Closed The Sorting ceremony 2018-2019

To say that Hugh was nervous would have been an understatement.
Though not much emotion could be read from his face; inside, his mind was devouring every shred of curiosity he had before entering the castle's' halls. Slow and wary he followed the mass of children trailing a seemingly kind headmaster.

Hugh had always been tall for his age, so he managed to take regular peeks over the heads of his fellow students. His height had been one of the reasons he always preferred to stay behind or on the sides of a crowd. Blocking someone's view was the last thing he wanted, as it made him feel out of place. Another reason for not mingling with the others was his abstinence for having to make "the first move". Though he was friendly by nature and got along with almost anybody, making friends through initiative wasn't his forte.

Eyes widened at the sight of a talking hat. He was told he'd see things he wouldn't have thought possible, but nevertheless they took him by surprise. His mother had been reluctant to share all there was to her world, but she did leave him with vague stories.

"Lowe, Hugh"

The words snapped the boy's attention towards the hat, past a crowd of children who were trying to figure out who's turn it was to step forward. "Lowe, Hugh. Step forward please."

Hugh straightened his back a bit as he tried to walk through the mass of children with a head held high. He had no plans of looking weak, also his father had told him not to slouch in public. He took place on the stool and he felt a oversized sorting hat being placed on his scruffy head.

"Aha! Lowe... hmm... no, no. that does not ring a bell. Lets see... creative mind hmm? What about courage? I see you're afraid, yet still you remain... GRYFFINDOR!!"

Hugh had no idea what that meant. Should he be happy? Was that a good house? How did the hat know he was afraid? He noticed several children smiling at him, yet others gave him a quick judging look. An entire table seemed to cheer as his place was chosen for him. Quietly and slowly he took a seat among his fellow gryffindors.

Stepping into the Great Hall for the first time took Elijah's breath away, just as Celestine had promised him it would. The seemingly endless ceiling was decorated with floating candles galore, arcing on forever and ever, with no end in sight. The older students, in their school robes with their house badges, were already seated at the four long table stretching from end to end, chattering with their friends about the incoming batch of first years.

He was a part of the incoming batch of first years. This was terrifying.

His face, however, was a mask of complete and utter stone. His lips were set in a straight line, and his eyes were clouded over, completely unreadable. He stood completely still amongst the mass of first years waiting for their turn with the Sorting Hat, watching with a cold expression as his class got sorted into their respective houses. Each student was greeted with cheers, and everyone's eyes were on the stool. There was no way to fly under the radar, here.

He prayed that it would be quick and painless, that it would be over soon. His sister had taken a while, but that was because she had been a well-rounded person. Celestine was smart and clever, kind and loyal, ambitious and witty, bold and brave. She could've easily fit into every house presented to her, and yet she ended up in Ravenclaw.

He was no such person. He earned good grades, but he didn't have the same hunger for knowledge as Celestine did. He was, in no way, compassionate or caring, ruling out Hufflepuff- and the same went for Gryffindor, as he was neither bold nor daring. Elijah already knew, deep within his heart of hearts, that he belonged to the Slytherins. If he were to get anything else, he'd really have to question the accuracy of the Sorting Hat.

He watched the kids around him slowly disappear, stepping up to the stool, then down to their respective tables. His heart rate started to jack up as their Headmaster approached the H's, and before he knew it, his name was being called up. "Huang, Elijah."

Shouldering past his soon-to-be classmates, Elijah's cheeks flushed pink as he felt the stares of hundreds, possibly thousands of students on him as he took a seat on the stool. Ignore them, a voice in his head chided, sounding remarkably like Celestine. Taking a deep breath, Elijah gulped as Headmaster Blackburn approached him with the Sorting Hat. This was it. No going back now. Closing his eyes, he winced as the brim of the hat hit his head, and waited for the intrusive voice to enter.

"Oh, this is so, so easy," the rumbling voice grumbled, and Elijah cringed as he realized just how strange the sensation was. Celestine had already warned him that the hat could read every one of his thoughts, but there was no time to brace himself for the voice that would interrup-

"Your sister was a tough one to sort, but she was smart to tell you," the Hat continued, the voice low and soothing. Elijah's breath began to steady, and he shifted on the stool slightly, trying to get comfortable. "You, however... you're so different from her, it's shocking. Are you sure you're related?"

