25 Apr 2021, 11:01
Sorting Ceremony
September 1st 2021
The summer holidays had disappeared as quickly as they had arrived, and the stone-cold Great Hall wasn't as inviting as Ana had expected it to be. Her eyes lay unfocused on the head of another new student stood in front of her. Everyone was bubbling with excitement, she could feel it in the air. She should be excited too, but if anything, this was her worst nightmare. A sea of strangers, hundreds of eyes on her even if only for a moment. She had no experience with any of this; magic was a foreign concept to her. As the Headmaster rambled on, Ana found herself lost in her endless thoughts.
She missed her family. Everything about their house she craved so strongly. She thought of them; Charles, with his intelligence, his weird way of showing he cared, the invitations she approached him with to eat dinner with her that he had always ignored; and Francesca, with her ability to talk about make-up and boys for hours, her wit, her honesty, how wholly enough she was. Lastly, Ana thought of Delta, her cold hugs and tough love, her laugh, her drinking problem, her strength and courageousness.
Remembering about her family allowed her enough time to reflect on what a lonely creature she had become. Her fingertip flicked back and forth incessantly at a loose piece of thread in her robes. She pondered about whether people would notice her fidgeting and make a comment, or whether they would notice her and wonder who she was. Not that she was anything to be regarded – sure, she was tall, but she was unsuspecting. The way the robes hung from her bony frame would be unflattering on anyone, and her blonde hair relaxed flat to her face beneath the pointy black hat. She was common with a gentle beauty, and that is how she desired it.
The sudden silence from the Sorting Hat almost made her distracted by the fact that the Headmaster was now calling her name. With a new focus, Ana listened for any change in the environment around her and began to haul herself down the neverending corridor to sit beneath the weathered Sorting Hat. Startled by the unexpected voice of the hat in her head, it occurred to Ana that she had missed the explanation of each house in her daydreaming.
Ana calculated the time she spent on the stool; the Hat took what seemed like an eternity to place her, it seemed almost perplexed. Ana wasn't an enigma by any stretch, she just so hopelessly needed to fit in, so why was the process so prolonged? The naive girl glanced upwards to the hat, but before she could even react, it was over. The hat seemed to pause as if assessing that it had made the correct decision before it finally spoke aloud to the students gathered.
"RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table erupted in delight for their new student but the sound was drowned out by the thumping of Ana's heartbeat in her ears. She made her way down to the Ravenclaw table, perching herself on the edge of the bench, hands overlapped on her lap. She did not utter a word, nor did her expression change save for the polished smile here and there to her fellow peers. If this was to be her home for the next seven years, Merlin help her.
“Sometimes being offered tenderness feels like the very proof that you've been ruined.”
― Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
stamina 5 x • x evasion 6 x • xstrength 2 x • x wisdom 9 x • x• arcane 8 x • x accuracy 5
― Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
stamina 5 x • x evasion 6 x • xstrength 2 x • x wisdom 9 x • x• arcane 8 x • x accuracy 5
6 May 2021, 21:03
Sorting Ceremony
────────────────────────────────────────────────AT THE SIGHT OF THE Hogwarts castle, all air was kicked out of her lungs.
Wow... There was no better-fitting word for this moment. Grandeur, unlike anything she's seen before: it was shaped into the dark blue hues of the sky, its many towards casting shadows in the water of the Black Lake as the small boats arrived slowly.
Amongst the first-year students, stood Cedrella Blythe, who watched the castle, enchanted, (with the most expressive look to her face: lips parted, eyes widened, face pale, hair brushing her face with the cold wind and fog running alongside the boats), as she got closer, closer, closer...
The inside of the castle doesn't disappoint: the moving portraits wave and whisper, nice and welcoming, smiley; most of them, at least. Others make faces and nasty comments on the appearances of smaller, weaker-looking students that had Cedrella closing off again, ready to mask herself in the sea of students.
