Sorting Ceremony 2019-2020 Archived

'Exceptional gifts' That was what her father had told his coworkers when they inquired about Sylvaky's new school. They had all been so very excited for the young girl and chipped in for hand woven friendship bracelets. Thirteen had been ordered, one tied securely around her left wrist, two for her parents, and the other ten for various military personnel she had gotten to know. If Sylvaky was honest with herself, she would rather be back home. The daily routine for rising early, walking through the civilian area of the base to make her morning rounds before school was comforting despite having moved several times.

She knew how to make friends on the base. It was as easy as finding someone sitting alone in the mess hall and striking up a conversation, usually along the lines of complaining about early mornings. But Hogwarts...with so many kids around her age, she felt intimidated. She didn't know how to socialize in a crowd.

The large doors to the Great Hall seemed to loom over Sylvaky. She inspected the craftsmanship, allowing her eyes to dart over each carved line and intricate pattern until the flowing pattern was hidden from view by an intimidating looking man in armor. She thought the armor looked a little tacky, but not out of place considering where she was. By his general attitude and body language, she made the connection that he was probably Headmaster Lear. It was odd, but she felt the need to salute, or bow, or was it curtsy? She was suddenly made aware that she didn't know the etiquette of the wizarding world. Panic flooded into her blood but she made herself walk forward, head up, shoulders squared, and back straight just as she had been taught.

Sylvaky had only made it a few steps into the hall before they were gathered near the front. Headmaster Lear made his speech and took out a long scroll. She wondered briefly why they hadn't made the switch over to technology but presumed holding to tradition was more important. She listened with mild interest to the others being sorted into their houses, entertained by the Sorting Hat's musings.

"Sylvaky Ebonhold."

She furrowed her brows, what kind of order where they going by?

Stepping up to the stool and sat with hands folded in her lap. The weight of the Sorting Hat pressed on her scalp.

"Hello." she whispered, "My mother told me about you."

"Oh?" The hat mused, a note of curiosity in its voice.

Sylvaky shrugged, "She said you were a tattered old hat. But she was smiling. I think she really liked you."

A soft chuckled escaped the old beaten up fabric, "You wear your heart on your sleeve, young one. Based solely on this, I might be inclined to put you in Hufflepuff, but let's dig a little deeper. Hmmm..."

The young girl waited patiently while the hat read her mind and heart. She didn't think it would feel like anything, but she had hoped there would be some indication.

"You crave adventure," the Sorting Hat pointed out, "Gryffindor would serve you well. But I sense something deeper...One moment..."

Sylvaky waited a moment, then two. The sorting hat hummed and hawed for a short while. Its fabric brow dipped low in thought.

"Yes, that should do nicely. You are still young and inexperienced but your ambition certainly shines through. I believe I'll sort you into..."

One last moment of uncertainty, eyes crawling over the rest of the room.

"Slytherin!" The hat exclaimed.

The witch grinned and whispered a quick thank you before slipping off the stool to make her way to the Slytherin table. Students cheered at her approach and though they cheered for every new addition, her chest was filled with a pride she had rarely experienced.

For now at least, this was her home.

Both his parents were Ravenclaws when they went to Hogwarts in their youth, having actually first met in the common room, and so Logan completely expected to be the same house. If he wasn't, well, he'd hope that perhaps Slytherin would work instead, as it was also rather based on knowledge in his opinion.

Logan heard the other students get called, and watched them be sorted into their houses. Most the people who went before him seemed to be happy with the house they received, which in Logan's opinion was definitely a good sign. Because that meant most of them were getting the houses that they knew they fit, so that meant that Logan most likely would. Perfect.

"Logan Berry" was called out, and Logan nodded as he walked over to the sorting hat. He sat down on the stool, and let the hat be carefully placed on his head.

"So, what do we have here?" The hat mused, "Quite an interest for learning, huh? And a significant love of learning as well.."

"So.. Ravenclaw?" Logan quickly thought in response.

"Rather impatient, are you? Well, you do also have quite the makings for Slytherin. You do have a fair amount of ambition, after all, but you don't seem like the type who would put their sense of what is just behind just to fulfill that ambition. Your loyalty is purely based on how a person treats you, so Hufflepuff does not fit, and you are not exceptionally brave, so overall, it has to be..."

