Sorting Ceremony 2019-2020 Archived

Hannele, along with the other first years, made their 'grand' entrance into the Great Hall. She felt excited and proud, chin high as her eyes swept the room, but there was an underlying unsettling feeling that lingered underneath all of the zest. All of this, the train, the castle, the ceremony—heck, the magic, it was all too new, too unfamiliar, and feeling like this made Hannele very uncomfortable. But she was already here and she was more than excited to be on her way to getting sorted into one of the four legendary houses.

Unlike many of the other students she had met, those who were born into wizard families, she didn't have any prior knowledge to fall back, nothing to give her guidance in considering the house she was most suitable for. Her books had explained that the houses were based upon deep, inset values each pupil held, from inherit bravery, wisdom, loyalty, and ambition. Hannele thought she had a little of all of those things so she was confused on how others could just know so easily. Maybe she was just a complex person, or maybe she was just thinking to hard, and the answer lay in front of her.

It actually did, though. Only a few meters away sat the Sorting Hat, which lay upon a still, waiting for a student to approach it. But before one could the Headmaster, clad in armour and grey hair, meant to say his speech. Afterwards the Sorting Hat would sing his song and then the ceremony would commence.

Hannele waited patiently, thinking of other things like home, classes, and friends and family she had left behind. It was a little sad to think about them but she knew that she would be hear for an awfully long time and was determined not to forget them to any degree, if she even could do such a thing. But who knew in this strange, magical world?

The speech and the song were soon over and eventually, after many others, her own name was called. "Nestor, Hannele."

She stepped forward, suppressing a grin as she walked over to the stool. She sat down promptly and placed the Hat on her head.

She didn't know what to expect, really. She thought it would alert the professors somehow after a second but the Hat...it spoke right into her ear.

"Hannele Nestor, a name I surely haven't come across in many years."

Hannele yelped and looked around bewilderedly for a moment before realizing the source of the voice was right above her. She shrank in her seat sheepishly, embarrassed of her ignorance.

"Wait," she suddenly asked, keeping her voice down in case she was the only one who could hear him. "You've heard of my name before? But my mum said she made it up."

"Perhaps, but it doesn't change the fact that I recall it. Yes, I remember her now: a bright, determined girl named Hannele Morrissey from the 1840s, 'destined' to be sorted into Ravenclaw. Unfortunately her hopes were dashed and she was placed into Gryffindor, which I found more suitable for her. Though she did have a remarkable mind, she had an even more remarkable heart, capable of acting when others wouldn't or couldn't."

Hannele recalled reading how old the Sorting Hat actually was; she couldn't believe that a hat thousands of years old was resting a top her head. She had a weak urge to flick it off, but was ready to get sorted already. I wonder what it's like being born in 993, though. And to not have fallen apart.

"Well, that's sad for her; now, which house will I be in?" The young girl crossed her fingers and pursed her lips, apprehensive of the next words even though she wasn't entirely sure why.

The Hat waited a beat, contemplating over her forwardness or maybe just the memories in her mind, before saying, "Very well; you shall be in...GRYFFINDOR!

Hannele leapt off the chair, almost throwing the ancient Hat off her head but a staff member quickly took it from her, having perceived her built up energy beforehand. Hannele pumped her arms, crying an inaudible 'Yes!' in the applause, before making her way to the table covered in red and gold. She hardly cared which house she was in, really; Hannele was just excited to be sorted in general, and especially for the hype she was hit with as she blended in with her new housemates.

Autumn fidgeted with the ends of her robe, something she often did with her hoodies. She really wanted one of her hoodies right now. Preferably a black one, so she could blend in and leave. She did not know what was wrong, but she knew she was to be called up soon and that her stomach was not appreciative of the fact. It felt as if it were flipping in on itself, and Autumn attempted to shrug it off as something wrong she had ate before. It was then she remembered the "cauldron cake" she had eaten hesitantly on the train a few hours ago.

An entire cake. You are such a pig.

It is a miniature cake and also the only thing she had to eat the entire day. Give her a break.

...Yeah, no thank you.

Worth a try. It makes sense though, the stomach thing, I mean, if that's all she had to eat today. Did she even drink water? I don't think so. Yeah sure, food is disgusting and everything, but she doesn't want to die from starvation.

Autumn choked. The voices in her head were obnoxious, sur-

Excuse me.

They were obnoxious, sure, but this was a new level. How anxious was she right now?

"Ivy, Autumn."

