Newcomers The Sorting ceremony 2017-2018 Closed

Elizabeth stood in the group beside her sister, Felicity, hiding behind her, although her head poked out from how she was the taller of the two. She felt her face heat up again; although she was never used to big crowds of people, she was obviously stunned at how many people attended Hogwarts. She shuffled her feet as more people were getting sorted, peopled cheered loudly into her ears; she felt like they were going to bleed.

Soon enough, her name gets called by the professor; "Elizabeth Greenwich!" And soon she skidded her way over to the stool, her heart rapidly beating out of her chest. Sighing she fiddled with her fingers yet again, she knew she was never good at these things. The hat was put on her head softly as she let out a shaky breath, fear invading her thoughts as she cleared them.

"I see, very curious indeed." The hat said while she felt it move on top her head, shuffling some hair. She never thought she was too curious, except for that one time her father was going out and she followed him to a store that sold alcohol beverages and such. 

The hat soon spoke again, making her glance up. "Perhaps you'd fit well with, Ravenclaw..." The brown hat soon left it off at that, making her smile remembering her sister was chosen for that one and she'd not be alone. But then her hopes were dropped to a low, "HUFFLEPUFF!" It shouted even louder, finally making it's decision.

"W=What?" She stuttered, stunned at what had left it's mouth. The professor took off the Sorting Hat, her eyes adjusting from the blurriness of her own shock. Walking over to the Hufflepuff table she sat down, the other people conversing with each other while she just wondered, why Hufflepuff?

James Chapman stood in line amongst all the other first year students. His new robe was incredibly well presented, seemingly a new and high-quality piece of clothing. Gradually the group in front of him grew smaller and smaller as more names were called out. He took a moment to look around, his interest captured by the ever-changing ceiling of the great hall, the stars glimmered above the students and staff that were gathered for the sorting ceremony. Occasionally there would be a sudden shout from the sorting hat followed by a mixture of cheering and clapping as students found their ways into the houses that would care for and mould them in their time at the school. His posture was oddly calm as he dwelled amongst the other first year students.

“James Chapman!” The voice of the professor stood at the front of the crowd of students reverberated through the hall as he called for the blonde haired boy. A light sigh escaped James’ lips as he took his first step forwards before striding out from the assorted youngsters. The hemming of his long black cloak lifted as it rode the draft that James created as he approached the stool. He confidently took a seat and looked out to all those gathered in the hall. This was a story he had heard almost every year from the members of his extended family. The sounds, the smell, the scenery, it was all exactly how he had expected it but again that was thanks to the shared experiences of his family. The sorting hat descended, making its way over his long golden locks before coming to rest just above his pierced ears.

“Ah! Another Chapman I see!” The sorting hat’s tone was one of slight jest. “There must be at least one Chapman in every year now, not to mention how spread out you all are in terms of house.” Its face grew thoughtful as it stopped speaking, occasionally it would open it’s mouth to speak but swiftly close it again. “You are a tough one Mr. Chapman. Ambitious, but a fair player. Brave, yet calculating.” For a second the hat paused once more. “Ah but this nerve, this thirst for adventure, I know exactly what to do with you.” Yet again there was a second of no sound and then as if the entire being of the sorting hat gave all its energy there erupted just a single word. “GRYFFINDOR!” Cheers rose throughout the hall, especially from the Gryffindor table, after the sorting hat was removed James simply stood up and strode over to take his seat with his fellow housemates.

Rhys Bogtrotter didn’t stand out from the crowd of first years waiting be sorted at all, he’d stood there well presented in his brand-new robes as did the rest of the first years. His eyes wandered around the room, looking from the ceiling above him to the tables lined with the  house colours of the students that lined their benches. After a few minutes of standing around, it was his turn, and a voiced called for him.  “Rhys Bogtrotter!”

Rhys strolled over to the stool, his mind full of thoughts and of the house he wished to be placed in. He’d slowly sit down, studying the hall that was in front of him again, this time staring prolongingly at the table of blue and silver. As the sorting hat is placed on top of his head, he doesn’t flinch as it starts talking him. “You strive for great power; you’d make a  perfect Slytherin, just like your dad.  Rhys would shake his head, clearly not liking that idea, the thought of blue and sliver going through his head. The sorting hat again would retort, “Hmm, Ravenclaw? But what about Hufflepuff, just like your mom?” Rhys would whisper the word, “No”. The sorting hat would speak again, “Or what about Gryffindor like your brother?” Rhys’ brother was in the same year as him and be sorted into the Gryffindor. Rhys would be in mid-head shake when the sorting hat shouts out, “Ravenclaw!” The claps from the Ravenclaw table echo around the hall. As Rhys stands up, he’d look pretty smug to himself, removing the sorting hat from his head he'd place it on the stool before making his way over to the Ravenclaw table, sitting down.

