Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter series and its universe. No profit is made here and no offense intended.
Chapter 1: Beginnings
"You have your books? And all your trunks? Make sure your robes are in there. And your owl! Don't tell me you forgot your owl!" A woman with honey-blond hair and grey eyes, wearing a stylish white coat that could, at first glance, pass for a cloak or robe, fussed over her daughter, a girl who looked remarkably similar despite her darker hair and different colored eyes. The girl, who had turned eleven exactly seventeen days ago, rolled her eyes.
"Relax, Mom," the eleven-year-old replied, stroking the head of a light grey elf owl on her shoulder, who had, in fact, not been forgotten. "It's all fine. I've got everything. The only thing..." she trailed off, unwilling to continue. Her mother guessed what she had been about to say, nonetheless.
"You'll fit in just fine," she comforted.
The girl sighed. "I don't know about that." She didn't continue.
"Marigold Fawley," the mother said, almost scolding her daughter. "I know you'll do amazing. You're smart, responsible, friendly… humble..."
"No thanks to you," Marigold murmured. "And what if I don't get chosen?"
The mother cocked her head. "What do you mean?"
Another sigh. "According to Ilvermorny, the Better Hogwarts-"
"Excuse me?" The woman interrupted suddenly.
"Mom! It's a history book- oh." The girl had caught the twinkle in her mother's eyes. She shot an annoyed glare at the now-grinning woman. "Anyway... Ilvermorny students are chosen, rather than sorted, into their houses. There are wooden carvings, one for each house, that choose students. Sometimes, more than one does, and then the student can decide which house they want to be in."
"And what are you worried about?"
Marigold flushed, her cheeks turning a bright pink. "That I won't be chosen..." she mumbled.
Bemused, the woman asked, "And has anyone ever been not chosen before?"
The girl's answer was so quiet, her mother had to lean in to hear.
"See! There's nothing for you to worry about," came the triumphant declaration. "You've looked forward to this, your whole life! It'll be fine!"
"Mom..." she protested, though her heart wasn't into it, as she gazed at the still-empty train tracks. "Never mind."
Grey eyes, framed by thin glasses, met hazel ones. "Mari," the mother murmured. "You can come to me. For anything. Use your owl; I'll write every week."
"A continent away," was the soft reply; after all, Massachusetts was literally across the country from California.
A train whistle sounded, as the engine of the Gamma train started up from the nearby terminal, and the buzz of the train station grew louder. Final goodbyes were exchanged, as the cranberry-and-blue train emerged from the tunnel.
White-clothed arms embraced Mari, who flinched slightly, reflexively, as the hands touched her back, before she relaxed into the embrace. "Love you," the mother whispered, her words absorbed into honey-brown hair.
"Love you too, Mom." After a moment, Marigold pulled away, pulling her trunks with her on the trolley. Grey eyes watched, teary-eyed, as the girl disappeared into the train.
The woman sighed. She'd noticed the flinch, though she'd ignored it. Merlin knew what she had done to her daughter - she didn't remember more than flashes. How she hated her family, and the wonderful inheritance she'd been left. Not only was there the … thing she uncontrollably became, but she also had no idea how to be a good mother. She'd done the best she could, and she thought she'd raised Mari well, but… Mari's maternal grandparents, Vega and Emmanuel Fawley, had handed their three children to the house elves to raise, the moment they were born. Though, the woman had to admit, her parents hadn't been half as bad as some of the others. When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gained power, they hadn't joined, preferring to watch from the sidelines and wait for it instead.
A shudder passed through the white-clothed body, but she repressed the urge. No. She wouldn't let it overtake her, at least, not yet. The monster within her growled, and she knew it would be worse, when the change did occur. But she wouldn't succumb. Not yet.
The train whistle blew. A tear dripped from Libra Fawley's dark grey eyes.
«««««« ορτυ σωλης »»»»»»
Aboard the car, Mari sighed again. Despite her mother's parting words, she wasn't reassured. Rather, she was terrified, her hands cold and clammy, her heart beating too fast. It wasn't the classes or what she'd learn that was frightening her; the eleven-year-old knew she was brilliant (it wasn't arrogance if it was the truth...). It was the people. Three thousand students, approximately, in the entire school, which meant about 430 per year, and one hundred per year per house. Ilvermorny, simply due to the larger population it served, was about three times as large as Hogwarts, in Britain. Her mother, who'd been born and raised across the Atlantic, had no idea what she was talking about.
