Fiona was admiring Beauxbatons' decor when she heard...

"Fiona Jenovick!!"

She quickly made her way to the cushioned seat and felt the hat being placed on top of her red tresses. Soon a voice spoke inside her mind.

"Hmm, you have a tough side to you yet there's a loyalty to you. Gryffindor? No, I don't think so. There's a creative side to you. I don't see you in Ravenclaw. You are definitely a....."

Fiona was getting slightly tired with waiting for an answer when finally...

"SLYTHERIN!!"

Fiona beamed as the Sorting Hat was removed from her head and she then walked over to the Papillionlisse Table.

Just as Balthamos expected, Beauxbatons was a fancy-shmancy palace. Unfortunately for him, he had to admit the castle was jaw-dropping. He couldn’t help himself and look around, it was all so mesmerising and not as pretentious as he thought it would be. Though he disliked the music in the background, it felt as if a buzzing “classical-music” fly was by his ear. Completely unnecessary.

“Balthamos Brennan Boot.”

He eagerly made his way to the chair. The moment the hat touched his head, a feeling of nervousness crawled inside him. He must be sorted into Ravenclaw, anything else would be a disaster.

“Ahhh, a Boot. It’s been a while,” the hat chuckled. “Oh a very sharp head… A very sharp head indeed.” Balthamos was becoming impatient, he expected his sorting to be quicker. The hat continued to mumble silly things in his head but before long it addressed the hall loudly. Excuse you, hat. He had delicate ears.

“RAVENCLAW!”

Balthamos let out a sigh of relief as he took the hat off. He ran towards the house tables with a proud grin. Errr… which table was Ravenclaw, there was no Ravenclaw table. He was confused.

Ilya had forgotten his disappointment of not making it to the castle when the sorting ceremony started. He sat on the VERY edge of his seat, watching the scroll of names unfold and preparing himself for his turn.

Come onnnnn, comeeeeeee ooooooooon, Belrose. B E L R O S E.

"Belrose, Ilya," the parchment's read out loud and Ilya's feet hit the floor. He fixed his robes and walked as poised as possible up to the front where the sorting hat stood. He turned and faced the crowd, a big smile gracing his face. His eyes started changing colors, from pale blue to silverish. He, of course, could not feel it and it was only visible to the nearest student behind him.

The hat came down on his head. "Hello there, mister." The hat purred, "I see talent in your blood. So much beauty, and so much strength - but only if harnessed through the mind," Ilya's hair kept changing, growing darker the further the hat spoke. "RAVENCLAW is your house! It will help you tame that talent and strength." He grinned finally, taking the hat into his hands and putting it back on the table.

He was in Ravenclaw! With the geniuses!! AHHHH. Racing down the steps, he headed for the groups of older ones who seemed to be interested in the new Ravenclaw's.

"GRANTHAM, BERNADETTE."

Oh no, oh no no no...... it was Bernie's turn to face the mind-reading hat. She gulped and approached the fancy chair, nervously perching just on the very edge of it. As the hat came down over her head, she closed her eyes and thought strongly that she wanted to be in the BEST House, with the BEST people, and maybe the COZIEST living quarters, and maybe a pet CAT they all shared, and the BEST sports, and the BEST Head of House....

"Just a few things, then," the Hat chuckled. Bernadette nearly jumped at its old-timey sounding, scratchy voice. Was she... supposed to answer it out loud, er? "No need, dear, I can read your thoughts." So mind-reading was REAL then, like that elf had said! ELVES COULD READ MINDS?! "And he wasn't an elf, just a boy." This hat was like having her granny on top of her head, how neat! But was it just Bernie, or was it taking its sweet granny time to decide which house she belonged in? She scrunched up her face again as she thought hard, trying to show the hat her best qualities, like her courage and curiosity, and how patient she was with her family, even though her parents didn't believe in magic, but they let her come to school here anyway, even though NO ONE had written her a letter yet, and like how her elder sibling was TOTALLY a Muggle and he wasn't very nice, and how her younger sis MIGHT be a witch? Who knows? How does this work anyway? Heavens, this hat is heavy and musty-smelling...