The girl trails behind taller boys, eyes to the floor, as her heartbeat starts to pick up its pace. Her stomach grows cold with each step and Cedrella grabs the end of her cloak, wishing the crowd would dissipate and for the silence to return. All of those same challenging feelings she faced at the sight of the Express have come back, and there's no escaping now.
Someone's arm brushes against hers. It burns a little.
Cedrella's mind goes blank for a brief second.
This brief second turns out to be much longer than she had intended. She should have seen the discomfort coming the moment she dared to follow along with the other first-years inside the Great Hall. The more time away from familiarity and the sense of control and security, the worse things got on her end.
Suffocating herself with her emotions, Cedrella tunes out whatever it is the Headmaster says: quick to imagine the welcoming words running inside the Great Hall, thanks to the man's booming voice. At some point, her eyes flutter closed, hands tightening on the hem of her cloak, breathing heavily...
Then, it's her turn. And there's nothing she can do. Cedrella's feet drag on the floor, slowly making her way towards the Sorting Hat. Most of it goes like a blur: whatever the sentient hat's voice sounds like, whatever it is that he might have said, Cedrella doesn't register it.
Anything.
No matter how hard the girl tries to focus, and blink out the spots that appear every time she forces herself to bring her eyes up and stare; stare at the rest of the Great Hall; stare at all of the students that don't seem to care about her; stare, stare, stare...
Cedrella cannot process it.
The blur continues, slow motion: faded colors, sounds, and motions all meshed together... The girl's leg twitches. Cedrella runs her tongue over her bottom lip, blinking tears away before they can run down her cheeks. The only thing she catches is one simple word.
RAVENCLAW
And just like that, it's over.────────────────────────────────────────────────
word count: 500 words
Cedrella Blythe
9 May 2021, 18:40
Sorting Ceremony
Emilia slowly shuffled her feet in place as she was trying to take in everything that was around her. The whole day she had had a feeling that all of this was just a grand dream and soon she would wake up, back in her bedroom in Tredegar. She had known that she would be coming to Hogwarts for some years now, since some of her sneezes turned into purple sparkles, but for Emilia this had been always kinda hard to believe. She had grown most of her life as a muggle, her mother having made a decision to hide her magic till she knew if her kids would have any magical abilities and even though Emilia had seen her mom do some spells since then, it all still felt kinda unbelievable.
Still, she was here now, in Hogwarts, in the middle of other 1st years who all had mix of emotions portrayed in their faces. Emilia looked as the other students were sorted into their respective houses, each table celebrating loudly every time they got a new student. Emilia wiped her sweaty hands in her robes that had already crumbled a little from the journey here and hoped once again that she would wake up back home. Her thoughts were interrupted though when she heard the older man in the front calling her name. It took her a moment to realize that it was her turn to sit under the hat and be sorted into a house and she hoped no one would notice her burning cheeks from embarrassment as she walked forward and sit on the small chair in front of everyone.
Emilia was almost glad to feel the hat sliding over her eyes, hiding the room and the people in it from her view for few seconds. The thing she wasn’t prepared for was the voice in her ears suddenly talking about her almost as if she wasn’t even there. Before she could muster the courage to say or think anything Emilia heard a booming voice announcing RAVENCLAW and as the hat was lifted off of her head she saw one of the tables welcoming her in their midst loudly.
11 May 2021, 08:05
Sorting Ceremony
Marcel stared at the long line ahead of him, a small frown on his face. The speech that the Headmaster made combined with the song of the Sorting Hat was both interesting and slightly overwhelming. However, at least he didn't have to go first. Names were alphabetical, after all. 'Wheatley' was a far ways away. While he waited, he mulled over the Hat's song. Brave Gryffindor, Wise Ravenclaw, Loyal Hufflepuff, and Cunning Slytherin. Of all those, he'd prefer Ravenclaw or Slytherin. He knew he was smart. He was proud of that fact, actually.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by his name being called.
"Wheatley, Marcel!"
Nervously, he walked to the front, gently tugging on the collar of his work robes (he had changed into them on the train to be more formal), staring up nervously at the headmaster before sitting on the stool, folding his hands in his lap.
