Sorting Ceremony 2020-2021

Sanija-Lanea was nervous as she sat quietly waiting for her turn to get on the boats. She knew she didn't have anything to be afraid of because this was a trip her parents and brothers already made. When she got on the boat, she sat next to this one boy.

"Hello. What is your name?"
"My name is Sanija-Lanea Aikens." She shyly answered. She wasn't good with people she didn't know.
"Oh, your whole family has been here. Are you the last one?"
"Yes. I am the last one." She turns her head and looks at the water. She realized that they were already at Hogwarts.
"Well, see you at the ceremony." The boy got off the boat and disappeared.

Sanija-Lanea got off the boat and made her way to the Great hall. There at the doors, she was met by a huge man. He was giant compared to her. He waved to her and she gave a shy wave back. Deep in her heart, she was hoping to be put in Gryffindor like the rest of her family but she knew that she was going to be put in Hufflepuff due to her not being brave at all. She made her way to a table and sat down. All of the first years were talking amongst themselves but she had no interest and what they were talking about. She only had interest in the food because she was hungry. She saw the the guy who greeted her at the door smile at her. He started talking and then it was time to be sorted. She watched as people were sorted into their houses before it was her turn.

"SANIJA-LANEA AIKENS!" The girl stood up and sat down on the stool. The hat took a second before deciding to say something.
"Dear child, you are worried that you won't be like your family. But you shouldn't be. Don't worry, dear child. You are just like the rest of your family that came through these walls. You exhibit the same traits and then some. I was originally stuck between two houses for you but it is clear as day that you are a GRYFFINDOR!!!!!"

The Gryffindor students clapped and cheered as I made my way over to them. I sat down between two girls who hugged and congratulated me. I sighed and smiled knowing that I became a Gryffindor like the rest of my family. I watched the rest of the ceremony and ate deliciously.

Lea did not like this. Brown eyes would only seem to take note that she was surrounded by others. By unknown people in four unknown groups. The girl had heard of the houses, it was almost impossible not to hear about them when that's what all the people of wizarding lines were curious about. Lea, on the other hand, would've preferred that these houses didn't exist. That the school didn't exist- or that she didn't have to be here. The dining tables seemed to stretch on forever, packed with students in robes. Robes, such an unusual thing. It was as if they were trying to become the fantasy rather than shy away from it.

She'd glance down at her feet, at her own robes that she was wearing. They weren't uncomfortable and didn't seem to impede her much, something that seemed to annoy the young girl. A small scowl would play on her features, before disappearing quickly. Brown eyes would glance back up to the front of the room.

"Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear..."

So that was who he was. She had steered clear of the man when he had been by the door, deciding that someone who wore armor casually had to either be an actor or not well in the head. Despite trying to hide away from the Headmaster, he had still managed to meet here, although the brown-haired girl had kept her head bowed and shoulders slouched forward slightly. Lea felt a little embarrassed by her previous reaction towards the man, rocking on her feet and fiddling with the fabric of her robes as he continued to speak.

"Sentient, I am intelligent"

Lea glanced at the hat with confusion. How much spare time did these people have? It probably didn't require much wiring or programming to function, but that certainly seemed more challenging when the hat was supposed to be worn as well. The young girl was curious to see if she'd feel any of those wires when it was placed on her head. And that it sung a song had startled the girl, making her jump back, almost hitting another first year behind her. She ducked her head, cheeks flaming, keeping still as she focused on the words. After a moment of debating, Lea decided that Ravenclaw sounded like her house.

It was a rather long wait and she was towards the beginning of the pack with her last name beginning with an H. At last her name was called, quickly ducking between people to get to the front. It was only when she broke away from the other students that she slowed, immediately noticing all the faces. Whether or not they were actually paying attention, the sheer amount of students caused the young girl to quiver slightly before quickly continuing her path up towards the stool.

The brown-haired girl didn't feel any wiring or electronics as the hat was place on her head, but she did feel the wood of the stool, fingers grasping onto the edge tightly. She quickly realized that if one were to glance up, all she would see was the rim of the hat rather than the tables of students.

