Sorting Ceremony 2019-2020 Archived

The buzz of the Sorting Ceremony was humming through the large group of brand new first years but Artemisia was indifferently calm and collected.
For the last two years her parents and their staff had been preparing her for this exact moment. She knew the houses, she knew each of the traits they represented and she knew which one her parents would prefer her to be in. They said it wasn’t a prejudice thing, just a family thing. Artemisia didn’t know or care if that was true but she had lazily paid attention to the information presented to her and stored it away in her brain for this moment right now.

The children around her were jostling each other in an attempt to get closer to the front of the queue as they were led into the Great Hall. Artemisia ignored them and allowed those who wished to pass her to go ahead. Any body who had a clue knew that the names were called alphabetically so it didn’t matter in the slightest at what point you entered the hall.

That being said, as she finally passed through the oversized entrance she felt it’s impressive grandeur stir a sliver of excitement somewhere deep within. It had to be at least twice the size of the hall she had at home. It was perhaps a little more old-fashioned but it complimented the overall feel of the castle well.
The caterpillar of first years gradually arrived at the front of the hall where the headmaster was stood waiting. Artemisia looked up at him and instantly decided he seemed like someone she could respect. There was something about his demeanour that commanded the attention of the room and of everyone in it.

Unlike those around her, when the brim of the rather grubby looking hat before them opened and song came out, Artemisia showed no sign of surprise. In fact she hardly showed any sign of anything but indifference. This was another of the many things about Hogwarts that she had been prepared for. One of the tasks set to her by her tutor had been to learn one of the previous songs of the Sorting Hat word for word and perform it to her family.
Artemisia was surprised by just how many of her fellow students appeared to be of muggle descent or to have little to no knowledge of magic at all. There were of course others like herself who seemed to have grown up in magical households but they didn’t grab her attention as much as the other children. They knew a life she didn’t and that fascinated her.

Watching the varied children occupied her mind for the majority of the ceremony and she only began to pay proper attention to the events taking place when she realised there was only herself and a handful of other students remaining.
Artemisia didn’t get nervous, she always held some sort of confidence but she couldn’t deny there was an odd churning in her stomach as a loud “Whitby, Artemisia!”, echoed through the room.

She took the few sturdy steps steadily and perched at the edge of the stool, allowing her eyes to settle calmly on the crowd before her. She’d faced crowds before in ballet recitals and the fancy dinners her parents held for various other high societal wizarding families. This was nothing new and she was pleased that, unlike so many others, her cheeks did not flush.

The Sorting Hat was placed carefully on her head. She noted how much lighter it seemed and waited patiently for the voice in her ear to make itself known.

“Well, well...very well informed aren’t we? You’ve definitely done your homework...Hmm you think you know yourself rather well but you see so very little.”

Artemisia’s eyes narrowed the tiniest amount at this. She did know herself. She’d known herself her whole life - who was this old hat to tell her otherwise?

“Did I hit a nerve? My apologies...You certainly have the makings of good Slytherin. The right attitude, your parents were both Slytherin also. I suspect that’s what you’re hoping for...”

The girl said nothing, her eyes ducking to the floor for a moment at the suggestion.
Of course she’d thought of being a Slytherin. Her mother had spent hours teaching her about the houses history and her father had gone into great detail about the wonder that was the Slytherin common room.
But she couldn’t help but wonder what else there was to see.

Artemisia was shocked out of her thoughts by the quiet voice rumbling through her head again.

“Curious though, very curious...perhaps I’ll have to take a risk on you, Miss Whitby.” The hat paused and Artemisia felt herself inhale with the suspense, “Remember I am never wrong...RAVENCLAW!”

Artemisia hopped off the stool as the hat was removed by Professor Lear and she stumbled down the steps in the direction of the Ravenclaw table, where her future now waited. She wondered for a moment what her parents would say when she wrote to them. Had she made the effort, she could probably have imagined their response to the news, but at that moment she was far too occupied in taking a seat among her fellow housemates.
Among the sudden excitement and curiosity, a thought ran around her head.

