Sorting Ceremony Sept 2022

Alexander was filled with a strange mix of excitement and fear. His mother had said she would be pleased whichever house he got into but he wanted to be a Hufflepuff like her. The Headmaster - Solomon Lear - was reading the names of the first years off a scroll of parchment in alphabetical order of their surnames. The "C" in Campbell meant he was one of the first new students to get sorted into a house.

"Campbell Alexander". His name had been read out. He was about to be sorted into his Hogwarts house! It took all his effort not to sprint towards the stool and hat. The fear had definitely vanished by now. Walking as fast as he could without running, he made his way towards the Sorting Hat. Alex began to feel excitement bubbling inside of him. This was the moment he had been waiting for for the past day and a half - ever since he had left Kettleftoft to catch the Hogwarts Express.

He sat on the stool and the hat was placed on his head. It was too big and fell over his eyes. After a few moments of consideration the hat called out: "Hufflepuff!".

Euphoria flooded through him. He was pleased to the point of drunk on happiness to be in the house he wanted. He stood up and only just remembered to hand the hat back before he walked over to the Hufflepuff table and sat down.

Conan was clearly scared. Even as he boarded the Hogwarts Express, his brother continued to tease him about the fact that everyone in his family had been in Slytherin.
His mother assured him that whatever house he was in was predestined for him and that it would be like a second family.
Hogwarts. He would spend a year there. His surname, "Clarck", began with a C, so he would be at the beginning of the roll call. And yes. He was called in a loud voice and the pointy, old, patched-up hat was placed on his head. "Mmmh... I hesitate..." the hat muttered. Conan couldn't take it anymore. It was at this point that he wondered if he really wanted to go to Slytherin. Well... no. He wanted to make his own way. And the hat screamed:
"Gryffindor!". The time of hesitation made Conan stand on the stool, divided by joy and incomprehension. Gryffindor! All his life he had wanted to go to the house of the brave, the strong, the courageous, but he had never dared to tell his family, generations of Slytherins, about it.
He would love himself all the same, he thought. He was sure of it, and rushed to the Gryffindor table.
"Er... Mister Clarck!" He turned to the professors' table, whose expressions seemed stern and amused. "The... the hat!" the headmaster interjected, pointing to the hat, which he still had on his head. "Oh, sorry!" He exclaimed, taking it off and putting it back on. He was so proud and happy with his house that he did not think about it much longer.

dialogue. ■ 　　　 thoughts.■　　　 flashbacks.■

date. 7th jan
time. 18.00
place. malfoy dorms

Elira walked into the Great Hall with all the other first years, looking round. Four long dining tables, each decorated in different colours, where hundreds of older students sat. The walls of the hall were covered with large moving portraits. The ceiling was gorgeous: it seemed to match the sky outside, which was a clear night sky, littered with bright, shining stars. Levitating candles floated overhead, lighting up the massive hall. It was also ridiculously noisy.

Once Elira and the rest of the first years reached the front, they all gathered round the stool.

With the Sorting Hat, which began to sing.

" A thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of
Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

For were their such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.

Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones, they had to teach.

While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When were they dead and gone?

Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've got a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends. "

Elira waited patiently as the Headmaster called the first years up alphabetically. Her surname started with L, so once about half of the first years had gone to their respective tables, Elira knew her turn was close.

"Lamacraft, Elira." the Headmaster called.
Elira walked up calmly to the stool, sitting down, and facing all the students in the hall. A shot of nerves kicked in as she realised she needed to get into Slytherin. Or at LEAST, Ravenclaw, to not disappoint her family.

The headmaster placed the sorting hat on her head, and the hat began to speak.

"Now THIS is interesting. A Lamacraft! At last! I was wondering when i was going to see you here.." it began, and Elira shifted her position on the stool. "I see you are very smart, so the chance of getting into your father's house of Ravenclaw is quite good.. Ah, here it is! Your mother's ambition is kicking in...a dream in mind! You better be....

"SLYTHERIN!!!" The hat shouted.

The Slytherin table thundered with cheers as Elira walked towards the closest table to the door, a wide grin on her face. Mission number one complete: get into Slytherin.