Though, based on the books she'd read, Mari knew that smaller schools and some parents' unwillingness to send their children so far away alleviated the size, somewhat. But still. One hundred people in her class. Mari couldn't even begin to imagine how she could befriend any of them. She'd always liked having her quiet time, but she also didn't want to spend all her school days alone.
And the idea of talking, to strangers, absolutely terrified her. Mari could never think of clever, witty things to say on the spot. Essays she could write, speeches she could perform, but small talk? Never in a hundred years.
The girl found an empty compartment - she couldn't imagine barging in on someone else and introducing herself, just like that - and got settled, taking out a heavy-looking book. The elf owl on her shoulder cooed, before flapping onto the back of Mari's chair.
"Hungry, Perseus?" Pale hands reached into the pocket of her jeans, pulling out a tiny drawstring bag. She shook it, releasing two still-squirming beetles into her palm. The tiny bird pounced, snapping up the two within seconds before swallowing and hooting contentedly. "Good boy."
After an hour, the train stopped again, this time in Arizona. Of course, had they been relying solely on No-Maj technology, it would have taken almost a day to arrive even at the first stop, but Apparation tunnels along the route shortened the travel time drastically. The train system, with all three trains, the tunnels, and the routes followed, had been put into place in the early eighteenth century, shortly after the International Statute of Secrecy had been implemented, and it had become necessary for a simple form of transportation for all of Ilvermorny's students. According to her mother, Hogwarts used a similar system, though the Apparation tunnels weren't necessary with the shorter route. By the time the fifth stop came along, this one in Texas, Mari had finished rereading yet another novel, and the door to her compartment had opened.
Another girl, by the looks of it a first-year, stood awkwardly in the doorway. She fidgeted nervously with her hair, in tightly woven black braids, though her dark chocolate brown eyes seemed kind.
"Hi! My name's D'Andrea Clark, though you can call me Andie. Mind if I…?"
"Sure," Mari replied, hating it as her voice came out as a squeak. "I don't mind. There's no one else sitting there … I mean, go ahead …" She trailed off, wishing she'd just stuck with the first answer.
"Thanks! I'm so nervous, especially since I had no idea magic existed, a month ago! One of the professors came to my house - Professor Hicks met with my family and told us about all of this. It's so cool! Have you met Hicks before? She seems like a pretty cool lady, though apparently this year will be her last teaching. She says she teaches Charms. Do you know the other classes we have? Did you know magic existed, before? Oh yeah, what's your name?"
The other girl, Andie, paused a moment, as if waiting for Mari to respond. She processed, then realized the last question Andie had asked. "Mari… Marigold Fawley."
"Cool! Anyway, I'm so excited to start school! I …" Mari quickly tuned out the other girl's words. She didn't seem to be looking for an answer, anyway. She watched, mesmerized, as the hair twisted around dark brown fingers, then went into the mouth, then was twirled some more, then braided … before she turned her attention back to her book. This was exactly why Mari didn't like talking to others. Although the companionship was nice, as was the fact that she didn't have to say anything.
After several minutes, Mari looked up from the pages. Andie had paused speaking, though the bookworm wasn't sure exactly when. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"The lady at the door, she's asking if we want to buy anything." Belatedly, Mari realized that an old, wrinkled witch, who looked uncannily similar to her mother's descriptions of the Hogwarts Trolley Witch, was standing nearby, in the passageway, with a cart of food. Her stomach gave a loud growl at the smell of the food.
"Oh, right. Um, two Pumpkin Pasties, three, no, four Chocolate Frogs, and one Caldron Cake, please." Hazel eyes flashed to the other girl, who watched the exchange curiously. "Have you … I mean … Do you want anything? Andie?" Mari flinched at her use of the name; it sounded so detached, so artificial.
"What are those?" the No-Maj-Born girl asked. "I can guess on Pumpkin Pasties, but Chocolate Frogs? And Caldron Cakes?"
"They're sweets. Wizarding sweets," Mari answered lamely. "Pretty good. I can buy some for you…?" It seemed like the polite thing to do.