<Well, well, well. Certainly a stubborn one, I see.> The hat spoke, although it didn't seem as though anyone else could hear it. It was in her thoughts, then? It seemed rather advanced- telepathy was just science fiction currently. <You were always fond of magic, and now you shun it?> The girl would stop herself from nodding and knocking off the hat, quickly trying to think her response. <Magic doesn't exist- it's just a fairy tale.> Her eyebrows furrowed at the hat's chuckling, waiting for a response as to why that had been necessary. <Miss Hirsch, I see something different. You wish to be with your friends again, but coming here has stopped that.>

There was a pause. <Well, yes.> <Loyalty, I see, one that has begun to impede you.> <What?>

The hat didn't offer a reply, instead shouting out, "Hufflepuff!" The girl would flinch at the sudden noise, before quickly ducking away and towards the tables.

Rish walked into the Great Hall, and for what felt like the first time she felt a wave of nervousness. But, it soon changed to excitement.

I’ve been waiting to go to Hogwarts for so long, she thought, I can’t waste this chance!

But, for some reason her body didn’t listen. Maybe it was because the line of students was so long—patience was not her strong suit—but she kept squirming as if itching to sit down. Thoughts were swirling through her head. Her mother was in Ravenclaw, so would she be too? She loved books, and learning. Or maybe she would be in Hufflepuff? She did love to make friends and admired loyalty. She felt like she might be in one of those houses, but maybe she could be in Gryffindor or Slytherin as well.

For her, this experience was just downright confusing. She had no idea if she would feel happy in any of the houses, or if she’ll feel unwelcome in any of the houses.

She had no idea what house she even wanted to be in!

She looked at the long line of first years in front of her, and she sighed.

Just put me in a house, I don’t even care anymore, she thought.

She stopped herself. No, she should care. I mean, whatever house she would be in would be her destiny, right? She’d tried to remember what her mother had said. Something along the lines of that even though she was in Ravenclaw, she would be proud of whatever house she would be in.

For some reason, that made her all the more nervous.

She suddenly felt a nudge on her back, immediately propelling her out of her thoughts. Which she partly felt grateful for, because they were starting to drive her insane. But when she turned around, she met the sight of another first year standing in line behind her, shooting an angry glare with furrowed eyebrows.

“Hey, move it.” He said, in a voice that didn’t sound as angry as how she had expected him to sound like. “It’s almost your turn.”

She turned around with a hum of confusion, and her eyes widened when she saw that there was a space of two feet in front of her, a girl having the hat on her head. Rish was next.

“Thank you!” She called out to the boy as she ran forward.

She waited. The hat seemed to be thinking, and the girl looked nervous, but not for long because it then spoke,

“HUFFLEPUFF!” The Sorting Hat called out suddenly, and the girl stood up. Rish flinched, but as the girl went to her table she walked to the steps and stepped up.

Through all her excitement, her heart was throbbing madly in her chest, and she didn’t know whether it was from nervousness or excitement. She sat on the stool, mind whirling with thoughts. When the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, though, it seemed somewhat surprised.

“I don’t meet people like you often,” said the Hat inside her head. Rish tried her hardest not to focus on the weird feeling. “It looks like you’re conflicted on which house you want. Well, that makes it all the more easier for me.”

Rish gulped. She did not know if that was a good or bad thing.

“Now, I can see that you love to learn, a true Ravenclaw trait.” It said. “But you also admire loyalty, like a Hufflepuff.”

Oh, great, Rish thought, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. I knew it. Now I don’t know what it’s going to choose.

The Hat continued with a small chuckle at her thoughts, “You’re a hard one. But let’s see, it seems like you’re excited to learn at Hogwarts. But I don’t think that is really the true reason why you wanted to be here. Now tell me, what is that reason?”

Rish pondered that, and suddenly she remembered one of her memories from her Muggle School.

