Closed The Sorting ceremony 2018-2019

Ugh, being sick on the first day of “magic school” certainly put a damper on Andrew’s spirits. As much as he wanted to express interest in his new surroundings, his persistent cold kept distracting him from focusing on the important ceremony at hand. While Andrew stood beside his fellow first-years, awaiting their turns for the Sorting Hat, he struggled to suppress his coughs by muffling them with his sleeve, as painful as it was for him to hold them in. Should he happen to let his coughs loose and start a hacking fit during a pause of silence, he feared that the entire audience would stare at him, but in his current ailing state, it almost didn’t matter… All he wanted at that moment was a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup to help soothe his cough and relieve the bitter taste in the back of his tongue.

Upon hearing his name called, Andrew sat down at his appointed seat and felt the Sorting Hat placed on his head. Being at the center of attention was enough for him to forget about his cold, as he waited for the hat to announce his House, as it had with the others before him.

“Ah, yes…very interesting…” Upon hearing the hat’s voice, Andrew’s eyes darted from side to side and his body stiffened, tense with nervous anticipation as he tried not to fidget, while listening to the hat murmur to him, almost ominously: “I feel a great…intelligence within you. Well, you could be a bit naïve… too innocent… But you’d hate to be called a coward… Oh, yes, I can see your desire to be well-respected throughout the world. You would do whatever it takes to win… You would make any sacrifice in order to achieve your goals…”

What on earth was it talking about? Andrew was bewildered by the hat’s weird and prophetic ramblings. To him, House didn’t matter. He barely knew anything about them! Whatever their names were, whatever they signified, it didn’t matter. Getting sorted into a House was the least of his concerns…

“Is there a preference in mind?”

Realizing that the hat had asked him a question, Andrew’s thoughts snapped to attention as he stumbled for a response.

“Uh...the blue one?” Andrew piped quietly with hesitation. Blue was his favorite color, so whatever the “blue House” was, at least he wouldn’t mind wearing that color all the time.

He could almost feel the hat smirk atop his head. “Indeed…” The hat raised its voice to Andrew, announcing, “I know the ideal place for you to reach your dreams, and I have no doubt about which House will take you to them…”

The blue one? Andrew’s heart pounded eagerly.

“SLYTHERIN!”

Andrew blinked as the cheers and claps erupted, resounding in the Great Hall as the Sorting Hat was lifted from his head. He arose from his seat, stunned for a moment before recollecting his whereabouts and proceeding towards the direction of the table with the overhanging green and silver banners, where the cheering was loudest.

Slytherin, right... The one with the snakes. Savoring the steaming warmth of a bowl of chicken noodle soup that had magically appeared in front of him, once the feast began, Andrew couldn't find any complaint so far with the Sorting Hat's decision. Snakes were cool, he supposed.

Compared to the cold and foggy night outside, the great hall was warm and welcoming.

Annabel Cooper stood with the unsorted first years. Her robes were soaked. Her heart? Pounding. As a Muggle-born ( Was that what the wizards called it?) she had no idea what any of the houses meant.

The table with the crimson and gold seemed to roar and whistle with joy when the strange hat bellows "Gryffindor!"

The table with yellow and black laughed with pure happiness and welcoming when the hat announced, "Hufflepuff!"

The blue and bronze table was a bit quieter, and Annabel could tell that they had great Intelligence. "Ravenclaw!"

The final table caught her eye. It had elegant green and silver the inhabitants of the table's eyes were...cleaver. And ambitious. She was drawn to it.

The first year's name was called out in front of her. "Vance, Andrew!" said the announcer. Vance timidly walked to the old stool at the front of the hall. All eyes were on him. Especially her own, Annabel realized.

The hat was placed atop his head and Annabel noticed that his feet tapped silently on the old wood with anticipation.

A few moments passed. Annabel heard Vance mutter under his breath, "The blue one?"

She scanned the silent room, apart from a few whispers. Would he join Ravenclaw?

More importantly, was the hat talking to him?

Finally, the hat cried out "Slytherin!" Cheers arose, especially from the green and silver table. That's Slytherin, she thought to herself. That's my house.

"Cooper, Annabel!" Cried the announcer, snapping Annabel back to reality.
Annabel sat on the old stool just like everyone else. She began preparing herself for the questions the hat may ask.

The announcer lowered the hat, which was so big, it covered her whole face in musty darkness.

"Annabel Cooper..." It spoke. It didn't speak out loud, she realized. It was... inside her own head. "I think that I already know where you belong," It continued, "but do you have a preference, dear?"

"Slytherin" I muttered.

