Sorting Ceremony
I walk into the great hall with the rest of the first years. My eyes are constantly moving to watch all of those I see, and there is a lot to see. Each house had their own table in the great hall, and each table told its own story: Who was friends with who, who was in a clique, who preferred to be alone...
I was in the group with the latter, and knew it would never happen as long as I was in this room. I looked up to the staff table, their eyes were fixed on each student moving forward to be sorted. I glance around casually to those in line with me. They would all be around me for my entire school experience. Yet our paths would fork by the simple decision of a hat.
"Eric Phillips!" the call came for me to come up in front of everyone.
I take a deep breath and move forward, sitting upon the stool as they place the sorting hat upon my head. Suddenly the hat begins to speak to me:
“Hmm… well now, this is interesting…”
“A quiet one, are you? You don’t rush forward, don’t shout to be seen. You watch… you measure… you understand. There’s a sharpness here, oh yes, a mind that catches what others miss. Subtle things. Hidden things. That sort of perception would do very well in Ravenclaw… and you’ve certainly got the discipline for it too.”
“But no, no, that’s not the whole of you, is it?”
“There’s caution here, a guarded heart. You’ve learned to hold yourself back, to trust slowly and speak even slower. Slytherin would value that restraint, that control… and you have ambition, whether you admit it or not. Not loud ambition, no, but a quiet desire to become something more than what you’ve been given.”
“Still… that’s not where your path settles.”
“What’s most telling is not what you show, but what you choose. You do not seek the spotlight, and yet you step forward when it matters. You do not crave conflict, but you do not run from it either. There is a strength in you, a steady kind, the sort that holds its ground when others falter. Not reckless… no, not loud… but unwavering.”
“And that moral core of yours… ah, that is the clearest thing of all. You will stand for what is right, even if no one sees it, even if no one thanks you. That takes a different kind of courage, doesn’t it? Not the kind that shouts… but the kind that endures.”
“Yes… I see it now.”
“Plenty of mind, plenty of control… but it is your quiet bravery that defines you.”
“Better be…”
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table cheers as yet another first year joins their house. I find myself smiling. Gryffindor, the house of the brave. It was either here or Ravenclaw that I had hoped for. and now, I know where I belong. I make my way to the Gryffindor table and have a seat with the others.
I was in the group with the latter, and knew it would never happen as long as I was in this room. I looked up to the staff table, their eyes were fixed on each student moving forward to be sorted. I glance around casually to those in line with me. They would all be around me for my entire school experience. Yet our paths would fork by the simple decision of a hat.
"Eric Phillips!" the call came for me to come up in front of everyone.
I take a deep breath and move forward, sitting upon the stool as they place the sorting hat upon my head. Suddenly the hat begins to speak to me:
“Hmm… well now, this is interesting…”
“A quiet one, are you? You don’t rush forward, don’t shout to be seen. You watch… you measure… you understand. There’s a sharpness here, oh yes, a mind that catches what others miss. Subtle things. Hidden things. That sort of perception would do very well in Ravenclaw… and you’ve certainly got the discipline for it too.”
“But no, no, that’s not the whole of you, is it?”
“There’s caution here, a guarded heart. You’ve learned to hold yourself back, to trust slowly and speak even slower. Slytherin would value that restraint, that control… and you have ambition, whether you admit it or not. Not loud ambition, no, but a quiet desire to become something more than what you’ve been given.”
“Still… that’s not where your path settles.”
“What’s most telling is not what you show, but what you choose. You do not seek the spotlight, and yet you step forward when it matters. You do not crave conflict, but you do not run from it either. There is a strength in you, a steady kind, the sort that holds its ground when others falter. Not reckless… no, not loud… but unwavering.”
“And that moral core of yours… ah, that is the clearest thing of all. You will stand for what is right, even if no one sees it, even if no one thanks you. That takes a different kind of courage, doesn’t it? Not the kind that shouts… but the kind that endures.”
“Yes… I see it now.”
“Plenty of mind, plenty of control… but it is your quiet bravery that defines you.”
“Better be…”
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table cheers as yet another first year joins their house. I find myself smiling. Gryffindor, the house of the brave. It was either here or Ravenclaw that I had hoped for. and now, I know where I belong. I make my way to the Gryffindor table and have a seat with the others.
Sorting Ceremony
Date: September 1, 2025
Robin rubs his hands nervously as he watches the first-years in front of him get sorted into their respective houses. He would like to think that any house is fine, but as someone who loves the process of learning and repeatedly states that his purpose in Hogwarts is to devour knowledge . . . he does have certain expectations. Of course, there are studious people in every house, but Ravenclaw is just more commonly associated with learning and wisdom. It might also make sense if he was placed in Slytherin, as he does have an ambitious side when it comes to academics, and - though this might be a stereotype - he is very interested in the dark arts. Not saying he'd turn to dark arts, he would not want to break any laws. He just wants to study it for scholarly purposes, if there was a "history of dark arts" or "theoretical dark arts" class, that would be nice.
"Kelly, Noah!"
Robin was dragged out of his thoughts when he heard that name being called. Noah is his neighbor back in Inverness, and childhood friend of . . . well, eleven years. He didn't find him on the train here, but it's great seeing that he made it out of the extrovert express alive.
"Hufflepuff!"
Good for him. Robin doesn't have anything against Hufflepuff, that's his mum, Newt Scamander, and for some reason many other magizoologists' and herbologists' house. After the sorting hat was taken away from Noah's head, the boy with dark ginger hair seemed to have caught a glimpse of Robin's typical non-existent expression. He subtly nodded towards his direction before joining the Hufflepuff table.
After some more minutes of anxious waiting, Robin finally heard his name being called. He almost stumbled a bit when he stood up, but quickly found solid ground and avoided lethal embarrassment on his first day. The sorting hat was gently placed on his head, and it started to ask Robin some questions, then answered them with his own unspoken thoughts before he could vocalize anything. Robin was hesitant to think during that short period of time, he felt like any and all of his thoughts would be used against him.
