The Origins of Ilvermorny
Our story begins across the ocean in Ireland during the early 1600s with a young witch named Isolt Sayre. Born to William and Ryan Oxair, pure-blood wizards with a compassionate view toward No-Maj (or Muggle) society, Isolt's childhood was filled with magical wonder. However, tragedy struck when she was just five years old. Her parents' home was set ablaze, supposedly by accident, and she was rescued not by a hero, but by her aunt, Gormlath Gaunt—a cruel and fanatical pure-blood supremacist.
For twelve long years, Gormlath kept Isolt prisoner, forbidding her from attending Hogwarts and teaching her dark magic instead. Isolt’s only glimpses of joy came from the stories her mother had told her about Hogwarts and its four illustrious founders. But freedom beckoned! At seventeen, Isolt managed a daring escape, stealing her aunt's wand—a powerful instrument that once belonged to the infamous Salazar Slytherin—and fled across the wild Irish countryside.
The Journey to America
Knowing that Gormlath would hunt her relentlessly, Isolt made an extraordinary decision: she disguised herself as a boy named Elias Story and boarded the Mayflower in 1620. Imagine hiding your magical abilities while crammed aboard a ship with Puritan settlers during a perilous Atlantic crossing! This was a time of intense witch hunts and persecution, making Isolt’s journey not just physically dangerous but magically perilous as well.
Upon landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts, Isolt quickly recognized that Puritan society would be no safer for a witch than the aunt she had fled. She slipped away into the uncharted wilderness of North America, a land teeming with magical creatures unknown in Europe. For several years, Isolt lived a solitary existence in the mountains of Western Massachusetts, where she encountered creatures never documented in European magical texts, including the dangerous Hidebehind and the lethal Pukwudgie.
A Fateful Rescue
One fateful day, Isolt came across a wounded Pukwudgie being attacked by a Hidebehind. Despite the danger, her compassionate nature compelled her to rescue him. After saving the Pukwudgie, who introduced himself as William, a curious friendship developed between them. William taught Isolt about American magical plants and creatures, while she shared tales of Hogwarts. This partnership would change magical education in North America forever.
Two years into their companionship, Isolt and William discovered two young wizard boys, Chadwick and Webster Boot, who had been attacked by a Hidebehind. Their parents, both skilled European wizards, lay dead nearby. Isolt took the boys to her cottage and nursed them back to health. Having lived in isolation for so long, Isolt grew to love the boys as her own sons and began teaching them magic using Gormlath's stolen wand.
The Birth of Ilvermorny
Chadwick, the elder boy, showed remarkable magical talent and begged Isolt to create a school like Hogwarts. With this idea taking root in her mind, Isolt envisioned a safe haven for young witches and wizards in America. The final piece of Ilvermorny's founding story arrived in the form of James Stewart, a No-Maj stonemason lost in the forest. Despite William's protests, Isolt invited James to shelter with them, and he formed an immediate bond with the Boot boys. Over time, he and Isolt fell deeply in love.
Using his masonry skills, James helped transform Isolt’s humble cottage into a small stone dwelling atop Mount Greylock. In 1627, Isolt and James married, and their family grew larger when twin daughters, Martha and Rhyok, were born. With all four children needing magical education, Isolt's dream of creating a school gained urgency. Thus, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was officially established!
The House System of Ilvermorny
Beginning as a single room in their stone cottage, Ilvermorny would eventually grow into the grand institution we know today. Inspired by Hogwarts, the family organized their school into houses reflecting their experiences and values. Each family member chose their favorite magical creature to represent their house:
- Chadwick: The Thunderbird, a powerful creature that can create storms as it flies, representing the soul and favoring adventurers.
- Webster: The Wampus, a magical panther-like creature known for its speed and strength, representing the body and favoring warriors.
- Isolt: The Horned Serpent, a river-dwelling creature that she encountered in a dream, representing the mind and favoring scholars.
- James: The Pukwudgie, honoring William, representing the heart and favoring healers.
The Sorting Ceremony
Perhaps the most enchanting tradition at Ilvermorny is its unique sorting ceremony, quite different from the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts. When new students arrive, they stand on the Gordian Knot in the center of the entrance hall, surrounded by wooden carvings of each house's representative creature. The magic begins when the carvings react to the students' presence, sometimes even allowing students to choose their house if multiple statues respond.
