Sorting Ceremony 2023-2024

Elizabeth was unusually shy that day.
Why was she shy? Today was the day in which she would be sorted.

As she waited with the other soon-to-be first-years, she saw others being sorted and began to think (also keeping an ear open) about which house she was most likely to be in.

It's true that I'm mostly bold but that's when I'm in a familiar place but this is unfamiliar so not Gryffindor...I'm mischievous and a prankster so maybe Slytherin...My Mama and Papa say I'm sweet and friendly so maybe Hufflepuff...But then again, I love school so much so my bet is Ravenclaw. She thought as her name was called.

Walking up, she sat on the stool and waited as the Hat thought about where to put her. Please in Ravenclaw, please...I love school and my brother's there. Please, please, please put me... She thought. Hm...Ravenclaw? I sense some hiding boldness, some sweetness, some prankishness oh, and mostly studiousness so, well..."RAVENCLAW" the Hat shouted and she stood up.

As she walked over to the Ravenclaw table, her brother moved a little ways. Grinning, she strode over to him, hugged him affectionately, and sat down beside him. "I love you so much." She said and, head on his shoulder, she waited for the Sorting Ceremony to finish.

Sarah was many things at the moment; The first one was amazed. She felt her mouth open in awe and her eyes expand as she walked other children go up to a talking hat of all things and be placed into a house. Her mouth formed an excited smile. That's so cool!

She couldn't stop her mind from wandering, almost not hearing her own name called. It was the second time that finally her mind registered that it was her turn. The bubbly child strode straight up, for once letting her worries subside in favour of her curiosity. She sat down on the stool, barely keeping still, as the hat was lowered onto her head.

"....Hm...quite the eager one, aren't we?" A deep voice filled her mind. She looked around, puzzled, before it spoke again.

"Ah, I presume you've never heard of me. Well, don't worry, this is just between you and me, I'm talking within your mind, no one else can hear," The hat spoke. Sarah's mind raced with questions.

"Ok! Ok! Wow! Um- Hi- uh talking hat- talking hat- my goodness, how do you do the whole 'entering someone's mind' thing? That's a very nice talent you have but it's a little spooky, thanks for the warning, I thought I was going crazy for a second there-" She thought-rambled to herself, replying back. The hat chuckled, a little amused, interrupting her enthusiastic ranting.

"It seems you're quite the chatterbox," The hat remarked, an air of laughter to the voice. Sarah blinked, muttering a quiet 'oh', before he continued.

"Perhaps such an inquisitive mind could end up in the house of Rowena?" The hat murmured in her brain. She felt an odd sensation, almost tingling. She could tell the hat was scanning her memories.

"Hm, or perhaps not. No, no, I see that you've shown one thing above all else: a loyalty to others. Not to mention, you've certainly got a kind nature unfamiliar to most. You're a sweet soul, at your core," the hat analyzed and Sarah beamed.

"Thank you! I try to do good for my family, you know? I've got a sister, she's one, and she's the cutest thing ever, she just kinda rolls around and you know- does baby things- but it's great-," She babbled excitedly. The hat chuckled, before stopping her.

"As much as I'd love to chat, there are others," It reminded her. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and apologized. The hat merely waved her off.

]"No need to apologize. In fact, I'd say your outgoing nature is charming...I think you will do well in a house where you can grow that good heart of yours. I think your tendency for hard work, and devotion to your family earns you a spot in...HUFFLEPUFF." The hat bellowed, and she felt the whole room erupt into claps and applause. She smiled, a true smile, before practically bouncing over to her seat. Even though she wasn't the most knowledgable of this place, much less her own house, she saw the warm faces of her tablemates and felt a bit more welcome.

Dialogue
Thoughts

Wilhelmina's eyes were wide with wonder as she tilted her head upwards, admiring the hovering candles. Never before had she seen such grandiose displays of magic, and her breath caught in her throat at the otherworldly sight. Her fingers anxiously played at the hem of her sleeves as the imposing figure of her headmaster caught her attention. Winnie's gaze was drawn to the tall man, the large metal plate of his armour glimmered from the illuminated candles. He looks like the knights from the fairytales that father used to read to me before bed!

