Sorting Ceremony
date. time. location. speech.
His watch was broken.
March stood within the sea of first year students, fighting the nagging, tickling, biting urge to check the watch wrapped around his right wrist. It was a little too tight and starting to get itchy and sweaty, the flexible plastic pressing lines into the thin skin there. It was going to leave an imprint. Don’t look. It was itchy. Don’t look.
He tore his eyes away from the marvels before him, aimed them down at the grey face of the chipped Casio watch.
It was broken. Ten hundred thousand million miracles to gaze upon, wonder about, chisel down into his memory until he could recall it in ultra high definition… and yet, it was his watch of all things, stealing his attention away. The ugly, boring, muggle thing; it had fought valiantly the entire train ride here, its digital display flickering in and out, in and out with each passing rumble of the tracks. When March had clambered into the rowboat at the edge of the Great Lake with as much grace he could possibly muster, its condition had deteriorated rapidly, all nonsensical numbers and impossible times and a fluttering, rapid, uneven heartbeat. And now?
Now, he was looking down at the sad little face, pressing buttons and trying desperately to get it to wake up while everyone else chattered and breathed in the magic of the moment. One of the most important moments of his magical career. The very first day of school. The Sorting Ceremony of all things, for fuck’s sake, can you focus?
His watch was dead on arrival.
March’s throat tightened. God, he was so dead.
He was distantly aware of the fact that the headmaster— Solomon Lear —was beginning his speech. March tried his best to listen. He really was trying. But his chest felt so tight, and his blood felt dull in his own ears. How many windows were in this hall? How many students were standing with him in their little huddle? How many candles floated above him? How many pairs of eyes were on them? How many stars were supposed to be in the tapestry of a glittering night sky? March drew a breath, the first one in a while, and the air burned in his lungs as if it had been charged with electricity.
“Sentient, I am intelligent—”
March blinked. The hat. The Hat. Through the petrifying stillness in his body, March’s heart began to churn. Slowly, at first. Then faster, and faster, and faster, and faster. It played the metronome to the song, and he briefly, insipidly, wondered if anyone else could hear the beat too. He had known about the process, flipped through his books and every piece of information he could get his hands on about the sorting process. But even so, he had not known that the hat could sing. It was a deep, rasping tune, but comforting. In the very least, it was buying a few more minutes of time for March to gather his senses and swallow down the reality of what was to come.
Not that he could check the time, of course.
He would wish that he could check the time, ten, fifteen, twenty names down the line, as he stood amongst the dwindling. Yeung. The very tail end of the list. In the same way that a crying child subsides to quiet hiccups, March had subsided into a steady, but notably tolerable anxiety. Posture, straight. Robes, smoothed. Watch, buried into a pocket. Face, a placid shell. Shoelaces, tied and double knotted. He checked those subtly again and again with every student called up to sit upon the stool and tried his best not to linger on the crumpled expressions of some who had already been sorted. He would not be like them. He would not.
“March Yeung!”
Posture, robes, watch, fac— oh. His head shot up.
No one else stepped forward.
It was his turn.
Oh.
March swallowed, but there was nothing but dryness in his mouth. His pulse was picking up again. He was going to walk. He was going to move his legs and walk. Forward, through the bodies. Up, onto the worn wooden stool. Why on earth was Headmaster Lear so ginormous? And heavily armored? And frightening up close? With the rigidity of a marionette, March turned his back to the imposing man and faced his peers. The first years and upperclassmen stared back, eyes upon eyes upon eyes. His spine twitched as the hat was placed on his head with a surprising gentleness that he hadn’t anticipated. Then, slowly, because nothing ever wanted to go perfectly for him for once in his life, the hat slipped down his forehead and came to rest just at the ridge of his wrinkled brow. March narrowed his eyes.
Don’t be scared. Don’t be scared.
“I have no teeth to bite. A bark, however…”
A rasping huff of a laugh surrounded his head and ears.
March’s shoulders shuddered and his poise broke. Smooth it out. He had to smooth it out. The hat was speaking in his mind. Yes. That is fine. He saw the other students go through this. This is normal. This is normal. This is okay. He took a breath in, pushed his shoulders back once more.
“...Hello,” March whispered, as he breathed out, hushed. First impressions mattered, right?
“Oh, ambition… but no point in trying to curry favor with an old hat.”
His brow ticked, and the hat slid down further, obscuring his view. March closed his eyes, trying to take back control of the vulnerability. As if it was his choice not to see.
“No, no point at all, but you’ll try, won’t you? You’ll look for opportunities in the faces of everyone you meet, windows in the eyes.”
“What else am I supposed to do, then?” A pause. March snapped his mouth shut. It was always his damn tongue moving faster than his brain.
“Tsk tsk, I see bravado, but not enough bravery, I’m afraid. And your loyalty… quite selective. Careful, careful…”
Molar against molar, March pressed his tongue against his teeth, holding it still. His jaw flexed, and his lips thinned. Was this damn hat just going to insult him all night in order to sort him?
“Foul-mouthed and foul-tempered aren’t house traits. No, I’m seeking, Yeung. Within you, I’m seeking out your vices and virtues and uses, the same way you seek for it in others. Information, knowledge, wisdom, connections… a thirst, yes… anything to give you a leg up.”
