Sorting Ceremony 2019-2020 Archived

Nerves had gotten to the boy. Hogwarts seemed to be such a wonderful place already. Alec was going to mess something up and things weren't going to right. With his recent streak of bad luck he'd be making himself seem a fool as he actually got sorted. Why couldn't he just have the slightest bit of good luck. There were tons of people here. Someone spare him this time? Please..? Just this once. He'll never ask again..

"Mason, Alec" He heard a voice call. No. No. No. He couldn't do this. There were too many people. They were just going to have to arrange to sort him privately or something of that sort. Alec wasn't doing this. Even if he wanted to do this it seemed as if he feet were planted to the ground stuck there. He was practically begging[But only in his mind]. As eyes fell on him. This was even worse wasn't it? Alec if you think about it the quicker you do this the quicker it's over. And you won't have to do this even again.

"B-be brave.. and while y-your at it.. T-try not to make stupid choices w-while a hate decides your f-fate.." Alec whispered to himself. A stutter glazing the eleven-year-old's voice. It seemed to be his 'signature' way of speaking. A worried look plastered on the boy's face. The more you stutter the more you look nervous. Don't show it. You don't need people actually knowing just how worried you are. Alec took a deep breath, finally walking up and sitting down, waiting as the hate decided his fate.

Why did they ever choose a hat for this again? I mean It's probably good at doing it's job. But a hat..? Really? How..? Why..? T-they do realize that it's hard for people to take them seriously like that right?

You'd do great things. Amazing things, in Gryffindor.
He heard a voice say. Was everyone hearing this too?
Was it saying this because he'd sort of talked bad about the hat?
My, my, what a rapid thinker we have here.
Alec wasn't sure whether to be offended.
Or pleased by this.
You'd wear the red and gold proudly-
Alec would have to differ on that one.
There wasn't anything wrong with being in Gryffindor but-
His parents might have a thing or two to say about it.
after some time of course.
The hat went on.
Quite the potential you have there. You-
But-
just need to learn to push yourself.
Alec did not like this hat.
It knew too much.

That was also why it needed to place him in Slytherin.
Even if the hat was somehow right with this one.
Alec couldn't see how he fit into any of the houses anyway.

Even if somewhere deep down Alec was hoping for a different house.

And just like that his thoughts were interrupted by The Sorting Hat. "Must be.."The Sorting Hat said, dragging the word out. Finally speaking.

Oh, so now you decide to speak?

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat yelled.

Cheers came from the Gryffindor table as people looked at the boy. Oh no. This was not good. This can't be happening it must be a dream. How was he going to explain this to his parents? Did he really belong here?

Looking around the room, Asteria analyzed everything in the great hall. It was such an interesting room and she hadn't seen anything quite like it in the eleven years that made up her life so far. It had a whimsical appearance almost, in her opinion. Quite suitable for a magical school. It made the girl curious about what the other rooms looked like in this place. Asteria let herself get lost in her daydreams as she waited for her turn to get sorted.

Her eyes shifted colors from purple to amber to green before going back to purple again. It was like her body couldn't decide what to feel at the moment. It was exciting to be in this new place filled with new things to learn and new adventures to go on but at the same time, it was all new, and she had no idea what was going to become of her at this place.

"Knight, Asteria!" The Headmaster called out, snapping Asteria out of her thoughts and into the present moment. She walked quickly up to the front of the horde of the first years, not rushing but also not hesitating one bit.

When she got to the front, the sorting hat was plopped onto her head. "Well, well, well, who do we have here?" It greeted her surprisingly.

"Asteria Eloise Knight," she said, trying to remain calm as she regained her composure from the mixed emotions of the whole situation. It was a bit startling for her, even though she knew perfectly well that it was going to happen.

"I can see that you are quite the independent and creative soul, is that correct?" The hat began probing deeper into her mind.

"I think so?" Asteria replied, dropping her confidence act to reveal her inner nervousness.

