Sorting Ceremony 2020-2021

On my way to Hogwarts I was riding alone cause I chose to, then I decided to read one of the books I bought It was about magical creatures and were to find them. I was reading for a while then the train stopped I started seeing people live the train so I joined them we saw a carriage that moves itsel I thought that was weird but got on anyway. We were coming across little boats and beyond that I saw Hogwarts my first thought was "It looks like a ordinary castle to me".Everyone got to Hogwarts every first year was about to go into the great hall. I am walking into the great hall I see so many other students, I was wondering to myself to which house I would be sorted into.I heard that a lot of pure-blood wizards and witches would be sorted into slytherin but not all of them I honestly didn't care what house I get put into aslong as I meet chill nice people. I was so happy see other people like me,I started smiling.

As I was waiting for me to be sorted I was looking at some the other first years to see if they were nervous,I wasn't nervous at all I was to be sorted into my house.I was next to be sorted the hat was asking questions and after a long time thinking he said "hmph yes I think you will be in GRYFFINDORRRR! When he said that everyone Gryffindor was clapping for me and welcoming me to seat down,I was so happy.

A second family

This day was most likely to be the most important day in Aurélie’s time at Hogwarts. The room she was in, together with numerous other new students and many more older students, was called The Great Hall, she overheard some others. It was indeed great. More like humongous. The young Scottish lass had no idea what was about to happen here. Out of nowhere, a loud male voice arose from far away. Aurélie wasn’t exactly tall so she moved a bit closer to the front of the group of first-years to find the source of the voice. It was a grey-haired man with a large beard. He stood higher than the students and faced the great hall. The man was Headmaster Solomon Lear and he explained to all new students how they would be sorted into one the houses. Ah, Henry told me about these houses. There’s four different ones. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Raven-something? Ravenclaw, I think. A magical hat called ‘the Sorting Hat’, it could talk, sing and dance which impressed and at the same time creep out Aurélie out, would be placed on their heads and tell them which house they belonged. According to the Headmaster, the hat sorted students by looking at their personality and qualities. My qualities? I have no idea what those would be. Or what house I would fit in best. Thankfully, I don’t have to choose myself.

Many students had come before Aurélie but now it was her turn. Her turn to walk up the stage, have hundreds or thousands of students stare at her and let the magical talking hat declare what house was fit for her. What if I don’t fit in any house? Or what if the Sorting Hat simply doesn’t know which one.. Has that happened before? Aurélie heard her name being called “Aurélie Nimco” and her eyes bounced immediately at the Headmaster. Solomon Lear searched the crowd with his gaze and once it fell upon Aurélie, he gently smiled at her and nodded as a gesture to have her come forward. The girl smiled back and tried to hide her nerves as she walked toward the wooden stool next to the Headmaster. The students surrounding her moved out of the way so she could make her way through. Softly, she uttered to them; “Thank you. Thanks.” The girl reached the wooden stool and Headmaster Lear said; “Have a seat, young lady. You’ll do great.” His reassuring words made Aurélie feel ready. She took a seat and felt the Sorting Hat being placed softly on her noggin.

“Hmm.. a young werewolf. I see you are quite a courageous soul. Modest and fair are traits that you have.. perhaps you would thrive in Hufflepuff?”, the Sorting hat said softly so only she and the Headmaster could hear what he said.

Aurélie patiently listened to what The Sorting Hat had to say about her. She was indeed fair and courageous. Well, most of the time. Hufflepuff sounded like a fun house, although she hadn’t met any of its students.

“No, that’s not right. Too much nerve in this young lady.. You seem determined to fight for what is right. How.. chivalrous. That determination could put you in Slytherin.. but you care too much about others.. not Slytherin either.”

The young girl thought this was taking quite a long time. It felt like she had been sitting there for ages. Make up your mind already.

“Oh, a bit impatient are we? You have got some nerve, lady. I know exactly which house you belong in!’

After a few seconds of ear deafening silence, which seemed to last forever, the Sorting Hat loudly shouted; “GRYFFINDOR!’