The Hat covered his eyes, causing him to flinch. The hat seemed to notice this, for it let out a low hum.
Another Wheatley, eh? Much different from the older one...
Marcel shivered, glancing up into the darkness. Don't insult my brother.
Not insulting. No, not insulting at all... Now, let's take a look at you... nervous, but loyal... Ah, you're a rather bright one! I know just where to put you.
Just as Marcel was about to question what that meant, the Hat boomed to the rest of the Great Hall.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Nervously, Marcel stood up, placed the Hat on the stool and scurried to the Ravenclaw table, which had erupted in claps.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by his name being called.
"Wheatley, Marcel!"
Nervously, he walked to the front, gently tugging on the collar of his work robes (he had changed into them on the train to be more formal), staring up nervously at the headmaster before sitting on the stool, folding his hands in his lap.
The Hat covered his eyes, causing him to flinch. The hat seemed to notice this, for it let out a low hum.
Another Wheatley, eh? Much different from the older one...
Marcel shivered, glancing up into the darkness. Don't insult my brother.
Not insulting. No, not insulting at all... Now, let's take a look at you... nervous, but loyal... Ah, you're a rather bright one! I know just where to put you.
Just as Marcel was about to question what that meant, the Hat boomed to the rest of the Great Hall.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Nervously, Marcel stood up, placed the Hat on the stool and scurried to the Ravenclaw table, which had erupted in claps.
11 May 2021, 17:36
Sorting Ceremony
Iris stood on her tip toes, staring at the headmaster in awe. In a way he reminded her of her father, though it may have just been the height that they shared. Still a part of her yearned for the boat ride, from which she may have almost tipped herself as she tried to get a glimpse of the fabled giant squid. At this point, however, she didn't know what to expect, which house she may be sorted into. It was very foreign to her, though she supposed her mother would have known where she would go. Iris pulled on her robes as she lamented in being one of the very last, thought she would never want to change her father's last name. Zarus was such a long ways away and what was left to do besides stand around and get lost in her thoughts. Perhaps she could try to guess what house she would be in, her father had told her very little about this school though. Iris looked back at the doors to the Great Hall and she wondered if it wasn't too late to leave. Her father had gone to Durmstrung in his youth and a part of her wondered if she should have gone there. She shook her head, no this was the only way she could learn more of her late mother, whom she had few memories remaining of. She knew her mother was a Ravenclaw, her old school robes still hung in the closet back home, yet that didn't give her any idea of the house she would belong to.
Iris was yanked from her musings as she finally heard her name, noticing that she was one of the very few left. She quickly made her way to the front, though it was not from excitement to be sorted. In that time she had decided that where she would be sorted would have no impact on her goals. She sat on the stool and closed her green eyes, a smile drifting to her lips at the thought that her mother sat in this place many years before.
She felt the hat be placed atop her head, falling further down as it came to a resting position. There was silence around her, almost as if the fabric of the hat helped to transport her far away from the center of attention.
Well if it isn't the daughter of Anita, finally come to join the history of Hogwarts. Where shall I put you, my dear? She felt the hat move her head as it seemed to be thinking of where to put the small girl. You're smart, yet not too smart. Your goal is of noble cause and I can see just where you belong now.
Iris felt a spark of anticipation, unexpected and strong as she almost asked if she would be following her mother. Yet she never got to think of the question as the sorting hat boomed out her house. "GRYFFINDOR!"
Iris sat there for a minute longer after the hat had been removed, utterly confused. Brave? Her? She still hid behind her father in new situations. In any case though the hat had to be right and she walked over to the designated table. She didn't seem to hear the roar of approval though, as she looked back at the headmaster. Her journey was just beginning and there will be more to worry about than just a house.
Iris was yanked from her musings as she finally heard her name, noticing that she was one of the very few left. She quickly made her way to the front, though it was not from excitement to be sorted. In that time she had decided that where she would be sorted would have no impact on her goals. She sat on the stool and closed her green eyes, a smile drifting to her lips at the thought that her mother sat in this place many years before.
