Sorting Ceremony 2024-2025

The day finally came. The day Naomi has been dreaming about ever since she shattered that window in her room with nothing but her mind. It was the day that signalled to her that she would follow her mothers and fathers footsteps in becoming a Witch. She barely caught any sleep and when her mother entered her room to wake and fetch her for the trip to Platform nine and three quarters, Naomi was already dressed and ready to depart.

Throughout the whole train journey her heart was racing in anticipation, Naomi calming herself in the only way she knew how to. By studying. Learning. Satisfying her ambition. Her face was buried in the school books she had just previously purchased in Diagon Alley in preparation for her years at Hogwarts, no students really attempting to strike up a conversation with the lithe girl. Something Naomi was all too used to. She knew the terrible reputation her family name had amassed and while it may not be the reason for her solitude on the train ride the girl most definitely knew that it did not help.

But no matter, she thought to herself, she was more than content with satisfying her lust for knowledge during the trip to the place she so much longed for. With the train soon arriving at Hogsmeade Station, Naomi stoically followed the instructions given by her superiors as she was guided towards the carriages that were the last stretch to the school. Yet as soon as the carriages came into view, the first year student stopped in her tracks as the curious creatures pulling them at the same time shocked and filled the girl with morbid curiosity. Leaning over to a nearby girl, Naomi asked with a quiet voice "What... are those things?" pointing over to the Thestrals. Yet the girl just looked at her with a confused look.

Confused herself, Naomi was soon ushered onto one of the carriages, leaving the encounter to become nothing but a afterthought buried in her head.

The doors to the Great Hall soon swung open, unleashing the new first years onto the room as they were lead to the front of the hall where the ceremony Naomi was all to anxious about was going to take place. As the group of students moved through the Great Hall, Naomi stuck to the back of the pack, her head kept low as she quietly moved to where she was supposed to be. Feelings of dread, excitement and fear ran through her head as she pondered in which house she was going to get sorted into. The Evergreen family was known to be generally associated with Slytherin, most of their members having been sorted into said house, yet there were of course exceptions. Naomi hoped to follow the family tradition, longing to be sorted into Slytherin not only cause of her family but for her own desires. The ambition that constantly drove her, that was instilled by her mother in her from a young age guided her towards the house. She wanted to be the greatest, the most smart, powerful and cunning. And in her eyes only one house could grant her all that.

Delusions of grandeur aside, Naomi was ripped out of her thoughts when a voice called her name."Naomi Evergreen!" It was the Headmasters voice, signalling to the girl that the time has come. Swiftly stepping forward, she shot the headmaster a small smile and nod before seating herself on the stool offered to her. Her big brown eyes glanced over the crowd who's sole attention was now on her. A longing look lingered for a few seconds onto the table that was to the most right. The Slytherin table.

The hat was soon plopped down onto her black hair and the hat sprung to life, eliciting a small surprised gasp out of the small girl despite her awareness of the ceremony. "Now now, what do we have here?" the hat said as it started doing its job "Another Evergreen ey? Hmm, Pure-Blood, yes." It took a second to think before continuing. "Ambition. Plenty of ambition, that much is for sure. Just like your mother. And intelligence, yes, you like to learn don't you? You'd make a fine Ravenclaw. Plenty of wit in you." Naomi closed her eyes, a small whimper of a whisper leaving her lips as she said "Please... Slytherin." the hat immediately responded, saying "Slytherin? Yes that would be in line with your heritage. You do show great cunning and ambition." the hat fell silent once more, the anticipation almost making Naomi tremble as she held her breath.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted, eliciting a sigh of relief from the young girl as an uncharacteristically happy smile formed on the girls face. The hat was swiftly removed from her head and with visible excitement the girl rose from the stool and moved over to the Slytherin table, taking a seat next to the other students. Her mind was racing once more as she thought about what the time at Hogwarts would bring, what spells she was going to learn, creatures she would see and people she would meet.