The hat seemed to end its thoughtful humming. "Nearly a Hufflepuff, but your mind could talk anyone into a stupor," the hat told her with a bit of amusement. "Better be...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Bernadette clapped to herself and bounced off the seat. Now wait, where did she go? To the firstie table? She was just relieved to be done, having nearly been a hatstall! YAY, GRYFFINDOR!!!!!!!!!!

Faye's blue eyes widened at the spectacle from the moment she had entered Beauxbatons. She was completely taken aback as her eyes glazed over everything around her. This was definitely not Hogwarts, but she could not deny how utterly beautiful this school was! Some exploring MUST be accomplished when she had the chance.

The little redhead was so dumbfounded that she hadn't even heard her name being called right away until it was the second time in a louder tone:

"Where is Faye Asztalos?"

OH, that was her! Coming out of her dream-like haze, she quickly scurried up towards the old Sorting Hat, eying it very carefully before it was placed upon her head. She hadn't even had time to think about what it might say before the sorting hat began to speak. "So much kindness, yes, definitely kind...With the patience of a much wiser witch far beyond your years.." It paused, "Yet, there is a spark in you that best not be tempted...Very interesting....Like a dangerous flame ready to set ablaze anything that comes across it's path.." The hat smirked, "Yet there is nothing that can deny the kindness in your heart, for it is so strong..distracting almost..Best not to tempt that flame child.."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Faye blinked, as the name rung out and there were cheers heard. She looked around as she processed everything the hat had told her. It was definitely something she was not expecting, but for some reason she couldn't help but smile after everything. She thanked the hat once it had been lifted off of her head and quickly moved to find a seat not wanting to hold up the ceremony any longer.

Huh..a Hufflepuff...

Gemma strode confidently into the dinning chamber, taking in all the decorations. Beauxbatons was certainly beautiful and all she really wanted to do was explore.

I wonder when this will be over, she thought. She was excited to be sorted but she was ready to start meeting new people. Growing up she was basically isolated in her home so she hadn't met too many witches and wizards her age.

"Black, Gemma."

She smiled softly, tucking her black locks behind her ear as she waited for the Sorting Hat to be placed on her head. Slytherin was her number one choice, it was a family tradition but if the hat thought she'd fit better elsewhere she'd take it.

"Not a bad mind... Maybe Ravenclaw?" Gemma wrinkled her nose at that. She wasn't smart enough to be put with the geniuses of the school. "But also I see lot's of determination in you..." The hat paused for what seemed like ages. Gemma felt herself fidgeting.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Gemma smirked, whispering a quiet thanks to the hat before wandering off to the Papillionlisse Table. She couldn't wait to send an owl back home, letting them know where she was placed. Now to make friends!

Naya was basically horrified. It was bad enough that she was a new student. Now she had to stand amongst a sea of itty bitty first years while the whole school looked on. Could she be any more embarrassed? Naya was so focused on the whole process, that she could barely take in the beauty of the dining chamber. She stared straight ahead watching and listening as all of the students were called forward. After what seemed like an eternity, Naya heard her name being called.

Lindsay, Naya

Trying to exude confidence that she did not really feel, she walked over to the sorting chair and sat down. The sorting hat was placed on her head and she waited, just wanting the whole ordeal to be over.

“Hmmm. Very interesting. I sense qualities that could make you a good fit for each of the four houses. However, most of all I see an independent spirit, determination and a fierceness that others and even you may not realize. I know the best place for you.”

Gryffindor!”

Thank Merlin that was over. Naya wasted no time getting out of the chair. With a great sense of relief, she headed toward her assigned table.

