Sorting Ceremony 2021-2022

"Don`t be scared, you are not the only muggle-burn here, it will be fine," Rita said to herself as she waited in the line to get sorted, wearing a work robe and trying to hold her breath.
The great hall was spacious and bright with the warm yellow light, with loads of students sitting around the table of their houses, savouring food and applauding when each first-year student was sorted. The serious-looking professor was wearing a long robe and holding a long list of first-year students. The first-year eleven-year-olds were anxiously looking around while waiting in line and could not wait to be sorted. Rita was also waiting and thinking "I think I must be sorted to Hufflepuff, as I am such a nice person and always reach out for my friends."
Finally, the professor called, "Rita Su". Rita walked to the seat while trying to keep calm and put the sorting hat on. As she expected, once the sorting hat touched her hair, it shouted, "Hufflepuff". All the Hufflepuff students gave her a big hand, and still feeling a bit nervous, Rita straightly walked to the Hufflepuff table, sat down, and began to eat. After all, having traveled so far to the Hogwarts campus without eating much, she was just feeling hungry, and eventually, it was time to sit down and devour the food.

─────Monica could hardly believe the magnificence of the castle, it was bigger than she could have ever imagined, with portraits that spoke to you, ghost that flew about, every corner was a marvel to behold! She stifled her excitement, didn't want to appear incompetent on her first day, and proceeded to follow the crowd into the great hall.
The room itself was astonishing! 4 gargantuan tables made up most of the space, the walls were covered with more portraits that were waving and greeting students as they passed by. Glancing up, she saw a sea of floating candles that illuminated the room. She was for sure not back home anymore.
The room quickly filled with noise, conversations at every corner of the room, echoing and building into a symphony of overwhelming atmosphere. How could anyone keep up a conversation in all this noise? And yet it seemed that nearly everyone was chatting, or shouting spirts of excitement. Who could blame anyone though, this was an exciting day, it was the sorting ceremony! The time for the first years to be sorted into their house for the remainder of their time at Hogwarts.
Monica had received a brief explanation of what the houses were, though she couldn't quite remember which house represented what, so for the most part she didn't really have expectations for where she was too be placed.
She managed to find a seat among the other first years, and with in no time, the main doors shut, and the room grew into a hush. The headmaster started making his way through the row of tables, to the front of the room.
"Odd that everyone hushed for this part," thought Monica, "Couldn't he just have made his way to the front and then had the crowed silenced?" But no, it was a long drawn out waiting, as he methodically made his way through the space. He began to speak, and to Monica's surprise, his voice echoed through the room... "Must be some sort of magic."
He welcomed the first year students, introducing himself as Solomon Lear, the Headmaster. Continuing to explain the history of the sorting ceremony, -"This hat is very much sentient"
"Sentient, I am Intelligent"
Monica couldn't help but gasp, where did that voice come from? Glancing at all the various professors, she saw one holding a pointed hat, and it started to move on it's own accord!
"Amazing! Mother and father would never believe this!"
Solomon continued on, introducing the head of houses, how the hat will choose your house, and what the houses all represent. Monica couldn't help but allow her mind to drift a little, not that she was bored, just overwhelmed by everything at the moment, she needed to retreat into her own head. Her attention snapped back into focus upon the signing of the Hat. It was a beautiful song, and it was amazing to watch this hat moving about on it's stool, signing it's little--- "would it have a heart?" Monica thought, well in any case it came from whatever depths of its being. When the song had concluded most of the room stood in an applause, Monica remained sitting however, but still clapped along with the crowd.
It was finally time, the list of names had come out, and Solomon began to call up students one by one, each sitting at the stool and having the hat placed on their head. One by one, students were placed into their houses.
What house would Monica be placed it? realizing she had zoned for the explanations of each house, she felt embarrassed, well her fate wasn't up to her, but the hat's.
"Monica Evans"
That was her name! It was her time? She stood up, and made her way to the front of the room. Taking her place on the stool, as the hat was placed on her head... It was odd, she felt like she should be nervous, but she wasn't, she was calm. Tranquil even. The had took a moment, muttering to itself about what it saw in Monica. "Ah yes a very clever girl. oh and a lot of determination..."
"SLYTHERIN!"
A group of students over in the Slytherin section stood and cheered, what a thrill, she was placed! This was her house she would represent!
She made her way off the stage, and towards her house mats. High fives were given and pats on the back. She took a seat, gleaming. It felt good to be welcomed, to feel like you belong somewhere, she became instantly very proud to be a Slytherin, and filled with brand new sense of optimism for the next 7 years at Hogwarts.