She felt slightly nervous, noting that most of the other students didn't look so amazed at the magic around them as her. Being muggle born she felt behind her peers already on many things, and she didn't want to look silly in front of them, so she spent most of her summer reading up on the basics of Hogwarts and the wizarding world. Now that Winnie was in line with the other first years, she started to feel more anticipation than anxiety. She looked to the tables, lined with students from various years all in their united robes she couldn't wait until she was sorted, and to find her place amongst all the unfamiliarity. She jumped with a gasp when the tattered hat begun to speak, her brows furrowing in concentration as she stood on her tiptoes, jutting her chin up to get a better view. Winnie listened intently, learning about all the houses through the quaint song that echoed through the great hall.

After what felt like ages, Winnie finally made her way to the front of the line.

"Wilhelmina Stewart!" Her name was called, and her spine snapped straight, taking a moment to let out a deep breath before stepping up to the podium. She smiled timidly as she took her spot upon the stool, facing a sea of her peers as the hat was placed upon her head.

"Hmm, a muggle-born witch... There's much you wish to learn and discover about magic." A voice echoed in her brain, the sensation was so strange and slightly unnerving that she cringed slightly. "A kind and soft hearted girl, you seem to really adore beasts, hm? Could be a great fit for Hufflepuff... Ah, but this thirst for knowledge, it's an endless well inside of you that you yearn to fill. Yes, this brain of yours is quite wise. It's decided." The hat drained on, and Winnie held her breath to look up at it's brim.

"Ravenclaw!".

With that the hat was removed off her head and she let out a loud exhale, grinning widely. Winnie pushed herself off the stool and quickly took her place amongst the other first years at her table. Wasting no time she reached out and grabbed a handful of a delicious looking sweet in front of her and dug in, blushing shyly looking up to the candles once more. Finally, I have my place here.

The doors of the Great Hall open. The first thing Ruby sees are the hundreds of candles floating in mid-air above the four long tables, filled with excited-looking students. Her jaw drops when she sees the ceiling, enchanted to look like the skies outside.

They are guided to the front of the room, facing the teacher's table. From behind them, a grey-haired wizard with a full beard appears, and takes his place at the centre of the table.
"Welcome first year students. I am Solomon Lear, Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry."

The room falls quit immediatly as the Headmaster starts to talk. He tells the first years what to expect and how they are going to be sorted. When he's done, they turn around, facing a little stool with a worn-out hat on top. A little hole appears and the hat starts to sing his song. When the hat is finished, a roaring applause fills the Great Hall. Ruby is getting very nervous. "This is it," she thinks. "Where is he going to put me?"

The headmaster stands up, and suddenly the room goes quit. Waves of nerves fly through Ruby's stomach. Solomon Lear takes out a long parchment and starts reading out names. One by one the students go to the stool and put the hat on their head. The hat takes a moment to decide, and then shouts out the chosen House. The dining table of that House bursts out in applause and cheer, and the first-year takes place at the table among the other students. This goes on for a while, until "Night, Ruby!" is shouted.

Trembling, Ruby starts to walk to the stool. She takes the Sorting Hat, places it on her head and sinks down on the stool. The hat slides over her eyes and she is covered in darkness.
"Ah, Ruby!" says a small voice inside her ears. "I can see that you are a smart and friendly girl. A little stubborn too, at some times. A hard-working, loyal friend, I might add." Ruby blushes a little, as she awaits the decision of the hat. "Yes, I know. I'm going to put you in HUFFLEPUFF!"

That last word resonated through the Hall. The Hufflepuff table cheers her on as she takes place with her new classmates. She sighs in relief and smiles. Amongst her new House, she watches the rest of the students to be sorted and cheers for the other new Hufflepuffs who join the table. At the end of the sorting, the table fills with the most delicious looking meal. "This is going to be awesome!" Ruby thinks, as she fills her plate with all her favorite foods, and starts a conversation with her fellow students.

The first years shuffled into the dining hall. The tall stone walls adorned with all the intricate details of gothic architecture. The large windows and open ceiling washing the hall in blue light. No, not the open ceiling, the closed ceiling, with the night sky encased beneath. Just in case the singing hat wasn’t enough to prove the magic of this place the clump of first years straining their necks to take in a full view of their surroundings.

After the headmaster had given his speech, the students lined up, some practically jumping in whether it be excitement or fear.