Claudine was nervous but she was classy enough to not let that show. It was for this reason that she carried herself in a confident manner, with her head lifted slightly and her mouth set into a determined line. She maintained no eye contact with anyone. Instead, she watched with great interest as the Sorting Hat did its job by putting each new student before her into their House.

Given the fact that her surname began with B, Claudine did not have to wait for a long time to be called for her Sorting. The girl stepped forward when her name when resonating for all to hear: BLAZE, CLAUDINE

Soon, the Hat was upon her head. Claudine heard the words “Another Blaze? I see what I saw in your family members’. I know exactly where you’ll achieve that greatness you crave. SLYTHERIN!”

Phoebe was hopping from foot to foot in anticipation of her turn with the Sorting Hat. She'd been super worried that the hat wasn't rescued from Hogwarts when it was abandoned, or that she'd get sorted into some Croissant house at Beauxbatons... so this. This was everything.

And she couldn't pay attention to anyone else going. Nope. Just waiting on her turn.

"Phoebe James."

"Phoebe Skylar James," she corrected as she pranced up to the stool and took a seat. The hat was placed on her head, slipping down over her eyes, and Phoebe waited. The hat waited. Phoebe waited. The hat waited. "Phoebe Skylar James," she reminded the hat. "You met my mom and dad and aunt and uncles and grandparents and are you broken?"

It was broken. And then...

"GRYFFINDOR."

Oh. Okay, then. Just like that? "Maybe Ravenclaw, though? My mom was..." Nope. The hat was removed and Phoebe was on her way. Guess she was gonna be a Gryffindor, then. She shoulda paid attention to see where everyone else was ending up.

James. James. Luna. Stark. Summers. Whitlock. They were all embarking on this journey together, but one by one, they were about to be separated. Sure, some of them would end up together. But some of them could end up all alone. Plenty of people had asserted that houses were not a huge deal when it really came down to it, but at the same time... he knew his mother and father had grown close by being in the same house. There was a special bond among those in each individual house, right? So even though it was more of a silly, superficial thing...

It was important. Really, really important.

Alphabetically, the James twins were the first of their primary school group to go. That meant Teddy. But Phoebe came before Theodore. Phoebe James was first. Then him. Teddy. It was nerve-wracking this way, although he'd have hated it even more to be the first one of their group to go. That was a lot of pressure, wasn't it? He felt queasy at the passing thought, but Phoebe's presence beside him throughout the sorting of those whose last names came before theirs brought him comfort and peace.

When her name was called, Teddy gave Fi's hand an encouraging squeeze before she pranced up to the hat. He offered a reassuring smile when she dared to meet his gaze, and he wrung his hands anxiously in front of him. Counting the seconds the hat was on her head. Wondering what was taking so long. Teddy knew his dad was very nearly a hatstall, but... surely having two Ravenclaw parents made them likely candidates for their house, too, didn't it?

...............................................

Gryffindor. GRYFFINDOR?! Teddy went white as a sheet and forgot how to breathe when the sorting hat finally made its declaration. He... he had been so sure he and his twin sister would both be Ravenclaws. Just like their parents, just like Uncle Mo, just like their grandmum, just like--

"James, Theodore!"

Oh. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. No. Phoebe had scampered off to find somewhere to sit without even seeming bothered by the hat's decision, and now people were looking at him. He shot fearful looks to Tavie, then Luna, then Cecilia and Flynn-- his eyes were pooling with tears before he could get a grip-- but his legs were betraying him, carrying him up to where the sorting hat was waiting to be placed atop his head.

Shamefully, as soon the sorting hat's brim came into view, Teddy pulled the hat down to cover most of his face. He was doing so to hide his tears from the hundreds of faces glued to him, and for a moment, he'd forgotten what was actually about to happen enough that he jumped when an eerie voice began to permeate his mind.