She jumped slightly and made her way to the stage with the stupid, sheepish grin she got on her face whenever she got nervous. She sat on the seat and the hat was placed on her head. It made no sense. There was a talking hat on her head, and the people of this universe questioned this in no way. Why a hat anyway? It was so random. Whoever had thought a hat was the perfect way to choose where each student would live for the next 7 years had either been drunk, high and/or just plain stupid.

"Firstly, I am more than capable of doing my job. far more than capable. Secondly, your house is more than simply where you will be living."

By now, Autumn had deducted the voice to be coming from the top of her head. The Hat. She wondered what her house was if it were not simply some dorms and a common room. She knew her father had gotten emotionally attached to his house, Gryffindor, and had made a lot of his friends there.

"Your house will be like your second family."

At this point, she could not take it and whisper/muttered at the oh-so-mighty hat on her head.

"Great. I desperately need another one of those. Clearly one is not enough. More people to disappoint. Great. Yeah. So much fun."

Sarcasm dripped like venom out of her mouth.

"Well, you better get ready for it, because you can't really leave at this point. In you, I sense resourcefulness, shrewdness, self-preservation and cunningness. However, you lack the ambition it takes to be a Slytherin."

"That is nice of you to say."

"In you, I sense overflowing creativity, sharp wit and intellectual potential. However, you lack the love of learning it takes to be in Ravenclaw."

"You are truly charming, but if you will, get to the point?"

"Obviously, you are not in Gryffindor."

Autumn chuckled at that. She could not argue with that. Her father had been in Gryffindor, sure, but Autumn was nothing like him, and she could not imagine waking up in a Gryffindor dorm and remembering her father every single morning. It sounded like utter hell. Beside that, her father's journal made all Gryffindors look like reckless fools.

Only a single house remained.

"You value hard work, dedication, patience, loyalty and fair play, although you personally may not always be so patient. You have a strong moral code, and I pray for anyone who dares hurt the people you care about. You are fiercely loyal, and that brings me to my conclusion."

"Are you sure I am not in Slytherin or Ravenclaw?"

"Are you doubting my expertise in an area of work I have been doing for years?"

"Yes."

The hat sighed, almost in defeat.

"Just go before I put you in Gryffindor."

Autumn nodded.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Applause followed and Autumn joined the black and yellow table as her robes and tie matched the colour.

At least the colour scheme was the best out of all the houses.

Elle kept her head down as she shuffled into the great hall with all of the other students. She wasn't all that nervous, unlike some other children in front of her who were sniffling and crying. She wanted to comfort them, tell them it'd be alright, but she kept her mouth shut and shuffled at the ground with her brand-new shoe.

Her father was in Gryffindor. Her brother was in Slytherin. Really, she could be put into any house. Elle took a deep breath and let it out. She heard all these other students muttering what house they wanted to be put in, but Elle didn't know which one. She didn't have much of a preference, but she started to get anxious when two boys behind her started discussing at how they *better* be put in Gryffindor.

Should she have a preferred house? As she started getting more anxious, a girl in front of her turned around and asked what house she wanted to be put in. Elle said "Um... I guess... Gryffindor?"

The girl just turned away, annoyed. Elle wondered if she had said the wrong thing.

Soon, people started getting called up. Elle was one of the first, and when she heard Everdeen, Elle. She almost fainted.


She came up to the stool and placed the sorting hat on her head causally, trying to look like she wasn't terrified out of her mind, which she was. No, she wasn't scared of which house she'd be put in. She was scared of all the people staring at her, judging her, judging her clothes, judging the way she sat on the chair... she pushed all that to the back of her mind and let the sorting hat choose for her.

"Hmm... I see. You've got quite a caring mind, but you're also quite smart as well..." The sorting hat said.

Elle gulped, and started picking at her fingernails, trying to avoid the eyes of everyone staring at her.

"come on, just pick a house, please..." she whispered quietly.

"Hm, I see, very impatient... insecure..."

Elle swallowed nervously. Those weren't very good things to be.

"But deep down, you've got potential. That creative mind of yours... it could do great things. GREAT things. You're incredibly intelligent..."

Elle waited a few seconds more before the hat shouted out; "RAVENCLAW!!" Elle smiled in relief as the Ravenclaw table clapped loudly, welcoming her as she took a seat.

He looked around looking chill he could tell everyone was nervous, him? Nah just chilling and vibing like for the billionth time this year because why not?

Gunner didn't bother to open his mouth or to say anything in general because his accent would turn heads, then be bombarded with questions no surprise to be honest he just crossed his arms over his chest and gave a deep frustrated sigh like my god London was fast but Scotland? It reminded him of the one by one pecking order, he tapped his foot in frustration then shrugged taking a deep breath to calm himself before he done anything stupid and then looked around at his surroundings so ok blue and grey and brown how basic.... aye who was he to judge? well it was none of his business so he should just stay out of it before, curiosity killed the cat it was for his own good in the first place.

