Sorting Ceremony 2024-2025

Date Reducio September 1st, 2024

Mentions Reducio

Extra Reducio WC: 460 | Thoughts: #288f3a | Speech: #8f288c

To say that Azrael was nervous would be an understatement. He was practically vibrating with something in between the all-consuming nervousness and excitement. There were so many other students here, it was practically enough to fill a whole stadium. He was pretty sure it would be enough. Not like he had seen any, but that didn't matter. The Great Hall amazed him, so much so he barely payed any attention to the speech or the song. He did notice the Hat was talking, which somehow was the least surprising of it all. Alright, maybe not, but definitely not the most surprising.

As the sorting started, he found himself practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. People were sorted into all four Houses, the Hat did like to talk though, that was sure. And as one by one the students went up to it, Azrael found nervousness overriding the excitement. What House would he be in? His family was all in Slytherin, he probably would be too. But what if not? What then? Sure his parents had told him that it didn't matter which one he got, but what if it did? What if they had just said it so he wouldn't worry too much. Maybe they did want him to get into a specific House. He didn't want to get into Slytherin though, not at all. He could do without his parents' lineage, he was fine on his own. He had made it to the ceremony hadn't he?

"Hunt, Azrael!"

Azrael startled, his thoughts cut off by the booming voice that called his name. He hurried to the front, almost tripping over himself in the process. Good thing he didn't actually fall. He sat on the chair, the hat placed on him. He ducked his head slightly, a talking Hat on his head felt weirder than the talking Hat just by itself.

"Hmm, a Hunt, huh? Let's see, let's see...Oh, a Flock as well...So much Slytherin blood in you, huh?" Azrael shivered, he felt as if his brains were being examined. There wasn't much to examine even, he was pretty average, his life had been boring. Still the only thought that passed through his head as he sat there was: "Let it be Slytherin, let it be Slytherin, let it be Slytherin, let it be Slytherin."

"So interesting, aren't you boy? Where to put you? So much in that little head of yours and even more in your heart...Well, we don't have all day, better be..." Azrael squeezed his eyes shut as the Hat got ready to sort him, chanting in his mind "Slytherin, Slytherin, Slytherin, Slytherin, Slytherin."

"Hufflepuff!"

Extra
Thoughts: #ffdc85 Speech: #fec13e

Daisy is sitting quietly waiting for her turn after all the other students but she is also nervous. She has never been with so many people and she would be in one of the ones where her parents were. This made her even more nervous *will I be able to make my parents proud? Or will I be in another house?*

"Ash Daisy!" says The Headmaster. Daisy looks up at the headmaster and is very nervous. She sighs one more time and goes to the chair where she is sorted into a house. She looks straight ahead when she feels the Sorting hat on her head.

"Hmm interesting.... oh 2 different types of blood. But where am I going to put you..... Maybe Ravenclaw or maybe Gryffindor." When Daisy heard Gryffindor she started to get really scared. *Am i going to let my parents down?* But at that moment she suddenly heard.

Hufflepuff!

Daisy was suddenly very aware that she heard Hufflepuff. After the sorting hat is taken off her head she goes to sit at the table with the rest of Hufflepuff. She was also smiling really hard. *I'm so happy, I didn't let my parents down.* Daisy starts looking around the table and suddenly got scared again. when she thought about her eyes. This is not very common and maybe people are afraid of her because she has 2 different eyes.

As the grand door of the great hall itself opened Wren realized that the place was much bigger than she expected. The ceiling was very high, there were moving magical portraits either acting on their own, minding their own business or were (creepily) eyeing the students, especially the first years like her. Wren felt out of place yet also where she belonged to at the same time, somehow. There were 4 long tables that had older students of different colors from their houses. Speaking of houses, she kept wondering which house she would be sorted into. She could honestly see herself in any house…perhaps less hufflepuff, based on the little info she knows Wren doubted that she would really satisfy Hufflepuff’s need for the sorting. But to be honest, she didn’t really wanna be in that house anyway, not that it was bad but she just preferred other houses. If she could choose she’d probably be in gryffindor, but slytherin would be also interesting, and ravenclaw also fitting.

