Sorting Ceremony 2019-2020 Archived

Of all things, Gayle was most excited for the ghosts. Even though she grew up in a wizard home, the young witch had never seen a ghost before in her life, at least a visible one. One of her sisters had told her about them and how creepy is was when they went threw people, or when they held their decapitated heads like a basketball. Gayle didn't want to be touched by any of them, but they sounded pretty interesting.

She was on a tour of the castle with the other first years, getting a feel of the place they'd call home for the next few years. Gayle thought the place was cool but also intimidating. She could only imagine the hidden dangers and secret places concealed from view. So far the people giving them the tour, the professors and prefects, she guessed, were focused on quieting the rowdy new students and telling them about the history of the place. It was nice and all but like the others she was anxious to get to the Sorting Ceremony, where she'd be placed in her house.

Gayle wasn't sure what house she'd be placed in. She actually liked all of them, including Slytherin, which some people shied away from. Gayle wasn't really one for biases, she'd rather think for herself, but even so she didn't believe she'd be sorted into that House. Her older twin sisters, Daria and Roxanne, betted on her getting into Ravenclaw or Gryffindor respectively but that was only because they were in those houses. Still, Daria claimed that Gayle was exceptionally clever and Roxanne that she was incredibly brave. Gayle didn't know what to think; she was just...Gayle.

Soon enough they were approaching the Great Hall. The first thing Gayle noticed, before the floating candles and the daunting amounts of students, was the Headmaster; he was this tall man with greying hair and warm look adorned in, strangely, a suit of armour. She couldn't help but ogle at the man, though she was polite enough to smile at him in greeting. She wonder why he wore the armour and decided to find out later, maybe by asking him herself!

The first years filed down the center of the room, approaching the professor's table, where in front sat a stool with a worn hat atop. The Sorting Hat, she thought, gazing expectantly at the thing. But it only lay there as it wait for the ceremony to commence. But by then it was blocked from view as the other views stepped closer together to make room for the passing professors.

Gayle listened half-heartedly to the speech given, trying to avoid the eyes seemingly staringly only at her. She studied the ceiling, impressed at how well it resembled the night sky, with twinkling stars and viscous clouds etched across the darkness. She suddenly recalled the ghosts and looked around but couldn't find any. Gayle went back to the speech somewhat deflated.

Soon the names were being called. Gayle sucked in her bottom lip, chewing on it as she waited for her name to be called. She didn't have to wait long.

"Sharfman, Gayle."

Gayle brushed passed her fellow first years and quickly made her way over to the stool. Not long after she sat down was the Sorting Hat place upon her head. Instantly he said, "Ah, yet another Sharfman," as if he were speaking to an old friend.

She couldn't help but grin, excited in general, really. Gayle wondered if the hat could feel her emotions, how excited breathless she was, however so she tried to repress her glee. Then she remembered that the Hat, according to her books, focused more on her previous memories, trying to conjure up an image that would represent one of the four Houses of Hogwarts.

"Mother in Gryffindor, father in Slytherin...sisters in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw...respectively, of course..." Gayle snorted, knowing how much her twin sisters hated being compared to; they were physically but not personally identical, as they always liked to point out.

Gayle waited, which was no more than a few seconds, until the hat came to a decision. "Indeed you're brave as lion, wise as an eagle, even cunning as a snake. But your heart is more prominent and beloved. For that, you shall be steadfast as a...HUFFLEPUFF!"

No matter how much Callie had read about Hogwarts every single text failed to capture the sheer spectacle before her. Even Phel's tales on the train of the ceiling looking as if it opens out onto the heavens and the floating candles hadn't fully captured the, for lack of a better word, magic around her. The sight was fascinating, so fascinating in fact that it had distracted her entirely from her nerves. That was until she received a slight nudge from the person sitting to her left, prompting her to stand.

"Callie Jensen!" The voice repeated as the young girl wandered towards the stool, only to trip up at the last second which earned her a few laughs and a slight red tinge to her face. Callie quickly regained her composure after a brief moment of panic as her worst fears of her clumsy nature surfacing at the worst moment were confirmed. She very quickly sat down on the stool and clutched it's sides with her hands as the sorting hat was placed atop her head. Well it is perhaps more fitting to sat the hat engulfed Callie's head thanks to her small stature, leading to her having to carefully prop up the tattered old thing so she could see everyone in front of her.

