Sorting Ceremony 2021-2022

Walking into the Great Hall was probably one of the most daunting experiences in her life, for young Juniper. At first she was able to keep her eyes fixated on the floating wax candles that seamlessly hovered above each lengthy table, causing little-to-no disruption to the older students that sat waiting during this several hour stretch. She'd heard about this at home, from her siblings; all four of whom were sat at the Hufflepuff table, giving waves of varied displays of excitement to the bespeckled blonde. Elijah, Timothy, Willow and Poppy. Despite the qualities of different Houses running through their blood, her father and siblings had all been Hufflepuffs and this stretched back through his side of the family for generations. Strong was the quality indeed. So it was only to be expected that she would be placed there too... right?

Soon enough seeing her siblings had set off the alarms that this really was happening. She was surrounded by many young witches and wizards just like her, some with a House in mind, others with their thoughts already firmly set on the future, and many astounded or overwhelmed at the sheer notion that they were even born with the ability to interact with such a world. Watching as the others had their names called out, her eyes moved toward the teachers to see if she recognised any of them from her siblings' descriptions...

"Juniper Evans?"

Already? Hearing her name called out for what was probably the second time, the nervous girl swallowed, pushed up her glasses and walked up to sit on that oddly uncomfortable stool. The hat was lowered onto her head, and as if it would hurt squeezed her eyes shut; they didn't re-open for a while, only pleasantly surprised that it felt just like wearing a normal hat. Or as normal as it could be, in any case.

"Interesting, interesting... the Evans family is a common name in my mouth by now. I've sat on many of your heads and usually the decision is rather clear cut for me. Yes..." There was a soft pause, and a chuckle. "You certainly have all the qualities of a Hufflepuff, but there's something else. I read a studious nature in you but you're not quite suited to the Ravenclaw either. Hmm..."

Juniper began to feel anxiety set in again. She thought about her dear departed mother - something the hat seemed to pick up on. What would she say or do in this situation?

"Ahh, yes, I remember her too. Perhaps you're too much like her; meek, and uncertain. But it cannot be overlooked... there it is, the courage within you. I've no doubt about this. With time I am certain you would blossom with the brave. We'll place you in..."

She held her breath for a split second that felt like an eternity.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

...Gryffindor? Truly? But that would mean... well, what did that mean? Whilst her siblings looked on, stunned, Juniper slid up and waved at them from the front before walking toward her House where an array of cheers beckoned her in. She smiled and waved too at what would be her new fellow classmates but her mind was everywhere. Was this really the right House for her? Well, the Sorting Hat said so, and Willow said the hat was never wrong... as did the Headmaster in his opening speech.

Still, it wasn't like she minded. Once more she was the odd sibling out. Only time would tell whether she'd feel happy here or not.

For perhaps the hundredth time that day, Colin was struck by a sudden, horrid feeling of sickness. That rotting pit of dread deep in his stomach threatened to encompass him as he stumbled along within the crowd of first years. He kept his eyes down, avoiding the gaze of anyone who may so much as glance at him. Hundreds of faces; indistinguishable, yet all so different, and no matter which way he looked there were more, none of whom he recognised. He lowered his head.

Don't Cry, Don't Cry, Don't Cry, Don't Cry, Don't Cry....

It only got worse as he entered the Great Hall. Hearing the heavy doors swing open he raised his head - and was greeted by the sight of so many more people. Countless eyes, and all were angled towards him. His breath caught in his throat. He felt a small nudge from a student behind him as he was forced to soldier on, his head naturally tilting to look towards the floor as he felt the gaze of those sitting at the tables bore into the sides of his head. The back of his neck prickled as the hairs slowly raised. To him, the Hall seemed unnaturally quiet. He stood in wait, focusing on the floor as time ticked on by.

"Sidhe, Colin?"

He didn't register that his name had been called for a moment - but he was already walking by the time he realised it was his turn. He lowered himself to the stool, drawing a slow breath as the hat was placed upon his head.

"You're awfully nervous, I see. You're not alone, of course - Many, many have worried about what house they'll be put into, but they find peace in the end. You're in safe hands."

"But that's not what worries you, is it? Ah, I see now. That need for comfort, for warmth. Perhaps not brave, but... dependant?... No, loyal. Rather clever, but... I don't believe they're right for you. No, I know where you belong."

"HUFFLEPUFF."

The house placement meant nothing to him, not yet at least. As the hat was removed, he quickly stepped down towards the Hufflepuff table, and his eyes fell upon the many, many students infront of him.