“Don’t tell me she’s actually your friend.” One of the girls said.

Her so-called best friend was on the other side, and and laughed, not knowing Rish was hiding behind a wall, listening to the conversation in secret. “Like she ever would be. She’s incredibly annoying. I’m not even sure why I became friends with her, but she’s so clingy and can’t let go of someone even when she sees the clues.”

Rish felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had only wanted someone to stay with her.

She ran outside, and cried.

Something then clicked in her, and she realized what house she was destined to be in.

I wanted to make friends, Rish thought. Friends that would stay until the end.

“Ah, yes,” the Hat said, “Then you’ll do great in HUFFLEPUFF!”

Rish smiled, and the torrent of thoughts vanished. She walked over to the Hufflepuff table, smiling from ear to ear.

Friends. she thought. Hufflepuff is perfect.

Amelia stood in the immense hall feeling shell shocked. The Great Hall didn’t just dwarf her elementary school cafeteria, it dwarfed tiny City Hall Annacloy. It seemed impossibly big, especially with the ceiling having a view of the sky somehow. Amelia stood there and awaited her turn for what felt like hours, fidgeting constantly. Which house would she end up in? She heard good things about Gryffindor. Apparently a lot of their house ended up being very important in some war that happened before Amelia was born. She heard a few good things about Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, too. It seems that only Slytherin is a real bad house, where apparently everyone is mean. Hopefully Amelia would end up in Gryffindor, she felt like she was brave.

Finally, Amelia’s name was called, and she walked up in front of everyone, and put on the sorting hat. As Amelia sat under the mysterious hat that spoke into her head, she found herself agreeing with what he said. “I see great desire and ambition within you,” the hat whispered. “You want to leave your humble origins, and go do great things. You want to earn the admiration of all those around you. To be respected and adored. Am I right?” The hat asked. “Yes,” Amelia thought, “that is exactly what I want.” “Are you willing to do anything to achieve this dream of yours?” The hat asked. “Anything!” Amelia thought. “Well then, I know exactly where to put you.”


The hat yelled at the top of its voice.

Before the towering doors to the Great Hall swung open, Scarlet could already picture the soft glow from the floating candles, the enchanted ceiling reflecting the night sky into the silverware, and rows of students whose gaze would follow the first years through the room. After all, since receiving her Hogwarts letter, her mother recited these exact details of her own sorting ceremony almost every other day, and how it was through her house, Ravenclaw, that she owed her success and of course met my father.

The blue of the Ravenclaw robes caught her eye first as Scarlet moved in synchronicity with her classmates to the front of the hall, she felt it was a certainty that she too would soon be wearing those house colours, yet the unknown secrets of the other houses neglected from her parents tales excited her.

It seemed like an eternity of waiting as countless other students were sorted into their houses before her name was finally called...

"Scarlet Salvatore"

Straightening her skirt, Scarlet made her way past the few remaining students to the stool positioned carefully in central view of the rows of tables, and after taking her seat had the sorting hat placed on her head.

"Hmm... interesting... to see the conflict you yourself have on where you belong. Your parents... Ravenclaw... and many before them too. But there was another just like you."

"My great grandfather?" Scarlet suddenly remembered her father speaking of his grandfather, the second and most recent of the Salvatore's to be placed outside of Ravenclaw.

"Indeed" the sorting hat went on, "he too longed to forge a new path for himself outside the realms of family tradition."

"What should I do?" Scarlet though to herself, scanning the rows of faces of each of the houses, "where do I belong?"

"That is the question... you too, like those before you, have the mind for Ravenclaw and would excel in the classroom... but... knowledge makes only part of a great wizard... you can see that... so..."

"SLYTHERIN!"

Ask she hurried over to join the Slytherin table, she though to herself, 'just like great grandfather.'

