Sorting Ceremony Y48

[Professor Matt Alcott-Ward]

The sky overhead looked clear tonight, and bright moonlight added to the candlelight in the Great Hall. Matt had been here many times before, and he felt comfortable with it by now. It was becoming a routine. He stood in front of the school, smiling at the students. His students. He stood at the podium and waited for the hall to quiet down so he could make his speech. His gaze moved from table to table, feeling a sense of pride. All these young minds would learn so much in the upcoming school year. Matt was honored to be a part of it.

He nodded and smiled in greeting, then cleared his throat as he started his speech. "Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Welcome back," he started, looking at the house tables in turn. "And welcome, to the new students joining us today. Today marks the start of your journey as witches and wizards. For some of you, the first step into the magical world. Hogwarts will be your home for the next seven years. A place to learn and grow into full-fledged witches and wizards." He said with a smile. Then he put his serious face on as he continued. "There are a few housekeeping rules to mention for the new students or those who might need a reminder. The Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits to any students unless they're supervised by a professor or a member of the staff. The forest is dangerous and this rule is set up for your own protection. Anyone who breaks the rule will be punished accordingly."

Matt paused there to let it sink in, though he knew that real troublemakers wouldn't be deterred by his words. Then, he continued on. "It is now time for the sorting ceremony. Each of you will be sorted into a house, and that house will be your home for the duration of your time here. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. They are each named after one of the founders of this school." He said, watching the banners of each house unfurl as he named the houses in turn. "You will be sorted based on the values of each of the founders, which means you will be placed with students with similar values. First years, once I call your name you can step forward and take a seat on this stool." He said, gesturing to the stool which was in view of all the students and teachers in the hall. "Once you sit down, the Sorting Hat will be placed on your head. It will decide which house suits you best and sort you. After that, you can join your new housemates at one of the tables." He paused, smiling slightly. "But first, the hat has a little song for us," He said, gesturing to the hat to start singing. Once the song was done, Matt unraveled the roll of parchment in front of him and read the first name.

 

[Sorting Hat]

It comes but once, but once each year,
When, I, the sorting hat appear.
I appear to sort the latest batch,
To look within and find a match.
To seek the person who does reside,
Beneath the skin, deep down inside.

Rest assured, I do take care,
To avoid mistakes and always be fair,
Because I know my duty is very great,
The decisions I make affecting fate.
So do not approach with a sense of fear,
Embarrassed when seated upon your rear.
And when I'm placed upon your head,
Your thoughts should not be full of dread.
Approach with confidence, pure and true,
Give me the chance to honour you.

Those who step forth brave with pride,
Likely in Gryffindor they will reside.
Fire and Lion, scarlet and gold,
A house of friends, strong and bold.

Hard working kids who value fair play,
May find that Hufflepuff is where they stay.
The Earth and Badger, yellow and black.
Loyalty and tolerance, keep them on track.

Creativity and intelligence will help some soar,
Above the rest to Ravenclaw's door.
Air and Eagle, bronze and blue.
The wisdom to make dreams come true.

And finally those, resourceful and cunning,
Ambitious and powerful are in the running.
They'll join the house of silver and green,
Where water and serpents stage the scene.

Now, one last thing, please take heed,
Here is some advice that you may need.
This school has grown in a short time,
So have mistakes and heinous crime.
A challenge to all present, to look within,
No matter the house I've placed you in.
To do your best and persevere,
To use your strengths and face your fear.

The time has come, no more delay,
I call you forth, come on, let's play.

 

[Miles Flynn]

Miles was trying very hard not to freak out too much about this. But he couldn't help the grin, bouncing from foot to foot and craning his neck to try and get a better look at the sorting hat and stool. This was it, this was his moment. After years of dreaming about coming to Hogwarts and getting to explore everything by himself it was finally happening. While he had spent the trip over a little nervous, now he was actually standing there, all the nerves appeared to have evaporated into thin air. Now, all he had to do was wait for his name to be called.

Thankfully, he didn't have to wait for all too long, eyes going wide and grin widening as he finally heard his name echoed across the hall. "Me!" He announced, excitedly slipping between the few students in front, "That's me!"