Mel couldn't believe her eyes at the sight of the Great Hall. Hundreds of candles were floating above their heads, all the way to the top of the tall ceiling. In the back of the hall was a long table, and in front of it stood a stool and an odd looking hat. Four more long tables were set in the center of the room, each belonging to a different House: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Oh how desperately Melanie wished to be in Slytherin like her father! She looked up to him greatly and wanted nothing more than to be just like him. Aside from wanting to be in the same House as him, she wanted to join the same career as him: Astrologist. She loved to study the stars and their meanings and impacts on their lives.

Mel was in her own world thinking of what House she wanted to be in when she heard her name called. "Melanie Hemlock!" Mel jumped in surprise, suddenly going from excited to nervous. She gulped and took a step up to the stool and sat down, fidgeting with her clamy hands.
"Ah, what do we have here? Another Hemlock eh?" said the hat. "A clever mind like her father, but a gentle heart like her mother. Oh where to put you? I know.... HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Hufflepuff table cheered as Mel stood from her chair. Hufflepuff?? How could she be in Hufflepuff?? Sure she was a lot like her mother, who was also a Hufflepuff, but . . . Oh, why not? Hufflepuff couldn't be terrible. At least it wasn't Gryffindor.

I stood in the line, scared to death. A girl called Vale Ashwood got called and was sorted in Slytherin.

Then: "Brown, Lily" I walked up and put the hat on. "Hmm. I nice thirst to prove yourself. Willing to protect your friends if their in danger. I see... I believe I shall put you in GRYFFINDOR!"

I sighed with relief and got up to walk to the table with red colors. I looked up at the man reading the names. He had a white beard and looked very old to me, but I was never good at guessing ages. I was sitting next to a new girl also. I looked at the boy that was just called. Graham Caddel. As I watched everyone being sorted I realized I was very hungry. The last thing I ate was some chocolate frogs.

When everyone was done being sorted the man said a few words and then food magically appeared. I loaded my plate up and started to eat, excited to try everything. When I finished, I saw dessert appear. "They definitely make a lot of food here," I murmured as I put more on my plate. I started to feel tired. I had a long journey.

September 1st 2021 would mark the arrival of a fresh generation of wizards. The Sorting Ceremony is a tradition that has remained unchanged for generations. This ceremony was not for the old but rather for the new. This newest generation of fresh-faced, wide-eyed children who were about to embark on a novel journey. Those with a magical family: such as Qrow, might know what this gathering was all about. At this sorting ceremony, each new student with the help of the sorting hat would be placed in one of four Houses -- Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.

The room itself was grand. Four long dining tables stretched the length of the room with benches on either side. As it always was on the first day -- it was standing room only. A feast was laid out family-style down the centre of each of the four tables, the children would be able to gorge themselves on every sort of food one could think of in the shared space. Goblets full of cheery, fruity drinks and large, full plates of hearty dishes sat in front of each student. The walls were lined with massive living portraits that chatted among themselves and with some of the more curious students. Overhead lit candles hovered, illuminating the great space and the high vaulted ceiling above. It was loud, the roar of conversation, as well as the excitement and anticipation of many of the students as they waited and they, wondered where they were going to be sorted. Many had a preference, one that the hat often, but not always, honoured. Personally, Qrow didn't care where they ended up, as long as the hat didn't take too long to decide and leave Qrow to sit in front of a crowd of older students. Their brother, Shouta was sitting amongst the other students somewhere.

Once the students were all inside, the doors close behind the last student as if on their own. Solomon Lear quietly made his way to the front of the room and started to speak. What he said, Qrow isn't quite sure as they allowed his voice to morph into buzzing background noise. What they were really focussing on was the sorting hat that seemed to riggle in some professor's hand.

"Sentient, I am intelligent"

A voice chimed in from... It did not come from the Headmaster nor did it come from any of the other Professors that elected to participate in this year's sorting ceremony. None of the Professors seemed even remotely surprised although one rolled their eyes a bit. In the hands of one of the Professors, a pointed witch's hat that was tattered and worn moved about on its own accord. Yes, the voice came from the hat itself.