March’s hands balled into fists. The Sorting Hat had addressed him by name… and somehow, he could tell it was nearing the end. The hunch felt more like a certain fact, slotted neatly in the space of his lungs, a place of intuition.
“Trust your instincts, and you’ll stay one step ahead of the rest. You’ll need it when you’re in…
SLYTHERIN!"
| interacting with. | ⟶ n/a. |
| notes. | ⟶ snakes rule, everyone else drools.  |
sta 3. eva 8. str 0. wis 7. arc 4. acc 8.
˙ǝʎǝ lnɟʇıǝɔǝp 'ɓuıʎl ǝɥʇ ǝɹɐʍǝq 👁
Sorting Ceremony
“Woah,” Bella exclaimed as she tugged on @Xio Arcana’s arm. “This is amazing…”
She pulled Xio to the center of the hall, where they could see everything clearly. There were four long dining tables, covered with colored tablecloths. The Hall was well-lit, with candles and the sort of magic that is indescribable.
“It’s the Sorting Ceremony now, right? I wonder what house I would get into! My mother was a Ravenclaw, and my dad was a Gryffindor. Oh, I hope I can be a Ravenclaw, too!”
Xio shushed Bella as a tall man wearing armor began to speak.
The man, who introduced himself as Headmaster Soloman Lear, made an introductory speech of how the Sorting Hat was sentient.
Sentient? What does he mean by sentient, exactly? Bella wondered. While both Bella’s parents knew exactly what was going to happen at this ceremony, they kept the majority of the details a secret from Bella to give her a true authentic experience of the ceremony
“Sentient, I am intelligent,” said a voice. Bella gasped. Was that…the hat?
The headmaster continued on, telling everyone that the Intelligent Sorting Hat would be placed on each student’s head and determine the House that each student would be in for the next few years.
When the headmaster drew out a long piece of paper with names, Bella sighed.
This may take a while, she muttered, but then perked up.
“Hey, Xio, you are so lucky! You have a last name of A, so you are probably going to know your house in no time! When I have to anxiously wait for my name to be called,” Bella told her friend.
Her friend was able to reply when suddenly, the Sorting Hat started singing the song of the four houses, which made both Bella and Xio fall silent. When the Sorting Hat was done, Bella clapped loudly, though inside, her stomach rolled with nerves.
Bella watched as every student went up and learned what their house was. Sometimes, the hat took a while. Other times, the hat barely touched the student’s head before it declared their house. When Xio went up, Bella felt some nervousness for her friend.
That’s silly. Why should I be nervous? It’s not like I can do anything…right?
Bella clapped loudly when her friend came down to go sit with her Housemates.
Finally, it was her turn.
“Light, Bella!”
Bella stumbled up onto where the Hat was, and she placed the hat on.
“Why are you so nervous, Bella? Tsk, tsk, nervousness don’t do good for you.”
Bella’s breath hitched as she heard the strange voice in her head.
“I’m not nervous! I’m excited! I might just be slightly anxious, that’s all!” Bella whispered.
She heard the Hat’s raspy, quiet chuckle.
“Well, you aren’t in Gryffindor, that’s for sure.”
Bella shrugged, “I don’t really want to be in Gryffindor, anyways.”
“Loyalty, kindness, do you think you have these traits?” The Hat asked her.
“Why are you asking me? YOU are the hat! Aren’t you supposed to be telling me those things?” Bella rolled her eyes.
“Yes, yes, Hufflepuff may work for you. But I can sense that you have inherited your father’s thirst for knowledge. Ravenclaw, too, maybe. But both don’t seem quite right, really. Hmm….not for you, no.”
Bella’s leg jiggled in impatience as she knew that a huge crowd of people were staring at her, waiting for her. Even though this was a great experience, she felt a flame of embarrassment when the Hat went quiet for too long. Did she say something wrong? Was she supposed to do something now? Was…did the Hat make a mistake?
“Sorry…but do you mind…just telling me my house?” Bella tentatively asked, then instantly regretting it. “No offense, of course.”
“Offense taken. And hmm…hmm…hmm…” Just when Bella felt like she was going to explode, the Hat spoke again. “You have loyalty and kindness, the thirst of knowledge and the wanting to do what’s right. Yet you don’t have the patience for Hufflepuff or the individuality for Ravenclaw. You are much too determined, stubborn for that.”
“So…” Bella mumbled. “Oh. Wait. I’m in…”
“Bella Light. Quit fretting. Just remember who you are, and you will be able to survive this year. Of course, as you guessed, you are in SLYTHERIN!!”
The hat yelled out the last word, and the Hall instantly erupted in cheering. The Hat was taken off Bella’s head, but not before the Hat muttered, “Bella, you are an interesting one.”
Bella wondered what the Hat meant by that, but she just walked off the stage with quivering legs to join the others. Bella hugged Xio quickly before the next person was called to try the Hat. Heart pounding with excitement, Bella Light felt ready for whatever may come next.
She pulled Xio to the center of the hall, where they could see everything clearly. There were four long dining tables, covered with colored tablecloths. The Hall was well-lit, with candles and the sort of magic that is indescribable.