What made me a Ravenclaw?

It was something she was eager to address but felt that for now at least, it could continue making its way around her mind.

Kat could hardly contain the secret excitement thrumming through her veins. The Great Hall certainly lived up to its name: brightly glimmering with thousands of candles which hung midair, lighting up the blanket of black that was the ceiling, a reflection of the sky outside. Four impressive tables ran the stretch of the room, each seating hundreds of students who cheered loudly whenever a first year was assigned to their house, and atop stood mountains of food, piping hot and ready to be devoured. There simply was nothing that could prepare you for its sheer magnificence - not even reading Hogwarts: A History twice, it appeared. However, bubbling excitement was quickly becoming nervousness. The hat seemed rather sure of itself - what if it started spouting all her secrets? She knew that was ridiculous thought, of course, but she couldn't help her hands tightening to fists in her robes.

Professor Lear, a strange wizard wearing a suit of armour, was reading names off a scroll. Although it was long, Kat's surname must have been fairly near to the top of the list, beginning with the letter 'C' and all. She bit her lip, feeling as though she would look intensely awkward sat on that tiny wooden stool in front of the rest of the school. She suddenly wondered if her brother Levi was watching, and cast her eyes about the Gryffindor table, hoping to feel a tad less alone.

"Cobwebbe, Katherine!"

Kat could have leapt out of her skin. Yes, the hat, the stool, go, sit. Katherine shuffled through the crowd of first years, quietly excusing herself as she pushed past people as smoothly as possible. Soon, she was upon the elevated platform and taking her seat. She didn't have a lot of time to gaze into the endless sea of people, all of whom were staring back at her, before the hat was placed upon her head and the room vanished from her sights. It was musty, inside the old fraying hat, and it didn't smell too pleasant either.

"What, you don't like it in here?"

The voice was sudden but drawling. Fantastic. She forgot it could read minds. Kat muttered an apology, hoping nobody else could hear her. "I am sorry, sir, but it is hard to control your thoughts, especially when you have nothing to preoccupy your eyes." Thankfully, the hat appeared to move on without much fuss. Maybe it didn't really care - or was used to it. Or maybe it found her reaction amusing.

"Let's see then..." The Sorting Hat said slowly. Kat felt her hands grip the stool. The whole scenario felt quite invasive, not that she could protest. "You're a clever one, aren't you? Creative mind, no doubt. And curious." Kat caught herself smiling beneath the hat's rim. Maybe it wasn't such a terrible thing, being complimented like this. The hat added briskly, "But I also see drive in you, and a real independence. You like to do things your own way, don't you? Not much time for others in your life. And ambition, too. You like to write, do you?"

Katherine nodded sharply.

"Right..." mused the hat, "You should learn to appreciate others more, my dear. It would do you well. Either way, I know where you belong. Just like your father miss Cobwebbe..."

Kat waited with baited breath, knowing which table she'd be joining.

"RAVENCLAW!" cried a booming voice.

Kat yanked the Sorting Hat proudly off her head and leapt down to join the Ravenclaw table. Just as she sat down, she caught her brother's eye. He was clapping vigorously.

Androse, a charming young man, looked dead nervous. He knew his parents were famous and they told him time and time again. "Don't let people use you for your fame Androse! It will make you weak! Trust your gut and trust you will make the right decisions!" He would repeat that in his head over and over again! The voices of the press ringing in his head saying, "Androse, Androse! We are so excited to see you as Slytherin's seeker as a first year! You have to make it as a first year! We hope you don't let us down boy!" He was in his head the whole time while he was walking down the isle towards the sorting hat. He was so anxious. What will the world think if he didn't make into to Slytherin?

