Sean didn't know it yet, but giving sweaters would become a special tradition between them—one that would go on for a very, very long time.
When the snow had blanketed the beech trees completely, Sean could still see the broad leaves trembling as they shed little white flecks.
The Hogwarts Express was about to chug off, and Sean, Harry, and Ron had come to see Justin and the others off.
They walked in a line across the lawn, carving a shallow groove into the fine, glittering snow. The hems of their socks and cloaks were damp and already crusting with ice. The Forbidden Forest looked as if it had been enchanted—every tree shimmering silver—and even Hagrid's hut looked like a cake dusted in frosting.
"Every water in the world will meet again—the Arctic Ocean and the Nile will mingle in damp clouds. An ancient, beautiful metaphor that makes farewell feel sacred…"
Justin murmured words Harry and Ron didn't understand. He gave a hard wave, and then disappeared with the crowd into the distance.
"Bye—"
Hermione was much more straightforward. She looked like she wanted to say something grand and profound like Justin, but realized her "impressive-sounding" reserves were nowhere near his. So she blurted out a stubborn little goodbye instead. Two steps later, she regretted it—why had she left her friends with an angry face…?
But before she could stop, Professor McGonagall swept them along toward Hogsmeade Station.
"Honestly, it's only after she leaves that I start missing her," Ron said on the way back, his boots stamping deep prints into the snow. He frowned, palms up. Harry nodded in silent agreement.
Steam drifted in the distance, while the Hogwarts castle nearby sat frosted white.
Sean didn't notice any of it. His attention was completely caught by the book in his hands: European Magical Education Assessment.
It described Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy in detail—and also, in passing, mentioned Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Even though Sean still didn't know whether he'd be able to go, he was already habitually trying to learn more.
…
Outside the Alchemy office, Sean knocked.
"Come in, my student. As you suspected—after the feast, we leave."
Inside, Professor Tayra was packing a trunk. It looked like nothing more than an old-fashioned wooden chest, yet it had "swallowed" her entire worktable.
Sean stared without blinking.
"Want to learn?"
Tayra's lips curved upward.
"We've got plenty of time to learn."
What Sean hadn't expected was that she'd truly managed to secure a chance for them to visit Ilvermorny—and it looked effortless.
"I understand, Professor," Sean nodded, lifting European Magical Education Assessment as if to leave.
That was when Tayra's voice drifted after him.
"You're already reading up on Ilvermorny. Good. Tell me—what have you learned?"
With a lazy snap of her fingers, a wooden chair scooted itself behind Sean.
"Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—like Hogwarts—also sits within a castle.
And like Hogwarts, it's protected by powerful enchantments so non-magical people can't see it. It only reveals itself through mist…"
Sean's voice echoed as he continued.
"One of its founders was a No-Maj—what the American magical world calls someone without magic. Because of that, Ilvermorny is widely regarded as one of the most democratic, most inclusive great magical schools.
And likewise because of bloodline conflict, its founders fought a brutal battle to kill the attacker, Gormlaith Gaunt—so she couldn't stop them from establishing the school with pure-blood ideology."
"In truth, bloodline theory is meaningless," Tayra said, nodding with satisfaction.
What she didn't tell Sean was that she herself had once leaned toward pure-blood thinking…
And it turned out that breaking seventy years of prejudice only took one curious child standing in front of her, staring at her Undetectable Extension trunk.
Now she wasn't "No-Maj-born supremacy" either. If she had to label it…
She was "Team Green."
"You've learned it in impressive detail," Tayra said. "The only thing I'll add is this:
When a student arrives at Ilvermorny to begin their education, they're first brought into the circular hall at the entrance.
There are four wooden carvings there, representing the four houses. The enchanted statues decide whether they want the student.
Each reacts differently: the crystal set in the Horned Serpent's brow glows; the Wampus Cat roars; the Thunderbird flaps its wings; and the Pukwudgie lifts its bow and arrow."
She watched Sean with obvious interest. Going to Ilvermorny was non-negotiable now.
And she was very curious where her student would be sorted.
When Tayra finished, Sean also found the Ilvermorny sorting section in his book.
A bell rang through Hogwarts—proof the feast was about to begin.
Sean followed Tayra downstairs into the Great Hall. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were at the staff table, along with the caretaker, Mr. Filch.
Filch had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old tailcoat that looked almost moldy.
Plenty of students were still here, all mixed together at the tables.
Sean kept reading closely—because Tayra had told him he'd be entering Ilvermorny as a transfer student.
"The honored Hermes, returning with glory—once studied at Ilvermorny. Eugenia Herrera will be grinning in her sleep tonight," Tayra said.
Sean wasn't sure how to respond.
He figured this headmistress he'd never met had to be shrewd. Studied there—sure. As for how long…
And "transfer student" made Sean think of a certain legendary transfer student…
Sean ate his third helping of Christmas pudding, focusing on the sorting description:
[Ilvermorny professors generally believe:
Horned Serpent represents a witch or wizard's mind and favors scholars;
Wampus represents a witch or wizard's body and prizes warriors;
Thunderbird represents a witch or wizard's soul, and its students tend to be adventurous;
Pukwudgie represents a witch or wizard's heart, and its students are often kind healers.
In rarer cases, more than one statue may wish to claim the same student.
In that situation, the student has the right to choose.
Rarer still (about once every ten years) is when all four statues wish to claim one student. Seraphina Picquery—who served as President of the American MACUSA from 1920–1928—experienced this.
She ultimately chose Horned Serpent.
All other recorded cases suggest that when all four statues call for a student, the child is unquestionably exceptional.]