Yes.

"You already know, don't you, who you are?"

Maybe?

"Don't play with me. You're a liar, and that's all you'll ever be unless you learn to accept who you really are inside."

Elijah's eyes flew open and he paled dramatically, in complete shock as he listened to the Sorting Hat roar loudly, "Slytherin!" Wrenching the wretched hat off of his head and handing it to Headmaster Blackburn with a muted, "Thank you," he stumbled off in the direction of the Slytherin table to the soundtrack of cheering students, breathing hard.

He was a liar. That's really all he was.

Ardice was ecstatic to set foot inside Hogwarts. Her family had been so surprised when they received that letter, and Ardice had been very curious. She had poured herself into anything she could get her hands on. As Ardice had read, the Great Hall was magnificent, the ceiling beautiful, and the Excitement in the atmosphere electrifying.
Her hands shook in anticipation as she waited for her name to be called. Reading of all the different Houses only made her anticipate the sorting more. Unfortunately, the sorting hat has come at a surprise, but it intrigued her. The song it gave was enticing, and she almost wished she could ask it some questions. Alas, she doubted she'd have the opportunity.
"Gleeson, Ardice!"
The announcement of her names gave her a bit of a shock, Ardice had been lost in her own head thinking of all the different things that were going to await her. Trembling, she stepped up the the stool and sat down. The smell of old leather, pleasant and somewhat familiar to her, clung to the hat, and as it fell down over her nose making her close her eyes it was even more apparent.
"Well, you seem quite excited. You hesitated a tad when your name was called, though." Ardice gulped. She hoped that didn't mean she has done something wrong.
"Oh, no! Far from it. It is normal to be apprehensive, but yours seemed more like... distraction?" the hat gave out a muffled chuckle "How you could be lost in thought at a time like this is amusing."
"Well, my parents always said I stare off to space more than I should..." Ardice mumbled, before whispering "But really the whole thing is so interesting and curious! But that must not be normal. I'm a... Muggle-Born, that's what you call us, right?"
Hmm, yes. But you seem very interested to learn about the world of magic. Very curious. You seem very timid, though. Not suited to Gryffindor... However, you crave knowledge. I've no doubt now."
"Ravenclaw!"
The hat was then promptly taken off her head and she briskly walked away, shoulders tight. The experience was... Exhilarating! Even as she sat down and cheers of congratulations roared, she was still going over what the Hat has said. Ravenclaw. I'm a Ravenclaw she thought. Now she just had to find out what that means for her.

I just stood there and tried to follow other first year wizards and witches as well as I could. It was all so amazing. My eyes could not understand it. The train ride to the school went by in a second. I sat next to some students who were clearly older than me, but I didn't have the courage to talk to them. Then when the train stopped at the station I stood up and tried to find someone who looked as lost as I felt. Then some time, that only felt like a second, went by and I stood in a hall of some kind. This must be the Great Hall, I thought as I was looking around.
A man wearing a black and grey robe started speaking. He said he was the Headmaster Ackerley Blackburn and then I focused on memorizing the name, so a bit of his speech went by without me listening to it. I shook my head slightly and tried to focus again. Then I found out that this was not the Great Hall, we were walking towards it. Then the headmaster stopped talking. We had reached the Great Hall and it was time for us to get sorted into our houses.
In his letter my father had told me the same things that the headmaster Blackburn just told us. There are four houses that each represents its students' characteristics. Or something like that. I thought that I need to figure that out.
Then the Headmaster sat down and someone else started talking. I tried to follow the speech, but the Great Hall was so glorious that I just needed to look at it. Then a hat, which was sitting on a stool in front of us, started singing. It was something I could not have expected. My father had told me that we'll get sorted by a hat, but he did not tell me that the hat also sung. Then the song went by all the other people in the hall started applauding. And it was time to get sorted.
I tried to thing when will my turn come. My last name Adams, a common muggle last name, is usually one of the first ones. I tried to look around and count other first years. And then I heard my name.
I got my self to move to the hat. I sat down, and the hat was put to my head. And then I think I kind of awkwardly jumped when the hat started talking. To me I guess. I really can't remember what the hat said to me. Something about me having multiple interests and liking animals. After that the hat was silent for a second. I waited and then the hat yelled out:
"Ravenclaw".
I had no idea what that meant, but all the students in one table started applauding and I thought that those people are all the other ravenclaws and I need to go to them. And so I did. I sat down and rest of the sorting flew by. I could only think that I actually was in Hogwarts now. That my father was right, I was a witch. And now I was a Ravenclaw. Just like my father was.
Then I smiled for the first time that day.

