The sorting.
The great hall
After 9, boring hours of sitting inside a small cabin on the Hogwarts express- going to the Hogsmeade Station, taking the boats and finally making it there- they're now outside the great hall, most kids are anxious, some are super excited, others curious.
Like always, Azrael has his usual deadpan- although his eyes are rounder, as if he was feeling curious, which...to be fair, is the first and only change you'll ever see on his face.
"... we'll go inside one by one from what I'm seeing."
He mumbled, peeking over a girl's shoulder to see the kid who's first in line, already walking inside..
"... It's very loud, hopefully it's not too long until we get sorted."
He seemed to stop blinking entirely now that he's more concentrated than on the train, which...is obviously unsettling the people in front of him and behind him too, to the point where there's a big gap between Keegan and Azrael- and the rest of the kids, who decided it was best to keep their distance- still, nothing he wasn't used to.
You can practically feel the place vibrating from everyone's cheers as the first kid gets sorted- it's like standing outside a house fire with occupants still inside....well, at least for Azrael that's how it feels.
"...did I do something? Or is there something on my face?
Azrael asked Keegan, as he finally realized all the kids behind and in front of him had moved further away from them, as if they were contagious.
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Reducio
Word count: 253
@Keegan Cadwalader
Last edited by Azrael Holloway on 2 Nov 2025, 17:18, edited 1 time in total.
"The Sun's shadow knows no fear, no dawn. Is the watcher always watched, or simply drawn?"
The sorting.
After the 9 hours Keegan quickly grew restless and antsy even though he fell asleep most of it-chatting which normally takes his mind off of things-worked for a little bit-he especially liked getting to know Azrael better-finding him particularly interesting- he still got nervous-so much so he's already forced and istablished Azreal to be his emotional support human. He noticed the other first years sort of formed little groups amongst themselves, already establishing their main group of friends-shying away from the rough and strange looking one. Keegan scooted closer to the pale boy-who's looks were only amplified under the moonlight.
"Do I have anything on my face?" Azrael asked in his monotone voice that Keegan found it strangely calming . "Uh no, not that I can see," Keegan shrugged and continued to nibble on a sweet from the train.
"Hooolllllly shiiit-," Keegan's mouth went open as his tumultuous deep blue eyes bugged out of their sockets as the two made their way into the great hall. Keegan stared up in complete, and utter amazement at the grandeur of it all-all the while staying close to Azreal. Once the boys stood up front with all the other first years the hat began to talk.
"Did that hat just-?" Keegan looked at Azreal. "How the hell does that work?"
@Azrael Holloway
"Do I have anything on my face?" Azrael asked in his monotone voice that Keegan found it strangely calming . "Uh no, not that I can see," Keegan shrugged and continued to nibble on a sweet from the train.
"Hooolllllly shiiit-," Keegan's mouth went open as his tumultuous deep blue eyes bugged out of their sockets as the two made their way into the great hall. Keegan stared up in complete, and utter amazement at the grandeur of it all-all the while staying close to Azreal. Once the boys stood up front with all the other first years the hat began to talk.
"Did that hat just-?" Keegan looked at Azreal. "How the hell does that work?"
@Azrael Holloway
word count: 210
Last edited by Keegan Cadwalader on 2 Nov 2025, 16:43, edited 2 times in total.
The sorting.
The place is full of people, all 4 tables filled with kids from different houses, it's not something he's used to-
He's lived his whole life in isolation, only ever spending time with his parents- the 3 of them have always been loners, while they had hoped their son turned out to be more social (and even encouraged him to spend more time with people his age), he still turned out to be just like them- a loner by nature.
"...oh yeah, it does that... it'll be placed on your head soon enough."
Azrael said with a slight shrug, looking almost bored as he blinked up at the hat- which was currently sitting on a girl's head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The hat announced, as the Slytherin table erupted in cheers- the girl quickly stood up and trotted over to her new table...
Azrael suddenly placed a hand on Keegan's shoulder after they almost bumped into another student for not looking at where they were going...
His hand is cold as hell, like he submerged it in snow during a snow storm and left it there for hours.
"... Let's try to not bump into anyone, at least not in front of the entire school."
His big, owl-like eyes narrowed as he realized he had accidentally placed his overly cold hand on Keegan's shoulder.
"...sorry."
He mumbled, voice monotone like always.
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Reducio
Word count: 227
@Keegan Cadwalader
Last edited by Azrael Holloway on 2 Nov 2025, 17:12, edited 4 times in total.
"The Sun's shadow knows no fear, no dawn. Is the watcher always watched, or simply drawn?"
The sorting.
