Sorting Ceremony 2020-2021

The great hall is magnificent, more extraordinary than my parents could ever describe it. The four house tables lined before us, floating candles illuminated the room and revealed just how grand it was. A high vaulted ceiling soared above us, living portraits lined the walls on either side of the room conversing with one another. An older man in armor stood by the door and greeted many of us, I did not pay him much mind except stealing a second glance at his odd choice of attire. However, I was more enamored by the stunning architecture of the room and rich history hidden within these walls. It might be fun, this entire Hogwarts adventure.
A quiet and awkward hush falls upon the student body as the armored man walks by us to make his way to the front. Now that I am paying him more attention, the armor is a very odd choice to add to your wardrobe unless of course, you're into all that medieval knight's fashion. I would assume such attire to be a pain to keep maintenance and uncomfortable to wear. However, I should not judge, especially since my own fashion sense is very particular as well.

Sentient, I am intelligent

Another voice spoke, many students moved their gaze across the room in confusion upon realizing that it was not the Headmaster who spoke. My own gaze fluttered about the room, looking for the so-called ‘Sorting hat’, my gaze stopped briefly on a hat that sat within one of the professor’s arms before dismissing it as something special like a ‘Sorting hat’. However, my gaze was drawn back toward the ugly witch hat when I swore it moved.

Ah yes, the intelligent,

My gaze became incredulous at that remark. Just because something could talk and move does not mean it is intelligent. The Darwin Award is the perfect example to have since for some reason it exists.

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. Professor Caradoc Brown of House Hufflepuff, Professor Alaric Equinox of House Ravenclaw, And the ladies, Professor Elaine Pendrast of House Gryffindor, Professor Hjørdis Jensen of House Slytherin. The house that will be chosen for you shall represent qualities that are truly present within each of you. Your future house shall be like a second family. You will also be able to gather points and once we reach the end of the year, the house with the most house points shall win the House Championship Cup. What you need to know is the Sorting Hat is never wrong, once you are sorted your House will not change for the duration of your time in Hogwarts.

The headmaster gestured to each person with their respective titles, then he went on to his no doubt repeated practice and likely said every year speech. Then he took out a very long scroll, large enough to roll several feet after hitting the ground. My attention was brought back to the hat that now sat upon a chair, who began to sing. Honestly, was this a Disney film?


Once the last syllable of the sorting hat’s song rang out of the room, the headmaster began calling out names to be sorted. I watched as students would go up to the seat and the hat sorting them in whatever house he saw fit them best. It did not take long before I heard my own name.

Calantha Andreas!

I make my way up and plop down on the rather ugly stool they provided for the sorting. Only a small moment passed before the hat was placed upon my head,

Hm, interesting. I have not come across anyone with a background as yours who would actively seek the house of snakes. You are correct in your assessment that you wield many traits fitting for a Slytherin, however it is not the house well suited for you. Yes, a perfect fit for you is...RAVENCLAW!

I was stunned, Ravenclaw? How could I be meant for Ravenclaw? I stand up from the stool, handing the hat over to the teacher and making my way over to the Ravenclaw table. I pay very little mind to the cheers around more, my inner thoughts a very good distraction from everything around me. Mon will definitely be proud and the same goes for dad, he would be proud no matter what how i was in. Although, the amount of gloating I will have to deal with from my younger brother would be rather annoying. My thoughts went back to the hat, curious what Ravenclaw could offer that would be better than Slytherin. I spent the rest of the sorting in contemplation of my future in Hogwarts.

Ophelia rubbed her sweaty palms against her thighs, nervous for her turn. Her eyes darted around the room, settling on a person's face for just a second before passing to the next. The candles are a nice touch. Her eyes sparkled, the excitement overshadowing her nerves.

"I cannae' wait!" She whispers to herself, biting her lip to keep from shouting out how excited she is.

She brushes a few stray curls from in front of her eyes and stands up straighter, loving the attention. All the first-years were lined up, and each one was the center of at least one person's attention. Clenching and unclenching her fists, Ophelia rocks back and forth on her feet, getting impatient. When is my turn? I'm boredddd.