"Welcome dear students. I am Ackerley Blackburn, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I will be your humble guide for this evening. Please follow me and we shall reach the Great Hall. Location in which each of you will have the chance to be sorted in one of the fours houses. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values. The house that will be chosen for you shall represent qualities that are truly present within each of you. Your future house shall be like a second family. You will also be able to gather points and once we reach the end of the year, the house with the most house points shall win the House Championship Cup!" Quickly turning around, Professor Blackburn invited the first years to follow him, towards the stairs that led to the Great Hall, ''Alright, the sorting ceremony shall begin soon, please stay together and follow me.'' As he said this, Professor Blackburn pushed the door that led directly where all of the upper years were sitting. Most of them stopped talking and turned their head in the direction of the first years. Slowly, but surely, Professor Blackburn reached the staff table, with the first years following. There, he asked the first years to wait until another professor walked forward, with a parchment of names. Professor Blackburn returned to his seat, in the front. The hat, which had been sitting still on the small stool, started moving and singing a song about the four founders and what each of them wanted their house to be known for.

Once The Sorting Hat had finished singing, everyone in the room applauded it before the silence slowly returned in the room. The professor that was obviously in charge of the sorting started reciting each name on the list, it was now time for the first years to begin their magical journey. Eventually, Erin’s name was called and she let out a silent squeal as she almost ran up to the stool and sat down. The professor placed the Sorting Hat on her head and it had what they call a hat stall, which is when then the hat sits on top of someone's head for five or more minutes before it makes its decision. For Erin, the hat took 6 minutes and 35 seconds to decide between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Finally, it shouted:

RAVENCLAW!

Erin took the hat off her head and walked quickly to the Ravenclaw table. After the sorting, the whole school had a fantastic feast. There were all types of food so Erin grabbed a bit of everything she could reach and started eating. After the dinner dishes were cleared, different desserts filled all the plates and once again Erin took a little bit of everything within her reach and started to eat.

"Nightingale, Pheonix,"

Pheonix felt herself flush a deep red as she heard her name called. Fiddling with her hair, she shuffled to the stool beside the headmaster. He gave her an encouraging smile, before placing the Sorting Hat on her head. An uncomfortable shock shot though Pheonix. It felt as if the hat was looking deep into her soul, staring at her darkest secrets.

"Ahhh.. I see," muttered the Sorting Hat. Pheonix froze, hardly daring to breathe."Nightingale, hmm?Yes, yes, I remember. Well... Very true, yet quick of mind. Perhaps... No, I don't think so." The hat seemed to be deep in thought.

"What am I going to do with you?" it wondered outwardly. The hat preceded into a long trail of silence once more.

Pheonix was starting to get worried. Why is the hat taking so long? she thought anxiously. All the other first years were sorted almost straight away! Sure enough, the other students were staring at her bemusedly, as if she had done something wrong.

Pheonix felt her cheeks flush red and suddenly she felt terribly self concious. An unbearable thought came to her. What if.... What if there was a mistake? What if I'm a - a squib? she thought desperately. Pheonix felt on the verge of tears.

A moment before Pheonix would've broken down, something deep inside of her decided to surface.

Merlin's beard! What's wrong with you, Pheonix? You're not a squib! it said. Where's your pluck? Are you really going to cry like a baby in front of all these people? Come on, Pheonix, you're braver than this!

Pheonix realised that she was right. She was braver than this. She wasn't going to break down and let everyone see how vulnerable she felt. No matter where the Sorting Hat put her, she would put on a brave face, make the most of it and enjoy her school years all the same.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted in triumph.

