September 3rd, 1891 — The Great Hall, Hogwarts

A particularly thick fold creased the hat's leathery face into a look of malcontent. It had been a long time since the Sorting Ceremony had been delayed like this and it had never boded well in the past when it had. This would likely prove to be an eventful school year if the past was anything to judge by.

Eyes were now turning towards the worn leather hat with anticipation and once the quiet had spread to all four tables it began its song.

* * *

With the song and applause concluded, the first child's name was called out.

It may have been 48 hours late but the Sorting Ceremony was at last underway.

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As with last year it's one at a time again! I will be going down the sorting list on the Hogwarts roster in alphabetical order and contacting players when it's their turn. In order to streamline the process I will contact the next person on the list if the first person doesn't appear to be online or if they're not ready. If I contact you please have at least 30 minutes available to post, I'm doing this rapidfire style. Whilst I move house this is tentatively going out the window, it will be reinstated for later sortees.

Once I've given you the go ahead you will post your character being called up*. What you write here and what I read in your character's profile will determine what sort of questions I'll be firing at you. The less you give me to go on the more generic your questions will be. That said please don't write a novel, a couple paragraphs should be more than enough.

If you miss your slot you'll be next after the current person but if you'd rather be put to the bottom of the list please let me know. If you app a first year during September you'll be added to the end rather than slotted in alphabetically.

If your character would answer a question differently IC from what you would answer for them OOC, please put both answers with the OOC in italics. For example where a character isn't very self-aware or would lie about something.

* I strongly encourage you to get your opening post ready before it's your turn.

Due to the fact I'm the process of moving house this week the only thing I can promise is that I'll be erratically available and there will be half a day or so without wifi (Sunday night - Monday afternoon?) Please bear with me, you will be sorted <3

  

Phaedra had not always known she was a witch. From magical descent, sure, because she wasn’t raised in a barn—no, only an orphanage. But going ten years without a single sign of magic had made everyone—herself included—question whether or not she ever would, which is why it had come to her great relief when shortly before her eleventh birthday her first sign of magic has finally come.

I can’t do this, she told herself, despite spending the last forty-eight hours telling herself she would have to. It wasn’t the Sorting or the Hat or the classes that made her nervous, but the prospect of sitting in front of everyone to be judged by the all-mysterious Hat.

“Please don’t take too long,” she whispered as she sat down on the stool.

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"Ah well that depends on what's inside your head..."

What does forgiveness mean to you?

Which is more important: integrity or acceptance?

What matters most to you?

You are faced with two paths: the short path is guarded by a ferocious dragon, the long path appears to be safe... Which do you choose?

Choose a word: rain, desert, pinecone, glass.

What excites you most about Hogwarts?

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The questions came, and Phaedra's anxiety climbed as she struggled to find the right answer.

What does forgiveness mean to you?

"Forgiveness means forgetting and not bringing it up again," said Phaedra. Conflict was best avoided in the group home, especially given how small she was. She knew better than to hold grudges; if one of her friends mistreated her but was willing to be friendly with her the next day, it wasn't worth giving up an ally to remain angry. Did it always work? No. Sometimes she stayed angry. Sometimes she wanted to yell, to scream, or other times stay silent. But she never did, because she had self-control—needed to have it—and so she remained silent.

Which is more important: integrity or acceptance?

It was not an easy question to answer. If it was what is easier? she could have answered with little difficulty. Acceptance, of course, was easier to strive for. Acceptance could mean keeping her mouth shut when the director of St. Mungo's Home demanded to know which of the students put a hole in the curtain when she knew who it was. Keeping her mouth shut meant that she'd be trusted, be allowed to live day-to-day without being deemed a no-good snitch.

But important? Did it really matter, when she didn't have the chance to act with integrity sometimes?

"I would like to think it's more important to have integrity, but it's not always possible. Sometimes you have to do what's best for you," she finally decided, frowning.

What matters most to you?

"My personal space," she answered quickly. It seemed silly, but it was true. They didn't always have their own space at St. Mungo's Home; she shared a room with other girls, shared common areas, and was often forbidden from wandering very far on her own. She loved any moment that was spent in peace and quiet.