She clapped and cheered and whistled with everyone else when someone got sorted, so caught up in the excitement she almost missed her name.

"Ophelia, Drexton!"

She takes a deep breath, stands up straight, and begins walking up. She can feel all eyes on her as she passes, her auburn curls bouncing with each step. She arrives and smiles at the Headmaster, sitting on the stool. She closes her eyes and feels the soft hat drop onto her head.

Well, what do we have here? A smart and creative individual. Hyper, overexcitable. Dominates the room. Shall I place you in Hufflepuff based on that alone? No, no. You're incredibly talented and intelligent, if a bit naive. I think...

"RAVENCLAW!" The hat yells. The entire room erupts in cheers as the hat is removed from Ophelia's head, who stands with a huge smile on her face. She waves and makes her way over to the Ravenclaw table, receiving congratulations and pats on the back as she sits down. She sighs in relief, both sad and relieved that it was over. She looked around at her peers, all smiling at her, and knew she would be just fine.

Eleanora - Blue || Sorting Hat - Green and Yellow

The room was more grander than Eleanora expected. No wonder its called the Great Hall, Eleanor thought. Candles lit the ceiling, the walls covered with moving portraits. Four long tables fill the majority of the hall: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The room was filled with cheery and excited students, and nervous first years. Nora was part of the nervous bunch.

They were met by the headmaster, Solomon Lear, at the entrance of the hall. Nora thought he looked a bit strange and out-of-place with his armour but he seemed friendly enough so Nora didn't think of it. As the last first years enter, the headmaster walks to the front of the tables with us in tow. You could tell that he was in charge, he radiated authority. He begins to greet us.

It hadn't exactly sunk into Eleanora that she was actually here. In Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She could feel the real jitters start when they brought out the Sorting hat. Nora had heard so much from her fathers stories she knew exactly what was going to happen.

Soon, the headmaster started calling out peoples names. Nora realised that he was going in alphabetical order and that she was close to the beginning. Her father had been in Hufflepuff and Nora was hoping that she could continue the legacy. Althought it was more like her father hoped then Nora, she just didn't want to dissapoint her fathers expectations. She knew he wouldn't be mad or angry at her if she didn't make it into Hufflepuff, but she knew that he would be dissapointed.

"Harper, Eleanora."

Eleanora held her hands together to try and stop them from shaking as she walked her way to the stool. Sitting down, she feels the hat being placed on her head. Surprisngly soft was the first thought that came into Noras mind, For being a old, torn hat you're pretty comfy.

"I have been told that. Eleanora Harper...hmm." said the sorting hat, "I can feel the loyalty you possess, a generous soul. Great for a Ravenclaw. Hmm...."

Oh dear, he was going to put me in Ravenclaw, Eleanora thought glummly. So much for being a Hufflepuff...

"Hufflepuff you say! Well you are a very ambitious person, kind and loving. I think I'm going to put you in..."

Eleanora shuts her eyes tight and awaits for the decision that will influence her schooling career for either the best.... or the worst.

"...HUFFLEPUFF!"

To say she was relieved was an understatement. Standing up, the new Hufflepuff walked towards her table, greeted by cheers and applause. Nora was more than happy.

After the boat trip, the groups of students stepped into the massive beautiful castle and was escorted to the grand hall. Amelia was relieved to discover Hogwarts wasn't going to be in a swamp or some tall tower, especially with the swarm of other students. The doors to the grand hall swung open and Amelia's jaw dropped. Warm candles floated in the air while the long tables were filled to the brim with older students.

Her eyes drifted to the ceiling, only to discover an endless midnight sky above them. The young girl couldn't tell if this was the real sky or some sort of illusion. The walls were decorated with beautiful paintings and on closer inspection, Amelia realized they were moving. If the train, boats, and letters didn't prove magic was real, this splendid hall sealed that truth in her mind. The hall was loud with what sounded like hundreds of voices all trying to talk over each other.

