It's been an hour since Headmistress Whitethorn had left the trio outside the castle.
Other than the great hubbub going on inside, loud, rustling noises seeping out from the holes and cracks in walls and windows, they had seen absolutely no one, either.
Harry only hoped that the old witch wasn't waiting for them to give up by themselves and leave the castle's grounds after losing their patience.
Because, he knew that they had come too far to take a step back now.
So, in silence, Harry continued staring at the massive statues guarding the door to the castle's Entrance Hall.
One was of a woman, standing regally tall, her stony eyes planted far on the horizon.
The other was of a man, not as imposing as the woman, but commanding equal respect.
"Isolt Sayre," Madam Villanelle's voice entered Harry's ears from behind. "And her husband, James Steward."
Harry looked away from the statues, his gaze shifting around.
This was not how he had pictured an American School of Magic to be.
The morning chill still lingered in the mountains, the snowy field in the distance reflecting sunlight like a mirror.
From a winter standpoint, it was a good morning to be out and around.
Yet, no matter where he looked, there was no Ilvermorny student to be seen.
Harry couldn't imagine Hogwarts students holding themselves within the castle.
However, he also couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose dozens of his friends and what he would do then.
Taking his mind off the horrible thought, Harry brought his gaze back to the statues.
At the foot of Isolt Sayre's statue, Darcie sat with her eyes closed.
"Madam Villanelle," Harry said, finally unable to hold it any longer, "What's this test of Four?"
The High Counselor brought Harry to the foot of James Steward's statue and sat down with a sigh.
"Like Hogwarts," Madam Villanelle told him, "Ilvermorny is divided into four Houses as well. Horned Serpent, Wampus, Thunderbird, and Pukwudgie."
The Wampus Cat had the power of hypnosis and Legilimency, and was fast, strong, and almost impossible to kill. Harry remembered learning about it in one of the Potioneering Battle Workshops, as its tears could cause a person to lose their memory.
Pukwudgie wasn't something Harry was familiar with, but he knew that they were humanoid, grey-skinned creatures, almost resembling the goblins.
The other two needed no reminding, though.
But, at the mention of Thunderbird, Harry did take a furtive glance at Darcie.
"All these creatures are native to America," Madam Villanelle continued. "In the Entrance Hall of the Ilvermorny Castle, there are statues belonging to each of them."
"So…" Harry said, guessing, "… the test of the Four is related to the four creatures."
"Hmm…" Madam Villanelle nodded. "You know how Hogwarts sorts its students into different Houses, right? Using the Sorting Hat. Ilvermorny uses these statues to sort each student into a House, instead. A student is made to stand in the middle of the Hall, surrounded by the four statues. Just like the Sorting Hat is enchanted to look for qualities in a student unique to a House, the statues are enchanted in the same way. When a statue finds the student suited to its House, it reacts."
"Reacts?"
Madam Villanelle waved her wand, creating a magical replica of four creatures midair.
"The gem on the Horned Serpent would glow," she said, a bright light emitting from the head of the tiny replica of the serpent. "The Thunderbird would flap its wings to show its approval…"
Harry saw the six wings of the majestic Thunderbird flapping.
Then, the Wampus Cat lifted its head and let out a roar, meaning it would do the same while choosing a student.
And the Pukwudgie nocked an arrow to its bow and raised it high.
Harry guessed what it was all about, suddenly.
"So…" he said, the tiny replicas misting away, "… before getting a try to awaken Salazar Slytherin's Wand, we will need to be selected by one of these statues?"
Harry's voice lacked the earlier nervousness.
He still knew that awakening an age-old wand, whatever that meant, was close to impossible.
However, this test of Four was something he could understand.
And, if he was being honest with himself, then Harry found himself feeling… disappointed.
It wasn't like he was overestimating himself, either.
For once, Harry had enough confidence that he could bring out some reaction from one of these statues, no matter what qualities they looked for in a student.
Because, at the end of the day, a student was still a student, no matter if he belonged to Hogwarts or Ilvermorny.
Darcie's case was even simpler, what with the Thunderbird House in the picture.
However, before Harry's confidence could get the better of him, he saw Madam Villanelle… shake her head.
"No…" she said, hesitating. "That's not the test of the Four…"
Harry frowned.
He was going to ask more when the Professor continued, dropping the bomb on him.
"The test of the Four means that you will have to be chosen by ALL four statues," Madam Villanelle said. "Only then can you proceed further…"
Harry, out of nowhere, found himself shaking.
That was more… far more… than he had expected.
"… Why?" Harry asked, shaken by the impossibility of it happening. He could already imagine hundreds of students laughing as he made a fool of himself inside the castle. "Why do we need to invite…"
Madam Villanelle's lips twitched. "It's not about inviting Ilvermorny, Harry," she said. "It had never been. Ilvermorny's acceptance for the tournament is as good as their acceptance to fight alongside us against the Dark Alliance. The real Invitation… is about them joining the Order of the Black Phoenix."
Harry… found himself lacking words.
Now… only now… as he replayed the entire sequence of events that had happened after their arrival here… he felt the true weight of all emotions.
They weren't here to invite Ilvermorny's students to be participants in the Intercontinental Tournament of Magic.
No matter how grand that may seem, that was nowhere enough to force the ire out of a Head of a School of Magic against mere children.
No.
They… were here to ask the entire Ilvermorny school to be soldiers in Dumbledore's army!
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