"You don't have to! It's perfectly fine. I have some money… right here…" Mari watched, bemused, as gum wrappers, No-Maj coins, scraps of paper, hair ties, and many objects she didn't recognize, came out of Andie's pockets. After a moment, she realized what she was supposed to say.
"Make it double all of that, plus two of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and four Candy Crystals. How much?"
"Six dragots," the answer came, in a voice that was surprisingly melodic, for the witch's appearance. Marigold reached into her pocket - not the one the owl food had come from - pulling out six golden octagonal coins, before handing them over. Twenty items levitated off the cart, before whizzing toward the table, settling themselves comfortably. Andie's eyes widened slightly at the exchange, but, surprisingly, not a word escaped from her mouth, as she quickly shoved her belongings back into her coat.
The door slid silently closed, and Mari felt blessed by the silence that followed. Or, she would have felt blessed, had it not been for the awkward way the other passenger stared at her.
"Help yourself," she invited at last, once she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Thanks," Andie said, stuffing her mouth with a Caldron Cake, before turning to a Chocolate Frog box. With a loud croak, though, the enchanted sweet bounded out, escaping onto the window. A small scream came from the No-Maj-Born, as she stared at the frog.
That is, what remained of the frog. Mari's tiny owl, Perseus, had swooped down once the sweet had been released, and now, only a tiny leg stuck out of his beak. In a second, that, too, was swallowed.
"Perseus," Mari mumbled, scolding. "You know chocolate isn't good for you." She reached into a pocket, pulling out another drawstring bag. This time, it was a small vial, of a lilac-shaded potion, that came out. "Come here."
But by then, the elf owl had begun to sway. Exasperated, his owner picked him up, turning him onto his back. "Open," Mari ordered, and feebly, his beak opened. A drop of the potion was poured down, before the vial and the bag was put away again.
"What is that?" Andie asked, finally regaining her voice. Surprisingly, only a cake and two crystals had been consumed.
Mari sighed ruefully. "Perseus, he eats all kinds of crazy things, so my mom made a potion that would help his digestion. Or, were you talking about the frog? Don't worry, they're not real, just enchanted."
Black braids flew as Andie vigorously shook her head. "No, that." Her finger pointed at the seat besides Mari, who turned to look. She stifled a scream, as a spider the size of her hand peered back at her, with all eight beady eyes.
"Perseus!" Her voice was tense and frightened, she could tell, but the owl only gazed at her with wide eyes. The spider was nearly the size of him; he wasn't going anywhere near it.
Marigold huffed. Had her mother been there, she knew without a doubt that the spider would have been Vanished in a second. But she didn't have a wand. And what was the incantation? In her panic, Mari couldn't remember. Was it evanico? Elvanesco? But she was pretty sure it was a difficult spell, one that was tested on the OWLS, for fifth years.
But nothing could make the arachnid disappear, and Mari could only watch, transfixed, as the spider inched closer … and closer … and closer…
"Can't you do anything?" Andie asked desperately, seeing her companion's inaction. "Like, wave your wand and make it disappear?"
"I don't know remember the spell!" Mari replied, frustrated. "And you - we - don't get our wands until after the Sorting!"
Suddenly, the two girls heard a distinctive chuckle, coming from outside their compartment. With it, Mari realized why the spider was there. The Gamma train may have been hundreds of years old, but magic maintained it, and spiders the size of her hand definitely weren't normal.
"What are we going to do then? I'm not touching that thing! It … wait, what-?" The girl cut off abruptly, at the sign of Mari's hurried gesture. From Andie's confused expression, though, Mari knew they weren't on the same page. She suppressed a sigh, then held out a hand. At least the message, to stay there, was received.
Quietly, Mari crept to the door, then, with a whirl of movement, opened it. Two boys, third years by the look of them, quickly stumbled to their feet, from their positions seated by the door.
"Get rid of it," Mari commanded, her voice calm and hard.
One of the boys smirked at her, regaining his cool. "What are you going to do, firstie?" His wand was in his hand, and, as he stood, he towered at least three inches over her.