Well, that's terrifying. Qrow definitely wasn't told about that.
Offended by the lack of information, the child started scanning the lines of tables for any sign of their brother. Which house was he in again?

As the headmaster's speech came to an end, names were called and one by one, each first year stepped up and had the hat placed on their head until suddenly...

"Qrow McCloud"

Snapping out of their thoughts and looking at the front of the room, Qrow noticed it was their turn. Slowly they started to move, step after step until they were seated at the front of the room and taking a seat on the stool. From here they could see Shouta, sitting with a grin with his friends.

Before Qrow could take note of his house, the hat was placed on their head, sinking down over their eyes and blocking their view.

"Clever,
Ambitious,
Brave and
Loyal"

It felt like an eternity. A minute passed, then two, then three, four and finally five. A hat-stall. Qrow had heard of this happening, but they had never expected it to happen to them...

Murmuring could be heard throughout the great hall, then suddenly, without warning the hat screamed...

"SLYTHERIN!"

And as the hat was removed from Qrows head, the Slytherin table cheering at the prospect of a new student, Qrow saw their brother sitting among a group of Slytherin students with his fists in the air.

Qrow was going to be fine.

Cassius Myrtle | First Year | Sept 1st, 2021
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Just like any wizard child Cassius knew and understood the importance of the sorting. Prior to graduating his brother Emmet was a Gryffindor (much to the dismay of their father) and an amazing quidditch player. Mr. Curtis Myrtle himself was a Slytherin, and a proud one at that. While Oliva Myrtle, Cassius's mother actually didn't attend Hogwarts, but rather Castelobruxo.

Cassius was sure he could go on and on forever thinking about all of his cousins and tias and tios' houses but right now, at this moment he needed to think about his own. Or more realistically the one he wanted. In his mind, he was sure his twin sister Simone would become a Ravenclaw. It just made sense. She proved her worth to their parents through her smarts and knowledge. Simone was the cleverest person he knew. He just hoped he'd be clever enough to join her.
"Myrtle, Cassius."
Of course he'd be called first. Why didn't he anticipate this? Cassius tried his best to walk confidently up to the old wooden stool but the sea of faces staring at him made his heart pound. As the old sorting hat was placed on his head Cassius took a deep breath.
"Nervous, are we Mister Myrtle?"
Cassius was unsure if he was allowed to reply now. His mind drew a blank.
"You can speak, Mister Myrtle. Though I see you already think Ravenclaw is the house for you. hmmm.." The hat paused. "You do seem intelligent. Ahh yes, you're a very studious boy, aren't you? But you're also ambitious... Just as ambitious as your father was.."
Cassius felt a twinge of worry. Slytherin? That wasn't a part of his plan. No, that wasn't his plan at all.
"Ah, I see it now." The hat said matter-of-factly. "You love your plans don't you, Mister Myrtle? You have your own goals, and I believe I know just the place for you.."
"Wait!" Cassius whisper-yelled at the old hat. "I'm supposed to be in Ravenclaw," He tried to plead quietly. "I can't be like father. You've got to be wrong!"
"My apologies Mister Myrtle, but I've got a job to do this evening." The hat consoled. "As I said, there's only one place right for you..."
"Wait, no-!" Cassius tried to say.
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out. And the Slytherin table erupted into cheers. Cassius caught his sister's eye. They shared a glance for a moment. As if they both knew their years at Hogwarts would be much different than they expected. _{419 words}

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Even from the very first step she took into the Great Hall, Esme could tell that this school was nothing like the ones she'd gone to previously. No, not even—she'd known since she first boarded the Hogwarts Express, really. Maybe it was that it was just starting to sink in now. Because yes, it had most definitely sunk in at this point. The floating candles, talking portraits, what seemed like millions of students... this was not anywhere close to familiar. And truth be told? She was scared.

When she'd first read the letter, magic had seemed unreal. Like something someone had made up and sent to her by mistake, or as a joke of some sort. Someone completely, totally, crazy. Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that this word explained some strange things she'd done in the past, Esme would have never believed it at all. In fact, it took her almost the whole train ride to stop wondering when will I wake up? and finally accept that this wasn't a dream at all, no matter how dreamlike it may seem... something she needed a reminder of right now, in fact.