Oh god.
I have to find somewhere to sit.

Nerium fiddled with the frame of their glasses watching first years with last names A to B sat up on the stool an old pointed hat placed on their head as it shouted out house names of no deductible reasoning. The hat could speak, they had just seen it, so how was it determining the house? Mind reading?

The idea made Neri shiver- sure they’d gained basic knowledge of the magical world as a child but stuff like mind reading…it was an uncomfortable thought. Even just a ratty hat, it could easily access one’s thoughts and who knew it’s loyalties! Not to mention it was a requirement to don it to be a student.

Be logical. This is a school, even if it was reading your mind what ulterior motives could they have? You’re being paranoid again. The voice was right of course- the reasonable part of their consciousness. They would join a house, make a friend or two, keep their head down and make it though school.

Then they could get a job, find a comfortable house to live in, maybe have a family. They didn’t really want much more that livable circumstances and good company, was that too much to ask for? They were curious sure, but morals and happiness comes before knowledge. Devoting their life to research or something seemed like joining the rat race of the muggle world.

“ CLEMENT, NERIUM!” Gods, did they have to yell so loud? They were right there and somehow they’d managed to keep the students pretty quite throughout the sorting.

The hat was sat on their head, sliding over their forehead and resting on top of their glasses. It was itchy, Neri scrunched their nose hoping it’d be over soon. It seemed to be deliberating.

Hearing a house telepathically narrate their thought process on your very being was…interesting. And admittedly a bit demeaning. It had immediately dismissed the idea of Slytherin thank gods and followed that up with a swift rejection of Gryffindor. Neri huffed a bit at the idea of them lacking bravery but…well it wasn’t completely wrong.

Then things got a bit more difficult. Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff. Nerium had heard…less than nice things about Hufflepuff. That they were freeloaders, worthless, lacked any redeemable trait so were simply thrown into the catch all of kind and loyal. Because adults thought everyone their age was kind and loyal. Neri knew better: kids were vicious and backstabbing and sometimes plain cruel. Better be in a house full of kind idiots than cruel geniuses. Plus- who knew. Perhaps the underdogs would be a better place for Neri. A place to make a difference at their own pace, no pressure, no rush.

It seemed the hat had made the same decision. Or perhaps it had simply been waiting for Neri to- they didn’t know. But as the hat called out

“Hufflepuff!”

Neri found themselves feeling no disappointment. That was a good sign. Slinging their bag (because even without their luggage they weren’t going to set down their bag) over their shoulder Neri approached the clapping table finding a place among the students. They found themselves smiling as they watched the rest of the sorting. Hufflepuff- huh.

Taizu had stepped into the grand hall, taking in the many students and teachers as he could. This was going to be his home for the next seven years, so he did want to make a few friends, though he was certainly nervous about doing so. His eyes began to nervously flit about, when a loud voice began to speak, causing him to jump visibly. A few of the students at the tables began to chuckle faintly at his response, and Taizu began to nervously smile, unsure of what to do.

As Taizu listened to the tall man in front of him speak, he started to think of home, and his dear friend. Oh, how he wished his friend was with him now. Michael would be ready for this the entire time, smiling all the way, but Taizu? He was too scared to do anything but stand still and hope that he could go home. Sure, he wouldn't be able to learn magic, but at least he would be with his friend, right? But even as he thought this he knew that if Michael ever found out about this school, Michael would hate him for not being brave enough to stay there. And so, Taizu mentally shook himself and stared up at the man in front of him, who had brought out a hat.

Taizu's eyes widened in amazement as the hat seemingly tore open and began to sing. This was definitely unexpected. Why did the hat sing? And how did the hat sing? Taizu started listening to the words that the hat was singing and realized it was talking of the four houses and their traits. Taizu began immediately trying to figure out what house he would be sorted into. Almost immediately he dismissed Gryffindor, as he had never truly been brave, and almost as quickly eliminated Slytherin. He never had been sly or cunning before, and he certainly wasn't about to become so. Taizu began bouncing between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Certainly he was smart to get into Ravenclaw, right? Or if not then he would be a hard worker and make it into Hufflepuff? He eventually settled on going to Ravenclaw, believing that he was smart enough to get into the house.