He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he did a dramatic twirl before plopping down onto the empty stool, gripping the corner of it as the hat was lowered over his eyes. No going back now, not that he would ever dream of getting back on the train. "Just put me in the right place, yeah?"

"I've never put someone in the wrong place, so that's a given. Now for you, honestly the choice is simple, yes you would make a fair Hufflepuff, but you'll make an even better....Gryffindor!"

 

[Doyle Mooney]

Doyle's palms were sweating and he felt a little sick to his stomach as he walked through the doors into the great hall. He had mentally scoffed at the people calling it that but as he looked around it made more sense now. It was in fact a great hall. He was staring slack jawed at the ceiling when the people in front of him stopped moving and he walked right into him. "Sorry." he mumbled and took a step back only to step on someones toe. His face felt red hot and he wanted to disappear into the ground, and it didn't help when he realized everyone else in the room was staring at them. Doyle had no idea being a wizard had so much humiliation involved. The headmaster began to speak but he could hardly pay attention. His world had been turned upside down when he got his letter and it seemed like it wasn't about to right itself any time soon, not when a hat began to sing. He glanced around and saw no one else freaking out so he tried to act natural too. He knew nothing about houses or what it all meant, he just hoped he'd find maybe a friend or two before the year ended.

Then names were being called and his nerves kicked in again. He didn't think he had been this nervous in his life, not even when he had to do a solo presentation in his history class last year. He didn't have to wait terribly long for his name to be called and his legs felt like jello as he begged them to move. As he made his way to the front and up to where the stool and the hat were waiting for him he became suddenly self conscious about how his pants were too short. His dad hadn't had time to take him shopping before he had to leave and how his ankles were on full display. Doyle sat and tried to keep breathing. In out in out. When he felt the hat on his head he closed his eyes and waited for what ever came next.

"Don't worry, this will all be over in a second and you'll join your house. I see two paths for you, two possibilities, given your curious and inquisitive nature, but I see where even this leads to the other path..I know where you should go...Hufflepuff,"

 

[Logan Ashworth]

Logan was practically bouncing as he entered the Great Hall with the other first years. He wished he had been allowed to run a quick lap around the castle before coming in here, because he just felt like he was bursting with a restless energy that had nowhere to go. The hall was awesome, much bigger than he had imagined, and he could barely pay attention to the Headmaster's speech. He jumped when the hat started singing, wondering why Hazel hadn't ever told him about that. But then it was time for the students to be called, and Logan grinned. He knew he would be one of the first. Once his name was called, he confidently made his way to the stool. He sat down, wondering which house Quidditch team he would be the star of in a few years.

"Hmm, this is a little tricky, you walk the fine line between Gryffindor and Slytherin, both would serve you well. However you cannot be in both, and well, hmmm....I think I see it...Slytherin,"

 

[Mania Athanasiou]

Mania walked into the Great Hall for the first time, she felt chills all over her body. It was finally happening, she'd made it here and her journey at school would start. She would have a home for the next 7 years, one she wouldn't have to say bye to after a year because her parents were anxious to keep on moving around. She saw many familiar faces, those she had met in the village and spent time with while her parents had been 'house hunting'. What a disaster that one had been, they had finally found a little house they were happy with but had decided to keep it as a temporary house. Mania doubted they'd spend much time there at all, especially after the rest of her sisters were off to school her parents would enjoy their freedom.