The hat gave a silent laugh. "My suspicions were correct. I see... You have determination... ambition... cunning... but you are also extremely intelligent..." It was now silent for a few antagonizing moments... "Well then, You must be... SLYTHERIN!" It cried for everyone to hear.

The hat was lifted from my head, and the light from the great hall filled my eyes once more. My eyes fluttered open, and I strode confidently to the cheering green and silver table I could call my home.

Slytherin.

Luna stared at the hat. Why was it... so... tattered? A soft sigh came from her mouth, did she really have to wear it? She bit her lips and tried to be more optimistic, "Maybe it's not that bad, maybe inside the hat was cleaner..." Luna decided to look at all the houses.

Scarlet and gold... Just by looking at the color, she could feel so warm. If she wasn't wrong, her father belonged to this house. He always talks about how great this house was, and she hoped he was telling the truth.

Yellow and black... If the book that Luna read before coming here was true, then her little brother definitely would be in this house. He would really love this house, after all...

Blue and bronze, Ravenclaw, where her mother was in. She told her that there was a lot of interesting things in this house...

Green and silver... The colors are so... gorgeous. Her big brother belonged to this house, and she was interested too.

"Choi, Luna!" Luna was surprised when she heard her name, but she quickly showed a smile on her face. It was her turn already... She walked to the old stool and sat down. Many people were looking at her, and she didn't like it. However, if she wanted to be a part of Hogwarts, then she needed to calm down...

"Ah, it isn't too bad insi-" "Oh little girl, do not be so mean!" The hat shouted to her, but she didn't think that the others could hear it... "That's a good guess, little girl." Luna didn't say anything and wait for the hat to continue

"Another Choi, you make me think of your brother, but something is different between you two... Let me see... Clever, no need me to tell you, right? But could be too innocent… Too loyal... Oh, this is important, you’d hate to be called a selfish person… Ah what is this what is this, you are more cunning than the way you act... You can do anything to achieve what you want... Now I see what's different between your brother and you... ” Luna closed her eyes. She didn't know how, but every word the hat just said was right. However, she won't agree with it...

You don't need to say anything little girl, your brother was like a Slytherin and a Gryffindor, and he chose Slytherin at the end... And you, now is your turn to choose. Tell me, Slytherin or Ravenclaw?

Luna sighed, didn't want to answer the question. She liked Slytherin, but Ravenclaw... And then she decided to talk, with a small voice. "Mister Sorting Hat, I think you know which one fits me, am I wrong?"

"Clever. You can be a small version of your mother, but I think, you are a perfect..."

SLYTHERIN!!!

Luna stood up and gave the hat back, and then she bowed at the professors near her and walked to the Slytherin table. After sitting down, she used her hands to cover her face and smiled happily. Now she is a part of Slytherin, a part of Hogwarts...

Alix's hands could not stop moving, she constantly fondled with her shirt and her bracelets as she walked into the great hall with the other first years. She marveled at the moving paintings and structure that crowded the walls of the hall. Her eyes traveled up towards the ceiling, which of course was enchanted to look like the night sky. Stars twinkled, millions of them and it reminded her of summer nights back home. It gave her her comfort back, especially as they stop at the front of the hall.

Breathe, just breathe Alix. You'll be fine, you'll be fine. Any house would be good. Dad was a Gryfindor and so was the rest of his family but it's fine. He said it would be okay any house i was in. He wouldn't lie. Why would he lie...

The sorting hat completed his song quicker then Alix could have even thought. Maybe it was just her nerves. I'm towards the end don't worry. Don't worry. However names rushed passed quickly and so did Houses.

"GRYFFINDOR...SLYTHERIN...SLYTHERIN...RAVENCLAW...GRYFFINDOR...HUFFLEPUFF...HUFFLEPUFF.."

Alix's name got closer and closer and her pulse quickened with every shout from the sorting hat.

"Thompson, Alix"

I walked up slowly to the seat up in the front of the hall, looking onto all of the students. I sat down quietly and waited for the sorting hat to be placed on the top of my head. Suddenly i heard a voice in my head,

"Ah...I see here...you're brave of course...and determined...but loyal as well...ah...but only one house fits you entirely...everything you do...it is done...ah yes...with logic and intellegence...I know the house for you...

"RAVENCLAW!!" Alix got up off the seat, a huge smile placed on her face...she fits into everyone, but Ravenclaw's the best fit. Interesting...

Oliver had been in a dream ever since he had stepped through the brick wall at platform 9 ¾. No, it wasn’t that he was excited, it was as if the entire world around him was hazy, a mirage, from which at any moment he might wake up. He was a little frightened to finally be going to Hogwarts, leaving his family behind for so many months. At least Alex would be joining him at school in a few years, so that he might have a more familiar face to keep him company.

