Sorting Ceremony 2023-2024

Ashley entered the great hall and stood in line with the others. She had a blast watching the landscape go by while she was on the train. She had made so many mental notes of each place she passed, and even traveling to inside the great hall, that she felt dizzy from the overload. Ashley was nervous, thinking that she had to be one of the few students that was muggle born and had no idea what people would think of her. She also wondered what house she would be, hoping that she would make friends. She looked up and her eyes grew wide as she saw the candles floating above her head.
"

Ashley Young

"
Ashley froze, unsure what to do, but after the man gestured, she quickly shuffled over. She stood nervously as the hat was being placed on her head and tried to cover up the paint splotches on her hands. "

how could I have missed that!

" she said in her head.
"

Hufflepuff!

" the hat cried out.

When Ashley heard the applause from the Hufflepuff table, she smiled shyly and quickly walked over to the table, excited to eat and get to her dorm so she could meet her dorm mates and start painting.

September 1st, 2023
The Great Hall

Rory's day was not off to a great start. At least the view on The Hogwarts Express was nice, if nothing else about the trip. The young boy followed the other first-years, eyes wandering around the vast room the students and staff occupied. It was like nothing he had seen before. Perhaps if the room was empty, Rory would love to explore it. Or maybe, at least, if Rory had a friend to traverse it with.

The Sorting Ceremony, out of all the things that caused Rory stress, was not a big problem. Rory's parents had no expectation for what house he ended up with. The boy's minimal knowledge about the houses was serving in his favor - all he knew was that his father, Lewis, was a Gryffindor. Of course his father had recounted tales about his friends from each house, but Rory was hesitant to accept the generalizations he heard.

"Rory Hara." A voice boomed, snapping Rory out of his imagination.

As the incredible hat was placed on to Rory's head, he couldn't help but wonder about the sanitation standards in place at Hogwarts.

"Hmm... a curious mind, but occupied with morals. Perhaps a Hufflepuff?" Rory's heart pounded, uncertain but accepting of what the Sorting Hat claimed. "But perhaps not. Your father was a lot louder than you, but you certainly have a brave heart like his."

Rory paused, trying to determine what the Sorting Hat meant. He had always been told that he was different from Lewis, much more meek. Everyone said he was much more similar to his muggle father Alfie...

Before Rory could consider the matter in greater depth, the hat cried out, "Gryffindor!"

The young boy's head felt like it was underwater. As the hat left his head, he could only hear the muffled sound of cheers and applause from the Gryffindor table. As Rory headed off to sit with his new housemates, all he could think about was how sweaty his hands were.

Red walked into the dining hall along side his fellow students. The train ride over had been uneventful, but he preferred things that way. Candles floated above, dimly lighting the room. In front sat the head master, the teachers, and most importantly, the sorting hat. Red stood with the other students, waiting for his time to be called. Everyone around him was slowly getting called. He wanted to hide in a corner and just read a book, diving deep into the pages. But, fate wouldn't be so lucky for him. Everyone around him cheered as Huffelpuff, Slytherin, Gryfindor, and Ravenclaw were called. The older students gladly welcomed their new bunk mates. Red found himself admiring the bonds that everyone was making. He was excited to make new bonds as well. Suddenly, he heard,
"Red Wilson"
Red stepped forward, sitting on the chair as the sorting hat was placed on his head.
"Now where should we put you. Not brave enough for Gryphindor, nor sly enough for Slytherin, nor intelligent enough for Ravenclaw. I know exactly where to put you." The hat said certainly.
"Hufflepuff" Red felt his face blush as everyone at Hufflepuff looked at him. Everyone cheered and greeted him as he walked to the table with the other first years. Red had a feeling that this was the start of a great year.

Sep 1 2023, Evening

The sun had almost set as she arrived to the large school building. The train ride to Hogwarts was uneventful, just like Michelle liked it. The huge chain of emotions throughout the train ride had turned to one: anticipation. She had prepped herself for a great school year to come, and she was ready to experience all that Hogwarts had to offer. This was too good to be true, yet too much to handle for a 11 year old. How could she not feel nervous?


She slid into the Great Hall with all the other students. Her palms were wet with sweat. She had waited for this day since so long, it was finally here. Michelle couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at the enchanted candles floating above the Great Hall, and the ceiling that mimicked the night sky, complete with twinkling stars. The room itself was so large it could fit her house inside it. It was more magical than she ever imagined.

"Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." The headmaster started talking. The girl was too busy thinking to listen to his words. Then the sorting hat stated it's song, and Michelle observed the students. They seemed ...scared?

Then the students were called one by one to be sorted. As the number of students started becoming less, Michelle felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety building up inside her. What house would she be sorted into? What if she didn't meet her parents' expectations? What if she didn't fit in? She suddenly felt better, thinking about the scared students. She wasn't the only student scared. Michelle's line of thoughts was interrupted as the headmaster called out her name.
She knew that this would be a bit scary, but terrifying, she never thought. She stared at the wooden stool, with the magical hat placed upon it. She suddenly wanted to throw up, her legs threatening to lose all power, but she walked, slowly walked, towards the stool.