Pheonix happily skipped towards the Gryffindor Table. Pheonix narrowed her eyes at the hat. She had the distinct feeling that the hat had witnessed her entire conversation with herself.

Kids started to line up for the ceremony. Nervously Nico stared at her feet, her hair covering one eye. She didn't know what to expect. Well... actually she did, but she tried her best not to think about it. Every so often, she'd look up, watching student after student walk up to the so called 'Sorting Hat'.

'Aaaah, yes... I know where you'll fit.. Yes... It will be... GRYFFINDOR!'.

They cheer, every, single, time... She swallowed. The line got shorter. Nico looked over her shoulder as her eyes darted over the crowd of students. They all looked so... happy. And then, she finally noticed the magical candlelights, floating about, like no ones business. Nico stared at the phenomen as if she were entranced. The lights reminded her of the billions and billions of stars in the midnight sky. She remembers how her father would tell about Orions belt, the evening star, ... She could listen to him for hours. They'd sit in their backyard wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and look through the telescope she got for her birthday. She reached out to the sky, her fingertips seemingly touching the light. She smiled blissfully.

'NICO SHYMANE!'

In the blink of an eye, Nico suddenly realised the harsh reality, that she in fact wasn't home with her loving father. She spaced out so much, she didn't realise that she became the first in line. Pointing to the sky, standing on top of her toes. Slowely, she turned her head towards the headmaster.

'Would u finally, come forward?'

Students giggled under their breath. Nico her face flushed completely red. She quickly put her arm down and speedwalked to the front. After taking a deep breath she carefully sat down on the chair. The headmaster slid down the talking hat on her head. Many thoughts filled her head all at once. She completely lost track of her focus on the house she wished to stay in. Gryffindor. The house of brave students, the colors are red and gold,... How nice would it be if she could join them, what a dream...

Reading her mind, the hat whispered.
'Gryffindor eh...? Are you sure?..'
Nico didn't give in to his persuasions and started to chant the houses name in her head.

'Are you ready for this, little one?... I give you... SLYTHERIN!'

The entire table of Slytherin cheered. They were excited. Nico on the other hand wished she could die right there and right now. In front of everyone. Her eyes lost some light and she looked at her feet. Quietly, she stood up and walked down to the Slytherin table. She hoped some student who had no clue what he was doing with his wand, would accidently set her on fire... Or maybe she'd get turned into a toad to then later on be driven over by a car on the street.
Slowely she slid down beside a student and sighed deeply. Gently she put her arms infront of her, faceplanting the empty plate...

The hall was just... well... utterly and unspeakably beautiful. Reagan turned around, eyes absorbing the view, mouth slightly open. The colors of warm brown and gold were slightly sparkling in the light of hundreds of candles floating below the magical ceiling, that looked like the cold and iron-colored autumn sky. The lively and homely atmosphere of the room filled her heart and dispelled the chill out of her bones.
All around her, people were sitting next to long oak tables, all wearing different colored cloaks- red, green, blue and yellow, the shades of her life. The sound of talking and laughter filled the room, but there was also something else there. Excitement, fear, expectation and uncertainty.
The man who greeted and lead them in now stood on a platform, his tall figure towered over the hall. The crowd suddenly went quiet, all eyes were directed towards the newcomers. Reagan enjoyed the attention for a moment, but the inched closer to the other freshmen next to her when stage fright suddenly overcame her.
Ackerely Blackburn introduced himself and continued with his surprisingly short greeting. Then somebody brought an old almost frayed hat in- Reagan new that this was the famous Sorting Hat- the one that is going to decide about her future. But now the mysterious object sang. It sang a song.
Reagan was only a bit stunned. What was she expecting from a magic hat.
As she finished her train of thoughts Ackerely Blackburn already conjured a list of names from behind his cape and started- a bit haltingly- reading the names.
Reagan's thoughts drifted off once again as the group of first year students got less and less. She barely heard the claps when some person was sorted into a house.
And then as if someone poured icy water all over her, she heard her name
-Reagan Enah Callaghan
Her feet moved without her noticing and she stumbled on the podium a bit clumsily. Someone placed the Sorting Hat on her head, but it was too big so it slipped down on her eyes, disclosing all the people and their gleamy eyes.
-Well, well we have an interesting person here.-she heard the voice as if it came directly from her brain.-What is the most valuable thing in your life?
-My friends.- the words ran out of Reagan's mouth without her thinking. She felt like everyone is eavesdropping.
-Very well.- the Hat said.-You'll find a lot in this house.
SLYTHERIN
The word quavered gently in her ear. Slytherin. She'll have a good time there.