Then out of no where, he heard "Androse Wildore!" He stood there... His heart stoped for a moment... He heard whispers once his name was called, he knew people were talking about him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He walked up to the stool where the sorting hat was and he took a seat. The hat was placed on his head and it spoke thus. "AH! Wildore! I know exactly where to put you, Sly-" The sorting hat paused for a moment. It looked stumped. "Well now... Curious." Androse looked confused. "It should be simple right? I'm Slytherin..." The sorting hat shrugged its brim. The Sorting hat said, "Are you Slytherin? Your mind might be saying Slytherin... But, what does your heart desire, hmm? You seem to want something else... Is that correct? Sure you could be Slytherin, become what everyone else wants you to be, or... You could create your own destiny... You seem to be driven, brave, imaginative, and loyal! Do you want to be Slytherin?" Androse was stumped... He doesn't know what to feel now. "Do I want Slytherin?" He thinks for a moment. "No, I don't want to be Slytherin. But what will my family and everyone else think if I'm not sorted into Slytherin?" He asked the sorting hat. "It's all up to you..." Androse closes his eyes for a moment and whispers, "Gryffindor..." The leathery eyebrows of the sorting hat raises. "Very brave answer..." The Sorting hat smiles and shouts "GRYFFINDOR!"

The whole Gryffindor table cheered, Androse's eye brows rose, "Did I just say Gryffindor?" He thought. He stands up and walks over to the Gryffindor table, he looks shocked. "What happens now?" he thought. What will his family think of him now... What will the world think...?

A girl shrouded in a cloak of midnight tread behind her peers, eyes dancing across every wall and object in her path. The group, which consisted of the youngest students of Hogwarts, were making their way to the Great Hall where they'd take part in the infamous Sorting Ceremony.

She only labeled it infamous because of the conversation being held nearby by a group of boys.

“Do you know how difficult it is to get into Ravenclaw? You have to have a genius IQ and at least three Noble Prizes.”

“Really? I thought it was five.”

“My sister—well, my entire family are Hufflepuffs and she got into Slytherin!”

Someone shushed them and they lowered their voices into a whisper. The last thing Judith overheard was a warning. 

“You better watch out before you become a snake.”

In all honesty, Judith could care less about which House she got into. Although her father was a Gryffindor, her aunt a Hufflepuff, and her cousin a Ravenclaw, she didn't think any House she was put into would have an effect on her grades. If it did then she would seriously have to start considering her choices.

But would she? The Sorting Hat chose your House wisely, taking in consideration your core values and your personality. She didn't think she was much to ponder over, she was a normal girl who just wanted to her best in school to please herself and her father. Besides, wasn't the purpose of going to school to learn?

After rounding the last corner the group came into view of the towering doors that lead to the Great Hall. They would've been the main focus if it hadn't been for the fact that they were wide open. Immediately the group of first-years center of attention of everyone inside the Hall.

As they made their way to enter they were greeted by the Headmaster of the school, Professor Lear. Judith had done brief research, learning about the Hogwarts Alumni and his amiable presence. She respected him but was too interested to cast more than a glance at his worn amour.

Entering the Great Hall her eyes has gazed immediately up at the dark ceiling that mirrored the night sky. Candles blinked above the many heads, bobbing up and down on invisible strings. The room was contained four long tables, not counting the one that hosted the professors. Each one was decorated a different colour: red, green, blue, and yellow. Judith wondered which one she'd be sporting for her upcoming years.

They filed down the middle, most avoiding eye contact with the other students. Judith had to admit that she was made uneasy by the hundreds of eyes but her tension was erased when they commenced the ceremony.

The Headmaster have a speech, the Hat belted out his song, and they unleashed the endless scroll that carried the names of every first-year. Judith readjusted her cloak and stood a little taller, readying herself for when her name would be called.

“Craiter, Judith.”

She stepped forth and made her way towards the stool. Not a moment after she sat down was the Hat placed over her brow.

Swallowing, the young witch braced herself for anything, anything.

She was met with silence. Hm...? she thought, frowning at the floor. Was something wrong, was she not a wit—

“You are, but you're more than that.”

