Ilvermorny Info

BRIEF HISTORY

Ilvermorny was founded in 1627 by Irish immigrant Isolt Sayre and her no-maj husband, James Steward. It started as a shack that taught their two adoptive children Chadwick and Boot, but has since expanded to house many other students. Some of these students included some from Native American tribes, thus their style of wandless magic has since integrated to the Ilvermorny curriculum. The original four (Sayre, Steward, Chadwick and Boot) created the four houses from the magical creatures they liked the most, and Ilvermorny continued to expand.

After Isolt's aunt, Gromlaith Gaunt, attacked the school and was finally killed, Isolt put her Snakewood wand into the soil of Ilvermorny courtyard. Today, a massive Snakewood tree still thrives there. It's a very big part of Ilvermorny's history.

Since the 18th century Ilvermorny is a granite castle, and is enchanted by a misty cloud that hides it from the no-majs. During the time when Rappaport's Law was in effect, students were only allowed wands while they were within the walls of Ilvermorny until the age of seventeen. Since the law was abolished in 1965, students are now allowed to take their wands home with them during the breaks, but similarly to the UK, they are put under the trace. Performing magic underage is the same offence as it is in the UK.

Today Ilvermorny is one of the best magical education establishments in the world, and houses just over a thousand North American students at a time.  

RAPPAPORT'S LAW

This law was in effect all across North America between 1790-1965. The law segregated the magical community from the no-maj one entirely. American witches and wizards were not allowed contact with no-majs, were not allowed to marry them or have friendships or associations with them. Since the law was scrapped, the attitudes in the American wizarding world have really shifted. They now believe that witches and wizards should have an in-depth understanding of no-majs, and are taught at an early age (see below) about their world. They are probably more knowledgeable about the no-maj world than your average British wizard.

The International Statute of Secrecy still applies to the American wizarding world, just as it does in the UK.

PRE-ILVERMORNY YEARS - ARDEEVIN

Founded in 1986, Ardeevin is like an Elementary school, offering education to witches and wizards aged 5-11, before they attend Ilvermorny. Unlike Ilvermorny, it is only a day school, and students travel via floo or side-apparition with their parents every weekday morning, and are picked up again in the afternoon.

Most young witches and wizards now attend Ardeevin before Ilvermorny, although some are still homeschooled or attend no-maj schools by the choice of the parents. In the case of no-maj borns, they still attend no-maj elementary schools (they do not receive their letters until age 11, like at Hogwarts).

Ardeevin gives the children a basic education of reading, writing, English and math skills, as well as things like physical education, geographical knowledge and no-maj studies. As young witches and wizards do not receive their wands until they arrive at Ilvermorny, there is no magical education at Ardeevin. They do, however, have Creature Care classes which involve some of the more docile, domesticated and non-dangerous magical creatures.

WELCOME LETTER

Like at Hogwarts, American witches and wizards receive their Ilvermorny letter at age 11. If they are no-maj born, it will likely be the first time they hear of the magical world. Unlike Hogwarts, however, students cannot purchase a wand until they are at Ilvermorny. They can start to purchase all other things needed for their education: cauldrons, robes, books, etc.

SORTING CEREMONY AND HOUSES

When students arrive at Ilvermorny, they are shown into the entrance hall. When they are called forward, they step onto Gordian Knot with four wooden statues facing them, each representing the four houses. One of the four statues would then react: the Wampus statue roars, the Thunderbird flaps its wings, the Horned Serpent glows and the Pukwudgie raises its arrow. In rarer cases, two of the statues react and the student then chooses their house. In extremely rare cases (there's only been a few cases in history) three or all four statues react.

The houses are as follows:

- Wampus. Represents the body, favours warriors.
- Thunderbird. Represents the soul, favours adventurers.
- Horned Serpent. Represents the mind, favours scholars.
- Pukwudgie. Represents the heart, favours healers.

Try not to think of the Ilvermorny houses having Hogwarts house counterparts. For example, not all 'evil' characters are going to be in Thunderbird because it's believed to be tied with Slytherin. This isn't the case. You could very easily have an 'evil' character in Pukwudgie, or in any house.

Houses at Ilvermorny aren't like houses at Hogwarts. They're thought of more as teams that could be used for Quidditch / house points and things, but really Ilvermorny students don't discriminate against other houses. There are entire ranges of personalities and archetypes in all houses: if anything the houses are just to make things a little less overwhelming for the students, as there's so many of them.

WANDS

American witches and wizards don't receive their wands until after the sorting ceremony at Ilvermorny. After their sorting, they are taken to another room where they choose (or are chosen by) their wands. As wandless magic is integrated into Ilvermorny's history, there are likely a lot of Ilvermorny graduates that can use wandless magic, and it is taught in later years at the school.

POPULACE

Ilvermorny is larger than Hogwarts, and has many more students attending there. In each year group there are around 150 students, so Ilvermorny castle holds just over 1000 students overall. There are more teachers at the school, and actual departments for subjects. For example, core classes like Charms have 4-5 Professors.

This is because the population in America is about four times the size of the UK. Since they got rid of Rappaport's Law in the mid-60s, there was likely a surge in the wizard population seeing as magical folk could marry and have families with no-majs.

THE TRACE

It's the same in America as it is in the UK. The trace is put on a witch or wizard at the age of 11, and is lifted at age 17 when they are considered adults. It's the age of consent, same as the UK. If a witch or wizard performs magic outside of Ilvermorny, MACUSA (American Ministry) are notified and they take whatever action is needed to punish the individual. This can be anything from a warning, to destruction of a wand and expulsion from Ilvermorny.

