Closed The Sorting ceremony 2018-2019

The redhead looked across the crowded sea of faces as she prepared for her journey at Hogwarts to begin. It was absolutely terrifying to be in a room this large with this many people. Amadea was fairly certain she had never been in a room with this many people before. 

She was distracted from her fear for a brief moment as she inspected the room itself. The Great Hall was absolutely breathtaking. The ornate decorations of the walls and the ceiling that seemed endless and the rows of tables that stretched out in front of her, it was all enough to take her breath away (though it wasnt like she had any to begin with). After all, she was still terrified. At the front of the room sat another long table, perpendicular to the rest. Seated across it were many adults, which Amadea assumed were the professors. They looked quite intimidating from the angle she was watching them at, and she wondered if it was intentional or not. She wondered which of the teachers she was going to have. She tugged on her long black robes, trying to adjust them and make them more comfortable, but not knowing exactly how to accomplish that. She wasn't used to wearing such attire and felt as though it was dragging her down. She wished she could have stayed in the T-shirt and shorts she was wearing on the train. 

Amadea came from a family of nonmagical people. She wasn't Muggle born, per say, considering there was magic in her blood, but it came from a long while back and Amadea didn't know much about magic. She hoped this wouldn't be too much of a setback as she began learning about the wizarding world. It seemed as though many of the Purebloods had already been immersed in magic and everything there was to know about it, but Amadea couldn't be too sure. After all, she had only just stepped into the school. 

Amadea watched in awe as the raggedy looking Hat on the stool at the front of the room opened it's mouth and began singing loudly. She resisted the urge to laugh out loud and scream at the same time (because gosh the noise that would make...) and instead looked around at the other students around her to see how they were reacting. It seemed as though many people weren't fazed by this singing hat, so Amadea decided not to show any reaction either. She didn't want to be the odd one out. 

Then the Sorting began. Amadea didn't know much about anything at Hogwarts, but she knew about the Sorting. Apparently the Hat could read thoughts and put everyone in a House. There were four: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Each of them had a reputation. From what Amadea had heard, Slytherin was the best and Hufflepuff was the worst. But apparently people with certain qualities went to each of the Houses. Amadea didn't know what house she was going to be in, but personally didn't care. She just hoped it would be the right one for her. 

Her name was close to the beginning of the alphabet so it was not long before she heard her name being called. 

Hannah stood among the first years anxiously hearing names being called. "Slytherin", "Hufflepuff", "Ravenclaw". The Sorting Hat called out methodically as first years went up one by one. As Hannah stood there, she fiddled her fingers and looked around The Great Hall. Amongst the hall she studied the four elongated tables behind her. All the students sitting at them looked eager, and excited.
"Ginger, Hannah", a Professor had called her name and snapped her out of her daze. She looked up slowly and walked as normally as she could her hands shaking with anxiety.
"Yes, let's see now..." The Sorting Hat's voice boomed across the room. Hannah's hands were drenched in sweat and gripping her robes.
"Nervous...very nervous, but an underlying sense of wisdom, and insecurity", the Hat continued. Hannah began to chew at the side of her cheek and surveyed the room, all eyes were on her, both kind and unkind.
"I sense unsureness, weakness, yes, a strong sense of weakness, but great potential. One who would indeed sacrifice themselves for others..". Hannah loosened her grip on her robes at these words.
'What is this hat thinking?' Hannah wondered to herself as the eyes continued to burn on her.
"I am not wrong." The hat responded to her mind aloud. "Better be....Griffyndor!"
Hannah trembled as the hat was removed and as the table in front of her rose with cheers. She slowly made her way to the table where she was welcomed at the head. However she stalked off all the way to the end. The hall quieted down, and Hannah sat by herself wanting desperately to do nothing but be home.

Amber was not the kind of girl to be shy but after all that had happened today she hid shyly in the corner. She was completely surprised when the letter came but glad at the same time, she didn't miss her home, in fact she was glad she ran away but she did miss her little brother and sister. When she first arrived at the castle she stared up at the hugeness of it, and wondered how something like this could exist. However she decided to let go of the past and pay more attention.

She followed the rest of the first years into the great hall, when she walked in she was even more amazed. "What is this place?" She thought to herself. All she knew is that magic was accepted here and that she didn't have to worry anymore. There were a lot a students sitting at the tables and she tried to recount what she learned from what few books she had read on the train. "Griffondor, a house for the brave and noble. Slitherin, a house for the cunning and ambitious. Hufflepuff, a house for the loyal and hardworking. Ravenclaw, a house for the book lovers basically. I wonder if i'll be in Ravenclaw..."