　

Robin Foxsworth had never encountered such wonder as when she finally arrived at Hogwarts. A series of emotions had wracked the young girl throughout the day. To start, she had been gloomy, much as she had been most of the summer. It just wasn’t fair that she hadn’t been able to see River like she usually did. She could have been quiet about this whole witch stuff. Not to mention that there had been plenty of time later in the summer to visit him. Yet, September first had come without any of her usual routine being seen to. She had had to get up far earlier than normal in order for her and her parents to get into London early enough to meet their guide who would help them through a secret entrance, much like had been done when they went to Diagon Alley.

Robin would have to admit that she found the secrecy and fear of entering through what looked like a solid wall to be positively thrilling. Although, she did also wonder how it was that people running or walking toward a wall were never noticed by the people around her. She was almost certain that someone must have leaned against the wall at one point or another and fallen through when they were not supposed to. Regardless, the magic and wonder that awaited the Foxsworth family was phenomenal. A whole hidden station with a steam train of all things. As excited as she was, she vaguely heard her father mention how beautiful it was to see something of the old ways still in use. After watching for a few moments, they had moved toward a carriage, noting how some parents were flicking wands, similar to Robin’s own wand. Amazingly, these small actions would lift children’s trunks up and send them floating as light as feathers into the carriages. Such an option was not available to the Foxworths. After being shown onto Platform 9¾, their guide had returned to the normal station to help other families with no magical parents.

After manhandling Robin’s trunk of school supplies, clothes, and toiletries into an empty carriage, the small family stepped back onto the platform to say their goodbyes. The train wasn’t due to leave for another fifteen minutes, however, Nathaniel, Robin’s father, had to get back to Gloucester for a meeting at 2pm and the drive home would already leave him with little time to get to his office. The family’s farewells were brief and sweet with a touch of formality. Robin was told that she was loved and ought to behave as well as she did for her tutors. She was also reminded that she was always welcome to call home if needed, for they were not yet aware that the mobile phone that they had provided her with wouldn’t work once she was in the bounds of the great castle. Goodbyes said, Robin boarded the magnificent train and awaited. A few other students joined her carriage, but Robin paid no attention as her mood once again dropped with the reminder that she had no friends to talk to, and now, no family either.

One lengthy train ride later, in which a note added to her packed lunch almost set Robin bawling, found the red-haired girl following other first years down a winding path. It was so dark and the path was so unfamiliar that Robin had to focus very carefully on where she placed her feet in order to not trip. In this way, the journey to an array of boats went quite swiftly. When she finally was able to stop, just before clambering into a boat, Robin could not help but gape in awe at the sheer size of the castle that loomed across the lake. Only when she could no longer keep her eyes staring upward did she return to watching what was ahead. Slowly excitement built up with a twinge of sadness. The rest of the journey went swiftly and soon they were being organised into a line. As she moved into her spot, a familiar shape caught the corner of her eye, but by the time Robin glanced again, she couldn’t see it. Doubt and confusion flicked through her mind but the line was already moving into an opulent room.

The room was the largest that Robin had ever seen. In front were four long tables crowded with other students. So many that Robin began to feel panicky. A strong desire to go home and hide in her bed began to fill the red-haired girl, and it took a lot of inner strength to keep her in her place. A welcome speech and a singing hat left Robin reeling even further and the young girl began to feel light-headed. Closing her eyes, she pressed her feet against the ground and grit her teeth, willing herself to stay strong. A few names were called out and houses announced, yet it was only a few before Robin’s own name was called that she found herself able to open her eyes and watch as another student was called forth, had the old hat placed on their head and moments later, a house was called out. All too soon, her own name was called.

“Foxsworth, Robin!”

Taking a quiet breath, Robin walked forward as stiffly as if she were meeting one of her father’s business partners. Carefully she perched herself on the battered stool and watched as the brim of the hat fell over her eyes. Of course, an adult’s hat was much too big to fit on a child’s head.

“Indeed so,” an amused voice sounded in her mind, making Robin jump. “Well, well, you’re a nice, easy one. Let us say: GRYFFINDOR!”