She knew exactly what he meant but she didn't know if she wanted to. She had noticed some sort of strangeness about her but never thought much about it until her first day of school came alarmingly close. Would she be thrown out of school for being who she was? Though it wasn't rational, nor right, her mother...

“Your mother was a witch.”

She had mixed feelings about that statement but the thought that crossed her mind the most was the fact that it had said was instead of a present tense. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Judith cleared her throat, trying to distract him from any foolish thoughts she had running around her head.

“Like mother, like daughter—RAVENCLAW.”

Looking down at her plain black tie and robes that would soon bore her house's crest and colors, Opal felt a frustrating combination of anxiousness and impatience. She couldn't wait to find out what her Hogwarts house is! Finally, the time came. The first-year class entered the Great Hall, and many - Including Opal - let out an audible gasp. The Hall was lit with a thousand blazing candles, all magically hanging from the ceiling like an enormous chandelier but without a chain holding it all up. The group proceeded through the aisle, coming to a halt in front of a man with a beard who was wearing silver armor. Opal could easily assume this man was important, what with the airy importance of his presence in the hall seemed to make everything that much more magical.

At last, the man in armor stood at the podium and began speaking:

"Welcome first-year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here we are going to engage in our first ceremony known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient."

Sentient, I am intelligent

Opal, amongst many others, searched wildly for where the voice came from. Her eyes landed on the hat in the Headmaster's hands. She suddenly came to a startling realization: This, was the magical, amazing Sorting Hat her mother had talked about back home. The Headmaster, Solomon Lear, continued talking about all of the houses and things. He then opened a scroll, which hit the floor and rolled away from him. Opal could easily assume this was the scroll of the first-year class names. After the Sorting Hat sang a very catchy song about all the houses, the Headmaster started the Sorting. Finally, after what felt like an hour of waiting:



Opal looked up eagerly and shuffled towards the front. When she got there, the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. She shut her eyes and kept a blank mind.



Opal flinched, even though she expected it entirely. Er, thanks, Mr... Hat.





The Sorting Hat seemed to be laughing at her.



Opal got the sense he was getting closer.





The blue table screamed and cheered as Opal skipped off to join her new family, beaming she had gotten her wish of carrying on the family legacy.

Sonatine gazed around the Grand Hall. It was nothing like she had ever seen before - thousands of candles lit up the hall like fairy lights, and the rows of young wizards glowed under them. The best part to her, though, was the enchanted evening sky, pitch black and bejewelled with clusters of stars. Something about the sheer beauty of the place, its lively atmosphere, or perhaps even the towering architecture made her feel hopeful, and ready to start a new life for herself,

Stepping on her tiptoes, Sonatine peered over the line of young wizards and witches in front of her, to get a glimpse of the famous Sorting Hat she had heard about on the train. Her surname led to her being at the back of the long line which didn't help with her ever-growing nerves. Word from the other fist-years on the train said that the hat sometimes conversed with its wearer, and that it was actually quite sarcastic too. Despite all this, Sonatine still felt herself shake at the thought of being in front of everyone in the hall.

"Sonatine Webbs!"

Sonatine took a deep breath. She had little knowledge of the housing system of Hogwarts, apart from the fact that the four housed wizards and witches depending on the characteristics of the person. Carefully, she stepped onto the platform and pulled the hat onto her head. The hat felt leathery, but also soft and wrinkled after hundreds of years of use.

"You must be new around here, the first in your family..." the hat whispered into her ear. "Hm, you hold a lot of knowledge for a young girl, but a larger heart of kindness and care...you don't seem to be one for the most dangerous adventures, however, you seem to be accepting of those even with the most darkest of previous intentions..." There was a moment of silence from the Hat and the rest of the hall.

"What does that mean, Mr Hat?" Sonatine replied innocently in a whisper.

