Sorting Ceremony 2025 - 2026

Eira had been waiting for this day for quite some time. She had prepared for it, meticulously planning every move she would make in the room.
Always forward-thinking and fond of staying one step ahead of others, she was quite stressed about not being able to choose her House.

Under no circumstances would she accept being sorted into Hufflepuff, the House where all the people she hated most were.
She was already upset enough to be in a sea of people, most of whom were unworthy of her company.

According to her parents, she must not disappoint them in any way and therefore had to respect all their ideas and choices, including those concerning her friends. As the Sorting Hat gave its answers, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and finally Slytherin.

That was the House she wanted. All the wizards in her family had been sorted there, and if she did not go, she would be permanently excluded by her parents. She knew they expected a lot from her, and even though she had already disappointed them by being born female, she was trying to make up for her mistake.

Perfection and mastery were the only words she needed to remember. The young girl felt nervous - that was all; she could not afford to make a mistake. What if she disappointed her parents ? And her grandparents ? But above all else, her greatest fear was Evan. What if he abandoned her ?
Like her parents did. Not literally, of course - she was housed, fed, and educated like a Blaenor - but emotionally, her parents paid her no attention.

Between governesses and tutors, she had known people who took care of her, but she had never really formed a bond with anyone. A relationship, a deep love, apart from her brother - who had kept her company during the rare moments when her father was not there.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost did not hear her name being called. She jumped, realizing that it was her who had been summoned.
Stepping away from the group and avoiding any contact with what another person might bring back, she walked toward where the Sorting Hat stood.

Sitting down on the chair intended for her, she waited for it to speak.

- Oh, a Blaenor… interesting. I’ve met wizards from your lineage. All of them, without exception, went to Slytherin - just like your brother, I believe. Cadell.
You seem very nervous and fearful, my dear. Is there a problem ?

She tried to control herself, but would she be able to face him ? Of course - this was how she had been raised: to hold her head high and remain proud in all circumstances.

- Absolutly not, sir.

- Hmm… very well, let’s continue. I see in you great ambition and… a desire to preserve your family’s pride. You would give up nothing, even if it meant putting yourself and others in danger.
I know which House would suit you - but in the end, was it really surprising ? Slytherin !

A slight smile escaped her lips, and relief washed over her. At last, she had not betrayed her own blood, and above all, her parents would be delighted to hear of their daughter’s first success at the school of witchcraft. Of course, she had felt a moment of doubt and fear, but that… she must not tell anyone. She had to bury it deep inside herself, hide it, and forget it - this weakness she despised. Fortunately, no one would ever know.

She left the chair, her heart light, walking with a spring in her step toward the green and silver table that awaited her.

The Great Hall was loud. That was the first thing Enfys registered. Candles, akin to fireflies in the night, drifted above everyone's heads. Laughter and gossip echoed through the arches.

She dutifully followed the line of first years. She clapped at the right times, ooh-ed and ahh-ed appropriately at the singing hat. As the first of their age group were called forward, she considered each student, attempting to measure them and their results against herself.

A Slytherin here, a Ravenclaw there...

The Hefin family was consistent - they had been farmers for generations, and Hufflepuffs for just as long. Her father, his brothers, their children, and her grandparents had all been puffs.

Her mother's side was... similarly consistent, with generations of Gryffindors, but her mother herself had been an anomaly when she was placed in Slytherin.

Enfys' mother had always emphasized that the hat saw the innermost qualities of a person. She could have been a Gryffindor, she was just as brave and bold as the rest of her family, but the hat had sensed a deep-seated ambition at the root of that brave and boldness.

"Hefin, Enfys."

Enfys stumbled, flushing as she almost tripped over her own feet in her haste. The stool welcomed her, and the hat sunk over her head.

"Ahh, a Hefin." It was a strange feeling, to have something drip into all the details of your mind, akin to water running through grout in a tiled floor. "It's been a while since I had one from your line. Your cousin, I believe."

"Yes, you remind me of the others," the hat said, and Enfys thought that that was that. She'd be another puff in a long line of them.

"But that mind..." the hat continued, even now, you have a little book of notes for anything you learn, even outside of class."

"RAVENCLAW."

She gave a startled eep at the announcement. That - she hadn't even considered -

Her robes shimmered to show blue accents as she stood. Despite her shock, she did what she knew was expected - she walked to the cheering Ravenclaw table, but her mind was elsewhere.