You are faced with two paths: the short path is guarded by a ferocious dragon, the long path appears to be safe... Which do you choose?

She could have laughed, but clearly the Hat had a reason for asking the question. Of course the long path would be the safer option—the more sensible option. It wasn't that she was scared of the dragon. In fact, she was probably quick enough to get around it without being caught, because she imagined dragons were clunky and slow given their large size, but why risk it?

"I don't mind walking a little while longer," she answered.

Choose a word: rain, desert, pinecone, glass.

"Pinecone. I think they're neat," she answered.

What excites you most about Hogwarts?

Well, for the longest while Phaedra wondered if she would ever be able to go to Hogwarts. Most children showed their first sign of magic long before she did. She was just grateful that she could come—but that being said she did have reasons to be excited.

"I get to be like the other children for once. Most children have parents, and some of them have big homes with servants and gardens and more bedrooms than they can count—but here, we're all the same. We all have the same chance."

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"Hufflepuff!"
Phaedra Little

  

So far the start of his school year had been rather interesting. The Hogwarts Express had not arrived and the Sorting had been delayed. Eros and the other first years had spent the next couple of nights in the Great Hall. But now the time had finally come when Eros would be getting sorted into his Hogwarts house. He had no idea what to expect. Rasmus had been a Ravenclaw, Daisy and his father had both been a Gryffindor. He was excited to find out.

Eros's eyes were on the leather hat as it sung its song. Names were beginning to be called and when his turn came, Eros settled onto the stool and waited as the hat was placed upon his head.

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eros is half-veela which means females tend to feel drawn to him with older ladies feeling protective of him

"Let's see then..."

Which is more important: loyalty or excitement?

You and your closest friend both try out for the same spot on the house quidditch team. You are equally skilled fliers and equally suited to the position. How should it be decided who makes team?

Which house would you least like to be sorted into and why?

Name an attribute you respect or admire in others.

Another student has your prized broomstick in their possession. You don't know how they got hold of it or what they're planning to do with it, but you know it's yours. What do you do?

If you could ask for one thing, what would it be?

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— Which is more important: loyalty or excitement?

Eros had no idea what to answer. Both were equally important to him. "Loyalty," he finally decided. His excitement would be marred if he knew it came at the expense of betraying someone he cared about.

— You and your closest friend both try out for the same spot on the house quidditch team. You are equally skilled fliers and equally suited to the position. How should it be decided who makes team?

Eros took a moment to think over his answer. If they were both equal in skill then it would definitely be fair for either one of them to have the position. "I think we should have some sort of contest or race between us. Whoever wins is granted the position." That seemed a fair way of deciding between them without resorting to something mundane like flipping a coin.

— Which house would you least like to be sorted into and why?

"I don't mind any house, to be quite honest. I suppose Slytherin if I must provide an answer? Only because I have heard that a lot of people in that house tend to either be purist or bullies. I don't believe that to be the case for every Slytherin, though."

— Name an attribute you respect or admire in others.

"I admire bravery. I think it's amazing when people do things despite any potential danger."

— Another student has your prized broomstick in their possession. You don't know how they got hold of it or what they're planning to do with it, but you know it's yours. What do you do?

"I would confront them and ask why they have my broomstick. If they insist that it is theirs and not mine, I would ask that they prove it. I know my broomstick down to its last bristle. Can they describe my broomstick as perfectly as I can? I sincerely doubt it."

— If you could ask for one thing, what would it be?

"To become a professional Quidditch player just like my father when I grow up! Though for now, I will take being on the school Quidditch team of whichever house I end up being sorted into."

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eros is half-veela which means females tend to feel drawn to him with older ladies feeling protective of him

"Gryffindor!"
Eros Mohr

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   Eros Mohr

A singing hat made him blink.  With the addition of exploding snap, portkeys, and moving staircases added to the list of improbable things he’d seen in this world in the last sixty hours he was numb to the shock of it.  Then he watched as others went before him and the hat yelled one of the funny house names for each.  Soon he’d be color coded like the others, and perhaps that would help him fit in.  As it seemed in the wizarding world he always stood out as an outsider just based on appearances.  If there was something that Quincy wanted in this world it was to fit in better.