Once sorted, new Ilvermorny students participate in another beautiful ceremony where they step into a circular room containing two towering marble statues of Isolt and James, presented with their first wand. Unlike at Hogwarts, where students bring their wands to school, Ilvermorny historically distributed wands upon arrival and collected them before summer holidays until students turned seventeen, reflecting America's stricter magical regulations.
Challenges and Growth
However, the peaceful development of Ilvermorny faced a terrible threat. Gormlath Gaunt eventually discovered Isolt's location through dark magic and crossed the Atlantic in 1634, intent on destroying everything Isolt had built. She placed a powerful sleeping curse on the cottage, causing Isolt and James to fall into a deep slumber. Fortunately, the children remained awake and recognized the approach of dark magic.
A fierce magical battle ensued, and in a remarkable turn of events, Isolt's wand transformed into a living Horned Serpent, which attacked Gormlath. This distraction allowed William to shoot Gormlath with one of his poisonous arrows, ending her threat forever. With Gormlath eliminated, Ilvermorny flourished. Word spread through magical communities, and more students sought admission.
Ilvermorny's Evolution
As the original cottage transformed into a grand castle, it expanded with towers, spacious classrooms, and dormitories. By the 18th century, Ilvermorny had established itself as the premier magical institution in North America. Unlike Hogwarts, which only accepted boarding students, Ilvermorny initially welcomed day students from local magical communities, later expanding to house students from across the continent.
Ilvermorny distinguished itself through its inclusive approach to magical education, welcoming students from all backgrounds—children of Native American wizards, European immigrant families, and talented Muggle-borns. This ethos was influenced by Isolt's rejection of pure-blood supremacy.
Academic Approach and Traditions
During the American Revolution, Ilvermorny faced a profound identity crisis as students and faculty felt torn between loyalty to British magical institutions and the revolutionary fervor sweeping through No-Maj society. The school became a crucible for new ideas about magical self-governance and the relationship between magical and non-magical communities.
Ilvermorny's academic approach integrates the fundamental magical subjects similar to Hogwarts—charms, transfiguration, potions—but also includes unique specialties reflecting North American magical heritage. The school became known for integrating Native American magical techniques into its curriculum, creating a distinctive American approach to spellcasting. Potions classes featured ingredients unique to the Americas, leading to innovations that sometimes surpassed classical European methods.
Modern Ilvermorny
Today, Ilvermorny stands as an impressive castle atop Mount Greylock, its granite walls gleaming in the sun. To No-Maj eyes, powerful enchantments make it appear as nothing more than mist clinging to the mountainside. The school grounds encompass extensive forests perfect for magical creature lessons and sweeping lawns where students practice spellwork.
The Ilvermorny Library contains North America's most comprehensive collection of magical texts, including rare volumes on indigenous magic. Graduation is marked by a moving ceremony where departing students place their handprints in clay, which glow briefly when their former owners are nearby, maintaining the connection between alumni and their beloved school.
Ilvermorny continues to be America's premier magical institution, producing many MACUSA officials and influencing magical policy throughout the country. The repeal of Rappaport's Law in 1965 brought significant changes, allowing students to learn more about No-Maj society while maintaining caution about wizard-No-Maj interactions.
Secrets and Mysteries
Like any ancient magical institution, Ilvermorny holds its secrets. Persistent legends speak of hidden chambers within Mount Greylock, possibly created by the Boot brothers during their adulthood, rumored to contain powerful artifacts and texts from the school's earliest days. The forests surrounding Ilvermorny are said to harbor magical creatures found nowhere else, including a colony of Pukwudgies descended from William’s family, who continue to watch over the school out of loyalty to Isolt's memory.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Magic
Ilvermorny stands as a testament to the vision of one remarkable witch who escaped persecution and created a legacy of inclusive magical education. From humble beginnings in a small stone cottage to becoming North America's preeminent magical institution, this story embodies the American magical experience—diversity, pragmatism, innovation, and respect for tradition.
Whether you're an adventurous Thunderbird, a warrior Wampus, a scholarly Horned Serpent, or a healing Pukwudgie, Ilvermorny reminds us that magical education transcends cultural boundaries. The wonder of discovering one's magical potential is universal, and Ilvermorny continues to welcome talented young witches and wizards, teaching them to harness their gifts responsibly and preparing them to contribute to magical society.
Which Ilvermorny house would you belong to? Let me know in the comments below! If you enjoyed this magical journey, don't forget to subscribe for more explorations of wizarding institutions around the world!