"RAVENCLAW!" The hat announced.

Logan smiled as he then got to stand up and get off the stool, he proudly walked over to the Ravenclaw table, exactly where he had expected he would be.

Clem Larch’s first thought upon entering the Great Hall was that it deserved the title, not just in terms of scale, but simply in terms of aesthetic effect. The second thought he had, as he toppled to the ground, was that the cobblestone floor was a lot cleaner than he would have expected it to be. Not looking at where he was going, he had tripped on the hem of the robe of the person in front of him. Pulling himself up, he apologized quickly, brushing himself off and continued to stare at the ceiling, which he stared at throughout all of the hat’s speech.

Frankly, Clem wasn’t sure what to expect. Neither of his parents were wizards - though they probably would have given anything to be here, he thought. Really, he was just excited to be here, excited to learn new things. Maybe here he would finally find friends that just clicked. It was all well and good to have friends to play games with, but what he really wanted was someone that he could easily talk with into the wee hours of the night.

His reverie was broken by the headmaster calling out his name:

“Larch, Clem.”

“Erm, yes, sorry, here!” he said, pushing his way through the masses of students that he had found himself at the back of. Sitting on the stool, staring at the hat about to be placed over his head, Clem realized just how many people were in the hall, all staring at him and a bright flush started to creep over his face. He was thankful for both the darkness and the face covering as the hat fell over his eyes.

“Naturally inquisitive, filled with a desire to learn. But what’s this here? A faint underbelly of desire? A need for outside recognition? A willingness to do what must be done, no matter the cost? But of course, all in the name of knowledge.”

Resisting the urge to scratch the back of his neck, Clem mumbled “... yes?” Really, being read like this was awful. Worse than the time he let his mum help him edit a school paper - having all the facts of your character laid out like this was overwhelming. To make it worse, it really seemed as if the hat was laughing at him right then.

“Well,” it continued,”there’s really only one place for you... 

RAVENCLAW!”

As the hat was yanked off of his head and he stared out into the candlelit gloom of the hall, Clem blinked a few times. Which house was Ravenclaw again? But the loud cheers coming from the table of blue seemed to answer his question for him. He all but ran down the steps of the dais, dashing towards the comfort of the crowd and the promise of a new home. 

The room seemed to hold an interesting amount of character. The walls lines with many paintings, all very much alive. Korin couldn't seem to keep her eyes in one place. She watched and listened hoping not to miss any of it, after all she would need to write it all down later in her journal. She looked at some of the other students that had been sorted wondering what they had to have them put in their respective houses. For a moment she was hit with a spike of fear. Only once had she ever had another in her mind and she was almost worried what would be found. She shook that off, now was not the time.

For a time there was a palpable tension, student's being called up to sit upon the stool and wear the hat. Her mother described to her the feeling of the hat upon her, the way that he had spoken to her and sorted her into Gryffindor, and for a moment she wondered if she would be placed there too.

She watched as more were sorted, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. They all seemed very happy with their placements and hired away from the chair to go and meet their new families. Korin had not come into this with a house in mind knowing that if she had she may be disappointed, instead she decided that no matter what she would be happy.

"Korin Dayne." the sorting hat called.
She walked up the steps, purpose to her strides and reminded herself that the hat would make the right choice.

"Well, well. It seems that you are more prepared for this than most. Although there is some doubt in your mind you clearly have determination. You are always ready to learn and are very clearly full of curiosity. You have a good sense of the value of knowledge and above all else prize wit and wisdom. You will make and excellent fit into the Ravenclaw house. Be mindful though dear, do not doubt what you know to be true and learn all that you can." With that the sorting hat was removed from her head and she followed the other sorted Ravenclaws.

She had a smile on her face that spoke of the wonderous feeling within her. She knew in her heart that she would fit here. And she would live by the words that were spoken to her, she would do everything that she could to make sure she learned and made the wise choices. As the ceremony continued she watched and waited for other Ravenclaws to emerge.

"Staverly, Catriona."

Catriona stood on shaky legs and made her way to the Sorting Hat. It felt like everyone was watching her, so she squeezed her eyes shut.