The Hat's voice filled her ear as she placed it on her head. She knew it could talk, but it still startled her, making her almost fall from the chair.
Stable, now.....I see you have morals... oh, courage...what else do I see? Michelle kept on listening, feeling too numb to feel anything. the hat was inside her head ... Aah, I see a kind heart.... an urge to learn....You are very different from your family... I see loyalty... Maybe I know where to put you
"HUFFLEPUFF"
The hat was taken off her head and everything was a blur - Students cheering and a hundred thoughts racing in her head as she joined the hufflepuff table. No one in their family had been a hufflepuff.
How did she end up in hufflepuff?

Word count: 485

september 1st 2023

Marianne entered the great hall with anticipation. Her family always said it was the most stressfull part but to Marianne it was the most exciting after learning about magic. Her whole family ad studied at hogwarts and many went to gryffindor. Marianne knew that her parents would not be dissapointed if she went into another house, but she didn't want to be the one who stopped the tradition. The great wall ceilling didn't look like a ceilling, it ressemble the sky. She obviously knew that i wasn't the real sky because she read the history of Hogwarts, but it's still incredible to see it with her own eyes.

The headmister started talking but she was too immersed in her thought that she didn't hear a world of what he said. When the hat started signing, her focus went back to the ceremony. It sang about the founders of Hogwarts. It is truly a facsinating story, four powerfull wizards coming together to form a school. The greatest school even. Back in her thought, Marianne didn't notice how the line in front of her started moving until her name was called.

''Marianne Deslongchamps''

She regretted instantly not listening to the headmaster instruction. ''What am i supposed to do?'' she wispered to the nearest student. ''Go to the hat.'' the student wispered back. So she did, she started walking to the stool and sat down. She took a deep breath while she putted the hat on her head. The hat started talking. ''Ummm.. i see a lot of courage but also a lot of thirst for knowledge. I know where you will be able to quench that thirst.''

''RAVENCLAW''

There it is. The feeling of dissapointing your whole family. She stood up and slowly walked to the ravenclaw table. Never in her eleven years she would of thought that she will be dressed in blue instead of red.

mahogany-colored tables were populated with assorted dishes, weaving an invitation of gluttony. The steak and Yorkshire puddings seemed to call out to her as she took notice of some chattering portraits on the walls above, their expressions and textures illuminated by floating candlelight. Some of them cheering, others bickering, and others simply conversing. She wondered if the Sorting Hat would sort her into her predicted house, as it had her mother. students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." His monologue quickly became a duet featuring the Hat himself. Glitzy stared in awe at the scene before her. The towering man looked to possess a wealth of power and knowledge. Well of course, she thought, who else would they pick to be Headmaster? He continued his speech line by line, and the Sorting Hat began to sing his song. Glitzy stole quick glances around her. She wondered who she was truly surrounded by. thought. As various names were called, she watched one by one as pupils were sorted into their respective houses. "Glitzy Morroe!" bellowed a loud voice. Her head jerked up on reflex. She could feel everyone's eyes on her almost as if they were the tips of knives as she made her way forward. You can do this. You don't have to do anything, really. Just sit there and be sorted. Almost as soon as the thoughts crossed her mind, the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. "Hmmm, what have we here?" What have we here? Is that good or bad? She began to nervously fiddle with the chain of her necklace. "You ask 'is that good or bad,' but do you truly know the answer yourself? Will you be a Hufflepuff like your mother, or perhaps your astuteness is your weightiest attribute? I see a raging fire burning with spirit like that of a Gryffindor... or could it be? Ah, yes. I know where you belong, Miss Morroe. Let it be... SLYTHERIN!"

Knowing that she was completely out of her element here, Dottie headed for it with full force. Of course, she had her nervous moments, like when she first ran through a wall on the platform. Or when she first stepped off of the train and into the boat. Despite all of that, Dottie still was excited. Why? Because she was interested. Upon arriving at the doors of Hogwarts, the sound of feet and students chattering can be heard everywhere. It was definitely deafening. Dottie walked inside the castle when light footsteps and into where everyone was heading into, a very large room with candles floating in the air, paintings moving on the walls and ghosts, real actual ghosts floating from table to tables.

Her mouth widened with the incredible sight, and almost ran into some standing in front of her, "Oof, Tá brón orm Sorry." She accidently spilled out. They ignored her and walked away, she looked around, there were so many people so she had to find a spot somewhere to sit. Quickly rushing ahead, she found a spot right near the front with what seemed to be older kids.

It finally begun, Dottie shuffled in her seat and sat up straight to focus on the stool, the hat on top of it and the older people at the table in the back. "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." The older male said. He introduced the hat that would, in her opinion, change her life for the next seven years.