Nina was still feeling a whirlwind of emotions from her trip to Hogwarts. It was certainly an adventure to be so far from home and to adjust to a world where magic is viewed to be normal. While her father’s use of magic at home was consistent, it was still nerve wracking to be around other kids who also had magical capability.

The sea of students in the Great Hall did little to ease her nerves as she pondered which house she could be sorted into. The kids before her were called, each getting sorted after brief deliberation. Before leaving for Hogwarts, her father had said that any house is worthy to have her. When she had asked about his time there, he chuckled and answered that he was a Ravenclaw during his time.

By the time her name was called, Nina perked up and walked towards the seat. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head.

“I see, Solari…” the Sorting Hat mused, “just like your father, you seem to keep your nose in books.”

Nina was too nervous to respond. A part of her still in awe of the Sorting Hat that she’s heard so much about.

“You’re a quiet one yet there’s much more to you,” the Sorting Hat says, “an underlying ambition.”

Nina glanced around the different tables seating four houses around her. She wondered if the Hat would call out Ravenclaw just like it did for her father. Or would she belong to a different house?

“With your wit, you could be in Ravenclaw,” the hat mused once more, “but a clever mind such as yours would rather befit in a house that can help reach your goals.”

It only took a few more seconds for the Hat to come to a decision, “yes, for a student that craves so much more, you shall be in…”

“SLYTHERIN!”

The Great Hall erupts in cheers as the Hat was removed. She walked over to join the table of Slytherins wondering if she would fit right in. She didn’t dare question the Sorting Hat’s judgment.

To say Patton was in awe of the Great Hall would be an understatement. The way his brown eyes followed around the large room, tracing the columns and arches leading up to the ceiling and the many moments he spent gazing up at the view of the night sky spoke for itself.

Once he finally tore his gaze away from the gorgeous ceiling, his attention turned to the copious amount of students sitting at the four tables, sporting their green, blue, yellow, and red, representing their respective houses. While he lost himself in the wonder about the castle, the sorting ceremony continued right in front of him.

“Carrington, Patton.”

His name being spoken snapped him out of his amazement and he shuffled forward to the stool where the sorting hat sat. Once the hat was resting on his head, the brim flopping over his ears, the hat began to speak.

“Ah, Mr. Carrington, your curiosity is palpable.” The hat took a long pause as if expecting Patton to say something. When no response was uttered, it continued.

“Yes, I can see that the astonishment that you so rightfully have towards this hall is rooted in the curiosity of learning more about how it works, am I right?”

“I- Probably?” Patton’s response was careful and slow, remembering how his father would always let him figure things out on his own because Pop knew how much he liked to learn.

“Yes, your desire to learn will lead you to…”

“RAVENCLAW!”

A smile spread across Patton’s face as he slowly made his way over to the Ravenclaw table, the blue of the robes becoming a welcoming sight as he sat down and watched the rest of the sortings, knowing this place would become a second home for him.

LOCATION. the great hall	MENTIONS. @valour argentum
OUTFIT. unbranded robes, black dress pants, white button down, black ballet flats	WC. 1,396
DATE. september 1st, sorting ceremony	OOC NOTES. i'm sry this took 4eva </3

Eleutheromania (n.): an interest in and irresistible desire for freedom. Cosima had discovered the word on the train to Hogwarts, and it had plagued her mind throughout the duration of her journey. While she was far from an intellectual, the one book (and a bore to most, quite honestly) that piqued her interest enough to willingly read it would be the dictionary. Something about the way English words clawed themselves out of Latin, like a dragon hatching from an egg, or the way each word had a beginning, a middle, an end like a story, ate at Cosima’s mind like a parasite. However, her thirst for vocabulary had to be completely self-directed. The second her many tutors would realize that Cosima could apply herself when she chose to, or that she did have an interest in at least one subject, like clockwork, Cosima would become uncooperative. She would retreat into silence, forcing her parents to search for another soul to take on the incomprehensible second-born Aurebach-Iori, whom behind closed doors the network of tutors had whisperingly dubbed her a “disgrace”.

Her first experience on the train had been quite uneventful, to say the least. Her mother had been insistent that the family arrive at the platform far too early, and although Cosima would never admit it out loud, she was quite thankful, as she was able to secure a compartment all to herself. Throughout the duration of the trip, she kept herself busy by skimming through one of her many dictionaries and listening to the fifth-year couple quarrel in the compartment across from her by the use of extendable ears. A few people had entered her compartment with whom she had engaged in polite small talk. Years of etiquette class had taught Cosima to perfect the role of the perfect pure-blood aristocrat daughter, and while she almost never took on this caricature, it felt important to play it a bit on the safer side with the first few she would encounter on her journey.

