"Are you a wizard, or what?"
The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is a conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title. |
The Sorting Statues were four enchanted wooden statues that stood inside the entrance hall of Ilvermorny Castle. Each statue depicted one of the four house mascots: the Horned Serpent, Thunderbird, Wampus cat, and Pukwudgie. These statues were used to sort students into the four respective houses of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[1]
Selection[]
In order to be sorted into one of the four houses, a student was asked to stand on the Gordian Knot set in the centre of the floor within the circular entrance hall, where they would then wait for one of the statues to react. In rare occurances, more than one statue would accept the same member into their house, in which case the student could choose which house they wished to join.[1]
Each statue had its own unique reaction to signify that it had selected a potential new member for its house. The Horned Serpent's gem would glow when it wanted to acquire a student, while the Thunderbird flapped its wings; the Wampus cat roared, and the Pukwudgie raised its arrow. During this sorting process, older students would watch from a balcony above the entrance hall as new members joined their houses.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
- The idea of statues being used as a modality to sort students into houses was one of J. K. Rowling's original ideas for sorting Hogwarts students before deciding on the Sorting Hat.
Appearances[]
- Pottermore (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)