"Get rid of it," came the command once again. This time, though, it was accompanied by something … something that wasn't quite human. Hazel eyes were slit-like and feral; ears slightly pointed at the tips; canines elongated and sharp. "I won't ask again."
The boys had shrunk back under the weight of the girl's not-human glare, blinking rapidly at the phenomenon they were sure they were hallucinating. "Okay!" the second boy said, his voice subdued and frightened. He pointed his wand at the offending arachnid. "Reducio." The spider, shrunk back to its original size, scuttled off the chair and onto the floor. "Come here, Webb," the boy murmured, his eyes still fearful and on Mari.
"Now go." Not needing more encouragement, the boys left, almost running over each other in their haste.
"What was that?" came a voice from inside the compartment. "Don't get me wrong, that was amazing, but how did you do that? They had to be at least two years older! And how did you know they were there, in the first place?" An uncharacteristic pause came, as Andie waited for the other girl to answer.
Mari said nothing as she entered the room and sat down, picking up her book once more. She ignored the other's attempts at conversation, throughout the rest of the train ride.
Not only was Andie annoying, but Mari wasn't entirely sure, herself, what had happened. Surely she wasn't that terrifying.
«««««« ορτυ σωλης »»»»»»
The train stopped four times more. Only on the second-to-last stop, did two additional students join. A boy and a girl, both first years, and twins, with dark brown hair, auburn eyes, and half-Asian looks. Linwood and Lorraine Forrest, though they preferred to be known as Lin and Rain. Mari barely spared them a glance as they sat down, though Andie immediately directed her conversation at the two of them. From their uneasy glances at each other, Mari guessed that they now regretted their choice of compartment. At least, though, they kept Andie from eating all the sweets; Mari was sure an abundance of them couldn't be good for one's health. The only one of the treats the No-Maj-Born hadn't enjoyed was Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. And the grass-flavored bean Andie had tasted hadn't even been one of the worse flavors.
Mari decided that the two newcomers, Lin and Rain, were tolerable, though, of course, neither was perfect. Rain was too eager to please, too cheerful, in a way that seemed artificial. Lin, on the other hand, was too straightforward, too blunt, was the word. They made an interesting pair. And of course, Andie was nice enough, if a little too talkative and too fond of candy.
They took turns changing into their uniforms, once they were about half an hour out from the school. Cranberry-and-blue robes, fastened by the gold Gordian Knot; the fact that they were finally arriving at Ilvermorny seemed to suddenly sink in, for Mari. She was still nervous, of course, about the Sorting and the teachers and the students, but with three other first-years by her side, wearing the robes that still commemorated Isolt Sayre and James Steward, there was suddenly a lot of excitement mixed in, too.
What's more, she'd finally get a wand.
It was nearing nightfall, by the time they arrived at the castle. Of course, the train they rode could hardly climb to the top of the mountain, and so, the station where they got off was about three-quarters up the peak. If Mari squinted, she thought she could see the castle, surrounded by fog. In fact, she was sure she could see it's towering black figure.
"First years! First years, over here! Come on, y'all!" A male voice, tenor-pitched and pleasant, with a slight Southern accent, called out above the din. Obediently, the four from the train followed the sound, towards a man with strawberry-blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a mischievous grin. He looked only about thirty, much too young to be a professor. And yet, his robes, a midnight blue shade that looked far above Mari's price range, told them that he was not a student.
He smiled benignly, welcomingly, at them all. "Welcome to Ilvermorny! My name's Jasper Alexander, though you'll probably come to know me as Professor Alexander. I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, so you'll be seeing a lot of me throughout all your years."
The man repeated himself several more times, as other first-year students trickled towards the group. Finally, when the station was nearly empty, he moved on.
"Y'all here? There should be 107 of you, numeraros!" A spark came from the tip of his wand, hovering over their heads before returning. "Good, you're all here! Follow me." He turned his back to them, and started walking towards the school.
Exchanging a glance with the others, Mari desperately hoped they wouldn't have to walk all the way up. Stretching her legs after a long day aboard the train would be nice, but hiking up a mountain was no walk in the park. Literally.
Luckily, though, as they headed through the forest, a herd of winged horses came into view. They were beautiful horses, really, in shades of dark brown and black. Morgans, was the No-Maj name for them, according to Andie. The carriages, also the colors cranberry and blue, made for a surprisingly comfortable ride, and despite the steep angle the horses flew at. In minutes, they'd reached the school.