If she was being honest, the Sorting Hat scared her. She didn't quite like the idea of something rooting around in her mind, especially not a hat that would sort her for the rest of her time at Hogwarts. Why couldn't she just choose. In fact, this whole house system seemed like a bit of a mess. All of this lent itself to stereotypes like the "Gryffindors are stupid and Slytherins are mean" thing. In fact, the sorting only exacerbated the nerves of first years and served to make everything ten times more diff--

Catriona's train of thought was cut off by a chuckle. "Interesting thoughts, young lady." Catriona almost fell off the stool. She'd been expecting the hat, of course, just not so... suddenly. "A sharp mind... full of wit and clever observations. A pity you rarely share them." The hat's observation was matter-of-fact and sharp, but not unkind. Catriona found herself beginning to like the hat. "Untrustworthy, but loyal. You would do well in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but you know that already."

Catriona nodded. "What about Slytherin?"

If she could see the hat, she was sure it would be frowning. "Perhaps..."

"I would say I'm pretty resourceful. I made a splint out of a tree branch once in only five minutes. And I'm loyal and ambitious. Who's to say I couldn't be a Slytherin?"

The hat sounded a bit like it was laughing. "The fact that you would debate your house with me is very telling. You just have to accept it for yourself."

Catriona had only a moment to compose herself before the hat yelled, "Ravenclaw!" and she was on her feet again, moving to the table of her new house.

"Rose, Savannah"

The 11-year-old in question rose from where she was seated with the other first years, heart-beat pounding in her ears and a nervous lump in her throat. The dark-haired girl took a few seconds to steel herself, jerking her chin upwards and thickly swallowing. She wasn't sure where her anxiety stemmed from. Savannah had watched the other first years go before her. You sat on the stool and the hat---worn and beaten, was placed on your head. Some students sat there longer than others. But everyone was sorted, no matter how long it took. Everyone had a place, here at Hogwarts. Perhaps that was what frightened her.

Savannah made her silent approach to the stool, brown eyes firmly planted on the hat.

She was afraid that she would be the only student here that didn't belong, that didn't have a house or even friends for that matter. Oddly enough, that was the only thing that frightened her. Being among other witches and wizards, some who had more knowledge of the wizarding world than she did--didn't bother her the slightest. In fact, it excited her. Savannah sat down on the stool and let out the breath she had been holding and decided to focus on that. She was eager to see what adventures and discoveries awaited her here at Hogwarts.

The hat was placed on her head by a professor and her vision was immediately obscured. A voice soon filled her mind, as clear as her own. Her brows shot up her forehead and a little smile twitched at her lips. "Let's see what we have here," the sorting hat hummed and the girl sucked her full bottom lip into her mouth, worrying it between her teeth.

"Well, what a cunning mind you have, undoubtedly shaped by your need to survive." The hat said matter of factly. "You'll do whatever it takes to protect yourself, clearly jaded by the world and it's unusual cruelties." Her smile faded and the excitement she felt was replaced with discomfort. Having your innermost workings exposed by a hat of all things, made her feel uneasy. "You'd do well in Slytherin you know." Savannah remained silent, content to let the hat decide her fate for her. She didn't care where she went. She just wanted to belong. "Or even Ravenclaw. Your intelligence is a source of pride, and rightly so. " Savannah wiggled in her seat, her stomach an odd mixture of emotions. A part of her was relieved that the Hat knew she belonged somewhere. She would have a home, here at Hogwarts. She just didn't know where yet.

"But, despite being shrouded in thick callous, I can see your heart clearly..."

"Yes?" She thought anxiously. "Where do I belong?"

"..And it's spun from Gold. You are bold and undoubtedly brave. You make a point to share what little you have, with the less fortunate," Savannah thought of the goods she often stole from convenience stores, and then of how she shared them with small children at the library and with the homeless on walks home. "You would take risks to help the ones you love, and the same risks to help a stranger in need."

"Please just tell me, Hat." Her thoughts although silent, sounded desperate to her own ears.

"Remember little lioness, every lion has a pride."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Cress couldn't lie-when she first arrived at Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express, she was kind of scared. The castle from a distance seemed pretty pleasant-the dark blue backdrop of the sky against the gleaming castle, filled with dozens of stars. The lake they traveled over in boats glimmered with the reflection of the lanterns they were using, ripples sent out from the boats. But as they had gotten closer, the big castle loomed over Cress's head, seeming sort of frightening.

