Ilvermorny: Where Memory Sleeps

Aevelle stood just inside the threshold of Ilvermorny’s grand entrance hall, every eye fixed on her. Above, lanterns floated like soft stars, and below her feet, the inlaid marble glimmered with gold patterns converging at the Gordian Knot—a swirling symbol of magical unity at the very center of the room.

Professor Thorne gestured gently. “Step forward. The Houses and the Knot will see who you are.”

Aevelle walked to the center, her boots clicking against stone until she stood on the very heart of the Knot. It pulsed faintly beneath her, as if it could feel her presence.

Around her stood the four grand statues:

Horned Serpent, coiled and wise, a pearl glowing in its mouth.

Wampus, muscled and fierce.

Thunderbird, wings poised to strike the sky.

Pukwudgie, bow drawn, eyes sharp.

At first, nothing happened.

Then Horned Serpent stirred, its pearl shimmering in response.

A second later, Thunderbird spread its wings with a low rumble, and a gust of enchanted wind curled through Aevelle’s hair.

Gasps echoed around the hall.

But then, the Gordian Knot beneath her feet flared to life, golden light weaving outward in spirals.

Professor Thorne looked up, eyebrows raised. “Rare,” she murmured. “Two Houses call to you… and the Knot responds.”

She turned to Aevelle with a voice that carried across the hall. “Horned Serpent sees your mind. Thunderbird, your soul. But the Gordian Knot sees potential for balance. For transformation.”

Aevelle felt it—magic pressing in around her, like the world was listening.

“I choose…” she whispered. “Thunderbird.”

As soon as the words left her, the Thunderbird statue blazed with golden light, and the Knot beneath her pulsed one last time—then dimmed, as though satisfied.

Cheers erupted. The Thunderbird students surged forward, clapping her on the back as she stepped aside.

Then—

“Aevelle?!”

Her head snapped toward the crowd of yet-to-be-sorted students.

Ruby. And Serene.

They were here.

“Is that really—how are you both here?!” Aevelle gasped, eyes wide.

“We got the letters the same night you vanished,” Ruby said, eyes wet with disbelief. “We thought… we thought you were gone. But now—this is insane!”

“Looks like we’re magical too,” Serene grinned, breathless. “Apparently we just needed a little push.”

The statues stirred again as Ruby and Serene took their places on the Knot.

This time, only Horned Serpent glowed—steady, bright, proud.

The Knot pulsed beneath their feet, gently but firmly, then faded.

“They chose for us,” Ruby whispered, eyes wide.

And Aevelle beamed. “Then I guess we all ended up where we were meant to be.”