She felt the hat be placed atop her head, falling further down as it came to a resting position. There was silence around her, almost as if the fabric of the hat helped to transport her far away from the center of attention.
Well if it isn't the daughter of Anita, finally come to join the history of Hogwarts. Where shall I put you, my dear? She felt the hat move her head as it seemed to be thinking of where to put the small girl. You're smart, yet not too smart. Your goal is of noble cause and I can see just where you belong now.
Iris felt a spark of anticipation, unexpected and strong as she almost asked if she would be following her mother. Yet she never got to think of the question as the sorting hat boomed out her house. "GRYFFINDOR!"
Iris sat there for a minute longer after the hat had been removed, utterly confused. Brave? Her? She still hid behind her father in new situations. In any case though the hat had to be right and she walked over to the designated table. She didn't seem to hear the roar of approval though, as she looked back at the headmaster. Her journey was just beginning and there will be more to worry about than just a house.
Potions are like people, they have different stages and develop differently. You just don't know when they are at their finished product.
13 May 2021, 21:25
Sorting Ceremony
Jennie walked in, more towards the front than others. She looked around with wide eyes and a whirling mind, her eyes capturing more details than she could've ever imagined. Hogwarts is so... different than I imagined! So much to see, Jennie thought to herself. She probably could've studied the Great Hall for hours and hours, just observing.
Jennie wondered what house she would be put in. All of my biological family has been in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin, Jennie mused. I don't know what I really want. She tapped her foot idly, observing her surroundings once more.
“Cardenas!”
The name drew her out of her thoughts, startling her slightly. She walked up, her head bowed slightly as she drew closer to the hat that would decide her house. She felt the old, worn fabric being placed upon her head as she closed her bright, brilliant blue eyes.
My my my, another Cardenas has joined us. Not biological, but part of the family enough. Hmmm, where should I put you? Jennie felt herself tense up in anticipation. I see that you enjoy Potions, correct? Jennie nodded her head, almost imperceptible. And you dislike it when people lack creativity… I think I know where to put you now…
GRYFFINDOR!
Jennie felt her mouth drop open. She wasn’t brave at all. Alas, her house was final. She walked over to her designated table and kept her eyes lowered, lest she track any unwanted attention.
Jennie wondered what house she would be put in. All of my biological family has been in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin, Jennie mused. I don't know what I really want. She tapped her foot idly, observing her surroundings once more.
“Cardenas!”
The name drew her out of her thoughts, startling her slightly. She walked up, her head bowed slightly as she drew closer to the hat that would decide her house. She felt the old, worn fabric being placed upon her head as she closed her bright, brilliant blue eyes.
My my my, another Cardenas has joined us. Not biological, but part of the family enough. Hmmm, where should I put you? Jennie felt herself tense up in anticipation. I see that you enjoy Potions, correct? Jennie nodded her head, almost imperceptible. And you dislike it when people lack creativity… I think I know where to put you now…
GRYFFINDOR!
Jennie felt her mouth drop open. She wasn’t brave at all. Alas, her house was final. She walked over to her designated table and kept her eyes lowered, lest she track any unwanted attention.
eep
jennie
15 May 2021, 07:50
Sorting Ceremony
Vivian was now entering Hogwarts, the school of wizarding. She was so excited and was scared at the same time. Seeing the portraits talking with each other and with some students, her jaws dropped. She had a look that says ‘how is that possible’ and suddenly realised everything is possible here. The hall was so loud and noisy. She couldn’t hear anything and was singing to herself which mostly would have sounded like crying. It was so crowded and a boy in front of her stomped her leg which made her shout ‘’aaaghhh...”. She had a look which says ‘not even saying a sorry’. But it was ok as it was not new to her. She was then looking at the delicious dishes and could sense the smell.
