Ilvermorny

"Ah yes - of course we all know that there are four types of children: good, bad, smart, and miscellaneous. Ms. Sheppard, you may find that, here at Ilvermorny, we do things a bit... differently than you may be familiar with from Hogwarts." - Phineus Maximus, Deputy Headmaster, Ilvermorny

When Isolt Steward founded the school with her children and husband, Ilvermorny was modeled after the stories she heard from her family about the school. Having never attended the school personally, Isolt had a very idealized version of the school that she passed to her own family who would go on to be considered the founders of the school. One of the things core to that idea, in Isolt's eyes, was the four great houses.

The exact choices behind the various houses of Ilvermorny have been lost into myth at this point, though modern scholars - and gossips who have nothing better to talk about - like to say that the Four Great Houses of Ilvermorny represent portions of the human being. It was once said that Isolt's daughter, Rionach, stated that she believed that was entirely rubbish and that her mother had no such goal in mind but, none the less, the story had made its way into the general wizarding public in Americas and the World as a whole.

Sorting at Ilvermorny occurs by first year students stepping into the Gordian Knot magically engraved onto the center of the Entrance Hall, one at a time, while students from the older years stand in the circular balconies above. There they stand, watched over by the statues of the four mascots of the Houses until one reacts, claiming the student for their house. At that point, the student is escorted into a chamber off the entrance hall where the Wand Choosing Ceremony occurs; although Rappaport's Law has long since been repealed, it is still tradition that all students get their "adult" wand when they arrive at Ilvermorny.

Although rare, it is possible for multiple houses to try to claim the same student. In such a case, it is left up to the student to decide for themselves which house they wish to call home. Very rarely - perhaps once a generation or so - all four houses will attempt to claim the same student. Traditionally, this has marked the student for greatness. The last such student to be so chosen was Seraphina Picquery, who was elected to the position of President of MaCUSA during the 1920s.

The Houses

• Horned Serpent
• Pukwudgie
• Thunderbird
• Wampus

HORNED SERPENT


Favoring the human aspect of the mind, Horned Serpents are defined by what they know, how they learn, and how they think. They are idealists, philosophers, ethicists, and truth seekers. Horned Serpents keep an open mind, think their way through difficult situations, and use the knowledge they gather to become more courageous people, to fuel their creative drive, to inform their relationships, or to feed their ambitions.

Though many tend to classify them as a similar traits to of their fellow serpentine themed House, Slytherin, those of the Horned Serpents tend to be more studious and curious, favoring their mind and intellectual capacity, rather than just the traditional traits of the English house of ambitiousness, shrewdness, and cunning. A more favorable comparison would be Ravenclaw.

Head of House: Pius Bulstrode

PUKWUDGIE

Favoring the human aspect of the heart, Pukwudgies are defined by their passions and desires, by how they feel, and by whom they love. They form deep connections, wholly commit themselves to everything they do, and defend their people and passions with ferocity. Pukwudgies are caregivers, protectors, and loyal friends. They will use all their talents, values, and potential to pursue their passions and protect the ones they love.

Pukwudgies lean to the traits of their cousin House of Hufflepuff at Hogwarts not only due to their pension for healing magic, but their caring nature not only of themselves, but of others.

Head of House: Phineus Maximus

THUNDERBIRD


Favoring the aspect of the human soul, Thunderbirds are defined by their experiences, by their motives, and by the choices they make despite their circumstances. They are soul-searchers, travelers, breakers of boundaries, and those who defy expectations. To a Thunderbird, there are no coincidences or accidents; Thunderbirds can have grounded and self-possessed as well as trailblazing and tumultuous personalities.

If one were to compare the House to that of a Hogwarts house, the Thunderbird house would definitely lead to the positive attributes of the Slytherin, focusing on their driven nature to succeed, a pension to break the rules when they feel they have to, and their determination and will.

Head of House: Kachina Teiwes

WAMPUS


Favoring the human aspect of the body, Wampuses are defined by their actions, by what they say, and by how they express themselves. They are experimenters, designers, architects, and servants; they lead by example, learn by doing, speak their minds, and live their truths. Wampuses are the central actors of their world, and their every action is deliberate, intentional, and representative of what they most value.

Of the four houses of Hogwarts, the closest relationship to the Wampus would have to be Gryffindor, sharing their strong leadership traits, their pension for having a personal code of ethics and the need to follow it, as well as their pension for expressing their emotions.

Head of House: Violet Lockhart