The Rainford train of course arrived precisely five minutes later than scheduled, as it always did, every single year. The children arriving at the school via the train were only given a precious two hour time frame to acquaint themselves with the castle once more before having to attend the annual introductory school ceremony.
The introductory ceremony and pretty much all other mandatory meetings and events took place in the castles main hall. It was a grand-ish room. Clearly impressive in its size and grandeur, but perhaps just showing the slightest cracks of its age here and there. The place was always decked out nicely for these sorts of things however. Banners of, not only the schools houses, but various prestigious magical families, groups and covens that had played an important part of the schools history lined the walls of the hall. Candle light filled the room with a warm glow, and the sheer concentration of so many magical beings in a single place created an altogether quite comforting aura and feeling in the room.
Students were organised and seated by their houses. The hall was split into thirds, each house seated at tables within their respected area. It used to be that houses were further separated and organised into specific year groups also, but Madame Rainford got rid of this rule upon taking charge of the school ten years ago.
The hall was alight with the lively buzz of animated activity and carefree chattering as classmates continued to reminisce and reunite after a long summer. And then, it cascaded like a wave upon the shore. A ripple of quiet that rushed across the crowds and rippled through the houses. All heads turned towards the doors in anticipating silence.
Madame Rainford of course lead the line, walking boldly and proudly down the middle of the room. In her hands she held the Old Rainfords wand, a time honoured object, used purely for ceremony and pomp these days, but still a respected artefact nonetheless. Madame Rainford was, of course, followed by Mr. Carlisle. He looked appropriately formal, as you might expect him to for such an event. He too took up a bold and confident stride, much like his Headmistress, yet Carlisle's eyes twitched hither and dither, almost nervously.
He was then followed by Alder, Head of Charms, Spells, Jinxes and Hexes, as well as the representative for Sabriellus house. He was a tall stocky sort of man, with kind eyes and a friendly face. He was thought of by most to be the most casual out of all the teachers at Old Rainfords. Although, casual was a rather loose term I suppose when it came to a place like this. Take this as an example though. Carlisle wore the expected conventionally appropriate graduates robes to the ceremony. Alder on the other hand was sporting a pretty funky looking Hawaiian shirt and jeans that had at least two coffee stains on them. The fact he gave Nori a secret high-five as he entered the hall probably didn't help convey the image of a intellectual respected teacher either.
After Alder came Dr. Boyd mother-truckin Baldwin. Head of Herbology and Alchemy, Representative of the Liraellian House and everyone's undeniable favourite. You know how you always have that one really quirky member of your family that always comes to parties dressed in really weird shit and spouts absolute nonsense but at the same time they always bring you the best presents as well? Well, Baldwin was that times one hundred. Bald, musical and smelling slightly of lemons, the man was a walking crackpot. And everybody loved him to absolute pieces.
Good old Doddy trailed after old Baldwin then. A man you couldn't help but smile too. Similarly liked by almost all, if anything just because of how downright kind the man was. Bumbling abd fumbling, yet chatty and armed with some of the best/worse dad jokes you've ever heard, Bobby Dodd was Head of all things Transfiguration, and probably the most caring Representative of Abhorsen the school had ever seen.
All of the teaching staff of old Rainfirds followed their headmistress in a single file line through the room and up the the head table.
Once all were seated, M. Rainford began her annual prattle.
"Old Rainfords welcomes you, all of you. I am glad to see so many of you returning to us, and even happier to see so many new bright young faces. Our kind dwindle these days, and those of us that remain must strive to nurture and develop what gifts we have, no matter their type or needs. Way back, Old Rainfords was created with the specific goal of educating any and all magically abled children, no matter their distinct and diverse requirements. And there will never be a day, when this does not hold true. As our motto says, 'Nos tam desperatis quis faciam!'"
A mandatory applaud ensued.
M. Rainford was smiling that sort of smile you smiled when you knew you had to look the part, but you could tell the heart wasn't really there. It looked perfectly well enough for appearances sakes, but otherwise lacked any real emotion. She never dropped it though, so you had to hand it to her for that I suppose.
The woman looked behind her and motioned to her fellow teachers,
"Sabriellus, Liraellian, Abhorsen. Will you stand to represent your house?"
Alder, Baldwin and Dodd all stood and agreed in unision.
"Aye,"
Madame Rainford returned her gaze to the students.
"First years, step up and approach the markers,"
Back towards the rear of the hall, at the start of each Houses designated area stood a pair of house specific posts. For Sabriellus, two black Hares sat atop the posts. For Liraellian, two begging white Dogs
(That looked similar to greyhounds but time had worn away enough detail to tell precisely). And for Abhorsen, two perched tawny Barn Owls. In-between each post, a thin line had been marked upon the floor. A distant hum of some sort of magical presence could be heard around the posts.
In the ceremony, students would be directed to try and walk between the posts and across the marked line. If they passed, then that was to be their house for the next school year. It was admittedly a relatively uneventful process, but honoured by time and tradition nonetheless. With looks of reserved fear and anticipation, the young Magicals* took part in the trial and eventually took their place within their newly found houses.
A general chatter of happy murmuring had taken over as students settled into their new houses and introduced themselves to new classmates. It wasn't a deafening chatter exactly, but it was loud enough that a particular head turn went effectively unnoticed. A Black Hare of Sabriellus slowly turned its head and stared down a student from another house. The gesture was silent, but the mere gaze of the being seemed to sear through the crowds, singling out the chosen child.
Suddenly, the Liraellian Dogs began to wail, their echoes ringing throughout the hall horrifically. A voice rang out. It sounded completely and utterly unnatural, like a howl or bark being pushed and forced into words unsuited for its being and nature. Its language sounded involuntary and unwanted. But despite this, the Dogs meaning was worryingly clear. Their gaze too turned towards the offending student.
"YOU. WISH GIVER. VISITOR TO THIS LAND. IT CALLS TO YOU FROM THE VACANT ISLE. YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME HERE. BEGONE FROM THIS PLACE, AND SEEK ANOTHER."
Students looked to one another in obvious terror and alarm. Hectic whispering and mumbling weaved through the crowds. Even some of the teachers looked at each other questioningly.
What was happening?
Evangeline knew.
Without a single moment of hesitation, the Witchs' wand was raised, and a burst of noise purled over the room. The sound was deep, and somehow soothing. It sounded like a very deep low chime, and it seemed to vibrate through the very stones of the walls itself. It spoke to something in the Liraellian Hounds, for they bowed their heads, and returned to their silent positions.
The Hares from Sabriellus continued to stare.
All were silent, and all eyes seemed to look upon the Headmistress. She spoke very clearly and calmly.
"Ferit, part from Liraellian."
She didn't tell him what to do then through words, instead simply motioning to the posts for the other houses instead.
*New term I just came up with because I am not writing Magically Gifted Children each and every time I want to refer to one of these kids so yeah. Magicals means a person of magically inclined talents and skills. 
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