Immediately, the whole house of Gryffindor began clapping and whistling in excitement. What a roar they made. Aurélie eagerly jumped off the stool, thanked the Headmaster and Sorting Hat and made her way to the Gryffindor table. The clamor settled down once she took a seat and the next student was called to the stage. There were many Gryffindors looking at her with a smile or an intrigued look on their faces. Further down the table, Aurélie spotted Eyre Reeves sitting with his friends. She had met him at the Summer Camp before school started. Some other familiar faces filled the table but she didn’t really know any of them. Aurélie turned her gaze toward the Slytherin table to see if she could spot her friend Henry Knight. They had also met during the camp and had met up once after that. Not being able to find him, she turned her attention back to the other first-years and followed the rest of the Ceremony. I’m sure I’ll see him around some time.

Norina felt unqualified, overwhelmed, and a tad bit nauseous when she approached the huge castle that was now her school. Is this normal? She asked herself as she nearly tripped on her robes while looking at the pictures on the wall that she could’ve sworn just moved. Her family would never believe her, which is why she will probably never tell them the full truth. They don’t need to know that she attends classes in a legitimate castle with ceilings that change to the night sky and paintings that are now waving at her.

Why are there so many first-years?! Why are there so many of us?

Coming from a small village with fewer than 200 people, she was already seeing more people than she was used to, and she was going to have to see this many people every day for the next seven years, at least! She had no idea magic was even real this time a year ago, much less would she ever believe that this many people had magical powers! How many things did she look over because she wasn’t paying attention while growing up in her muggle home?

She fell in line with the rest of the first years to shake the headmaster’s hand. While a little intimidated by his quite large stature, she quickly walked up to him, shook his hand, gave a small grin, and kept moving. After all, the man had to shake every single hand of the new group of students, and she was not about to hold up the line on her first day.

So. Many. People.

She felt like she was going to either faint or vomit before she made it to the end of her very long journey to the front of the huge room.

After listening to the probably very tired headmaster explain the houses and trying to follow along with the rhyme of the old pointy hat, Norina realized that this was the moment everyone was talking about. This was the moment where this magical thing is placed on her head and her life would be determined for the next several years at Hogwarts. This hat was going to choose who she would be sleeping in the same room as for the next seven years, at least.

Her heart was racing, for no reason. She had nothing to worry about! Unlike her classmates, she had no parents that had a history of a certain house that she felt like she had to live up to an expectation. At this moment, Hogwarts was an open book and the sorting hat was simply helping her write the first chapter.

She patiently, and nervously, watched the other students take their seats under the moving and talking hat. The magic part of her life wasn’t settling in just yet. Do other muggle-born students think this is normal? Am I just freaking out for no reason? They seem calm, so I’m going to stay calm. Everything’s fine.



Norina almost forgot her name. She felt the headmaster’s eyes land on her, and it suddenly came flooding back that her name was indeed Norina Evans. Cheeks flushed, she quickly walked up and sat down under the mumbling hat.

“Oooohhhh, a bit nervous, are we?”
Norina momentarily thought she was going to pass out. She shook her head yes as she felt her cheeks begin to boil from embarrassment.

“Hmmm, yes. Alright.”
Am I supposed to be thinking something specific? This hat can hear what I’m saying to myself, I need to shut it. She thought to herself.

“You’re rather curious, but very brave when you need to be.”
At this moment, Norina didn’t feel an ounce of braveness run through her veins.

“I know where you need to be….”
She held her breath and could feel her heart in her throat.

“HUFFLEPUFF!!!”

“Oh my gosh, I love the color yellow!” Norina yelled as she jolted off the chair, almost forgetting to let the headmaster take the hat off of her head.

As she skipped to her new family, she realized that this was the start of the fun and this was the start of her new beginning. All of her fears and worries melted away as soon as she saw the smiling faces of everyone wearing that incredible badger crest.

I nervously bit my nails as I watched as other students got sorted into their houses. I knew what to expect, my whole family has been to Hogwarts! Both my brother and my father were sorted into Hufflepuff, but my mother was a proud Gryffindor. I honestly don't know where I'll be put. I'd like to think I'm strong and brave like my mother, and that I'll be sorted into Gryffindor, but to be honest I think I'm quite the opposite. I'm determined, ambitious, but I'm not brave.