“It’s the Sorting Ceremony now, right? I wonder what house I would get into! My mother was a Ravenclaw, and my dad was a Gryffindor. Oh, I hope I can be a Ravenclaw, too!”
Xio shushed Bella as a tall man wearing armor began to speak.
The man, who introduced himself as Headmaster Soloman Lear, made an introductory speech of how the Sorting Hat was sentient.
Sentient? What does he mean by sentient, exactly? Bella wondered. While both Bella’s parents knew exactly what was going to happen at this ceremony, they kept the majority of the details a secret from Bella to give her a true authentic experience of the ceremony
“Sentient, I am intelligent,” said a voice. Bella gasped. Was that…the hat?
The headmaster continued on, telling everyone that the Intelligent Sorting Hat would be placed on each student’s head and determine the House that each student would be in for the next few years.
When the headmaster drew out a long piece of paper with names, Bella sighed.
This may take a while, she muttered, but then perked up.
“Hey, Xio, you are so lucky! You have a last name of A, so you are probably going to know your house in no time! When I have to anxiously wait for my name to be called,” Bella told her friend.
Her friend was able to reply when suddenly, the Sorting Hat started singing the song of the four houses, which made both Bella and Xio fall silent. When the Sorting Hat was done, Bella clapped loudly, though inside, her stomach rolled with nerves.
Bella watched as every student went up and learned what their house was. Sometimes, the hat took a while. Other times, the hat barely touched the student’s head before it declared their house. When Xio went up, Bella felt some nervousness for her friend.
That’s silly. Why should I be nervous? It’s not like I can do anything…right?
Bella clapped loudly when her friend came down to go sit with her Housemates.
Finally, it was her turn.
“Light, Bella!”
Bella stumbled up onto where the Hat was, and she placed the hat on.
“Why are you so nervous, Bella? Tsk, tsk, nervousness don’t do good for you.”
Bella’s breath hitched as she heard the strange voice in her head.
“I’m not nervous! I’m excited! I might just be slightly anxious, that’s all!” Bella whispered.
She heard the Hat’s raspy, quiet chuckle.
“Well, you aren’t in Gryffindor, that’s for sure.”
Bella shrugged, “I don’t really want to be in Gryffindor, anyways.”
“Loyalty, kindness, do you think you have these traits?” The Hat asked her.
“Why are you asking me? YOU are the hat! Aren’t you supposed to be telling me those things?” Bella rolled her eyes.
“Yes, yes, Hufflepuff may work for you. But I can sense that you have inherited your father’s thirst for knowledge. Ravenclaw, too, maybe. But both don’t seem quite right, really. Hmm….not for you, no.”
Bella’s leg jiggled in impatience as she knew that a huge crowd of people were staring at her, waiting for her. Even though this was a great experience, she felt a flame of embarrassment when the Hat went quiet for too long. Did she say something wrong? Was she supposed to do something now? Was…did the Hat make a mistake?
“Sorry…but do you mind…just telling me my house?” Bella tentatively asked, then instantly regretting it. “No offense, of course.”
“Offense taken. And hmm…hmm…hmm…” Just when Bella felt like she was going to explode, the Hat spoke again. “You have loyalty and kindness, the thirst of knowledge and the wanting to do what’s right. Yet you don’t have the patience for Hufflepuff or the individuality for Ravenclaw. You are much too determined, stubborn for that.”
“So…” Bella mumbled. “Oh. Wait. I’m in…”
“Bella Light. Quit fretting. Just remember who you are, and you will be able to survive this year. Of course, as you guessed, you are in SLYTHERIN!!”
The hat yelled out the last word, and the Hall instantly erupted in cheering. The Hat was taken off Bella’s head, but not before the Hat muttered, “Bella, you are an interesting one.”
Bella wondered what the Hat meant by that, but she just walked off the stage with quivering legs to join the others. Bella hugged Xio quickly before the next person was called to try the Hat. Heart pounding with excitement, Bella Light felt ready for whatever may come next.
Last edited by Bella Light on 3 Sep 2026, 08:51, edited 1 time in total.
Bella Light
Sorting Ceremony
Word Count: 875
Date: September 1st, 2026
Time: Late Afternoon, during the Sorting Ceremony
Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts
Xio was shaking @Bella Light by the shoulders as the lights from the Great Hall filled her eyes as they walked further into the room, her mouth agape in a uncontrollable shock that took over her entire being.
"This can't be happening...This can't be happening...This can't be happening! Bellllllllaaaa we are FI-NAH-LY here!"
As they approached closer to the centered stage area that took residence on the furthest side of the room, they couldn't help but feel all the other students attending the Sorting Ceremony eyes watch them carefully, eager to see who will join their house this year. Once there was no further any of us could go without impeding the stage, we are able to see all the Professors waiting expectedly and the large man in armor introduced himself as Headmaster Soloman Lear, standing proudly at the center of them.
Xio could almost feel her heartbeat in her ears, and taste the cobblestone under her feet, she was nervous like everyone else but she was more overwhelmed with excitement as she recalls all the times she had only dreamed of this very moment.