"Well, interesting. How interesting," the hat mused, "You would do well in Gryffindor or Slytherin but I could also see you in Ravenclaw."

"Well, just make a decision already! It can't be that hard," She grumped impatiently.

"If you say so." It paused for a "RAVENCLAW" The hat announced. One of the four tables erupted in cheer as Asteria left the front of the room to find a seat at the correct table to watch the rest of the students get sorted. Ravenclaw, according to her knowledge, seemed like a pretty decent house to be sorted into.

September 1st, 2019

The stories Birdie had been told of Hogwarts had set her expectations high. But this? This was more than she could've ever imagined. The floating candles were beautiful, and the great hall was huge and filled with so much history that Birdie couldn't believe her own eyes. All her nervousness and anxiety disappeared, it was like she just belonged here. The atmosphere was unbelievable, and Birdie who was usually calm, collected & serious was about to burst with excitement.
The only thing missing was her parents. She wished they could see her right now, especially her sorting. Birdie was hoping to get into either Ravenclaw or Slytherin like they were, although just being here was enough for her.
Birdie was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't even pay attention to what was happening around her, and before she knew it, her name was called.
"Birdie Spindlewheel."
Her breathing started getting faster as she approached the hat. Seeing it up close, she thought to herself that that was probably the only thing she'd have higher expectations of. The hat looked old, and like it smelled. She immediately tried wiping the thought from her brain, as she reminded herself that it could read her mind... Or something like that.
She nervously sat down on the chair, and the hat was carefully placed on her head.
"Hm, a Spindlewheel. I recognize that. Daughter of Andreas and Sylvia. Well, there's no doubt..."
Birdie stopped breathing, and closed her eyes, anticipating the hats next words.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Birdie let out a relieved sigh. She carefully opened her eyes to see the Slytherin table roaring and clapping. She got up from the chair, and started making her way to the table, thinking about how excited she was to send her parents an owl.

September 1st, 2019

Callie was shaking. Like, actually shaking. As in, she couldn't hold her balance, and her knees were swaying under her.

Her emotions were mixed up in a pool of confusion. She was excited, happy she was finally at Hogwarts. She was always upset with her relatives how they could never describe Hogwarts in a good enough detail, but now that she saw it, it made so much sense why you couldn't describe it to a person. It was so amazing, you couldn't put it into words. But, most of all, she was nervous. It was the first day of Kindergarten all over again. Callie felt like she was on that bus again, desperate to belong, but everybody seemed to know each other already. She didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. She felt like an irrelevant piece of salt in the ocean. she didn't want to disappoint her family. What if she didn't become a Slytherin? Would she be disgraced from the family? Forgotten, never to be told about to the generations to follow her? The thought of it made her want to faint.

Names were called one by one, kid after the other. They all seemed as nervous as her, except a few. They were all sorted into Gryffindor. Some were upset with their house, running of the stage crying. Callie felt bad for them. But again, that could be her. She shuddered at the thought. Her crying on her first night, in front of the whole school. Others seemed happier, high fiving the people at their table when they got there. She wanted to be them, she hoped she'd be one of them. She stared at the Slytherin table. From where she was, she could see cousins, family friends. If she got there, she could get as many high fives as she wanted.

"Aretez, Calypso!" she heard echo across the entire hall.

She scowled. She didn't like that, her first name being screamed across the the whole school. She walked across the stage quickly. She didn't want anybody to see the shaking in her legs.

Being nervous and stages do not go well together, she scolded herself. She learned that the hard way. Last year, she fell down the stage at her guitar recital.

She sat down on the wooden stool. For how old it was, it was pretty comfortable. The hat was placed upon her head. It was soft and light. She had never worn a wizard hat, except when she was 4 and stole her father's. But after that, he never let her wear one again. Also, she didn't remember it. It's voice startled her.