There's a dull chatter going on behind me, but it's too indistinct to decipher what they're saying. I'm sure other students are nervous, just like me. I try to tune them out and pay more attention to the sorting ceremony, but it's hard to focus. I reach down and play with a loose hem on my robes.

It'll be over soon, I think to myself. I can go to my assigned dorm and relax. Everything will be okay.

"SALEM HART!" I hear someone yell. I look up and I meet the gaze of the professor holding the sorting hat. I bite my lip, and take a step forward.

Everything goes quiet. I'm not sure if the Great Hall went silent with the announcement of my name, or if I'm so nervous that I'm tuning them out. So many people are going to see me on that stage.

What if the hat tells me there's been a mistake and I don't deserve to be sorted into any of the houses? No, I can't think like that. Both my mother and father were powerful wizards. This is my home.

I take a seat on the hard wooden stool and wait for the professor to place the hat on my head. I hold my breath as I stare out at the crowd in front of me. Half of the new students are chatting to themselves, the other half has been watching the sorting ceremony intensely. I can see students of all ages staring back at me from their respective house tables.

I feel the hat placed on my head. I inhale sharply and try to calm down. I can't be seen as weak up here.

"Ah, I can sense the power within this one. You hold great potential, and you will need a house to support you on that journey. I sense intellect, strength, ambition. A strong bloodline of witches and wizards perhaps. I know just what to do with you... GRYFFINDOR!"

My eyes widen. Gryffindor? There's no way...

William couldn't believe he was there. He had read all the books, finding them very interesting. The Great Hall was... beautiful. He wanted to go in the house of Ravenclaw like is parents. William didn't listen the first name called, he startle when he ears:
- O'Brien, William
-Ho no! I'm not ready!
William sail in direction of the hat. Trambling, he put the hat on is head.
- A O'Brien? Right I see... Inteligent, shy...
I am not shy!
- ... stubborn...
At this word William blushes, he is very stubborn. When he wants someting he have to have it. Or when he starts someting he has to finish it.
- ... Open mide, generous,
- come on hat!
William was petrified. If the hat did not have a house for him?
- I see better be...
It's Ravenclaw?
William close his eyes.
- Ravenclaw!
For the first time of the day a smile was present on his face. He gets up and go to the table where applause are the more noisy. He is in the house of is parents and grand parents have done there study. He seats near a student of first years and ask him questions about the years.

Hours passed as name after name was called. It seemed to go on forever. He glanced around nervously at the other first years, who seemed to be as anxious as he was. He couldn't felt but feel a little tired - the ride on the Hogwarts Express was taking a small toll on him.

"Freeman, Oscar!"

He jolted awake when he heard his name being called. He had no idea how much time had passed, but this was the moment he had been waiting for. The lanky boy stood up and slowly walked towards the headmaster, trying not to trip over his own feet. He could not believe that this was actually happening to him. The wizard gave him a small and encouraging smile, and Oscar held his chin up high, trying to show everyone he was brave. That was what his mother would tell him to do, right?

Then he felt something placed over his head. It moved slightly, like it was alive. The only sound he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his eyes as he tried to focus on what the Sorting Hat was saying.

"Hm... I sense some stubbornness in this one, but also determination..." the Sorting Hat was speaking quietly, so that only Oscar could hear him, but he felt like it was shouting at the top of its lungs. "Curious...loyal...outgoing..." the Sorting Hat continued, "all traits of a - "

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat bellowed triumphantly. Oscar felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He could hardly believe this was happening, and yet it was. A cheer rose from the table of red and yellow, while the rest of the students and professors were clapping politely. He stood up, a little unsteadily, but then he began walking over to the table.

Oscar sat down at the table, smiling as the other students congratulated him. He felt strangely at home, even though he barely knew these other students. He couldn't help but grin widely. If Mum could see him now, she'd be proud of him, he was sure of that.

As Veronica inched her way behind her fellow classmates into the Great Hall she was flooded with thoughts. She had grown up knowing about Hogwarts and the Wizarding World but she never had paid much attention to what house she would end up in.