Yes, yes, it's all right... it will be best for her there... not to worry... ahhh, I see several of those qualities in you as well, my boy... no, no, it's perfectly clear... Teddy wanted to beg, but he didn't know what to beg for anymore. He was a Ravenclaw, right? Like his mum and dad? But being away from Fi, that was never part of the plan... It's all right, dear boy... this is about you, your strengths, your ambitions... you would be a fine addition to each house, as a matter of fact... it would be unwise to see yourself as fitting only one mold when you are a glorious composition of traits affiliated with each house... yes, even Gryffindor, like your sister... But... surely not enough that that's where he was meant to be, right? Maybe-- maybe he did still want to be a Ravenclaw, even though--

"RAVENCLAW!"

The hat cut off his thought process of deliberation, and, much to his own surprise, he was SMILING, and then there was LAUGHTER. Laughter, bubbling from his throat, a release of all his pent-up tension-- and, just like that, he was off the cushioned chair, giving high-fives to his long-time classmates as he hurried off to figure out where to sit.

*This school looked amazing, but he still wished that he was at Hogwarts. To say he was nervous was a massive understatement. It took everything in him to not shake like a tiny dog that ladies carry in their handbags. What made it worse was his last name. It started with a Y so he would be at the front of the hall in front of everyone forever. What felt like years he finally heard his name.*

Youngblood, Jacen!

*Moving his way to the chair he sat down. The hat almost went over his eyes but he could still see the room of hundreds of students looking right at him. Before he could freak out and make sure he wasn’t having a bad dream where his clothing would be missing a voice rang out in his head.*

”Ah! Another Youngblood! I sorted your older sisters. Abbigail was easy to sort, a Ravenclaw through and through. Your brother turned Hogwarts down for Durmstrang, how I wish I could have looked in his head. But Octavia... hmm a complex mind... much like yours... you have a spark just as she did. You want to follow in her footsteps I see that... but you have a different spark then her. Similar but different... in one house you might find yourself, in another you might find some secrets you have always wondered about... interesting... better be... Gryffindor!!!”

*Letting out a long sigh of relief Jacen quickly hopped off the chair as the hat was pulled from his head and he went to sit with the other Gryffindors!*

"Finally," thought Freyr, "a couple of minutes later, I will be sorted into my 'home' and meet my second family." He was amazed by the mesmerizing hall of the famous school of witchcraft and wizardry, Beauxbatons. As he continued toward the Hat, another thing caught Freyr's attention. Almost everyone in the Hall was gorgeous. It took almost all of Freyr's willpower not to look at some people in the Hall again and again. Between all of these thoughts, the group first-years arrived where the Hat was placed on a cushioned chair of pale blues and lilac. Freyr waited for his name to called, after a couple of minutes which passed like hours for him, he heard

"Njordson, Freyr"

Freyr felt like his heart was going to explode, he tried to call himself down and at that moment he realized he was standing there and everyone was waiting for him. "What a way to start a new school!" he thought. He walked to the chair as calmly as possible. The Hat was then placed on his head.

Freyr heard the Hat saying stuff like "hmm", "can it be", or "he might just fit in there". Then it talked to him. "You know, you have a great desire for pure knowledge and can do everything necessary for it but also wouldn't hesitate if that's your friends at stake." Freyr wondered whether other people could hear the Hat. The Hat continued "You have the bravery of Godric, the thirst for knowledge of Rowena, the ambition of Salazar and the loyalty of Helga. You are a hard-decision, Freyr Njordson." After pausing for a few seconds, the Hat gasped and said: "But I know where to put you." Then shouted

GRYFFINDOOOOR!

This time Freyr knew everyone can hear what the Hat said because a loud cheer roared from the table decorated with gold and scarlet.

Freyr was ecstatic and walked toward the table to sit next to a girl who looked very concerned contrary to joy in everyone's faces.