"Well, well, well, well," it cooed. The sound was weird, coming from above her head. It was like she could hear somebody from the upstairs floor of her home. "An Aretez? I remember your father, and your mother," it chuckled proudly. "We have an interesting case here. You seem creative, curious, a Ravenclaw, perhaps?" Callie shook her head.

"I don't think so," she managed to say.

"Well then, brave and courageous, as well, perhaps a Gryffindor, like your mother?" Callie squeezed her eyes shut, and nodded no.

"Well then, I know now," it announced. Callie crossed her fingers, eyes squeezed shut.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Callie opened her eyes, and clapped her hands excitedly. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Thank you," she removed the hat and placed it down carefully. She rushed down the stage, and joined her friends at the Slytherin table.

I hope I made you proud Dad, she thought to herself.

September 1st, 2019

Hyuna stayed silent, not listening to the speech at all. Her mouth felt extremely dry and her stomach was in knots. Her hands were shaking and she was praying to be put in Hufflepuff like her parents. The hall was impressive, though, and she had to admit she was pretty excited to eat, and sit here everyday, and learn spells. She watched all the other students get sorted, wondering which house she would be in for the rest of her time at Hogwarts.
"Kim, Hyuna!"
The young girl took deep breaths and tried not to faint. Thoughts were whirling about in her head. Her legs were trembling and she almost tripped. She was scared of the Sorting Hat. She didn't want it muddling around in her head. As she sat down, a shiver went down her spine as she heard the Sorting Hat's voice in her head.
"Hmm...not a Ravenclaw..." it muttered. "What house are you hoping for, hmm?"

"Hufflepuff," she said instantly.

"Interesting...but you are cunning and ambitious...would Slytherin be the house for you? But you are also daring and brave, deep down...your best match is..."
Hyuna held her breath.


"GRYFFINDOR!"

The table cheered, and even though the girl hadn't gotten the house she wanted, she felt like this was where she belonged.

Carmen had been wiggling in her spot, anxious for her turn to come up. She wondered which of her parents she would follow- her mother, who had been a Hufflepuff, or her father, a Ravenclaw. As soon as her name was called, she sprung forward, moving quickly to the chair and crossing her ankles as she sat down. The hat was placed on her head, and she tapped her toes against the stool, waiting to hear the voice speak in her head.

Ah, Carmen Thomas, the hat crooned in her ear, and she grinned in response. I see your spirit, your fire, your drive. There's no doubt about where you should be placed. Carmen closed her eyes, waiting impatiently as the hat seemed to clear it's throat before calling out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

It wasn't what she expected, but she had come into this situation ready to trust the Sorting Hat's decision. Carmen opened her eyes, beaming from ear to ear as the Gryffindor table burst into applause. She stood, taking a deep bow before making her way to the Gryffindor table. She slid in between two other first years, surveying the spread of food before her.

Her new home- home of the daring, those with nerve. She thought maybe her sense of justice and fairness would get her into Hufflepuff, or her academic drive would shuffle her into Ravenclaw. But she could see herself here, as outspoken and dauntless as she was. She turned to her neighbors, introducing herself to them as the next student was called up.

She stared wide eyed around her. The Great Hall was a feast for one's eyes. The magical ceiling, she was already told about this part by her mother who seemed to have never ceased loving her school, had candles floating above and beyond a cloudless starlit sky. She could not help but suddenly feel homesick. She used to watch the stars on a clear sky every night with her father when she was five and had found fascination with constellations.

There were four long tables that stretched out along the great hall. Students of each houses occupied each table. From the far left, the Slytherin students wearing their green accented uniform - her mother had been a Slytherin; next to them are the Gryffindors with their red and gold uniform; then the Hufflepuffs wearing the yellow color - her father was a Hufflepuff; last but definitely not the least sat the Ravenclaws with their blue colored uniforms.

All the students even those in the higher years looked excited for the Sorting Ceremony. Some of them might have friends, siblings, or relatives among the new students. Some might just be reminiscing fondly of their time with the Sorting Hat. As they were herded to the front of the Hall where all the professors and the Headmaster stood to welcome them, she heard a few students taking bets on who would belong what houses. She didn't know how to feel about that. Well, to be honest, at the moment, all that was in her heart was awe, nervousness, and excitement. Any other emotions will have to wait until she calmed down.