She then stopped as she heard the headmaster started giving his speech and listened to him. She saw the sorting hat in a person’s hand which she assumed to be a professor. She saw students sitting on the chair and being placed the sorting hat in their head. And it would suddenly shout the house they belong to after sometimes. Though she found it quite boring to see the students getting sorted, she did not stop looking at that.
Suddenly they called her name... “ Fletcher, Vivian”. She felt so anxious and she thought ‘I didn’t expect this now, calm yourself, Vivian’. She walked up to get sorted. She was holding her ropes tightly and sat there. The sorting hat is now placed in her head. She was not able to see anything. “I can see loyalty,” the hat said. She thought whether others would be able to hear the hat but she realised it was talking in her mind.
“I can see you are friendly,” the hat said. She replied “ but I never had any friends. “I know where to put you. You belong to” “HUFFLEPUFF”
Hufflepuff...She thought to herself with a smile. She stood up from the chair and went to sit it at the Hufflepuff table.
She then stopped as she heard the headmaster started giving his speech and listened to him. She saw the sorting hat in a person’s hand which she assumed to be a professor. She saw students sitting on the chair and being placed the sorting hat in their head. And it would suddenly shout the house they belong to after sometimes. Though she found it quite boring to see the students getting sorted, she did not stop looking at that.
Suddenly they called her name... “ Fletcher, Vivian”. She felt so anxious and she thought ‘I didn’t expect this now, calm yourself, Vivian’. She walked up to get sorted. She was holding her ropes tightly and sat there. The sorting hat is now placed in her head. She was not able to see anything. “I can see loyalty,” the hat said. She thought whether others would be able to hear the hat but she realised it was talking in her mind.
“I can see you are friendly,” the hat said. She replied “ but I never had any friends. “I know where to put you. You belong to” “HUFFLEPUFF”
Hufflepuff...She thought to herself with a smile. She stood up from the chair and went to sit it at the Hufflepuff table.
Sta 8|Eva 5|Str 8|Wis 6|Arc 5|Acc 8
LOVELY CREATURE| OBNOXIOUSLY STRONG
24 May 2021, 06:03
Sorting Ceremony
Lilith stood in a line waiting for for her turn to be sorted. After awhile she heard her name "Mason Lilith". She was very nervous and chanted in her head I hope I'm in Slytherin, she made her way to the sorting hat.
Lilith put the hat on and then heard a voice in her mind that belonged to the hat. " I was wandering when I was going to sort you, so very much like your parents you are but different as well". There was a pause and then the hat continued "I see you love to learn, and your a hard worker you are also brave". Lilith chanted in her mind Slytherin please, I don't want to be disowned, the hat then said "I see what you mean I also see you are close to them and that you are afraid to disappoint them as well. You could be in any house but are more Slytherin then any other hose better be SLYTHERIN".
Lilith let out a breath she had no idea that she was holding, she then walked to the Slytherin table and watched the rest of the sorting. Lilith was happy, she cheered for the future Slytherins.
Lilith put the hat on and then heard a voice in her mind that belonged to the hat. " I was wandering when I was going to sort you, so very much like your parents you are but different as well". There was a pause and then the hat continued "I see you love to learn, and your a hard worker you are also brave". Lilith chanted in her mind Slytherin please, I don't want to be disowned, the hat then said "I see what you mean I also see you are close to them and that you are afraid to disappoint them as well. You could be in any house but are more Slytherin then any other hose better be SLYTHERIN".
Lilith let out a breath she had no idea that she was holding, she then walked to the Slytherin table and watched the rest of the sorting. Lilith was happy, she cheered for the future Slytherins.
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
Aristotle
26 May 2021, 00:30
Sorting Ceremony
September 1st, 2020
After the experience of a bumpy train ride had left her feeling sick to her stomach, Winnie Harper was more than glad to be finally standing inside the school she had long dreamed of attending. The grand hall had definitely earned it's name; with the flickering candles bobbing overhead as they filtered in. She felt a bit like she was an animal, being watched so intently by the other students.