However, he was proven wrong.
"Ravenclaw!"
Robin imagined a jolly little guy dancing in a grass field. This was the house he anticipated. In the midst of the applause, Robin walked towards his fellow Ravenclaws with a hardly visible, yet definitely existent smile.
Last edited by Robin Lockett on 3 Apr 2026, 00:25, edited 2 times in total.
Sorting Ceremony
ALEXANDER ZOLOTOV SORTING SCENE!
Alexander Zolotov stood among the crowd of first years, his fingers loosely gripping the sleeve of his over-sized robe it was his brothers old Hogwarts robe not like they couldn´t afford a new one but Alexander refused because he was scared/nervous. The noise of the Great Hall pressed in on him laughter, chatter, the clinking of goblets it all felt new too much, Alex was never a fan of new things maybe that was one of the reasons he didn´t really want to go to Hogwarts but his parents forced him to come. His hazel eyes which were usually dark pink because he loved wearing contacts that change his eye colours flickered across the room, observing rather than engaging, noting the way students leaned into one another, already forming bonds he wasn’t sure he could and really was not going to try to well unless someone tried then again he may ignore them it was always depending on his mood so.
When his name was called, it almost didn’t feel real.
For a moment, he didn’t move.
Then, quietly, he stepped forward.
Each step toward the stool felt heavier than it should have, He hated this, this the feeling of so many eyes ARGH! how could his brother likes attention? that always confused him. Hands trembled just slightly as he sat, the worn fabric of the Sorting Hat lowering over his dark hair and slipping down over his eyes.
Darkness.
´uhm hello?´ Alex thought in his head.
Then a voice.
“Well… what do we have here?”
Alexander stiffened not expecting a reply really.
“Quiet mind… but not empty. No, no—far from it. You watch. You think. You feel far more than you let on.”
His throat tightened.
“Sensitive… loyal… afraid of being seen for what you truly are. And yet—there’s something else.”
A pause.
It felt like the hat was digging deeper, peeling back layers he didn’t even know how to name which was probably invasive, anyway.
“Curiosity… a dangerous kind. Drawn to secrets, to the things others avoid. You don’t just want to learn—you want to understand. Control it, perhaps?”
Alexander’s fingers curled tightly in his lap, This hat didnt know him he barely knew himself!.
“You could do well in Gryffindor, oh yes… but that’s not quite right, is it?”
Another pause—longer this time.
Then, softer:
“No… you hide your strength. You underestimate yourself. But beneath all that doubt… there is ambition. Quiet. Patient. Waiting.”
´what´s that supposed to mean?´ Alex said in his head.
The hat seemed almost pleased.
“And when you care… oh, you care deeply. Fiercely. That kind of loyalty… that kind of devotion… it can become something powerful.”
A beat.
Then sharply:
“RAVENCLAW!”
The hat was lifted from his head, and the noise of the Great Hall rushed back in all at once.
Alexander blinked, momentarily dazed. ¨ïts so bright in here¨ Alex mumbled to himself.
Wait! did that hat just say Ravenclaw? out of all the houses Ravenclaw?, something unreadable flickered across his face—surprise… maybe even doubt.
But then, slowly, he stood.
And made his way toward the table.
out of all the houses huh? atleast my brother will be proud
Alexander Zolotov stood among the crowd of first years, his fingers loosely gripping the sleeve of his over-sized robe it was his brothers old Hogwarts robe not like they couldn´t afford a new one but Alexander refused because he was scared/nervous. The noise of the Great Hall pressed in on him laughter, chatter, the clinking of goblets it all felt new too much, Alex was never a fan of new things maybe that was one of the reasons he didn´t really want to go to Hogwarts but his parents forced him to come. His hazel eyes which were usually dark pink because he loved wearing contacts that change his eye colours flickered across the room, observing rather than engaging, noting the way students leaned into one another, already forming bonds he wasn’t sure he could and really was not going to try to well unless someone tried then again he may ignore them it was always depending on his mood so.
When his name was called, it almost didn’t feel real.
For a moment, he didn’t move.
Then, quietly, he stepped forward.
Each step toward the stool felt heavier than it should have, He hated this, this the feeling of so many eyes ARGH! how could his brother likes attention? that always confused him. Hands trembled just slightly as he sat, the worn fabric of the Sorting Hat lowering over his dark hair and slipping down over his eyes.
Darkness.
´uhm hello?´ Alex thought in his head.
Then a voice.
“Well… what do we have here?”
Alexander stiffened not expecting a reply really.
“Quiet mind… but not empty. No, no—far from it. You watch. You think. You feel far more than you let on.”
His throat tightened.
“Sensitive… loyal… afraid of being seen for what you truly are. And yet—there’s something else.”
A pause.
It felt like the hat was digging deeper, peeling back layers he didn’t even know how to name which was probably invasive, anyway.
“Curiosity… a dangerous kind. Drawn to secrets, to the things others avoid. You don’t just want to learn—you want to understand. Control it, perhaps?”
Alexander’s fingers curled tightly in his lap, This hat didnt know him he barely knew himself!.
“You could do well in Gryffindor, oh yes… but that’s not quite right, is it?”
Another pause—longer this time.
Then, softer:
“No… you hide your strength. You underestimate yourself. But beneath all that doubt… there is ambition. Quiet. Patient. Waiting.”
´what´s that supposed to mean?´ Alex said in his head.
The hat seemed almost pleased.
“And when you care… oh, you care deeply. Fiercely. That kind of loyalty… that kind of devotion… it can become something powerful.”
A beat.
Then sharply:
“RAVENCLAW!”
The hat was lifted from his head, and the noise of the Great Hall rushed back in all at once.
Alexander blinked, momentarily dazed. ¨ïts so bright in here¨ Alex mumbled to himself.
Wait! did that hat just say Ravenclaw? out of all the houses Ravenclaw?, something unreadable flickered across his face—surprise… maybe even doubt.
But then, slowly, he stood.
