accio_rp | Outsider Sorting Ceremony

After Monday's announcement that Hogwarts would play host to several Outsiders, the school was a hub of gossip, and the break-in of Sirius Black during the Hallowe'en Feast had almost been forgotten. Everywhere you went, there were people talking about the Outsiders in hushed voices, almost as though it was forbidden. Many of the rumours sounded ridiculous - apparently, Outsiders could throw houses, fly without aid, and turn invisible at will. Some students would try to discredit the rumours by explaining how such things were impossible, but it was to little avail.

Saturday was the day Hogwarts would open its doors to Outsiders, through a small Sorting Ceremony. It wasn't expected to be a large event, as reports indicated only a few Outsiders had accepted the offer, but it still seemed as though the entire school came to the Great Hall for the feast that evening.

The Great Hall was laid out the same way as the start of any Sorting Ceremony, though the tattered, frayed Sorting Hat had already been placed on the stool that stood before the staff table. The Outsiders - a mere four of them - were already present, lined up near the Sorting Hat.

Once all students and staff had arrived, Professor Dumbledore stood, raising a hand to quell the chatter and noise. Once all but a few quiet murmurs had ended, he addressed the school.

"Today," he said, "we welcome four new students into our school. I am sure you are all aware of the circumstances that have brought them here, and ask only that you treat them the same as any other student in this school. They are here to learn, just as you are."

Some couldn't help but wonder how Dumbledore could expect this, when one of the four Outsiders didn't even look human.

"Our four new students will be placed in a suitable House in the same manner as our First Years were at the start of term. Their House will be their home for as long as they remain at Hogwarts.

"Professor McGonagall, if you please?"

And the Headmaster took his seat. Professor McGonagall stepped forward.

"When I call your name and year, you will wear the hat and sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat will select the most appropriate House. You will then seat yourself at that House's table."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh, you've got a sister? That's pretty cool. I'm an only child.

What's that like?" It sounds like it'd be a lot of fun to grow up with somebody. ... Huh, guess that made Gary kinda like his brother. "Actually, what's the school been like? I just got here."

Thank you Ash, Captain of Obviousness.

Well, Ash certainly didn't ask two easy questions right after each other.

"Allow me to start with the school; it's probably a more pressing question."

That, and he hoped the boy would be so distracted by all the new questions the school might bring up that he would forget to ask about his sister.

"The building changes: The rooms move around, some of the doors are actually walls or vice versa, and some of the staircases are weird. The students are..."

He hesitated, not having had the best experience with them himself.

"It'll take most people a while to get used to having you among us, but the houses are generally close-knit, so you'll be fine. Though Slytherin and Gryffindor have a traditional rivalry, so if someone in this," Touma indicated his own green and silver tie and crest, "treats you badly, don't take it personally. The classes vary widely, as do the professors."

Ash is indeed distracted by the incoming information and the following questions that arose in his mind.

"But why would anybody build a school like that?" It sounded way too easy to get lost, and Ash didn't have a great track record of getting anywhere on schedule.

When Touma brings up the rivarly he looks a little confused, "That seems kinda silly." Just cause you're in a rivalry with somebody is no reason to treat them badly... then again most of his rivals tended to, Gary and Paul for sure.

Ash just nods at the classes, he's already seen his schedule, it looked like a wide variety. He's not sure if any of them would really catch his interest though.

"My theory is that the founders of Hogwarts deliberately wanted to make students more flexible and able to deal with unexpected changes," said Touma, whose plans had been derailed more than once by the whims of the castle. "Magic isn't always predictable, so if we're prepared to handle change in other areas of our lives, perhaps we're better prepared to handle magic."

It was more of a guess than a theory; he hadn't read much to support the idea. But there was no text that contradicted it, either.

"And the rivalry is silly," he sighed. "But don't let your housemates hear you say that - or mine."

"I think there are better ways to make people learn that." Like almost dying, almost dying is the best way to learn to think on your feet.

"Rivalries are good for getting better at stuff, but that's usually built on a one on one basis... uh, at least that's what I'm used to."

"I agree with you on learning flexibility," Touma said. "I suppose the house rivalry at large is to encourage better behavior, school work, and Quidditch playing, but there's really no excuse beyond the history for the enmity between Gryffindor and Slytherin."

"Rivals aren't enemies though. Sure they make fun of you and ya don't always get along, but that's a reason to show them who's better. Not fight 'em," at least that's how it always went with him.

Yeah, he did fight with Paul but that was for a slightly different reason than pure rivalry. And Ash certainly didn't make enemies with Gary.

"You're preaching to the choir," Touma said dryly. He had enough problems within his own house before even talking to Gryffindors.

He'll just laugh, "Guess I am, sorry 'bout that."

Touma chuckled in return.

"Don't worry about it."

With that, he offered his hand for Ash to shake.

"I'm Thomas H. Norstein, fourth year student."

Ash'll take that hand and shake it.

"I'm Ash Ketchum, pretty sure I'm in the same year as you."

Touma nodded.

"We'll have a few classes together," he said, listing off the classes Gryffindor and Slytherin shared. "If you'd like, I could tutor you on some of the material you'll need to catch up on, or I could share my notes with you.

"I think they're in English," he suddenly realized. He often took notes in German.

"That'd be good, thanks!"

"Oh uh... you think?" ... is there another language people speak here? It always seemed like everybody at home used the same one.

"They might be in German," he admitted. "But I can make you a copy in English if they are; I always translate them eventually."

It helped him learn the things he didn't grasp right away.

"German, huh? Well, you don't have to go to any trouble for me."

He can usually figure things out eventually, it just tends to take him a while.

"I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually."

"It's no trouble; it actually helps me as well. Though I agree, you'll probably figure it out. Most people do."

Touma hadn't been too disadvantaged by not having grown up around magic; he supposed the catch up classes he'd heard rumors about would help get the Outsiders up to speed.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm sure it'll be interesting at least."

Outsider Sorting Ceremony

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if Ash is Captain Obvious, Touma is Captain Infodump

What a pair!

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hurrhurr I forgot WHICH classes and can't find the Plurk it was in

It's all good, no worries.

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