Isadora Greene felt herself being pushed as if in a current as she stood in the crowd of first years as they waited outside the Great Hall to be sorted into their houses. Her trip on the Hogwarts Express had been a nerve-wracking one. Her parents former Hogwarts students themselves had just enough time to see her off onto the train and out of the station before they had to head to Bulgaria on a job helping to relocate a kelpie. It had been a busy week for the young girl who had traveled the world her whole life as her parents worked to rescue and relocate magical creatures working with wizards, witches and muggles alike.
However she hadn't told her parents this but she didn't know if she wanted to go to Hogwarts. Of course she wanted to go but the idea of being sorted terrified her. Her mother Diana was a former Ravenclaw and her father Oliver had been a Hufflepuff. The idea of her not getting into either house terrified her. And what if she got into Ravenclaw instead of Hufflepuff or vice versa?! Either way she felt like whichever house she got she would be letting her parents down in some way or another.
Just then Isa was jolted out of her anxious thoughts by the creaking of the grand doors that lead into the Great Hall as they opened. Like a flock of birds they began to move and she almost stumbled, feeling herself nearly being pushed from behind by someone. However when she set her eyes on the grand hall her jaw dropped.
It was beautiful. Four long tables took up the whole room and at the other end, steps that led up to a podium and dais full of older looking witches and wizards-the teachers and staff. Above her beautiful candles floated in midair casting a beautiful glow around the room.
As she walked down the room she could feel the many eyes staring at her and the other first years. Not liking to be the center of attention the young girl felt her heart race a bit quicker.
There was a loud bang as the Great Hall doors close and the flock of first years came to a stop in front of the dais. Looking up Isadora was shocked to see a man in full armor standing in front of them. When his gaze passed over the other students and herself she had to force herself not to crouch down to avoid his gaze. She clenched her teeth her heart racing. She soon learned that this was Headmaster Lear. She listened as he introduced himself and the heads of houses letting her thoughts wander.
I wonder why he wears armor? She thought to herself.
Suddenly a voice broke into her thoughts.
"Sentient. I am intelligent."
The idea of someone interrupting Headmaster Lear made the girl turn her head in search of the voice. However what she found instead shocked her.
It was the hat. It was moving.
Her parents hadn't said anything about a hat only that there was a special way that you were sorted. Isa's eyes widened as the hat began to sing.
Then begun the long process of the students being sorted. After about 10 students Isa became slightly anxious and began to look around the room.
As the ceremony went on, Isadora took the time to admire her surroundings. The hall was beautiful made out of stone of some sort. Behind the dais were large stained glass windows but the girl couldn't make the colors out as well as she could have if it were light. To the right of her beyond the two tables on the right was a roaring fire.
She was so enthralled by the room that she nearly missed her name being called.
"Isadora Greene!"
At first Isa felt her blood run cold. She didn't move at first before she quickly made her way through the crowd with small "excuse me's" and "pardon's" and she made her way up front.
When she finally reached the front she felt all the eyes in the room on her. She took the few steps up to the stool where Headmaster Lear stood waiting the hat in hand. She met the headmasters eyes nervousness and unsureness in them. She slowly sat on the stool feeling all eyes on her.
The moment the hat was on her head it let out a gasp of intrigue.
"Oh you've seen a lot in your young life haven't you....a Greene....the child of two houses though yes....you've got your mothers intelligence." And the hat jerked her head around gently as it continued to speak. "Yes....you would make a fine Ravenclaw I would see...and yet...I see in your heart overflowing loyalty and kindness for others...no matter how unsure and nervous you are of yourself...your decisions are unwavering when it comes to others who you may not even know....tricky tricky...but I believe I know just where to put you....HUFFLEPUFF!"
A loud cheer from what Isadora could only guess was the Hufflepuff table went up as the hat cried out her new house. The hat was whisked off her head and with a nod of thanks to Headmaster Lear and the hat she scurried down the steps to join her new housemates. However she stopped not able to find a spot. As her anxiety began to creep in, looking around but before she could say anything two Hufflepuff students a older looking boy and a young girl a year or two older than Isa made room for her patting the seat for her to join them. Isa quickly sat down as words of congratulations and welcome were thrown her way. She let out a sigh of relief as she turned back to the ceremony.