A yawn escaped his mouth as Quincy started walking forward to where others were sorted when his name was called.  As since he got on the train he’d gotten little sleep as he didn’t want to miss anything - as there was so much just happening.  At least once sorted he’d have a place in Hogwarts and a bed.

His eyes went straight to the hat and his eyes opened wide and alert as the picture of lice crawling on the inside came into his mind.  Then his head turned to look over his shoulders back towards the tables and he realized just how dirty the hat could be as he took another step forward.  There was no way he wanted that thing touching his head.  Turning to face the person with the hat again he continued forward trying to debate if he could just run away from having the hat put on him.  He’d had lice before, and had no interest in getting it again.  Though at the same time he wanted to be sorted and he realized now here he was trapped as there obviously wasn’t a train back to London so he didn’t have much choice.

It was becoming readily apparent fitting in was seeming like more an impossible feat every step he took.  Stopping a few steps before the stool with where the person had the hat he quickly pulled out his handkerchief out of his pocket and put it flat on his head.  So what if he looked odd - he had spent every minute in this world looking odd.  As he took the last couple of steps he flattened his handkerchief on his head hoping it would be enough protection from the lice or whatever other dirt was on the inside of that hat getting on him.

  

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Quincy throwback signature image by MJ

"Quite the cautious one, aren't you boy? Yes, that's very telling... Though I'll have you know my anti-louse charm hasn't failed once in the 150 years since Headmistress Derwent cast it!"

What do you think of change?

Choose one of the following: a warm, sunny meadow; a lively, bustling city; the breezy deck of a ship; a peaceful, gothic courtyard.

Your friend is in urgent need of your help but in helping your friend you know you'll likely not have time to finish an important essay which is due the next morning. Do you help your friend or do your essay?

What do you hope to achieve at the end of your schooling?

What is your greatest fear?

Would you tickle a sleeping dragon?

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Quincy Smellie

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   Wallace Bixby

His eyes lit up at the mention of an anti-louse charm and he resolved to learn it.  Though the hat distracted him with more questions before he could fully consider the fact a charm could last that long.  Or if the difference between an object and a living being mannered when it came to magic.

What do you think of change?

Change.  It was certainly something he’d experienced a lot of recently with the receipt of his Hogwarts letter changing how he thought the world worked.  Basic laws of physics no longer applied and everything he ever knew was subject to debate.  Part of him didn’t like it as he had everything planned out before, yet like he learned from his brother Clifford's studies change could be evolution.  If cleaner methods were not being used in the surgeries people did more would die from infection - which was the typical order of the day.  People that studied with his brother used techniques that could save more lives just thru being clean - and if there was something Quincy like it was things being clean.

With a sigh he said “ Necessary “ as with all the people looking at him he just wanted this to be over and he wasn’t sure he wanted to say anything that would sound weird.  His mother reminded him plenty that first impressions were important and sometimes it was better to be quiet when you were new to things.  This hat seemed important, so he assumed this was one of those times first impressions were really important.

Choose one of the following: a warm, sunny meadow; a lively, bustling city; the breezy deck of a ship; a peaceful, gothic courtyard.

A much easier question to which he said “ city“ near immediately purely as it seemed the closest to what he was used to being from London. 

Your friend is in urgent need of your help but in helping your friend you know you'll likely not have time to finish an important essay which is due the next morning. Do you help your friend or do your essay?

His first thought was if it was important why wasn’t he done prior to the night before.  As if the essay was important to him he would probably do it early - of course there were some subjects he found less interesting but those wouldn’t count as important enough to even be factored.  Unless the grade for the subject would help him get somewhere he wanted and interest in the subject didn't manner it would probably be done even earlier.

So blinking he decided to try to make a better question of would he miss a session studying with his brother Clifford where he might get to see a cadaver or would he help his friend in urgent need.  After all, a magical schools hat probably thought essays were something important that could come up at the last minute and that was something, unlike most, that he avoided. 

With the question much harder he said “ I’d help the friend the first time, but if it kept happening the essay. “  Realizing he’d probably miss an important learning experience once for a friend, but in the end it was his future and he wouldn’t sacrifice it.  As education drives what someone does for the rest of their life.  Plus considering he just probably lost most if not all his friends he had coming to Hogwarts he wasn’t counting on any new ones lasting either.  His education and experiences though would last.