As Winnie stood with her fellow first years in wait to be sorted, she pushed herself onto her toes to peer over the heads of her taller classmates. She had read about enchanted items before, but seeing one was entirely different thing. The hat seemed to be sentient and obviously very knowledgeable. She blinked in astonishment as the hat began to sing, a smile curving onto his lips. After it had finished, she clapped excitedly and watched as her future classmates' names begin to be called.
It took a while for the hat to arrive at the 'H's, but when the booming voice called her name she was almost stunned. She paused, glancing around the great hall before carefully stepping forward and taking a seat on the wooden stool. The last thing she saw before her eyes were covered by the hat was the faces of her unsorted classmates staring at her.
Ah, yes, Harper... I remember your father. Said a voice inside of her head. Quite the trouble maker back then, a Gryffindor if I remember correctly... Hmm... I see that you are very curious about the new world around you... You're also wondering how I've been enchanted, yes... Very amusing...
"Quite so," Responded Winnie, "Maybe you can tell me while I have you on top of my head?" She questioned.
There's no need, I already know where to place you, Winnie Harper. The hat responded, and then, with a booming voice, called out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Winnie was about to complain that the hat had dodged her question before it was pulled off the top of her head and she was led over to the Ravenclaw table, where she greeted her house with a smile and a small wave. Maybe one of them would know.
│ │ | │ │ | STA: 15 • EVA: 18 • STR: 8 WIS: 11 • ARC: 7 • ACC: 17 | │ │ | • Healing Sage • Muggle Condition • Paragon of Health • • Poison Resistance • Animagus • Wandmaker • | │ │ | │ │ |
14 Jun 2021, 22:47
Sorting Ceremony
September 1st
Sorting Ceremony
"GOLD, JACKSON."
From where the tall, lanky eleven-year-old stood, he could see a few of the Gryffindors' eyes light up with recognition. His older sister had been one of their star students, of course, they would recognize the name. Jackson sighed, apologizing quietly as he shoved past a few people to get to the front of the line. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he stepped in front of the stool, staring at the sorting hat for a moment before sitting down.
He stared directly down the hall and towards the grand doors of the room, doing his best to not make any eye contact with a single student. The weight of the hat on his head helped ground him in the moment.
"Hello."
Jackson could feel the hat shift a bit when he addressed it.
"a Gold, I see... your sister, yes, Rosalind.. barely had to put me on her head and i could tell she was a Gryffindor..."
"Yes, I've heard the story. She tells it to everyone."
"You do not seem too happy by the mention of your sister.. tension, jealousy, perhaps?"
"My relationship with my sister is none of your concern, esteemed sorting hat, I would like to know whether or not the Gryffindor legacy for the Gold's lives on or not."
"I do not see the rush, young Gold... but say, what if you were not placed in Gryffindor. Say you were placed in... Slytherin."
"It would just be another disappointment to add to the pile."
"I see.... well then, I have wasted enough of your time, let us begin."
"Finally."
The hat hummed and hawed for a few moments, dragging out the ever-growing amount of time Jackson was forced to sit on that stool, displayed in front of the entire school like he was some odd zoo animal. It felt humiliating. But finally, the hat spoke up again, once again inside of his head.
"I see...you are a very calculating fellow, always thinking of escape plans and ways to charm, talk, or brute force your way out of trouble."
Jackson rolled his eyes.
"...but that's not all, young Gold, I see the yearning for knowledge, for information on things you were never taught, for ideas others would never dream of. I can also see the yearning for acceptance of the people around you, through glory, knowledge, or fame."
"You are a hard pupil to place, Jackson, very hard indeed.... but your yearn for knowledge, one that outweighs all the others, could only mean one thing."
Jackson's eyes widened as he realized immediately what the hat meant, mumbling a soft; "no, oh no-" before the hat straightened up, bellowing out one, terrifying word.
"RAVENCLAW."
Word Count: 451
Dhampir, Cold, and oh-so quiet
Stamina: 3 | Evasion: 5 | Strength: 6 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 4
Stamina: 3 | Evasion: 5 | Strength: 6 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 4