Sorting Ceremony 2025 - 2026

Noctua's gaze danced around the room, observing the ceiling (or what appeared to be the lack thereof), the sheer size of the hall, and the candles currently defying the laws of physics, just trying to take it all in. He could still scarcely believe it. He was a wizard! He had magic!

He jumped alongside several others when suddenly four transparent, silvery people appeared. Ghosts, Noctua's mind supplied. He briefly wondered if he could vacuum them up before immediately shutting that thought up, it was probably offensive or something.

Noctua listened with rapt attention as Headmaster Lear gave his 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."

"Sentient? I am intelligent."

A voice cut in. A voice that belonged to a hat.

Noctua stared at said hat, eyebrows raised in a mix of silent awe and bewilderment. He only turned his gaze back to the Headmaster, when he started speaking once more. Though with less focus, as he would glance back to the hat every few seconds.

"Ah yes, intelligent."

"The 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."

Noctua's gaze landed on where the Headmaster was pointing, trying his best to memorize each of the professors' names as they introduced themselves. It was rather difficult, as his brain felt so full of new and bizarre knowledge that he felt like everything was going in through one ear, and right out the other.

"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, and once you are sorted your House will not change for the duration of your time in Hogwarts."

Noctua stared warily as the Sorting Hat (A hat that can talk!) was transported from the hands of a professor to on a stubby wooden stool. He blinked dazedly when the hat began it's serenade, still too numb from all the other revelations he'd made just today to be surprised at this point. Sure, a singing, apparently intelligent hat. Why not?

" 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. "

Noctua clapped quietly as the song ended, it wasn't the best song, but it sure was ..interesting!

Eventually, his name was called (he was dead last, surprise, surprise!) and it was his turn to sit on the stubby old stool and put on the ratty old hat. Better hope nobody has lice, that would be ..yikes.

..Did they ever clean the hat, anyway? It couldn't be that hard to wipe at least some of the dust away, right? At least then it would look less—

"Indeed, child. One would think that some people could have the common decency to clean me once in a while."

Noctua nearly fell off the stool in shock.

'You can.. you..'

"Of course, what did you think the words a look inside your mind meant? Now, let's see here.. cunning, that's for sure, but a distinct lack of ambition. Ah, a real hunger for knowledge, I see.."

'But how do you work? What would happen if I put you on the head of an animal? Would you be able to—'

"RAVENCLAW!"

Aurelius stared around him in awe at the magnificent castle. The high walls melded seamlessly into the starry sky above. It was just like Sinead had been telling him. Apparently, the roof had been enchanted to resemble the outside sky- Wait where was Sinead! He looked around the sea of blue at the Ravenclaw table and his eyes locked with his brother Zeremen’s. Zeremen sneered at him and mouthed ‘not good enough’. Aurelius blinked away tears and looked away. Even now, even here, Zeremen still didn’t think he was good enough. But he’d show him.

Continuing the search, he found his sister Sinead. She looked him dead in the eye, and mouthed ‘I’m saving you a seat’ and patted the seat next to her. My spirits soared. At least Sinead still believed that I was good enough for Ravenclaw.

After that, I stood confidently waiting for the words I knew would come: O’Connolly, Aurelius. But instantly the fear flooded back as I walked up the aisle towards my fate. I could feel the eyes of all the students staring me down as I slowly walked up.

The hat was placed on my head and I trembled with anticipation. My nerves were so wound up that I jumped visibly when the hat whispered in my ear: ‘Hmmm, plenty of ambition, but not quite a fit. Plenty hardworking, but only if he wants to be. Plenty of intelligence, good creativity… no… better be Gryffindor!.

I stumbled down in shock. I walked past Sinead, aware of her trying to catch my eye, but trying to avoid her gaze. I slumped down in my new seat too miserable for words.