Hogwarts was a big difference from her private school back in London. Her private school was in a sort of mansion, but nothing compared to Hogwarts. There was a total of probably 100 kids in the school altogether-probably the amount of other first years that traveled with her, if not more. The less, the better. Cress remembered her father saying. While her mother had wanted her to grow up in a Muggle way, her father had wanted to conceal her magical abilities, in order to not raise any suspicions. So, Cress was sent off to a small private school, the very one her mother had attended. Despite this, her father would go on and on about Hogwarts and his years there. Cress and her mother would both listen on in admiration, always loving when he would talk about the magic he would do and what sort of exciting things were going on. From the second she heard about Hogwarts, Cress couldn't wait until the moment she attended.

And the moment was here.

As Cress entered the castle, everything seemed much too big. The halls were large, enough to fit her whole class! The tall, stone statues of knights in armor kind of creeped her out; it was as if they were ready to jump out at any moment. The amount of people too! Cress and the rest of the first years were ushered in the Great Hall, and Cress was suddenly met with hundreds of more students, all eyes on them. Cress became worried. She remembered her father explaining to her the four Houses and how students were sorted. A hat? Cress would question. How can a hat decide where you belong? Her father had only laughed. You'll see when you get there! Just don't be nervous!

Easy for him to say.

Students were being called one by one to place the Sorting Hat on their head. The Sorting Hat would mutter a couple words, sometimes the student would say something in response, and the Sorting Hat would then yell out the House. It seemed to be going in alphabetical order, so Cress waited until it got to the L's that she really started to freak out. She didn't want a dusty old hat to look inside her mind. That was just plain creepy.

Lost in her thoughts, Cress suddenly heard it-the words she had been waiting for: McNess, Cress!

The Great Hall fell silent, all eyes on her. The crowd in front of her parted as she began to walk forward, her hands becoming clammy. This is it, she thought, the moment I've been waiting for.

Stepping up, the Sorting Hat was placed on Cress's head and she immediately heard a tiny voice, as if it was her mind speaking out loud.

Ahh yes, another McNess. I can see quite clearly, much more clearer than I could read your father. However, it does not seem like you are your father's daughter. No no, you two are quite different I see.

Okay, this was getting weird. How did this hat seem to know her inside out after 10 seconds?

Boisterous young lady you are, and pretty loud I can tell. Hmph. You could do well like your father in hufflepuff, but I think it's going to be RAVENCLAW!

Immediately, Cress was met with applause from the whole room, but specifically from one of the middle tables with students dressed in blue were standing up. Cress grinned as the Sorting Hat was taken off her head, and she hopped down the steps to greet her new Housemates.

It felt natural, almost like destiny, to be stood in the great hall, awaiting her turn before the sorting hat. All this time it had taken, and yet it fell into place so easily━those years Leila had spent agonizing over her studies and skills, worrying if she’d ever make it, were suddenly lifted from her slender shoulders. It was such a startling sensation, as she hadn’t even realized that the stress had been so persistent━perhaps it was because she preferred it, like a companion that comforted her with no chance of being left behind. It acted as an anchor for her troubled heart, which yearned so helplessly for assurance, though she’d never admit it.

“Leila Rhee!”

The name echoed in the ambiance of the hall, followed shortly by a sharp intake of air. A thousand thoughts cloud her quick━witted mind, hazy from the nerves which brewed a tight knot of discontent in her stomach. On the outside, however, she is as collected as she usually presents herself━chin tilted up, posture straight, and a neutral, calm expression complimenting her endearing facial features. The young witch approaches the stool, slow and calculated in her approach. Perhaps observing, or simply delaying the judgement to come.

Moments after Leila sat, she is dimly aware of the many eyes staring with rapt attention━the crowd of unfamiliar faces elicits no discomfort, though, simply awaiting the hat’s weight, and soon it came. She’s unable to stop herself from exhaling shakily, as a deep, baritone hum emitted from the hat, deep in thought.

“A smart one, aren’t you? Very, very eager… you think of the future so often, it is easy for you to forget the past,” those daunting words seem so personal, so intimate, that the collective presence of the students before her suddenly becomes much more intimidating. “You yearn for knowledge, but why? No, not for the wisdom… for the power. Your ambition outweighs all else… you will stop at nothing to prove yourself.”