Keegan was too busy looking around at the illusion above him to realize he almost collided with the slytherin girl before Azrael placed a cold hand on his shoulder pulling him back with a cold jolt that seemed to do the trick-Keegan found it oddly grounding. The boy looked at Azrael and gave him a bashful look. "Sorry-i'm a bit clumsy,"
"... Let's try to not bump into anyone, at least not in front of the entire school." Azreal seemed to realize his biting cold hand was still perched on Keegan's broad shoulder and the boy quickly took it off-his owl-ish eyes disappearing into narrowed slits. "...sorry,"
The comment made Keegan feel slightly pink again. "Right then, it's fine" he shrugged itching and tugged the back of his neck again. "So what house do yeh want to get?" Keegan asked "Gryffindoor seems pretty cool-I like the gryffin. I have no bloody idea what a Hufflepuff is though-I hope we get placed in the same house," Keegan mumbled as they shuffled closer to the sorting hat with every eruptious applause. The boy's eyes were still narrowed and Keegan looked at him-slightly worried. "You alright mate-?" Keegan asked but before Azreal could reply the professor called up Keegan. Keegan looked to Azrael anxiously before taking tenacious steps up, swallowing thickly and fidgeting with his hand-me-down school robes before sitting up at the stool and making eye contact with Azrael the whole time.
"... Let's try to not bump into anyone, at least not in front of the entire school." Azreal seemed to realize his biting cold hand was still perched on Keegan's broad shoulder and the boy quickly took it off-his owl-ish eyes disappearing into narrowed slits. "...sorry,"
The comment made Keegan feel slightly pink again. "Right then, it's fine" he shrugged itching and tugged the back of his neck again. "So what house do yeh want to get?" Keegan asked "Gryffindoor seems pretty cool-I like the gryffin. I have no bloody idea what a Hufflepuff is though-I hope we get placed in the same house," Keegan mumbled as they shuffled closer to the sorting hat with every eruptious applause. The boy's eyes were still narrowed and Keegan looked at him-slightly worried. "You alright mate-?" Keegan asked but before Azreal could reply the professor called up Keegan. Keegan looked to Azrael anxiously before taking tenacious steps up, swallowing thickly and fidgeting with his hand-me-down school robes before sitting up at the stool and making eye contact with Azrael the whole time.
@Azrael Hollowayword count: 222
Last edited by Keegan Cadwalader on 2 Nov 2025, 16:45, edited 3 times in total.
The sorting.
"...I don't have a preference- I just hope the light is dim wherever I'm sitting...I'd hate to have to keep squinting."
Azrael looked up at Keegan as he sat down and the sorting hat was placed on his head...while Azrael's face seemed blank (like always), he gave him a small thumbs up with his hand.
He's never been one to show much emotion- let out make such a gesture, still...Keegan seemed anxious, so he decided to help him out- after all, he's not the type to sit still and watch people succumb to strong emotions.
He's trying, even in his own stoic way.
Still, hopefully Keegan realizes that- it's hard to do so when Azrael looks like a man about to leave for work...not in a fun way either.
It's weird to think about how he's 11, with how eerie he is- people would assume he was at least a teen if it wasn't for his height and other factors...
He can still remember the many times he's been called "eerie" or "weird" by people his age, something he doesn't talk about much- if at all, is that while it doesn't bother him, it bothers his parents....they never want to see him struggle, and it's always been painful for them to see their only child have no friends, no people to rely on- much less anyone to count on apart from them.
So now that he's met Keegan, hopefully things will change for the better- and not for the worse.
............
Reducio
Word count: 250
@Keegan Cadwalader
Last edited by Azrael Holloway on 2 Nov 2025, 17:13, edited 2 times in total.
"The Sun's shadow knows no fear, no dawn. Is the watcher always watched, or simply drawn?"
The sorting.
Keegan situated himself on the stool as he finally looked down at his dangling feet-just barely too short to reach- he could if he went on his tiptoes though. The musty hat was placed on the boy's head and Keegan squeezed his eyes shut gripping the stool.
"Hello-Keegan is it?" The hat's voice spoke as if it was whispering in Keegan's ears. He nodded.
"Mhhm,"
"You've been through a lot haven't you boy?" The hat asked him-Keegan nodded again. "I-I guess so," Keegan mumbled-even just a month ago he would've never believed he would ever be having a conversation with a hat-he still doesn't quite believe it.
"You've got a lot of smarts-that's apparent-maybe ravenclaw?"
Keegan shook his head quickly at that. "NO! I don't-," Keegan looked down-just a few seconds ago he was too distracted and almost bumped into someone-he wasn't smart he thought.
The hat seemed to ponder for a good strong while-poking and prodding after what seemed like ages, the hat finally made his decision. Before the hat even finished shouting HUFFLEPUFF! Keegan had ripped the hat off his head running to the first year table under the badgers, hoping Azrael would be placed in hufflepuff with him.
@Azrael Holloway
"Hello-Keegan is it?" The hat's voice spoke as if it was whispering in Keegan's ears. He nodded.
"Mhhm,"
"You've been through a lot haven't you boy?" The hat asked him-Keegan nodded again. "I-I guess so," Keegan mumbled-even just a month ago he would've never believed he would ever be having a conversation with a hat-he still doesn't quite believe it.
