Sean had no idea that giving each other sweaters would become a little tradition between them—a tradition that would last for a very, very long time.
Snow had covered every beech tree on the grounds. Even so, he could still see broad leaves quivering as they shook loose tiny white crystals.
The Hogwarts Express was rumbling, getting ready to leave. Sean, Harry, and Ron had come to see Justin and the others off.
They walked across the lawn in a neat little line, leaving shallow trails in the powdery, shimmering snow. Their socks and cloak hems were wet and already stiffening with frost. The Forbidden Forest looked enchanted—each tree glinting silver—and Hagrid's hut resembled a cake dusted entirely with sugar.
"All the waters of the world reunite; the Arctic Ocean and the Nile meet in drifting clouds… This ancient, beautiful metaphor makes parting feel sacred…"
Justin murmured something poetic—well beyond Harry and Ron's comprehension—gave an enthusiastic wave, and disappeared with the group.
"Bye—!"
Hermione was far more direct. She seemed like she wanted to say something profound like Justin, but quickly realized she didn't possess that kind of poetic encyclopedia in her head.
So she huffed out a simple goodbye… only to regret it two steps later. Why did she leave them with that annoyed expression…?
But she didn't have time to turn back—Professor McGonagall was already marching them toward the Hogsmeade Station.
"To be honest, I only start missing her after she's gone," Ron grumbled, leaving deep boot prints in the snow, mouth downturned and hands splayed helplessly. Harry nodded in perfect understanding.
Steam billowed in the distance, while Hogwarts nearby glittered like it had been frosted.
Sean didn't see any of it. His full attention was locked onto the book in his hands: European Magical Education Review.
Inside, the book detailed Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy, and included a short section about Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Sean didn't yet know whether he'd actually be able to go—but habit made him gather as much information as possible anyway.
…
At the door of the Alchemy Office—
Sean knocked.
"Come in, my apprentice. As you suspected—after the Christmas feast, we depart."
Inside, Professor Tyra was tending to a large wooden chest. It looked plain, almost crudely old… yet it had swallowed her entire worktable.
Sean stared without blinking.
"Want to learn how?" Professor Tyra asked, lips curling.
"We have plenty of time to study."
Sean hadn't expected that she would actually secure permission for him to visit Ilvermorny—and so easily, at that.
"I understand, Professor."
He nodded, picked up his book, and was just about to leave when her voice floated after him.
"You've already begun researching Ilvermorny—good. Tell me, my apprentice… what have you learned?"
She snapped her fingers lazily, and a wooden chair scurried up behind him.
"Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, like Hogwarts, is housed in a castle.
Similarly, like Hogwarts, it's protected by powerful enchantments that prevent No-Majs—what American wizards call non-magical folk—from seeing it. The castle only appears when surrounded by mist…"
Sean's voice echoed lightly.
"One of its founders was a No-Maj. Because of this, Ilvermorny is widely regarded as one of the most democratic and inclusive magical schools.
But due to bloodline prejudice, the founders had to fight a brutal battle—eventually killing Gaunt descendant Gormlaith Gaunt, who tried to stop the school from being built because she believed only purebloods deserved magic."
"Blood purity means nothing," Tyra said with satisfaction.
She didn't tell him that she herself had once leaned toward pureblood ideology…
And that breaking seventy years of prejudice had required nothing more than the small wizard in front of her—curious, serious, staring at her extension chest with bright eyes.
She wasn't a Muggle-born supremacist either. If she had to choose… she followed Green's way. (patreon:belamy20)
"You've learned well. I'll add just one thing.
When a new student enters Ilvermorny, they're brought into a circular entrance hall with four wooden carvings representing the four houses.
Each magical carving decides whether it wants that student."
Tyra's eyes sparkled with interest—entering Ilvermorny was inevitable.
What she truly wanted to know… was which house her apprentice would belong to.
She continued:
"Their reactions differ—Horned Serpent's crystal glows; Wampus roars; Thunderbird flaps its wings; Pukwudgie raises its bow."
Sean flipped through the book, finding the section on Ilvermorny's Sorting Ceremony.
Hogwarts' bells rang in the distance—the Christmas feast was about to begin.
They descended to the Great Hall, where Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, Flitwick, and Filch sat at the high table. Filch had removed his usual brown coat and squeezed himself into an old, slightly moldy-looking tailcoat.
Students were seated all over, mixed together.
Sean studied his book carefully—after all, Professor Tyra had told him he would be entering Ilvermorny as a transfer student.
"Mr. Hermes, returning with great honor—an Ilvermorny graduate. Eugenia Herrera will grin in her sleep tonight," Tyra had said.
Sean wasn't quite sure how to respond to that.
The headmistress sounded shrewd. That he studied there was of course true—how long he studied… well…
And the idea of being a transfer student made Sean think of a certain legendary transfer student…
As he ate his third serving of Christmas pudding, his attention shifted to the Sorting descriptions:
[At Ilvermorny, professors generally believe that:
Horned Serpent represents the mind—it favors scholars.
Wampus represents the body—it values warriors.
Thunderbird represents the soul—its students are adventurers.
Pukwudgie represents the heart—its students are healers with kind spirits.
In rare cases, more than one carving may want the same student.
The student may choose their house.
Even rarer—roughly once every ten years—all four carvings react.
Seraphina Picquery, President of MACUSA from 1920–1928, was one such case.
She chose Horned Serpent.
All recorded cases show that when all four carvings call to one student, that witch or wizard is truly exceptional.]