Closed The Sorting ceremony 2018-2019

𝓣𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓪 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓶𝓮𝓭, 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽.

More like, Talia felt like her head was going to combust from everything going on that she didn't have a clue about. How in the world are these candles floating? She thought before reminding herself that she was in a weird magical world where tons of uncanny and mystical things supposedly happened for the bazillionth time that day.

But now she and all her fellow first years were gathered up in the middle of a huge room with tons of other kids watching them eagerly, whispering about a sorting ceremony.

Now what's a sorting ceremony? She asked herself, then mentally facepalmed. Great job asking someone who knows who it is, Tal, she thought. Keeping her eyes open and watching eagerly as the first kid was called up to a stool at the front of the hall, and a hat was put on their head. Now what is this, a hat fashion show?

But then the hat spoke. The hat spoke? Blinking a few times to make sure Tal wasn't hallucinating, she confirmed the odd sight. Yes, the hat was speaking. It shouted out a random word, Ravenclaw. Talia remembered that from the chat that she had had on the train.

Well, the chat she had listened to and not said anything in, anyways.

In a flood of information everything pieced together. Sorted into the four houses, like her sister had explained once, one of which was Ravenclaw.

Before she knew it she had heard the words Piper, Talia. As if everything was in slow motion, the tiny girl pushed through the crowd of kids up to the front, taking a seat on the stool, clenching her fists to hide their nervous trembles. The hat went over her head and she couldn't see anything, the old cloth hanging over her eyes.

Good, at least she couldn't see the hundreds of faces observing her that way.

"Sweet and soft-hearted, I see. But very sensitive. Ah, well, with a personality like yours, you have Hufflepuff written all over you," the hat said loudly.

"Hufflepuff!"

Ezekiel watched as students, one by one, put on the Sorting Hat. He observed the reactions of each student when their house was decided and declared. Some people rejoiced at the sound of their chosen house, others not so much. Ezekiel himself didn't know what house he would be placed in. He could be a Gryffindor, because of his adventurous spirit and courage. Or Ravenclaw, because of his intelligence and maturity. Slytherin was also a possibility, because of his cunning-intelligent nature and love for pranks. Hufflepuff could be the choice also, since he stands up for his friends and tries to be kind to everyone he meets.

Then he heard his name. "Ezekiel Aspen." This was it. This was what everything has come to. As Ezekiel began walking up to the Sorting Hat, anxiety suddenly began boiling inside of him. That hat's gonna decide about the next seven years of my life... I don't know how to feel about this. He approached the Sorting Hat, and he realized what he stood before. This was the legendary Sorting Hat, which once sat on the legendary Godric Gryffindor's head, with the legendary founders of Hogwarts! Ezekiel sat down, and the hat was put on his head. Here goes everything.

"Hmmmm," said the Sorting Hat, "I see many opportunities for your future, young Mister Aspen. You are courageous, yet soft. You are mature, yet curious. You are kind, yet strong. I see a lot of potential, here. Yes..." Ezekiel smiled. This was the biggest moment in his life. He only wished his mother was watching. "This might have been a difficult choice, but you fit perfectly in one house and in one house only..." Here it is, his entire future in the next thing the Sorting Hat says. Ezekiel held his breath.

"Ravenclaw!"

Mum's house. I'm in Mum's house!

As soon as Amelia stepped foot inside the castle she felt at home. Amelia glanced around at her surroundings, her mouth falling agape and every so often a small gasp would escape from her parted lips. Amelia had never been so amazed and in awe of anything in her life, this is truly and experience. Amelia was lost in thought thinking of what the next seven years will bring to her when someone came and escorted her and Amelia’s fellow first years into the Great Hall.

As the first years walked the long pathway to the top of the hall, Amelia once again began staring at her surroundings. The older students peering curiously at them, the long tables that the students found themselves sitting at abs of course, the enchant ceiling. It was a beautiful evening and the ceiling certainly did it justice.

Amelia stood there fidgeting while waiting for name to be called. The young girl was eager to find out where she belonged, was she going to be a Slytherin like the rest of her family? If she wasn’t a Slytherin, it probably wouldn’t be worth going home for Christmas- her father would be furious. Amelia always felt like an outsider in her own home anyways but this would just make everything ten times worse.

Amelia snapped out of her thoughts when she heard someone call for her. “Turner, Amelia.” Amelia took a deep breath in and pushed her way to the front of the hall. She slowly made her way up to the steps and sat on the stool while a Professor put a shabby, old hat in her head. The hat began speaking about Amelia and stuff about her life and traits. “Although Slytherin would suit you well, it’s no house for a brave, daring young girl like you- Gryffindor.” The hat screamed the last part and a table in the hall burst into applause. The hat was removed from Amelia’s and she slowly walked to what she now knew as the Gryffindor table.

No Turner has ever been in any house but Slytherin- Amelia could already feel the storm forming at home back in Ireland.

Bethan was not happy.