"Ethan Young!"
Ethan's heart beat as he walked to the hat. The person calling out names gave him a small smile. Then on the hat went.
Hello child.
Ethan was shocked. The hat was talking to him! He had known it was going to speak, but he didn't know it would feel so wrong. It felt like bugs were crawling all over his neck.
Well thank you... I feel so appreciated...
Are you sure no one had lice and put you on?
Not really worried about insulting me, are you?
Sorry, I just have never met a talking, mind reading hat before.
Hah!
If you were to be put on a animal head, would you see their thoughts? Do they have thoughts like ours?
Ethan was overflowing with questions. This hat was wise! It could tell him the answers to all his questions!
A thirst for knowledge, I see. Soo much ambition and inborn skill, yet you fail to put yourself first...
Ethan suddenly recoiled as if the hat had bit him. Would he be placed in HUFFLEPUFF? The worst house, with failures and people who had Acceptable averages? No Es or Os? Is that what the hat saw in him?
But you are gifted and intellegent... You take great offense at comments on you intelligence...
What the heck is with the triple periods? If this was a book you would put the period count over 300 alone!
Ethan was given no more time.
RAVENCLAW!

“Tennor-Mayfield, Irene!” Headmaster Solomon Lear had called, standing on a great platform filled with professors and the so-called “sorting hat,” that was to place Irene and her brother into their respective houses.
She walked up the length of the hall, taking in the sights of the floating candles and hundreds upon hundreds of students, all watching her closely. She shrank a little in the attention, it was as though she felt a stage light being casted upon her. She scanned the body of children for Ivan, her twin brother, hoping for a familiar face in this new world they’ve entered. Being what she learned was called a muggle-born, she did not have the pleasure of being separated from her brother and not panicking.
Irene found her way to the small stool that rested the old leather hat, and calmed her nerves. Being anxious would show nothing but that she was cowardly and clueless on the subject of magic. She just needed to seem like she knew what she was doing, and all would be fine. The tall Headmaster placed the hat on her with a warm smile, and she could feel the heap of leather rifling through her brain like a filing cabinet.
“I see,” it said, “very interesting.”
What? What’s interesting? I would be mildly grateful if you could elaborate.”
“Impatient. You don’t wait for things. Especially answers.”
Irene could feel the students watching closely, listening to what the hat was saying. She looked around for Ivan and found him looking straight at her. He gave her two thumbs up for encouragement and Irene immediately felt better. A little snarky too if she might add.
“Do you mind hurrying this up,” Irene asked, “I’m starting to get a bit hungry.” The hat let out a chuckle, seemingly surprised from her haste. He pondered for a minute, thinking out loud about his decision.
“Hmm, blue or green? Green or blue? Perhaps there’s a bit of Gryffindor in you, no? No, perhaps there isn’t… Would be a bit controversial due to your blood, but… yes..” The sorting hat finally came to a conclusion, and seemed it was very happy with it. “Better be…Slytherin!” A chorus of applause came from all corners of the room, the most coming from the green table. Irene took her place on the long bench, and it wasn’t long before Ivan joined her. Irene didn’t know much yet about the Wizarding world, but she knew that she and her brother were in the right place for now.