Ilvermorny. She, Marigold Fawley, was finally there.
"I can't believe it! We're actually here! It's like I've waited my whole life for this - though, of course, I haven't. It's only been a few weeks for me. But you guys, your parents are magical, aren't they? And now, we're finally here!" Andie echoed Mari's thoughts, at least, at first.
"I know! It's so exciting! And then, we'll get sorted, and then get our wands! In a few minutes!" Mari squinted at Rain, unsure if the girl was being serious or not. It almost seemed like she was making fun of the No-Maj-Born, but, from what she'd seen of the female twin so far, Rain wasn't anything like that.
Professor Alexander led them through a towering black gate, and then past an intimidating set of doors that was at least twice Mari's height; through a beautifully sculpted hall, until they stood before two more giant doors. The blonde then turned back to the group.
The mumble of voices was so loud, it took several seconds before everyone realized they'd stopped.
"Quiet down," the professor admonished, though his tone was indulgent and happy. "Now, listen up. In a few minutes, y'all will be sorted into your houses. I'm sure many of y'all already know the process by which this happens, but some will not. And we want to see if this year can be the best-behaved group of first-years ever. We want to make sure all y'all know what we're doing. So I want you to be quiet as I give the instructions."
Mari barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. The best-behaved first-years? How old did this man think they were, five? And yet, his method was effective. The group was nearly silent. Only the shuffling of feet and the rustle of fabric could be heard.
"Okay. You've probably heard, that Ilvermorny is split into four houses, each named after a magical creature. Throughout your time here, your house will be like your family. Your friends will likely be in the same house as you, maybe even the person you'll marry." A few chuckles came from that, but Mari found herself a little disgusted. Wouldn't it be better to encourage inter-house friendship? Weren't they only as strong as they were united, as weak as they were divided?
"Horned Serpent, founded by Isolt Sayre, is known for producing scholars. Pukwudgie, by James Steward, is the house of healers. Thunderbird, which was the house of Chadwick Boot, is of adventurers, and Wampus, the best house, founded by Webster Boot, is known for producing warriors." A couple students giggled at the pitch in Alexander's statement, but Mari found her opinion of the man dropping lower and lower. Why was he bothering, if it wouldn't be up to the students, anyway? Unless he was speaking to the few who would get the choice, the few who got chosen by two, three, or even four of the carvings?
Mari was still nervous whether she'd get chosen by one house.
Professor Alexander was from Wampus. It was the house of the warriors, of the heart, as some said. Mari didn't know much about the people in Ilvermorny houses, but if Wampuses were anything like Hogwarts Gryffindors, it made sense that the man was like that, immature and self-centered. The eleven-year-old was already starting to dislike the house. Only, what if that was the house that chose her?
No, what would be indefinitely worse, would be not getting chosen. Mari could stand being around exasperating people. She couldn't stand being the first student - ever - to not be sorted into a house.
Like her mother said, that never happened. So why was she still so afraid?
Mari realized that she'd tuned out the professor's words, but he hadn't spoken of anything she didn't already know. The Choosing Ceremony, that would then be followed by the wand ceremony, one that stemmed from Rappaport's Law of 1790, when students had been required to leave their wands at school over the breaks. The ceremony, for the sake of time, had been abridged from its original state, so that there was no official presentation of students and their wands, but the tradition still persisted, with no first-year receiving their wand until the first day of school.
And then, of course, would be the meal. Mari had heard stories of the food at Ilvermorny and Hogwarts, that were prepared by an army of house elves. She wondered absentmindedly how much Andie would eat.
The professor had stopped talking. He touched the doors, and they opened silently, revealing the dining hall already full with students. There were four great tables, one for each house, with the banners of each hanging above, and past the tables, sat the staff, with the headmaster, Agilbert Fontaine, at the center. Beyond that, was the engraved circle for the student to stand, and on the wall, the carvings. The Thunderbird, whose wings would flap; the Horned Serpent, whose horn would glow; the Pukwudgie, who would raise his bow would raise; and the Wampus, who would roar.
They processed, through the aisle between the tables, towards the carvings. Mari tried to ignore the curious eyes that watched them, that watched her.