A professor walked up carrying a hat. Wait, what? A hat? Amber wondered why they were bringing a hat of all things. The professor set the hat down and stepped back. Ok now this is getting even weirder. Amber was confused but still open minded, considering that she was in a world full of people who were like her, so when the hat started singing she was surprised but not completely wierded out.

The professor started calling names and amber waited for her name to be called. Now was her chance to think about a few things, like how cool this whole thing was! She thought about what she would do in the summer when she couldn't stay here, she guessed maybe she could go to her aunts house or a friends house. She hoped she would make a few good friends or at least a friend, she hadn't really talked to anyone on the train because she was busy daydreaming.

"Amber Smith!"

She looked up surprised realizing that it was her turn to be sorted into a house. Walking up to the chair, she sat down and let the hat be placed on her head.

hmmm... I see, a bit of a bookworm are we? You would fit well in Ravenclaw. Deep inside you though, you are ambitious so perhaps Slitherin. However looking at it from a different perspective, you would do anything and everything to protect a friend despite not having any at the moment. Hmmm, I know now!

Hufflepuff!

She stepped down from the platform as cheering filled the room and for once in her life she felt respected and perhaps even loved as she sat down at her house table and was greeted by her house.

Tedrick fidgeted nervously in the uncomfortable wooden stool, feeling as if he was slowly being burned away with the judgment of everyone in the room, including the teachers. Deep down inside, Tedrick knew that he was being absolutely irrational because he knew everybody didn't exactly care about a scrawny boy sitting in a chair with a mangled old hat on his head, but he still felt-

Tedrick nearly died in fright as a voice resounded in his head. A mangled old hat, you say? Now, you and I both know that this mangled hat decides your very future in Hogwarts! Then, the Sorting Hat went silent, as if he were sifting through the contents in his brain. That was not a happy thought.

Oh dear. Tedrick tried to relax, but with every second that passed, his heart pounded louder in his ears and he felt a little short of breath as if a weight were sitting upon his chest. Suddenly, Tedrick recalled that only half an hour earlier, he had been practically vibrating with excitement. And only a year ago, he had wanted to become a psychologist. Now that I think about it, I was pretty dumb for me to assume that I'd lead a normal life or something, especially since I could perform magic. Tedrick's mind wandered a little bit as he thought about home and how Mother had always talked about her and Uncle Vincent's house.

So, you wish to be put in Slytherin, where your only relatives have gone? Maybe it would be the right choice... Yes! I belong there, trust m- But you do show some Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw traits... Oh no. As Tedrick mentally prepared to argue his case, he swore he heard the hat laugh at him. Well, I see that you are absolutely determined to be a Slytherin. You want to keep a semblance of tradition in your family of Slytherins... And your ambition and cunning truly shine through.

There was a terrible, heart-stopping pause as the Sorting Hat seemed to make a decision.

Obviously, it'll be... SLYTHERIN!

The first years walked into the hall together, their feet shuffling on the stone floor. Everyone in the room was staring at them. Antimony looked back just as curiously. Then her eyes trailed away from the students and up to the charmed ceiling. The Great Hall was magnificent, with grand arching ceilings and tall walls. Antimony stared at the candles for a moment, her shoulders relaxing minutely. Father liked to enchant candles like these for parties. The familiarity of them quieted her mind, just a little.

Antimony startled when the singing started. They had taken out the hat. Some of the other first years looked confused or afraid, and Antimony wondered which of them were mudbloods and which of them just had parents who didn't prepare them. Either way, she pitied them.

Antimony's attention was caught again when the hat started to sing about Slytherin. My house, she thought proudly. Every Galanis for the past two centuries had been sorted into Slytherin. It made sense; Galanises were practical creatures, and Slytherin was the most practical house, the only one which guaranteed success. Mother said Hufflepuff was the house for those who valued contentedness over true satisfaction, and Gryffindor was full of "incompetents" (even though Hermione Granger, Antimony's hero, had been a Gryffindor). The only one worth anything other than Slytherin was Ravenclaw, and they still weren't as good as Slytherin. So of course every Galanis--including Antimony-- gets sorted into Slytherin.

Antimony looked across the room at her soon to be housemates. She pressed her lips together and fiddled her sleeves with tentative excitement. Who will she make friends with first? She hadn't had any luck on the train--for some reason no one in her car wanted to talk to her after she told everyone what a great house Slytherin was-- but she knew she was going to make friends once she was sorted.

