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."

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After he hat decided to yell in his ear he pulled it off and jammed his usual hat back on. Much better, though he'll stayed at the stool for a moment as he waited to to regain hearing.

Once he heard the mumbling from the tables he'd made his way over the the Gryffindor table to wait for the others to get sorted.

Now he's at the table he was sent to, there're a lot of peopel here. At much as he knows he doesn't belong, at least there're other people who aren't from this world too. It's just a new experience, and he's had plenty of those before!

Oh and it looks like there's a ton of food out, awesome. Food, especially good food is always appriciated.

"This is ridiculous," remarked the chameleon, who - instead of doing the sensible thing and trying to get to know the Gryffindors he'd be sharing a dormitory with - had decided to make his way over to his fellow Outsider for the sake of grumbling. "Looks like better food than the camping place, though."

"There's always something on the bright side. No use grumbling about everything, right?" Unfortunately Ash is probably the worst person to try commiserating with, misery's not something that tends to stick to him.

"I mean, yeah it is pretty weird, but I don't think it's that ridiculous?" Actually he's not entirely sure which part the chameleon's unhappy over. Ash can think of plenty of things, but he's just rolling with the oddity of this world.

"Weird, I can deal with," Espio responded, leaning over and claiming a sausage roll. "I live in the Special Zone. You can't get weirder than that place. What's ridiculous is the whole prisoner thing they've got going here. Campsite or magic castle - both are prisons."

"Well, if ya think about it, the whole world's where we're stuck, since were not really from here." And with that he will take a bite out of his chicken.

"At least we're learning stuff about the place? It's better than not knowing anything?"

"Yeah, and we can't even look around the world. Because these 'muggles' apparently can't handle someone like us. I don't see the need for secrecy."

Espio plonks himself on the bench.

"Magic sounds like more trouble than it's worth, anyway."

Ash just shrugs.

"It's not our world to decide stuff in. I guess that's just how they want everythin' to be."

"If magic means I've gotta stay in one place for so long... yeah, it is kinda a pain. I'm used to travelin' a lot, even a year in one place is way too long."

"They're treating us like less than people, keeping us trapped like this," Espio grumbles. "And I could do with less of the staring, too." He indicates in a vague direction, causing a few students who were staring to avert their eyes and pretend they weren't looking at all.

Still, he finally seems to have finished complaining. For the time being, anyway - Espio was always one for complaining about everything. Tomorrow it'll be about the trick stairs.

"At least there's a few new things to learn, I guess though they'll be completely useless when I get home. Any of the subjects catch your eye?" he asks, looking at the food instead of Ash.

Oh, Ash won't be fond of the trick stairs either, he's bad enough at finding his way, those stairs won't be any help.

"I'm just gonna make what I can of it. Uh... I thought Transfiguration sounded pretty cool? I dunno, I think I'd rather go exploring than go to a class."

"Don't blame you there - I'd rather be defending the Special Zone, but here I am. I guess there's Defense Against the Dark Arts, but if that involves fighting by waving a twig, I'm out."

"What is the Special Zone?" he keeps mentioning it, but Ash has no idea what it is.

"It's my home," Espio explains. "It's a pretty strange place for the most part, but there's a few inhabitable planets. Mine's Meridian, but I go all over the place."

"So it's not just a planet?

I'm from Pallet Town in Kanto, but I usually spend my time traveling." Once he got Pikachu he can't remember staying anywhere for more than a month. It felt weird to stick to just one place when he could explore the whole world.

"It's a universe," Espio answers, plainly. "From what I gather, it's not your typical universe, but I can't really comment - I've lived there all my life."

He leans against the table, examining the food and trying to pick something that looks decent. Too much choice here, really.

"So you're just a traveller, huh? What sort?" Space travel? Time travel? Some-guy-with-a-backpack travel?

"The... kind that travels the world?"

Mostly the last one, but he's done time travel before.

"Oh. Just the one? ...kinda boring, but hey, if you enjoy it, it's fine."

"The world's a big place. It's hard to get bored when there's so much to explore."

"I guess," Espio says with a shrug. "I suppose when you're used to being able to travel across time and space, things just start to look small."

"I don't think I could ever get bored of home." So many pokemon, so many people, so many places! And there were always more getting uncovered too!

"Good for you, then."

Espio looks up and down the table, then tilts his head back to Ash.

"I'll talk later. I can see some stew down there I want to try - we're in the same common room, so I'll see you."

Outsider Sorting Ceremony

THE FEAST

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