She felt out of all the books she read that she never dug deep into the houses of Hogwarts. Was she a Slytherin? The stereotype of a pure-blood supremacist who hated everything to do with muggles automatically popped in her head. But she knew better than to think that of all the members of the house. Her childhood babysitter, Anastasia, was a Slytherin. She was one of the nicest people Veronica had known, as well as an extremely hard working and driven person.

Veronica pondered about the other houses. Was she a loyal Hufflepuff, chivalrous Gryffindor, or wise Ravenclaw? Or could she be a cunning Slytherin? Each house seemed intriguing in its own right. If she was given a choice by the sorting hat itself she had no idea which house she would even choose.

Veronica's classmates she recognized from her journey to Hogwarts stepped forward and were sorted.

"Rolland, Iris"
"Seguire, Anikin"

As the brand new Hufflepuff and Slytherin took their seats at their respective tables, Veronica realized midway through her clapping that she was next up on the list. She dropped her hands and swallowed.

"Sinclair, Veronica"

She walked up the steps and took a seat on the wobbly stool. The sorting hat was placed on her head and she held her breath for a second, worried the old hat might burst out a name before she even got a chance to think.

"Nervous are we...." The hat said. "You are an interesting character indeed. Brave, true, but smart. Very smart. You would do well in..... RAVENCLAW!"

The table of blue-robed witches and wizards erupted in a roar of cheers and claps. Veronica got up from her seat and walked over to the table. She took a seat with a few of her fellow first years and shook hands with a few of the older Ravenclaws.

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☆ Two Seconds ☆

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Earl waited in line, fidgeting with his gray scarf, the weight of the pocket watch in his left hand reassuring him. His thoughts were swirling out of control as he watched the student after students step up to the hat and got a house bellowed. It was nearly dead silent as each student stepped up, and as soon as a name was called, the corresponding table erupted in wild cheering. It had scared Earl out of his skin the first time, grabbing hold of the person closest to him reflexively. A few rushed apologies followed, along with a smile and an embarrassed laugh. He'd made a great first impression, that was for sure.... And then it was HIS turn to step up to the hat, and he froze like a deer in the headlights. . What that hat called out would determine his fate for the next seven years, and honestly, he was growing more and more anxious. The person behind him pushed him forwards with the tips of her fingers, whispering an annoyed sort of "Move". "Sorry, sorry," he sputtered out, her voice breaking him out of his spell. He stumbled forwards and sat down on the stool, twisting his scarf anxiously as the hat was placed upon his head. Not even two seconds passed. The hat hollered out "Hufflepuff!" nearly the instant it had touched his head. Relief made a small, anxious giggle escape him, hand flying to his mouth to cover it up as he took the hat off and placed it back on the chair. Cheers had risen from the Hufflepuff table as he floated over, a small grin on his face. Yeah. He'd thought so. Thank the Angel. As he sat down, the anxiousness slowly seeped away, replaced with a bubbly sort of happiness. A laugh left from between his parted lips as he noticed the pitched of Earl Gray tea in the middle of the table. Yep. He was in the right place. Word count : 328

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Septima's fingers clung tightly to the inner sleeves of her robes, her arms pressed against her sides. She was smack dab in the middle of the horde of first years. The group was packed together despite the space around them. This close proximity made Septima anxious which only made her more aware of the nervous butterflies that filled her stomach.

The group stood before a large door. The beautiful engravings upon the door captivated Septima. She felt a strong urge to push her way through the crowd just to run her fingers along the artwork. This urge was quickly drowned out by nerves as the door slowly began to open. She momentarily froze in place until the natural momentum of the crowd pulled her forward and into step.

The great hall was named well. Septima gawked at the massive room. Everything from the ceiling to the floating candles to the tables full of food and students, it was all better then she had hoped. She had high expectations from all her father's stories but Hogwarts has surpassed her imagination since she ran through a wall. Before today she had never been on a train. That new experience was amazing enough, yet the school only had more to show.

Septima's gaze was suddenly drawn to a glint of armor...? Yes, armor. She stopped before a tall man. He smiled warmly, a soft, "Welcome to Hogwarts," passed his lips. He stood apart from everyone else in the room, not just because of the armor. He had this authoritative air about him which commanded respect even though he appeared tired and worn. He was quick to greet the next first year, so Septima turned to continue admiring the room.