The girl walked in behind a girl with blonde, wavy hair, not knowing what to expect. Sure, she was in awe after seeing how great the Great Hall was, the candles floating in the air and the ceiling that looked like it was opened to the sky. She did gasp at the number of students that have gathered there to see the Ceremony or to perhaps just eat in peace while the new kids join their tables, hoping they don't get asked any questions. That's what she would do, but she was the first year so there was no 'danger'. At least for now.

To be honest, this reminded her of the Student Tour at her old school.

The older ones sitting there and saying 'this is here, though you can't go there', 'you can't go there without an invite from an older student', 'don't do this/that or you'll get detention', and when any kid asked any question that'd actually be practical, they just stared at him with a stupid face.

The hat started singing.

"What the hell is happening?" she mumbled, trying to listen to what it was singing. "Am I sure this isn't a dream?" Before she could actually think of any reasonable explanation, the hat stopped and the four tables started to clap really, really, loudly, making her cover her ears. She hated noise.

The tea- professor explained everything and Thea listened while looking at the probably best two things in the whole castle: the moving paintings and the ghosts, almost fully forgetting about the hat's singing. After the teacher stopped and the first name was called, she revised what she was supposed to do to herself in her mind, trying to not screw up on her first day.

Yeah, this really did feel like a more exciting/nerve-wracking/magical version of a public school. Except, you know, it was wizards and witches and not kids that would get into fights after school ended, and even if the teachers did see them they wouldn't do anything.

She realized that the kid was still sitting on the stool with his eyes covered up by the way too big hat, and panicked for a second. Wait. What happened here? Is it like a quiz? Do they read your mind? Are you supposed to talk? Are you supposed to take a rabbit out of the hat when you take it off? WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

The hat called out Slytherin and one of the tables stood up, cheering.
Her last name started with K - Knott, so that was truly great, she got to see what happens when you do sit on the stool... except you didn't see anything. Why did the kid go to Slytherin? The hat did sing about that name, and a bunch of other ones - Ravenclaw and Gryffindor being the more memorable ones, but she couldn't remember what they were associated with.

You'd think she'd be more prepared, even for a Muggle-born.

Names were called, names were shouted out, tables cheered, kids would go and sit. Thea was a patient person, but the routine did get her bored quickly, so she wanted to sit down on the ground-

"Knott, Thea."

She froze.

Thea inhaled sharply and with fake confidence walked up to the stool to sit on it, putting the hat on and letting it go over her eyes. Was it a trick to make the students less nervous? Perhaps. She closed her eyes, but then immediately opened them in shock as the hat started talking.

New year, new name, new mind...

EXCUSE YOU- the girl thought back, realizing it was a house interview with a mind-reading hat, not quite knowing why she was angry. Did the hat mean she was a muggle-born? Would that mean that she's the first witch in her WHOLE family, generations and generations back?

Reckless, perhaps? Certainly not a coward, but not quite the Gryffindor's bravery... yet.

Okay then... Thea replied, quite confused, losing her angry manner in a bat of an eye. It was quite fun to talk with a hat through your mind, and she'd think that it was a dream if she didn't remember the countless reality checks before, but she certainly wasn't brave in any way. Although she didn't like it, she was extremely scared of a lot of things.

Is it even possible to put someone in just one house? she wondered, not remembering that the hat could hear it.

A thirst for knowledge, and a quick learner... hm, Ravenclaw perhaps?

Well, if not Ravenclaw... Hard-working and loyal...

Thea was getting impatient, even though it usually didn't happen. While she was sad and in a more gloomy mood, she was also happy to start this journey, and honestly, it was a lot of her traits and feelings conflicting with each other.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted out, making Thea nervous, as one of the tables cheered as Thea slowly took the hat off, leaving one last question behind.