He started whistling and watched as names where called one by one honestly, hurry up ladies his grandfather was faster than that now that was his brutal honesty coming out to slap you in the face but with a chair just to add insult to the injury.

"Saxobeat Gunner" rang through the air he stood there shook and blinked with his mouth open gaping like a fish until he finally waltzed up to the stage, sat down and replied in his Kiwi accent"Crikey mate" then some ugly hat was dumped on his head and it talked no it actually talked he proceeded to full blown yank the hat off his head and dump it on the floor glaring at it.... Ok where was the closest mental hospital? This has got to be some sick prank or joke *haha* he thought *very funny totally laughing nope just kidding sorry not sorry* He then put the hat on half awkwardly on his head but then it lent to the side ok so his head was uneven now whelp that was nice to know like man what did these old people put in their coffee's? or was it just brits in general? He looked up at the hat with a well look on his face the hat then watched the hat scream"GRYFFINDOR" dramatic much bro? so it turns out this hat was more dramatic than him yipee to getting his title stolen he then replied to the hat in his kiwi "Thanks for blowing out my ear drums mate no really i appreciate it. "

Gunner then stood up and strolled off to the place where he was gonna be for the next 7 years off his life he made sure to leave the mean hat behind him no really the hat was actually mean.

It was windy, drizzly night. Inside of a compartment alone in the back of the Hogwarts express, Sabrina Butterbean nibbled on a pumpkin pasty. She may have been a Pure-Blood, but her parents lived in the muggle world, since it was her fathers job to keep track of the muggles in the town, according to the minister of magic. Her best friends didn't even know the family was magical. In fact, they thought that Sabrina was going to a boarding school for girls all the way back in America, where she lived at first.

"We'll miss you, Sabrina!" They had sniffed. "yeah, right." Sabrina had though. they walked all over her! the train pulled to a stop. the teacher instructed them to move to the boats and row. They obeyed.

the group walked into the Great hall. The older kids were watching, waiting. "I can't believe i'm here." Sabrina Butterbean muttered underneath her breath. "What?" a Boy with particularly spiky hair asked. "Oh, nothing." Sabrina blushed, embarrassed he had almost heard her. "OK, kids, gather round. Step up. OK, first up... Sabrina Butterbean?" Sabrina turned red. everyone was looking at her. she took a deep breath and sat on the stool.

"I see you clearly, I think it better be... HUFFLEPUFF!"

the Hufflepuffs cheered and hollered. who knows what will be in store this year.

Kris walked inside the Great Hall and tried to keep her distance to the other newcomers. The number of people was so enormous that she felt like it was hard to breathe. As soon as the crowd loosened up, Kris took a step forward to gain space and to be able to see the hall.

The Great Hall seemed magnificent. It looked like something that you would only see in your dreams. All of the four tables were full of different aged students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. At the end of the hall was standing the headmaster, gracefully and tall. His armor shined in harmony with the candles high up in the air, slowly moving up and down like they were on a rollercoaster ride.

Kris sighed in amaze. Hogwarts was now going to be her school and for real. All the waiting and preparations have now ended. She glanced to the other students, and thought:

Now, we are united. Now, a new start is happening for all of us.


***


Kris waited as the other students were called to the front to be sorted. She kept her stance and listened carefully to the names that were said - Kris felt like her opportunity to get sorted would be flushed down the toilet if she wasn’t literally jumping over obstacles and running at her maximum speed towards the Sorting Hat.

As the names went on, she started to get anxious.
What if the sorting hat sorts me wrong? Maybe I don’t belong in Gryffindor..? Maybe I have some qualities that would better fit with Ravenclaws, or maybe even Hufflep-

"KRIS DESERT!"

Kris stared right at the Sorting Hat far away and realized that they had called her. She rushed to the front right away and sat firmly on the chair. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head and the sorting began.

"Ah, yes, Kris. A very strong mind you have.."
"But a very difficult one? Hard-working and loyal... Maybe a Hufflepuff..? No. That wouldn’t suit."

Kris was relieved. The hat began it’s thinking again.

"Then... What about Ravenclaw? Great wisdom I sense... But that won't work either."
"Now I know! GRYFFINDOR!"