Amelia fiddled with her hair as she observed the hall silently, trying to avoid getting in the way of other students. She ended up getting shoved towards the back of the crowd by overexcited students and had a harder time seeing what was happening at the front. The booming voice of the headmaster silenced the hall and demanded everyone's attention. Even Amelia was snapped out of her daydreaming to look at the headmaster as he spoke.

Confusion danced in the girl's eyes as the dusty old hat was brought out and placed on the chair. Even more surprising, the hat SPOKE. The childhood concern of furniture speaking suddenly felt more real and she couldn't help but worry about what else happened to have sentience in this world. After a short exchange with the hat, the headmaster began explaining the sorting ceremony and how it would work. Around this time Amelia's mind began zoning out as she wondered about magical hats and making items sentient. Half of the information passed her by as her mind began making up little tales in her head. It brought her a strange comfort while in the echoing hall.

"CULLEN, AMELIA!"

Snapped out of her thoughts, she looked up at the hat and stool, realizing she missed most of the information and even the majority of students being called up. Pushing her way through the crowd, she rushed up to the stool and nervously sat down. The hat was placed on her head and she held her breath, her mind rushing in a panic.

"So many ideas and thought rushing around. An overwhelming stream of creativity and a burning curiosity begging to be answered. Scared yes, but curious..." The hat said, "Better be RAVENCLAW!"

The weight of the hat was lifted from her head and she looked over towards the table of blue Ravenclaws who were beckoning her to come to them. Hopping off the stool, she rushed towards the table and found herself a seat. Her stomach growled with hunger and she suddenly felt impatient for the feasting to begin.

When Emily got off of the boat she followed the adult into the Great Hall. Emily gasped on happiness of what she sees. Emily knows that the sky is actually a ceiling but she still loves it.

Emily stops at the front of a stoll with a old dusty hat on it. "That hat must be the Sorting Hat" Emily thought to herself. Emily formed a line with other first year students too.

Emily was listening to everything that the Headmaster said. Emily only realised that she was going to be sorted into her house soon. Emily was really nervous about that because her whole family has been sorted into Slytherin.

After this girl called Amelia Cullen got sorted into Ravenclaw. One of the professors called "Flower Cooper." My twin brother Cooper went up and he sat on the stool. After a minute the Sorting Hat yelled "Slytherin!" My brother was smiling.

After my twin brother sat down at the Slytherin table, the same professor said "Flower Emma." My twin sister went up this time. Same thing happened to her. After my twin brother and twin sister were both sorted into Slytherin the professor said "Flower Emily."

I walked up and sat on the stool. Then the professor put the Sorting Hat on my head. "Please not Griffindoor. Please not Griffindoor." I thought. "Not Griffindorr ah. But I see very good things for you in Griffindoor. Ah. You are not going to be good in Slytherin even though you want to be in that house." Said the Sorting Hat. Then to my worst fear every the Sorting Hat yelled "Griffindoor!" I walked over to the Griffindoor table and I sat down.

"My whole family is going to kill me!" I thought to myself. Now my whole entire family thinks that I'm a traitor. They probably were right. Because I would definitely be getting a holler from my mother very very soon.

Ben walked into the Great Hall with the other first years. He was excited, to a point... He had learned all about Hogwarts and what to expect from his parents, both of whom had grown up as wizards. Of course, they were not his birth parents; he had been adopted by his uncle who had eventually married... and now had a baby girl as well as Ben. His own father, Joe, was an unmentionable terror who had been arrested and sent to Azkaban. His birth mother was a muggle. Thus, he was a half-blood... Thankfully though when he was nine he was adopted by his uncle and had a better life than he would have had he stayed with his mother. So now, he just called Mark/Tala mom and dad. And of course his baby sister, Hannah.

He couldn't think about his family now though. He was at Hogwarts, on his own, surrounded by a bunch of other wizards and witches that he didn't know. No pressure, right? He took a deep breath and approached the front of the Great Hall, taking it all in. He wanted to remember this moment for the rest of his life. It was the moment that would define his next seven years, likely his future legacy. His family's legacy through him... Again, no pressure.