Robin flinched as the final word was shouted aloud, and hopped off the stool as soon as the hat was lifted from her head. Quickly, keeping her head low, she made her way to the red table that was applauding loudly. It was a good thing that stranger who had told them about her being a witch had explained about the houses too or Robin would’ve wound up standing there like a lost lamb.

Cassian stared in awe at the grandeur surrounding him as he trailed into the Great Hall behind the rest of his fellow first years. He had heard stories upon stories of this moment from the Hogwarts alumni in his family, but nothing could have quite prepared him for the true scale of the whole thing. The ceiling soared above his head, the night sky twinkling on the magically enchanted surface. The Hall was so packed that it was standing space only, and his seniors lined the tables as they all stared excitedly at the group of first years. It was safe to say that Cassian was more than a little overwhelmed, even if he would never admit it.

The voyage to Hogwarts had been… alright so far, if a bit tedious. The boat ride was unremarkable even if he had gotten a bit wet around the edges, and the train had been an entertaining glimpse at his future peers. It threw him a bit to know that his father had once walked these very hallways, as young as he was now. Still, Cassian couldn’t envision the bastion of confidence that was Alistair Montelise Byrne ever being as nervous as he was.

In truth, he doubted that he would end up in the same House as his father. Alistair was a Ravenclaw through and through, analytical and cunning to the end. Honestly, if Cassian hadn’t known better, he would say that his father would have belonged in the same House as his uncle, a Slytherin. He didn’t have the temperament to be a Ravenclaw, though. He was smart enough, but if his father had made one thing clear in his life, it was that Cassian wasn’t careful enough. He was more likely to run headfirst into a trap than be the one to set it.

Anywho, Cassian dutifully settled into the single file line that the first years were directed into, falling in just ahead of his cousin. They were situated right in the middle of the massive crowd of students and Cassian couldn’t help but feel a bit… swallowed-up by it all. He zoned out as the Headmaster began to speak (no offense, but he had never been one for droning speeches), although he absentmindedly hummed along when the Sorting Hat broke into song. This was what would determine his fate for the next seven years and his interest was definitely piqued.

He watched as his fellow students were called up one by one to be sorted into their Houses. Cassian peered intently at the first few, watching as their expressions changed as they sat on the stool and had the hat placed on their head. He soon lost interest, though, and amused himself in the meantime by observing the staff arrayed around the Headmaster. They looked amiable enough, he supposed, although he wouldn’t know for sure until he took their classes.

Finally, Headmaster Lear reached the M section of the first year roster. Cassian listened carefully, watching as the number of bodies in front of him slowly dwindled until he was standing at the head of the line. He took a deep breath right as the person before him got off the stool, having been sorted already. They looked a little dazed and wobbly and Cassian felt a brief flash of fear at what he was about to experience with the Sorting Hat. His father had said that nothing strange would happen, that all the Hat would do was perhaps speak to him, and maybe not even that, but Cassian still felt irrationally nervous. Maybe it would decide that he wasn’t suited to Hogwarts at all and immediately expel him. Could the Hat even do that?

No matter, he had no more time to stew in his own nerves.

“Montelise Byrne, Cassian Elliot Oliver!” The Headmaster called out, a brief smile crossing his features as Cassian strode forward confidently to sit down on the stool. Outwardly confident, that is. He was too focused on not tripping over his robes to even be skittish, determined to make a good impression.

The Sorting Hat fell over his messy locks and Cassian took a deep breath.

“Hm… hm,” was the first thing he heard the Sorting Hat say.

What even did that mean? All he wanted to do was get his House — anything but Hufflepuff would work, honestly, he wasn’t one for making nice and he knew it — and be done with today.

“A curious one, you certainly are,” it continued. “Your ambition will take you far.”

So did that mean Slytherin? He couldn’t wait to see the Dungeons, Uncle Benedict had always been so smarmy and closed-lipped about it.

