her bottom back on the seat.

“Better be….”

"Yeeeeeeees?" She stage-whispered, rising a little from her seat.

“Hmmmmm….”

"YEEEEEEEEEEES?" Her bum practically hovering at this point.

“Hmmmmmmm…”

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES?” Her eyes growing bigger every passing second.

“Hmmmmm….”

Ok. The hat was definitely playing her now. “OH, COME ON ALREADY!” She stomped!!!

“GYFFINDOR!”

Thank goodness. That took FOREVER (or a literal 30 seconds BUT IT FELT FOREVER). Halfway down the Great Hall=—a new kid already sat under the hat—she remembered to call out, “THANKS, HAT,” as an after thought.

Nervous, she was very nervous... nervous, yet excited.

Valerija had remained very quiet throughout her trip to Hogwarts, first on the train because she had been so tired (and nervous) that all she could do was sit and observe others as she enjoyed occasional short naps. Her parents had been right, staying in London a little longer before the journey would have been wise, but she missed home already... so it had been worthwhile making the extra trips back and forth.

There was a knot in her stomach as she watched others be sorted before her. Some first years and other transfers like herself. Her gaze took in every emotion that crossed each persons face as they approached the sorting hat, wore it, and realised where their home would be. Mostly, she saw relief. Val crossed her fingers, hoping for that same sense of relief.

This had been the right decision, she was sure of that much. Durmstrang would not miss her.

"Radić, Valerija."

*GULP*

That was her!

Biting her bottom lip, Val stole herself a moment of wide-eyed wonder before urging herself forward and taking her place on the stool. Without realising it she had stopped breathing, holding some air in her lungs. Her fingers, in their usual fashion, began to fidget, first with smoothing down her skirt, and next with the hem of her pullover.

"Aaahhh, a Radić, I've not had the pleasure in sorting your kind before."

The sound of the sorting hat in her ear was oddly soothing, and somehow she relaxed on the stool, a smile lifting the corners of her lips. Of course, the sorting hats words were true, or at least, they made much sense. All the family she knew attended Durmstrang... she was the first to attend elsewhere. For once it was her and not her brother that was the black sheep of the family.

"There's ambition I see, a thirst to prove yourself... but perhaps stronger than that is your kindness...... yes."

The sorting hat's commentary piqued her interest, what exactly did her mind and soul reveal? That's what it did, was it not? Searched their souls?

"You possess a maturity and cleverness of sorts, though not in the most conventional of ways... but where to put you?"

What that meant she had no clue, but eagerly listened, finally releasing the breath she'd been holding and inhaling another as if only now realising how good oxygen felt to her body. Her chest was tight with nerves. Where would she belong? Would she belong?

"I know! You'll do well in..."

"Hufflepuff!" roared the sorting hat.

Hufflepuff.

Hufflepuff!

She'd already seen a bunch of her other peers be sorted there, and the welcoming cheers of the yellow-clad table warmed her cheeks. Val grinned, hopping off the stool as the hat was removed from her head and skipped down to her new House table.

Excitement!

"Botros, Abraham."

There were multiple reasons why Abey didn't immediately respond to his name being called. Firstly, actually, he was so busy actually fretting over the impending Sorting, and so wrapped up in his thoughts about it, that he almost forgot he was actually there waiting for it to happen. Secondly, when he wasn't worrying about the sorting, he was instead worrying about Feo, all safely hidden in his trunk-that-hopefully-had-enough-breathing-holes, and thinking about Junia's plan to keep him.

But then, also, the fact that they had said Abraham, instead of Abey, and also, because they hadn't said the 'Jr.' part, that was confusing too actually. Abey always considered Abraham Botros to be his grandfather anyways. AND ALSO, it was confusing when they said it all backwards like that. Lots of confusion.

After a few moments had passed, in which he stared intently up at the Hat with his mind entirely somewhere else, Abey suddenly felt a prod in his back, nudging him forwards. Only then did he truly actually process what was actually happening.

And then the panic started to really set in.

Abey hurriedly stepped forward to the stool, stumbling slightly in his nerves, and feeling his heart hammering so so so so so hard against the inside of a chest it was a wonder it didn't BREAK something actually. He felt something in his throat, a big lump that he couldn't swallow down. Maybe he would just throw up instead. Would they be mad if he was sick into the millions-of-years-old traditional Hat?