Alice's mind jumped back and forth, going over her checklists over and over again. All the time on the train thinking of all the possibilities and ways that her first year would, or could go. talking to herself she said. "I guess we will see how this shall play out, could be fun, could be torture."Pausing for a moment to look around and make sure that no one would hear her. "I know I know, I have gone over the checklist, but it hasn't been a million times, you exaggerate." whispering almost, mouthing the words. "Okay I won't go over it again I promise." She looked around once more to see if anyone was lurking. Afraid someone would happen upon her she sat the rest of the way in silence, twiddling her thumbs. She thought about writing or maybe a sketch, but she didn't really have the calm or the patience to do it, energy pulsed through her body, letting her know just how close she was to the time of arrival checking her watch every few minutes. it felt like forever.

barely remembering what it took to get from point A. to point B., maybe a few pleasantries? " Surely nothing to important took place while I wasn't paying attention" She said not realizing she was talking allowed again. she looked at all the details of the school was one of her favorite things to do in a new place, she admired every inch of it. Staying to herself she watched as one by one kid after kid went up to be sorted into their houses, She thought "This day, this day is everything I would have thought it would be, and its not even over yet. " She had longed for so long to be a Slytherin. Almost unable to contain herself from jumping up and down with excitement. Shaking a bit she wasn't sure rather she was afraid or if it was just feeling of everyone around her. she couldnt seem to stop the shake. Wanting to say something to one of the other fellow students. Maybe one of them will speak to me, I don't know what I am doing, I hope no one can tell. I hope I can find friends too. she thought. Then she thought again, maybe not, but maybe I should... Maybe. Alice looked around the room and again. Watching her world almost spin, she took a sip of water, and tried to breathe again.

The thought cut off when she heard her name be called to the sorting hat. Alice looked up, realizing she had been watching her feet for some time. Her stomach rumbled and almost had the idea to vomit all over everyone near her. She took a Long deep breath and walked up to the hat to be sorted. This was it, the moment she had been waiting for, the moment she had wanted, the moment she had longed for. she smiled softly, and waited for the sweet sound she would hope she would hear. "Slytherin" The hat had finally confirmed what she had wanted to hear, it was done, the pressure of sorting was done, she could breathe again. She felt strong, and confident now, she just had to know that she could get there. The shaking stopped, and she saw the world with her admiring eyes once more.

Nervous, exticed or simply sugar high from all the candy she ate on the trainride. Probably all of them at ones. All three had the same results, Juliana could not stand still. She waited for years to finally attend Hogwarts. To meet and interact with witches and wizards her own age. To share her interests in quiditch and magical creatures, to learn more about magic in general. To be away from Lingfield and those dull muggles. Juliana was ready for what comes next.
But her hyperactivety was getting to the nerves of her futere classmates. The redhead realised something awful.
She never thought about which house she was going to be in. This made her even more anxious, not because her parents would be dissappointed, but because of her potential house mates. What kind of people are they, would they like her?
Nervous, she was definitely nervous. Her hyperactivety transformed into fiddeling, lots of fiddeling. She made several attempts to stop. Her fiddeling would not solve anything, she needed that sorting hat to scream whatever house she belonged in. Lucky for Juliana, her wish would come soon enough.

'Hunt, Juliana' the headmaster called. Never in her life did she ran so fast to a seat in her short live, while muttering a quick apologie to anybody she pushed aside. The only way to get rid of her fear was to face, head on. She heard several chuckles from some students. Perhaps it doesn't come often that a first-year would run to get sorted.
The headmaster put that old sorting hat on her head, and even though she knew very well that the head could speak in her head. That by no means prepared her for when it actually happened.
'Ah, yes.' began the sorting hat. 'Ready for the challenge, aren't you?'
'Yes, mister hat. Can I call you that?' Juliana asked.
The hat let out a soft laugh that vibrated trough her head. 'Not Ravenclaw for you, dear.' mister hat said. 'Let's look a bit futher,' he, I'm pretty sure the hat is a he, continued. 'Very friendly and loyal, qualities that fit any Hufflepuff. But your bravery stands out.' After several more moments of thoughts, mister hat finally shouted 'Gryffindor!'