Banners hung on the sides along the wall depicting the insignia of the four houses. Any house will do, she thought to herself nervously. She would have preferred Ravenclaw because her favorite Hogwarts alumnus belonged to said house. By the time they were being instructed on how the sorting hat worked, her nervousness and excitement was making her agitated. It seemed she was not alone because the others were looking a little pale.

Mystery Ann Abbot

Her name was finally called and she stepped out in front and a professor, whose name she had forgotten because she was too distracted, placed the sorting hat on her head.

"You'll be placed where you're meant to be. Don't worry about. I heard a rumor the Sorting Hat considered your option," her mother had told her when she nervously asked about which house she could possibly go into.

But then how could you even ask it? She was already very nervous she could barely speak.

Gryffindor!

That was unexpected. But she was happy. The ceremony was finally over. She can finally sit and probably eat. Maybe later though, her heart was still beating too fast.

1st September, 2019

Gerald Fawkes awaited impassive for his name to be called out. All the D’s had already been sorted, and so had most of the E’s; his turn was approaching. So far, he’d come to the conclusion that the Hat produced two types of reaction on students: it was either immediate joy or utter confusion. While some kids’ decisions took fairly long, others’ verdict was pronounced within half an instant of their heads being grazed by the Hat, and Gerald couldn’t help but raise a brow at the disparities. Surely one second was not enough to make such a crucial decision. Then again, the thing was magical, and, in the wizarding world, spells and enchantments out ruled the apparent rationale.

All summer, Gerald had been pondering which of the four would be his ‘immediate joy’ House. Hufflepuff was likely out of the question, and so was Gryffindor, much to his father’s dismay. Although he admired his dad, he had been certain from a young age that the two of them were nothing alike. Leander Fawkes was a textbook Lion, first Fawkes to be sorted into Gryffindor; but his reckless courage had most definitely not been passed on to Gerald, ever so prudent.

“Fawkes, Gerald!”

Upon hearing his name, the boy started to make his way through the first-years’ crowd, bumping shoulders with probably a bit less care than what was considered polite.

“Another Fawkes, I see,” the Hat spoke in a low rumble. “Ah, I can sense the clashing thoughts, identical to those of your father and uncle.”

Which uncle? Despite his father’s reluctance to expand on his own side of the family, Gerald knew that he had not one, but two brothers. Slytherins, both of them. From Leander’s vague yet hostile descriptions, one would have to assume that his siblings, just like his parents, were two classic pureblood elitists, incapable of seeing further than the end of their own noses. For his father to hate them the way he did, Gerald was certain that there had to be something else about them apart from the ‘mudblood scum’ mentality. That something intrigued him deeply and he often wondered whether it would share some sort of connection with the fact that they all began their wizarding careers in Slytherin.

“I perceive a remarkable intelligence, nothing short of extraordinary. Great devotion for the cultivation of the mind. Ravenclaw, perhaps?”

Gerald shot a quick glance at the blue-robed students. He supposed he wouldn’t mind joining them.

“Maybe not,” continued the Hat. “Yours is a mind bound for glory, above anything else. Cautious, but you do not lack ambition. Yes, now it is clear: I am sending you to SLYTHERIN!”

Gerald got off the stool and, on his way towards the Slytherin table, thought that his dad would probably not like it when he learned of the sorting. Regardless of his Gryffindor father's imminent dissapointment, as he took a seat among his new housemates, the words resonated in his mind once again, making the most sense they'd ever had: The Hat is always right.

Up until the point that she stood in front of the Great Hall's door Elspeth wasn't able to pinpoint exactly what she was feeling. But now that the only thing standing between her and the sorting ceremony was students names A-Gok she could clearly sense that nervousness was winning out. Her arms tingled and she felt a little light headed as the door was opened and she felt herself walking into the room along with the continued flow of first years.