Nia waited in the group of new first years, looking around and giving some excited smiles and some a thumbs up, anything really. She was bursting at the seams waiting to be called up front. What would it be? Slytherin? Ravenclaw? Hufflepuff? Gryffindor? Oh she could not contain her excitement to find out. The call of names was a blur to her, eyes roaming over the walls and ceilings. So many students, so many new possibilities. What colour robes would she end up with? Who would her dormmates be? Would she be in the same house as Callie? She certainly hoped so. Though even if they were to be put in different houses she'd have no doubt about their friendship lasting. At long las Mania heard her name. "Athanasiou Mania!" As her name echoed off the walls the young witches spine straightened. "Oh! That's me!" She exclaimed hurrying up to the seat. As she sat down and saw the funny looking hat being raised above her head she gave the person holding it a wary look. "This thing better not have lice in it... Those things are nasty and difficult to get rid of, surely you sanitize it." She mumbled sizing up the hat before finally feeling it on her head. "Alright hatty give me the best you got, though before you do I would like to formally name you..... Hatty, quite original I know. Okay now go on, though I do like the suspense too it is quite thrilling." She spoke to the hat, maybe it was silly but she felt like giving the hard working hat a little conversation, it must be exhausting sorting so many students every year. "Oh! Have you ever had a student decline the house you sorted them into? Surely that would be awkward? I promise I won't do that... Maybe yeah no I'll take what you give me and make the best of it. Though I would love to have something that brings competition and excitement into my life. Alright I'll shut up go on Hatty!" At this point Nia was surprised the hat hadn't right out kicked her off the seat, though she supposed that'd be quite difficult for a hat to do. At last she settled and waited, with all the patience she could muster.

"Well, if you are quite finished, I know exactly where you should end up, and for the record my name is not Hatty and I'm a magical hat, I cannot get lice....Gryffindor,"

 

[Jonathan Boot]

The school was nothing and yet everything that Trevvo had described and Jono still couldn't quite wrap his head around it. He had the distinct thought of wanting to go home and then the hat up on the dais started singing.

Honestly, Jono had thought Trev was lying about the hat. He'd seen plenty of weird enough stuff since his brother had turned out to be a wizard, and even more since apparently he was one too, but Jono was still finding it hard to really believe this was all happening. It made him feel queasy.

At least it was easy enough to spot Trevvo at a nearby table, Jono tall enough to see over most of his future classmates heads and he tried to match his brother's easy body-language as students began to be called up. This wasn't anything too different than waiting for his name to be called up to find out which class he was in for primary school (which Jono also hated), only followed by a tense moment where the whole school got to stare at you. Did he have to do something while the hat was on his head? Was he supposed to say something? Jono felt queasy again, glancing back to Trev in some vague hope his brother could telepathically transmit the answers into his brain about what to do before his name was called but he was out of time. Why did their last name have to be so early in the alphabet.

 

[Peregrine Piper]

Peregrine let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She was here, finally! Her mum and Uncle Gaius had told her about sorting and what to expect, though they'd gone to the original Hogwarts. It was unfortunate that right before boarding the train the last thing she'd had to deal with was Percy trying to sneak along and throwing a tantrum that he couldn't go too, but Peregrine had sighed and promised to write and bring back some Honeydukes at Christmas.

At least now she would get to have her own moment, which was both exciting and a little nerve wracking. She didn't really know anyone all that well, and had no idea which house she'd end up in. Making friends on her own accord was a bit daunting, but she'd give it her best shot. She had plenty of time, and surely the girls she would be in a room with would be nice. She wondered if any of them liked dragons. Peregrine fiddled with the charm bracelet she'd been given as a birthday present this year, pressing her fingertip against the horn of the unicorn charm, and wondered if they ever played around with the projections on the roof. That would be fun, she thought.

Her name was called and she blushed, having been a little lost in thought, but she put on a brave face and sat down to be sorted. It was a little weird having everyone look at her, but thankfully the hat covered her eyes and she didn't really have to worry about that for the moment. "Good evening," she muttered under her breath, very politely but quiet enough for only the hat to hear. "I should probably ask to be somewhere where I can keep an eye on my brother...but he's not here yet so you wouldn't know where he'll be." She fidgeted with the bracelet again, this time patting the head of the hippogriff charm. "I'd...I'd like to be somewhere I can make friends and have fun." She figured none of this would really affect the hat, it knew what it was doing, but maybe it would help if it was having a hard time. As long as it didn't say 'you don't belong anywhere', Peregrine would be fine.