Taking a deep breath when his name was called, he stepped up to the stool and sat down. The hat was placed on his head and debated and hemmed and hawed for a while, until Ben's patience was wearing thin. It was going to be either Slytherin or Gryffindor, of that he was sure. At long last he heard the hat call out:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Ben exhaled a deep breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The room was filled with applause and he moved over to the Gryffindor table, which was welcoming him with thunderous cheers. He was home at last!

Em winced as the doors to the great hall were opened, letting light and the noise of hundreds of other wizards flood into the corridor where the first years had been sequestered into until the start of the ceremony. It was. Loud. And bright. He squinted and blinked rapidly, trying to get rid of the pain from the sudden light as quickly as possible.

It's better than store lights at least, he thought as his eyes adjusted. Oh, there was someone greeting students; he leaned over, trying to see around the other first years that were in front of him.

He gasped as he finally saw the man greeting students by the door. A knight! So cool! He didn't know wizards had knights. He wondered if he had a sword. I bet you can put a wand in a sword. Then it's a magic sword he thought.

Em fidgeted with one of the pins on his robes as the rest of the students entered the hall. There are too many people. he thought, looking around and trying to make himself smaller to avoid them bumping into him.

The hall quieted as the knight walked to the front of the room.

Oh Em scrunched his nose maybe magic school isn't that much different from regular school. he thought as the knight(the headmaster!) started in on what seemed to be a speech. He was pleasantly surprised when the headmaster simply explained what was about to happen and introduced the heads of houses.

Em smiled, Maybe this won't take very long he thought, leaning around the other students trying to see the front of the room. He was hungry, and all that food smelled really good.

He hummed and looked up, trying to distract himself from the chaos and noise all around him.

His eyes widened as he saw the ceiling. Oh! He had forgotten about that! The ceiling really did look like the sky! He smiled giddily and laughed under his breath. He scanned the ceiling above looking for-Oh! There it is! Orion! His shoulders relaxed at the sight of something so familiar. Right. He wasn't in some strange world, he was just in a different part of it. Everything was fine. He took a deep breath and refocused his attention on the headmaster, who had been reading names for awhile now.

Just in time! he thought with a start as the headmaster called his name.

He quickly walked up to the front of the room, trying not to trip over his own feet, and sat down stiffly on the stool.

"Hello" he whispered as the hat was set on his head. It was only polite to greet new people, even if they could read your mind.

He started as he heard a chuckle inside his mind. Well aren't you the polite one? a voice that was not his own whispered in his thoughts. Even though he had expected it, it was still an odd feeling.

Em blushed at the hat's words. I, um, liked your song. He thought at the hat. Admittedly, he hadn't been listening very closely because of all the other sensations going on at the time, but he'd thought it was nice.

The hat chuckled again. Oh yes, very polite indeed. The hat hummed, seemingly looking at his memories. Very loyal as well it seems. Loyal? No one had ever called him that, he tended to forget other people existed too often for that, even if he felt that he'd do anything for his family, he was never able to act on it.

The hat continued, regardless of his thoughts. A very Hufflepuff trait that. Hufflepuff! Oh, he wanted to be Hufflepuff, he heard they had lots of friends. Or was it just that they were friendly?

Although. . .living with that much anxiety, you must be a brave one as well. Brave? That was an odd choice of words. The hat hmmed again. But no, I think It'd better be. . .

"Hufflepuff!" the hat suddenly announced out loud causing Em to jump. Hufflepuff? Hufflepuff! He smiled widely as he got up and the hat was removed from his head.

"Thank you mister hat!" he said as he walked off, trying to spot an empty seat. Ok! He thought, This time, I'm going to make some friends!

Hoping to interact with @Eleanora Harper

Toni didn't know what to think, she was utterly overwhelmed by the new experiences she had today, and she knew it would only become more exciting from here. Today she had her first train ride, she got her first view of the school she was raised hearing stories of (not to mention the view from the lake was stunning), and now she was about to be sorted into a house.