Continuing at the Slytherin table

577 words total (336 not including the house song)

I stood fidgeting in the long line of petrified students. I was juggling a feeling of excitement and the desire to throw up. Rocking backwards and forwards, I peered over all the first year heads and watched as “Burke, Marianne”, was sorted into Hufflepuff. My eyes drifted upwards and I gazed dreamily at the starry ceiling, forgetting for a moment about my fear and boiling stomach. I had hardly been in Hogwarts for a few minutes and it was already more than my parents and sister had described. The stars gleamed and a cloud floated lazily in front of a dim moon, momentarily concealing it from my eager gaze. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling my body relax and the trembling recede slightly.
Suddenly, the room was reverberating with stamping feet, delighted cheers and clapping hands, jerking my mind back into my body amen rekindling the panic I had been feeling only moments before. “Parker, Juniper” had just been sorted into Gryffindor. I bit my lip nervously and looked down at my hands, clenching them and unclenching them in anticipation. My father had gone into Gryffindor, my mother been sorted into Hufflepuff and my sister had been sorted into Ravenclaw! This was both an advantage and a disadvantage; the variety meant I didn’t have to freak out about being in the same house as my family, but it also meant I had absolutely no clue which house I would be in! I closed my eyes tight and tried to suppress my panic - I just wanted to feel happy in the house I was placed in . . .
“Shevel, Irina.”
Opening my eyes I realised my name had just been called out. I looked around and gave a small start, running up the steps and sitting down on the stool. The hall was filled with a soft chuckle as the students laughed at the slow new first year. I grinned sheepishly and waved towards the Ravenclaw table, where I could see my sister rolling her eyes and grinning at me.
The proffessor above me coughed and I looked up at her - she raised her eyebrow and gave me a cold stare before placing the hat down on my head.

The hat’s voice filled my head, sounding both pleased and exasperated - “Ah, another Shevel. I can already see you will be as hard to place as your mother.”

Despite my fear and trembling body, I grinned slightly. Mum had been on the stool for a few minutes whilst it decided whether to place her in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.

“How alike you are to your parents. You have a heart that wishes to be only kind, just like your mother, and deep rooted yearning for justice - now that’s interesting. Yet your spirit is more like your father; bold and determined . . . So where to place you?”

My momentary flair of happiness seemed to shrivel and sink as I became conscious of how long I had been sitting on the stool. I swung my feet awkwardly and took another shuddering breath to steady myself, straightening my back.

“You really are a hard one. But . . . Yes, I know where you should be. I’ll put you in . . .”

“GRYFFINDOR!”

The hat was whisked off my head and I jumped off the stool, grinning broadly but unable to draw breath. My mind was almost as loud as the hall, thuds and claps and cheers rebounding off the walls. I walked dazedly towards the red and gold table, seeing the grinning faces smiling up at me. My body felt light and floaty and I gave a weak chuckle, tripping forwards and sitting down next to the other new boy called Juniper. He grinned weakly at me and gave a small wave. I grinned back before turning to face the hat again elation and relied flossing my body . . . trying to quell the slight seed of doubt that had embedded itself into my mind.

Mahlioz was standing in a long line of students, blinking and shaking her head over and over again to try and convince herself that this was real. It had been 15 minutes since the sorting had begun - since the headmaster had made his big speech, and the Sorting Hat sung its song. Mahlioz's mom had told her about the famous hat before. She'd been here as well, 33 years ago. It felt crazy to the young girl to think that her mother had been here, in her shoes, only three decades and a bit ago. Instead of Headmaster Solomon Lear, though, there'd been the world-famous Dumbledore. Mahlioz tried not to think too hard about any of this. She already had a headache from all the stress she was feeling - she didn't need more thinking about history. Then again, thinking always made her feel better. So maybe-
"Evethisawe, Mahlioz!"
She blinked again. She recognized that name. Who's name was that, again? Oh- right- hers. Oops. She reddened as she rushed forwards, embarrassed. As soon as that emotion was gone, though, she realized what was going on.

She was going to get sorted.

It shouldn't have been so much of a surprise, after all. As she stepped up and sat onto the stool, she knew she shouldn't have felt so terrified. The hat was only telling her which house she was living in for the next seven years. Seven years was short, right? Brain! Shut up! Stop thinking, things are going on! And as she tried to silence her thoughts (for both her sake and the hat's), it was placed onto her head.

"Mahlioz Evethisawe," the hat said in her head. She'd known it would do this but it was still a peculiar sensation. "I've sorted a few Evethisawes before. But I won't be judging you based on your family. Let's see... It paused, and Mahlioz had the distinct feeling that she was being scanned - all of the drawers in her brain opened suddenly and their contents thrown into the hat. Had this hat been a person, Mahlioz realized, they would have gone insane a long time ago from the amount of information given to them each year. "You think a lot," the hat said with something that resembled a chuckle. "Many things pass through your head, and you have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Quite a Ravenclaw trait." Yes, Ravenclaw! the girl thought. Her whole wizard side of the family had been in Ravenclaw. It was the only house she wished for, even if her mother said she would accept her no matter what. "But no," the hat continued, "I don't think that is the house for you. You aspire to do great things, Evethisawe. Nothing can ever stop your curiosity and your determination. You will learn to accept your house of-

SLYTHERIN!!"