Kris instantly flashed a big smile and sat there for a second. She felt that all of her stress had gone away and left was pride and determination for what years has come for her. Kris stood up and almost cried out of happiness. When she heard everyone clapping and cheering for her especially from her house, Gryffindor, she felt like the choice for her was unbelievable right. That was the place she belongs to. After a second of standing, she went to the table with her heart full of joy.

Scarlett held her head high as the first-years entered the Great Hall. She would not let the other students think she was some coward just because of her trembling at the Sorting. Of course she was nervous. This Sorting decided everything including her future, her family, her friends, her life...

Yet the Great Hall almost swept her confident demeanour away.

Hundreds of students in ties of red, blue, yellow and green waited eagerly for a delectable feast to arrive, all the while chatting with their friends. Waxy candles bobbed up and down (a bit like boats on water) in the air without anything holding them up, as well as being softly lit. Dangerous...epic. A few portraits lined the walls, their occupants picking their noses and seeming uninterested in the commotion below. Silvery ghosts passed right through walls, oblivious to the shudders of students that they passed through. Scarlett had heard it was like being doused in a bucket of ice-cold water. Finally, the teachers sat at the table at the front, all wearing immaculate robes.

She immediately felt inadequate and eyed a mud stain on her robes warily, shuffling round so the teachers couldn't see it.

Finally, she saw Solomon Lear. The Headmaster Solomon Lear.

Oh my god, she thought, excitement swirling through her mind. It's really happening!

After an introduction, Professor Lear produced a hat that started to sing, announcing itself as the Sorting Hat. A few students gaped but Scarlett was safe to say that she knew this. The kids in Godric's Hollow were right after all, when they said that a hat Sorted you.

"Adamus, Eric!"

A skinny, blonde boy in glasses stumbled towards the front. The Hat certainly took its time, but eventually, a great:

"RAVENCLAW!"

was announced and 'Adamus, Eric' trotted off to a table clad in blue and bronze, who were all cheering.

Scarlett was just thanking her good luck when-

"Aden, Scarlett!"

Drat! She hadn't even considered which House would be best! Why did her surname have to be on the first end of the spectrum?

It's now or never her mind chided.

Sighing, she swiftly climbed the stairs, briefly looked at Professor Lear and jammed the hat on her head.

Ah said the Hat. An Aden. I see...

A talking Hat. Okay.

Thirst to prove yourself, eh? Interesting...a lot of valour there, could be leading you to a certain pathway... continued the Hat. Ah, some spark of curiosity, a lot of willingness to help others, yet that could be counted as chivalry - not quite sure what your future aspirations are! Fascinating...

Hat? asked Scarlett mentally. When are you going to finish fleshing out my personality and start Sorting me?

Patience reprimanded the Hat, though the tone in its voice seemed to imply that it had made up its mind. Let us walk down this path...indeed. I see now! Daring! Brashness! And, of course, a dose of chivalry and wildness...yes, I think I know the House for you Miss Aden...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Scarlett took off the hat, smiling at Professor Lear. She walked over to the Gryffindor table in a daze. People, they were clapping and cheering for her heartily. This was like a dream. What she really was grateful for, though, was the fact that she never knew which House her parents were in, so the pressure was off her.

Beaming, Scarlet started to introduce herself to her house-mates.

The time was finally here, one that Alaska had just learned actually existed. Even in her wildest dreams, she'd never expected any of this to be real! Something so magical, something that made her feel like anything was possible! Walking down the Great Hall was a wild experience, one she would never forget. The candles floating above, the murmurs coming from around her and from the tables which seated what had to be thousands of students! Her heart was racing inside her chest and she felt herself clench onto her robes tightly, her palms becoming sweaty with nerves. What if this was all just a dream? An elaborate prank on an 11 year old for her birthday?

No. This was real and Alaska was so ready for this. Small strange things had been happening randomly ever since she was little with no explanation until now. This was her home, and she was excited to stay in this large castle to learn the magic she had been born with!

As they all stood there- listening to the speech from the headmaster, Alaska couldn't help but let her mind travel a little. Thinking back to the day when her parents and herself had received the note that changed her own life forever. Excitement had boiled through her veins just as it was now. She couldn't help but grin from ear to ear and rock slightly back on her heels at the memory. Everything was so new, and she was determined to experience everything she could to the fullest!

"Alaska Hawke!" Before she knew it her name was being called and she jumped slightly at the sound. She'd been lost in thought. Licking her lips, which she now realized were completely dry and chapped, she made her way up toward the front. From this view she could see everything. Everyone's faces looked so happy and cheery, excited for the 11 year old about to be sorted into her house. It brought a small smile to her face as well, but it turned to shock once more when the hat was set upon her head and she heard it whispering in her ears.