And made his way toward the table.
out of all the houses huh? atleast my brother will be proud
Sorting Ceremony
Giselle already likes this place. Also...ghost are actually real! She just saw one! She can now confirm the paranormal is real! Of course it has to be real, if magic isn't why can't the paranormal be the same?
One by one, each student is called to be sorted. Giselle is not that familiar with the houses yet, she only knows the names. She was also too distracted by looking around the place to hear the Headmaster's speech.
She thinks that she might be called soon since the number of students that aren't sorted yet are dwindling.
She watches more students get sorted and even clapping for them. She thinks it's not bad to show support! She might not ever interact with those students and they most likely didn't see her doing that but she doesn't need them to see that, it doesn't matter to her since an act of kindness doesn't have to be seen by anyone at all.
"Kinsley, Giselle."
Giselle perked up when she heard her name. She finally will be sorted! She wonders what house will she be put in.
She excitedly sat down. Despite bursting in excitement, Giselle waited patiently. When the hat was place on her head it ponder for a few seconds before yelling; HUFFLEPUFF!
A round of applause was heard from the Hufflepuff table, welcoming the new member. When the hat was removed from her head, she was basically hopping with excitement to the Hufflepuff table. She knows she's gonna have the best years of her life here!
One by one, each student is called to be sorted. Giselle is not that familiar with the houses yet, she only knows the names. She was also too distracted by looking around the place to hear the Headmaster's speech.
She thinks that she might be called soon since the number of students that aren't sorted yet are dwindling.
She watches more students get sorted and even clapping for them. She thinks it's not bad to show support! She might not ever interact with those students and they most likely didn't see her doing that but she doesn't need them to see that, it doesn't matter to her since an act of kindness doesn't have to be seen by anyone at all.
"Kinsley, Giselle."
Giselle perked up when she heard her name. She finally will be sorted! She wonders what house will she be put in.
She excitedly sat down. Despite bursting in excitement, Giselle waited patiently. When the hat was place on her head it ponder for a few seconds before yelling; HUFFLEPUFF!
A round of applause was heard from the Hufflepuff table, welcoming the new member. When the hat was removed from her head, she was basically hopping with excitement to the Hufflepuff table. She knows she's gonna have the best years of her life here!
I am soooo excited to be here!
Sorting Ceremony
As Eloise departs from Platform 9 3/4 she can already feel the excitement of being a student at Hogwarts. Eloise finds herself walking around on the train looking for where to sit. She stumbles across an older boy who introduces himself and invites her to join him with his friends
After the train ride, there is an older gentleman who is calling all first years to the lake for our annual boat ride over to the castle. The feeling of nerves creeps down Eloise's spine, with the thought of doom if she doesn't get into Slytherin like the rest of her family.
When all of the first year's students complete their boat rides, they are all brought to the grand hall. Eloise is amazed at all the tables filled with students who were once in her spot. Just as Eloise is thinking of impending doom if she doesn't get into Slytherin, she hears Solomon Lear begin his opening speech: Welcome, first-year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here, we are going to engage in our first ceremony, known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient, Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. It won't hurt one bit. The Sorting Hat will look into your heart and mind and determine the best place for you: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values and their own Head of House.The house that will be chosen for you shall represent qualities that are truly present within each of you. Your future house shall be like a second family. You will also be able to gather points and once we reach the end of the year, the house with the most house points shall win the House Championship Cup. What you need to know is the Sorting Hat is never wrong, once you are sorted your House will not change for the duration of your time in Hogwarts.
Within the next hour 40 first year students have been sorted into their houses a majority of them being sorted into Gryfindor, which starts to make Eloise feel unwell but then the sorting hat calls her name
Eloise Dark
Eloise straightens her shoulders and confidently walks over to the shorting hat, sitting on the stool, when headmaster Solomon Lear places it on her head.
Hmmm interesting Eloise Dark, your parents were here many years ago both Slytherins. I sense ambition, the need to be loved and seen as strong and a leader, maybe Gryfindoor,
Eloise crosses her fingers thinking please God no
Hmmm... Better be
Eloise holds her breath, thinking of her future that is just moments ahead
After the train ride, there is an older gentleman who is calling all first years to the lake for our annual boat ride over to the castle. The feeling of nerves creeps down Eloise's spine, with the thought of doom if she doesn't get into Slytherin like the rest of her family.
When all of the first year's students complete their boat rides, they are all brought to the grand hall. Eloise is amazed at all the tables filled with students who were once in her spot. Just as Eloise is thinking of impending doom if she doesn't get into Slytherin, she hears Solomon Lear begin his opening speech: Welcome, first-year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here, we are going to engage in our first ceremony, known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient, Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. It won't hurt one bit. The Sorting Hat will look into your heart and mind and determine the best place for you: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values and their own Head of House.The house that will be chosen for you shall represent qualities that are truly present within each of you. Your future house shall be like a second family. You will also be able to gather points and once we reach the end of the year, the house with the most house points shall win the House Championship Cup. What you need to know is the Sorting Hat is never wrong, once you are sorted your House will not change for the duration of your time in Hogwarts.
Within the next hour 40 first year students have been sorted into their houses a majority of them being sorted into Gryfindor, which starts to make Eloise feel unwell but then the sorting hat calls her name
Eloise Dark
Eloise straightens her shoulders and confidently walks over to the shorting hat, sitting on the stool, when headmaster Solomon Lear places it on her head.
Hmmm interesting Eloise Dark, your parents were here many years ago both Slytherins. I sense ambition, the need to be loved and seen as strong and a leader, maybe Gryfindoor,
Eloise crosses her fingers thinking please God no
Hmmm... Better be
Eloise holds her breath, thinking of her future that is just moments ahead
Reducio
SLYTHERIN
Sorting Ceremony
It wasn't quite cold enough out yet for a coat but Jay still shivered as they entered the main hall of Hogwarts from the outside. Whether it was from nerves, the cool air, or excitement, they weren't sure but the chatter around them was constant and frenzied.