As she was thinking through it in her head, a sudden voice almost made her jump in surprise. A wizard with an armor and kind of a stern look started speaking. She quickly found he was the Headmaster. She started to listen intently, not wanting to lose any important part of the speech.
While he was talking to the first years, a sudden voice interrupted his speech.
Wren’s eyes opened with the curious realization that it was the sorting hat she’d heard about from her family and some peers back then. Apparently it made a joke that wasn’t funny. She would roll her eyes if she wasn’t more in a curious and excited mood, so she found herself smiling almost fondly instead..

Then it was time to start sorting the new students. Wren sighed in impatience as she realized the queue was based on the alphabet. A to the ….W. Little Bennett wished her initial wasn't like that..
At first it was alright, she watched the other students getting sorted and got a glimpse of what she would soon experience as well. While waiting, she looked around her unusual surroundings and people-watched a little.

When the letter W came around she finally got called. She smiled excitedly, put on a more confident body posture and walked towards the hat.

It began speaking in her head as soon as it was on.

“My my my, what do we have here, you are quite a complex soul aren’t you? Wren didn’t say anything, she already knew that.
Oh you know you’re complex, you know I can find you fitting into anywhere. Intelligent and curious, like a Ravenclaw, ambitious like a slytherin..

Her curiosity and anticipation felt worse now.

“But you are not the patient type, you’re not at all. You just wanna go straight into action, dont you?”

Yes,yes, come on with it already.

“Well you don’t value intelligence for its own sake and you are not that cunning” Wren felt almost offended at that.

The hat laughed inside her head. But you’re quite prideful arent you, i know exactly where you’d shine in

GRYFFINDOR

Date: Sunday 1st September 2024 | Mentions: @Hannah Nelson | Extras: Sorting Hat Speech
Genevieve wandered into the Great Hall with all the other first years. She and Hannah (her only magical friend so far) stuck close together so as not to get separated.
As Genevieve looked around she saw five gigantic tables in the humongous hall.
"One for each of the four houses and a fifth one for teachers" Hannah whispered into Genevieve's ear.
"Hannah, why isn't there a ceiling?" Genevieve asked Hannah.
"There is a ceiling, it's just enchanted to look like the sky outside! My parents told me about it before we left for the train." replied Hannah. "Shh, it's the headmaster's speech!"
Sure enough, the headmaster had stood up and had started speaking but still Genevieve only half listened -- there was so much (maybe to much) to take in!
All of a sudden Genevieve noticed that the headmaster had sat down and stopped talking -- someone else was. Genevieve looked around to see who it was and noticed a shabby and patched up hat on a stool. There was a rip along the bottom of the rim and it was talking! Well, it wasn't talking, more rather singing. Genevieve listened to the hat in pronounced interest. The hat sang something about each of the houses: for Gryffindor it was bravery and daring; Hufflepuff was loyalty and fairness; intelligence and wit was Ravenclaw; and finally, the ambitious and resourceful in Slytherin. Genevieve liked the sound of Ravenclaw -- she had always done really well at primary school.
The headmaster stood up again, whilst unrolling a long and lengthy scroll of paper. He started pronouncing out each of the first year's names. Finally it came to the time when Genevieve's name got called out: she anxiously walked up to the stool which the other first years had sat on before the Sorting Hat had placed them in their house. Genevieve sat down on the wooden stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head.
"Hmm, a muggle-born I can see. Passionate about gaining information about both muggle and wizarding worlds, excellent Ravenclaw trait! You're also quite friendly and would help and comfort someone if they ever got bullied, fantastic quality if you were to be in Hufflepuff! But wait, what is this? Immense ambition and a great amount of resourcefulness! Well that settles it! You belong in...
Slytherin!"
One of the colossal tables erupted into cheers as Genevieve got off the stool and shuffled over to the table of green cheers and sat down. She was trembling from head to toe. What an event she had just experienced!