"Ah, another fresh face enters our midst! A complicated one at that...a very brave soul indeed." The frayed old hat deliberated while Callie sat bolt upright on the stool. "Yet also a very kind and hardworking one at that. A curious one too! Hm...you're a complicated case young one.." Each passing second felt like a lifetime to the young girl all the while she pondered how the hat was able to perform such a task. Callie didn't realise she was holding her breath until a minute or so of silence was broken by the sudden cries of the hat atop her head:

"There's only one place for this one....RAVENCLAW." The hat called out to the room which soon erupted in cheers and Callie finally allowed herself to take a breath. A few moments longer and she'd have reached a hatstall. As she walked over to the table Callie's worries subsided as she was swept up in an assortment of greetings and pats to the back, extremely relieved to spy a few familiar faces from the train in the midst of the madness of the table Once Callie took her seat the fear was replaced with excitement for the days to come, overjoyed at the prospect of finding yet another place to call home.

Charles looked around as he waited for his name to be called. He wondered why he gave up seeing his parents for this. He also wondered if this was really what he wanted. Or was it just what his parents wanted. Confused and lost in his thoughts he only realized what was going on. Every time a house clapped when they got a new member.

The boy shook his head and sighed. He was already here and there was no way back home. So he might as well enjoy being here. And maybe he will actually find a way to stop being shy, in his time here. But something the sorting hat said in his song was stuck in his head.


Before Charles always thought that Slytherin was bad. But now he realized that it wasn't so bad. But he did not want to be in Slytherin. And he doubted that the sorting hat actually read into your mind. It probably just sorted you into the house that had the least so it made the houses even. As he thought to himself somebody tapped his shoulder. " Are you Charles? " They asked him. " Yeah, why you ask? " Charles replied. But before they could answer a loud voice said. " Charles, Charles Simmons. " " Present. " Charles said instantly not meaning to say that. Charles clamped his mouth shut and he could here students laughing at him. Charles then realized it was his turn, so he went up to the stool. He took a deep breath in as the sorting hat was placed on his head.



Charles rolled his eyes, this thing is just a fake. The young boy thought to himself, then he was reminded about his parents and how much he missed them. And that he would do whatever it took to ace his classes to make his parents proud.



Charles nearly jumped out of the stool when it spook again. He then realized the sorting hat was the real deal and they get offend easily.



Charles wished he could just see into the hats head, like the hat could see into his. So he knew what he was thinking. But unfortunately he could not and was stressed. Because it seemed like everybody was looking at him. Telling him to get on with it, even though there really staring at the hat. Charles even thought he heard a student tell the hat to get on with it. Charles did not like that all eyes were on him, it made him super uncomfortable.





Charles quickly took the hat off, and got off the stool. He quickly made his way to the Slytherin table and sat down. He was finally left to his own thoughts.