She had to.

"Galanis, Antimony!"

Antimony heard someone whisper behind her, and her face flushed. They're talking about me. I know they are. They always do. She could handle it, if they were. Her cousins were worse.

Antimony walked up to the stool, her posture perfect and eyes level. She nodded to the person holding the hat before sitting primly, her hands folded delicately in her lap. The hat was placed on her head.

Ah! A Galanis, Slytherin for you... but wait, what is this? Antimony's initial contentedness at the hat's words faded as it continued, Such a thirst for knowledge, your mother was right. Precocious, indeed. Perhaps you would be happier in Ravenclaw... Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. Oh goodness, this was horrible! You are loyal to your family, but Hufflepuff wouldn't suit you, no... Well, at least there was that. You also have a great capacity for bravery and grit! You would feel right at home in Gryffindor....

You take that back! Antimony thought furiously, her eyes stinging. Oh no. Oh no.

There is nothing wrong with Gryffindor, my dear. Why, Hermione Granger, is a Gryffindor! That soothed the wound a little, but not enough. "Incompetents," her mother said, "They act first and think later, destroying all in their path." Was Antimony so much like that? Oh, that just isn't true!

Please, just put me in Slytherin. Please!

You wouldn't be happy there at all, my dear, said the hat gently. She didn't care. She'd do whatever it takes. You simply aren't a Slytherin. Antimony drew in a shuddery breath. Not at all? She wasn't a Slytherin at all? No.

Whispers began to break out in the hall.

She'd show this stupid hat. Antimony drew upon every ounce of cunning she had. She demanded to be heard.

Antimony thought loudly over the hat's musings. If you put me somewhere else, I'll be miserable, and my family will be very upset. I can't make friends if I'm not in Slytherin. Isn't the hat's purpose to sort students where they belong? If I don't belong in Slytherin now, I will when I grow up. I'll be a Slytherin for so long that's what I'll be on the inside, too. That's what I want, to be a Slytherin on the inside, and I'll try to do that even if I'm in the other houses. So shouldn't you help me and put me in Slytherin anyway?

The hat mulled over her words.

She added, I think wanting to be a Slytherin is ambitious all on its own! The hat still didn't say anything. Father said, "Gifts get you halfway to a man's heart." Maybe she could bribe the hat somehow--

"SLYTHERIN!"

The applause afterwards almost matched the sheer euphoria Antimony felt as she took off the hat and made her way to the table. She'd done it.

Maybe she was a real Galanis after all.

Grayson had his eyes nailed to the floor for every single moment since he had got off the train. Fear infiltrated every square inch of his body as he admired the beautiful stonework that was the castle floor. As he entered the great hall and the sorting hat song began to fill the air, thoughts of doubt began to cloud his mind as he told himself What am I doing here? I-I don't belong... over and over again. Suddenly, he heard names being called. One after another, each student left their horde to face down the hat. The olive skin boy still refused to look up as the hat announced the houses one after another, "Slytherin! Gryffindor! Hufflepuff! Ravenclaw! Gryffindor!" Then, for a moment, time froze as they announced his name: "Grayson Ward."

Each millisecond was an eternity as he shuffled his weigh up to the front, a thousand eyes touching his skin, slicing into him like daggers. He thought to himself, "Why must they stare at me? I should ask to leave. I should go home. I'm no wizard." Contrary to his thoughts, he found himself sitting on the chair in just a few moments. His eyes glanced up for the first time since arriving at the castle, and the hall laid before him. The supposed night sky dazzled him, floating candles spurred his imagination, and the potential feast drew him in. His insecurities floated away for a moment as the hat was dropped on his head.

Mentally, Grayson had received an odd state of mental clarity when he heard it. He listened to the hat begin to whisper in his mind Hmmmmmmmm... A great mind here: intelligent, craves knowledge... Perhaps Ravenc.... Wait. I sense that you desire something more significant: to be greater. A burning ambition drives you towards the goal of being renown.... Ah, definitely not a Hufflepuff. Loyalty leaves something to be desired here. So much potential. Ah, but those little insecurities, such doubt. No, no, no, Slytherin is not for you. Beneath all of that false fear and a weak exterior is such great bravery; although, your nerves do not define you. You must be a... "Ravenclaw!" A series of cheers erupted as Grayson sat in shock of what he had just heard. Never before had he felt his skin crawl so much nor had he been so fearful as the moment. On the other hand, he had never felt such comradery in comparison to that moment when his future fellow housemates cheered for him. Deep within, Grayson knew that he had found a home here: a place where he might really belong.

