Sorting Ceremony 2025 - 2026

Cassandra waited eagerly for the Sorting Ceremony to begin. This was it, the moment that decided her future. What would her house change about her? What would her roommates be like? Did she look alright?

She smoothed out her plain black cloak, looking out towards all the older students in their colored ones. How would they change their robes after they were sorted? Would they give them materials to make their own house corresponding outfits? Then what was the point of fitting? Maybe there was a spell they could cast to change it?

Names were called one by one, and Cassie watched as people were put into different groups, corresponding to their inner selves. She couldn't help but snicker at some of the prissy ones who got sorted into Slytherin- served them right. By the looks on their faces, she knew they weren't happy to be there. Who would? It was only Slytherin, the most infamous Hogwarts house ever.

The students were called in alphabetical order by surname, so she was able to watch most of the other students be sorted. One after the other. Her excitement ramped up the more she thought about it. Her house. She had thought about it on the train, and now she was dead set on Hufflepuff. It was probably the best house for her. Kind, loyal, and from what she heard, right next to the kitchens. She was sure to be quite comfortable there.

So, when her name was called, she strut up to that rickety chair with a young confidence, plopping herself down as the hat was placed on her head. Cassie found herself fiddling with the ends of her billowing sleeves, staring out towards the entire student body.

She nearly gasped aloud when she heard a voice- well, heard was the best was to describe it. It was like a ringing in her ear, so real but with no trace of origin. In fact, she was so surprised by the voice, that she wasn't paying a lick of attention to what it was actually saying. She was astounded by the possibilities this place had to offer. It was only when the Hat on her head began it's decision that she was able to tune back into the moment, to what was happening. Something about ambition?

"SLYTHERIN!"

Cassandra froze.

Slytherin? No, no that couldn't be right. There was no way. She wasn't a snake. Before she could argue back, however, she was already being pushed away and a new student was being called up.

No, wait, there has to be a mistake-

She wasn't ever one to throw a fit, but this was different. The Hat sees into your very soul, into your mind, where your deepest desires are kept. She hadn't thought of what a Slytherin's desires would be, and she didn't want to know. How did the Hat look at her and see someone as worthy as a Slytherin?

Had she done something wrong?

September 1st 2025
Great Hall, Hogwarts

Lilly had been waiting her whole life to come to hogwarts, and now that it was finally happening, she was ecstatic! Her whole life she had been surrounded by magic, but never been able to use it.

As she walked into the great hall with the other first years, she looked up. She had read and reread Hogwarts: A History so many times in her life, and had gone over it again in the days leading up to school. The ceiling was just as stunning as Bathilda described, the candles floating, illuminating the hall, the weather outside matching with the inside. The fires hanging along the sides flickered with each step she took.

Continuing past all the older students, the first years stopped before the teachers table. Lilly stood on her tiptoes and could just about see the top of the sorting hat, which, after a short welcome speech from Solomon Lear, burst into song.

As the hat reached the end, nerves began to settle in Lilly’s stomach. She had spent countless hours debating which house she would be in, but still was unsure where she belonged. As the professor read out names, she scanned each table to see how they reacted to their new members. Her mother was in ‘wise old Ravenclaw’, but her father was in Griffindor.

“Lightwood, Lilly” the professor called out.

Lilly walked through the small crowd of students in front of her. She took a few shaky breaths as she sat on the stool. There were so many people in front of her. The hat was lowered onto her head, the small warmth creating a ring on her. The hat considered her qualities and listed some such as loyalty and empathy, but then went on to list some such as her habit is of comparison and envy. After a brief moments of silence the hat announced “Hufflepuff!”

Lilly stood up as cheer erupted from the tables, and people stood up at the hufflepuff table. She smiled, and a laugh rose up out of her throat. Her legs carried her to the table, where she received several high fives from some of the older students, smiling at them she sat and turned to face the front where the next persons name was about to be called.

The Great Hall was larger than he'd anticipated. It swallowed him and the rest of the first years as they shuffled into its yawning maw, their eyes wide with anticipation. In Cassiel's, though, anxiety lingered. He'd heard so much about Hogwarts from his parents and his brother that he considered himself more familiar with it than the average first year, yet this stubborn sense of dread refused to evade him. So preoccupied with it, he barely even noticed as student after student was sorted, leaving him unprepared when his name was called.

"Ahlstrom, Cassiel!"

Before his mind could register what was happening, Cassiel's body moved on its own, carrying him to the front of the Great Hall. Sightlessly, he stared into the crowd of seated students before him as the Sorting Hat was slipped onto his head.

'I need to be in Slytherin,' Cassiel thought, eager for his sorting to be finished.

"Need?" A disembodied voice echoed in his head, more sonorous that he'd expected. The tone it used was nearly teasing, as if poking fun at him for having his mind so set.