Arrival
Vikus arrived at the train station with all the other kids of the Hogwarts. The first years was first to get off the train towards the enchanted boats. On the boat Vikus got a first glance of the castle and shortly after a few minute on the boats they have final arrived at the castle dock. The first years went inside the castle to a big Door.

All the other students and Professors were already inside. They Finally opened the doors for us of the Great Hall and it was amazing. The sealing was bewitched with thousands of floating candles and the night sealing. As we walked in the center of the hall there was big stool, and next to it was the professor with the sorting hat. All the other teachers was sitting behind the podium eager for the sorting ceremony to begin.

Finally we all stop in front of the sorting hats stool. We greeted and was told there are four house Gryffindor , Hufflepuff ,Ravenclaw and Slytherin and our names was slowly called one by one to put underneath the sorting hat. It was Final Vikus turn the hat was placed upon his head. The Sorting hat said "AWWW a lot of ambition and cleverness but where to proof yourself". Vikus said to himself" I hope to it's Slytherin to make his parents proud. The hat said "Aww i see you know i can see what's in your head so you belong in SLYTHERIN ! SHOUTED the hat. Vikus joined his pairs for a great celebration feast.

N/A	Evening - September 1, 2024

It had been a lengthy journey, from London to Hogwarts, yet Maya was wide awake like a constellation flickering with curiosity in a midnight sky. She joined her year group, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone floors. The corridors were dimly lit by flickering torches mounted on the walls, casting long shadows that swayed. The air was cool and carried a slight autumn draft. High above the students' heads, the ceiling arched like a cathedral, disappearing into darkness. Somehow, the corridor felt expansive, yet confining. The walls were lined with portraits - some were dozing off, others were curiously looking at the new students; and some frames were conspicuously empty, as if their occupants had ventured elsewhere.

The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and a warm, golden stream of light spilled into the corridor. The first-years filed in, and Maya swallowed harshly. She could have never even imagined such a strange and grand place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles floating above the four distinct tables. There was no ceiling; instead, a reflection of the night sky with gleaming stars filled the space beyond. Older students were not particularly stealthy with their gossips. Maya had overheard countless whispers and excited mutters. She tightened her grip on the sleeve of her robe, almost as if she sought comfort in the familiarity of her uniform. Her heart skipped a beat as she recalled the rumours from Hogwarts Express; a difficult test awaits her, in front of the entire school no less. But such an anxiety was quickly squashed as she further recalled the seventh-year Hufflepuff girl, Annie's reassurance. Maya's eyes seemed to have been glued to the old and tattered hat throughout the Headmaster's monologue. She felt bewitched by it, and next thing she heard was,
"Clark, Elena!", a loud voice exclaimed. Maya watched a dirty-blonde girl step forth to claim the seat. The Professor conducting the rollcall placed the hat onto the girl's head. Elena sat there for a few moments in utter silence, and Maya felt the small, involuntary shivers of goosebumps spreading across her skin.

"RAVENCLAW!", the Sorting Hat abruptly shrieked.

Applause erupted, and Maya conformed. Visibly relieved for Elena, she clapped her hands along while she homed in onto her new home.

"Ash, Daisy!", the rollcall continued. A brunette girl jammed the hat onto her head. A second's pause, then-
"HUFFLEPUFF!", chose the Sorting Hat.

Another round of applause, and - once again - Maya clapped along for her. A new name was read-out loud and Maya perked up.

"Bennet, Wren!"

The eager girl from the train! Maya held her breath in solidarity as Wren virtually ran to the stool. Definitely in character for her, thought Maya. Silence fell upon the Great Hall once again, until the Sorting Hat announced its latest pick, GRYFFINDOR! As the young Cho clapped along for her friend, she noticed that sometimes the hat picked the House with haste, but at others it took a short while to decide. Before she could think much of the Sorting Hat, it was her turn.

"Cho, Maya!"

All thoughts of self-doubt instantly vanished. Following a jolt of fear, Maya was frozen in place. Her feet reluctantly autopiloted her to the stool, and next second she was looking at the pitch black inside of the hat. Yet, she felt the weight of a thousand gazes upon her. It was silent.