With wide eyes, she looked around at the huge room they were in. There were students already sitting at four tables across the room, and the professors up at the front. As for her and the rest of the first years, they had to be sorted first. Standing in the middle of the group of first years, Chloe watched as student after student got called to the front to be sorted. Finally, she heard her name called. It was her turn to be sorted. 

"Chloe Rose Baggins!" She heard. She took a deep breath and makes her way through the crowd to sit on the stool in front of the room. She felt the Sorting Hat placed on her head and waits. It seems to be a long time before he speaks. 

"Interesting, very interesting.. You have the blood of one house, yet I'm not sure if you belong... Your parents were Gryffindor..."

At this statement, Chloe saw the Gryffindors grin. They just knew they were about to get her.

"However, you don't belong in Gryffindor... You're loyal, yes. And very kind... I know where you belong... HUFFLEPUFF!"

Chloe raised her eyebrows, surprised. She was sure she would be in Gryffindor like her parents. She looked back over at the Gryffindor table and saw their faces fall. She looked at the table that erupted in cheers. They were wearing black and yellow robes. They were being extremely welcoming. She couldn't wait to join them and make lifelong friends. She jumps off of the stool and makes her way to the cheering table, where she's greeted with warm smiles. 

Stepping into the Great Hall feels like stepping into a painting. Goblets, banners, floating candles... It suddenly makes sense to Lyssa why her Papa always read by candlelight. Even if he never got accepted to Hogwarts, he grew up around wizards. He must just be used to it.

She wonders if SHE'LL ever be used to this. At the moment it feels alien. Is someone writing with a quill? They are! And not a cell phone in sight. Stranger and stranger.

As the sorting ceremony begins, Lyssa realizes how nervous she is. She doesn't know why. She barely cares which house she ends up in. She doesn't know much about any of them, after all. Papa said his sister was a... Slytherin maybe?

Lyssa feels like like she knows so much yet so little about this place. She finds herself searching the faces of the other students, hoping against hope that she recognizes one. She doesn't.

And too soon it's her turn to be sorted. She gets up from her table and approaches the Hat. She feels a thousand pairs of eyes burning into her. She tries to remember to breath.

"Busy mind," the Hat comments, when it touches her head.
"Always." Lyssa laughs nervously.
"Then it's obvious where I should put you."
"It is?"
The Hat scoffs. "Didn't you listen to my song?"
"Yes!" Lyssa says defensively.
"No, you didn't."
"How can you read my thoughts? Is it the same spell that made you come to life, or a different one?"
"RAVENCLAW!" The Hat suddenly shouts. Lyssa is ushered off stage before she's able to get the answers to her questions. She's pretty sure the Hat did that on purpose.

Hestia fidgeted with her robes as she watched all the other first years get sorted. She wasn't listening to their names, only their houses. Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff. Oh how she longed to be in Slytherin, just like her dad. She stared at the green and silver table, her nerves twisting her stomach, her heart pounding in her chest. She almost missed her name, taking a full second to realize she'd been called up there. She rushed up to the stool the hat was placed on and sat down, slowly placing the sorting hat atop her head. Slytherin, please be Slytherin... She thought to herself. "No no no," the Sorting Hat said. "Slytherin is all wrong for you." Her face fell and she stole another glance at the table she had so wished to sit at. "Hufflepuff maybe, you're loyal and value hard work but..." The sorting hat paused in it's decision making and Hestia's heart sunk. She couldn't be in Hufflepuff, not if she wanted to be like her dad. She bit her lip and waited in silence for the Sorting hat to make it's decision. "RAVENCLAW" it finally called, and the blue and silver table erupted into cheers. She stared at the table in awe, slowly leaving the stage after putting the hat back onto the stool. She couldn't be a Ravenclaw, could she? She wasn't bookish in the slightest. Surely there had been a mistake somewhere. Heart pounding, Hestia made her way to the table and found a spot to sit down.

It was the sheer amount of people all gathered in the Great Hall that threw Adalacia off, growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere put her at a bit of a disadvantage she supposed; considering she didn't have the slightest clue on how to start making friends. As a heavily shy first year she stood at the back of the crowd, huddled in between two chatting girls that didn't seem to give her a second glance and listening to the Headmaster of Hogwarts talk about the differing houses and realizing that she'd soon be sorted into one of them - her home for the next seven years. Her parents hadn't talked much about Hogwarts, opting instead to teach her as much about magic as possible without bringing the magical school into the picture; she didn't know why, but she figured it might have something to do with her grandparents, Mr and Mrs. Podmore, Slytherins until the day they die. 