'Everyone in my family was sorted there.'

"You have ambition, yes," the Sorting Hat concurred, though the drawl of its voice and the way it did not immediately sort him into Slytherin made him nervous. "But your preferences blind you to the nature of your own character."

Cassiel's offered only a few seconds of contemplation, which ultimately yields no intelligible response to this cryptic message, before the Sorting Hat, without further preabmle, announces:

"Gryffindor!"

A terrible mistake was made. It's practically an Ahlstrom birthright to be sorted into Slytherin. Since he'd first heard of it from his parents, Cassiel has known Gryffindor to be the house for brutes and braggarts. With his parents' poor opinion of his new house at the forefront of his mind, Cassiel walked to the Gryffindor's table on numb legs, his expression dazed. He could barely hear the applause of his fellow Gryffindors, their clapping drowned out by the persistent thrum of his heart pulsing in his ear. The weak smile he mirrored at Gryffindors who greeted him did not meet his eyes. Eyes, green as the house of every Ahlstrom has been sorted to, stared out around him, and all he saw was red.

Corra had been looking forward to her arrival at Hogwarts for a long time. Ever since she was little, she had imagined what it would be like to shop for supplies in Diagon Alley, ride the Hogwarts Express, and attend the Sorting Ceremony. She will tell her mother and explain her imagination. "Then it was my turn and my name was called. 'Henselwood, Corra', and I walked to the front, sat down in the chairs, and then the hat choose a house for me!!" Little Corra explains her imagination to her mother who claps and praises Corra.

Without realizing it, here she was. She had already bought her supplies in Diagon Alley, boarded the Hogwarts Express, and now it was time for the much-awaited house selection. One by one the names were called, and Corra waited for her turn standing still almost motionless, with that faint smile like a permanent mask to hide her thoughts. Outside? She was calm and quiet. Inside? Her mind was chaotic and anxious. What if I don't like my house? What if the people in my house hate me? I wonder which house I will enter.

She kept replaying vague memories of herself imagining her future self, sometimes jolted out of her thoughts when the name of the house of the student wearing the sorting hat was called out loudly and the sound of applause echoing in the great hall.

Before Corra knew it, her name was being called.

"Henselwood, Corra!"

Corra jumped in surprise, but quickly moved forward and sat down. Corra could feel the old hat being placed on her head. Corra could also feel the hat mumbling something but her mind didn't process it.

Then Corra remembered her mother's words that day. "Which house do you think you'll be in?" said her mother with a smile. Even now, Corra doesn't know how to answer that question.

maybe Griffindor? Corra always dares to overcome her often anxious thoughts and acts boldly, even if only sometimes. or Hufflepuff? Corra is gentle and kind, at least that's what her mother always said. or Ravenclaw? Her mother is from Ravenclaw, so maybe Corra will be in Ravenclaw too. Her mother often tells her about the Riddle that must be solved if she want to enter the common room. or maybe Slytherin because her father was from Slytherin?

"Ah!" the sorting hat shouted suddenly, shattering Corra's reverie. "I know the perfect house for you... yes... yes..." Corra squeezed her knees anxiously, and curiously of course.

"Slytherin!"

The applause that Corra had previously heard for the other children was now directed at her. Corra was a bit confused. She froze before finally standing up to let someone else sit in the chair.

Slytherin, huh? she thought as she walked to Slytherin table. indeed, those cunning folks use any means to achieve their ends. Corra shakes hands with several students nearby.

Should I start being one of those 'cunning folks' and use any means to achieve my end?

Juliana walked in nervously biting her lip like always. She never knew which house she'd be sorted into. She was terrified. Her brother was sorted into a green one...she couldn't remember the names but she knew it was some green..There were other students there but she still felt as if all eyes were just staring. Names started getting called as students got sorted. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Huffelpuff..names sounding familiar but not ringing a bell much. Until her name got called

"Don't be scared..don't be scared..don't be scared.."

Juliana stepped up and sat on a small stool the hat covering her eyes barely on the bridge of her nose. She messed with her fingers and bit her lip nervously, waiting

"Ambition.......selfish...cunning.. i see.."

The hat spoke! It spoke about her. Everything got muffled for a bit, maybe because she closed her eyes for too long or zoned out, but within seconds, out loud

"Slytherin!"

She felt her stomach do a backflip. The green house. Where her brother got sorted into, as she got off and took her seat at the Slytherin table, she couldn't help but feel proud and excited. More excited than anything before. That's when Juliana knew this was where she belonged and where she would give her all.

