An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
Post by Jonathan King on Mar 31, 2020 17:14:38 GMT 10
Hogwarts.
He had bugged Ellie for stories about it all summer, ever since his letter of acceptance had arrived, whenever he saw his cousin. And she had been happy to oblige. Going on and on about the castle, the ever changing hallways, the food, the professors, the classes, the Houses, … By the end of August Joe felt as though he knew everything there was to know about it.
And yet… Seeing it in person, being here for real suddenly made Joe feel very small.
Still he wished to be smaller as his face felt hot under the curious, judging gazes of the older students sitting at the very long tables in the Great Hall. Seizing the small cluster of First Years up like a murder of crows a promising meal on an unsuspecting wizard's plate. As soon as he turned his gaze every last one of them would be picked out one by one. Joe almost wished to disappear.
Often had he wondered what House he would be sorted into. His father’s side of the family had all been Slytherin as far as he knew. They would surely be happy to know him there but they did not seem as warm as his mother’s side of his family. They may be nice to him but he did not like the way they looked at his mum as if she was beneath them. Was that the Slytherin way? Maybe he was not suited to be a Slytherin afterall.
A Ravenclaw perhaps? His mother had been part of that House and he rather liked the colours. His mother also told the greatest stories of special people with niche interests who would go on to achive greatness. But he did not know anyone in Ravenclaw House.
His cousin Ellie was in Hufflepuff, so maybe he could go there? It would be reassuring to have his cousin nearby.
Or- and he had found that thought rather amusing- if he was to be sorted into Gryffindor that would make him the first ever in his family. Then all the Hogwarts Houses would be present at family gatherings.
Joe stared anxiously ahead- a boy with blond hair at the front was fidgeting. It was quite distracting, so much in fact that he almost missed the being called to he front. His eyes followed the boy, curious as to what House he would be sorted into- when he caught sight of his cousin.
A small part of his axiety seemed to be lifted as he saw Ellie’s knowing, yet reassuring smile. He even managed to smile back at her. Shoot. He had missed the boy's sorting. What House had he gone to?
"King, Jonathan" Joe visibly flinched when his name was called shortly afterwards.
He gulped before taking up pace as he swiftly walked to the front, making sure not to trip over his shoe laces and sat down on the stool in one quick movement. He had misjudged a little though and had to readjust himself until he was sitting on the stool correctly without having to worry about sliding off.
He looked at the professor (Professor McGonnagal he assumed) with big, almost fearful eyes as she placed the ragged old hat onto his head.
The constant wondering which house he would belong to would finally come to an end.
He almost felt dizzy with anxiety- or anticipation?
[OOC: Mentions of Ellie's actions during summer and her reaction have happened with permission of her player @elara ]
Last Edit: Dec 17, 2020 2:03:16 GMT 10 by Jonathan King: edited out person that left
It was indeed Professor McGonagall, who gave him a slightly apprehensive look as he had to readjust himself on the stool before she could place the hat on his head. And when she did so, the hat's dark flap obscured Jonathan's view of the Great Hall and its attentive students.
It was quiet for a moment, which was almost anti-climatic. Then there was a contemplative hum that only Joe could hear. 'An unusual one,' said the hat in a rather mysterious tone, yet it was impossible to determine if being unusual to a one-thousand-year-old magical hat was a good or bad thing.
'Let's see then...' the hat continued. 'A creative mind and loyal heart, I see. And there's such contradiction... Yes, very difficult. So where to put you?'
There was a long moment while the hat considered. By then, whispers spread through the hall as longer sortings were always a source of curiosity or confusion.
'If you wish to fit in and be among those of spirited yet like-minded hearts, then perhaps Hufflepuff is for you.' The hat hummed again. 'Or if you wish to stand out and go far, then perhaps your creativity, and that which makes you unusual, would find a better home in Ravenclaw.'
The hat awaited Joe's reactions and thoughts to the two choices, as that response would be the defining factor in confirming which house he belonged to.
Post by Jonathan King on Apr 1, 2020 4:24:46 GMT 10
As the hat was placed on his head his vision was obscured by its dark flap as it was way too big for a young boy like him to wear as a proper item of fashion. But that had never been its purpose.
Silence greeted Joe within the hat, the clinking and chatter of the students in the Great Hall sddenly seemed far away as though he was under water but he could not tell wether it was the work of a charm or of his sudden focus on the hat and what would happen right on his head.
The moment of silence was followed by a hum and the hat spoke at last.
'Unusual?' Joe's heart made a jump hearing that word. He wondered what that meant to a hat as magical and as old as the one sitting on his head at this very moment, reading his mind, judging his character.