His wide, naturally curious gaze traced across the rafters of the Great Hall that quickly evaporated into what appeared to be the open sky. The infinite darkness was pricked through only by a few dots of white light, with thin wisps of dark clouds trailing across the face of the sable expanse. It was a familiar sight, but the novelty of seeing such a realistic night sky indoors made it seem a stranger.

The ceiling enchanted his attention much easier than the students around him, as they were all herded into the center of the hall, but once the Sorting began, one couldn’t help but stare in fascination as a wrinkly old hat decided a child’s identity that would shape them for years to come. Oliver watched as girls and boys alike were sorted into one of the four houses, to their joy or dismay.

Oliver’s family had never really worried too much about houses. They were mostly all in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, except for his father and Luca, who were both proud Gryffindors. Oliver was sure he was going to be a Ravenclaw. Or a Hufflepuff. Either one. But he would try to be satisfied with anything.

He became so lost in thought, drooping across his bench, that he almost forgot to walk up to the hat once his name was called.

“Cavallo, Oliver!”

He started slightly, but eventually regained his calm bearing and glided up to the seat in front of the room. It was a new feeling, having so many eyes on him at once. He had never been in front of a crowd before, and although he didn’t think he would search out the experience again, it was not entirely unwelcome.

The hat smelled musty, but not unpleasant. Like an old, warm-smelling blanket that had been loved for a long time before someone forgot it in the attic. Or bark. Or burlap. Or hay. He couldn’t imagine where the Sorting Hat got its sense from. How did it think? Who made it? The Hat shifted on his head as if it could sense Oliver probing for answers to its origins.

And then, the Hat's impossible voice suddenly rang into Oliver's very mind.

You are difficult. Courageous when you need to be. Kind when you need to be. Fiercely loyal to your family. Talented, but humble in order to be the best man you can be. You are incredibly ambitious, but not for the reasons most people are. You desire to be one of great spiritual heights, with wisdom that mere intelligence cannot grant you. Not Gryffindor, not Ravenclaw, not Hufflepuff, but rather--

“Slytherin!” the Sorting Hat cried out to the crowd. The Slytherin table applauded heartily as Oliver took a seat beside them, with a placidly confused look on his face.

Slytherin? He hadn’t expected that. Well, he would make do. If the Sorting Hat said that was where he belonged, it was probably right.

When Jules and the other students set foot into the Great Hall, everyone was amazed. Her eyes darted from one corner and to the next, taking every detail. From the paintings, to the illusion of a night sky with the floated candles. It was all too good to be true. Her father was right - Hogwarts was a beautiful place.

"Now, when I call your name you will be sorted into your house." The headmaster spoke, as she called each of their names. One by one they sat down with the sorting hat on their heads.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The sorting hat's voice roared among the large room, as each student was sorted into their houses. Sounds of cheering echoed throughout the room, upper-year students greeting their new fellow house members.

"Jules Blackburn." Jules' thoughts were interrupted when she heard her name being called. With a nervous gulp, she slowly made her way up the stairs, feeling nervous and anxious. "Alright, relax. It's no big deal." She thought to herself, as she sat down with the hat placed over her head.

"Hmm...a Blackburn...I bet you expect you'll be sorted in Hufflepuff, eh? I sense plenty of courage and daring. I can feel the traits of your father, but mainly your mother."

Jules' heart was racing in a rapid pace, practically shaking as the sorting hat spoke slowly. Her father's side have always been Hufflepuffs, very rarely ever being sorted to a different house. Her father never pressured into being in Hufflepuff, stating he would be proud of her no matter which house she belonged to.

"Jules, do not be afraid which house you are sorted to. If you wish to be sorted to a particular house, the Sorting Hat will listen." The comforting words from her father made Jules feel more at eased. A part of her wanted to be sorted into Hufflepuff, while another part of her wanted to be a bit different from her family.

"I can sense plenty of talent, and the thirst of becoming an excellent witch for your family. Oh yes, wanting to seek success in your future. Now where to put you..."

"Anywhere but Slytherin." She whispered, as the sorting hat raised a brow, with it's head tilted to the side.

"Not Slytherin, hm? Well then....better be...."

"GRYFFINDOR!!"