Reducio

"Hmm," said a small voice in her ears. "What do we have here? A curious mind, indeed. I see thoughts swirling, questions, and a thirst for knowledge. But there's more to you, isn't here?"

"I... I suppose so. I want to learn everything I can, but I'm also.. well, I'm worried about fitting in," Maya thought with honesty.

"Ah, yes, I see that. A bit of anxiety, a touch of self-doubt, the Sorting Hat's voice paused for a split moment. But underneath, a keen intellect. A mind always at work. You seek understanding, and you value wisdom above all else."

Maya's mind drew blanks. She gripped the edges of the stool.

"I think so.. I like to figure things out.. to understand how things work. It's comforting."

"And you shall, with a mind like yours. A desire to grow, to explore. The answer is quite clear, my dear. You're destined for a place where your mind can flourish, where learning is celebrated, and where you'll find others who share your passion for discovery. It must be..."

"RAVENCLAW!"

Maya felt the hat shout the last word to the rest of the hall as it erupted into the latest round of applause, and relief flooded her body. She hastily removed the hat from her head, revealing a glowing wide smile. She skipped over to her House's table to take a seat with her new family, finally with a sense of belonging.

To say that Azalea was nervous would be such an understatement. She had been waiting to come to Hogwarts and experience all of this wonder since she was a little girl. Her mother, father, and grandmother had all come to Hogwarts and had been sorted into the Ravenclaw house so it would be her right of passage as a Murphy to join them as a member of Ravenclaw. Walking into the Great Hall felt like a dream! Feeling the warmth of the hall and the excitement of the people around her who may be in a house with her too made her feel at home. Making her way to the front of the hall, passing her future peers, and seeing the excitement on their faces just made it feel so real.

Giving a quick smile to the two people sitting next to her, Azalea looked up to the front to listen to the opening speeches.

Before long the sorting hat had been brought out and she could feel her heart facing out of her chest. Here we go! she whispered to herself. One by one she watched as names were called out and students walked up the stairs to sit in front of the sorting hat. Hufflepuff - Ravenclaw - Hufflepuff - Slytherin - Gryffindor. Then finally her name was called out. Azalea Murphy Up she went with her hands behind her back to stop them from shaking from a mix of excitement and nervousness.

As the sorting hat spoke all she could think about was how much she wished she would be sorted into Ravenclaw. Come on, please Ravenclaw, she wished and hoped. Suddenly the sorting hat boomed It must be Ravenclaw! Azalea almost jumped out of the seat in joy and pure relief. This was the beginning of her next adventure.

Something – no, everything – felt off. From the moment Athenia had burst through an unassuming and very solid looking brick wall at King’s Cross station with her father onto the bustling Platform 9 and 3/4, she’d felt shaken to the very core of her being, like the supports of logic she’d built her entire eleven year old world on were crumbling to dust before her eyes. As the daughter of a renowned astrophysics researcher at Oxford University, Athenia had been raised in the sciences. Hours were whiled away paging through college textbooks with sticky fingers, bedtime stories often forgone in favor of physics concepts in the most bizarre applications, and – her favorite – summer evenings spent gazing at the star-studded sky. And so, although the prospect of magic fascinated her, the fact that it so easily defied the laws of physics also deeply unsettled the young girl.

Despite this, Athenia could barely keep her mouth from hanging open as she disembarked the unmanned boats that had transported them across the great expanse that was the Black Lake and set her chocolate brown eyes upon the castle before her. Hogwarts. Her home for the next seven years. Her father had told her stories about his own tenure at the magical school, but Athenia had assumed he was exaggerating, glorifying just another boarding school she was loath to attend. But he hadn’t been lying in the slightest. Hogwarts Castle was simply majestic, stone towers coiling high into the sky until their turrets disappeared into the cloudy night. For the first time since she’d parted from her parents, the icy trepidation melted away, replaced by the familiar flame that was curiosity.