The train steadily came to a slow, and Cosima lugged her suitcase from the metal railings and began trudging down the narrow aisle. As she dismounted the train, the highlands stretched far and wide like an invitation. In that moment, eleutheromania unfurled within her, urging her to make a run for it- until her brief fantasy of escaping to the woods was torn away by an eager tide of first-years following a professor. With a reluctant sigh, she joined the latter.

The excitement from students and professors alike was palpable as the large oak doors of the Great Hall opened, all eyes turning to face the group. It had just occurred to Cosima that her brother, her mother, all her aunts, cousins, and grandparents had stood right where she was standing, about to experience the same judgment that would determine the next seven years. Although her mother’s family held high expectations for her, which house she would be placed into was not one of them. The Aurebach influence stretched wide, producing Slytherins like her brother, Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and even a few Hufflepuffs, which the two original family members had been. And while details of the sorting had been recited to her so often that the ritual played in her mind like a well-worn script, it suddenly occurred to Cosima how strange it is that her fate for the next seven years would be decided by such a dusty old hat. Was there not something a bit more... classy? At this thought, she shuddered, realizing that's exactly what her mother would want her to think. Focusing back to the hat, Cosima just hoped it would make its decision fast; nothing sounded less appealing than sitting there silently for hours on end under the gaze of all these strangers.

The boy next to her must have noticed she was lost in thought, as he gently tugged on the sleeve of her robe. Cosima whispered a quick thank you, almost shifting her attention to Headmaster Lear’s droning, when something far more interesting caught her eye. Valour Argentum, whom Cosima dubbed years ago as far too smart for their own good. Were they enemies? Not quite. Friends? Not quite either. There was mutual respect for each other, and when needed, the two could cooperate; however, the situation had to be dire. Grey eyes met grey eyes as Valour rolled theirs, and Cosima crossed her arms. After years of finding themselves at the same stuffy events neither wanted to be at, the two had developed a rather handy habit of being able to speak without saying any words at all. It did bring Cosima some peace of mind knowing that Valour would be first out of the two to get sorted, however, not by much. Due to this, the witches found themselves side by side as the first-years assembled in an alphabetical queue. She pinched Valour; they elbowed back. It was all good fun until Headmaster Lear announced the next name.

“Argentum, Valour.” This would be easy, Cosima thought. As the product of two well-renowned doctors and from a family with a high emphasis on academia, without a doubt that Valour would find themselves in Ravenclaw. It was not, in fact, easy as the hat bellowed loudly, “Slytherin!” In shock, Cosima whipped her head to the Slytherin table to make eye contact with her brother, Isato, who shrugged and hooted with his housemates. She couldn't help but feel a little bit of pride; maybe her 'bad' influence had rubbed off on Valour in a good way. Cosima shot Valour one final smirk before they disappeared into the void of black robes.

Cosima felt herself getting slightly nervous, so she began to spell out long words in her head; her way of grounding herself. Before she could even get to the p in 'incomprehensibilities', her name was called, booming and clear.

“Aurebach-Iori, Cosima.”

As she walked up the platform and to the stool, Isato made a noise, and Cosima flipped him off under her robe. The hat was placed on her head, smelling an odd mixture of chalk and lavender, and she found herself actually quite relieved when she found her vision obscured by the Hat's leathery interior. "You'd make a fine Slytherin, oh yes, yes," The voice crooned. "Why, that would be an obvious choice now, wouldn't it? Just like your uncle." Her mother's brother was her favorite relative, and it made her heart and ego swell a bit to hear that the hat viewed them similarly. "But there's a little more to you than there was to Maximilian, in fact, you're more like your mother than you might think. " A thin frown formed on her face. She wasn't sure she liked where this was heading.

"Ravenclaw!"

Her world stopped, and her mouth became as dry as cotton. In fact, Cosima felt quite sick. Like her mother? The two couldn't be worlds apart. She looked at the Slytherin table where her brother was pointing at her and laughing before drawing her gaze down to Valour. She cocked her head at her frenemy-cousin situation before shrugging her shoulders and making her way down to the Ravenclaw table. Funny enough, just the night before, her father had declared that Cosima earning a place in Ravenclaw was even less likely than Hufflepuff, which anyone who knew Cosi would insist she was perhaps the most selfish, un-puff person alive.