The Great Hall was magnificent. The four house tables were glittering with trays and crystal goblets. Each was filled with all of the older students at Hogwarts, whom Elspeth couldn't make eye contact with. She doubted she would be recognized by someone, but meeting eyes with someone felt too vulnerable to her, she wanted to continue this experience unseen and unjudged. As she averted her gaze her eyes made their way upwards toward the ceiling where for the second time that night she was struck by the sensation of viewing Hogwarts up in the night sky. The floating candles, the dark and cloudy sky apparition. She was overwhelmed again and decided to focus her attention on the headmaster just ahead of her.

One by one, students were called up to the stool to have a very public yet very private conversation with the Sorting Hat. At first she was upset that she was so early in the alphabet, but as she watched students sit down and then receive adulation from the house they were sorted into she felt more at ease. At least she wouldn't have to wait until the very end of the ceremony to hear where she would be staying for the next seven years. A student she recognized from the train was called up, as were two from the boat she'd taken. "Gryffindor!" "Hufflepuff!" "Gryffindor!" She politely clapped for each of them as they joined their tables.

It was only as the student she assumed was just before her in the alphabet went up that she began to wonder what house she might be in. Her mother had been a Hufflepuff, but she and her mother were so different she wasn't sure if that really meant anything... Was there a house she wanted to be in more than others? She stared from table to table, trying to get a read on which group might be the best fit for her, but it was really hard to tell much just from looking. There were quiet, boisterous, happy, and sullen looking students at each one. And then -

"Gollens, Elspeth!"

She flicked her head upward, looking toward the hat as if she'd been asked to witness something instead of walk up and be a part of it. After a beat she felt someone give her a very gentle push on the shoulders and she began walking toward the front of the hall. She gave a small nod to the headmaster before sitting down. He placed the hat gently atop her head.

Her mom had always had a hard time explaining what the sorting ceremony would be like. Just that it was different for everyone and there was nothing to worry about. So as the large hat touched her hair she had no idea what to expect. For a moment nothing happened. The inside of the hat didn't smell as bad as she expected, given how many nervous heads it must have been placed atop in its time. It wasn't exactly comfy but wasn't itchy or unpleasant either. She twiddled her thumbs a bit.

"Well... I don't know if I'd consider that rude or kind of you. But yes, I take care of myself. Don't want to be making a smelly first impression," a whisper in her ear said. Her eyes perked up, her posture improved.

"Um... hello. I'm-"
"Yes yes, I know who you are. The real question is, what do you know about yourself hmm?"

Elspeth was taken aback by that question. What did that mean, know about herself? She knew everything about herself. She was eleven years old. She loved butterflies and bread baking. She wasn't sure, yet, if she liked Hogwarts but she was very excited to get started on this journey.

"Sure, those are all things about you. But who are you really?

Elspeth shrugged reflexively.

"I ummm... I don't know, I guess?

The hat laughed, and at first she thought she'd given a silly answer and would be told to pack her trunk and leave. But soon the laugh faded and, although she couldn't see it, she could feel the hat smiling.

"It always is odd, asking people so young about themselves. You still have so much time! And yet, it's all here between your ears. Your curiosity, your keen interest in others, your skeptical nature."

Elspeth blushed a little at that last one, knowing the hat must have been talking about her mother. But it was also such an odd feeling, to be told things about yourself that you may have thought you knew, but weren't sure of. And to be told as if from a voice between your very ears, like something deep inside of you brought out that you've been looking for such a long time.

"Ah, yes, definitely. It must be RAVENCLAW"

The headmaster took the hat off of her head and she was blinded for a moment as her eyes opened again to the flickering lights and the wave of cheers from the sea-blue table. She smiled, finally feeling like she knew where she was supposed to go. As she stood up, she turned around and gave a quiet, "Thank you," to the sorting hat before walking toward her housemates.