It was weird, standing in line which a bunch of younger kids waiting to put an old hat. But, Papa Carter had insisted that this was the only way to find out which house at Hogwarts she belonged to and that both he and Archer had done it, despite her protests that 1) they wouldn't even be at Hogwarts this term and 2) that as an exchange student, she would be going back to Cuba at the end of this term and would never even be at Hogwarts proper so what did the whole house thing matter anyway? But the man was stubborn and had insisted that doing Hogwarts traditions despite not being in the castle was a part of the whole program. And there may have been the threat of owling Hogwarts' Headmaster to make absolutely sure she had sorted so....here she was.

An unexpected complication?

"OJEDA-CARTER, DALIA!"

That. Not only was it wrong, it made her nearly miss her own name, as the addition of 'Carter' made it come sooner in the list than she had been expecting. "Ay, Dios mio! It's just Ojeda, no Carter!" she protested loudly, though not unkindly as she approached the stool bearing the old hat. "I'm not related to Papa Carter in any way. He's simply my host father," she continued in a softer tone as slipped the hat on her head. Excuse me, Miss! I thought that Mr. Carter was your legal guardian while you were over here, no? Yes, but that doesn't mean I've added his name to my already long legal name!

The hat was silent for a bit after that exchange, then suddenly:

"HUFFLEPUFF!

Ok. So that was it. Dalia removed the hat from her head, placed it back on the stool and went to sit at the proper table, face the color of a tomato. Archer would be happy as she had gotten into Papa Carter's girlfriend's old house.

Ay, Dios mio!= OMG!

Sitting on a stage in front of a crowd was Yoyo's bread and butter. The sorting ceremony had been looked forward to with all the enthusiasm her 11-year-old body could muster (it was a lot, enough to fill three quidditch fields). There were some nerves, but they were drowned right out by the thundering of her heart and the music dancing under her skin.

She watched eagerly, applauding loudly with each sorting no matter where the student was placed- In her opinion, all the houses sounded wonderful and noble, and welcoming. The James twins were up before her (by virtue of the alphabet), and she clapped even harder as Phoebe was placed in Gryffindor, and Teddy in Ravenclaw. She had guessed as much, but the thought of the two being in separate houses made her tummy twist a little. Would they be okay living apart? Yoyo had read fairytales about twins who had died without the other...

Shuddering at the thought, Yoyo promised herself she would watch both James Twins extra close to make sure neither was even remotely close to dying.

When the hat finally called out for Yolanda Uma Luna the young girl squealed, leaping onto the stage with all the grace she possessed as a well-trained dancer. "Here! I'm here." Yoyo beamed, taking the hat in hand. She paused, the gravity of the moment hitting her straight on the nose as she looked out to the sea of students, both Hogwartian and Beauxbaton. Here. she was here. at Hogwarts, beginning her first term with her best friends. Things couldn't be better.

She sat down, whipping the hat to her head fully preparing for a conversation about her strengths and weaknesses but the very second it touched her head The Hat shouted out-

"HUFFLEPUFF."

.... Oh. Well... That was a little... anticlimactic. Yoyo whipped the hat off, her features screwed up in confusion as she raced to the Papionlisse table.

Gryffindor. Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff.

Ravenclaw. Gryffindor. Slytherin. Slytherin.

It really didn’t matter what house each of them got sorted into, because they’d still be the closest of friends. Her parents and godparents were proof that houses didn’t define relationships. But they sure did make everything less scary and easier. Especially when you weren’t just starting your first year, but you were displaced to another country for it. It was like taking away every bit of security Octavia had. The last of it was her friends.

She so desperately wanted to be with them, but she also wanted to be with the house that felt most at home to her. And.... a house that her parents had would also be nice.

...... Was that too much of the hat to ask? Most certainly not, she thought.

She thought so much, that she almost missed her name being called.

Octavia Stark!

She felt some eyes on her at the sound of her famous last name, but ignored them to instead give Flynn’s hands a tight squeeze. He was the last of their group to get sorted, and she hated leaving him, but leave she had to.