When Bella was curious about the Houses, Xio giggled as she replied semi-louder than she intended,
"My mother was Ravenclaw and my father was Slytherin, but most of my siblings have been spread throughout the houses over the years...I think my folks are just glad that I made it this far with my troublemaking track record! I bet I would get put into Slytherin like my father, I get a lot of my mischievousness from him...the 'manager of unmanaged mischief' is what he used to say!"
Once Headmaster Solomon cleared his throat to speak, Xio shushed both herself and Bella (unintendedly), and summoned all the focus power she could to pay attention to his introductory lecture.
When the Sorting Hat was presented to the students, a eager smile returned to Xio's face as she recalled her childhood memories of playing "Sorting Bucket" with her siblings which was a combination of tag and a bucket.
"You know what else is sentient?...suits of armor...h-hah! arck..."
Xio started towards Bella in a hushed voice before she laughed at her own joke so hard that she choked for a moment and had to shove her robe sleeves into her face to muffle the choaking/coughing sounds.
Xio choaked/coughed for what seemed like an embarrassingly long time when she realized that Bella made a really good point, she would be going up soon to get sorted into her house and she felt her heart stop.
OH MERLIN'S BEARD XIO QUIT! COUGHING! STOP IT!
And just as if the world was playing a cruel joke, her name was called,
"Arcana, Xio...", the low rumble of Headmaster Soloman's voice floated across the room steadily.
Xio had managed to stifle her coughs through her robe sleeves as she hurried over to where the Sorting Hat was going to be placed onto her head, bumping the stool and nearly knocking it over before she caught it and sat promptly before another coughing fit could start up.
"Ah...Arcana...there are eight of you..." the Sorting Hat started,
"Y-yeah!...cough...you can say Deja Vu if you want!"
"No need....I have sorted each of your siblings, I can surely do the same for you..." it paused for a moment, as if searching through the fragments of her mind, Xio couldn't sit still, she kept shuffling on the stool in anticipation.
"..." It felt like time had slowed as the Sorting Hat sorted through the very essence that was Xio.
"...Hello?...Did I lose the line?"
Xio started quietly as she could feel the red starting on her cheeks, she could see glances of her siblings in the crowds of their respective houses and she started to feel self-conscious of the situation, the tension was comical.
"You are curious...driven...a energy that can be shared amongst those around you...that energy is influential to those around you...some may even say 'blatantly' stubborn..." the Sorting Hat suddenly continued and further continued before Xio could even open her mouth to defend herself, "...you are also courageous...and loyal beyond your own capabilities...some may even call you 'reckless'..."
"C'mon man...not in front of everyone..."
Xio mumbled embarrassingly as she wouldn't dare make eye contact with anyone in the crowd.
"...hm....I see the potential of directing this unguided energy in you....it will be empowered best in..."
Ravenclaw!
The Sorting Hat finished with a vibrato in its voice.
The Ravenclaw table cheered in excitement, Bella cheered and hugged Xio who was in complete shock as she stepped down from the staged.
"...what just happened?..."
Was all that Xio could mutter as she cautiously moved and took a seat at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall, it felt like it would all melt away any moment, it didn't feel real.
But Xio forced herself to focused her attention onto Bella's Sorting and once she was placed into Slytherin, she stood up and cheered for her even though they were placed in different houses, she was glad for her friend. After all, her Father and the most capable siblings in her family were Slytherin!
Last edited by Xio Arcana on 5 Sep 2026, 05:00, edited 1 time in total.
Sorting Ceremony
Date: September the first
Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts
Irene walked in with a bunch of other first year students, walking stiffly. She had read about this: every student had to put on a Sorting Hat (which was rather ridiculous to her) which will tell them which House they belong. Her mother (who had graduated from Ravenclaw, the House of wisdom) had told her that there were four different Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. She thought that she might be in Ravenclaw, her mother said that it usually goes by family.
Usually, she thought dully, it didn't mean that she, too, will be in Ravenclaw (though she hoped).
As other students' name got called out, she became more and more anxious.
'Stone, Irene!'
Her head went completely blank. She walked to the stool like a robot as the Professor placed the hat on her.
'Hmm...' said a small voice in her head. She was quite sure the hat cannot speak and was reading her mind, so she thought: are you a Legilimens?
'Ah, interesting thought...' said the hat, 'none had ever thought like that...'
Well, I thought you are reading my mind, so...thought she.
'I see...but your House, where should I put you?' Muttered the hat again, more like speaking to itself than to Irene now. 'Yes...I see wisdom, I see some good knowledge! Your mother, she was in the House of Ravenclaw, was I not right?'
Yeah.
'But you...I see some bravery, but you are cunning......yes, more than your knowledge, you have a desire to show yourself...you want glory and friendship...but you are afraid of doing things wrong...'
Can you just decide which House I will be in?
Irene was getting a bit impatient, she could feel the eyes in the Great Hall upon her.
'Yes...very cunning and smart...better be -- SLYTHERIN!'
She heard the hat shout out the last word to the hall and nearly let out a sign of relief. Students on the Slytherin table clapped and welcomed her to the table. Though she realised that Gryffindor students were not looking very happy, but she ignored them.
Slytherin, she thought to herself, as excitement and, maybe just a bit of anxiety flooding inside her, she sat down on the table and watched the other students getting sorted.