Before she knew it, her and a bunch of others (first years, like herself) had been herded together in a group where they waited anxiously for the ceremony to begin. Esme wasn't quite sure of what was to come, only hearing bits and pieces of conversations as they floated by her: "What house do you want to be in?" "I'd hate to be put in Slytherin." "Do you think we'll be able to learn spells right away?" "My whole family has been Ravenclaw for GENERATIONS." "I want to be a Hufflepuff." So many words she'd never thought she'd hear used casually before, and just as many words that made no sense at all. Ravenclaw? Slytherin? Like, snakes and ravens? If they were animal based, what was Hufflepuff? Is a "huffle" even a thing?

By the time Solomon Lear, as he introduced himself, stepped up and started speaking, Esme's worries were on full blast. When he spoke, a hush fell over the room—and somehow, miraculously, quieted her thoughts as well. Surely things would start making a little bit more sense now, right?

Mmm... no.

Suddenly there was a talking hat conversing with the Headmaster, mentions of it looking "into your heart and mind" and a whole bunch of introductions that filled her mind with names she couldn't fix to faces. And then a song. Sang by the talking hat. Which actually ended up making more sense than half the ceremony so far, strangely enough. After applauding with the majority of the people gathered, the Headmaster began reading off names. One by one, each student went up, placed the hat on their head, and was sent to join a certain table. One by one by one, and then... it was her turn.

"Rosslyn, Esmeray!"

Her mind back to being strangely quiet, Esme walked up to the front of the room, feeling hundreds of eyes on her as she did so. Lear gave her what might have been a smile, probably meant to encourage? But she barely noticed it. Arriving at the stool, she sat down and put the hat on her head, where it immediately fell down her face and over her eyes. And then it was speaking. To her.

Don't be so worried. I'm not going to hurt you in any way. Esme held her breath, waited for it to say more, feeling like she was about to be judged. What had the headmaster said? I look into your mind and soul. Yes, indeed. And hmm, let's see what we have here. A few seconds passed, the hat muttering to itself about loyalty, kindness, love—but then also bravery, and some sort of fiery spirit hidden in her? That... definitely wasn't there, Esme hadn't ever possessed anything close to a fiery spirit. Ever! Oh, but you'll see. You'll see. And with that, the hat was done.

GRYFFINDOR!!! was it's final cry to her, and she was sent to a table that seemed almost sunset-y, an almost stunning blur of red and gold.

────────────────── stamina 6 | evasion 6 | strength 3 | wisdom 7 | arc power 6 | accuracy 7 ──────────────────

Guinevere waited amongst the crowd of anxious first-years to get sorted into her house. She was not feeling a bit nevous or anxious, to be honest. She was perfectly fine! She knew that each house had it's values and also it's limitations, and she was content with being put in whatever house the hat decided.
Although she would appreciate it if she was put in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, as she thought she was quite the snarky, sarcastic, and smart person. Hmm, all those three adjectives all started with s. Perhaps she should be called the Three S's. Better yet, four, if she was sorted into Slytherin.
The headmaster, Solomon Lear, stood up from the table in the front, and the whole hall's chitchat faded into silence. He talked for a few minutes, and Guinevere listened with one ear to his speech and looked around the first-year cluster for people she thought were interesting. Not much interestingness was found from Guinevere's viewpoint, so she turned back to the table in the front, where the headmaster was holding out a long sheet of parchment and calling out people to get sorted. She watched as the nevous first-years sat on the rickety stool with the talking hat placed on their heads one by one, and finally, it was her turn.

Russetwood, Guinevere!

She made sure to straighten her back and lift her chin as she walked up to the stool to assert importance and superiorness to her fellow first-years, and as the hat was placed on her head, the rim draped over her eyes until all she could see was the inside of an old wizard hat.
I would like to be placed in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, thought Guinevere to the sorting hat.
Quite accurate, Miss Russetwood. I was thinking Ravenclaw or Slytherin, too.
Really? Wow.
And your straightforwardness seems like a Slytherin trait, don't you think? I can tell that you also are quite a leader figure, aren't you?
Yeah, agreed Guinevere.
You also have much individuality... a need to be different... these are Ravenclaw traits... to be known, yet to be a mystery...to be a wanderer, yet to have a home... I know. How about...
The tension increased by fifty percent.
SLYTHERIN!
Guinevere felt the hat being lifted off her head, the first stage of her Hogwarts journey finished, and got up to go to her new house's table as cheers and clapping erupted from it.
It was time for a new beginning. A new chapter. The best was yet to come.