Probably. So maybe he wouldn't do that actually.

His breathing getting even faster with his nerves, Abey took up the place on the stool. His heart had started going faster too so that soon Abey wondered whether it might exPLODE.

All these years of waiting, it all came down to this. IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THISSSSSSSS.

Abey squeezed his eyes shut and crossed ALL his fingers, and tried very hard to cross his toes, too, but they were all in his socks and shoes so that was a little more difficult actually. As the Hat was lowered onto his head, he thought at it, as hard as he could, 'Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff, HUFFLEPUFF, HUFFLEPUFF, PLEASE HUFFLEPUFF I'LL DO ANYTHIIIIIIING.

He needed to be Sorted into Hufflepuff, you see.

"Hmmmm..."

... What?

"Interesting..."

Um.

"Let me see..."

Wrong, wrong, wrONG THAT WAS WRONG. He had to be an INSTA-Hufflepuff, okay?

"Hufflepuff, please," Abey whispered to the Hat, still with his eyes squeezed shut and his fingers crossed in front of him. "Please, actually, Hufflepuff. Now, please."

The Hat was silent. Which was wrong. It needed to be screaming 'Hufflepuff!' to the Great Hall actually and then he could be going over there JUST like he was supposed to. The idea that he might not had Abey's anxiety rising. His breathing got faster still.

Oh no. Would he cry? Probably. Merlin. HUFFLEPUFF PLEASE, ACTUALLY.

"You really ought to think about expanding your horizons."

This was not good. Abey wasn't sure this was going the way he wanted it to. He resorted to pleading with the Hat as he sat there on the stool, switching back to thinking at it rather than talking, in case anyone nearby could hear him. This all felt very... private. Nobody could hear what the Hat was saying, right? Abey hadn't heard what it had said to anyone else...

'Yes, but no, but actually, please, Mr. Hat. I have to be a Hufflepuff because all the boys are. It's TRADITION, I have to. All the boys in my family. You know because you Sorted them. And I'm not smart enough to be a Ravenclaw and I'm not brave enough to be a Gryffindor and I'm not like a Slytherin at all and that's what the girls are anyway actually so I have to be a Hufflepuff anyway so pleeeEEEEAAAAASE.'

"Hmmm..." No. No. No 'Hmmm'ing. Why was it 'Hmmm'ing? That was not good. "It is not unknown for me to take choice into account... And you certainly would not be out of place in Hufflepuff..." Abey's heart suddenly LEAPT. "But..." Never mind. "I can see it, here in your mind; I can see another house would do you good, would help you grow."

I don't want to grow. I want to be in Hufflepuff.

It was around this time that Abey squeezed his crossed fingers and closed eyes all the tighter, and started whispering a mantra of "HufflepuffHufflepuffHufflepuffHufflepuff..." under his breath in an attempt to sidetrack the Hat, to make it SEE that ABEY KNEW WHERE HE NEEDED TO GO.

But, actually, even though Abey was asking and begging and pleading and demanding, the Hat started going on about Slytherin and, of all houses, Gryffindor. Stuff about determination and ambition and a need to prove himself, and then something else about a hidden bravery, and strength in the face of adversity, whatever that meant. On and on it went weighing up the two houses and saying things about Abey that he didn't even understand, and most of the time, didn't actually AGREE with, actually.

If Abey had any real sense, if he was thinking straight at all, he would have tried to hint at Slytherin instead, so that he could be with his cousins, so he wouldn't stray so greatly from the TRADITION. But no. That would have been too simple, and Abey was FIERCELY DETERMINED to talk it into putting him in Hufflepuff. He WOULD be there, just like Jaddi. He couldn't just waste the name 'Abraham Botros'. He was named after his grandfather, that meant he had to be a Hufflepuff like him, too. It was the only thing that made sense.

"Mind you, Ravenclaw wouldn't be a bad fit either..."

...

Now the Hat was just being mean. Considering every house OTHER than the one Abey had asked for. This Hat was mean, and clearly didn't like Abey at ALL. This was all wrong, all wrong wrong wrong, it was horrible awful wrong bad wrong actually bad bad wrong. A disaster. Abey sniffled, just as the Hat chuckled.

"You'll thank me one day, boy. Just you wait."