Is it really possible?

She hummed the tune sitting precariously on her lips, the lyrics of one of her favorite songs playing inside her head over and over again. Cleo had listened gleefully to her music the whole train ride to Hogwarts, only one person attempting to bother her personal space to ask her what she was listening to. After handing them an earbud and seeing the look of sheer confusion overtake their features she found herself innately satisfied; it didn't take long for Cleo to realize she was a black sheep in a field of fluffy white lambs. Pure bloods? Muggle born? Half bloods? It all made sense in her head, a hierarchy of labels in order for people to feel secure within themselves. If you can label yourself as something, you know who you are... right? Or, that's how others tended to believe anyway.

Not that a pure bloods opinion on her muggle music was going to bother her anyway, if anything it amused her. 'People are predictable', this was probably the cruelest thing her father had ever said about the human race, but Cleo totally agreed. Wizard or muggle, to her people were predictable and ridiculously clueless. Now here she was, surrounded by hundreds of them in an atmosphere she'd never thought possible. The humming, and recreating of lyrics in her head was one of the only things fighting off the evident nerves threatening to take hold as Cleo idly listened to the odd misshapen hat sing a song. Sure, her dad attempted to explain as much possible about the Wizarding world before sending his only daughter off but nothing would have prepared her for candles floating in midair or legitimate talking hats. It felt like something out of a dream, a really warped messed up dream no less.

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin. Four houses, one of which Cleo would find herself in for the next seven years of her life. Bravery, loyalty, wit, and cunning; interesting traits, none that seemed to catch her minds eye but each effectively garnering her full attention nonetheless. Cleo idly wondered what houses her parents might end up in if they had the abilities she did. Her mother was a spit fire, someone not be toiled with but morally aligned. If she knew Cleo was out and about acting the way she was... well, her mother was a brave woman so Gryffindor seemed to be a good fit. If she were still alive, that is. Her father on the other hand had a kind heart and was loyal to a fault which at times put he and her at odds... a Hufflepuff no doubt. The thought brought a small smile to Cleo's face as she fondly recalled their final goodbye at the train station. He was teary eyed and she was annoyed; Cleo was sure she was going to miss him dearly.

"Cleo Killian!"

She nearly jumped out of her skin, mouth hanging slightly agape as the situation finally rendered itself in her muddled mind. Already this experience was much too overwhelming, but Cleo would be the last person on Earth to admit she couldn't handle something - so without a single glance left or right to her peers she took her steps up to the singing hat; Cleo didn't even allow her azure gaze to flit upwards so as to see the professors face, instead turning abruptly and taking a seat on the stool, awaiting the final determination of what house she would belong to.

But it still came as a shock to her when the hat was set precariously on her small head, nearly five sizes too big as it slid to just below her eyebrows, forcing nimble fingers to seize the leather rim and tip it upwards so she wouldn't be blinded. How annoying. "Ah... quite the volatile one I see." The hat had the audacity to laugh, and though Cleo was sure there was no way it was speaking inside her head... it seemed that were the case. "Rash, opinionated, impetuous... but with lots of drive. Oh yes, you will do anything to get what you want."

"Well it isn't such a bad thing to want things." Cleo mumbled disparagingly, a little ticked that this singing, leathery croak of a hat was calling her out in the exact way her fathers family tended to do. However, his deduction that she had drive was the one that shocked her the most. Did she have drive?

"You are exactly right, it isn't a bad thing. That's why I know right where you belong." The hat replied simply. This decision seemed a little rushed, the hat appeared to know right from the start where she belonged - after all, he was reading her like an open book. Everyone else before her sat up on the stool for a good few minutes before the hat mad a decision, and here she was a minute later...

"S L Y T H E R I N"

The Slytherin table erupted into cheers immediately, startling Cleo from her reverie. Her eyes examined their happy faces, green attire and cutting eyes similar to her own. Slytherin, the house of the cunning and ambitious. Cleo grinned, feeling the hat lift from her head and a tug in her chest for the people that would be her true home for the next seven years of her Wizarding life.

"This'll do."