She'd never liked attention.
"When I call your name, step to the center of the circle, and face the carvings. If a house believes you would be a good fit, the carvings will signal so. Remember, the time taken for the carvings to choose is not a sign of something wrong. Some people simply take longer than others. If, which is unusual, more than one house chooses you, you'll get the choice of which house you want to be in. Choose wisely.
"Adams, William." And so, it began.
Mari tuned out the sorting, watching instead the other first-years. Some were obviously excited, while others showed the nervousness Mari felt, and others were stoic regarding their emotions. A 'Clark, D'Andrea' caught her attention, and she watched as Andie was chosen by Thunderbird after a minute's indecision.
"Fawley, Marigold." Mari gulped. It was her turn.
The eleven-year-old took in a steadying breath, then stepped forward to the center of the circle. She closed her eyes, but quickly opened them again. It wouldn't do to miss any signal the carvings made. And then, she waited.
An eternity seemed to pass, as the carvings watched her, and Mari's tension grew. What if her fears were true? What if nothing chose her? She was certain that there were whispers, now, from the crowd behind her, and she fought the urge to look back. No. This couldn't be happening.
But this was no dream, no nightmare. This was real. Hazel eyes flickered to the right - was that a raise of movement, from the Pukwudgie? But no, the carvings had not moved.
She closed her eyes, and then, she heard it. A roar.
Wampus.
But it wasn't just the magical cat! Mari was frozen, as she watched three of the four carvings move. A flap of wings. A light from the horn. A mouth opened to roar.
Thunderbird, Horned Serpent, and Wampus?
For a moment, Mari forgot what she was supposed to do. What did it mean, that there were three houses that had chosen her? How could she be part of multiple houses?
"Miss Fawley. A reminder; you can choose which house, now that three have chosen you." Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, and Mari was glad that she wasn't facing the large audience behind her. But what to choose?
Hazel eyes flickered between the three carvings that had chosen her. Thunderbird, Horned Serpent, and Wampus, known for adventurers, scholars, and warriors. Which was she? Which did she want to be?
Each second that she took to decide felt like eternity, and she could just feel the impatience of those behind her. Which house?
Mari eyes the Wampus cat. Could she...?
Gray eyes, without a hint of compassion - the eyes of a predator ... Sharp teeth, diamond bright and flawless, in a mouth that had curved to form a smile ... Pointed claws, touching her skin, not quite penetrating, teasing her... Crimson blood, dripping on the floor, staining her clothes...
No. Shuddering, Mari pulled herself out of the half-memories. Not Wampus. It was the people, the girl thought to herself. She didn't want to be surrounded by people like Professor Alexander. And everyone knew Gryffindors picked pointless fights and didn't take things seriously enough. She wouldn't want to be in the American equivalent of the scarlet-and-gold house.
Or, that was how she tried to justify it. In reality, Mari knew it was because she couldn't be in the house with the cat. Even now, the dark eyes of the Wampus sent chills through her spine. Memories...
No. Not Wampus.
Then, Thunderbird, or Horned Serpent? Mari was a scholar, after all, and she knew she was incredibly intelligent. And, what did Thunderbird stand for, anyway? What did being an 'adventurer' mean?
"Miss Fawley?" Mari's heart skipped a beat - she wasn't ready! The murmurs were a lot louder, now, and she thought she could hear a snicker intermixed with them. Which house? Which house?
"... why's she taking so long? Obviously, Wampus ..."
"... of course, all four is the most rare, but even three houses choosing you ..."
"... that's Marigold Fawley! I met her on the train ..."
For a moment, the girl froze. What was that, that she heard? It was ... Andie's voice. Andie, who'd been chosen by Thunderbird. And, hadn't Mari been most worried about friends? Andie was annoying, with how much she spoke, but at least she'd sought out Mari. At least they knew each other! If she chose Horned Serpent, would she lose all chances of making friends, again?
"Miss Fawley?" Professor Alexander repeated. "Which house do you chose, Miss Fawley?"
Thunderbird. Horned Serpent. Thunderbird. Horned Serpent. "Thunderbird!" she blurted, and the whole room seemed to relax.
Thunderbird. She was now in Thunderbird.
