Sorting Ceremony Sept 2022

hogwart's great hall. she was here. amaris was here. finally, her sorting was just less than an hour before her. she knew, without a doubt, that she would be a ravenclaw. amaris' mother was no hogwarts alumnus, but amaris was sure that alyssa would have been a ravenclaw. alyssa was the mother she always looked up to, always admired. elspeth was a ravenclaw. that was a fact harold was not too keen on, but what he thought did not matter to amaris, nor to her cousin. elspeth was the smartest girl amaris had seen, and the eagle's house was always a best fit for her.

however, the knight family have always prided themselves on a strong slytherin line, interjected with a number gryffindors, here and there. amaris was no slytherin. she was not ambitious, nor was she cunning, as a girl who had always prided herself on her honesty and servitude. amaris was no gryffindor either, unlike her father (though, to be frank, he had his fair share of cowardly moments). she did not fancy herself as brave. in fact, she was an easily scared girl. hufflepuff blood had never mingled with the knights -- almost. when a rare hufflepuff occur, terrible things were said to happen to them, things amaris need not know. sometimes amaris felt like a hufflepuff. she was loyal and helpful, but her love for the badger house could never compare to ravenclaw.

ravenclaw. yes, that would be the house she would be sorted into. it must be.

amaris was snapped out of her thoughts as she heard her name called by the headmaster, professor solomon lear, 'knight, amaris!' that was her name. she was supposed to sit on the stool to be sorted. go on. every student goes through this. it won't be scary! it was scary, though. what if she was a hufflepuff? she'll probably never see elspeth again. what if she was a slytherin? that would be the cause of a celebration at the knight house, but it was a house amaris did not desire at all. she was no snake. there was not a drip in her blood that was self-serving. not a slytherin. no.

amaris stepped up shakily to the stool and sat down. professor lear placed to hat on her head -- it had begun. amaris reminded herself that everyone was nervous the first -- and only -- time the sorting hat would be placed on their heads. she would make it clear to the hat that she was best fit for ravenclaw. amaris was not a violent girl, but personally, she thought the hat should be burnt if it placed her in any other house. the perfect spell popped into her mind: incendio. burn, burn, burn. she was yet to learn that spell, but elspeth had provided a simple explanation on what it would mean for the target. harold had also demonstrated to spell on a letter he did not enjoy reading.

what are you thinking, dear? the hat's voice snapped amaris back into reality. it did not speak aloud, but the soon-to-be witch could hear it in her mind.

amaris scowled at such a private question, but proceeded to speak-think back to the hat. i was simply thinking how i would destroy you if i was not placed in my desired house. currently i am settling on a simple fire making spell.

the hat chuckled, causing amaris to frown. there was really no reason to make fun of her, especially in such a serious circumstance. i am indestructible, to be frank. but what is your preferred house, miss. knight?

indestructible. fair enough, for such an important hat. that made amaris wonder though, whether someone had tried to burn it before. she was startled as the sorting hat responded with a subtle 'no'. amaris bets that it was frowning, though it would be impossible to see under that hat's large brim. amaris cocked her head to display her displeasure, making the hat move dramatically.

so, what is your preferred house, miss. knight? the hat asked. it shifted slightly, and managed to get amaris' head back to it's usual place.

finally, they were getting on to official business. ravenclaw, amaris said telepathically. it was short, but it conveyed her point. that was all that really mattered. when the hat did not respond, amaris repeated her choice of house.

the hat seemed to sigh, if that was possible (but alas, anything was possible in the wizarding world), why ravenclaw? amaris knitted her brows as her mouth curled downward in annoyance. she had imagined her sorting in every spare moment of her time, and it always ended with the hat screaming 'ravenclaw!' after a mere second in the knight's presence. amaris had a feeling that it might not end like that. she did not respond.

the hat took this as a cue to continue on. i have sorted many knights, amaris. harold knight, your uncle, slytherin. maria knight, your aunt, slytherin. robert knight, your father, gryffindor. katherine knight, your cousin, slytherin. hatty, arabella, matthew knight, your cousins, all slytherin. expect from the rare gryffindor, your line produces slytherins only. are you really ravenclaw enough to claim that you are one?

that stung. amaris bit her lip hard enough to cause blood. are you saying i am not worthy of that house? am i not intelligent enough? is elspeth just better than me at everything? what the sorting hat said- amaris was going to prove she was ravenclaw enough to be one! i am a ravenclaw, she thought, but did not convey the message, which made her wonder whether the hat could hear it or not.

the hat paused, as if reconsidering it's options. elspeth knight. yes, she was a fine girl. you have her fight, but you are unlike her.

amaris sat there, unmoving, as if taped to the chair. she had elspeth's fight. amaris had elspeth's fight in her! she had been praised many times, but this was, by far, the best of them. her enthusiasm drained out of her, however, when the sorting hat continued. she was unlike elspeth. amaris was unlike elspeth! that had a hidden meaning though -- she would never be as good as elspeth. amaris did not respond, just continued to bite on her lip. now, she was certain that she was drawing blood. she tasted it in her mouth, metallic and certainly not enjoyable.

you do not just have her fight, the hat continued to talk, but amaris was tuning out. you have fight. you are brave, and confident, and you can value others above yourself. there are so much more opportunities for you, opportunities you deserve! amaris could tell the sorting hat was excited, and now was the time for her to pipe and respond, but she did not give the hat that pleasure.

'i know, like father, like daughter, you would be your best in, gryffindor!' the gryffindor table erupted in cheers and applause, as the hat said this aloud, happy for the hat's decision after such a long consideration.

amaris stood up and walked to join them. she did not feel like applauding, or cheering, or feeling happy.