Those butterflies, once riddled with doubt, meet this clarity with ease. It was right, without a shadow of a doubt━Leila knew nothing except for ambition. Her rose lips part ever so slightly, preparing to offer her rare, but meaningful commentary. “You know the answer, I'm ready,” those soft━spoken words are carried by a silk like voice, sweet as honey, but with an underlying edge that suggested she was more than she seemed.

“Slytherin!”

A pleased smile curves onto her ample mouth, arising from that uncomfortable stool to endeavor towards her rightful place━her house, her home.

Amelia felt an onslaught of emotions at once the moment she stepped foot into the hall. The other students around her chattered nervously, but all she could do was gaze at the ceiling overhead where candle flames danced like starlight. They reminded her all at once of all the things she had read about, all the things she had experienced second hand through her books but the fact that she was here, in person, surrounded by others just as gifted as she was, sent her swelling with pride.

All at once, she found herself tearing up. She wiped her tears away quickly, as it was nearly her turn to get sorted, but she could hardly concentrate with the noise in the room. It's beautiful, she mused as she gazed out ahead at the front table where a girl had just been sorted into Slytherin. She wanted to look at everything, experience everything all at once but there was just so much she knew that if she even bothered to try she wouldn't be able to remember a glimmer of what happened.

So she focused her gaze on the hat and nearly jumped out of her skin when her name was called.

"Amelia Boux!"

The room went quiet as she weaved her way through the other first years, keeping her head up, a broad smile on her face as she plopped down on the wooden chair. It was uncomfortable, she noted, to be in a room of people she didn't know, but knowing that they were all just as eager as she was to see what house she was in filled her with the confidence she needed to get through the day.

And before she knew it, she could only see the floor from the brim of the hat.

"Oh? A challenge, I see,"The Hat mused as it combed through her thoughts. His comments made her shift in her seat, but he didn't comment on it as he continued,"So very daring. Intelligent too. You spent all those years learning, but for what, I wonder." It was then Amelia found herself considering her qualities too. Sure she was brave, but only when one of her friends were in danger, or if she knew she could gain something from her venture. Sure, that could qualify her as being cunning, but she didn't find herself particularly ambitious in either category. She knew she was smart, she could give herself that, as she knew she had spent countless hours studying among her peers, but she couldn't justify that that was a reason to put her in Ravenclaw. They sought out knowledge, and as much as she hated to admit it, Amelia could care less about what she knew as long as she could make sure her family and friends were safe.

So when she and the hat both fell silent, she nearly jumped out of her skin when he called out,"Hufflepuff!"

Despite that, a grin made its way to her face as she rushed over, eager to meet her newfound family with open arms.

All the calmness she had felt on the boat ride here had burst like a bubble. She was almost squealing with excitement. Almost. She contained herself, but jumped around a bit, blushing. I'm going to get sorted into a House! She recalled Lilac attempting to tell Teiki how the ceremony went, but Lilac had never explained this much excitement. She tried to calm herself down as she stood in the Great Hall, waiting for her name to be called.

"Laurent, Teiki." Her name was called. She shivered in anticipation before walking up towards the hat. She sat down and felt as the hat was placed upon her head. She could barely see anything at all, but for her, it made the process of sorting feel more immersive. Maybe because she didn't have to worry about anyone else.

"Oh? A Peculiar one..." She smiled as the hat continued to think. "You value stories and adventure. I remember your father, he was an adventurous one as well. Quite a trouble sometimes. A definite Gryffindor." She grinned, remembering the stories her father had told her. What about Lilac? She wondered, sure the hat could hear her. Apparently she was right because the hat responded, "Ah, your cousin. A Ravenclaw, I recall. But this is about you. Quite energetic... Make sure you put that energy to good use." She nodded, knowing quite well that the energy the hat spoke of could easily get her in trouble. It had happened with her father often enough.
"Deeper down, though..," the hat mused, "You will stop at nothing to make sure your friends are okay..." The hat thought for a bit longer as Teiki recalled her faithful companion, Milly. They always took care of each other.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat called out, surprising her from her momentary introversion and remembrance. She smiled as the hat was lifted off. She hopped off the stool and went to her new home, ready for an adventure.