The group was lead to the base of a short stage. Upon it was a table where the staff sat, as Septima's father had informed her. There was also a single stool with someone standing behind it holding a hat. Next them was the man who greeted Septima at the door. "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." The man spoke, his voice boomed in the hall. Septima nearly jumped but managed to avoid it.

"Sentient, I am intelligent!"

Septima barely heard the comment but it left her confused. If she heard the headmaster right he claimed that a hat was sentient. Her eyes scanned the stage before finally resting on an old hat. It was wiggling. Her father did mention something about a talking hat. He had called it the sorting hat as well, was that it?

The Headmaster began talking once more, "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." He went on to introduce the people who sat at the table upon the stage. Septima listened carefully, attempting to ingrain the names and faces into memory. She had a tendency to forget names and a knack for remembering faces. These were important people. She hoped the names would stick in her memory.

Her attention was drawn back to the stage when the Headmaster opened a scroll. It rolled open, flinging it's way down the short step. A few of the first years took a step back. Septima wondered what on earth could be on such a lengthy scroll when the hat began to sing. He now sat in the stool dancing...? It was quite bizarre. Septima was only recently introduced to the magical world. There were some odd things she read but this topped it all. A dancing, singing hat. I mean an intelligent, dancing, singing hat. Although the hat lacked a nice voice, the lyrics were interesting. A bit of history and a brief description of the houses. One particular line caught Septima's attention:

The house Septima spent months dreaming to be in. Her and her father agreed this was HER house. A place to help her further expand her knowledge of magic and maybe more! The nervous butterflies in her stomach exploded into excitement. This was it. She really was in a magical world surrounded by magical people attending a magical school! When the hat finished, Septima applauded with everyone else.

The Headmaster was quick to begin reading off the list of names. One after the other stepped up, put on the hat and was sorted.

The other students would cheer and congratulate the first years, helping them find a seat and begin mingling. Then silence would fall and repeat. Septima also spotted the occasional glares between houses. She wondered how often houses mingled.

"SEPTIMA BLACKJACK!"

The booming voice bounced throughout the Great Hall. Septima was initially caught off guard but quickly recovered, pushing her way through the shrinking crowd. She stepped onto the stage and sat on the stool. The hat was placed atop her head. She was greeted with darkness as the hat slid over her eyes.

"Ah! I'm greeted with one of great determination."

An almost soft voice entered her mind. It sounded more like a thought from another being. The idea of someone else being in her head frightened Septima. Her hands instinctively shot up, reaching for the hat.

"Calm now! You really are a Blackjack, your father ripped me right off his head! He was a true Gryffindor, through and through, but I see a very different passion burning in you..."

Septima paused as she processed the information. Her face grew hot from the sudden irrational response. She relaxed her arms and gripped the sides of the stool, just in case.

"Oh good...now let me see...interesting...I see a great hunger in you. One for wisdom and for knowledge, it feeds your deepest ambitions...there is only one house that can make use of such wit and determination, so let it be SLYTHERIN!"

Cheers from the Slytherin table nearly shattered Septima's eardrums. She forced the happiest smile she could as the hat was plucked off her head. She hurried over to the excited students. As they greeted her, congratulations and pats on the back guided her to an open seat. She quickly grabbed a goblet and began sipping the sweet drink. It was to hide the frown she now wore. Her blue eyes gazed back at her in the deep ruby liquid. The sounds around her were drowned out by the song of the sorting hat:

It was marvellous, majestic and everything that Eden ever wanted. The Great Hall’s sky was big and it stretched right from the entrance to the end of the hall, where all Hogwarts staff sat present. Candles burned and lit up the entirety of the hall as their fire scorched. The chattering of students seemed to get more enthusiastic by the second, until the Headmaster, whom Eden found particularly intriguing for the necessary reasons, spoke up.

The boy had his ears out in the wild like an elephant - he wanted to hear every word and letter. How the old man spoke, while his eyes scanned his gestures, the clothes he wore, how his bit of hair was fashioned. Nothing escaped little Ed’s sight. He made sure his vision was also clear - that no other student, child, stood in front of him. Eden had already made it clear before that he wanted to assure dominance in his year. He wanted every child to know his name, every Professor to know his last. So there he stood, right in the centre spot of the group of new first years. Pushing everybody away to reach the front. His hair grabbing hold of the attention of many.