 

[Calliope Cartwright]

Was it silly to still have doubts? All the evidence was here, staring Calliope in the face, yet it was all so improbable, she was sure it still had to be some sort of joke. Or perhaps she just hoped it was, because the floating candles and the moving portraits and the strange little elves went against everything she knew to be true, and if her whole life was a lie, then how could she trust anyone or anything again? Someone should have told her about this sooner. She was a muggle-born, yes, but presumably she'd always been a muggle-born. An earlier heads-up would have been seriously appreciated, before she'd accepted that magic belonged strictly in story books and things couldn't just disappear because you willed them to hard enough.

It was beautiful, really it was. The dining hall was twice as wide and thrice as long as the one at Claremont, and it was still tiny in comparison to the rest of the castle. Perhaps she'd get over her anxiety when she had a chance to explore the place. She was, after all, living in a fairytale; it was new and overwhelming, but it was also magic. She just wished she knew why her grandmother was acting so strangely about it all. Would it have killed her to be supportive, for Callie's sake?

Callie startled at the sound of her name. The sorting process here was quite unusual, but what else could she expect from a school of witchcraft and wizardry? Parting the crowd, she climbed up on the stage and sat down. It all seemed a bit theatrical, frankly, and somewhat invasive. At Claremont, she'd been assigned a house, and that was that. A mind-reading hat was the magical equivalent of a personality quiz, which surely came with some risk. Callie was just thinking how sorry she felt for the Head of House who had to deal with all the obnoxious folk sorted into Gryffindor when the hat began to speak.

 

[Heemi Blenheim]

Hēmi stepped into the great hall, following along with the others. He'd heard about what Hogwarts was like from his sister, but nothing could prepare him for the real thing. He looked up at the ceiling, trying to find constellations he recognised, and almost bumped into someone. This was going to interesting, he thought. Hēmi didn't really like that everyone was looking at them after the hat finished its song. He still didn't know if this was the right place for him - if this was where his future really lay.

"Blenheim, Hēmi!"

Hēmi was torn from his thoughts as his name was announced. He stepped forward, trying to be quick but not looking like he was in a rush at the same time. He sat down on the stool and felt the hat laid on his head. "Tēnā koe, sorting hat," Hēmi thought, wanting to be polite and acknowledge and greet the hat, "I don't mind where you put me as long as I can make good friends there. That's all." Hēmi had heard things about one house in particular (Slytherin) and didn't want to mix too much with a bad crowd. He then waited for the pronouncement.

 

[Rhys Chamberlin]

Sorting at long last. Rhys Chamberlin was in the same place as his parents, and of course, the parents of his half-brothers. He didn't know who Elio's dad was though. But Beau's parents were both Ravenclaws. His dad was a Ravenclaw, and his mum was a Hufflepuff. He could go in either house, and though he would love Ravenclaw, he would equally love Hufflepuff. Rhys walked through the Great Hall and stood with the other first years. He clasped his hands in front of him as he waited for his name. At least his name was pretty much near the beginning.

"Chamberlin, Rhys!"

Rhys let out a sigh, and walked up to the podium where he felt the hat perch on his head. Maybe he should have worn glasses or something, to try to pretend that others were not looking at him. Rhys hated feeling like he was the center of attention. This felt wrong, so he just wished that he was an easy decision for the hat. 'Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw... Either one I am happy with. Please, one of them.'​

 

[Theodore Harper]

Theodore was excited! He was glad that he was able to ride the train with someone he sort of knew. It helped with the anticipation he was feeling about being sorted as well as being in a new school. Theo had always dreamed and wondered what Hogwarts was like, especially when both his parents attended there. Deep down Theo wanted to make them proud with his time at Hogwarts. He wanted to do well here. The new firstie made his way towards the great hall amongst the other firsties. There was a singing hat which Theo thought was strange but also maybe a little funny. It wasn't long before it was their turn to be sorted. Theo watched as both Logan and Miles went up first as they were further up the list, cheering for both of them once they were sorted.

It wasn't long before Theo's name was called. He squeezed past a few students to get to the front, saying a lot of "'scuse me's" as he made his way through. He finally made his way to the front and plopped onto the seat in front of him, a mixture of feelings within him as he awaited for the hat to begin his sorting. He hoped wherever he was placed, it was a good place for him.