“Oh, we’ve got a brash one, haven’t we? Don’t get ahead of yourself quite yet…”

Cassian resisted the urge to mentally roll his eyes, certain that the Hat could somehow peer inside his mind. Could it get on with it? All this hemming and hawing reminded him of his governesses, always nagging at him about one thing or the other.

“Well, with that reaction,” the Hat said huffily, “better be —”

“GRYFFINDOR!”

Cassian blinked. He’d considered the possibility, of course he had, with his tendency to crash into things face-first (metaphorically and literally), but it had never been so… real before this moment. He rose from the stool and walked towards the rest of his new “family”, or whatever it was that the Headmaster had called them. As he approached, his shoulders set and his stride became smoother. Yes, this was where he belonged. No matter the color of his crest, Cassian would flourish. There was no other way forward.

His future was calling, and Cassian intended to answer.

A buzz of excitement had surrounded River since he had first left home with his Great Aunt on what she had called a ‘momentous day’. For his part, River didn’t see anything that momentous in it at all. Aside from having to triple check that he had everything packed to assuage his Aunt’s fear that he would forget something, nothing felt that momentous. It had been a long summer because his friend had not come for their usual farm stay. That had meant he had no reason not to shirk chores and farm duties so escaping on the Hogwarts Express was a welcome change even if that did mean they were all being bundled off to school.

For the entire journey, children had been electric with enthusiasm and their volume had matched their exuberance. There was a great deal of yelling, sharing of sweets, gossip, catching up and rekindling of old friendships along the way. River had not joined in any of this excitement. Instead he had closely watched each interaction and exchanged with a removed expression. In a sea of smiling children he appeared sombre. It would not be entirely truthful to say that he was not excited, just that if he were, it certainly was not revealed.

When he had not been in close observation of those around him, the boy had leafed through a small stack of letters. Eight in total, all wishing him well for the year ahead and giving advice which as far as the eleven year old was concerned was useless. His siblings were all old in his opinion. The closest being eighteen years his senior. That made her near to thirty which is practically dead, and so any thoughts she had on the school he was headed to was going to be outdated and likely only one edition away from being published in ‘Hogwarts: a History.’

The letters from his parents and that from his Great Aunt had at least been less focused on reminiscence and how to fit in and more upon expectations. They needn’t worry. River had already made up his mind as to how he was going to approach his education and his results would not be at anyone’s coercion.

The journey across the lake had been uncomfortable. He spent the entire time calculating the odds of someone acting the fool and overturning the thing. Some of those around him were certainly excitably fidgety enough to act recklessly. So when it came to lining up to enter the Great Hall he was pleased to be once again upon solid ground. He had said nothing the entire journey and felt no compulsion to break his silence thus far despite the chatter around him.

While some children craned necks to look for siblings or whispered excitedly to a friend. River’s attention was instead held by the process of the sorting itself. The fact that the Headmaster placed the same battered, ratty looking hat atop every child’s head caused his stone expression to tighten a little. It would take one grotty plebeian with lice to infest the entire year. Who ever had thought up this method of dividing youngsters into House groups clearly hadn’t thought of such contamination, or worse ones.

There was a palpable air of excitement in the Great Hall. Each name that was called seemed to create a silent anticipation from all observing until the Sorting Hat announced the House to which each student had been placed. His siblings had told him all about the Houses and which he ought to strive for but River did not find the notion interesting enough to have any silent wish for a particular House. So far as he could tell it meant having a team color, an assigned place to sleep and wearing a different tie. None of which was worth his time worrying about. Seven years assigned to a group did not a lifetime make and he had plans that reached beyond school.

The thing that did change his demeanor, even if just for a moment, was the sound of a familiar name. His head snapped up and his eyes followed every motion of the red haired girl as she was sorted to her house. A small furrow of his brow as he wondered how she came to be here. She was a muggle surely… but then it registered that this was the reason her family had not taken their vacation. She wasn’t just a muggle.

When at last he heard his own name called out, River walked to the stool and for the first time broke the stone of his expression. His nose wrinkled at the thought of that manky hat being placed on his head after so many others. To his relief the hat either registered his disgust or it read his personality clearly, because it scarcely touched his head before bellowing out;

“Slytherin!”