The sorting hat - there it was. This was the moment Eden wanted and loathed simultaneously at once. He just wanted the whole thing to be over with. Be called up, sit, have the hat rest on his head for at the very least, the maximum of a couple of seconds, sort him in Slytherin and get over with it.
But he knew that the hat was going to analyze every single inch of his body and mind. Did it also know his secrets? What if it put him in Gryffindor? The poor boy would be shamed for the entirety of his life. Ravenclaw wouldn’t have been so bad. But Slytherin - he wanted to continue the legacy. Make his parents proud. It’s all he ever wanted; his moment to shine. And nothing was going to take that rightful dream away.

While he was so deeply lost in his thoughts, a bombarding voice that sounded like it had to repeat the same name for a thousand times, called Eden out to climb up and finally get sorted. Eden had told himself that he was going to get up there and look normal. Have no fear and showcase proper gesture. This was where everyone was going to see him.
“Eden Gardener.” A name that made many turn their heads to either look at the boy or discuss the familiar name with the ones sitting next to them.

Although confidence seemed to have made its presence felt, Eden felt a tingling feeling in his stomach that almost made him puke everything he had eaten before arriving here. Like leaves brushing against the insides of his stomach, or a pair of wings fluttering inside, like a butterfly, or rather, butterflies. The feeling increased by every step he made towards the sitting stool, and once he had arrived, he felt the colour of his skin being squashed out. Not that he had much colour. One could say he turned, even more, whiter than he already was. His hair and skin matched regardless.

Then he felt the hat sitting on top of his head, and the blabbering bastard started to speak in its grizzly voice.

“You… you! I know you! Like I’ve known your father. How long has it been since your kind stepped foot in this castle? It feels like ages and I have been dormant for most years. I remember the last time I sorted your grandfather as well. By now, he would have already made his way to the Slytherin table - just like your father did. But you… I see hope in you. A light. You don’t want to admit it, of course, so you were raised.”

Eden had already had enough of the hat’s unnecessary banter. The Gardeners made their children read their own books of history about the family’s legacy every day. Did this little ancient artefact really think Eden wouldn’t know what his ancestors went through while at Hogwarts?
The boy rolled his eyes, “just put me in Slytherin and be done with it.” He whispered
“Slytherin, aye?” The hat snapped back immediately. “Yes, that would be ideal. But no. You’re not like the rest your lovely family members. In Ravenclaw, your intellect will only grow better, and be used for the best.”
“No, no! Slytherin!”
“Or Gryffindor! I see you have a knack for adventure, especially anything that requires bravery. You do the unthinkable. You’ll make lots of friends, for sure.”
“I’d rather be sorted in Hufflepuff.” Eden responded arrogantly, remembering that Hogwarts had a fourth House. 'For the abandoned dogs,' his father used to describe them. His voice lowered but still grumpy enough.
“So did I think. Well, so be it then!”
“Wait no-”

“HUFFLEPUFF!”

The hat finally roared, its pointy top first shooting straight up after having announced the House Eden was to be sorted into, and then it crouched back as if it was smirking.

Eden’s butterflies seemed to have flown away, from where, he didn’t know. But his heart stopped beating and his sight seemed to have been fading away. Those pretty lit up candles dimmed into smoky darkness. The sky above him turned blue and his eyes teared up a bit. It took him a second call for him to get up from his seat and join the obnoxious students in yellow. What a disgusting colour. The students were ugly. The way they cheered for him annoyed him. Even the way they looked at him was irritating. Everyone seemed to be in shock, as was the rightful feeling, but they didn’t care. Just clapping and cheering.

The new Hufflepuff now joined his unfortunate Housemates who had to also be sorted into the House of the Latter and felt like an empty bookshelf. A bird without its wings was no bird. A fish that couldn’t breathe underwater was no fish. A flower without its roots was no flower. And a Gardener in anywhere but Slytherin was no true Gardener at all.