The man up front had pulled out a long piece of paper and had begun to read the names off of it, hearing various names being sent to random houses. Taizu watched the others with growing apprehension walk up and put the hat on, followed by the hat bellowing out their house. He certainly was going to get a good house, right? As the group of first years began to dwindle, Taizu fully expected that the remainder of those in front of the headmaster would be sent back to their houses. Until he heard a booming voice call out, "Taizu Miyashiro!" With trembling knees, Taizu walked up to the stool with the hat, who reassuringly called out, "Well don't be afraid! I don't bite!" Taizu nervously smiled, before beginning to repeat the same phrase over and over to himself in Japanese, saying, "<Don't do anything stupid and they won't get rid of you.>"

Sitting down on the stool, the headmaster set the hat on top of Taizu's head, where he could hear the hat begin to muse to itself. "Hrm, hardworking, intelligent, and brave, but you are certainly the best fit for GRYFFINDOR!" Taizu's eyes widened with dismay as he heard the hat shout his house name out, fully expecting to have been placed in Ravenclaw. Stumbling over to the house tables, Taizu sat down, wondering how he of all people could be portrayed as brave.

Jarael just got off the Hogwarts Express. She hears someone yell “First Years…First Years over here.” She walked up to where all the first years were going and saw a large person in front of them. She wondered if he was part giant because he was so big. She found him intriguing as he explained to the first years that they would be going to the lake to get on the boats to ride to the castle. Some of the first years looked scared of the big guy who said his name was Hagrid. Jarael followed the large person to the lake and got into a boat.

There was a boy in her boat who was picking his nose. Jarael scooched as far away as she could from him. She gave him a disgusting look then turned to see the castle coming up around the corner. Her thoughts of the booger boy left her mind. She saw the castle in the distance with its grand view and the lights all made Jarael’s jaw drop. It was so amazing looking that it made her squeak in excitement. It was beautiful. Jarael couldn’t believe this is where she was going to be staying during the school year. She felt like she was the luckiest person in the world.



After the boat ride Jarael and the other first years were gathered on the steps and had to wait to enter the Great Hall. Once ready all the First years were rushed into the Great Hall. She saw four tables with students sitting at them as they were motioned to the front of the hall. There was a table that had all the staff of Hogwarts there. Jarael looked curiously at a stool that was in between. There was an old raggedy brown witch hat on the stool. She learned from a Professor that it was called the sorting hat and she listened as the Sorting Hat magically spoke and sang a tune all relating to the houses of Hogwarts. Jarael cracked a smile as she listened. She knew about the houses because she read Hogwarts a History. Also from wizarding families that her parents were friends with. She thought about what house might be best for her. She could see herself in Gryffindor because she was brave. Of course she could see herself in Slytherin because she was ambitious too. Hufflepuff seemed less like her although she felt she had some loyalty to her. Ravenclaw was about being a learned type person which described her the most. She hoped the Sorting Hat got it right.

After listening to several students' names get called and sorted into their houses, Jarael’s name finally was called. She walked up slowly. She wasn’t that nervous but enough to fidget her fingers as the hat was placed on her head after she sat down on the stool.

“Hmm ah yes there is bravery and intelligence with you. I see a little ambition as well. Let’s see …yes that’s it…..Let’s put you in ….RAVENCLAW!”

The hat shouted and a big grin came upon Jarael’s face as she got off the stool to head to her house table. She was so happy and now had a big appreciation for the hat. She wondered if it had conversations outside sorting. She would have to explore this later. For now everything about Hogwarts was amazing to her.