 

[Lincoln Cade]

The train ride into Hogwarts hadn’t been the adventure that Lincoln had been hoping for. There were people he had met sure, but he had grown up hearing stories from his mother, uncles and cousins about the wild things that happened on the train ride to school. He was sure most of the stories hadn’t taken place during first year, but he had still been hopeful that something interesting would have taken place. At least he had another six years to have his own train story, and now he was finally at the school where the real adventure would begin.

Lincoln stood shoulder to shoulder with his fellow first years as they looked up at the professor who was conducting the sorting ceremony and reading the names out one-by-one. Lincoln was called up pretty early, one of the many perks of his last name. He stepped up to the stool and took his place. He knew where his mother had been sorted when she had attended the school, his father hadn’t so he had no legacy to live up to on that side, at least as far as HNZ houses went. Lincoln waited for the hat to be placed on his head so he could find out where he was going to end up.

 

[Lorena Howard]

Lorena Howard looked forward to this day for a long time. Her mother and other siblings went here. Her own siblings did. Well, some of them. Lorena chose to come here versus Beauxbatons with Aubrie. So far, none of her other siblings lived in the school - unless one counted her future stepfather's adopted daughter, but she felt that blood would always reign supreme in the house. She was connected through her mother, so she was closer in relation. Lorena just hoped that because she was the daughter of an ex-husband that she would not receive any sort of bad treatment. Of course, she hadn't. Ever. But Lorena still worried from time to time. She smiled toward her mom as she stood in the Great Hall with her future peers.

"Howard, Lorena!"

The blonde made her way to the front, and plopped down on the stool. The hat immediately touched her head, and she hoped that she would be able to join her house soon. Her mother's side was a mix of all houses, so there was no telling where she would go. Her mom was in Slytherin, but her mom's twin was a Hufflepuff. Derrick never went to any Hogwarts, so she could not base it on the Howard family. She was unaware that most of them were in Slytherin.​

 

[Julian Nightray]

Julian Gabriel Nightray should be calm - there was no need to be as anxious as a muggleborn. He'd always known he'd attend Hogwarts. Granted this wasn't the Hogwarts he'd always thought he'd attend, but it was still Hogwarts all the same. He had no idea how his parents expected him to do this - spy on Mikael while they were in school. Mikael was five years older, the same age as his siblings - Evelyn and Sebastian - and if rumours were to be believed, more skilled than they were. Julian didn't believe that though, his siblings were scarily good, their dad having taken a severe interest in their studies. Enough of an interest that Julian had mostly managed to avoid his father's attention until quite recently. Still, he didn't know why spying on Mikael was a necessity if Father was sure that the twins could easily beat Mikael in an issued challenge. Julian would not dare question the task he was given though, he just had to stay on track.

"Nightray, Julian"

So much for staying on track, he'd already been well-distracted just standing in the Great Hall. Julian walked up to the stool, trying his best to hide his apprehension behind a well-worn mask. There was nothing to it in sorting. He just had to sit there and wait. The Hat would place him where he's supposed to be - hopefully in Slytherin to make his job a whole lot easier.​

 

[Finley Mackintosh Baros]

Finley wished his dad could have been here to see him sorted. He knew that wasn't really what they did, but he was so used to having his dad all the time, even when he didn't physically have him, that it felt strange to know he would not see his dad at all until at least Christmas. He was used to being able to roll out of bed at odd hours and go and see him either just getting home, or quietly sneaking out to leave, one of either Ace, Glimmer or Tinsel staying behind to keep an eye on him until the babysitter could make it. Sometimes it was Aunt Leda, or Aunt Rowan, once or twice it was Aunt Sapphire who came to collect him from the apartment. He liked those days the best because Aunt Sapphire was really funny, and she let him make all sorts of messes as long as he cleaned them up. Something about how his dad couldn't be too upset about it since he was a messy kid at his age. Finley found that hard to believe since his Dad was hardly a messy person now.