Standing at the back of the throng of new students, her tall stature allowed her to see the man who called himself the headmaster of this crackpot school with no issue. She scowled as he continued on with his dumb welcome speech for this dumb school that her dumb family made her go-

No. She shouldn’t think that way about her parents, or Seren. (Her other siblings, however, were very dumb.)

She was pulled out of her own thoughts and back into the introduction at the mention of houses. Four houses, with their own characteristics and virtues… The house names had gone in one ear and out the other, but the House Championship Cup had managed to hold her attention. So the houses functioned similar to sports teams? She was still displeased about her… change in education, but she was never one to turn down a competition.

That slight bit of reassurance was promptly dashed into a million and one pieces as the headmaster pushed open a very large door to reveal the biggest room Bethan had ever seen in her entire life. Never-ending tables seating so many people, and they were all looking at her, why were they all looking at her? To avoid the sea of piercing gazes she averted her eyes upwards. Big mistake. The candles were floating; of course they would be. At this ridiculous school where everything was just… just weird, there was no reason they wouldn’t have candles flying high above the student’s heads.

Maybe if I keep looking up, some wax will drip into my eyes. It was a tempting thought. She probably wouldn’t have to stay here if that happened. The warblings of a singing, living, breathing hat, however, brought Bethan back to the present as she stared at the thing with a mixture of confusion and disgust. This was a joke, it had to be. She squinted her eyes tightly shut. She hated her old school, loathed every single minute of sitting at a cramped desk writing papers about books she didn’t understand. But she’d give everything now to be back there struggling to read some three hundred page novel instead of being surrounded by magic. This weird, awful, strange, freaky-

“Gough, Bethan!”

Bethan flinched as her name was called, her eyes darting back and forth as they looked for the source. “Uhh, present.” She flushed red and glowered as she heard hushed laughter from the rest of the unsorted students. A stern look from the teacher and a gestural wave towards the stool currently occupied by the Sorting Hat indicated to Bethan that this wasn’t role call. She’d have to put that thing on her head, wouldn’t she? Still pink from before, she kept her eyes on the floor as she pushed her way to the front of the group. She cautiously sat down upon the stool, and winced as she felt the hat placed upon her head.

I don’t want to be here.

“Ah, miss Gough,” the Sorting Hat said. “Why, I believe I know your sister. Sorted her myself, in fact.” A small *harrumph* of pride followed. “But you’re not her, are you? Now, where to put you…”

Bethan wasn’t paying attention. She was staring blankly at the far side of the room, thinking about how she could get out of this crazy place. Her parents wouldn’t let her leave, that was out of the question. Maybe she could plan an escape? Surely there was a low enough window and yes, Hogwarts was a long way from Wales but she could make up a plan as she went.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

The sudden bellow from the Sorting Hat caused Bethan to jump off of the stool, yanking the hat off her head and carelessly placing it back down as she did so. In her surge of emotions, she heard cheering coming from one of the four tables, the one decorated in red and gold. (Why they were so happy about it, she didn’t know.) She rushed over to the table and grabbed a seat as isolated from the other students as she could find.

Well, it was over at least. Bethan stared down at her empty plate, listening to her stomach as it growled. She would eat first, then think about what to do later… well, later.

[quote]Jena looked around in awe as she followed the headmaster and her peers down the Great Hall, the bewitched candles twinkling high above her. Craning her neck up, she was completely enraptured at the sight; her mother had told her what to expect once she entered, but she never could have imagined it would be quite this beautiful. This was the most amount of magic Jena had ever been around before, and she knew there would only be more to come.

Eventually the line stalled and the murmuring of many others around her began as students were slowly called up and announced their house in a bellowing voice. Jena couldn’t see who or what was announcing the houses from her spot, but as the line steadily crept forward, she could see that the voice belonged to a dingy wizard’s hat with a rip near the brim resembling a mouth. She gulped and twisted her fingers a bit in her cloak that hung slightly off her shoulders, anxious knowing that it would soon be her on that stool with everyone’s eyes on her as the small old hat would decide her fate for the rest of her years at Hogwarts. What if she was sorted into the wrong house? Would she succeed? Would she get along with others? What if she felt her house was the opposite of who she was? The pressure of all these questions swirling in her mind made her dizzy. Her mother reminded Jena before she left to relax and just be herself, but that was certainly easier said than done.

“Jena-Marie Aarden.”

Oh no, Jena panicked internally. She flushed slightly as she approached the hat, everyone staring at her. Barely a few minutes in and they’re already using my full name. But it’s okay, at least they didn’t use my middle name too. I’d definitely be in trouble if that happened, hah. It’ll be great, this is fine. Deep breaths. Jena finished her last set of deep breaths just as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. Even though her heart was hammering with nerves, she was also curious about this strange hat that knew just where to sort all the new students, and so she tried to glance up as much as she could without moving her head.

The hat chuckled at once. “There’s no need to be anxious, my young witch. Especially not about your name. I’m sure others will call you Jena should you ask. Now... onto business.” The hat gave a hum. “Aarden... I don’t seem to recognize that name. A muggle perhaps? Ahh but your mother, I remember her like it was yesterday. Quite the boisterous one, was she.”