The students stood and sang a song from the hat and then proceeded to sit. Her eyes were always roaming around the room to see what was going on. Even though its right in front of her, it was still all so hard to believe. After a while, students' names were being called until it was her name. To say she was nervous was an understatement. Slowly getting up and walking up the steps, she looked at the Headmaster, he nodded briefly and she sat down on the stool facing the students.

Everyone's eyes were on and that made her a bit more nervous than ever. The hat was placed on her head and she could feel it moving slightly. "Ahhh.. interesting." It said. "Brave, courageous, perhaps Gryffindor.." It continued. Dottie closed her eyes quickly. "But loyal and a bit mischevious, difficult one, you are." Dottie opened her eyes and glanced up slightly. "I got it now.... HUFFLEPUFF!"

The room exploded into a loud cheer but only front a single table. Dottie exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding and slid off the stool and headed towards the table with other Hufflepuffs. This was her house for the next seven years, the hat must be right about something.

I stood in line with all my fellow first-years. This was the time when I would discover what house would be mine throughout my years in Hogwarts.
I expected with my whole heart to be sorted into Slytherin, like my mother, father and my family- we were all Slytherins, back to my ancestors in the first wizarding war.
Professor Lear called my name.
“Sorrows, Fern!”
I walked forward and placed the hat onto my head. The little voice spoke into my ear.
“Hmm… difficult, Miss Sorrows. I see ambition… and you seem cunning… but there is also a bit of something else in there as well- a bit of… bravery… you would be well suited to Slytherin… but I think you will be better off in… GRYFFINDOR!”
The hat shouted the last word out to the whole hall. Feeling a bit surprised, I pulled it off and stood up, placing it back on the stool, as the table decorated in red clapped and cheered. I felt a bit bemused. What had gone wrong? Why wasn’t I in Slytherin?
Feeling numb, I got up and walked over to the Gryffindor table, still confused. Had the Sorting Hat seen bravery? In me? I had never really considered myself. My family was always Slytherin this, Slytherin that. But maybe… maybe Gryffindor would be a good house for me after all.

My God, it’s huge!
As I enter the Great Hall, following the long procession of young newcomers like me, I can't help but marvel at the beauty of the place. Throwing my head back as I move quickly in the column across the central aisle, I gaze in wonder at the bottomless ceiling adorned with thousands of candles. What an incredible idea and a superb effect! It's completely magical!
The Great Hall looks like it could fit the entire school with four huge tables - I'm sure I've never seen tables this big, is that even possible in normal life? It’s probably magical too! - crowded with students all dressed in their house colors. One table per house.

Everyone has their famous and formal pointed hat that had to be purchased among the other school items. So now I guess I know when to wear it. Besides, when I met Alyssea at Madame Malkin's, I had the impression that she didn't wear it often. It is surely therefore for special occasions like today.
As we - the first years - walk down the aisle, I feel the stares of everyone and no one at the same time. It's true, this Ceremony is important for us but for the other students on the benches, it's a kind of show. New little tiny students...
I look over my shoulder a few times, trying to catch a smirk. Then I think of Alyssea and look towards the yellow table. Hufflepuff. But either it's too far or there are too many people but I can't find her and I don't want to be noticed so I stay still while the group of first years stops in front of the stage.

The director, in his big armor – he must be so hot in there! - comes on stage to welcome us. His voice suddenly so big, so loud, magically amplified to be heard by anyone in the vast room, startles me a little. I did not expect that ! Luckily, Mom never used this trick at home. It's pretty scary when you're not warned. I wonder if Sir Lear was amused by our surprised or worried looks as his voice filled the room like a roar.

Carefully, I listen to his entire speech and my mouth opens in surprise when I understand where this voice is coming from. An old wizard's hat? Really ?! For sure, Mom got me, this is her surprise: clearly, I wasn't expecting it!
A little perplexed but curious to receive this strange, magical and intelligent hat on my head, I wait for my name to be called.
Lucky for me, my last name is among the first part of the list – way too long, look at this lenght ! Poor people, I thought, looking randomly at my neighbors as the end of the parchment fell in front of Sir Lear's feet. Those whose name starts with an M or an N will have tingling in their legs from waiting!

- Cochran Hailey ! echoes finally through the Great Hall.
Come on Hailey, everything is going to be okay, my conscience whispers to me to give me courage. I take a deep breath and move forward in apnea. I smile shyly at the Director and sit down on the stool he points to. I exhale and swallow as my bum hits the wood, awaiting my sentence.
Silence falls, I feel eyes on me. From everyone. Argh.

- GRYFFINDOR !
As I hear the welcoming applause coming from the Red and Gold table, a intimidated but wide smile forms on my lips as like an automaton I stand up and walk towards the assigned table. My heart pounding, I look everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Gryffindor, home of the brave, right? I hope I will meet the expectations.