The last word was no longer in her head, but aloud. Mahlioz was supposed to stand up now, with a large smile on her face, and walk to the Slytherin table proudly. But her face didn't show pride, it showed astonishment. She stood up instinctively, putting the hat down and walking to the table draped in green, stunned. Green may have been her favorite color, but that didn't mean she wanted to be in its house! How could... how could this be possible? She sat down, not really sure what to think, to feel, to do. She'd thought she would be in Ravenclaw... even now, she glanced wistfully at their table. Slytherins were evil, right? Was that her destiny? To be cruel and heartless? She didn't think so. So were those just stereotypes? Something told Mahlioz friends could definitely be found in this house. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

One thing was for sure. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Liam sood in line, as did all the fresh faces in his year group, waiting with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Large doors flanked by a plethora of pottery knights stood open, giving the new students their first real glimpse into the school. The Great Hall of Hogwarts was a breathtaking sight to behold. Located at the heart of the school, it was a grand chamber with a high, arched ceiling that seemed to stretch on endlessly. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and tapestries that depicted important moments in the history of the wizarding world. The floors were made of gleaming stone, polished to a smooth finish, and the room was filled with long, ornate tables that were surrounded by high-backed chairs.

On the day of the sorting ceremony, the Great Hall was abuzz with excitement. The room was filled with young students, all eagerly anticipating the moment when they would be sorted into their respective houses. The air was thick with anticipation and nerves as the first-years made their way to the front of the room, where a small stage had been set up for the sorting. The hall was adorned with the usual trappings of a grand feast, with long tables laden with food and drink, and silver candelabras casting a warm glow over the room. But on this day, the atmosphere was different, charged with the energy of the incoming students. The staff table, where the professors of Hogwarts sat, was lined with the Sorting Hat, a magical object that would determine which house each student belonged in.

Liam Bennet 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 mold them in their time at the school. His posture was oddly calm as he dwelled amongst the other first year students.

“Bennet, Liam!” 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 Liam’ 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 Liam created in his approach to 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 Bennet I see!” The sorting hat’s tone was one of slight jest. “It must be time for the next generation to make their name at Hogwarts! Let us hope that the goals of your family are met with this one.” Its face grew thoughtful as it stopped speaking, occasionally it would open its mouth to speak but swiftly close it again. “You are a tough one Mr. Bennet. 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 Liam simply stood up and strode over to take his seat with his fellow housemates.

After his first of defintly many train rides on the Hogwarts Express, Asher had finally reached it, the place where he will spend the next 7 years learning about magci. Hogwarts.

To say he was overwhelmed by the marvelous site in front of him would be an understatement, Asher had never went to any castles before, but he was sure that if he did, that they would all pale in comparison to the great castle that is Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They were all lead by the ground keeper on boats to the school, where they ere greeted by one of the Professors. They greeted the First Years and made a standard introduction to all the houses. Asher didn't pay to much attention since he already knew all about them, mostly from his mother and the books he read.

They were then lead to the Great Hall, where they will all be sorted into their respective Houses. He saw a few familiar faces from the train ride, he waited and in his boredom tried keeping track of the names of all the students, he didn't get past 10 before he gave up.

"Asher Blackjack!" his heart rate spiked when he heared his name get called, he made his way to the sorting hat and put it down on his head. "Ah, you're a curious one indeed. Yes I see alot of conviction a great amount of ambition as well" Could he be in Slytherin?

"But you wouldn't fo well in Slytherin, you lack their cunning" The hat seemed to be deep in thought until it spoke again "Hmm, I see a great level of intellect. Perhaps Ravenclaw would suit you the most" The hat remaind silent for a while which made Asher start getting more anxious. Finally the hat started speaking again after a long silence. "Alas, I know exactly the house for you. The that will help you achieve greatness is...Gryffindor!" Asher's robes changed their colors to align with the Gryffindor red just as cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table. He went over and shock the hands of a couple of students before they all settled down to let the sorting continue.

