If we're looking at it logistically, I would have gone to Ilvermorny not Hogwarts (unless they take exchange students. Do we know if the wizarding schools have abroad semesters or accept students outside their pulling areas). So when it was announced that there was a written history written and a sorting test, I was more than curious about it.
The history of Ilvermorny is enchanting, as surely expected seeing that J.K. Rowling wrote it herself. The chance to uncover more of the wizarding world always gets me excited. I feel a particular fondness for Isolt Sayre, more than I expected honestly, because of her Irish heritage. I am many generations removed, but nonetheless, partially Irish (like 1/3 I think).
For those that don't know, Ilvermorny has four houses modeled from Hogwarts. They were named by Isolt, her husband and her two adoptive sons. They are Thunderbird, Wampus, Horned Serpent, and Pukwudgie. They are all named for magical beasts native to North America (I think). Each of the houses have character traits and representations that have become associated with them.
The Horned Serpent represents the mind and is said to favor scholars. The Wampus represents the body and is said to favor warriors. The Thunderbird represents the soul and is said to favor adventurers. And the Pukwudgie represents the heart and is said to favor healers.
Alright, now that we've got the back story, let's get on with it shall we? I took the test and was sorted into Pukwudgie! -- It seems like it's pretty accurate because I do think with my heart. I am a very empathetic person which makes me sensitive to others' struggles. Pukwudgie favors healers and, to take that face value, I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a healer. I'm not great with medicines and I am absolutely lousy when I am sick. But I do care about the mental and spiritual health of those around me. I've been known to have a shoulder to cry on and an pair of ears ready to listen. Sometimes, healing comes from both of those things.
So while this is fun, I'm not particularly attached to this school or any of the houses, like I am Hogwarts. I just think it's neat. Maybe my fondness will grow overtime, who knows? But for now I remain fondly a Hufflepuff and a Pukwudgie. Peace.
It was quite an enchanting story, wasn't it? I greatly enjoyed it and my only regret was that it didn't come out as a little book like Hogwarts textbooks or something with illustrations and additional notes. But who knows? Maybe once Fantastic Beasts hit the screen, we'll get something of the kind.
ReplyDeleteI think it's natural that we're not as attached to Ilvermorny as we are to Hogwarts, because we're kind of grew up at Hogwarts and, like Professor McGonagall once said, our House there did become our home. But it was interesting to take the test anyway.
Based on the answers that I chose (I found them quite quirky), I expected to be sorted into Pukwudgie but ended up in Thunderbird instead. I was surprised because I'm not particularly adventurous but there you have it... now I'm a Ravenclaw and a Thunderbird)
If we get lots of backstory in the Fantastic Beasts film trilogy, I might grow more attached to Ilvermorny but it will NEVER replace Hogwarts in my heart. As a Canadian, logically I would go to Ilvermorny (unless there's a Canadian School of Wizardery) but my fondest wish would be to head out to Hogwarts all the same :D
ReplyDeleteI did adore the story of Ilvermorny too - anything JKR pens is riveting. I was hoping to get sorted into Wampus just because it's a cat and since I'm Gryffindor it made sense, but I ended up in Horned Serpent (basically Ravenclaw) which satisfied my thoughts from way back where I thought I'd be Ravenclaw. LOL!
Hello fellow Pukwudgie! I'm hoping to see all of those creatures in Fantastic Beasts. Like you, I really enjoyed reading the history of the school that Rowling gave us. Everything from the adoption of the boys to the keen interest to study magic with no options. I also felt like it was so great to see a character that was descended from Salazar Slytherin with such a great heart. I agree that healing can come from just being there for someone and the knowledge that you care about them and how they feel.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Pukwudgie too! I think it fits me. If I was a practical person I probably would have gone into the medical field, but I'm not. But I like helping people and I usually have the patience and calmness to handle it. It's hard to feel an attachment to the Ilvermorny house when we've been dreaming about Hogwarts for a decade. I really enjoyed the background on the school though. It was like reading a fairytale and it was so exciting to have a new story from Rowling.
ReplyDeleteObviously there's a lot I need to catch up on! I'd heard there were new houses revealed, but had no idea they had histories, too.
ReplyDeleteI think it's cool that the Wizarding World mythos and worldbuilding is being expanded in so many ways, especially after so long.