She worried about if she will fit in, but she was confident.
Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts
Irene walked in with a bunch of other first year students, walking stiffly. She had read about this: every student had to put on a Sorting Hat (which was rather ridiculous to her) which will tell them which House they belong. Her mother (who had graduated from Ravenclaw, the House of wisdom) had told her that there were four different Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. She thought that she might be in Ravenclaw, her mother said that it usually goes by family.
Usually, she thought dully, it didn't mean that she, too, will be in Ravenclaw (though she hoped).
As other students' name got called out, she became more and more anxious.
'Stone, Irene!'
Her head went completely blank. She walked to the stool like a robot as the Professor placed the hat on her.
'Hmm...' said a small voice in her head. She was quite sure the hat cannot speak and was reading her mind, so she thought: are you a Legilimens?
'Ah, interesting thought...' said the hat, 'none had ever thought like that...'
Well, I thought you are reading my mind, so...thought she.
'I see...but your House, where should I put you?' Muttered the hat again, more like speaking to itself than to Irene now. 'Yes...I see wisdom, I see some good knowledge! Your mother, she was in the House of Ravenclaw, was I not right?'
Yeah.
'But you...I see some bravery, but you are cunning......yes, more than your knowledge, you have a desire to show yourself...you want glory and friendship...but you are afraid of doing things wrong...'
Can you just decide which House I will be in?
Irene was getting a bit impatient, she could feel the eyes in the Great Hall upon her.
'Yes...very cunning and smart...better be -- SLYTHERIN!'
She heard the hat shout out the last word to the hall and nearly let out a sign of relief. Students on the Slytherin table clapped and welcomed her to the table. Though she realised that Gryffindor students were not looking very happy, but she ignored them.
Slytherin, she thought to herself, as excitement and, maybe just a bit of anxiety flooding inside her, she sat down on the table and watched the other students getting sorted.
She worried about if she will fit in, but she was confident.
𝔉ü𝔯 𝔇𝔞𝔰 𝔊𝔯öß𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔚𝔬𝔥𝔩 ---- 1898
Sorting Ceremony
Billie followed slowly after the group of first year, taking time to look around the room. She couldn't believe what she saw, of course her dad told her about the famous Great hall, the levitating candles, the fake sky, the long table... But seeing it first hand was something else, it was magical.
Due to her dad reluctance to practice magic during her childhood she wasn't used to this display, it was both incredible and intimidating. And a little part of her wondered how her dad could this easily hide a part of him, of her, a fantastic and beautiful part of them.
Billie looked at her peer fo a second, taking time to try and memorize their faces, they would be comrades after all, she noticed some of them looked nervous, impatient or even terrified for some. She becames curious, why would they be afraid? It's just the sorting ceremony, there nothing scary about it...
Billie waited patiently, listening to the Headmaster's speech, to the hat's song, which she found kinda funny, and when the first student begun to be sorted she started to feel worried. What if they're has been an error? What if she couldn't be sorted right? What if she didn't like her future house? What if she didn't make any friends? All those questions clouded her mind, and she could finally understand why some other student looked unwell.
Finally after a short time it was her turn. Her name was called and she climbed the few stairs toward the Sorting hat. Billie sat down and the hat was lowered on her head. All of sudden there was nothing else but the feeling of calm.
'What do we have here?'
Billie jumped, what was that? The Sorting hat? She couldn't believe it.... It felt so weird having a hat talk to you in your head..
'Don't worry, i'm just here to sort you, well well, it brings back memory, your family is quite diverse, i sorted your ancestor in all the house there is, they didn't seem to have been stuck in one in particular....'
Billie raised an eyebrow, she didn't know that, her father was a Slytherin and she assumed the rest of her magical family too. But well her father wasn't very talkative when talking about this side of the world so she wasn't too surprised of her ignorance.
'Yes i remember, a Slytherin father, but his own parents were sorted into Hufflepuff... I feel you have intelligence, i see, your mind yearns to be independant aswell.... What else, what else?'
She stayed frozen, waiting for the Sorting hat to make a choice. But what if h didn't? What if she was sent back home cause she wasn't good enough?
'Now now, there is no such thing as not enough, if you recieved a letter then you belong here. You're someone judicious are you not? Well stop worriying. Now, i see you want to attend Defense against the Dark Arts, and that you wish to be able to cast a.. ? Cunfundus charm? Interesting....'
Billie opened her eyes slowly, her vision obstructed by the hat. She took a big breath, trying to calm her nerves.
'You want to prove yourself, be the best in your field, you view your power as a gift, a chance not waste... You wanna worf for the governement? Secretary of State.. I see then...'
After what felt like an eternity the Sorting hat fnially spoke.
'RAVENCLAW!!'
Cheers could be heard in front of her, she stood up, and took a deep inspiration, then she went toward the table surrounded by student wearing blue, she felt a deep finally of belonging when she finally sat down. Smiling at her new comrades she thought that this won't be that bad after all.
Due to her dad reluctance to practice magic during her childhood she wasn't used to this display, it was both incredible and intimidating. And a little part of her wondered how her dad could this easily hide a part of him, of her, a fantastic and beautiful part of them.