It was over. Abey could tell. He had FAILED, and everything was TERRIBLE. He opened his eyes and felt his lower lip tremble, just as the hat made its final decision, exactly five minutes into his Sorting.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

That did it. At once, Abey burst into tears. Sobbing, he wrenched the Hat from his head and threw it away from him, and ran away from the dais. But he did not run towards the Gryffindor table, full of thunderous applause. He did not even head for the Hufflepuff table, which he could identify even through his tears. Instead, Abey made a beeline for the Slytherin table, which he had noted earlier, and began looking for Rula and Junia. They were the only people he wanted to see.

He had failed.

"Li, Ambrose."

His heart was thundering in his chest. All the excitement contained in his body finally having turned into nerves. He wasn't ready for this. Not ready to be sorted by the old hat that looked like it was falling apart.

It didn't look hard. That wasn't what worried him. After all, the hat just seemed to sit on their heads before calling out their names. He wasn't sure exactly how the sorting worked, but it looked straightforward at least. The dark haired boy also wasn't scared of having the hat on his head, or being the person that seemed to be at the center of attention.

He was a little bit scared that he wouldn't belong there.

His conversations on the train had reinforced that idea. Some other first years were just so sure of where it was that they were going to go. And him? He was a muggleborn that had just read about the houses. He only knew the basics. And from that he had no clue where he could go.

Having hesitated long enough he finally forced his legs, which he could barely feel, to carry him up the stairs. To sit down on that chair, his characteristic smile having fallen off of his face. If only his sister was also here. If she were here this wouldn't matter so much. He would know where he belonged.

"Li, the first time I'm dealing with your family. A muggleborn? How interesting," the hat had whispered in his mind, causing him to jump up. The words though only made him feel worse about his position.

"Do not worry, there have been many great witches and wizards who have been muggleborns, and many famous ones that although not muggleborn were themselves raised by muggles, unaware of magic," the hat had addressed the worries that he had kept inside him, calming the boy down in an instant, a smile crossing his face once again.

'Thank you?' he responded, slightly hesitant. Unsure if thinking like that would be a response to the old hat in question.

"Now you are an interesting one..."

Ambrose didn't know what that meant.

"Yes... you're curious, intelligent too... you might do well in Ravenclaw..." it had mused, Ambrose wishing that it would keep going in it's analysis. "But while you have that there is much more to you. You work hard... though you aren't quite that ambitious..."

Was that an insult? Not being ambitious? His mother had often commented that it was a problem of his...

"But what's most important to you is your sister. You're incredibly loyal to her, aren't you? That's what hurts the most about leaving the muggle world for you..." Ambrose blinked, dropping his head at the mention of his twin sister. The person that he had never been without a day in his life.

"Your loyalty runs deep, and I think that this will help you find out just how far it goes..." it had continued, though Ambrose was only half listening to it.

"Yes... better beHUFFLEPUFF!" it had shouted.

Hufflepuff. His mind wandered to Kat, the Hufflepuff with him on the train. Hufflepuff, friendly and awesome she had described it. He could do that. Beaming, he jumped off the chair and jogged over to Hufflepuff table.

At least he could fit in somewhere here.

Nova watched with immense curiosity as other students were sorted before her. She knew very little about magic and Hogwarts, but her guardian had informed her of a few things before she arrived. Her guardian had been in Slytherin, and while the woman had spoken highly of her house, Nova wasn't quite sure it was for her. She didn't consider herself to be cunning, or ambitious. There was Ravenclaw, but she was sure she wasn't smart enough for that house. That left her with Hufflepuff, or Gryffindor. She knew Hufflepuff was the house of the loyal and dedicated. Perhaps she could fit in there. In fact, she was sure she'd be placed in Hufflepuff. There was no way she was daring, or brave enough to be a Gryffindor. Hmm. Well, so much for the sorting hat -- she'd already done the work for it.

"Pierce, Nova."

She slowly stepped forward and perched herself on the stool when her name was called, but she did not listen to the sorting hat as it spoke of her. She was sure, so sure, that she was a Hufflepuff --

"GRYFFINDOR!!!"

-- That she almost fell right off the stool when she was sorted into NOT HUFFLEPUFF. What? Her eyes went wide in disbelief. If she'd been unsure of her magic before arriving at the school, then that was nothing in comparison to how she felt now. She'd been wrong. No. The HAT had been wrong. She wasn't brave, she wasn't daring. And nerve? SHE HAD NONE.

She slid off the stool and went to join her housemates at the Gryffindor table...