As Athena was led into the majestic great hall, she couldn't help but let out a small gasp. She tried to squash her growing excitement as she studied the Houses. Gryffindor were on the edges of their seats, clearly impatiently awaiting the beginning of the sorting. Ravenclaw looked almost as enthusiastic as the previous House, yet half had their noses in books. Huflepuff were all grinning at each other, guessing which of the fresh wizards were going to be placed in their House. Slytherin were the least hyper. Most were stretching and waiting for the the headmaster to make his lengthy speech.
After he had finished his speech, Professor Lear gestured for the sorting to begin. There were so many students. It had already been almost an hour, and Athena couldn't even count all of the remaining. She was so bored. She fidgeted with her hair and daydreamed. That didn't pass much time, so she thought she might as well take a closer look at the hall.
Dozens and dozens of floating candles filled the room. Paired with the lamps lined along the walls, they gave the room a soft, warm glow. Each table was bustling with activity. Many were chatting among themselves, making toasts, or cramming their face with as much food as they could. Athena didn't blame them. She was starving. That was another reason the girl wished she would be sorted faster.
Back to looking around the room. Four long tables stretched in front of her, one for each House. She was standing on a slightly raised platform in which each Head of each House sat, along with the headmaster and the other first years. Suddenly, her impatience was interrupted by the calling of a particularly familiar name.
"Hayes, Athena,"
Athena gulped. On second thought, maybe it would have been nicer if they waited a bit longer. She nervously stepped towards the worn stool in the center of the room; who knows how old. Athena desperately hoped she wasn't shaking.
She sat down on the stool, aware all of the attention was on her. A wizard's hat, just as worn as the chair, if not more, was set on her head. It immediately slid down over her eyes. Many varied stitches ran across its warm brown fabric, as if someone had been quickly slapping on more and more as the years went by, in a mad panic to preserve the old hat.
"Book-smart and cunning," The sorting hat remarked, studying Athena's mind. The new wizard almost leaped out of her seat in surprise. The hat chuckled at her clear shock, "Don't worry; I don't bite," The sorting hat dug into her mind again, "Ah, quite the ambitious one, I see. Big dreams," He fell quiet for a moment, perhaps reflecting the many generations of witches and wizards before her. Athena waited in anticipation, biting her lip as the sorting hat slid even farther down her face, "Want to be a dragon tamer, do you? Good luck," The remark didn't seem to be meant as rude, but wasn't exactly kind either.
"Hmmmm, confident as well; you're a tough choice,"
She could feel sweat trickle down her spine, "Oh, please let me be Ravenclaw," she pleaded through her mind, faintly aware the sorting hat was listening. Both of the girl's parents were Ravenclaw, and while it wasn't guaranteed to get the House you're parents were placed in, Athena just fit the description perfectly.
So when the sorting hat shreiked, "It's going to be... SLYTHERIN!" in front of almost every student at Hogwarts, Athena felt her world crash around her. Time seemed to slow to a stop. "Slytherin?!?!?!" Athena desperately begged the sorting hat to explain. The sorting hat quickly whispered, "Embrace who you are," before it was lifted from her head. Not a second after the hat was off her, Athena screamed to herself, "Of all the options, SLYTHERIN?! Everyone hates Slytherins. Aren't they evil? Am I evil? Why couldn't it have just been Ravenclaw?" Athena had just wanted to work hard and please her teachers. Why, why, why Slytherin?
Athena tried not to cry, knowing that would make it worse, but a tear might have squeezed out as her new House cheered and beckoned for her to join them. She felt as if she might just melt into the floor and disappear forever, but somehow managed a tiny, wavering smile. Athena sat down stiffly between two older students and glanced longingly at the Ravenclaw table, who were all eagerly awaiting the sorting of the next student.
"What am I going to do now?" Athena asked herself.

Her name was called after much-too long of a wait and she marched up front, worried more about how the hat would mess up her hair than what it had to say. This was an incredibly weird way to sort people but whatever, some must have needed it. She didn't though. She was Alina Rosier of the Rosiers of The Sacred Twenty-Eight and there was no doubt in her mind that the Sorting Hat would place her and her twin sister into Slytherin as all her family had before her.

She sat down, nice and tall, and the hat was lowered. From either inside her head or in a whisper, she could hear the hat talking. "Alina Rosier... Well look at you. One could use quite a bit of improving on one's character, hmm?" She tilted her head a little, not quite understanding and this made the hat grumble. She sighed impatiently. This was taking too long! Just say Slytherin already!

"I see a lot of stubborness, a thirst to prove yourself. Crafty. And of course, your desire to let EVERYONE know exactly how pure your blood is," she smiled. Here it came! "Yes, quite a bit of improving must be done..." She huffed. "JUST SAY THE HOUSE ALREADY!" she spat.

The hat intentionally pressed down on her head harder, ruffling up her perfectly styled hair due to her sass. "Hufflepuff," it hissed. She gasped. It was too soft, even she couldn't hear it right and she was right there. "Excuse me?" she questioned. "Hufflepuff," the hat repeated.

She was devastated by the days events. She was Alina Rosier of The Sacred Twenty-Eight, with members of the Slytherin house going back for centuries. CENTURIES! It was more than a long-standing tradition, it was an expectation. A given really...until now. Her twin sister Bella would even next be sorted into Slytherin with all the other past family members but Alina? Alina was sorted into the house of Hufflepuff.

Hufflepuff.

“What? No! There’s been a mistake! There has to have been a mistake!” She had shouted to the heavens in the Great Hall during the sorting ceremony. Even the hat had seemed startled. “This ugly horrid ratty decrepit old hat has made a HUGE mistake! I cannot be in a house filled with muggleborns, halfbreeds, the plain and simple, and the rejects of the school!” Oh yes, she went there...outloud, to the entire school. “Wait until my father...” but then she gasped and ran out of The Great Hall in tears.

Alexis’s eyes widen at the call of her name. This is it. She walked to the front with her head held high and a confident stride, step onto the platform and sat on the old stool in a perfect posture. She could feel that all eyes are on her, she looked calm and collected. Her eyes darted across the hall, searching for her brothers at the Slytherin table. They were grinning and waving at her, she smiled at them.