"The Sorting Hat will do, miss. It means you're a girl of loyalty and understanding, so for that I put you in HUFFLEPUFF!" The shout from the Hat was echoed by the expanse of the Grand Hall.

Sonatine heard an immediate round of cheers and shouts from the table on the far left - presumably the Hufflepuff table. She thanked the Sorting Hat and slowly made her way down the platform to sit with her housemates and enjoy the rest of the ceremony. She looked down and shyly smiled to herself; the feelings of pride and excitement filled her with joy.

The anger bubbled in her chest still, a small pit of broiling lava - there was a sense of betrayal here, a sense that she had trusted and that trust had been broken and even the beauty of the space could not subdue that. It acted as a reminder of what she was leaving, why she had to leave: her father had said “control” but all she had heard in that moment was “fear”. Fear that she would become her mother, fear that she would hurt others. She didn’t want to be feared. Her palms sweated as she walked down the hall, her body rigid. It was all she could do to not cry, but she could not, would not cry. To cry would be weak, to cry would indicate she had lost her control. In the future there would be time but first she had to do this.

Around her in the hall were the hums of life - the chatter of other students, the spluttering of candles, the squeaks of chairs. But for Asteria, no noise broke through the silence of her own head, the thoughts that had been spiraling there for the last few months. She didn’t even notice the stars, which other students coo-ed over and voiced their adoration of. The girl was wary - the castle was huge, it was the witch’s house from fairytales and it might swallow her whole if she allowed it to. Her arms twitched, instinctively wanting to wrap themselves around her chest and she forced them to the side - no, no she couldn’t show her anger, her fear. She had to be strong. “Be a big girl,” her father’s voice chided at the back of her head, slow and calm, both a reminder of her trust in him and of her anger.

Like a shot ringing through an empty space, Asteria heard her name called: “Asteria Kurokawa!” and immediately snapped to attention. She hadn’t been paying attention to the other students, had zoned out during the explanation of what to do, but she assumed that she must walk to the small chair at the front of the room and sit on it. After that? Well she wasn’t quite sure.

Walking up to the stool, she ran a hand through her hair, ignoring how the eyes of the hall fell upon her, like they had fallen upon every other student. As the hat fell on her head, the only thought that passed through her mind was Oh, I guess that’s how this works.

The next thought that occurred to her was one not fit for any sort of publication, as she felt an alien presence creep into her mind. “Now, that’s not proper language for any child,” chided the Sorting Hat. “Where to put you.... where to put you... Plenty of bravado, a touch of ambition, but really, it’s quite clear. Loyalty and trust, honesty and dedication; you might feel lacking in them now, but they are embedded in every atom of you. Obviously, you belong in...”

“HUFFLEPUFF” called out the Hat to the whole room, and Asteria blinked furiously as the hat was yanked off of her head and she once again stared out into the large room. A table decked out in yellow began to clap, and she strode towards them, unsure, the words of the Hat now mixing with the words of her father in the storm of her mind.

Stephen patiently waited for his name to be called by glancing around the great hall with mild curiosity. There are four tables, coinciding with four houses. He looked at the Gryffindor table and smiled slightly. He watched as student after student were sorted into their houses. Their nervous expresions vanish as they were sorted in the houses they were meant to be in. And they knew it in their hearts too, deep down everyone knows. After few students had been sorted, it was Stephen turn. He rounded the Sorting Hat with the rest of the first years and looked at it curiously. What was this for? How would this sort them. He would soon find out. The Headmaster Lear called out his name.

“Rutherford, Stephen!”

Stephen swallowed his nerves and shuffled towards the hat. Sitting himself down on the three legged stool, his feet swung between the legs. He had always been short. His father was a Gryffindor but he wasn’t sure if that was where belonged. He hoped it was; he’d like to do him proud. The hat deliberated for quite some time over him. He had the brains for Ravenclaw but so much bravery inside of him.