UNIFORM

The uniform is a white button-up shirt or blouse, navy blue trousers/pants or skirt, cranberry red tie and a cloak with a navy blue exterior and cranberry-coloured interior. In the winter, they can wear a red or navy sweater. For house distinction, students can wear their house badge on their cloak if they like, but it's not mandatory. Uniform must be worn during class hours, but for weekends and evenings they can wear casual clothing.

SUBJECTS

Similarly to Hogwarts, all students take core classes up until 5th year for OWL level, then can choose electives from 3rd year. For NEWT level, Ilvermorny students must continue with Charms, Transfiguration, DADA and Potions. They are free to take however many other subjects they can handle, although some may not have exams tied to them (e.g. physical ed, theater). In America, NEWT levels are pretty much mandatory to get any career, so drop-outs would struggle quite a bit in the American wizarding world.  

Core Classes

Astronomy
Charms
Creature Care
DADA
Flying
Herbology
History of Magic
No-Maj Studies
Physical Education
Potions
Transfiguration

Electives (from 3rd year)

Alchemy
Ancient Runes
Arithmancy
Art
Divinition
Home Economics
Music
Theater
Xylomancy

Extras (from 6th year)

Apparition
Wandless Magic

COMMON ROOMS & DORMS

Please click the links so you can get a better idea of a layout of common rooms and dormitories at Ilvermorny:  

Common Room Layout
1st-7th Years Dorm Layout
Student Council Dorm Layout

Unlike Hogwarts, student dormitories are separated by year group and gender. For example, there is a staircase to the 4th year dormitories that then branches off to male and female dorms. There is also an eighth staircase, and this leads to the Student Council dorms. These ones are larger, more luxurious, and have social lounges. The images above are annotated to give more information, so please check them out.  

STUDENT COUNCIL

Ilvermorny does not have Prefects or a Head Boy & Girl. Instead, they have the Student Council which comprises of 24 students and 2 Student Presidents - one male, one female. Members of the Student Council are not appointed by the Professors - they are elected from the student body themselves if they put their names forward for election.

Only 5th, 6th and 7th years can run for Student Council. The Presidents are 7th years. They aren't like the Prefects of Hogwarts in the way that they hand out punishments and discipline the students: the Council members are seen as representatives of Ilvermorny and are there to lend a helping hand. All events at Ilvermorny are organised by the Council, and they run fundraising events and pep rallies to raise funds and inspire school pride.

The Council is more like the voice of the students as a whole: they report to the faculty to let them know of any alterations, expansions or improvements everyone wants to see there. The Student Council also get their own special digs and privileges!  

MAGICAL CREATURES

The students at Ilvermorny are used to seeing magical creatures all over the castle and grounds: swarms of fairies live on the grounds, Pukwudgies commonly roam the halls, Wampus cats sleep and Thunderbirds cry. There is even an area of the grounds which is always open for students to come and visit and feed the creatures in their spare time. By Newt Scamander's influence, wizarding America has since been altered to a creature-loving continent.

The running of the school: maintenance, cooking, cleaning and gardening (caretaker, house elf and groundskeeper jobs) are all done by employed Pukwudgies. Unlike House Elves, Pukwudgies are paid and recognised staff members. They may not be the most approachable, talkative or kindest of creatures, but they are anything but disloyal. It wouldn't be unusual to see a Pukwudgie during your daily life at Ilvermorny.

As the school doesn't have any Prefects and is fairly large, Ilvermorny started training Wampus cats to be campus security. Although these Wampus cats will never physically harm the students, they are trained to report to staff if a student is somewhere they shouldn't be. They usually growl as a warning and can pounce and pin students down. Harming the Wampus cats is a very serious offence, as they are treated as special staff members of the school!

When off duty (and the cats do get some down time), the Wampus cats won't say no to petting or ear scratching. They can be seen lazing around in places during the day.  

EXCHANGE PROGRAM

There is an exchange student program available for Hogwarts and Ilvermorny students above 4th year. The exchange program runs from January to March every year, so there is an opportunity for your Hogwarts students to attend Ilvermorny for a month or two. Realistically all the students would go over at the same time, but because we are making Ilvermorny this late on, your character can exchange over whenever they like and stay for however long they like.

Of course, that means Ilvermorny students can study at Hogwarts with the exchange program as well.

MAIN DIFFERENCES TO UK / HOGWARTS (TL;DR)

- Blood purity isn't important like it is in UK. All students are educated thoroughly about the no-maj world.
- There isn't as much emphasis on House differences. Many different personalities span inside the same Ilvermorny House.
- Ilvermorny students are more used to seeing magical creatures around.
- Dormitories are separated by year and gender, not by house.
- Ilvermorny has over 1000 students, while Hogwarts has about quarter of that. Because of this, you're less likely to know everyone at the school, and its harder to stand out.
- Students don't get their wands until they're at Ilvermorny.
- All NEWT students have to take Charms, Transfiguration, DADA and Potions.
- There is an elementary level school, Ardeevin, that American witches and wizards between 5-11 attend. It's a day school, and teaches basic skills not magic, but includes no-maj studies and creature care on the syllabus.
- Students can learn wandless magic in later years.
- There are no Prefects / Head Girl & Boy.
- There is a Student Council and two Student Council Presidents. They are more organisers of the school events and there to help students. They do not give out punishments.
- There is more than one Professor per subject.
- The house colours are not part of the Ilvermorny uniform, they can just wear a house badge if they want to.
- Ilvermorny uses Wampus cats for security/guarding, and Pukwudgies for maintenance/ basic operations of the school.