Cassiopeia walked nervously up the sorting hat. She was from a pureblood family who had been all Slytherins, so she expected to be a Slytherin. However, her older brother had teased her that she'd be in Ravenclaw, because she was such a bookworm, so now she was uncertain as to whether she'd be in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Shows how much influence a 15 year old brother can have on his shy 11 year old sister.
She placed the sorting hat on her head, wishing for some reason that she had never come here, that she had instead gone to Durmstrang, where her father had wanted her to go. Well, can't change that now, she thought to herself.
Then, the hat began to speak, "Hmm. Very interesting. What do we have here, I wonder? You're very cunning and ambitious, but also you have a very great thirst for knowledge." The only thing Cassiopeia did was murmur, "Slytherin." "Slytherin, eh?" said the hat, "I'm not so sure you belong there. You're very well suited to Ravenclaw, I think." Cassiopeia didn't give up, but murmured again, "Slytherin." "Well, well" said the hat, "You're very perseverant, aren't you... Well then, I guess it'd better be SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted the last words, and Cassiopeia went to her table very relieved.

"Rose Sherwin"
Rose walked excited up to the sorting hat, her hands shaking from the anticipation of not knowing and the excitement of being placed into a house. She knew which one she was hoping to be sorted into, but she still knew that if the sorting hat felt otherwise than there wasn't much she could do about it. She carefully sat down on the stool and felt the hat being placed upon her head.
Hmmmm, a tiny voice in her head said. Very bright, very bright indeed. You were one of the top students in your past school? Interesting. Yes you would do well in Ravenclaw….

Yes! She thought. Yes! Please, put me in Ravenclaw. That's where I belong.

Oh? But do you not realize that you also have much ambition and cunning in this head of yours? You are willing to step back and determine what the best course of action would be from time to time. Perhaps Slytherin.

But...but.., she thought frantically. Wouldn't stepping back and thinking about all the possible options and their consequences and choosing among those a wise thing to do? Couldn't that also classify me as a Ravenclaw?


To some extent, yes Miss Sherwin. But it doesn't dismiss the fact that it's a very Slytherin trait. But, still, you have an interesting childhood. With the need to be better than your muggle brother, quick to anger, yet still holding morals? This is a tough choice. You'd do well in all houses I think, but the one that's right for you is..

"Gryffindor!"
Gryffindor? Where had that come from? She thought as she quickly put on a smile and hoped no one could tell it was fake. She made her way over to the Gryffindor table and sighed as she looked at all the Ravenclaws, the students she had hoped to be joining. She turned back to the Gryffindors at her table and tried to hide how disappointed she was.

As each student moved forward, Annelise could hardly keep her excitement. Of course...with a name that ended in W, she would be waiting quite a while. It seemed like ages as everyone else was sorted. She saw several students with the last name of S and T, so she knew it was getting closer to her turn. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, it was her turn!

"Annelise Wolfe!"

As she heard her name called, it was all she could do to remember to move forward before it became too awkward. Luckily her legs moved even if her brain was slow and she made it up to the front and very carefully sat down on the stool. Being that she was a half-blood, she really had no opinion on which house she would be sorted into. Her mother had actually attended a different Wizarding school, so it was not like she had any of her ancestors footprints to follow.

The Hat seemed to sense this and began to speak in a low voice. "A newcomer I see, and what an intriguing mind indeed. I can sense you are brave and determined...though you would have to be with three younger brothers." As the hat continued to ramble, Annelise listened. She heard swatches of Gryffindor, even a random Slytherin before the Hat finally seemed to fixate on one house.

"Ah yes, I do not know why I did not think of this sooner...why not put you in RAVENCLAW"

As the Hat spoke Annelise was so very excited and she quickly hopped off the seat and jogged towards the Ravenclaw table. None of that walking for her. She finally scooted down and thought just how wonderful she would look in blue before turning her attention to the sorting ceremony and hoping another Ravenclaw would come along.

Lallie was waiting excitedly for he name to be called not really paying mind to what the Sorting Hat was saying to the other students. She was expecting to get Ravenclaw, after all her entire family was and they all agreed she was born to be in that house. The J and K names were being called out and she started getting even more excited.

"Lallie Luna"

She excitedly skipped up to the stool and took a seat down. She looked at all the other first years that were waiting and smiled. She was lucky to be born with a last name that fell in the first half of the alphabet. The hat was placed on her head and she took a deep breath to calm herself. The hat started talking and she tried to listen to the best of her ability.

A very bright newcomer I see, a Ravenclaw you may be.

She shook with excitement. Yes please be Ravenclaw!

Yes yes, but the heart is who reigns supreme, and you a heart stronger than it may seem. I say...GRYFFINDOR!

She stood for that stool for a moment in shock. Gryffindor? How is this possible? She quietly shuffled to the table nodding and smiling slightly at the congratulations. She took a deep breath. It's fine, it's fine. I'll work through like I always do. She put on a smile and watched the other first years get sorted though inside she was dying.