They tucked a strand of wavy dark brown hair behind their ear - a nervous habit of theirs as the gaggle of first years entered the Great Hall.
The room itself was grand - bigger than most of the rooms in Jay's home and filled with laughing students, stern staff members, and dishes bigger than Jay's face.
At the center of the room was Solomon Lear himself.
The headmaster was tall, much taller than Jay themself, and slightly imposing. He had a long beard and dark, stormy blue eyes. Jay picked up on a faint pallor in his cheeks and a slight limp.
With the assistance of the Amplifying Charm his voice boomed. "Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here we are going to engage in our first ceremony known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient."
"Sentient, I am intelligent," came a disembodied voice which Jay quickly realized was from the hat itself.
""Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. It won't hurt one bit. The Sorting Hat will look into your heart and mind and determine the best place for you: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values and their own Head of House," the Headmaster continued. "The house that will be chosen for you shall represent qualities that are truly present within each of you. Your future house shall be like a second family. You will also be able to gather points and once we reach the end of the year, the house with the most house points shall win the House Championship Cup. What you need to know is the Sorting Hat is never wrong, once you are sorted your House will not change for the duration of your time in Hogwarts."
Jay nodded along. They knew about much of what the Headmaster had just said from their parents. Their mother had been in Slytherin, house of the cunning and ambitious, and their father was a Gryffindor, chivalrous and brave.
A staff member that Jay did not yet know the name of came and placed the hat on a stool.
There was polite applause and once it died down, the deputy headmistress started listing of names.
First was "Andrews, Jeremy."
A short, scrawny red-head rushed up to the stool and eagerly jammed the hat onto his head.
There was a brief pause before the hat shouted "Hufflepuff!"
The girl in front of her in the line smirked. "He looked like a Hufflepuff."
"Hmm?" Jay responded, eyes still fixed on the hat.
Another boy, whose name was Grey Aster, and was tall and lean with blonde hair, became the first Gryffindor.
The girl stuck her hand out. "Elsbeth Lestrange. From the noble and pure line of Lestrange."
Jay nodded. "Jay Ophelia."
"I'm Athena Prewett," the girl from behind Jay piped up. "And this is my friend Jacob Hurley."
"Nice to meet you all," Jay said, with a faint smile as Cadwell, Leroy went to Gryffindor.
"Blood status?" Lestrange, piped up haughtily. "I'm pure of course."
Jay nodded, before whispering 'same'.
"I'm Muggle Born," Jacob smiled.
"Half blood," Athena said, quietly.
Lestrange glared at all Athena and Jacob but looked approvingly at Jay. Even as Jay's stomach tighetened, they held her gaze refusing to look away as Vera Dawson was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"So," Athena started, clearly trying to break the tension. "House wishes?"
Jacob sighed. "I dunno much about the Houses, really, but I wouldn't mind Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. I've heard Slytherin is the house of dark wizards."
"My mum is a Slytherin," Jay blurted. "As was Merlin. Not all Slytherins are dark wizards. There are other dark wizards from other houses. Like Peter Pettigrew. Or Quirrinus Quirrel."
"That's true," Athena said, smiling at them. Jay decided that they liked her already. "My two older brothers are both in Gryffindor and my mum and dad were in Ravenclaw. So, I'd like those two."
"Slytherin," Elsbeth snorted, almost rolling her eyes. "Pretty much my whole family was in it. It'd be a shame if I wasn't."
"What about you, Jay?" Jacob asked.
"I dunno," they responded. "Any really."
"Gabel, Hannah!" the deputy headmistress shouted.
Almost immediately, the Sorting Hat shouted "Ravenclaw!"
"Hurley, Jacob," Jay heard vaguely as she watched the curly hair blond walk confidently up to the stool.
There was a long pause and Jay saw him scrunch his eyes. Whether it was in pleading or though, they couldn't be sure. Finally, the hat yelled "Gryffindor!"
Jacob took the hat off his head and gave a wave towards Jay and Athena as he sat down at the Gryffindor table.
A couple more names passed and then: "Lestrange, Elsbeth!"
She strode confidently towards the hat and hat barely touched her head before screaming "Slytherin!"
Jay's stomach turned. More people, names that blurred together and stopped meaning anything.
Finally: "Ophelia, Jay!"
Jay walked evenly towards the stool and put the hat on their head.
"Hmm," said a small voice inside their mind. "An Ophelia. Plenty of courage and loyalty too. Yes, I see that you care beyond measure for those you trust."
"I guess," Jay thought.
"No?" the hat murmured inside their head. "That is not what you want then? I see ambition and knowledge. A deep hunger for knowledge. So much like your mother you know."
"I've been told that before," Jay quipped back.
"But also like your aunt."
Jay's stomach dropped. Her mum's older sister had been a Voldemort sympathizer during the second wizarding war.
"Now, my dear," the hat continued, soothingly. "Don't take that the wrong way. She was a powerful witch and absolutely brilliant. She was a Ravenclaw, did you know?"
"No," Jay thought. "Mum doesn't like to talk about her."
"Yes," the hat mused. "Your father's wit and your mother's shrewdness. But there is a hunger. A thirst for something more. For glory."
Jay waited for the hat to continue.
"Cunning and knowledge, but loyalty and bravery...where to put you?"
Jay squeezed their eyes closed.
"I know now..SLYTHERIN!"
There was an explosion of cheers from the Slytherin table and Jay let out a breath they didn't know they'd been holding as they placed the hat back on the stool.
"Nice to know there's another pureblood here," Elsbeth said, haughtily.
Jay chose to pretend not to hear her.
Another new first year shook their hand. "Name's Ash. It's short for Asher but I've never really liked Asher much."
"Jay," Jay said, with a smile.
Suddenly, they heard: "Prewett, Athena!"
Even as Ash busied herself in the feast, Jay turned to watch. It was an agonizingly long time before the hat yelled "SLYTHERIN!"
Athena looked shocked as she sat down next to Jay and Ash, cheeks drained of all color.
"You'll be ok," Jay promised.