"You've got a lot of smarts-that's apparent-maybe ravenclaw?"
Keegan shook his head quickly at that. "NO! I don't-," Keegan looked down-just a few seconds ago he was too distracted and almost bumped into someone-he wasn't smart he thought.
The hat seemed to ponder for a good strong while-poking and prodding after what seemed like ages, the hat finally made his decision. Before the hat even finished shouting HUFFLEPUFF! Keegan had ripped the hat off his head running to the first year table under the badgers, hoping Azrael would be placed in hufflepuff with him.
@Azrael Holloway
word count: 201
Last edited by Keegan Cadwalader on 2 Nov 2025, 16:44, edited 2 times in total.
The sorting.
Soon enough, it was Azrael's turn- he was called over to sit, and the sorting hat was placed on his head...He's not exactly anxious or excited, but he isn't exactly happy to be sitting there amongst so many people either- it's like living inside a hole for 11 years and suddenly being dropped in the middle of a train station at the peek hour where everyone's leaving for work- still, there's not much he can do about it, especially not when he's already sitting there, waiting for the hat to start its dreaded dialogue.
"hmmm... you're hard to read, it's quite unusual for someone so young."
Azrael didn't seem impressed, rather kind of bored- of course, he wouldn't want to be rude... especially not in front of so many people all at once- and with the lights blinding him, even if they're subtle- his home has always been dark..so this? It's basically leaving him out to dry out in the sun- well to him that's how it is, at least...so soon enough, he responded...
"... that's just how I am."
while Azrael barely had even an inch of strong emotion in him- he had a strange loyalty... braveness even, he'd never hesitate to protect those he loved- even at the cost of himself.
as the hat hummed, it suddenly perked up-
"it would be quite fitting for you to be in- GRYFFINDOR!"
Azrael blinked over at Keegan's table, big eyes getting wider and pupils getting smaller as he shrugged slightly, as if to say: "it's alright."
He stood up after the hat was taken off his head, as he moved to sit on his new table...while the Gryffindor kids cheered, the ones sitting next to him looked almost... uncomfortable- I mean, you can't exactly blame them, he looks like he crawled out of a dark pit and is now actively haunting you.
..................
Reducio
Word count: 311
@Keegan Cadwalader
Last edited by Azrael Holloway on 2 Nov 2025, 17:14, edited 2 times in total.
"The Sun's shadow knows no fear, no dawn. Is the watcher always watched, or simply drawn?"
The sorting.
Keegans face grew weary of disapointment, eyebrows creasing as he slumped down in his seat just looking at Azrael anxiously from across the great hall-so far away. Keegan tensed his jaw as he sighed looking down chewing the inside of his lip and thought to himself. Keegan always struggled meeting new people, he was akward and often only responded in retorts-He liked Azreal because he didnt mind his brash demeanor. Other people founded him to resemble to much of an angry cat for most pepole’s liking anyways. He was also disapointed because he wanted to be in the house with a gryfin for a mascot because he liked them better-and Azrael was in the house as well-not a...badger...what even is a hufflepuff anywaysmaybe we can meet up afterwards Keegan hopeful but fleeting thoughts got inturupted by a great feast that so suddenly apeared once the headmaster ended his long droning speech-which Keegan was only half-listening too. Turky, hams, fruits, it all looked so good and Keegan imediantly forgot about Azrael and ate to his heart’s full content, eating more than he probably ever had, he made eye contact with azrael again and gave him a small lopsided grin as he ate.
@Azrael Holloway
Word count: 202
@Azrael Holloway
Word count: 202
Last edited by Keegan Cadwalader on 4 Nov 2025, 02:09, edited 1 time in total.
The sorting.
Azrael huffed under his breath, looking around before turning to look at Keegan across the tables...just when he had started getting used to Keegan's presence- they just HAD to be placed in different houses, and Azrael is NOT feeling up to doing that whole "making friends" thing again, it was hard enough figuring out what to say to Keegan in the first place to think about doing it again with someone else- so, he decided to at least try and get his attention from across the room.
he then mouthed: "See you outside." While calmly signaling to the door with his head- once the feast was over, they could meet outside before heading to their new dorms, maybe if they met outside- they could probably talk for a bit, set up a plan for something to do later or just walk together for as long as they could until they had to separate to find their own dorms.
It's exhausting enough as it is just thinking about it, and Azrael isn't one to enjoy overthinking- especially not about what he's supposed to do if someone else comes up to him to talk...he has half a mind to act even more creepy just so maybe he'll get some peace and quiet when he gets to his dorms...still, that will probably only drive people away, and he doesn't want his parents to be sad when they hear their son can't even keep one friend.
and while he won't admit it too soon, he's actually starting to enjoy Keegan's company.
..........
Reducio
Word count: 257
@Keegan Cadwalader
"The Sun's shadow knows no fear, no dawn. Is the watcher always watched, or simply drawn?"