This was very hard. As in, Astrid was pretty much having an invisible breakdown. She already didn’t like the fact that she had to ride in a train booth with three other people she didn’t know at all, even though she had spent the entire train ride sleeping. The witch had barely gotten a wink of sleep the night before, having been too stressed out and anxiety ridden about what would happen this fateful day. Now she was in the middle of the Great Hall listening to names being called so they could be sorted into one of each of the four houses. Somehow, even though she didn’t have much (if any) experience in the wizarding world, she knew that the house she’d be sorted in would form some kind of stereotype around her. She didn’t like stereotypes. She had a Muggle-Racist father. She just wanted people to get to know her for her, and if they didn’t want to do that then she had no time for them.

Astrid noticed that she was overthinking, so she took a few breaths amongst the crowd. Her robes were being lightly brushed upon by the robes of the other students around her, and even though it was beginning to over stimulate her, she knew that they didn’t mean to do it. So she kept quiet.

Once again, over thinking….

She focused on the things around her, instead. Ahead of her a student was walking up to a stool that was placed in the middle of the isle that was in front of a rather large table. It looked like the teachers were sitting there, and the Headmaster, as well. Her deep set eyes looked up now, seeing the huge overhanging banners with each one having a symbol and color associated with the houses. She began feeling called towards the blue one before she heard what seemed like a distant calling of her name.

She snapped out of herself. She made sure she didn't look at anyone as she walked up to the stool. It made her uncomfortable to think about everyone staring at her, all wondering what house she would be put in. Sitting down on the stool now she kept her face down, gripping the edges of the seat of the stool. As the hat was placed on her head, Astrid flinched. It immediately began whispering mysteriously in her ear.

“Oh, I haven’t seen one of you in a while, Miss Everly, I do believe your mother was a Ravenclaw and your Father was a Griffondor?”

Astrid flinched at the mention of her father.

“Hmm, well you're nothing like your father, nothing except that temper you've got, yes, but no…well you couldn't be…. Hmm…But your mother… yes… smart, intelligent, cunning. Quick thoughts in the heat of the moment. Thirst for knowledge… Hmm... I say it's….. Ravenclaw!”

Astrid let out a breath she had been holding. She didn't know much about the houses, she had only talked about it with her mother maybe once and she couldn't even remember the fact she had been in Ravenclaw. She felt a lot better that she was put in the house her mother had been in instead of the one her father had been in. She didn't want to have anything to do with him.

The hat was taken off of her head, she supposed that was her que. She got up, and stood there for a moment before heading towards the Ravenclaw table. On the way there, she couldn't help but think about how interesting this experience would be for her. She didn't know if she was ready...

Amanda fidgeted in her chair impatiently as she watched each new student go before the magic hat to receive their Hogwarts house. The sorting process was taking just a bit too long for her own comfort. With each minute that ticked by, Ms. Pugsley grew to despise her surname more and more. What sort of name was Pugsley, anyway? It sounded far too much like one of those yappy lap dogs, or that one boy from an old morbid television program. Amanda groaned boredly as yet another child got an applause from their new house. They weren't even at the O's yet!

She was on the verge of shouting I don't want to wait any more! when at last the professor called out her name.

"Pugsley, Amanda!"

A couple of giggles sounded off from behind her, which was undoubtedly due to her unfortunate surname. But Amanda, too thrilled that the wait was over to care, turned up her nose at the hecklers and rose from her seat. As she marched towards the old hat, she recalled how the song had described each house. Hufflepuff was sweet, was it? They sounded like a weak bunch. And then there was bold Gryffindor, fair Ravenclaw, and the shrewd one, Slytherin.

As she took a seat, she thought desperately to herself that she wanted a decent, well-respected house. Anything but Hufflepuff. With the hat now atop her head, she closed her eyes tight and began to think. I don't want to be a Hufflepuff! Give me that house and I'll scream!

The hat thought for a moment. "Headstrong and determined...and a little bit demanding...hmm...you want to prove your worth, don't you? Plenty of ambition in this one as well...."

Amanda frowned, wishing the hat would stop thinking and say the name of the house.

"Hmm...yes! I know the house just for you!"

She bit her lip and waited with bated breath.

"GRYFFINDOR!!!"

At that, the pout on Amanda's face instantly turned into a wide, confident grin. Gryffindor, yes! The bravest and the best are from that house! She started a run to the Gryffindor's table until she was interrupted by a quiet "ahem" from one of the professors. Scoffing to herself, Amanda slowed down the pace and finally joined her peers.