Relieved at not having to spend a long time as some other’s had, the boy hopped off the stool and strode to the table with students waving him over.

𝕿he great hall stretched extremly wide, and Maze felt very small in such a big space. The room was as magical as you get, with floating candles and an enchanted ceiling. Maze couldn't stop staring at it.

The headmaster had already given a welcoming speech, and the hat didn't seem nearly as terrifying as it did before it sang. The headmaster was now calling names of a list, as Maze waited each time in anticipation for it be hers.

She felt like she had just eaten exploding bonbons, only they were exploding in her stomach. Her breath hitched when her name was called "Forge, Maze" Her legs shook violently as she walked up to the sorting hat, the headmaster placing atop her head.

A voice seemed to be booming inside her head "Right... Peculiar. Maze Forge... I see a long line of Slytherins... Ambitious, yes! But... I see wit... Ravenclaw, perhaps?" The sorting hat's voice was sharp, but Maze intervened "I... Want to be in Slytherin"

"That may be so, but the sorting hat knows what is best. I can your talent in Slytherin, but your heart... Your heart is Raven!" The sorting hats final words echoed in Maze's head, she waited for the word to spoken:

"RAVENCLAW!"

The singer's name was John Milton. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to calm myself. I belonged here. I had the talent. I deserved it. I went to the hat. Fortunately, I was not the first. The hat was put on my head and he said, ""You are anything, Slytherin. Maybe Gryffindor. Maybe Hufflepuff. Maybe Ravenclaw."You are anything, Slytherin. Maybe Gryffindor. Maybe Hufflepuff. Maybe Ravenclaw." I was glad I wasn't a Slytherin because they had been bothering me ever since I got older. I took a deep breath and tried to organize my thoughts.

I suddenly remembered my friends and my mother's motivational words. At this moment the hat shouted

"Oh, are you thinking about your friends in this situation? Which group should I put you in...ummm, I think Hufflepuff is right for you"

I smiled and went to Hufflepuff. I didn't have any friends yet, but I was very happy to be there. I was sure I could make friends.

The great hall was great indeed, bigger than Maya had expected. She looked around while walking with fellow first years like her. She looked at other students, older ones watching them, some of them seeming to not care that much, minding their own business. Maya was feeling excited, yet her nervousness also seemed to grow. She'd wondered what house she'd be in. She only knew a few facts about each of them, and their traits. She kinda felt like she would be able to fit into any of them if she tried.
She chuckled in amusement when the hat started talking, then they were all told how the process of sorting will be like. The names started to be called. Maya wasn't the most patient person, she wondered how well she could wait until her name was called.
Somehow watching the other first years getting sorted was sorta interesting, so she just kept watching, while also there, she started to imagine and daydream about the future possibilities here. That kept Maya entertained enough until it was her turn to be called.

After a very quick nervous hesitation she walked her way to the sorting hat.Then, as expected but also a bit surprisingly, the hat started to talk.

"A curious child, imaginative, intelligent too in your own way..its not gonna take long to know where you really belong, will it?"

Maya had an idea, widening her eyes in anticipation and just hoping for the best possibility for her.

"RAVENCLAW!"

So that was it, she smiled in happiness, walked excitedly towards the ravenclaw table with students who all applaud her. She couldn't wait to make friends!

From the moment Marley had stepped into the Great hall, he had remained in awe at the overall structure of Hogwarts. The ceiling decorated with the various candles that remained afloat, stone walls the visibly aged with time but only added to the grand appeal of the school in it's entirety. Magic was something that remained in the brunettes fantasies as he grew up, the many adventures he had within the forest nearby his home couldn't compare to the experience he had by merely travelling to this school to begin with.

It was hard to retell what entailed within the train ride to Hogwarts, sitting still for the past few hours left the brunette with pent up energy and excitement that left him subtly grinning ear to ear every so often. Everyone around him had been much too focused on their own exciting endeavors to notice his existence, their talk of their adventures filling the space between them which only excited the young male even more when it came to retelling tales of his own in the coming future. No longer would he be the one at family dinners with nothing new to share!