Billie looked at her peer fo a second, taking time to try and memorize their faces, they would be comrades after all, she noticed some of them looked nervous, impatient or even terrified for some. She becames curious, why would they be afraid? It's just the sorting ceremony, there nothing scary about it...
Billie waited patiently, listening to the Headmaster's speech, to the hat's song, which she found kinda funny, and when the first student begun to be sorted she started to feel worried. What if they're has been an error? What if she couldn't be sorted right? What if she didn't like her future house? What if she didn't make any friends? All those questions clouded her mind, and she could finally understand why some other student looked unwell.
Finally after a short time it was her turn. Her name was called and she climbed the few stairs toward the Sorting hat. Billie sat down and the hat was lowered on her head. All of sudden there was nothing else but the feeling of calm.
'What do we have here?'
Billie jumped, what was that? The Sorting hat? She couldn't believe it.... It felt so weird having a hat talk to you in your head..
'Don't worry, i'm just here to sort you, well well, it brings back memory, your family is quite diverse, i sorted your ancestor in all the house there is, they didn't seem to have been stuck in one in particular....'
Billie raised an eyebrow, she didn't know that, her father was a Slytherin and she assumed the rest of her magical family too. But well her father wasn't very talkative when talking about this side of the world so she wasn't too surprised of her ignorance.
'Yes i remember, a Slytherin father, but his own parents were sorted into Hufflepuff... I feel you have intelligence, i see, your mind yearns to be independant aswell.... What else, what else?'
She stayed frozen, waiting for the Sorting hat to make a choice. But what if h didn't? What if she was sent back home cause she wasn't good enough?
'Now now, there is no such thing as not enough, if you recieved a letter then you belong here. You're someone judicious are you not? Well stop worriying. Now, i see you want to attend Defense against the Dark Arts, and that you wish to be able to cast a.. ? Cunfundus charm? Interesting....'
Billie opened her eyes slowly, her vision obstructed by the hat. She took a big breath, trying to calm her nerves.
'You want to prove yourself, be the best in your field, you view your power as a gift, a chance not waste... You wanna worf for the governement? Secretary of State.. I see then...'
After what felt like an eternity the Sorting hat fnially spoke.
'RAVENCLAW!!'
Cheers could be heard in front of her, she stood up, and took a deep inspiration, then she went toward the table surrounded by student wearing blue, she felt a deep finally of belonging when she finally sat down. Smiling at her new comrades she thought that this won't be that bad after all.
Sorting Ceremony
Buck shuffled into the Great Hall along with all the other first years. His eyes were filled with amazement, seeing all the candles floating in the air and the false-midnight sky ceiling above. One day, Buck hoped to be a strong enough wizard to cast spells like that. For a moment, he even felt that he would trade places with anyone in the world, wishing that everyone could feel the overflowing sense of joy that he was feeling in that moment.
At length, the group made it to the front of the Great Hall, where a patched-up old hat was propped up on a stool. There was a gleam of judgement, so it seemed, in the sockets that the hat had for eyes. At once, names were being called one by one to get sorted into houses.
I really hope I get sorted somewhat early, I don't think I can deal with the dread of waiting for a long time.
Buck was really lucky. After only 5 names, when dread started to creep up his spine, his name got called. Still, the shock of hearing his name from the mouth of someone he wasn't familiar with struck him deep. Buck shakily stepped up to the sorting hat and sat down. He glanced frantically at the Slytherin table where his friend Prometheus would be sitting, but he couldn't see him anywhere. Buck felt utterly alone.
Everyone cheered, especially the Ravenclaw table, and Buck was whisked over to sit with the rest of his house. Before getting swallowed by all his new classmates, Buck snuck a peek back at the sorting hat, and it gave him a reassuring wink, as though maybe everything would be alright.
At length, the group made it to the front of the Great Hall, where a patched-up old hat was propped up on a stool. There was a gleam of judgement, so it seemed, in the sockets that the hat had for eyes. At once, names were being called one by one to get sorted into houses.
I really hope I get sorted somewhat early, I don't think I can deal with the dread of waiting for a long time.
Buck was really lucky. After only 5 names, when dread started to creep up his spine, his name got called. Still, the shock of hearing his name from the mouth of someone he wasn't familiar with struck him deep. Buck shakily stepped up to the sorting hat and sat down. He glanced frantically at the Slytherin table where his friend Prometheus would be sitting, but he couldn't see him anywhere. Buck felt utterly alone.
At first, the hat whispered just to Buck
Well hello young lad, no need to fear! I'll sort you to a house where you're sure to belong.
The hat then spoke in a louder voice, for all to hear
Ah yes, you have a bright mind I see... at least a desire to learn more...
Am I allowed to be in Slytherin? I really want to be with my friend-
Are you sure? You could make even more friends if you went to another house you know
But I-
Best to go to... RAVENCLAW!!!
Everyone cheered, especially the Ravenclaw table, and Buck was whisked over to sit with the rest of his house. Before getting swallowed by all his new classmates, Buck snuck a peek back at the sorting hat, and it gave him a reassuring wink, as though maybe everything would be alright.