Jena could feel as the hat sank lower onto her head. “Only a generation apart, yet so much different potential. I see you are kind to those around you and have a fierce loyalty for those who have earned a place in your heart. Not adventurous by nature, but you would not hesistate to stand up to someone who does wrong to those you love. You have an appreciation for knowledge as well, very good. But most importantly... I can see you are driven by your desire to succeed - fair and true but never wavering towards your goal. For what are all these traits without the determination to follow through? Yes, I know just the House to put you in...

SLYTHERIN!”

Jena gave a sigh of relief and smiled as cheers erupted from the table with the green and silver banner. Slytherin... Yeah, she could definitely do this. With light and easy steps she approached an empty spot at the table, mouth watering at all the delicious food laid out before her.

Tony was utterly shocked when the Sorting Hat called his house.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

He was scared to know what his parents would say. The kids at the Gryffindor table clapped and some stood up. Tony found himself moving slowly from the stool to a seat at the table. As he sat himself down, he stayed silent. His parents would be furious. The past 12 generations in the South family had been in Slytherin.

To be honest, Tony had expected to be in Slytherin. He was cunning, resourceful, ambitious, and always put himself and his family first. He didn't understand how he could've been sorted into Gryffindor. He wasn't the least bit brave. Even the smallest spider would scare her. What surprised him most was how he felt less at home with her housemates, and more comfortable with the Slytherins.[/color]

As Tony looked at the Slytherin table, the table he wanted to be sitting in, longing for the hat to resort him, however, he knew that the hat had made its decision. He was a bloody Gryffindor.

Walking into the Great Hall with all of the other first-years, Aeri was in awe of how truly great it was. As soon as they approached the front, she become nervous because the Sorting Ceremony had begun. One by one, young witches and wizards were called before having the Sorting Hat placed on their heads. Aeri felt her heart race as she became anxious and wondered when it was going to be her turn.

"Song, Aeri." Upon hearing her name, she stepped forward and then sat down onto the stool before the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. The young witch tried her best to stay calm as the Sorting Hat began to speak. "Hmm, interesting... I see that you are intelligent and eager to learn, which Ravenclaw is well known for. Yet that same knowledge makes you cunning and you know when to evade something. I also see that you are quite ambitious and want to be the best you can be. Though you're not very brave, especially when it comes to trying to make friends."

It was truly amazing how the Sorting Hat could read her so well and easily, but this is what makes it the Sorting Hat. "Perhaps Slytherin, where you could make your true friends?" Friends? Aeri liked the possibility of making friends so maybe Slytherin could be could for her. "Alright then, better be Slytherin!" She smiled brightly as she got off of the stool and then went over to the Slytherin table before sitting down with her fellow housemates. The young witch wondered if this is where she truly belonged, but her fears were eased because she trusted in the Sorting Hat's decision.

« What is happening? » he wondered.

- Where is Fairchild, Elio? the Deputy Headmaster called with an impatient tone. He looked confused, a bit angry and a bit worried. Had he already called his name?

« Crap. » He raised his hand high in the air.

- Yes, sorry, that’s me!


- Let’s see here... Oooh, a fiery passion for loved ones... A very loyal soul, almost blinding... You might do well in Hufflepuff...

Elio’s body relaxed. That didn’t sound too bad. Funny to pronounce.

- But deep down, the most important thing is your thirst, isn’t it? You crave life, humans, art... You have a question mark inside your head and you desperately want to answer it. I know just where to put you, Elio Fairchild. RAVENCLAW!

That last word was so loud the young boy was stunned for a little while. But soon enough, the hat was lifted and the Great Hall appeared to him as if photographed: the first-years, looking nervous and queasy, the thousands of candles below the starry night sky, three of the four long tables clapping politely, and the fourth one like their lives depended on it. A huge grin made its way on his face as relief and joy flooded Elio's body. His legs were slightly shaky but stable as he walked towards the Ravenclaws.

Sometimes, one must wonder whether they truly know oneself. 

As Theo watches the other children steadily be sorted into different houses, by seemingly arbitrary rhyme and reason, he ponders whether he knows his own mind as well as he thinks. The sorting hat- and what a ratty thing it was, beaten and ragged (you'd think such a priceless item would be taken care of better)- was unreadable, inhuman, and apparently inside their minds. The concept of another presence inside his head was offputting, to say the least. 

That was barely one problem though. A mere distraction from the main show, the sorting itself. Theo frowns internally, tapping a finger against his thigh, hidden by his robes. Would he be in Ravenclaw, for his love of learning, for his mother's fond memory? Gryffindor, for his stubbornness and perseverance in the face of most anything? Hufflepuff for his unwavering loyalty and the sometimes gentle actions he kept to lone rooms and shaded forest? Or Slytherin, like his father and stepfather, for his ambition to prove himself both worthy of love and attention and to prove himself unneeding of it. 

His (not panicked, thank you very much) musings were interrupted by the sound of the next person being called up.