"Ah, so much going on in here. A surprising amount of courage in here as well." The hat spoke, Alaska's eyes widened, her hands trembling out of excitement to hear where she would ultimately be placed. Where she would ultimately grow to have a family away from her family. People who would understand, or explain to her what was going on. She dreamed of the possibilities and what would happen next in this life of hers, and that's when she heard a small chuckle from the hat.

"Interesting. Very interesting. Sounds to me like you should be... GRYFFINDOR!"A cheer came from one of the tables and claps echoed in the hall, just as they had for the others before her. Alaska stared down at the Gryffindor table, a pep in her step as she walked up with a large grin. This was her home, she was in Gryffindor, this was her home for the School semester, for life... her family.

-------☆-------

Claudia already knew what house she would be sorted into even before she entered the grand room of the great hall. Still, that didn't take away any of her excitement. Hogwarts was her dream. Being sorted was her dream. As she hid behind blond girls and nervous boys, she scanned the tables.

The Hufflepuff table was full of smiling girls and boys, joking around and laughing. As she looked at them, they waved and some of them even hugged their younger brothers or sisters. Chants of "You'll do great up there!" and "Don't worry, it doesn't take long" ooze out from the grins and smiles.

The Ravenclaw table was full of books and quills alike. Claudia heard their snippets of conversation and wondered if all they did was debate. "No! The polyjuice potion transforms you into the person if you have a part of their DNA, not if you just simply think of them!" Claudia heard one boy debate to his friend.

The Gryffindor table was full of eye rolls and dares. Claudia shied away when one of the boys walked up to a pretty girl near her. "Hey cutie." he said flirtatiously, his friends laughing behind him. The girl winked and smiled at him before he turned away and sat back down.

The Slytherin table was different from the rest. Some were talking, some were not. They whispered of plots to put frogs in their rival's desk and glared at their enemies. Claudia shivered as one Slytherin's gaze drifted and met hers. She quickly looked away.

Finally the crowd around her came to a stop. The sorting hat started singing his song and rattled off a few names. Claudia didn't have to wait long before he rattled off hers.

"Claudia Gears!" someone bellowed. Claudia pushed her way up to the front and sat as the hat was placed on her head. "Ah, Miss Gears. Your mother was an easy one. Your father was a strange one. Runs in the Gears side of the family, does it not?" Claudia had no idea if he was talking about her quietness or her supposed house, but she stayed silent.

"Definitely not Hufflepuff, that's for sure. Gryffindor perhaps? No, no. I see something more inside you. Knowledge... power... you thirst for it like it is your water, your soul. I know exactly what to do with you!" The sorting hat paused for dramatic effect.

"RAVENCLAW!"

-------☆-------

Lyra gazed in awe at the Great Hall, literally everything about Hogwarts was stunning. She stood nervously in line being another first-year, wishing that she could sit down on the floor and read, not having to worry about her whole future being decided by a hat. On the other hand she was curious to see how the hat thought exactly, and to hear it talk.
”Lake, Lyra!”
Her head snapped towards the podium, where the teacher had called her name, waiting for the young girl to step up and being her Sorting. Shakily, Lyra took a deep breath and counted in her head ‘five, six, seven, eight.’ Counting off it dance rhythms always seemed to calm her down. She nervously walked up to the stool in the center of the podium, closing her eyes when the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. Immediately, she relaxed because she somehow had the feeling that only the Sorting Hat could hear right now and only she could hear the Hat.
Hm.... you have quite an interesting mind.. very interesting. Let’s see, you are very kind and have an imagination beyond limits.. your ambition, although present, is not dominating, and you have a raw truth to you that very few people see... You will stand up for your friends and are exceedingly loyal, yes, Hufflepuff would be the place for you... But wait.. you can be deceiving and know how to play right, and you will accept any piece of knowledge you get and anyone for who they are.. Mmmm.. yes.. very unique I must say, quite difficult..
Mr. Sorting Hat, I’m pretty sure my choice matters, so without wanting to seem rude, I think my uniqueness would be a good fit in Ravenclaw, but thank you for everything you said, it’s really helpful since I’ve struggled for a while trying to know for who I am.
Yes... I can see that... I know what would be good for you.. RAVENCLAW
His last word echoes across the Great Hall as cheers rose from the Ravenclaw table. Lyra whispered thanks to the hat, and hugged it before handing it back to the teacher and quickly walking to the Ravenclaw table. She made idle conversation throughout the rest of the feast, and once most students were full, the feast ended and hurried to her Dorm.