Marley sat at the long tables with patience as students were called one by one to have their turn with the crusty old hat that sorted them into one of four grand groups. It was a strange sight to see as most hats he assumed, did not talk. There was a few moments where he had to cover his mouth in order to not display a visible chuckle whenever it's face folded into the depths of the fabric whenever it called out each and everyone's houses. Some faces shown excitement whilst some showed confusion and concern towards the place they'd call home for the coming years. Needless to say, those already sorted had rose from their seats to cheer on their new housemates.

The roaring was still loud even as Marley's name was called to the front. For a moment, he sat in place and looked around to make sure there wasn't another Marley being called. Making a fool of himself on his first day was definitely not ideal or something he wanted his new peers to talk about in the halls. When no one else presented themselves, Marley stood up and walked foot step by footstep up to the chair where numerous other students sat from not only his generation, but generations that dated back decades from this moment.

No words could describe the honor he felt when the headmaster placed that old hat upon his brunette head. Marley was the first in his family to attend such a marvelous place filled with magic and he understood his family's concerns when it came to the matter, but it was all just a thought thrown out the window as soon as he got comfortable in the chair. All of it happened so fast as eyes drawn on to him to make bets as to which house would gain another number in their ranks.

The hat would internally exploit his characteristics much like a mind reader. It would mumble to itself as it determined where to place him and would only speak audibly when it came to announcing the traits he found buried deep within Marley's daring personality. With each word spoken correctly about who he was, his smile would only grow wider with excitement. All of this still seemed like an amazing dream he was still waiting to wake up from and it all seemed more than surreal as the process continued.

Once the sorting hat collecting the information it needed, it didn't hesitate in exclaiming that Marley was to be sorted in house Gryffindor. Cheers from the house decorated with a lion as it's mascot, friendly faces calling out to him to join their table as one of their own. With a wide toothy grin, Marley would leave the seat he was sorted in to take his first steps into a new life of magic that was waiting for him just beyond the veil.

Alaska was very nervous as she entered the portals of Hogwarts for the very first time. Being the bookworm she was she decided to read most of her textbooks and completed most of them except THE HISTORY OF MAGIC well about that she is almost done with it. But no amount of reading would calm you down before your sorting ceremony. When her name was called out she went ahead, legs shaking, mind buzzing with anxiety and excitement. She placed the sorting hat on her head after some time debating whether to put her in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff the Hat thought it would be best if Alaska were put in Hufflepuff. "HUFFLEPUFF" Said the Hat and Alaska breathed a sigh of relief as she joined the table which exploded with claps.

After the feast, the prefects led Alaska and the other first years to Hufflepuff dorms. The winding corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, and Alaska couldn't help but glance at the towering portraits that lined the walls, their eyes following her every move. The anticipation of seeing her new home kept her on edge, but there was a sense of curiosity, too. Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room, tucked away near the kitchens. The door, a large barrel hidden behind thick vines, seemed almost magical in itself. The prefects muttered the password, and the barrel shifted to reveal the entrance to their cozy haven.

Alaska stepped inside, the common room was softly lit, the flickering flames in the fireplace casting a golden glow that reflected off the wooden beams in the ceiling. The space was full of comfortable armchairs and large, round tables scattered across the room. The walls were adorned with cheerful decorations—sunflowers and bright colors—and the air smelled faintly of something sweet, likely from the kitchens nearby.
It felt... homey. The kind of place where she could relax, study. Alaska couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of contentment. The nervous energy that had been building up all day seemed to melt away as she took in the space, and for the first time since stepping into the castle.
The prefects led them up to the dormitories, and as Alaska followed, she could barely contain her excitement. She was eager to see her room and meet the others in her house. This was a new beginning, and though there were still many unknowns, the chance to make new friends and begin her Hogwarts adventure was more thrilling than anything she’d imagined. The road ahead was filled with possibilities, and Alaska couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.