Although her mental defenses remained up, rendering her unable to fully process the scenes which her eyes drank in so greedily, Athenia couldn’t help but let a small smile crack her stony facade as the wooden doors to the Great Hall swung open, admitting the first years into a wild frenzy of cheers and bright colors. A warm feeling — camaraderie? hope? — bubbled up from her gut she surveyed the joyful faces around her. Those who surrounded her could very well be her friends, her mentors, her true family, something her parents and their vice grip had never afforded her.

A booming voice finally tore Athenia from her rare daydream, and the sight of Hogwarts’ armor-clad headmaster brought reality crashing down again. Every direction she looked reminded her of her predicament. The grand feast atop the long tables had materialized out of seemingly nowhere. An expanse of very real candles, flames dancing, floated high above in midair. Her peers were being sorted by an old talking hat. While Athenia’s father had attempted to explain the workings of the magical world to her, and had even demonstrated some simple charms around the Rycroft home, the sheer impossibility of the magical world left lasting doubts in her mind. Worse than anything, she couldn’t quite wrap her head around it all, and if there was anything Athenia Rycroft hated most in the world, it was not understanding.

The first key to unlocking Hogwarts’ secrets, though, was the Sorting Ceremony. Upon Athenia’s insistence, her father had described this to her too – the beaten but feisty Sorting Hat and its song, as well as the four houses of Hogwarts. The tidbit of information had come with an unusual mention of the rest of the Rycroft family. A well respected family in the wizarding world, the Rycrofts had not only a long history at Hogwarts, but had largely been Ravenclaw and recognized for their intellect and wit. And so, the pressure was on. Athenia was well used to being recognized the smartest in her class throughout primary school and had intention of stopping now; in addition, she now had a family name to uphold.

“Rycroft, Athenia!”

It was her turn. Squaring her shoulders as if to shake off any vestiges of fear and tilting her chin upwards ever so slightly, Athenia strode forward to take her seat. She fought the urge to grimace as the Sorting Hat was dropped onto her small head, a thin shred of grimy russet cloth dangling in front of her face. Surely it couldn’t truly read her mind. Right?

“I see you have a burning desire to prove yourself, hmm.” A funny little voice suddenly spread through her consciousness as she realized it definitely was probing her mind, for it had revealed a truth she masked with constant success. "A Rycroft, and very bright, of course, a very curious mind,” the voice continued to muse. Honestly, Athenia wasn’t quite sure where she wanted to be sorted anymore — whether following in her Rycroft ancestors’ footsteps would be a blessing or a curse.

“SLYTHERIN!”

As Athenia hopped off the stool and carried herself swiftly towards the table swathed in emerald, she felt a strange calm replace the churning in her stomach. It had not at all been expected, but being sorted into Slytherin house suddenly felt like the final puzzle piece falling into place. She certainly possessed the brains to be a Ravenclaw, but her lofty ambitions and willingness to do just about anything to pursue them was strikingly Slytherin. The Sorting Hat’s decision had certainly contradicted her father’s prediction for her, but for once, falling short of her parents’ expectations was nothing to be shameful of — in fact, it was rather thrilling. After all, Athenia Rycroft was ready to fly free and forge her own path.

Arty looked around as they entered the magnificent castle, gazing at the high ceilings with intricate details. As they admired the architecture they barely remembered their nervousness that had plagued them through the train ride. Which they had spent distracting themself, worrying about if anything was happening back home and nervous about how they would make friends, switching between the three before the train had finally arrived at Hogwarts.

Arty barely noticed the crowd of first years they were part of moving before they noticed themself at the back of the crowd. Hurriedly turning their attention to what was happening, navigating themself more to the left side of the group.

Soon they entered the great hall and Arty marveled at everything, despite having been around magic their entire life, hogwarts still seemed to be just something magical. Gazing at the ceiling enchanted to look like the starry sky, Arty was reminded of a greenhouse back home, where the glass ceiling was barely noticeable and you would think it was just bare sky, if it wasn't for the thin silver linings holding the glass glinting in the sun. Arty quickly shook their head, tearing their gaze from the starry illusion that reminded them of home, instead looking at the tables.