'Lawrence, Taylor!'
The name echoed through the hall; loud and clear. The girl to whom this name belonged to walked forward, her light hair contrasting greatly against the dark school robes, her normally pale face flushed. Her eyes, a brilliant blue, darted around the gigantic hall nervously.
Taylor had been waiting a long time for her turn with the sorting hat, which meant that she had had a lot of time to feel panicky and stress about everything that could go wrong. She might trip and fall flat on her face while walking up to the front of the hall; the hat could stay on her head for hours and then announce to thousands of students that there had been a mistake, that this girl was not supposed to be here. A million other scenarios ran through her head, each more daunting than the last.
She had been born into a magical family, and thus had known about Hogwarts as long as she could remember. Partly due to the constant bickering of her parents, she had been looking forward to Hogwarts as long as she could remember as well. But now, as she was actually here, aside from excitement and anticipation, she mostly felt terrified.
True, everything leading up to this point had been fine: the ride on the Hogwarts Express, on which she met a new friend; the trip across the lake (she didn't even get turned over by the giant squid!), and Hogwarts Castle was even more majestic than she had anticipated.
As these thoughts ran through her head, Taylor had already arrived at the front of the hall, where the headmaster-- an old man (although she would never say that to his face) in armor, which she found rather odd. He seemed nice enough, though.
Shaking slightly, Taylor set herself down into the old wooden stool, and she could barely comprehend the sea of faces in front of her, before everything went pitch black.
Ah, Taylor Lawrence, a tiny voice said in her head. I knew we would be meeting soon enough.
Taylor kept quiet.
Not going to say anything, huh? the voice sounded slightly annoyed. Fine, let's get to the sorting.
A pause. Well, I can see you in any of the houses, actually. You're loyal to your friends, hard-working.. Yes, Hufflepuff would do well for you.
But there's intelligence too, oh yes, very clever, are we? You would fit in fine in Ravenclaw, just fine...
Slytherin... Some of your family have been in Slytherin, haven't they? A great pure-blooded family, and you, are very ambitious. You yearn to be great, and Slytherin could help you on the path to greatness...
But what's this? Oh, bravery! A lot of bravery, indeed! You never back down from danger, so valiant...
In fact.. yes... I think we know your house now. It shall be....'Gryffindor!'
The hat yelled out the last word for the entire hall to hear.
Taylor took off the hat and handed it back to the headmaster. She headed toward the table toward the far side of the hall, which was cheering loudly. Taylor cracked a smile. That went all right....

My parents had told me how the sorting would go, The headmaster says how it works, Then they headmaster calls names of the first year students, When your name is called you go up and sit on the stool, then the hat is placed on your head, After a minute or too it tells you your house. I kept repeating this waiting for my name to be called. Wondering what house I was going to get, I was thinking Hufflepuff or gryffindor like my parents. My uncle has told me that I was smart enough to get ravenclaw. Like him. I was looking at the four tables in the middle of the great hall. It was easy to tell what table belonged to what house, Based on the color of there robes. The Gryffindor's wore red, The Ravenclaw's wore blue, The hufflepuffs wore yellow, And the slytherin's wore green. My parents always told me that all the houses had their own personality traits, And based on what one you had that's the house you would get in. The headmaster called a name that I recognized "Ren, Silas!" I rode the hogwarts express with him. He was nice, My first friend. Waiting for the hat to sort him, Once the hat decided "Hufflepuff!" I was happy for him. I clapped as he made his way to the sea of yellow. A few more people where called before I heard "Root, Quinn!" I walked up to the stool and sat. I was not worried about what house I was going to get. I was pretty sure I was going to get Gryffindor. I was worried because it felt like all eyes were on me. The hat was placed on my head. And it was odd, Like it was reading my mind. It took so long to decide what house I was going to be placed in. The hat spooke "SLYTHERIN!!" The table with all of the green robes clapped. I Was stunned for a moment. I did get up and waled to to the table, And expected my fate.

[quote][quote]Among the bright-eyed first-year students ready for the Sorting Ceremony was one Edmund Dempsie, dressed in the long black robes, messy hair falling over his wide eyes. He stood out for his height and for his easily recognizable face, like his father's, but he pretended not to notice to occasional glances thrown his way. Right now, he looked a bit pale, stomach turning with each second, growing anxiety taking over him for the first time ever.

He stared at the candles flying on top of their heads, too far away for the boy to try and grab one, in an attempt to calm himself down. He had known growing up he'd end up at Hogwarts (though there was a time his mother tried to convince his father to let him attend Castelobruxo instead, given their impeccable record for Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures lessons). There was never pressure about which House he should get sorted into. Theodore, his father, was a Slytherin. Eliza, his mother, was a Ravenclaw. Uncle Barry was a Gryffindor and Granny was a Hufflepuff. It didn't matter.

Right now? It mattered a lot to him, for some reason. I guess, he always wanted to follow in his mother's footsteps: be great and brilliant like her, but not a totally blinding star like his father. His palms were sweaty and when the Sorting Hat was put on top of his head, Edmund felt dizzy. For once, he didn't know how to talk or persuade the talking Hat to put him in Ravenclaw, or whatever.

Eddie tried not to care.

I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. He kept telling himself, over and over and over and over again.

The Sorting Hat hummed as a response. "It's alright, Dempsie. I already know what to do with you. You have the wits and charms of your father, that same drive for attention. Like your mother, you're resourceful and creative... but not as scared to chase the opportunities that appear in front of you. Yes... I know exactly where to put you,"

Edmund closed his eyes and heard his own heart skip a beat.

"Let it be... Gryffindor!"

The Hat's voice echoed through the Great Hall and with trembling legs, Edmund ran to the long table that cheered for him.