Sorting Ceremony
Date: 1st September 2026
Word Count: 555/200
Dialogue: #5d0d82 = Headmaster #518156 = Amber
#ec9418 = Sorting Hat thoughts #272a82 = Sorting Hat speaking out loud
✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
When the first-years entered the Great Hall, a lot of chatting started to erupt from the mass of students. Amber was in the middle of the crowd and struggled to see her surroundings. She could see the outlines of multiple older students already seated at their respective tables, and the glow of the fire in the hearths, but that was all. Frustrated, she remembered a second later that her dad had talked about the peculiar ceiling of the Great Hall. The little girl raised her head towards the enchanted ceiling, and her eyes filled with glimmers (metaphorically, from the excitement she felt, and literally, as the floating candles were reflected in her eyes). Amber was amazed by the hundreds of floating candles, and as her eyes got accustomed to the light, she could notice the sky, similar to the one outside: filled with grey clouds and rain.
The students came to a stop, and after some speeches, they were all called one by one to sit on the platform with the Sorting Hat on their heads.
“Amber Craft!”
Amber’s heart stopped for a second, and she felt a wave of warmth coming from her chest to her head. She could feel her cheeks getting red, but she did not have time to think about it as she was already sitting on the stool, with the Sorting Hat on her head. At first, the only thing that the brown-haired girl could notice was how big the Great Hall was, and how full the room was, with every student looking at her. Amber could not dwell on it much longer as the Hat started to speak. She closed her eyes tightly, focusing on her thoughts, and well, those of the hat:
“Hmm, well… Amber Craft. Your sister left us last year, and now you are joining us. She was a true Gryffindor, like your dad. I remember your father well. John was a fierce and courageous Gryffindor. He was known as a great Quidditch captain and also an involved member of the school journal team. Your father left his mark as a Gryffindor.”
“Yes, he was a great Gryffindor. Please, I want to make him proud.”
“Yes, of course, every witch and wizard wants to make their parents proud, even more when they went to Hogwarts too, and had a remarkable curriculum.”
“I promise I’ll be a good Gryffindor. Well… I will try”
“Do you really want to be a Gryffindor? Do you think it reflects your values, your way of living?”
“Or are you scared to disappoint your dad?”
“...”
“That’s what I thought.”
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
Amber was hit by a wave of realisation when the Hat proclaimed her house. As she opened her eyes, she also realised that she had stopped hearing the sounds around her. When the Headmaster took the Hat off her head, her ears were suddenly flooded with the sounds of cheers, claps, and chatter.
Hufflepuff. That’s not what was supposed to happen. She was supposed to go to Gryffindor, like her Dad, like his dad and mom before him, and like her sister! She will be the only Hufflepuff in the family for decades! The thought didn’t sit right with Amber, but she could not change her destiny. She held her acorn necklace nervously as she walked and sat at the Hufflepuff table.
Sorting Ceremony
Willow Anderson
| Colours: Green = Hat's speech Purple = Professor's speech |
IC Date & Time: 1/09/2026 8:00pm |
| Outfit: Plain School Robes |
Emotions: Nervous & Ecxited |
I stumbled into the room with a group of my fellow unsorted First Years. We were all anxious to find out what house we were destined for. A three-legged stool held an old, worn hat with multiple rips. One of the professors started calling out names.
“Anderson, Willow!”
I stepped forward and sat on the stool while someone placed the hat on my head. To my surprise, the largest tear opened and started talking. “Ah, Willow Anderson. You have the will to learn, the urge to prove yourself, the need to have friendships. But where to put you?”
There was a moments silence. “HUFFLEPUFF!” the hat cried out, and I joined the sea of roaring yellow. I was relieved, happy to be with the Hufflepuffs. I knew I would do Mum proud, as she was a Hufflepuff as well.
Sorting Ceremony
Zara had never been particularly good at sitting still when she was curious. Unfortunately, there was a lot to be curious about.
She walked into the Great Hall with the other first years, her eyes immediately wandering across the room. Four tables stretched across the floor, each filled with students in different house colours. Above them, hundreds of candles floated in midair, their flames dancing gently despite there being nothing holding them up. Zara stopped herself from staring at it for too long. It looked like the night sky. She wondered if anyone had ever tried to touch it. She wondered whether it changed with the weather. Her mind was already filling with questions.
Zara glanced around at the other first years instead. She wondered which ones she'd remember by the end of the year. Then her eyes landed on the Sorting Hat. It was... ugly. Zara tilted her head.
"That's supposed to decide where I go?" She thought to herself, her face showed her question on her face. She almost laughed. Then the Hat began singing. Her eyebrows shot up. Once the song ended, the Sorting began.
Zara watched carefully as each student approached the stool. Some barely had the Hat on their head before they were sorted. Others took much longer. She found herself trying to guess where everyone would go before the Hat announced it. She waited for her name. Her stomach tightened.
"Blackwood, Zara" Her name was called. Her heart gave an uncomfortable little jump. She made her way toward the stool. The walk seemed much longer than it had looked from where she'd been standing. She sat down. The Sorting Hat slipped over her head, blocking her view of the Great Hall.
For a moment, there was nothing. Then, "Oh, my"
Zara blinked,"Oh my? Is that good?"
"That depends"
"On?"
"On what we find within you" The Hat was quiet for a moment, "You're curious"
Zara smiled, "I like knowing things."
