Adventures At Ilvermorny

Chapter One: Stevie

  All eyes were on me. Some people looked with awe and other gave me a glare of envy. All four statues were reacting to me, none more than the others. All I wanted was a sign to pick one, yet all of them were signally they wanted me. Why couldn't this have been easier? Headmaster Alistair gave me a knowing smile and gestured towards the statues.

But which one? I mentally thought craving an answer.

I remained frozen on the Gordian knot, not knowing what to do.
"What a stall, can't she just choose one? It's not hard." Someone whispered, causing me to feel guilty.

I don't know the qualities! I thought. I guess I have the qualities of all...

I took a deep breath and looked up towards the Pukwudgie, it's arrow raise up towards the ceiling. Then at the Horned Serpent's as its crystal, that sat atop its head, was glowing brightly. Next at the Thunderbird as it flapping its wings, and lastly the Wumpus that was roaring loud and proud. I didn't know which one to pick.

A small figure moved into my vision, a small pukwudgie stared at me with its small eyes and gave me an encouraging smile. It's small amount of kindness swayed something in me. Smiling I had made up my mind, walking towards the Pukwudgie and accepted it as my house. Other people in the Pukwudgie house clapped and cheered while others sighed in relief because that took long enough. I was already self-conscious due to the silence that spread when I first stepped forward, the judging stares, and whispers were just not helping.

I approached my Pukwudgie house peers and was greeted by a tall boy with brown hair and brown eyes, "Hello Stevie! Welcome to Ilvermorny!" He said while smiling, I could see the confusion swirling in his eyes, "My name is Merry Davidson, I'm the Pukwudgie house prefect." Merry let go of my hand and told me to stand by while other kids were assigned to their houses.
One after the other, it was only one house for each. None of them had the same situation as me. It also bothered me that they all seemed to be younger than me. No kids my age. The ones my age were in the crowd watching. I leaned over to Merry and yanked on his robe, "Merry?" I said as he leaned down to meet me, "why am I the only thirteen-year-old that was sorted... these other kids look to be around ten or eleven?" I asked him. His face showed perplexity for a brief moment, then a more stone face.

"If I'm honest, I have no idea... typically the student's come to Ilvermorny at age eleven. It's rather odd that you arrived late." He said, "It's even stranger that it was you then who stalled at the statues, it's not uncommon for it to happen, but typically it happens to powerful witches and wizards.

"Powerful?" I asked processing what he said.

"I'm not saying you can't be powerful, but... the fact that you didn't receive your letter when you were eleven. I don't know. It's rather perplexing." He said standing straight again and watching the other students get sorted.

What does that mean? How could my letter have gotten mixed up, if it was so uncommon?

"Miss Evans," I was tapped on my shoulder and turned to see Headmaster Alistair standing behind me. His face seemed rather neutral given the information he must know. He seemed like a calm man, possibly no younger than his late thirties. Auburn clean cut hair and a short beard. Interesting for a Headmaster. "Please follow me," He turned to Merry and nodded before turning around and walking away.

I followed him through the various hallways, admiring the castle's architecture, it was rather beautiful. The paintings on the wall all waved as I walked by, and I waved back smiling to myself how wondrous it all was. "Stevie, you are thirteen yes?" Headmaster Alistair asked, snapping me out of my wonder.

"Yes, sir," I responded.

"When did you receive your letter?"

"Near the end of the summer sir," I said thinking back to when I found the letter. My family had no idea what it had meant and thought it was a prank until Professor Blytes came to help me. she just popped up at the door and explained what it all meant. My parents, people who really didn't believe in magic didn't understand at first and kept their guard up the entire process. It wasn't until they saw her walk through solid concrete did they actually believe it was true. I wonder if every child born from No-Majes has to go through this. Except on time, I guess.