As Cosima took a seat, she realized it was quite ironic that just before her sorting she had struggled to spell incomprehensible, and now, after what had just happened, it certainly was incomprehensible. The Ravenclaws, however, were a lively bunch, bursting into clever hoots and chants whenever one of their own was sorted. Cosima found herself getting accustomed quickly, splitting a slice of pie with the girl next to her and exchanging a duplicate of a chocolate frog card she had purchased on the train with another.

She had completely forgotten about Valour until she looked up and noticed they were staring directly at her. A brief gesture with their hands, signaling a meeting and at 1am , which Cosima acknowledged with a slight nod. It wasn’t until after dinner when it occurred to the witch that they had never discussed where exactly they would be meeting. But when it came to Valour, Cosima had no doubt she’d find her way.

Backdated to the beginning of the year | Sep 1 2025

Everything was exactly how Rory's dad had described it. He looked up at the floating candles in the huge hall, gaze lingering on the Gryffindor banner. He knew that was exactly where he'd fit in. That was where all the best adventurers came from, the people who would be renowned through the whole of the wizarding world for their exploits and bravery. Rory knew he wanted to be sitting there. It wasn't as if he had anything against the other houses, they were probably pretty nice and all, but from his perspective, they were lacking a certain degree of grandeur.

He tried to smile as bright as he could, showing his pearly white teeth in an expression that he meant as eager. He'd been waiting for this day for so long, he'd spent so much time imagining exactly how it was going to go. His name would be called and he'd sit down in front of the whole of the school and the sorting hat would put him where he was always meant to be. He'd even redyed the streak in his hair for the occasion, making sure he'd look as epic as possible. That was how adventurers were meant to look after all.

His stomach churned with anticipation as the alphabetical list of names slowly got closer and closer to the Cs. He wouldn't have to wait as long as most of the students, and for that he was extremely grateful. He might have actually passed out from the suspense if he had to wait for as long as some of them.

He looked at the students around him. He didn't actually know any of their names. He'd been too nervous on the train to try and talk to anyone, burying himself in his notebook instead. But that was okay, as soon as the sorting hat called out his new house he'd make friends with all the other brave adventurous souls. He'd have no shortage of people to go on quests with.

"Courtenay, Rory."

He was snapped out of his thoughts by his name being called. He was so glad for the name change papers filled out long before his first day. He would've died inside if they'd called out Ruaidhrí, (that was most certainly not the name of a brave adventurer) besides he hadn't gone by that since he was three.

This was finally it. He was finally going to be a Hogwarts student! He made his way through the crowd of other first years, towards the stool at the front and took his place. The sorting hat was dropped onto his head, far too big for him but he didn't mind. Though it did irk him a bit that his white streak was covered up during the one occasion where the whole school would get to see him.

The sorting hat made a vague sort of grumble sound that was far too close for Rory's comfort. It would be just milliseconds now, and then the rest of his future would begin! He'd be famous worldwide for the things he would do!

"SLYTHERIN!"

Oh. That was... unexpected. Before he had any time to process, the hat was pulled off of his head and he was swiftly ushered towards his new house table. Not beneath the maroons and yellows that he had always pictured when he envisioned himself at Hogwarts, but beneath the green and silver crest of Slytherin house. He wasn't really sure how to feel about that. It... Well... He didn't have anything against Slytherin, it was just- that wasn't where the adventurers came from.

He quickly made his way to the table where some older students were beckoning him. He smiled at that. Sure he hadn't read stories about any great quests embarked on by a Slytherin, but that just meant he would have to be the first! He pushed any disappointment to the back of his mind, and took his place at the table, beaming with pride. He'd finally made it to Hogwarts!

The quiet boy was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the commotion of the Great Hall, having led til this point a rather sheltered life; the excitement was palpable as others received their Sortings and their new Houses welcomed them with open arms.