Looking out into the hall of students he wanted to cry and go home to be with his friends.  As this was the first time he thought about the fact that not being able to tell people where he was going and being gone for so long meant he was probably losing them all.

What do you hope to achieve at the end of your schooling?

The next question pulled him out of his sad realization of the friends he probably lost getting on the train two days ago.  This was a subject he knew well and loved to talk about so his brain went into the auto-pilot of how to say best he wanted to be a surgeon like his older brother Clifford.

Excitedly an 'S’ formed on his lips stopped at the first letter as he realized he had no idea if this world even had surgeons.  He wanted to be a surgeon and operate on people who were sick or needed an amputation and save them.  He planned to practice his steady hand, cuts, and stitching with his brother so that when he got to medical school he’d have a heads up.  Plus he wanted to study the antiseptic approach and help lead other surgeons into using more clean techniques to save more people.

Then he realized he didn’t even know if this world had surgeons which made him slump on the seat unhappily.  He’d always had a clear goal and gone for it.  He read so many books and tried to practice anything he could.  Yet, all he could say now to this question was a sad “ I don’t know. “

What is your greatest fear?

Blinking the answer to that answer came quickly to his mind with the simple word death ringing in his ears.  As death was the end and if it was him or someone else it was still something to be feared - especially considering how much of it he’d seen.  As far too many patients die from surgery then need to.  In a small voice that sounded even more depressed he said “ death “ deciding on that as the answer.

Would you tickle a sleeping dragon?

The question of if dragons were real couldn't pull him from looking sadly at everyone sitting in the great hall sadly realizing he'd lost all the friends he had getting on that train.  On top of that he realized how long it would be before he saw his family again and all the tiredness of the last days washed over him.  With a yawn he looked downward at the floor trying to keep himself from crying over the thoughts going through his head.

Quincy Smellie was at his limit and said a quiet 'no' not even considering if dragons were real or not just answering as he wasn't wiling to risk losing yet something else.

  

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Quincy throwback signature image by MJ

"Hrmmm I've a good idea of where to put you, however..."

Great intellect is wasted on those without purpose or inclination toward achievement. Do you agree or disagree?

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Quincy Smellie

  

Great intellect is wasted on those without purpose or inclination toward achievement. Do you agree or disagree?

A large part of him wanted to say that intellect couldn’t be wasted.  Yet, he realized that without purpose anything could be wasted as it would simply either be misdirected or directed nowhere.  Which was what he was so afraid of now.  That all the studying and hard work he’d built towards his goal of becoming a surgeon would be wasted if this world didn’t have surgeons.

He had been wrong in saying his greatest fear before as it wasn’t death, it was that his life would be wasted and he wouldn’t amount to anything.  Quincy Smellie wanted to be someone.  He wanted to be someone important who used his intellect to drive change to help others and the way he wanted to do it was to be a surgeon that used practices that had more people survive.

So he quietly said ”Agree” with the first bit of confidence to any answer he’d given as he looked up towards the tables of other students.  There was still sadness in his voice, but if he had lost all the friends he had he certainly wouldn’t stop trying to achieve his goals.  Even if there weren't any wizarding surgeons he could always fight his way back home.  Maybe with a bit of understanding in ways this world's rule breaking tendencies could help save people from death.

  

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Quincy throwback signature image by MJ

"Slytherin!"
Quincy Smellie

  

First of his siblings - both alive or not - set the tone for his sibling's futures at Hogwarts. Eager to see where that would lead him, Leo's dreams and visions had not been altogether informative as to the answers regarding where he would be placed and what connections would lead from there. Shots of electricity seemed to course through his vains with anticipation and nerves.

Others were sorted before him. A variety as always. It made him continue to question himself and wonder if he would have his siblings join him in the long run. Where he wanted to be placed was another question entirely. Perhaps Slytherin, that seemed to be the way to go among his peers. Though perhaps Gryffindor or Ravenclaw would suit him better.

It had been utterly ridiculous that his sorting had to be delayed because of those on the train. Couldn't the staff had bothered to sort those there on the first night? Rather then leave them to the Great Hall?

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Magic by MJ