“Slytherin!”
“Hufflepuff!”
“Now this one is a… Gryffindor!”

Neil slowly moved down the line with each student sorted, not hoping for any particular house. He didn’t know anybody at the school anyway. And there wasn’t such thing as a bad house. There wasn’t such thing as a bad house, right? Even if there was, Neil hadn’t done anything that would deem him deserving of a bad house placement. But that didn’t put the thought out of his head even as he sat at the stool to be sorted.

The hat waited a moment before saying anything. Letting Neil’s anticipation be dragged out a minute longer before a booming

“Gryffindor!” echoed down the hall.

The long table under the red banner roared with cheers and applause. Neil got up as soon as the hat was lifted from his head, unable to keep himself from sharing in the excitement, rushing down to the table and taking a free seat in near the front of the table. The cheering, it was the first time he had felt real sense of recognition from his Hogwarts peers, all his doubts faded away in the happy moment, washed out of his mind by optimism. If this is what it felt like to be a Gryffindor, Neil supposed he could get used to it.

Not much time passed between disembarking from the train and being ushered into the Great Hall. The students needed to be assigned to their respective houses before being given the opportunity to explore the campus grounds. Ethan stood about tenth in line, his eyes fixated on the talking hat at the center of the dais. Flanking the spectacle on either side sat a score of professors and staff. Some of the other children could identify this person or that, and they seemed not very intrigued at all by the mumbling attire.

Ethan took a quick glance around the room. Four long tables dominated much of the space, each with their own house regalia identifying its owner. He looked past Gryffindor and Slytherin and laid his eyes on Ravenclaw. He could feel the excitement growing. When classes began, he’d find a dozen friends to talk to. They’d go over puzzles and games, questions and homework. They’d spend hours working until they got the answers. Even when it got hard, they’d persevere. In the end, Ethan would have the bestest friends he’d ever dreamed of.

Before he knew it, his name echoed throughout the hall. His attention jolted back into the present, where he stood face to face with the sorting hat. A lump surfaced in his throat. He began to feel the jitter in his legs. All eyes laid on him, from first year to tenured professor. For a moment, he froze. A single foot became a hundred leagues. A flood of self doubt filled his mind. He didn’t deserve to be here, not when the blood of famed wizards walked the same halls.

The hat beckoned once more, but Ethan didn’t move. Behind him, a few children snickered. To his left, he caught the glimpse of a student in black and yellow clothing. They smiled at him, raised a thumbs up, and mouthed, “It’s okay.” That relieved the tension in his legs. A single voice of aid in a storm of unease is enough to right the ship. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

Ethan turned to face the hall and sat on the stool. He could grasp the breadth of the building, from the stone floors to the magically illusioned roof. The hat began to talk, but Ethan examined each house. He looked toward Ravenclaw and failed to suppress the smile. Were Ethan not fixated on what he thought he wanted, he’d have heard the hat mention hard-work and dedication. He’d have heard a list of qualities that separate him from certain houses.

The verdict rendered, and a table Ethan was not looking at erupted in applause. He wondered why the yellow table was cheering. They must cheer for everyone, he thought. He couldn’t recall the ceremony so far. His mind betrayed him by being occupied with the futures of Ravenclaw. No, that can’t be right, he realized. The student before him went to the Gryffindor, and they cheered. Tables didn’t cheer for students they didn’t receive. Besides, Ravenclaw didn’t uproar. They didn’t welcome Ethan Baker as their newest member.

Ethan turned toward Hufflepuff and to the student in the black and yellow that smiled at him. As he stood from the stool, his legs seemed to effortlessly carry him toward his new home. “Welcome, my friend,” the helpful student said with an upbeat glee. “You’re shivering! Here, take my scarf. It’s okay, I have more! You’re very welcome here in Hufflepuff,” he concluded as he ushered Ethan to a vacant chair.

He had never seen so many people happy to meet him. Their kindness infected him with a sense of home and belonging. No, many of them weren’t born with erudition or unnatural curiosities. They didn’t take great joy in solving puzzles or acquiring knowledge. Yet, their stories indicated that House Hufflepuff possessed a quality that only few could claim: unwavering dedication in the face of dismal odds. He thought back to his mother’s accident and the loss of her hearing. He remembered countless nights of learning sign language, of reading every book he could to communicate with her. That wasn’t love of learning, it was learning for love. Giving up was never an option.