She didn't know what her mum had been when she attended Hogwarts many years ago, but her father on occasion would pull out his Gryffindor robes and a few of his Quidditch trophies, just to show off for her and her little brother. 

The sorting hat (it was strange to see an animated hat, but her mother's charm spells out trumped anything she'd ever experience so it wasn't as surprising to her as it was to some of the half-bloods and muggle born children milling around her.) sang of Gryffindor as daring and brave, Hufflepuffs loyalty and patience, Ravenclaws with their wisdom and wit... lastly was Slytherin, the cunning and determined of the lot. Adalacia was only sure of one thing... she truly didn't feel like she fit any of those houses. She wasn't brave, or patient, smart or even cunning; she was just Adalacia Valerie-Skye Podmore. Daughter of Gertrude and Charles Podmore, older sister to Judd Podmore. Lover of magical creatures and books. 

Then it was time for the hat to call her name.

"Adalacia Podmore!" 

It even pronounced her name right.

She figured the most terrifying thing she'd ever been through was when she was nine and a Hippogriff decided she wasn't worth it's time; if it wasn't for her father she would've been trampled. But this, walking up to the sorting hat in front of all these people really took the cake, there could have been a hundred or a thousand... it really didn't matter to her, the fear was slightly paralyzing. Nonetheless she made it up to the chair, hoisting herself up in it and feeling the old leather hat being placed on her head gently, it's weathered straps falling past her shoulders. 

"Hmmmm...." It whispered to her, pondering. "Very interesting, a heart and a brain that don't quite get along I see..." Adalacia really didn't know what it meant by that, but she assumed it couldn't be all too good. "You're quite the smart little thing, likes to get her way no matter what. But you're true at heart, and never give in when you believe in what's right.... so..."

"Gryffindor!" The cheering and hollering was instantaneous from the Gryffindor table, and despite her initial fear, and doubt in the house the hat had placed her in Adalacia couldn't help but smile gently as she hopped off the chair, joining the people she'd be calling family for the next seven years of her life. 

Ryan knew exactly which house she wanted to be in. Slytherin house had a bad reputation, and she didn't want people thinking she was going to turn into a dark witch, besides, she had heard most Slytherins were bullies and full of themselves, and that wasn't company she wanted to keep. Griffindor had a reputation for being brave, strong, and resilient, traits that Ryan simply did not possess. She was a bit of a coward, and avoided conflict whenever possible. Hufflepuff... maybe it wasn't a bad second choice, but it also had a reputation for being a left over house, filled with people who simply were not brave,clever, or cunning. So when her name is called, shes hoping beyond hope that the hat will place her where she wants to go. She sits on the stool, and the hat is placed on her head. She nearly gasps when she hears a voice in her head, still new to magic and never having heard a hat speak before. 

"Well... you're quite sure where you want to go aren't you? Heh... you certainly have the brains for it, and you'd fit in quite well there. I see no reason not to put you there, so off you go to RAVENCLAW."

She smiles and sighs, relieved to be in the house she wanted to enter. She takes the hat off her head and sets it on the stool before walking over and taking a seat at the ravenclaw table. She'd honestly never been happier.

Ash couldn't believe that he was at Hogwarts. He'd seen the school for afar many times; he'd seen new students arrive at the Hogsmeade station, full of joy and drive. Now it was his turn. When the doors to the Great Hall opened, he made his way to the front. Everyone was watching him walk to the dais... Ash was never one to want the attention on him. He'd prefer to do the watching. Taking a seat in the Hall could only happen, though, after being sorted. 

"Mr. Cole." His named had been announced. It was time.

"Mr. Cole. I remember when your parents were here. They were a bit distracted I might say... I was right with them. And, I'll be right with you."

"Ugh..." Ash thought to himself. "Why did the hat have to bring up my parents? They left me four years ago... When will I ever escape them?" 

The hat was lowered onto him...

"Ravenclaw." The Sorting Hat was exciting and definitive in its choice. The Hat had barely touched his head.

"What? No explanation?!?" Ash pondered as he walked towards the Ravenclaw table. Excited to say the least! He now had a home, a family... He was starting his adventure! 

Nevertheless, he was disappointed. He had heard others tell of poetic musings the Hat made as it sorted new students. He'd hoped for his own. He'd hoped for a message, a calling, a purpose, an insight, a something... He'd hoped for more...