TJ stared at the hat as it descended onto her head and wondered if she'd get lice.
"Astute observation," the Sorting Hat said without answering the question, which was enough of an answer itself.
Not again, TJ thought. And this time, she wouldn't even have her mom to pick them out or give her lice shampoo or even comb her hair for not lice-related reasons... Oh dear, I'm going to miss my mom. TJ had only realised she'd miss her at that moment.
"Hm, not very thoughtful of you," the Hat remarked.
The statement didn't hurt TJ, though. She was very absent-minded. She'd rather think about some fantasy world she came up with instead.
"Adventurous and creative, eh?"
Those sounded like Gryffindor and Ravenclaw to TJ. She didn't really have too much of a preference, but she did like cool colors better than warm ones.
"Yes, yes. Do you have a goal in life? Something you want to do."
Ugh, a "what do you wanna do when you grow up" question? Really? My English teacher always said it's okay to not know at this age. Dad says I have to be a lawyer.
"And you do everything Dad says?"
Thinking of the times she's argued with her dad over the merits of bedtime (backed with academic sources), she thought, Not really, I guess.
"Ah, of course. Better be..."
RAVENCLAW!

Serine Wood would watch from afar, "Now I'm wondering, if they even wanted to be a Ravenclaw." She thought, curiously, "I hope I will be Slytherin." She muttered to herself, hopeful. "Well if I will not be a Slytherin,that's fine, I guess." She thought. Finally after a few exhausting hours sitting on the chair changing positions over and over and over again, it was finally her turn, she felt so relieved that it was her turn after ages, sitting on that chair was so exhausting, it felt like she was sitting on a rock except it was wood.

She finally stood up from that rock-chair, and began walking towards the old sorting hat. She sat on the chair, it was finally happening, now she could become a Slytherin and defend herself, and honor her mother, she could now be in the future as a witch, that can defend herself properly, she even brought all of the school supplies, clothing, and all she needed.
"Hmm you want to become a Slytherin..hmm yes?" The sorting hat said, curiously. "Yes" She said, her voice clear and as quiet for only for the sorting hat to hear. "Hmm.." The hat said. It took longer than usual, "This is a hatstall" She thought, she looked over all the students, some of them were looking impatient, some of them were looking beyond nervous, and some of them were normal. "Hmm.. analytical and loyal, hmm.." The old hat muttered more to themselves than to somebody, it lasted a little bit more than usual, and it was certainly a hatstall. "Better be.."

"HUFFLEPUFF!!!!"

"Oh..okay" She muttered to herself, quietly, slightly dissapointed, how could she be a Hufflepuff? She looked more like a Slytherin for sure, but that doesn't matter either, "Hmm..there is probably just more to me, atleast the Hufflepuff's are really friendly and easy to befriend with." Serine would thought, heading towards the Hufflepuff's table.

Aldric was definitely nervous. Earlier he had walked into the great hall and had been astounded by the Huge tables sorted by house. He looked up to see Many beautiful glowing candles, and he gaped as they flickered against the beautiful ceiling. He looked forwards and he saw the headmaster Solomon Lear. The headmaster began his speech and Aldric was dumbfounded by all he saw. As the headmaster concluded with

"This hat is very much sentient."

A voice replied "Sentient, I am intelligent" some kids laughed while the professors rolled their eyes.

After the sorting hats... er... beautiful song, then they started the sorting. He was the most nervous he had been in his life. He didn't know which house he would get, But he begged not for griffindor. He was deathly afraid of lions. If he had met a boggert, it would immediately transform into one of those huge beasts. So, he hoped for anything but that. Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, but he wasn't very smart. Perhaps Hufflepuff, even though his loyalty might need more work. But what he secretly hoped for was Slytherin. Some people thought slytherin was bad, but some of the most successful wizards came from there. So, he hoped for Slytherin. When it was his turn they placed the hat on his head. Aldric thought SLYTHERIN with all his might and the hat, In turn yelled “Slitherin” Aldric smiled triumphantly. as the Slytherin table cheered and his robes turned green and silver. His brother waved at him from the Slytherin table and Aldric ran to join them.

Dahlia was not, on principle, a nervous individual. She refuted anxiety on principle, as was made evident by the long, unbothered strides her legs took in pace with her future classmates. Her hair, as she had checked in the train window, was smooth and presentable, as were her robes. Her mother had warned her to make a good impression in this way. If her first impression was poor it would mess with others' perceptions of her.

Dahlia had put up an argument at the time. Yes, she was going to stand on stage in front of the whole school. It was inevitable others notice her. It was deeply idiotic to think poorly of someone over whether their robes were ironed but such people existed with her mother, apparently, being one of them.

She would have chosen a more flashy outfit if it had been up to her. However, unfortunately, her mother had eyes at Hogwarts in the form of her friends' scandal-mongering children. One of them would tell their parents, exaggerating whatever she did wrong, and then she would receive an owl in the mail requiring her to fix the misdeed. Misdeed... A snort broke Dahlia's calm exterior. Yes, because wanting to do a cat-eye for the sorting ceremony was clearly a misdeed worthy of great familial shame. She ought to know that.