They tucked a strand of wavy dark brown hair behind their ear - a nervous habit of theirs as the gaggle of first years entered the Great Hall.
The room itself was grand - bigger than most of the rooms in Jay's home and filled with laughing students, stern staff members, and dishes bigger than Jay's face.
At the center of the room was Solomon Lear himself.
The headmaster was tall, much taller than Jay themself, and slightly imposing. He had a long beard and dark, stormy blue eyes. Jay picked up on a faint pallor in his cheeks and a slight limp.
With the assistance of the Amplifying Charm his voice boomed. "Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here we are going to engage in our first ceremony known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient."
"Sentient, I am intelligent," came a disembodied voice which Jay quickly realized was from the hat itself.
""Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. It won't hurt one bit. The Sorting Hat will look into your heart and mind and determine the best place for you: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values and their own Head of House," the Headmaster continued. "The house that will be chosen for you shall represent qualities that are truly present within each of you. Your future house shall be like a second family. You will also be able to gather points and once we reach the end of the year, the house with the most house points shall win the House Championship Cup. What you need to know is the Sorting Hat is never wrong, once you are sorted your House will not change for the duration of your time in Hogwarts."
Jay nodded along. They knew about much of what the Headmaster had just said from their parents. Their mother had been in Slytherin, house of the cunning and ambitious, and their father was a Gryffindor, chivalrous and brave.
A staff member that Jay did not yet know the name of came and placed the hat on a stool.
" A thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
For were their such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones, they had to teach.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When were they dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've got a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends. "
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
For were their such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones, they had to teach.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When were they dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've got a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends. "
There was polite applause and once it died down, the deputy headmistress started listing of names.
First was "Andrews, Jeremy."
A short, scrawny red-head rushed up to the stool and eagerly jammed the hat onto his head.
There was a brief pause before the hat shouted "Hufflepuff!"
The girl in front of her in the line smirked. "He looked like a Hufflepuff."
"Hmm?" Jay responded, eyes still fixed on the hat.
Another boy, whose name was Grey Aster, and was tall and lean with blonde hair, became the first Gryffindor.
The girl stuck her hand out. "Elsbeth Lestrange. From the noble and pure line of Lestrange."
Jay nodded. "Jay Ophelia."
"I'm Athena Prewett," the girl from behind Jay piped up. "And this is my friend Jacob Hurley."
"Nice to meet you all," Jay said, with a faint smile as Cadwell, Leroy went to Gryffindor.
"Blood status?" Lestrange, piped up haughtily. "I'm pure of course."
Jay nodded, before whispering 'same'.
"I'm Muggle Born," Jacob smiled.
"Half blood," Athena said, quietly.
Lestrange glared at all Athena and Jacob but looked approvingly at Jay. Even as Jay's stomach tighetened, they held her gaze refusing to look away as Vera Dawson was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"So," Athena started, clearly trying to break the tension. "House wishes?"
Jacob sighed. "I dunno much about the Houses, really, but I wouldn't mind Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. I've heard Slytherin is the house of dark wizards."
"My mum is a Slytherin," Jay blurted. "As was Merlin. Not all Slytherins are dark wizards. There are other dark wizards from other houses. Like Peter Pettigrew. Or Quirrinus Quirrel."
"That's true," Athena said, smiling at them. Jay decided that they liked her already. "My two older brothers are both in Gryffindor and my mum and dad were in Ravenclaw. So, I'd like those two."
"Slytherin," Elsbeth snorted, almost rolling her eyes. "Pretty much my whole family was in it. It'd be a shame if I wasn't."
"What about you, Jay?" Jacob asked.
"I dunno," they responded. "Any really."
"Gabel, Hannah!" the deputy headmistress shouted.
Almost immediately, the Sorting Hat shouted "Ravenclaw!"
"Hurley, Jacob," Jay heard vaguely as she watched the curly hair blond walk confidently up to the stool.
There was a long pause and Jay saw him scrunch his eyes. Whether it was in pleading or though, they couldn't be sure. Finally, the hat yelled "Gryffindor!"
Jacob took the hat off his head and gave a wave towards Jay and Athena as he sat down at the Gryffindor table.
A couple more names passed and then: "Lestrange, Elsbeth!"
She strode confidently towards the hat and hat barely touched her head before screaming "Slytherin!"
Jay's stomach turned. More people, names that blurred together and stopped meaning anything.
Finally: "Ophelia, Jay!"
Jay walked evenly towards the stool and put the hat on their head.
"Hmm," said a small voice inside their mind. "An Ophelia. Plenty of courage and loyalty too. Yes, I see that you care beyond measure for those you trust."
"I guess," Jay thought.
"No?" the hat murmured inside their head. "That is not what you want then? I see ambition and knowledge. A deep hunger for knowledge. So much like your mother you know."
"I've been told that before," Jay quipped back.
"But also like your aunt."
Jay's stomach dropped. Her mum's older sister had been a Voldemort sympathizer during the second wizarding war.
"Now, my dear," the hat continued, soothingly. "Don't take that the wrong way. She was a powerful witch and absolutely brilliant. She was a Ravenclaw, did you know?"
"No," Jay thought. "Mum doesn't like to talk about her."
"Yes," the hat mused. "Your father's wit and your mother's shrewdness. But there is a hunger. A thirst for something more. For glory."
Jay waited for the hat to continue.
"Cunning and knowledge, but loyalty and bravery...where to put you?"
Jay squeezed their eyes closed.
"I know now..SLYTHERIN!"
There was an explosion of cheers from the Slytherin table and Jay let out a breath they didn't know they'd been holding as they placed the hat back on the stool.
"Nice to know there's another pureblood here," Elsbeth said, haughtily.
Jay chose to pretend not to hear her.
Another new first year shook their hand. "Name's Ash. It's short for Asher but I've never really liked Asher much."
"Jay," Jay said, with a smile.
Suddenly, they heard: "Prewett, Athena!"
Even as Ash busied herself in the feast, Jay turned to watch. It was an agonizingly long time before the hat yelled "SLYTHERIN!"