“Mhm, very well. I see so much here. I can’t decide. There’s wit and smarts in you which the Ravenclaw house would surely love!” The hat excaimed to the cheers of the Ravenclaw table.“But, what this? Quite a lot of ambitious in there too. To say what needs to be said and stand for what is right, Slytherin would love you too.” The hat pondered. He had never considered Slytherin as an option as he had never considered himself ambitious. “And bravery. So much bravery is inside of you. I am sure you would be a great asset to Gryffindor house!” That hat still pondered. He could hear the Gryffindor table errupt into cheers but also see students start to get bored of this.

“Well that just confirms it then. With your Bravery to everyone in this room ... better be ...”

“GRYFFINDOR!” The hat yelled.

All students from Gryffindor applauded. Stephen grinned so much when the Sorting Hat yelled Gryffindor that some of older years were scared his face would crack. He ran over to the Gryffindor table and dived onto the bench next to some newly sorted Gryffindors who remained him friends all throughout his years at Hogwarts.

David was waiting for his name to be called to be sorted into his house. He was anxious as to what house he was going to be in. He had all the personality and traits of each of the four houses. He was listening as other first-year students were getting sorted into the four houses. As he was listening to the first-year students getting sorted, he was looking around as the scenery of the Great Hall was amazing.

"YOUNG, DAVID!"

David heard his name being called. He was nervous as he didn't know what house he would be sorted into. He slowly walked over to the sorting hat and sat down on the stool at the front of the Great Hall. The sorting hat was placed onto David's head.

"Hmmm... Fascinating... A wonderful all-around student. Really brave, not willing to stop until everything is done. Very resourceful. Very friendly and nice. Also very helpful and smart. Likes to work hard to get the job done. This is a tough one to sort. But I do have to say. You work very hard to to get everything done while being able to help other people. But where will I put you... Oh I got it. Better be...." The sorting hat said. "RAVENCLAW!!!"

David heard the house that he was going to be sorted to. He was happy about the choice that the sorting hat chose for him. He looked at the Ravenclaw table as the students from Ravenclaw were happy and excited for David to join the Ravenclaw house and the Ravenclaw family. The sorting hat as taken off from his head. David went over to the Ravenclaw table and listened to more first-year students being sorted into their respective houses.

Kya had just arrived at the great hall along with the rest of the first years and she can't deny that she was more than nervous.

What if the sorting hat doesn't know what to do with me? What if I have to sit up there forever like a fool? Even worse, what if it just decides to send me home?

She watched all of the kids go up onto the spool and have the sorting hat placed on top of them. It took a couple minutes, then called out what house they would be in. They finally got to the J's and Kay was even more nervous then she was before. She had never been so nervous in her life.

What if I don't get Gryffindor like my mother? Will she be ashamed of me? Will she let me come home for Christmas?

Of course Kya knew that her mother would let her come home for Christmas but she couldn't help thinking it. Her name was called much to long before she was ready.

Johnson, Kya

Kyat stumbled slowly up to the stool. She picked up the sorting hat and sat down. She could feel hundreds of eyes staring at her. She slowly placed the sorting hat on her head, not ready to find out what hose she would be with for the next seven years.

As soon as she put the hat on she heard the hat's voice.

Ah, half-blood. Got your magic from your mother Eh?

Kyat just stared up at the hat wondering if she should reply or not.

Hmmm, not much of a talker. Definitely could be a wonderful Hufflepuff. So your mother was a Gryffindor? I assume you want to follow in her footsteps, don't you.

Yes? Kya said tentatively.

Hmm. Definitely a good bit of Gryffindor. But I also see that your are very intelligent. What with having to hide your magic from your father for six years. Yes, definitely could also be a great Ravenclaw.

This conversation felt like it was going on for hours. She was nervous about how she looked to the rest of the students.

Yes, I think I have reached a decision.

Kya wiggled nervously waiting to hear what house she would be in.

RAVENCLAW!

Kya was at a loss for words. She had not gotten Gryffindor like she wanted but at least she didn't get Slytherin.