Being from a Wizarding family, he thought he knew much about the houses from what he had heard from his parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, his family had members in each of the houses over the years, though most of his cousins were Slytherin, even his immediate family had rather diverse backgrounds at Hogwarts, despite being an only child: his Father had been Slytherin, his Mother, Ravenclaw, his Grandfather, Gryffindor and his Grandmother Hufflepuff, so he didn't know what to expect for himself or even what to hope for;

Perhaps his Grandmother's influence had been strongest: while his sorting - at least to his mind - had taken longer than expected, the Sorting Hat finally called out "Hufflepuff!" a small smile escaped his lips as the Hufflepuff table broke out into warm applause eager to accept their newest member;

He was eager to join them as well, if nothing else, to no longer remain the center of attention in front of the entire school, and perhaps with a glint of hope in his eye about making new friends and the journey they would share together over the coming years.

Never one for grand events like this one, the atmosphere in the Great Hall was suffocating for Concetta as each student sat before the sorting hat to determine their house for the remainder of their stay at Hogwarts. To her, it represented more than that. It wasn't uncommon for families to have expectations of their childrens' house to match their own or maybe other family members, and the Posionwoods were no exception. Coming from a lineage of Slytherins, the pressure was on Concetta to be sorted into the same house, but deep down, everyone knew that would not be the case. That didn't stop her from lying to herself.

Growing up, she never seemed to stick with the same lessons her siblings did around taking the upper hand when given. She played by the rules, even to a detriment, and was way too easy to trick. Her friends were an extension of herself, while her family believed one should put themselves first overall. Oh, how did she go so wrong?

All of this rushed through her mind as every person in front of her was sorted. "Slytherin!... Hufflepuff!... Ravenclaw!... Slytherin!... Gryffindor!" Each person was called, inching her closer to the hat that was turning and churning her stomach in terrified anticipation. The headmaster's voice became a muffle along with the cheering of the students as another was sorted. She tremored with anxiety as each name was called out... then came her's.

"Concetta Poisonwood", Headmaster Lear's voice seemed more booming than it did with the other names, still louder over her harshly swallowing the saliva accumulating in her mouth but did nothing to soothe the dry feeling in her throat. Everyone turned to look at her as she slid off her seat and onto the stone floor, but she had nowhere to look but ahead, or maybe at her leather shoes and the way the brass buckles reacted under the floating candlelight.

The Sorting Hat moved aside to let her sit on the stool before settling on her dark hair. For a moment, there were a million thoughts rushing through her head--All the people looking at her, who she'll room with in the dorms, how odd it was to be temporarily wearing a sentient hat--but it all vanquished from her mind at the voice of the Hat.

"The loyalty of your character is unmatched, and leaves just one house you are fit for... Hufflepuff!" The hat roars, matching the cheer from the Hufflepuff table. For a moment, her heart dropped and she wanted to cry, all the eyes on her not helping at all, but the gentle gazes from her new housemates... well, that made her think maybe Hufflepuff wouldn't be half bad, but for now, she'd sulk.

The Wizarding world is something straight out of a dream to me. Being brought up in as the wizards and witches call it, the muggle world the only connection I had to magic was through storybooks written for us little ones. My parents were shocked, surprised and proud when I got my letter to Hogwarts. Before I knew it we were following the instructions of the letter and I had all my school supplies, and a beautiful wand with me. When the time came to leave for school, I was sad as I will be living away from my parents in a strange and unknown world.

The way to the platform was very well hidden. I was very confused. But thankfully I stumbled upon a wizard who helped through the wall to get onto the platform. I was met with multiple families saying their goodbyes to their children as they boarded the train. The journey to the school was quite lonely as I was in an empty cabin, but the mesmerizing scenery made up for it. Before I knew it I was asked to change into my robes as we were arriving at the school.

On the boat with multiple other nervous students like me I learned that at Hogwarts we will be sorted into our houses. I was never one for grand celebrations or events but the great hall was decorated on a large scale, welcoming back the old students and welcoming the new ones. One by one each of my fellow classmates went ahead and got sorted. When it was my turn a Headmaster Lear called out my name.

“Hunter Nightshade!” Everyone turned to look at me. I nervously inched towards the stool. Secretly I was hoping for griffyndor.

“AHH! Hunter Nightshade, the first witch in her family!” the sorting hat boomed. I crossed my fingers under my robes. Silently chanting Gryffindor in my mind.

“Unwavering loyalty of a Hufflepuff, but quite the brains of a ravenclaw. But ahhh, there is one that stands out in you. I’ll say,”. I started praying even harder.

“GRYFFINDOR!” I felt a huge smile spread across my face. I looked to the Gryffindor table where all the older students were beckoning me. I scurried over to the table as I was warmly greeted by my housemates. I was officially now a student at Hogwarts.