Finally mister hat had made his decision, a sigh of relief left her mouth as the headmaster picked up the hat from her head.
Juliana's hair was a bit sloppy, happens all the time when she wears a hat. But had the biggest smile on her face as she ran towars the table clad in red and gold.
She sat down with the other first year Gryffindors and thought to herself. 'Bring it on, Hogwarts. Because I am ready.'

Word Count: 718| Past | Present

It was official, Catriona decided. Magic was the greatest thing. Ever.

Of course, Catriona had been exposed to magic before. She had grown up with it all around her, what with her mother being a witch and all; but her mother had always practiced mundane everyday magic. It had never been anything quite as stunning as this. The very air seemed to thrum with energy as Catriona looked around, trying to take in everything about the hall around her. The floating candles, enchanted ceiling, and soaring columns were awe-inspiring. She recalled what her mother had told her the night before when was having a hard time falling asleep in the hotel.

"Remember dear," her mother had whispered so she wouldn't wake 's younger sister. "Magic is a wonderful, beautiful gift. I went to Hogwarts when I was your age, and it quickly became my second home. Cherish your time there and try to make the most of it." The words had filled the air as Catriona tried to imagine what this new adventure might have in store for her. She dreamt up all sorts of fantastical sights and adventures as she drifted off last night, but none of them had even compared to this.

A second home, Catriona thought. I like the sound of that.

The tiny brunette could hardly contain her excitement as the ceremony seemed to drag on. She listened to the headmaster's speech. She waited impatiently as they brought up a raggedy old hat and practically gasped when she realized it could talk. Her blue eyes lit up, nerves from this morning forgotten. Magic was delightful. She watched as her peers began to make their way to the stool as their names were called, one-by-one, and she clapped every time someone was sorted. 's curiosity grew with every shout of the hat. How was it deciding where to place them? Did it ask questions? Were you required to prove yourself somehow? The excitable eleven-year-old was so busy trying to suss out the process and mentally prepare herself, that she almost missed it.

"Catriona Fraser."

There was a moment of silence as Catriona processed her name being called. She scrambled to respond before remembering herself and glancing around at all the eyes on her. Quickly, the young girl tried to compose herself as she approached the solitary seat in front of the entire school. She sat as primly as she could and tried to keep her excitement from showing, although had a feeling she hadn't quite kept the massive grin off her face. She held her breath as the headmaster placed the hat on her head, darkness quickly descending when the fabric covered her eyes.

"Ah, aren't you an interesting one?" The girl startled Catriona had expected to hear the hat whispering in her ears, not echoing in the recesses of her mind. How does this work? She tried to think at the hat. Do I have to answer questions? Is there some sort of test? The hat seemed to chuckle.

"Such a bold little one, aren't you. And so very inquisitive."Catriona couldn't help but to preen a little at the praise. "No, little one, there are no questions. I simply look into your mind, and I can see you have an adventurous little spirit that would suit Gryffindor quite well. Of course, you're also rather inquisitive and so very intelligent. Ravenclaw might be your home..." Catriona couldn't help the brief stab of disappointment at that. Her mother had been in Ravenclaw and, while the girl loved and respected her mother, was nothing like her. Davinia was the quiet, creative one who liked to stay at home with their mum. Catriona wanted to be someone important, like her father. She wanted to travel, to see the world, to make a difference. She wanted to prove herself.

"Ah, I see," the hat agreed. "You have a hunger and a desire to lead. Well then, it must be..." couldn't help but tense up in anticipation.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Catriona squinted as the hat was lifted off her head, and she turned to face her new table. As she glanced at the students clad in green robes, clapping and welcoming her in, she felt a warm glow settle in her stomach. She was home.