«««««« ορτυ σωλης »»»»»»
The rest of the Choosing Ceremony passed in a blur. Mari only noticed when the twins from the train, Lin and Rain, were sorted, the brother into Horned Serpent and the sister into Pukwudgie. She wondered absentmindedly if their relationship would still be as strong, but from what she could tell, the rivalry between houses at Ilvermorny wasn't as strong as her mother had described, at Hogwarts. The result of all four founders being family, was her theory.
The masses of small cranberry-and-blue robes were led, then, to a separate hall, as the feast began for the rest of the school. Mari was starving, since Andie had eaten almost all the treats she'd bought on the train, but the excitement of getting a wand overpowered the hunger.
For now.
The Wand Ceremony was much less formal, with the students in lines that stemmed from each adult, who would bring wands to the students as advised by the wand makers (which, for new students, numbered five total). Mari was distracted, barely noticing that she was the first in line, even as a witch's measuring tape zoomed around her.
"Which hand, darling?" the woman drawled.
"Which... what?" Mari asked. Hazel eyes dartes about, watching the other students. A girl wearing a bright yellow hijab had already found her wand, which issued bright sparks from the tip - the first student to find her wand.
"Which hand will you use?" the witch clarified.
"Oh, um, left," the girl answered. That was the one she wrote with, at least.
A nod. "Try this," the woman spoke, handing Mari a wand of light gray wood. Mari held it, and waved, wincing as a guest of wind toppled a stack behind them.
"So, not Wolfe's." The words were a mumble, clearly not directed to Mari, and yet, the young girl found her interest piqued.
"Why?"
"Why what?" came the reply, obviously peeved.
"Why not Wolfe's? Is it because of the core? Or some other compatibility factor? Then, I don't see why, or how, they'd only use one wandmaker in Britain, unless it's certain types of cores that simply don't work well? Or is it how the wands are made? And what about..." She trailed off, as she saw the woman staring at her, irritated. "Sorry. Go on."
After a quick glance, seemingly to ensure Mari's sanity, the woman handed her another wand. And then another. And another.
"Tricky customer," the witch murmured, glaring at the girl like it was her fault they had to try so many wands.
"Sorry," Mari apologized again, both to the woman, and to the students behind her in line, a few of whom had moved, seeing spaces in other lines.
"Ollivander," the woman finally called. The honey-brown head whipped around. Ollivander? As in, Garrick Ollivander?
The woman who walked over was most definitely not the famed British wandmaker.
"I've told you, call me Wilhelmina," the wandmaker informed, her voice crisp and with an obvious British accent. "My uncle's famous enough." So this was Ollivander's niece?
The first woman only shrugged, gesturing to Mari, in response.
By that time, the line behind the eleven-year-old was entirely non-existent. Mari sighed. That would be great for friends. Although, it didn't seem like any of those students who'd left were too smart, if they'd chosen to join a new line. Statistically...
A wand held out to her brought her attention back to the wandmaker, Wilhelmina Ollivander. "Oh, sorry," she apologized, taking the proffered wand and waving it precisely.
She cringed away from the explosion behind them. Wilhelmina didn't even flinch.
"I'd say, phoenix feather, most likely," the woman mused. "What have you tried already? Cores?"
"Wolfe's thunderbird and occamy, Jonker's mother-of-pearl, Fillanes's thestral and hippogriff, and your dragon." Wilhelmina nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, phoenix feather. Try this. Phoenix feather and beech, twelve-and-a-half inches, unyielding."
The results were... slightly better than the others. "But still not quite right," Wilhelmina added. "We've found that my pairings are best for tricky customers. I'd like to think it's due to my experience with Uncle."
Another wand was held out, this one a red-brown shade. "Phoenix feather and cherry wood, thirteen inches, unbending," was its description.
The moment Mari touched the wand, she knew it was hers.
Golden and silver sparks emerged from the tip, and a warm feeling filled the girl. A bright smile illuminated her face.
The wandmaker, Wilhelmina, reflected the expression. "There you go, m'dear," the woman cheered.
Mari had a wand now. She was a student at Ilvermorny, she was in Thunderbird house, and she even had a few maybe-friends. She was finally there.
Now she just needed to survive Ilvermorny.