The Headmaster
The sorting hat
Sophia

Although Sophia has already successfully convinced herself that there is authentic magic in this world on the Hogwarts express, not like fairy tells and fantasies told by her grandparents when she is small, she still got suspicions about this whole thing was a joke, a HUGE joke played by her friends. But when the professor had guided the crowded first year into the great hall with big portraits aligned on the wall, the suspicion faded. Where her attention is grabbed at first by the spacious ceiling. The ceiling isn't decorated with a colorful mural as she thought but is the sky from outside. It's a sunny day. She can see the cloud moving in the dark azure sky. She followed the crowd to the end of the hall with her head leaning backward and her eyes wide open.
"Welcome to the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry!" Sophia, spirit being dragged back from the ceiling (or say sky), finding herself standing in the middle of the crowd, listening to the headmaster's sonorous voice. He later introduced the professors and more other things which Sophia didn't focus. Finally, with her luck, she caught the most important thing, they are about to do a sorting ceremony! The headmaster pulled out an ugly old hat, that looks worn out in patches. The hat is later set on a high stool and begins to sing a long song. Sophia approximately get the different houses, wondering which would she get in. The headmaster pulled out a long stroll of parchment and begins to read names. "Oh god..." She whispered uncontrollably as students walked in front, put the patched hat on and it shouted at the varies houses. Imagine how she will look in front of a full hall of people?! Unluckily, her last name F is in the first few in alphabetical order so...
"Fan, Sophia!!"
Sophia frozen. She felt her leg lead like, walking slowly under her imprecision mind control, finally to the stool and sat down. Her hand clutched tightly at the side of the stool as she felt a lightweight dropping on her head. Her nails nearly embed into the wood as she put all her pressure on her finger. Suddenly, she felt the sorting hat start to whisper. "Well... A muggle born... But talented mind... Ah! Highly gifted and...yearns for knowledge," "Oh no please end this quickly..." Sophia felt her cheek begin to burn fire-like."...Just seems, a bit timid about expressing true self...Ha! I know perfectly where fits you...Better be..."
"RAVENCLAW!!!"
Sophia doesn't know what happened next but she hears thunderous applause as she scoots away from the stool and takes a seat at the Ravenclaw table.
Well, at least she firmly believes there is magic then!

After the lengthy train ride and rocky boat across the lake, Jordan was glad to be standing for a while. There was an ache in their calves from the long time spent sitting, and walking down the beautiful corridors woke them up. When they entered the Great Hall, which was beautifully decorated with an enchanted ceiling and floating candles (just as was described in Hogwarts, a History!) the sound was almost as startling as the obvious uses of magic themselves. A crowded hall of hundreds of teens and tweens proved to be a startling cacophony of words, songs, and sounds of unknown origin.

Jordan found themselves in the back of the group, trying to avoid bumping into anyone as they walked and eventually stopped at the front of the Great Hall. A strange hat on a chair burst into a rather out-of-tune song, and it seemed that this was good enough to silence the many students sitting at the many lengthy benches.

One-by-one, the students began lining up to be sorted into the four brightly-colored houses. It seemed that each one had a personality completely unlike the other. Each house had varied reactions to receiving new members, though every single one seemed to get their own celebration. It warmed Jordan's heart a bit to see that even the students who were isolated from the rest were welcomed with open arms into their houses.



Swallowing a lump in their throat, Jordan made their way up to the stool. The hat was placed on their head, and they only worried briefly about the possibility of getting head lice in this rather unorthodox ceremony. They listened for a moment at the pondering of the hat within their own mind, but only a moment passed before the hat called out with great triumph:



Jordan smiled at the cheers coming from the blue and bronze table before them, and made their way over to the benches, happy to have a place to be among the crowds.

[wc: 334]

Walking into the Great Hall was like entering a whole new world! There were humongous tables each the size of a giant redwood, candles floated in the air creating a homey magical feel. The ceiling was so tall in fact it didn't even look like there was a ceiling! where the rafters should have been was a starry night sky! Ivy had a feeling she was going to love it here.

All of the first years were gathered near the front clumping together around the front of the tables. Ivy joined the crowd as she rushed down an open row. The headmaster welcomed all the students

"Welcome first-year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As it is our tradition here we are going to engage in our first ceremony known as the sorting ceremony. The sorting hat has been a part of our school's tradition since the time of Godric Gryffindor, one of this institution's founding wizards. This hat is very much sentient."

As he finished, all attention was on a raggedly-looking hat sitting on a stool. To Ivy's shock, the hat spoke, and then it began to sing! The sorting hat described the origin of the founders and of Hogwarts. Ivy was most interesting in its description of the four houses. Ivy didn't know much about them, except their colors and mascots. She still had no idea where she belonged.

Students were being called up one by one and the hat would shout out their house, some students were excited and lept with glee to their house's table. Others looked horrified or stunned at the name that was called. Ivy was beginning to grow nervous. What if she didn't like her house? What if she couldn't make any friends? What if she was terrible at magic? "Ivy Morgan!" Jolting her from her thoughts Ivy nervously headed to the stool.

As soon as it touched her head the hat began to speak "hm....very curious......kindhearted..... Hufflepuff might be a good fit but there's something else, yes there it is a drive..... a drive to learn.......all right" "RAVENCLAW!": She had a house! A little shell-shocked from hearing a hat's voice in her head. Ivy walked over to the clapping Ravenclaw table, eager to meet her new housemates.