He missed his mum too, but she was so busy with Zena these days that Finley barely got to see her at all. The thought of Zena had him looking up at the staff table, and there was his Step-father Ben, though he had never really referred to the man as his father, or even as his step-father. There was nothing in that, except that he didn't see the need in having two Dads when he had a perfectly good set of parents already, and whilst he had to share Ben with Danika and Zena, he didn't have to share his Dad with anyone else. His Dad only had eyes for him. A tiny shock of jealous crept up at the thought that now his Dad had more time on his hands to spend more time with the triplets, even despite knowing that he probably wouldn't. He stamped that down quickly, before paying attention to the song, wondering what heinous crimes the hat might be talking about because as far as he knew that wasn't the normal part of the song it usually sang.

Baros, Finley.

He knew it wouldn't take long to get to his name, it was really early on up in that list since he was a Ba, so he was one of the first B's after all the A's. He ran his hands against his robes, even though they weren't sweaty. He wasn't exactly nervous so much as just... cautious, he supposed. His Dad was a Slytherin, as was his mum, but he wanted to be able to forge his own path and he wasn't sure if he could do that with both of his parents in the same house, if he was also in the same house. Although maybe that was the best way to try and see if he could be more than what his Dad was, not that his Dad was or is anything to sneeze at. Being a Healer was a tough job after all. No, he didn't want to be like his dad, or like his mum, he just wanted to be Finley Baros - whatever that was about to entail. He sat on the stool and watched as the hat was placed on his head. Then, silence...​

 

[Aleja Morales]

The Great Hall was just as impressive as everyone said it was, and Aleja stayed pressed tight to her sister as they shuffled in with the rest of the group of first years, eyes agog as she took in the sights all around her. It was hard to tear her eyes away from the ceiling, but looking around the room itself she quickly spotted her dad with the staff, and Miro settled in at the Gryffindor table. She wouldn't be alone here, with her dad and her cousin, and of course her twin beside her. She just had to hope and pray she and Carolina weren't separated. Aleja knew it happened, but surely the two of them would manage to stick together, right?

Her attention was drawn to the headmaster speaking, though she was too overwhelmed to really take in all that much of what he said, and then the hat was singing, just like everyone said it would, though she quietly thought it wasn't the kind of voice she expected. A tiny, mean part of her wondered if Vivian could give it singing lessons some time. If you even could give lessons to a hat. She had never really considered the learning capacity of inanimate objects before. But the song was quickly over and she did her best to scrub the thoughts from her mind, knowing the hat would be looking in there, whether she liked it or not. The closer it got, the more uncomfortable Aleja became with the whole prospect. She was the one who was always in other people's heads, always learning what was going on with her friends and family that they didn't think others knew about. She didn't much like the idea of having someone else inside her head. But it had to be done, and before long the time had come;

"Morales, Aleja."

This was it. There was no putting it off or flinching. She took a couple of steps forward before realising she had been so nervous about the hat itself that she hadn't even considered the eyes. There were hundreds of people watching her, and Aleja didn't know what to do with that. It felt like being on stage, only a thousand times worse. She ducked her head down and scurried to her seat, shoulders hunching as the hat slipped over her head and thankfully covered her eyes, hoping this would be over as quickly as possible.

 

[Brynn Brightsong]

Brynn was nervous, and excited, and nervous, all at once. Her stomach was tied in knots. She ran her fingers over the soft pink and white knitted bracelet on her wrist- three loops and a large pastel pink button with white spots. It was comforting, the gentleness of the yarn in the midst of what felt like so much chaos. She tried to focus, taking steps with those around here and trying to regulate her breathing. She could totally do this, for sure.

The castle itself was beautiful- everything was so grand and lovely and inspiring. She chewed gently on her lip, watching the headmaster and the hat and all the students walking before her. Brightsong, Brynn!

Brynn took a breath and moved forward, doing her best to be graceful and not trip over her own feet. Stepping lightly, she smoothed out her skirts and sat down on the stool, shutting her eyes as she felt the hat slipping onto her head.

Hello, she greeted shyly. Thank you for the song- it was lovely. Perhaps I could make you a hat warmer in thanks? What colors do you like? She thought to it, hoping that it wasn't silly to offer a hat a gift.