Arty remembered the houses. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Arty wasn't really sure which house they would be assigned in, they weren't sure if they were smart enough for Ravenclaw, or ambitious enough for Slytherin, or hardworking enough for Hufflepuff. Though Arty was sure they didn't want to be in Gryffindor, they could see the appeal of a glorious brave house, but they rather not. They had heard a lot about the recklessness and act before think nature of the house, which Arty was adament to stay away from.

Arty's train of thought was interrupted by the hat starting to sing, which honestly had a bit suprised Arty. The suprise quickly trained Arty's attention back on what was going on. A bit embarrassed that they had probably missed most that the headmaster had spoken, but calmed as they noticed first years names starting to be called.

Number of names were called before Arty's, with the hat announcing the house and the table for that house breaking into thunderous applause. Arty gazed up at the witch,who Arty was pretty sure was the deputy headmaster, who was calling the names. Arty's breath caught a little as their name was finally called.

"Thorn Arty" The witch called, motioning to the chair where the sorting hat was, as she did with all the previous students

Arty kept a rapt pace as they walked over to the sorting hat, feeling the nervousness and excitement rise in themself as they gently placed the hat on their head. Barely restraining to jump up from the chair as they heard the hat's voice in their head.

'hmm a curious case, thirst for knowledge and drive to try and prove yourself to be something great, though a lot of apprehension....indeed' The hat's said in the same voice that had just been singing in rhymes.

Arty hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to they should talk back to the hat or to shreak at it to get out of their head. Arty quickly found out, they didn't quite enjoy knowing something could see into their mind, but brushed that aside for a moment

'ill be fine with anything, other than Gryffindor..' Arty told the hat, shifting in the chair as the hat was quiet for a moment

'anything other than Gryffindor you say... then i think you will feel quite at home at.... HUFFLEPUFF'

Arty almost flinched at the loud sound, but quickly got up and walked over to the Hufflepuff table. The sorting had definitely been very exciting and nerve wrecking, but Arty couldn't help but feel relieved as they went and sat down in the Hufflepuff table. This was definitely going to be a interesting experience.

Poppy was nervous for the sorting hat ceremony. She knew that it was nothing. That you would just have a hat placed on your head, to help you find the right group.

On her mother’s side of the family they’ve partaken in this tradition for generations and have spanned many houses. Her mother was a Slytherin, her uncle a Hufflepuff, her grandma a ravenclaw, and her grandpa caused a hat stall before being put into hufflepuff. Those were all she knew off the top of her head. Unfortunately her cousins were still too young for hogwarts so she didn’t have any guidance here expect for what friendly wizards were willing to give her.

Her father’s side of the family was an entire different story. None of them have ever before gone to hogwarts, well not since the first colonies were formed in what is now modern day Canada. That meant she was starting the Lytle legacy within the United Kingdom. It also meant getting an occasional weird look from teachers, or classmates, and having high stakes for everything she does. How lovely.

She heard her named called, and she walked up to have the hat placed on her head. She caught the odd glances from a couple of people as she did so. It was expected but it didn’t make it any less awkward.

“A Lytle, eh? Why I didn’t expect to see one of you.” This was just great, now the hat pointed out to everyone the oddness of her linage. “Your family is great providers. They have a way with healers, and caretaking for plants and animals. I see some of that in you.”

This was great! Maybe she could get hufflepuff and be able to have Emiline show her the ropes. “Yet you have a great determination, an eagerness to learn. Creativity too. You want to work hard, and harness the magic in this world. Is that so?”

She mostly wanted to make her parents proud, but yes she was willing to work hard and she wanted to be able to understand the wonders of the world she lived in. She also did enjoy seeing and experiencing things that were different. From old music, to watching her friends show off the spells they learned. She dreamt of crafting a new spell, or potion.

”Well then the choice is clear.”

Ravenclaw!

With that announcement a cheer came from her new houses table, and she was off to find a seat and hopefully some friends for the upcoming school year.