Before dinner concluded, Ethan looked back once more at the sorting hat. Everyone claimed it could never make a mistake. Now, Ethan was beginning to understand why.

I am quite a forgetful one. I remember making my way down the train and reaching the gates of Hogwarts, of course with some company, laughing along, but I swear I have no clue as to what their names are. Anywho, the doors to great hall opened and I...was overwhelmed. I looked around, admired the beauty of the grand hall and its magical aura filling the air around. Excited seniors were looking over us, some were laughing, some excited and some finding our cluelessness quite adorable.

A tall man, the air around him bespoke authority, stood at the far end of the hall and was announcing and welcoming us, first years. Oooo! He is our Headmaster! I couldn't focus much on what he spoke honestly, I was admiring the intricate design of the halls, the playful ghosts, the seniors {I found few cute seniors, maybe around our age; some pretty ones who seem like 5th years}; I was just having my eyes everywhere but at what was in front. All of a sudden there was a song...who is singing? A hat?! OOOOOOOHHH! SORTING HAT! Right ! I am to be sorted into one of the 4 houses. My parents were Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw I believe; I personally like Slytherin. They are badass. But, I might not be cunning or whatever mum said they are. I don't mind any house, so yeah. Oh right! The song....its already over?! I missed it! Gosh my thought train really ruins stuff. I did hear parts of the song, but I should have paid attention...

The Headmaster pulled out a hugeeeeeee list of...something..oh names! Okay, this is gonna take some time. I might as well go back to admiring the floating candles. How many of them are there? Let's see...1,2,4,8,20.....180, 186.... "SHUBHANGI KANJILAL!"

"I wasn't doing anything, I SWEAR!" I reaaaallllyy wasn't. "It's your turn to get sorted." Someone whispered behind me. Oh...

I head up, took a seat, and a gigantic hat was put on my head...and it covered my eyes! It's too big!

"AH! Another Ambitious brave young lady."

Who spoke?
Oh! Right the Hat.

"I see courage...curiosity....mischief! You would do wonders in Gryffindor."

Oooo! The house of the lion...

"Hm, you want to be a Slytherin....ah! Such a funny little thing! I am afraid your humor, mischief and innocence would do anywhere but Slytherin."

Aw dang it.

"I don't think you will feel sad for long, little one. I believe this house will suit you best....GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Cheers flood in from the table with red banners over their heads. With cheers and open hands, I was warmly welcomed and given a seat in the mammoth lunch table. I took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief. This felt as warm as home, and truly , for the next 7 years, it shall be my second home.

So these were the candles. Pa had always talked about them, the way they would illuminate the hall with soft light, the time they shone down upon his sorting, his houses victories (and losses- though he always seemed to spend less time on those stories) and now it was my sorting. I'm not sure why the other first years look surprised the hat is talking. Didn't they have someone to tell them beforehand? Huh. I wait in a group of apparently terrified first years, and cant resist tapping one of them on the shoulder and moving out of sight. She jumps and makes a little "eep" noise. I give a silent snort of laughter at how obviously terrified they all look. The hat continues slowly making its way through the alphabet, and not for the first time I wonder about my house. Pa was in Slytherin when he came to hogwarts, and a lot of the other kids I knew from tutoring where certain they would be in the same house as their families. But me? I wasn't selfless, or smart, or friendly and I didn't think I was cunning. The hat reaches the I's. What if I wasn't in any house? I give a mental shake of my head as if to dislodge my thoughts. No. It's never happened to anyone in the history of hogwarts and I refuse to be the first. "Ito, Cass" the headmaster called, and I push my way through some of the other waiting students and walk towards the hat, fast enough that it could be mistaken for confidence. I sit on my hands as the hat is placed on my head. I don't fidget, I don't squirm, I don't throw anything at anyone or blow anything up (yet). I'm a perfect picture of confidence from the outside, and yet it still feels like every eye in the hall can see through me. The hats massive, and I wonder why they would have designed it so large when it's purpose was to sort 11 year olds. Perhaps it was purposefully done to make you feel small. "I see cunning, and a iron will that few discover about you, young one" the hats voice is deep and strong, the voice of one who true has seen many things. "You are slytherin without doubt, but remember your accomplishments will not be the same as those who came before you" The hats voice resonates through the entire hall when it shouts "Slytherin!". I blink for a second in the light when it's taken off my head, and hear cheers coming from the table in green. My table now- the house I would spend my seven years at Hogwarts with, and I find that I'm happy with the sorting hats choice.