Athena looked shocked as she sat down next to Jay and Ash, cheeks drained of all color.
"You'll be ok," Jay promised.
Jay Ophelia
Slytherin, First Year
"we are the breakers, legacy makers"
Sorting Ceremony
The Great Hall was louder than Noah expected.
Not overwhelming just what the word … alive.
Voices bounced off the high ceilings, students shifting on benches, whispers and quiet laughter mixing together. Candles floated above, steady and calm, like none of this was a big deal.
Noah stood in line with the other first-years, rocking slightly on his heels, hands shoved into his pockets like he didn’t know what else to do with them.
This was fine.
He wasn’t nervous.
Okay maybe just maybe a little.
Names were being called one by one. Each student walked up, sat on the stool, and had that old, worn hat dropped onto their head.
The Sorting Hat.
Noah watched carefully.
Some people took forever. Some barely sat down before the hat shouted their house.
Weird.
“—Noah.”
He blinked.
Oh.
That was him.
Noah stepped forward, casual as ever or at least trying to look it. A few students watched him as he passed, but he didn’t really mind. He’d talked his way through worse situations than walking across a room.
Still… his shoulders tensed just a little as he sat on the stool.
The hat dropped over his eyes.
Darkness.
Then—
“Hmm.”
Noah stilled.
“Well now… this is interesting.”
His thoughts immediately jumped.
Interesting how? Good interesting? Bad interesting?
The hat gave a quiet, amused hum.
“Relax. I’m not here to fail you.”
Noah let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
“You’re not what you seem at first glance, are you?”
Noah didn’t answer out loud but his thoughts did.
I mean… yeah, I guess?
“Easygoing on the surface. Friendly. Quick to talk.”
“But underneath… impulsive. Unpredictable. You act before you think sometimes.”
Okay rude. Not wrong, but rude.
There was a pause.
“You could do well in Slytherin, you know. You’re clever—very clever with words. You know how to twist a situation, how to slip out of trouble…”
Noah’s thoughts immediately pushed back.
Yeah… but that’s not—
“Not what you want?”
Another pause.
The hat’s voice softened slightly.
“No… you don’t use that to hurt people. You avoid conflict more than you chase power.”
Noah relaxed a little.
“You value people. Even if you pretend you don’t care, even if you joke your way out of things…”
A small beat.
“You stay.”
That made him go quiet.
Because yeah.
That part was true.
“Loyal when it counts. Patient—more than you realize. And you don’t mind standing beside others instead of above them…”
The hat seemed to settle on the decision.
“Yes… I know where to put you.”
A grin tugged at Noah’s thoughts.
Yeah? Where?
The hat didn’t hesitate this time.
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
Noah blinked as the hat was lifted off his head, light flooding back in. For a second, he just sat there—processing.
Hufflepuff, huh.
He stood, a small, easy smile forming as he glanced toward the table cheering the loudest.
Yeah.
That felt right.
With a casual shrug, like it had never been a big deal in the first place, he headed over to join them.
Not overwhelming just what the word … alive.
Voices bounced off the high ceilings, students shifting on benches, whispers and quiet laughter mixing together. Candles floated above, steady and calm, like none of this was a big deal.
Noah stood in line with the other first-years, rocking slightly on his heels, hands shoved into his pockets like he didn’t know what else to do with them.
This was fine.
He wasn’t nervous.
Okay maybe just maybe a little.
Names were being called one by one. Each student walked up, sat on the stool, and had that old, worn hat dropped onto their head.
The Sorting Hat.
Noah watched carefully.
Some people took forever. Some barely sat down before the hat shouted their house.
Weird.
“—Noah.”
He blinked.
Oh.
That was him.
Noah stepped forward, casual as ever or at least trying to look it. A few students watched him as he passed, but he didn’t really mind. He’d talked his way through worse situations than walking across a room.
Still… his shoulders tensed just a little as he sat on the stool.
The hat dropped over his eyes.
Darkness.
Then—
“Hmm.”
Noah stilled.
“Well now… this is interesting.”
His thoughts immediately jumped.
Interesting how? Good interesting? Bad interesting?
The hat gave a quiet, amused hum.
“Relax. I’m not here to fail you.”
Noah let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
“You’re not what you seem at first glance, are you?”
Noah didn’t answer out loud but his thoughts did.
I mean… yeah, I guess?
“Easygoing on the surface. Friendly. Quick to talk.”
“But underneath… impulsive. Unpredictable. You act before you think sometimes.”
Okay rude. Not wrong, but rude.
There was a pause.
“You could do well in Slytherin, you know. You’re clever—very clever with words. You know how to twist a situation, how to slip out of trouble…”
Noah’s thoughts immediately pushed back.
Yeah… but that’s not—
“Not what you want?”
Another pause.
The hat’s voice softened slightly.
“No… you don’t use that to hurt people. You avoid conflict more than you chase power.”
Noah relaxed a little.
“You value people. Even if you pretend you don’t care, even if you joke your way out of things…”
A small beat.
“You stay.”
That made him go quiet.
Because yeah.
That part was true.
“Loyal when it counts. Patient—more than you realize. And you don’t mind standing beside others instead of above them…”
The hat seemed to settle on the decision.
“Yes… I know where to put you.”
A grin tugged at Noah’s thoughts.
Yeah? Where?
The hat didn’t hesitate this time.
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
Noah blinked as the hat was lifted off his head, light flooding back in. For a second, he just sat there—processing.
Hufflepuff, huh.
He stood, a small, easy smile forming as he glanced toward the table cheering the loudest.
Yeah.
That felt right.
With a casual shrug, like it had never been a big deal in the first place, he headed over to join them.
Sorting Ceremony
"Moore, Aster Lune"
They heard their name being called. Aster stood in the middle of the crowd of first-year students. Eyes shining with wonder as they stared at the enchanted ceiling, which reflected the sky, the lit candles above their heads seeming like stars illuminating the night. Four long dining tables stretched the length of the room, with students sitting on benches on either side, chatting among themselves, and some looking at the new students joining Hogwarts with curiosity and nostalgia for their own first day.