I heard my name called from the front of the room. My eyes widened this was it. It was quite stressful. I slowly walked to the front of the room. "You've got this, it happening, don't worry. Its ok." I repeatedly muttered to myself. If you couldn't tell, I was nervous. I heard each step on the hard wooden floor below me and I slowly sat down on the stool. I fluttered my eyes and took a deep breath. Everything was ok. The hat was placed above my head. I was also partially nervous because I did not want lice. Did they get lice in the wizarding world? What if I just sat there and I was there for so long they sent me back on the train home. The hat was lowered onto my head and I heard a whispering in my ears. "Ooh a brilliant mind. Lots of courage..." My eyes widened even more. I looked at the brim of the hat. "Plenty of ambition, has a kind heart... But where to put you..." I stayed on the stool. Any moment now I would get my house. Any moment I would actually belong. Am I not good enough? I thought/ asked the hat. It didn't respond. "Gryffindor or Ravenclaw?" I bit my lip harder. It couldn't decided. I was going to be sent home. " Courageous, OH very very loyal. Wise, creative, need to prove herself." So the hat did hear me. I wasn't comfortable with a hat knowing my deepest insecurity thank you very much. I sat for a bit longer then I started counting the seconds in my head to make sure I kept myself steady. I had already gotten to 120. 180, 240, 300, 360, 420...Then finally, "Better be...RAVENCLAW!" The hat was taken off my head and I skipped my way to the Ravenclaw table. I was a witch after all.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
In all her parents' stories of Hogwarts, they failed to mention the endless wait to be sorted. One by one, students are called forward, sit upon a stool, and have the hat placed upon their head. And one by one, the hat calls out their destiny. Each shuffles off the stool and takes their place among the bobbing heads of their assigned house table.
And as each student has their turn, Katherine's feet feel as though they are sinking into the floor, intent on dragging her into the depths of the castle where she can hide from whatever that hat has to say about her. Before she can get courage to bolt, or otherwise find a means of escape, she hears her name.

"Silverberry, Katherine," the Headmaster calls.

Feeling like a demiguise caught in a lumos charm, she climbs the steps and takes her seat, the hat soon being lowered onto her head.

"Hmmm, interesting. Very interesting." She hears the voice echoing in her head. She startles as she realizes it's the voice of the hat.

"You've certainly got some brains in you, that's sure. No shortage of bravery, either. Where to put you..."

She squeezes her eyes shut, remembering her father's words. "Maybe we'll get another Ravenclaw in the family." Even remembering the words makes her heart sink.

"Not Ravenclaw, eh? I can see why. No, it had better be..."

"SLYTHERIN"

The tightness in her chest loosens as the hat is removed from her head. With a look of utter surprise, Katherine stands from the stool and goes to sit with the sea of green that marks her future.

Date: May 2nd 2026 The Great Hall, Sorting Ceremony
Time: Evening

Maeve found herself standing amongst the freshmen. Her shoulders were squared, but her hands fidgeted anxiously at the hem of her sleeve. The Great Hall was much grander than she ever thought it would be. The size of the walls built of solid stone and the many candles floating in mid-air gave her a sense of insignificance. Maeve raised her head towards the ceiling as she observed the Great Hall with her intelligent and inquisitive eyes. She was fascinated with the interior of the Great Hall.

She walked forward in queue while maintaining a respectful distance from the student ahead of her. As each name was announced, she experienced a new surge of excitement, making her heart skip a beat. She wanted to avoid any kind of unnecessary attention, but there was just so much to wonder about. For instance, she ask herself

"how do those candles not die? Is the Sorting Hat sentient, or is it a lingering enchantment?"


There was an old man who welcomed all students that gathered in the Great Hall. Maeve ask herself again "Why does he look like that one old warrior from that one book I read before". A strong, looking knight warrior, fierce and wise way of talking. Maeve think to herself "Must be the Headmaster, he looks very cool"


After the Headmaster speaks, he pulled a scroll from his waist and open the tightly bound parchment. A long..long scroll that makes Maeve amazed yet surprised at the same time,wonder when she was gonna get called if that scroll is very long. The Headmaster called names one by one, Maeve hold her breath as she waiter for her name to be called.After she waiter, she was finally called. Maeve exhaled before she slowly stepped forward. She got reaaaally nervous as the Hat was put on her hat.After a moment,The Hat shouted: "RAVENCLAW!"


After The Hat said it out loud, Maeve was surprised and the students at Ravenclaw table applaused. She got up from the chair and walked to the Ravenclaw table with curiosity and nervousness. As the Sorting continued,she waited and watched the students that got called one by one. Maeve couldn't wait to see how big must be the dorm is. Though some people whispered about her scar but she ignored them.

Hannah enters the great hall with her eyes wide and mouth agape. They did hear about the grandness of the great hall from their father, while they had expected an extravagant scene- what lay before them simply put their imagination to shame.