As the list of names slowly inches its way down to hers, she felt butterflies in her stomach, and she had the realization that wherever she is placed will greatly impact her experience at this school. Who her friends are, what opportunities she may have, etc. Taking a deep breath she reminded herself that whatever happens is beyond her control, so she must make the best of it.

"Bunch, Antoinette"

This is it Toni thought as she made her way towards the stool. Smiling at the professor holding the hat she jumped up onto the stool. The hat was surprisingly light on her head, and she felt a sudden cool sensation, before hearing a voice in her head.

"Hmmm, I see intelligence, humility, courage too...but you don't seem to have tapped into that one yet" Toni snickered despite the insult.

"Whatever you decide will be for the best." Toni stated quietly, earning another noise of consideration from the hat.

"I see...a sense of contentment too...I think I know what should be done then." The Sorting Hat decided before shouting:

"HUFFLEPUFF"

The hat was promptly lifted from the brunette's head as applause erupted throughout the room. Despite being in a different house from her siblings, she was quite pleased with the result. She made her way to the Hufflepuff table where she was immediately greeted with warm words of welcome from older students. Returning their sentiments gladly she turned her attention to the sorting once more. After thirty minutes a girl, who had just been proclaimed Hufflepuff, sat down across from Toni. She received the same warm welcome Toni did, and she seemed grateful to be at this table.

Toni examined her with curiosity. She had light blonde hair with streaks of brown, pale skin, and dark brown eyes. She seemed shy, but Toni found the girl quite charming. In an attempt to get the girl's attention, she stuck out her and in greeting.

"Lovely to make your acquaintance, I'm Toni Bunch." The Scottish girl stated with an encouraging smile.

Mistie readjusted her robes, halfheartedly trying to keep still as she stood in line for the infamous Sorting Ceremony. She was already fairly certain which house she'd be placed in. Of all of them Gryffindor would just make the most sense, or perhaps even Hufflepuff, though she doubted it. Even though she could do without the labels, besides her own name, the legendary house of Gryffindor was fiesty and fierce enough for someone like her, or at least she hoped so.

She was excited to be there either way. Transitioning from a muggle to a wizard schooling less daunting and more exhiliarting. Mistie couldn't wait to be have almosy free reign with her talents, now including her magic ones rather than just her physical and creative ones. The upcoming years, including this one, she'd be learning about potions, spells, magic creatures, and magic history, among many other things. Although she was wary about the 'endless' studying aspects, Mistie was grateful for the opportunities, because muggle subjects were just not that interesting.

"Meador, Mistie."

The first-year almost leapt forward in excitement as she made her way towards the hat. She smiled sheepishly at the nearby professor guiding her and sat down quickly. Not a second after the hat was placed on her head did it cry out, "GRYFFINDOR."

Mistie grinned and stood back up as the student clad in red tones let out an applause. It was just as she imagined. She could see some of her cousins waving at her and raced over, despite the protest for running from the closest professors and prefects. When she was seated Mistie ducked her small head so they couldn't see her and immediately struck up conversation with her cousins and her new housemates. This year seemed to be starting of decent so far. There wasn't much to complain about...except for the impending burden of studies.

Hopefully interacting with @Em Testerman

After short greetings with the girl before her, Toni attempted to continue the conversation, but to no avail. Accepting the girl was shy, and maybe not very talkative, Toni turned her sights elsewhere. Determined to gain at least one friend, the Scottish first year glanced around before setting her eyes on a curly haired boy a few students down from her.

Despite the continuation of the ceremony, both he and her seemed to be one of the only few not paying attention. Toni decided he was a good candidate for friendship after a brief inspection. He had dark eyes and pale skin, with a mop of curly hair that was either a very dark purple or black—the brunette couldn’t decide. Tapping his hand to gain his attention, she then raised it in greeting.

”I’m Toni, it’s nice tah meet ya”She informed whilst getting stares and shushes. Quieting herself, she put forth her hand for the boy to shake in greeting. Toni hoped this act of boldness would go over better than the last time...especially since her torso was half laid on the table so her short arms would be within reasonable distance of the boy.