The ride on the train wasn't really scary to Dianna. It was the amount of children that may knew her. As she was known as "Michi The Muggle". When she first heard the name she had shrugged it off and thought it would go away but it just stuck. Ever since than that have been her name. No one knew she have discovered her powers. All they know is that she was a muggle.

She heard looked out the window looking at the long stretch of land and trees. When she first heard of the news that she have been accepted to she was excited and thrill for she was one step closer to proving her father wrong. But when she heard that it was miles and miles away from her mother she wasn't as thrill. She wasn't going to go, she didn't want to leave her mother behind with know one. She was the only she had. They both only had each other. Who would leave the only person who cared for them? If it wasn't for her mother convincing her to come here she would be at home tending to her flowers.

She pulled out her favorite book turning to the page she left off.

A few moments later she was off the train following all the others students into the Great Hall. Still in her book she sat down in a seat ignoring the buzz of voices that were around her. Not paying attention to the song was playing. "No! William don't please don't go!" She smiled to herself. He should leave, it's not like he deserves her anyway. she thought.
"Dianna Michi!" she looked up at the sound of her name and looked around. Not knowing what to do all she did was stand up.
"Come forward child no need to be shy." On of the professors said with a smirk. She frowned walking up confident in each step. Her head up high and back straight. as walking up she saw the stool and the hat.
She knew what to do because her mother had explained it to her when they were getting her ready to leave. She would have been in big trouble if her mother haven't told her. She was so caught up in her book not paying attention. "Mum did say my head was always in books than reality." she mumbled to herself a smirk forming.
She sat on the stool letting the hat placed on her head.

"Hotheaded and sassy I see...."She chuckled to herself.Cunning just like your father I see..See sucked in a breath at the mention of his name and glared at the floor.Ah your a hard one for you do have kindness and caring...Oh But you want to prove yourself hmm....I know the right house for your cunning skills.
It went silent for a moment. Dianna looked up with a smirk knowing what house she belonged.


SLYTHERIN!

She jumped of the stool and walked over to the table with the rest of the house.
"This year will be interesting" She mumbled going back to her book.

Poor Jacqueline, everything was so unfamiliar in this new place. While she could tell Hogwarts was going to be an exciting and fun-filled place, she couldn't help but feel alone. Sure, she would eventually make new friends, but at the moment there was no one. It was rather scary. The school was like a castle; it was nothing like her old school. Being muggle-born she had always attended a muggle school. As a result, she hardly knew anything about the wizarding world. And what she had learned came from the short time she had to read the books she had bought. Which while most parts were interesting, Jacqueline did find a few aspects boring. When she approached those parts she would give up and put the book down. She didn't have the guts to get up and ask for help. Everyone she had seen seemed to know exactly what they were doing, that only intimidated her more. This school would be a challenge for her.

Her and the other first-years were lead into the Great Hall. The girl listened to conversations as they walked. Many of the students seemed to be rather excited. They talked about what their parents had been sorted into and how they wanted to keep the family tradition. Others mentioned which house they found to be the best. She noticed that many agreed Gryffindor was the house for the best of the best. Of course there were a few that disagreed. As for Jacqueline all this talk made her nervous. Which house would she be put into? Hufflepuff? She liked the idea of being with supposedly nice people. Ravenclaw? The female did consider her self to be intelligent. Slytherin? Cunning did not seem to be a word to describe her. Or Gryffindor? She did think of herself as brave, in fact the was nervous and slightly terrified at the moment. Everything was so different. Based on her analysis of herself Jacqueline thought she belonged in either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, both in which she thought she would enjoy the most.

"Jacqueline Lewis!" Her name was finally called. For the past several turns she had heard each house cheering as a new member arrived. What if her house was disappointed? What if no one clapped? It was an irrational fear, which Jacqueline soon got over. Of course everyone would clap, she was fairly sure they had to make an applause. This was all just first day jitters.

As the hat was placed on her head she knew that he knew where she thought she belonged, "Oh yes! I do sense kindness and intelligence, but deep down I sense courage, a lot of courage." Courage? This was not going how she thought it would. Maybe he would still put her in one of the houses she wanted. If Gryffindor was the best house, she did not want to be in it. It would be too much pressure. But the hat's next words confirmed her house for the next several years she would spend at this school. "Gryffindor!"

The table in which the Gryffindor students clapped and cheered while Jacqueline placed a small smile on her face. This was not what she wanted nor what she expected, but at least they all clapped.