She was bubbling with excitement, practically skipping along the way to stand amongst other fellow first years. Focus shifting from one thing to another trying to take in as much of the sight as possible. Silence ensued and their sight arrived at the tall man in armour walking towards the podium. He seemed to have an essence of authority and power around him, Hannah came to the conclusion that that would be the headmaster.

The headmaster spoke in lines that sounded like it hadn't been revised since Hogwarts came to be, cracking jokes as old as time. After the seemingly boring speech that led most people to start eyeing the food, he pulled out a scroll which stretched past his height till a little further from him."God this was going to take forever," Hannah muttered.

Hannah was sure they'd be an Hufflepuff. Their dad was one and so was most people in the family. They had spent most nights listening to stories of their dad and his friends and how the Hufflepuffs were loyal, just, and deeply hard-working souls. She knew she enjoyed putting in effort on her own being and would do anything for what is just. So, Hannah, was sure. Without any doubt that they would be an Hufflepuff.

"Brown, Hannah." Rang through the hall. She squeezed through the other first years, calling out excuses as she got to the chair. She was planning on getting through this effortlessly for she knew what was to come, though her face took on a pale complexion as she seemingly got lost in thought.

"This is fine ? Right ? The hat would call out 'Hufflepuff' and I could be on my way," Hannah thought to herself with her eyes glued to the ground.

"Ah so you want to be a Hufflepuff ?" The hat spoke up.

"what the-"

"yes yes, I do see a strong sense of just. Perhaps a little more ? Quite the pessimistic one, are you?"

"I ? just being realistic-"

"I know just where you belong"

"Hufflepuff-" She whispers.
"Slytherin" The hat booms. Rounds of applause arise from the Slytherin table. She slides slowly off the chair. "Slytherin ? SLYTHERIN ?" she screams to herself, carefully making it over to the table without meeting anyone's eyes. Her face somehow even more pale supporting a blank expression. The thoughts start racing in their head. "ME ? but how ? This cant be. Im not vicious! cunning! Hell I wouldn't ever do anything at the harm of others!?!" Their breath is shaky and they lean against the table for support. Taking a deep breath, they look up to others around to mirror their smiles albeit, the dullness in their eyes.

She stood next to another girl who was repeatedly blowing her nose, "Ugh, can't you do that somewhere else!?"Michora snapped, she walked away. "Tosphell, Michora." Michora smirks and mockingly waved goodbye to the sick girl. she walked toward the front. "hmm..." the hat says.
"Already being mean to a student.." it says,
Michora scoffed "Duh, the girl's too loud. barely heard my name.." she growled
The hat chuckles "like growling?"
Michora snorted "like being in people's brain? shouldn't you be giving me my house?"
the hat chuckled again "tough you remind me of another stuudent...you'll meet him soon."
Michora growled again "I'm about to punch you in your-"
"SLYTHERIN"
"Don't Interrupt-" the hat was taken off her head, she growled.
Michora's anger left her and she started to beamed with pride. she held her head high and eyed the other students. *My parents are going to be proud. Not only am i going to win the house cup, I'm going to beat all these losers!* she thought, and smirked with pride. she walked toward her table eyeing everyone, and smirked."Slytherin isn't how Papa said it would be, thought there would be more Slytherins like me. Don't any of them have pride in only themselves? We're the toughest andmost powerful house in this whole school..." she growled to herself, she saw the sick girl get sorted into slytherin too, *Why her? she looks weak...I can beat her in dueling.* she said, she took her wand in her hand. "I can't wait..." she says. and sits between a girl and a boy. she ignores anyone who tried to talk to her. "Tomorrow I'll make friends..." she said, and smirked for probably not the last time for that night. after everyone was sorted, she got up with her housemates and went to the girls dormitory. "Don't go in the boy's dormitory!" the prefect said, Michora snorted. "as if." she growled, and smiled at the prefect.

Her journey starts now...