Making her way up to the stool, the birthday girl settled on the edge, the hat sliding down over her eyes.

”I don’t want to be by myself.” Was the first and only thing she said aloud. Because she knew the hat could read her thoughts, Tavie thought all the questions she had. She asked about the song the hat had chosen to sing this year, about the houses, about what house the hat thought she would be fit in, and about what house she ACTUALLY would be fit for. Her thoughts flowed thoughtlessly from one language to another, and no question went without a ‘please don’t leave me alone’

After what felt like a lifetime to Tavie (and probably longer to the hat), but truly was no more than a couple of minutes, the hat shouted out in exasperation, ”RAVENCLAW!”

But! Wait! She wasn’t DONE.

The hat was already gone though, and she looked over at Flynn both nervous and scared before going to find her friends. At least she had Teddy. Maybe she’d get lucky and have both of her boys.

Cecelia really couldn't get over how beautiful every inch of this place was and she hadn't even SEEN all of it yet. She tried her best to stand still and tall and pay LOTS of attention to the sorting hat ceremony in an effort to represent Hogwarts well, and her family well, but it was SUPER hard when there was SO much to look at and admire and try to remember. She wondered what Catherine and Noah would think of this place and if they'd be in the same house as her, or end up in another one. Like she KNEW that some of her other friends had ALREADY been split up and she hoped that it didn't mean they couldn't still BE friends because they were in different houses. If anything it was COOL because they could tell eachother ALL the inner workings of each ho--

SUMMERS, CECELIA!

The blonde looked around for a moment before realizing that yes, it WAS indeed her turn. IT WAS HER TURN! "That's me!" She said excitedly to anyone who cared to listen before hurrying confidently up to the fancy chair. She settled on it after placing the large hat on her head, one which slid down over her eyes and caused her to giggle loudly. Maybe it was SUPPOSED to be that way, easier for the hat to read your thoughts or tap into your brain or SOMETHING. It was all very important and scientific and complicated, she was SURE. She wiggled in her seat as she waited for the hat to do its thing, TRYING not to be impatient while inwardly feeling VERY much like she just wanted to know where she belonged. "I just REALLY want to be in a fun house and be able to feel at home because being away from my real home is REALLY kind of weird, but also fun, but also HARD, y'know?" DID the hat know? She s'posed the hats home was probably some old hat box that had dust on it or something and immediately regretted bringing up home all together, but it was too late no-

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Wait, really!?" She had heard ALL about Gryffindor house and to just HAVE a house officially felt AWESOME and REALLY REAL and she felt VERY grown up. Cecelia slowly lifted the hat, one blue eye revealing itself, then another, then a mess of golden hair. SHE was a GRYFFINDOR. Okay, then!

"Thanks hat," She said enthusiastically before hopping up from the chair and ALMOST forgetting to place the hat back in its rightful spot.

Only almost, though..

She was a GRYFFINDOR.

That was something.

They're gonna make me eat snails and slimy brown grass. And they'll say it's good. Yuck. All I want is a steak pasty and something chocolatey for pudding. Max was in one of his bratty moods when he suddenly heard his name called loud and clear.

Gulp!

"MAXIMUS ORION VINDICTUS THE THIRD!"

His blonde hair prickled on the nape of his neck and his blue eyes scanned the room.

Why couldn't I have a normal name like William or Edward? his mind raced as he walked as if in a trance towards the Sorting Hat. This same hat had a bit of history in his family and....

Eww! It smells like dirty feet! Has this THING been washed? Like EVER? GROSS! Max grimaced as the hat was lowered onto his head. It barely touched his spikey blond locks and the decision was made for the world to hear.

"RAVENCLAW!"

No, duh stupid hat! Now I need to be disinfected. Lice the hat MUST have lice! Gross! These were the thoughts that raced through the youngster's mind as he hurried over to the Ravenclaw table.