She felt the professor placed the sorting hat on her head. Everything was silent. After a minute or two, she heard a whisper in her head, the voice was deep and low. “...Ahhh. Another Asterion?”

“Yes” She replied shortly, her voice unwavering.
“Interesting. Very, very interesting...”

“Now, now, let’s see where should I put you.” Alexis stayed silent, waiting for the hat to continue.

“Kind? Hmm... Not so much. But hard-working? Yes, yes...

Brave? Ohh... very. Loyal? Only to loved ones.

Ambitious? Aha! Just like your brothers. I see, I see.

Very very smart. Eager to learn. Creative too.

This is a hard one. You remind me of your father.
Oh! You want to be an auror too? My, my.” Alexis thought of her father. She idolize him in everything he does. She thought of her brothers, they always have a way to get what they wants, she got that from them. Her mother is smart, very smart, the reason why she loves reading as much as she does.

“What is it going to be then?” She ask calmly.

“I know just where to put you...”

The Great Hall was a sight to behold for any first years crossing the big doors for the first time. The enchanted ceiling, the long tables, the other students and professors. So many elements to create an unforgettable memory. Riannon was trying to see everything, she moved only because the other first years were moving forward dragging her with them.

The group of new students reached the front of the hall and the Headmaster began his speech. His booming voice captivated Riannon. She was on her toes trying to have a better view of the Headmaster and the Sorting Hat. Her parents and brother told her about the sorting tradition and she was impatient to have her turn with the Sorting Hat. Her turn will have to wait after his song though. But it was a great song so Riannon was not too mad to wait a little more and she clapped loudly once the song was over.

Riannon watched as other students made their way to the stool and were sorted to the four different houses. Finally, she heard her name "Riannon Campbell" and she quickly made her way.

Settling down Riannon had the Sorting Hat placed on her head. Seconds later, she heard as a voice began speaking to her.

"Riannon Campbell ... a mischievous young heart we have here" began the Sorting Hat. "Full of creativity, a big heart and too much energy."

"There's no such thing as too much energy according to my grand-mother"interrupted Riannon.

"Uh ... A smart mouth too it seems." continued the Sorting Hat "Let's not make it more difficult than necessary. You will be right at home in ..."



With a big smile on her face, Riannon quickly thanked the Hat and made her way to the Hufflepuff table. She had people to meet and make friend with. Her life as a Hogwarts student started now.

Kristen followed the large group of students from the Hogwarts express to the school. From the outside, it looked like a massive castle. Her jaw nearly hit the floor when she saw it for the first time. She couldn't believe how big the school was. How on earth was she going to keep from getting lost? When they entered the Main Hall, a professor talked to them for a moment and then took them into the Great Hall for the sorting ceremony. The Headmaster gave a speech and started with the list.

Kristen was shocked to learn that the hat that was placed on their head could talk. Inanimate objects were not supposed to speak to you. She was quite excited to come to this school, after her parents finally told her about magic and Hogwarts that is, they told her that they both attended this school and met here. Her mother was a first born Hufflepuff, her entire family before her had all been Gryffindor. Her father's family line on the other hand was Hufflepuff through and through. After her parents telling her all about the houses, she was really hoping that she would also be sorted into Hufflepuff to carry on their legacy. She met so many of the traits.

Kristen looked around the room and saw these beautiful candles floating in the ceiling, and the photos on the wall almost seem to jump out at you. She started to become more nervous as she watched her peers sometimes getting yelled at by the hat, sometimes getting sorted straight away and she began to shake. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but then suddenly heard her name call out into the great room.

"Kristen Moon!"

She looked at her Headmaster nervously and walked up to the stool. She climbed on and sat waiting for the hat to be placed on her head. Once it was placed, she felt terrified.

"Relax my dear," the Sorting Hat said, "I am not here to hurt you, just decide what house you belong to."

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes to calm her nerves.

"Much better. Mmm, you are a Moon. I can tell by the looks of you, your father, Gregory's bloodline runs so thick in you. Alas, you have your beautiful mother's eyes. Ah yes, Maria was quite shocked to be placed into Hufflepuff when her sister Bethany was placed into Slytherin."

Kristen looked out at the crowd of new students and wondered how a hat knew all that from sitting on her head.

