Platform 9 3/4

[Gifted]

"My wand?" Andrea was pleased for a question she could answer without giving too much away. "Vine and unicorn hair, seventeen inches." She said. "How about yours?"

[Raven]

"Laurel and phoenix feather, twelve inches. We had the handle specially made after it chose me," Lynn bragged, showing her wand.

[Gifted]

"That is so cool." Andrea said. "The handle looks awesome! Mine's a thin, flimsy little thing. I can bend it almost double and it won't snap though, so there's that." She pulled her unusually thin wand out to show, also.

[Raven]

"Yeah, it would suck to break your wand," Lynn said smiling.

"Be careful getting out of the boats," Crue said as they pulled up to the shore beneath Hogwarts.

[Gifted]

"Wow, so cool!" Wesley cried, seeing the palace. He jumped out of the boat. "Come on Tanner, let's get up there quickly!"
Tanner ran after him.

"Looks like we're here," Andrea said, getting out of the boat.

"Wow...." Nikki was amazed.

[Raven]

"I can't wait," Lynn said, but kept composed as she got out of the boat. Her now-vibrant red hair the only sign of her excitement.

Evangeline looked around in awe. "This is so cool," she said.

[Sar]

August looked up at the castle and got out of her boat, trying to move closer, losing the people she road the boat with and standing alone, as she had done her entire childhood.

[Sar]

She waited for the students at the entrance of the great hall. Though not the youngest teacher there, she tried to make herself look like on on most occasions, but today she knew that for her first duty as deputy head master, she's need to dress the part. SO there she was, dressed in formal black robes and a witches hat that covered her spiked hair. She had gotten many weird looks from the older student, who found it stranger to see her like this then it had been to see her in her normal clothing.

[Gifted]

Andrea went calmly up. She wasn't sure if it was okay to show her excitement so she kept it down.

Nikki smiled at Evangilene, and then the two who'd come with her, and started up to the castle as well.

[Raven]

Everyone went up to meet the deputy headmistress, yay.

[Sar]

Emilia scanned the crowd, seeing many students chatting and discussing amongst themselves. Her eyes did scan for her niece first and saw that she was alone 'As always,' she thought and then she stood up straight and cleared her throat. "Attention please, students!" As a hush feel over the students, she smiled but kept her voice stern "I am pleased to welcome you to Hogwarts and happy to see you all made here safely. Momentarily, you will all be sorted into different houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw. These houses are like teams or families, through out the year, you can earn points by good behavior, and loose them for.... unethical choices," She took a moment there to pause to stare down the group. "But that's for later. Now, it's time to begin." With that she took out her wand, waved it once and the doors opened in a dramatic fashion, "Follow me first years,"

August listened to her aunt speak before following the rest of the group after her.

Nezza sat at her table, watching the first years closely. Her siblings and cousins all following the same action from their respected houses.

[Raven]

Jeremy watched the first years with a schooled expression. His poker face was admirable as he looked for possible successes as well as the weak links. The weaker ones certainly had a purpose, and were just as important as the strong ones. The weak broke down first, fell harder. They in turn brought others down with them and helped to spread fear. All in just the short moment he watched them pass by, Jeremy had profiled a good number of the first years. The rest he hoped he would have the opportunity for as they were sorted. He always sat deliberately close to the head table for that reason.

[Gifted]

Andrea held her head high, and looked around the tables with interest. She was careful not to look at any one table too long, in case she wasn't supposed too, but she looked excited. Once she established her power here, this place was going to be great fun.

Nikki was looking around, just taking it all in. Se was flabbergasted by all the people, the beautiful lights and the rich robes. And were those candles floating? Amazing!

Tanner and Wesley were eager, looking around anxiously for the gryffindor table. they couldn't wait for the start of the school year.

Trisha sat quietly atthe Ravenclaw table, between two sets of friends who were deliberately not talking to her. Just like it'd always been since Ryan.

[Raven]

Soon, the students were all gathered in front of the head table.

The sorting hat was placed on the stool, opened its mouth tear, and began to sing.

In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest"
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the Houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
and we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.

[Sar]

As the sorting hat finished Emilia grabbed a scroll, pulled it open and said very officially "Clark, Adam Kyle,"