Joe had been the odd one out before but he had always expected to fit right in at Hogwarts. They were all wizards and witches here afterall, it was not just him in a class of muggles as it had been in the primary school his mother had insisted he visit so he would know of the world of her paternal grandparents and several cousins who had long since lost contact to their magical relatives.
Hearing the hat call him 'unusual' made him wonder if he would always feel like the weird kid.
Joe shrunk on the stool as the hat paused for a long moment.Long moments of silence meant Joe had more time to think which in turn meant he had more time to worry.
Being creative and loyal sounded positive to Joe but what in Merlin's name was the contradiction?
Had it taken so long for the others that had come before him? The whispers of the students seemed to grow louder as they started to become all he could hear which did not do good for his already worried demeanour.
Finally the hat hummed again and Joe straightened his back as if sitting straight would help him understand the hat better. He listened to the words and opened his mouth in surprise: It sounded as if the hat was giving him a choice.
He could choose between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
Fit in with Hufflepuff- stand out with Ravenclaw.
Ellie was in Hufflepuff. This meant that he could go to her for advice and questions anytime and that he might make friends faster with a well adjusted cousin in the same House as he was. That was a reassuring thought.
Ravenclaw on the other hand... The hat promised that he could stand out and be creative and unusual when making his home in Ravenclaw. It sounded like the beginning of a hero's story, one of the heroes his mother would make up before bed time when he was younger and had still let her bring him to bed. Imagining himself standing out and being 'unusual' was almost thrilling.
Scary. The proper word would be scary. His heart beat faster only thinking about it.
And had he not wanted to fit in this once?
"Hufflepuff?", he whispered hesitantly.
[OOC: choosing Ravenclaw for this boy's full potential despite his personal choice atm]
The hat sensed Joe's unease when faced with the choices and his fear of being different. It wasn't surprised when the boy sought the easier option - the comfortable choice. What he didn't know was that his exact manner and thought process of his indecisiveness was exactly what the hat needed for a confirmation.
'Are you sure?' the hat asked, though it sounded rather certain despite the question. 'You could be great, you know. All that potential here, in your head - it ought to be nurtured, not hidden away.'
The hat was known to debate with those that were particularly difficult to place, but very rarely did it override such a choice. Joe could be Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, yet when faced with the options the hat knew the choice was too biased - too dependent on forces outside of Joe himself. Hufflepuff no longer became an option, as it would keep Joe too comfortable and complacent in his own journey.
For the type of boy Joe was, and the things the hat could see that the boy himself didn't realise yet... no, he needed to be pushed outside his comfort. He needed to be challenged.
'It is clear where you belong. Yes, you will do well in...' the hat's voice then rose for the entire hall to hear, declaring the result to everyone.
The other three houses took a moment to react and cease the whispering, whereas Ravenclaw house barely considered it odd that Joe's sorting had been longer than usual. And they were the least surprised by the result, as they immediately gave him a polite yet welcoming applause.
Professor McGonagall had removed the hat from Joe's head and waited for him to hop off the stool. A Ravenclaw prefect went out of her way to beckon him to join them, making room and trying to be as friendly as she could - as if sensing his nervousness or just knowing that a long sorting could cause such as well.
Post by Jonathan King on Apr 1, 2020 19:18:16 GMT 10
Joe's unease grew as the hat replied to his choice. The tone in which it spoke and the words it chose to share with him awoke in him a sense of foreboding. His eyes grew bigger (if even possible) as he started to suspect his decision would be overruled after all.
Then what was the point of giving him a choice? It did not seem entirely fair to Joe but perhaps he was missing the bigger picture. The hat had mentioned his 'potential' and although that sounded rather intimidating to him he mused that it might be just the way the hat worked and nobody could really escape the challenge of building their own character.
It did not really come as a surprise to him when the hat exclaimed "RAVENCLAW!" for all to hear.
Still he remained on the stool for a while longer after Professor McGonnagal had removed the hat from his head, taking in the scene, processing.
The Ravenclaw table was easy to make out as they all looked at him with welcoming smiles and applause. An older girl- a prefect he assumed- beckoned to him quite obviously and Joe hesitantly managed to smile at her shyly as he finally got up and walked over to her. She made room for him at the table and he sat down, grateful to her for her friendly welcome.
He glimpsed over to the Hufflepuff table, trying to make eye contact with his cousin but he could not find her from here. His search however had made him miss the friendly girl's name but he figured he had plenty of time to find out now that Ravenclaw would be his home for the next six years.
Looking back at Professor McGonnagal and the hat that was placed on another First Years head by now however he could not help but wonder if Ravenclaw truly was the right choice for him.
He figured he would have to write his mum as soon as he found the time.
She would probably be happy to know him in her old home.
For the first time Joe managed a genuine smile and he turned to listen to the whispers of his housemates.