"I know all my dear. I see you are loyal and patient, but there are some other traits I sense too. You do exercise chivalry, but you aren't exactly brave, however, you do have the fuse box of a Gryffindor. I sense an overwhelming need for knowledge and creativity. You are clever and witty. It seems you haven't stopped reading about Hogwarts since you found out about it's existence. I know exactly where I will put you my dear, Ravenclaw!"

Kristen's mouth fell open as she looked around at the tables, 'A first born Ravenclaw?' she thought, 'How can this be?' She stood from the chair and slowly made her way to the cheering Ravenclaw table and fought back the overwhelming urge to cry. When she arrived at Ravenclaw's table, she sat quietly near the end of the table hoping no one would talk to her, she needed time to process what had happened.

Mars stood in confusion in the middle of the bright-eyed students. To a certain degree, they did not want to be here. They missed their brothers and the swirls already present in their stomach grew as they contemplated all the horrible things the little monsters could have gotten themselves into. They'd always been uneasy in large crowds where there were too many people to notice them, and too many people to talk to.

They glanced around at all the other students, all eyes fixed on the gold-armor clad headmaster at the front of the room.

"...sorting ceremony..."

His amplified voice bounced hard off of Mars' eardrums and they shuttered. They already missed the comfort of their earbuds, of drowning out the outside world in rising melodies and crafted lyrics.

"The sorting hat..."

The majority of the crowd's attention remained on Solomon Lear, but Mars found themselves looking around for the item in question. They meant no disrespect to the thing, but they had spent 11 years of their life trying to figure out where they belonged with no luck; how was it supposed to answer that question in a matter of minutes? They finally found it sitting atop a three-legged stool at the front of the room. It was hardly impressive, just a bundle of brown rags in the shape of a hat. Then, the headmaster's voice broke through their thoughts again.

"... is very much sentient."

At that, another voice retorted, aged and withered, but with an icy conviction that left no room for arguing.

Sentient, I am intelligent.

The wave of gasps rippled through the crowd as more than half of the heads jerked from side to side, looking for the source of the voice. Mars bit back a choking laugh. They had seen the thing open its "mouth," a fold in the old fabric, and hiss out its obvious disliking of the headmaster's word choice. Chuckling to themself, Mars pulled their arms into their familiar cross-armed position, cocking a hip out, and leaning back on their heels. Okay, they had to admit, anything that makes a remark like that had earned some of their respect.

Pulling their gaze off the "intelligent" object, they surveyed the room in seldom-felt curiosity. They admired the way the candles lit the decorated walls in a comfortable glow, each candle seemingly held aloft by invisible threads. They studied the one closest to them, watching a large, fat drop of melted wax run down the side only to be caught by another one already frozen there from years before. They wondered what would happen if it had slid all the way off of the main body, smiling faintly. They'd hate to be the unfortunate soul that got caught under that.

Their eyes moved from the candles to the walls. Countless picture frames lined the brown room, gold glinting under the glow of the candlelight. They were beautiful and yet... none of them held any pictures, only blank black canvases encased in golden frames.

Deciding not to dwell on it, Mars' attention turned to the four long tables lined with dishes and cutlery. There were already a fair amount of students sitting at each; the one' in red robes jostled each other's elbows, laughing, the blue-robed ones all with noses in their books and half-filled forks suspended in midair, the yellow ones with arms around each other, and the green ones whispering quietly, eyes darting to the rest of the standing crowd, picking at certain individuals with their stares. One of them caught Mars' gaze, the wizard in question smirking at them. Mars kept their flat mouth and cold stare, only raising an eyebrow at the offending student. They locked eyes for a few fleeting seconds before the wizard looked away scowling. Mars let themself smirk at that, shaking their head slightly.

They returned to observing the silverware or maybe they should say gold... but it might have been a trick of the light. As they stared intently at the table, they could have sworn a faint scent lifted off the wood to meet them. It was... sweet and savory, like a Thanksgiving meal, wrapped in thyme and a soft-smelling flower. Something about it was familiar, too familiar, and a flash of someone - soft hands working a floury dough, a soft feminine laugh audible in the background - punched itself through Mars' brain.

They stopped, frozen, staring unseeingly at the floor. Something prickled at the back of their throat and heat built itself behind their eyes. But-but Mars didn't cry. Had never. Would never. Too many thoughts raced through their head, emotions building, a wave peaking, reaching, ready to break-

Someone stumbled into them from behind, knocking them out of their stupor. The tightness and the heat were gone in an instant and Mars straightened up, blinking strangely.