Date of occurrence: 9/01/2023

Rowan shuffled after the crowd of fellow first-years into what the professor had called the Great Hall- and great it was indeed. She knew she wasn't supposed to be afraid. Fear is for the weak. Feeling the stares of hundreds of students on her and the others, Rowan felt a sudden, intense longing to be back home, with her mother and with Apollo, who sometimes climbed into the tree with Rowan and purred while she scratched behind his soft black ears. Ears. Hers didn't seem to work. The hall was a constant drone of noise, students chatting with one another to the point of no conversation being able to be individually identified. Rowan's ears must have automatically shut it all out, because she came to the sudden realization that she had zoned out. She shook her head quickly and stomped her feet a couple of times to ground herself. The man they called the Headmaster had stood and began to speak. Then, the old hat sitting upon a wooden stool beneath the professors' table began to speak. Well, sing, really. Rowan jumped, still not adjusted to the idea of magic, even after the two days spent in Diagon Alley and all she had seen there and on the train. I suppose a talking hat isn't the most queer thing I've seen today, Rowan thought, listening to the raspy voice's song. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin... she stretched her mind to recall what she had overheard from the others on the train. "Nobody wants to be in Slytherin," one boy had said with a thick Irish accent. "They're the bad apples."
"What house do you want to be in, then?" Rowan had blurted. The boy had looked at her dubiously. "Gryffindor of course," he declared. "Where me whole family comes from." Rowan had frowned and retreated back to her corner, thinking. Oh, how she wished she knew more. She felt so blind among these children who had been born into wizarding families.

Rowan watched student after student be sorted. Then, there it was. "Sallow, Rowan!" The headmaster called. Rowan lifted her chin and adjusted her posture, walking confidently to the stool and sitting down diligently, glaring at the other first years she noticed were watching her (which was, presumably, nearly everyone). The hat was placed over her head, falling over her eyes and making her vision go dark. Rowan could hear her breath now, hot and shallow against the cloth covering her eyes.

"Hello, there," the deep voice rumbled through Rowan's eardrums, and she forced herself to stay still, gripping the sides of the stool with all her might. "Strong in the mind, and not afraid of challenge. But, there's more to you then that, isn't there." Rowan gripped the stool harder. "Yes, I see it now," The hat murmured. "A desperateness to prove yourself, a knack for worming into minds." The hat seemed to... chuckle. "You will do great things, and nothing will stop you from achieving your ambitions."

"SLYTHERIN!" This time, it wasn't in her head. The word echoed throughout the hall, and the hat was lifted off Rowan's head. She couldn't help but smile, finally knowing that there is a place for her here. That she is a witch.

In the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, where ancient magic permeated the atmosphere, a young witch named Jacqueline Eve Phoenix sat with trembling hands at the Sorting Ceremony. Her heart pounded with anticipation as she awaited her fate.

As her name echoed through the Great Hall, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Jacqueline was a pureblood witch, a descendant of renowned wizards and witches. All eyes were upon her as she approached the Sorting Hat.

With a trembling inhale, she placed the ancient artifact upon her head. For a long moment, silence reigned as the Hat deliberated. Then, a faint whisper filled the hall.

'Slytherin!'

A gasp escaped Jacqueline's lips as the crowd erupted in applause. She had been sorted into the house known for ambition, cunning, and unwavering determination. A wave of pride washed over her, for she had proved herself worthy of her ancestors.

As she made her way to the Slytherin table, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of trepidation. The rumors of Slytherin's dark reputation haunted her mind. Yet, she had a newfound resolve to embrace the challenges that lay ahead.


As the night drew to a close, Jacqueline felt a sense of belonging that she had never experienced before. The Sorting Hat had not only placed her in a house but had also revealed a hidden part of herself. She realized that she possessed a thirst for knowledge, a craving for power, and an unwavering loyalty that would make her a formidable witch indeed.

And so began Jacqueline's journey at Hogwarts, a journey that would shape her destiny and forever etch her name into the annals of the wizarding world.