"You like discovering things yourself"
"I do, its better when its done yourself"
"Stories, especially"
Zara's thoughts immediately went to the books waiting for her at home.
"You could spend hours with a book if you weren't being told to read it"
"That's exactly it"
"And you keep little pieces of the stories you love, to share with others"
Zara's fingers curled slightly. Her memory box. The little things she'd collected over the years. The Hat hummed thoughtfully.
"There's a great deal of thought in that head of yours" Zara waited. She tapped her finger softly.
"You could do very well in Ravenclaw," The Hat sounded amused, "And then there's Slytherin" Zara raised an eyebrow beneath the hat. She didn't have a house she wanted to be in or one she didn't, everyone in her family was in a different one. She just never realized she could have the possibility of being in multiple, she thought everyone ONLY had one they fit into.
"Resourceful. Cunning. Determined. You know how to get what you want"
"I don't think that's a bad thing," She whispered. The Hat paused. The Hat was silent for several seconds. Zara's expression softened.
"You'll argue when you think something is unfair. You'll get yourself into trouble if someone needs defending."
"...Maybe." Zara laughed. The Hat chuckled. Zara waited.
"You have courage" Her smile faded slightly, when the hat said that,"Not because you're fearless. You're not." She knew that. "You think. You worry. You question yourself," The Hat paused. "But when the moment comes, you act"
Zara felt something settle in her chest.
"Courage is the quality that sits deepest"
Zara smiled. The Hat laughed. There was a final pause.
" Better be...
GRYFFINDOR!"
The Great Hall erupted. Zara froze for half a second before a huge grin spread across her face. The hat was pulled from her head and she stood. The Gryffindor table was cheering, and Zara couldn't stop smiling as she made her way toward them. Now she finally knew one thing for certain. She belonged here.
And there were an awful lot of stories waiting for her.
Sorting Ceremony
The doors were opened wide, all heads turning to the sea of first years making their way down the centre of the hall. Hasianna was one of them. The first thing she noticed was the ceiling and what constellations were visible from where she stood. She turns to the boy next to her to comment, but the line moves forward and she reluctantly tears her eyes away to follow the others.
As she reaches the front of the hall, a hush goes over the crowd, and speeches come and go. The hat sings its song, and all Hasianna can think about are the four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Her father had been a smart wizard when he was a student here, sorted into Ravenclaw, so she was assuming to get the same result in honour of her family. Her mother, however, had attended Mahoutokoro, bearing the pinkest robes as a top tier student.
As several students make their way to the front, Hasianna fidgets nervously. She would go up soon, her last name being close to the start of the reading list, noticed as soon as the first students went up bearing their last name starting with an A.
"Burfitt, Hasianna?"
Her head perks up, and she squeezes through the gaps of students to ascend the small stairs in front of the hat. She gingerly sits down and the hat is placed upon her head. A small voice is heard- no, not heard, but is inside her mind?- and it says;
"Ah, another Burfitt? I remember your father, placed upon his head myself. He was a bright young man. Now, I can sense... my, a strong sense of curiosity. You seem to be enlightened to be here."
Hasianna smiles slightly, already drafting and owl letter to her parents, "My father is a great man." She replies quietly.
"That, I must agree. I can see you have a strong desire to learn and explore, and achieve outstanding results. You wish to colour inside the lines, yet think outside the box. You want to prove yourself, however... ambition and the desire to strive to the top, my, you would find peace in green."
Hasianna listens closely. There's no way she would be put in Slytherin? It just doesn't make any sen-
"However, the urge for discovery is simply TOO overpowering. Better be, RAVENCLAW!"
A big smile breaks across her face as the table clad in blue erupts with applause.
As she reaches the front of the hall, a hush goes over the crowd, and speeches come and go. The hat sings its song, and all Hasianna can think about are the four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Her father had been a smart wizard when he was a student here, sorted into Ravenclaw, so she was assuming to get the same result in honour of her family. Her mother, however, had attended Mahoutokoro, bearing the pinkest robes as a top tier student.
As several students make their way to the front, Hasianna fidgets nervously. She would go up soon, her last name being close to the start of the reading list, noticed as soon as the first students went up bearing their last name starting with an A.
"Burfitt, Hasianna?"
Her head perks up, and she squeezes through the gaps of students to ascend the small stairs in front of the hat. She gingerly sits down and the hat is placed upon her head. A small voice is heard- no, not heard, but is inside her mind?- and it says;
"Ah, another Burfitt? I remember your father, placed upon his head myself. He was a bright young man. Now, I can sense... my, a strong sense of curiosity. You seem to be enlightened to be here."
Hasianna smiles slightly, already drafting and owl letter to her parents, "My father is a great man." She replies quietly.
"That, I must agree. I can see you have a strong desire to learn and explore, and achieve outstanding results. You wish to colour inside the lines, yet think outside the box. You want to prove yourself, however... ambition and the desire to strive to the top, my, you would find peace in green."
Hasianna listens closely. There's no way she would be put in Slytherin? It just doesn't make any sen-
"However, the urge for discovery is simply TOO overpowering. Better be, RAVENCLAW!"
A big smile breaks across her face as the table clad in blue erupts with applause.