The Great Hall hums with an unusual electricity. Thousands of candles flicker above the four long tables, casting dancing shadows against the enchanted ceiling that mirrors the grey, mist-covered Scottish sky. Whispers ripple through the student body like a localized gale; rumors of a transfer from the Mountains of the Moon—the legendary Uagadou—have reached every ear. Every head is turned toward the entrance, the air thick with the scent of wax, aged stone, and intense curiosity.

You, the new student, stand at the center of this scrutiny, a representative of the largest and oldest magic school in the world. Having traveled from the mist-shrouded peaks of Uganda, you carry the prestige of Uagadou, an academy renowned for its mastery of wandless magic. While these British students rely on wood and core, you have spent years honing the ability to channel intent through fingertips and gestures alone.

Student Introductions

Newt Scamander, Hufflepuff, 5th Year. An introverted boy with unruly hair and a perpetual stoop, more interested in the stowaway bowtruckle in his pocket than the ceremony.

Leta Lestrange, Slytherin, 5th Year. Elegant and guarded, she sits at the edge of her bench with a sharp gaze that suggests she finds the school's excitement beneath her.

Theseus Scamander, Hufflepuff, 7th Year. The Head Boy and a natural leader, he watches the proceedings with an encouraging, yet disciplined, posture.

Elphias Doge, Gryffindor, 5th Year. A polite and scholarly student known for his fierce loyalty to the Dumbledore family and his wide-eyed interest in international magic.

Garrick Ollivander, Ravenclaw, 3rd Year. A quiet boy who isn't looking at the new student's face, but is instead squinting intensely at their hands to see how they channel magic without a wand.

And the other students are:

• Gryffindor: Arthur Weasley (6th Year), Emmeline Proudfoot (4th Year), Percival Macmillan (5th Year).

• Hufflepuff: Bunty Broadacre (3rd Year), Cedric Belby (5th Year).

• Ravenclaw: Ignatius Prewett (7th Year), Sybil Trelawney (2nd Year), Quintin Gamp (5th Year).

• Slytherin: Cassiopeia Black (6th Year), Corvus Lestrange (7th Year), Adelaide Murton (5th Year).

Inside the Great Hall, the atmosphere tightens. Headmaster Armando Dippet stands at the high table, his weathered face illuminated by the torchlight. Beside him, Deputy Headmistress Galatea Merrythought stands rigid, her hands firmly gripping the brim of the ancient, patched Sorting Hat. The silence that follows the Headmaster's movement is absolute, broken only by the crackle of the hearths.

Headmaster Armando Dippet steps forward, scanning the rows of eager faces before his gaze settles on the newcomer. He clears his throat, the sound echoing off the rafters, and speaks with a firm, booming resonance.

"Now, let's begin this... late Sorting Hat Ceremony for our latest student."

He looks at you, his thin hand pointing toward the lone wooden stool placed in the center of the dais. He gestures for you to take a seat while Deputy Headmistress Galatea Merrythought holding the sorting hat, waiting for you. So do everyone inside the Great Hall, waiting for you, and what house will it for you.