"Mars T'ien!"

The headmaster's booming voice finally registered to Mars. They pushed their way through the crowd, treading in the direction of the sorting hat.

"Yes, yes, I'm here!" Mars called. Then, quieter under their breath, "No need to get your panties in a twist, geez."

A couple of the students closest to them snickered.

They stepped gracefully up to the sorting hat, studying it carefully.

"What?" The sorting hat's shivering voice snaked into their ear.

"Nothing, I just think you're cool. And I'm also trying to decide how many of the people who've worn you probably have lice."

If the sorting hat could laugh, it let out of a half-snort. Mars grinned, picked it up, and placed it on their head.

"Mars T'ien," This time, the voice didn't curl itself around their ears, sending goosebumps across the soft flesh. It spoke directly to their brain, causing them to flinch suddenly.

"Mars. You are a peculiar one."

Mars snorted. They could have told it that.

"I can see your wishes. Your deepest desires and grandest hopes. I can see every thought you've ever had, every mistake, every triumph," the voice declared, "And every..." It stalled as if confused.

"Hmm." It mumbled.

"What?" Mars thought.

"I can see everything in your head. Which should include your memories but... well, something is missing. A large part. An important part."

"Wonderful."

"No matter. I can still place you without it. And I am never wrong." The hat spoke.

"You value intelligence. Fitting for a Ravenclaw. But you are loyal to your brothers. Perfect for a Hufflepuff. You are quick and clever on your feet. Quite a Slytherin. And... you seek adventure, honor, glory. You would make a wonderful Gryffindor.

"Wow, so I really am as messed up as they come, huh?" Mars half-laughed.

"Not messed up, just balanced. A jack of all trades. This will be difficult." The hat responded.

"Mars T'ien. T'ien. T'ien." The hat seemed to pause at this. Suddenly, the flash of that someone played back through Mars' head. The soft voice was singing while kneading the dough. It laughed as someone else's hand entered the frame, a small hand, still round and chubby with baby fat. Then, it was gone again.

"Huh."

"What was that?" Mars exclaimed.

"So you do not remember..." The hat trailed off.

"Remember what? What was that?" Mars was practically yelling at the thing now.

"Mars, were your parents magical?"

"What? No, they were perfectly normal. As far as I know, I'm the only one with any kind of magical abilities. But what does that have to do with anything??

"So you would like to know?"

"What do you think I've been saying this entire time?" Mars huffed.

"Very well, then," The hat almost seemed to smile at that. "I have decided. You are a..."

"RAVENCLAW!" The word was no longer just in Mars' head. It boomed against the walls, echoing off the empty frames. The table that seated all of the wizards in blue robes cheered.

"What!? Mars exclaimed in their head. "You didn't answer my question, you just put me in a damn house!" The sorting hat made no reply. Angrily, Mars pulled it off their head. They considered throwing it to the floor, but then, what did they always say. The best people (and things, apparently) answer questions with questions. Gingerly, they placed in back onto the stool, brushing it off lightly.

Prickles of the memory still stabbed into their consciousness as they made their way down to the Ravenclaws. No matter. Mars took a seat at the table.

"You know, your red hair is gonna look real weird with the blue robes," someone on their left said. Mars smiled. They hadn't known where they were going to end up, but this didn't seem too bad after all.

Eloise bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited for her name to be called. At 11, Eloise had yet to grow out of her childlike restlessness. Energy coursed through her veins as the small girl waited within the throng of other 11-year-olds. As the crowd slowly began to thin, Eloise took the time to observe the room around her. It was large, packed with students, and oozing magical energy. The beautiful enchanted ceiling and floating candles caught her attention, and Eloise spent a good amount of time gazing up in awe.

"Terrel, Eloise.

Eloise jumped in surprise when her name was called. Pushing past other students, she tried not to trip over her feet. When the hat was placed on her head, Eloise heard a voice echoing around the inside of her head.

"What have we here? Oh, stubborn, yes, and temperamental too!" At this, Eloise frowned. She was not temperamental! Well, maybe she was, but just a little! The hat didn't have to go announcing that to the whole crowd, did it?

"Inquisitive mind, though... hmm... Must be RAVENCLAW!

With that, Eloise let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Once the hat was plucked from her head Eloise began making her way over to her new housemates. If all of Hogwarts was to be this wonderful, Eloise couldn't wait to begin learning everything she could, especially how to enchant floating candles.