The young witch ought to know many things, however, she did not. She pretended she did not. Even if she had done it and one of those snitches had blabbed, it wasn't like she would have gotten into trouble anyway. Her parents would have refuted the claim publicly out of shame, scolded her, imposed no consequence, and allowed her the opportunity to repeat the offense next time. Such was the privilege of an only daughter.

Her glowy makeup was good enough. It emphasized her features in a way she thought fitting, like a star, in the light. She was going to sit on that stool and prove herself as one to be remembered.

Unfortunately for her, the name "Dahlia Lee" did not come up until over halfway through the ceremony. This gave her plenty of time to stare at her surroundings and contemplate the meaning of lying in wait. (It was a horror, or so she concluded. They ought to duplicate the sorting hat... At least 5 copies would be ideal. That would make the sorting process far more efficient.)

"DAHLIA LEE!"

Of course her name was called when she was immersed in thought. She flinched, eyes blinking rapidly as if she were a deer in the headlights. This was not the ideal expression to have on her face now that the center of attention had been passed on to her. The young witch corrected her face, tossing one side of her hair over her shoulder as she stepped up and sat.

"...GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat had barely made contact with her head before making the call. Dahlia's eyebrows raised. The house itself was not shocking. She was both prideful and brave but surely there were other features too that came into play. The young witch had been looking forward to a mental debate with the sentient hat and, hence, was a touch disappointed that it ended so quickly. Still, she offered the Gryffindor table a closed-lip smile as she made her way to her seat.

WC: 558

Sorting Ceremony.
September 1st.


It had been two weeks since learning he, River, was something called a Wizard.
At first, he had thought it was some junk mail in the post. Or that his Aunt, a pretty late-20s woman he called Auntie Jess, had once again signed up for something sketchy, or had signed him up for some sweepstakes again.
But this time, she said, "I have no clue what this letter is." She inspected it, then tossed it in the trash.
The letter left his mind within minutes, until the next day, when he found another letter under the batter of his fish and chips for dinner. "What in the bloody hell, Auntie!" he spat out the letter onto the table.
"Ew, River, don't spit like that, it's gross." She said, watching with amusement. "I don't know how that letter got in there, probably got caught with the fish where they dumped our trash in the ocean. It was half off."

A few days later, he finally opened one, after his football match, trying out for the Youth Academy for Arsenal, his favorite club. The Manager called him off the pitch. "Grimes, you have a letter."
Confused, he took the letter and saw the familiar, weird one he kept getting, but this one was so specifically addressed that he had no choice but to open it.
Mr. R. Grimes
Center Striker
Youth Field 2
North London.

Fast forward to now. After a weird trip to a weird town, talking to creepy little men that gave him gold, and a very long train ride, he was now standing in the Great Hall, watching an old hat sing.
"Bloody hell..." he let out a breath. He wasn't scared, well, he was a bit nervous. It was his first time being away from his Auntie since she took him in at the age of 7 when his parents died in a car accident.
He was now alone, surrounded by a bunch of weirdly dressed kids and oddly dressed adults. The sky was inside, and candles were floating around. He stepped forward and accidentally bumped a boy. "Sorry, bruv."
"Watch it," the boy said, looking at River as if he smelled bad, which wasn't true because River showered three days ago. He wanted to make a good first impression before his first detention.
"Who are your parents?" the boy asked.
"Don't know why it matters to you," River said. He was protective of their memory.
"I mean, are they Wizards? What's your blood status?" the boy asked.
"I literally have no clue," River said. "They died before I could ask them about why I have magical powers, apparently. But I'm pretty sure they were normal."
The boy's uptight face scrunched, River smelled his pits. "Don't touch me again, Mudblood," the boy warned.
"Prat," River called him.
"Grimes, River," a voice called him. Great, not even an hour in and already got detention, new record.
River looked up and saw an old, very tall man in armor. He felt slightly intimidated. River had thought he was rather tall at a staggering... 5'.... 5'0.... "Weird..." he muttered.
"Come up here," the man said. River made his way through the group of kids, making sure to step on the prude boy's foot. He stepped up to the stool, and the old man motioned for him to sit and held up the manky hat. He sat, and the hat plopped on his head and sank over his eyes. It smelled like the old crap Auntie Jess always buys at Antique shops.
"Well...well... well..." a voice spoke to him in the darkness. "Brave, headstrong, and sarcastic."
"What are you, my Auntie?" River said. "This is the sorting thing? I wasn't really paying attention, my Auntie says I got "Problems," but I think that's just her way of calling me stupid. "Can I continue--"
"What house is the coolest?" River cut off the hat. "You know what, I like the lion one, what was it called. Griff and door? I want that one, cook, thanks."
"Hey, wait, it's... whatever. Gryffindor!" the hat shouted.