Aster walked slowly towards the front of the Great Hall, then sat on the chair facing everyone and felt the hat sit upon their head.
"Curious..." The Sorting Hat said.
Aster think back to their parent conversation. Theodore Moore, their father, was a Hogwarts alumnus, always talked about how they would be sorted to Ravenclaw due to their curiosity about learning things, especially things that relate to potions, while their mother, Elizabeth Rose, said Hufflepuff for being hard-working. They will never expected that the Sorting Hat exclaimed:
"Slytherin!"
The sea of green and silver does not explode into cheers. Aster felt the students eyeing them up and exchanged looks before clapping. It was controlled and deliberate, with smirks welcoming them instead of smiles. It was intimidating to say the least.
Once the Hat decided and was removed from their head, Aster hopped off the seat and walked towards their house's table.
"I'd better get to writing the letter then."
Aster thought to themselves.
'They'll never believe I got in Slytherin.'
They heard their name being called. Aster stood in the middle of the crowd of first-year students. Eyes shining with wonder as they stared at the enchanted ceiling, which reflected the sky, the lit candles above their heads seeming like stars illuminating the night. Four long dining tables stretched the length of the room, with students sitting on benches on either side, chatting among themselves, and some looking at the new students joining Hogwarts with curiosity and nostalgia for their own first day.
Aster walked slowly towards the front of the Great Hall, then sat on the chair facing everyone and felt the hat sit upon their head.
"Curious..." The Sorting Hat said.
Aster think back to their parent conversation. Theodore Moore, their father, was a Hogwarts alumnus, always talked about how they would be sorted to Ravenclaw due to their curiosity about learning things, especially things that relate to potions, while their mother, Elizabeth Rose, said Hufflepuff for being hard-working. They will never expected that the Sorting Hat exclaimed:
"Slytherin!"
The sea of green and silver does not explode into cheers. Aster felt the students eyeing them up and exchanged looks before clapping. It was controlled and deliberate, with smirks welcoming them instead of smiles. It was intimidating to say the least.
Once the Hat decided and was removed from their head, Aster hopped off the seat and walked towards their house's table.
"I'd better get to writing the letter then."
Aster thought to themselves.
'They'll never believe I got in Slytherin.'
Sorting Ceremony
"Uuh... I'm so nervous, I think I might faint!" Chiara exclaimed, as she looked around, shy and nervous to be under so many eyes. After the hat's finished singing, which she found delightful and applauded, she waited, patiently, for her turn.
"Ghia, Chiara!" She waited for years for this moment. Her mother's voice, gentle and reassuring, accompanied her in her head as she walked towards the stall, "I love you, bimba mia (my daughter), even if you were a bowtruckle. I know your father hopes for Hufflepuff, but it doesn't matter okay? Everything happens for a reason and if your destiny sends you in another house, then it means it was made for you, even if you don't see it now."
"Mhm.. I see someone who wants to get out of her own shadow, or... learn to use it for her own plans, someone compassionate and kind, but only to those she trusts. You're ambitious, but not in the standard meaning, you want to demolish old believes and let the world breath a new air of change. Well... Better be... SLYTHERIN!!!" Chiara was shocked, but not angry. With poise, she gave back the hat and walked towards her new house's table. There, she smiled and sat while thinking about what to write to her parents. She was in Slytherin, it'll be a shock for her father, sure, but her mother's words conviced her everything will be fine.
"Ghia, Chiara!" She waited for years for this moment. Her mother's voice, gentle and reassuring, accompanied her in her head as she walked towards the stall, "I love you, bimba mia (my daughter), even if you were a bowtruckle. I know your father hopes for Hufflepuff, but it doesn't matter okay? Everything happens for a reason and if your destiny sends you in another house, then it means it was made for you, even if you don't see it now."
"Mhm.. I see someone who wants to get out of her own shadow, or... learn to use it for her own plans, someone compassionate and kind, but only to those she trusts. You're ambitious, but not in the standard meaning, you want to demolish old believes and let the world breath a new air of change. Well... Better be... SLYTHERIN!!!" Chiara was shocked, but not angry. With poise, she gave back the hat and walked towards her new house's table. There, she smiled and sat while thinking about what to write to her parents. She was in Slytherin, it'll be a shock for her father, sure, but her mother's words conviced her everything will be fine.
Sorting Ceremony
Luna walked into the Great Hall, her eyes wide. The room was absolutely gigantic. It was bigger than any room she’s ever seen. There were four very long tables, one supposedly for each House. She has heard brief mentions of the Hogwarts Houses while on the train ride here but she still knew very little about them.
As she looked around, she saw candles floating in the air. There were piles and piles of food and goblets on all four of the tables. ‘This could feed a whole army.’ Luna thinks. Her eyes look up and fall upon the enchanted ceiling above. It looked absolutely magnificent. It was as if there was no ceiling at all and just the sky above.
When she looked back down again, her eyes fell upon the Headmaster, Solomon Lear. Just from a first glance, he was a very imposing figure. Even though she was only eleven years old, he still looked like he would be big and imposing even if she was an adult herself. Though the more she looked at him, the more she noticed the softness to his character. The soft smiles he would occasionally give. The crows feet in the corner of his eyes.
She took a deep breath. ‘I’m okay. Yes this is all very new and slightly scary. Okay, very scary, but it’s okay.’ She thought, trying to reassure herself. She jumped slightly as she hears the booming voice of the Headmaster speaking. "Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here we are going to engage in our first ceremony known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient."
“Sentient, I am intelligent.” Said a disembodied voice. The voice made Luna jump and look around for the source of the voice. She then saw the Sorting Hat and it struck her. It was the hat that talked. Not a person. A hat.
She stared at the hat dumbstruck as the Headmaster and the Sorting Hat continued talking. She then blinked quickly a few times and shook her head, physically shaking herself out of her stupor. She returned her focus to the Headmaster.
"Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. It won't hurt one bit. The Sorting Hat will look into your heart and mind and determine the best place for you: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values and their own Head of House." Headmaster Lear said.
Luna looked at each of the Heads of Houses as the Headmaster introduced them. Geez, this was a lot of information to take in all in one day. She was already beginning to feel overwhelmed and the Sorting Ceremony hadn’t even started yet. ‘Hopefully it will go by quickly.’ She thought. She took a few deep breaths and focused back on the words being said, praying her mind took in and understood any information, even if it was a fraction of everything being said.
As the Sorting Ceremony started, Luna’s eyes went around the room, looking at all of the first years standing with her at the front of the room. Some looked completely calm and even confident. Others looked about as nervous as she felt.
Her eyes then fell upon one student in particular. They had golden brown skin, wavy dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes. They seemed to be the same height as her, about 4’9. They looked like they could be a good—
“Polaris, Luna.” The Deputy Headmistress called out.
‘No, it’s my turn already? But I’m not ready. I should have paid more attention.’ Luna thought, alarm bells ringing in her mind. She took a deep breath and walked up to the Deputy Headmistress and the Sorting Hat. She sat on the stool and the hat was placed upon her head.
“Hmm… interesting. Very interesting.” A voice said in her mind. It sounded like it was coming from all around her while simultaneously coming from inside her head. It was incredibly creepy and unnerving. “You have a lot of wisdom for someone so young. And are very eager to learn.”
“I… I guess.” Luna stuttered out. She began tapping her fingers together in an effort to stay calm.
“There is also loyalty and a need to protect those you love. Determination and even something that some might say is savage.” The hat mused. Luna tensed slightly at his words. “But where to put you.”
“Ah… I know. Hufflepuff!!” The hat declared.
There was a loud roaring applause from the Hufflepuff table as well as applause from all of the other students and staff members.
Luna got up off the stool and found a spot to sit on the Hufflepuff table. She hid her shaking hands under the table.
As she looked around at all her fellow Hufflepuffs, their congratulations washing over her like a wave, she took a deep breath. They all looked friendly. She would be okay. Yes it was overwhelming. But she was sure any of these students sitting with her would be willing to help. At least, she hoped so.
‘I will be okay.’ Luna reminded herself as the Sorting Ceremony continued on. She took another deep breath. ‘I will be okay.’
As she looked around, she saw candles floating in the air. There were piles and piles of food and goblets on all four of the tables. ‘This could feed a whole army.’ Luna thinks. Her eyes look up and fall upon the enchanted ceiling above. It looked absolutely magnificent. It was as if there was no ceiling at all and just the sky above.
When she looked back down again, her eyes fell upon the Headmaster, Solomon Lear. Just from a first glance, he was a very imposing figure. Even though she was only eleven years old, he still looked like he would be big and imposing even if she was an adult herself. Though the more she looked at him, the more she noticed the softness to his character. The soft smiles he would occasionally give. The crows feet in the corner of his eyes.
She took a deep breath. ‘I’m okay. Yes this is all very new and slightly scary. Okay, very scary, but it’s okay.’ She thought, trying to reassure herself. She jumped slightly as she hears the booming voice of the Headmaster speaking. "Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here we are going to engage in our first ceremony known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient."
“Sentient, I am intelligent.” Said a disembodied voice. The voice made Luna jump and look around for the source of the voice. She then saw the Sorting Hat and it struck her. It was the hat that talked. Not a person. A hat.
She stared at the hat dumbstruck as the Headmaster and the Sorting Hat continued talking. She then blinked quickly a few times and shook her head, physically shaking herself out of her stupor. She returned her focus to the Headmaster.
"Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. It won't hurt one bit. The Sorting Hat will look into your heart and mind and determine the best place for you: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. As most of you must know, each of those houses possesses their own characteristic, their own values and their own Head of House." Headmaster Lear said.
Luna looked at each of the Heads of Houses as the Headmaster introduced them. Geez, this was a lot of information to take in all in one day. She was already beginning to feel overwhelmed and the Sorting Ceremony hadn’t even started yet. ‘Hopefully it will go by quickly.’ She thought. She took a few deep breaths and focused back on the words being said, praying her mind took in and understood any information, even if it was a fraction of everything being said.
As the Sorting Ceremony started, Luna’s eyes went around the room, looking at all of the first years standing with her at the front of the room. Some looked completely calm and even confident. Others looked about as nervous as she felt.
Her eyes then fell upon one student in particular. They had golden brown skin, wavy dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes. They seemed to be the same height as her, about 4’9. They looked like they could be a good—
“Polaris, Luna.” The Deputy Headmistress called out.
‘No, it’s my turn already? But I’m not ready. I should have paid more attention.’ Luna thought, alarm bells ringing in her mind. She took a deep breath and walked up to the Deputy Headmistress and the Sorting Hat. She sat on the stool and the hat was placed upon her head.
“Hmm… interesting. Very interesting.” A voice said in her mind. It sounded like it was coming from all around her while simultaneously coming from inside her head. It was incredibly creepy and unnerving. “You have a lot of wisdom for someone so young. And are very eager to learn.”
“I… I guess.” Luna stuttered out. She began tapping her fingers together in an effort to stay calm.
“There is also loyalty and a need to protect those you love. Determination and even something that some might say is savage.” The hat mused. Luna tensed slightly at his words. “But where to put you.”
“Ah… I know. Hufflepuff!!” The hat declared.
There was a loud roaring applause from the Hufflepuff table as well as applause from all of the other students and staff members.
Luna got up off the stool and found a spot to sit on the Hufflepuff table. She hid her shaking hands under the table.
As she looked around at all her fellow Hufflepuffs, their congratulations washing over her like a wave, she took a deep breath. They all looked friendly. She would be okay. Yes it was overwhelming. But she was sure any of these students sitting with her would be willing to help. At least, she hoped so.
‘I will be okay.’ Luna reminded herself as the Sorting Ceremony continued on. She took another deep breath. ‘I will be okay.’
Luna Polaris