Blair's PoV
We all stood in a line with the other first years, shivering with excitement and anticipation. The sorting ceremony at Winfield was an event of legends. Older kids weren't allowed to speak of it outside of school so it was up to the overactive imaginations of growing children to fill it in. Sergeant Boggs was standing at the end of the line with a list, and next to him was a plain brown wardrobe. I couldn't help but wonder if we were to face a boggart. We had a bogart hiding in our attic a few months back; they were nasty things that lived in dark places such as wardrobes, chests, and boxes. They would take the shape of one's worst fears. I hoped that wouldn't be the case, I was terrified at the idea of facing my worst fear in front of the entire school. I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized that Sergeant Boggs had begun calling names.
"Garner, Shelby" he called out. I gave her an encouraging smile as she walked up to the wardrobe. I paid close attention as she stepped up in front of the crowd. She stood in front of the wardrobe and in a voice that only sounded nervous if you had known her for a while said:
"I wish to know my inner animal, please will you sort me?" Seconds passed in hushed silence as each student leaned forward in anticipation. Suddenly, making me jump, the wardrobe burst open and a spectral eagle burst out, flying graceful circles around Shelby and leaving trails of red and black lights.
"Aquila!" Boggs called out as the room erupted into the sounds of clapping. "Duringus, Eron" was sorted into lupus, with a wolf that loped around the room and let out a chilling howl. Finally "Hudson, Hallie" was called; she gave me a crooked smile before sauntering up to the wardrobe with an air of confidence. She didn't stand there long after saying the creed before an eagle was soaring around her. It was no surprise to me, this girl would be the one to bungee-jump off a bridge just for the hell of it. Many more names, and many sorted students later my name was finally called. At the sound of "Rodgers, Blair" I stood up taller and straighter. My sister and brother were in Ibis and I was curious to see where I would be placed and so I walked with steady steps to the wardrobe.
"I wish to know my inner animal, please will you sort me?" I chanted. The time the wardrobe sat there doing nothing for what seemed like an eternity, but just as I was about to get dismayed the doors burst open and a fox slinked out, circling me with a mischievous look. I was placed in Vulpes. Soon everyone was sorted and sitting at their tables waiting for dinner.
"Way to go Rodgers; name's Cedric Migiver. I'm a 3rd year, me dad works with yours in the congress," said a tall lanky boy sitting beside me. He had long blonde hair that was swept in a messy wave to his right, he spoke with a stronger Irish accent and he was holding an old book. I was about to reply my thanks when a deep, booming voice began to speak.
"Welcome back cadets, and welcome to the new meat. I am Headmaster Abraham Gilligan; at this school, you will find that we value honor, respect, responsibility, and hard work. For your triumphs, you will be rewarded and for your screw ups, you will be punished. Our forms of punishment are as follows: physical activities, letters home, detention, suspension, the loss of honor points, and expulsion. At the end of the year, the house with the most honor points will be deemed the honor platoon. No teacher will hesitate to inflict any punishment deemed necessary, nor will they hesitate to reward the best students." Gilligan continued to talk but I began to study him. I knew the man was ancient and it was very evident on his face. He had baggy skin that seemed to impossibly hang off his plumpish body and his buzz cut hair was gray throughout, his right eye was covered with an eyepatch while an ugly scar stretched over half his face and crossing over his mouth, giving him a permanent half scowl. "Enjoy the feast!" I heard, just before the table blossomed with food. There were steaks, chicken, ham, pork, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, corn, squash, strawberries, tomatoes, soups of all sorts, and any other kind of vegetables and fruits you could imagine. It was a feast to behold.