Sorting Ceremony

[Felix Warrick]

The air began to chill a little as the group made their way up to the castle. As he looked around, Felix was at least glad to see that some of the other first years were as nervous as he was, some were even more so which made him feel a little calmer. Felix didn't like feeling like that, he didn't like the idea that he was taking any sort of comfort for other people nerves and he certainly didn't enjoy the inescapable feeling of being a lamb lead to slaughter as the person who introduced herself as the Deputy Headmaster began to prepare he group for entrance into the Great Hall. Felix straightened his robes and waited anxiously as the doors to the hall began to open and ever so slowly his group began to etch their way inside. He was still reveling at the fact he was standing in a perfectly whole castle in the 21st century, at least one that wasn't owned or occupied by royalty, but also at some of the things he had seen as he came in, suits of Armour, talking paintings. It was all such a wonder to behold.

Every moment that Felix was walking down the between the house tables towards the front of the hall he was wondering if at any moment someone was going to tap him on the shoulder and tell him there had been mistake, that he wasn't magical at all or that he would wake up and be back at home in bedroom and be getting up for another day of muggle school. All those thoughts disappeared when he and his group of fresh faced first years reached the front of the hall and were replaced by a new level of nerves and anxiety when the sorting hat was placed among them. He had read about the hat when he was younger, and of the four houses it would sort him in to. He never thought much of he individual houses but as that moment drew closer he realised there was only one of the houses colours he wanted to wear. The house of his parents, yellow, Hufflepuff.

One by one the students were called forward to have the hat placed on their heads. For some the hat sat and pondered their future, some the hat barely grazed their skull before it barked out a destination. Finally, as the alphabet came to an end and a small number of students remained, Felix was called up, he sat on the stool and inhaled as the hat was lowered onto his head. In one single moment his entire school life would be defined, he did his best to push everything aside and focus on his desired destination. Hufflepuff. Please.

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"Hufflepuff? No, no, no. That's not the right place for you. You'll see. You're going to strike out on your own path in Ravenclaw!"

 

[Finn Urie]

Finn walked excitedly into the Great Hall with the rest of the First Years. He couldn't believe he was actually here, he at first thought it was a prank played on him by his younger brother, but he wasn't clever enough to do something this extravagant. His parents had had a meeting with someone and they went shopping for school supplies, so it had to be true. He saw some amazing things, that he wouldn't have even imagined when he was playing make believe. Of course he only still played make believe because his brother asked him too; he would never admit to anyone that he looked forward to it.
Finn stood eagerly, waiting to see what would happen. He barely noticed the other students mulling around, too absorbed in the floating candles and magical sky. He got a minor shock when the hat started singing. That was unexpected. Did all clothing talk or sing? He looked down at the robe he had to wear uneasily, scared it would start singing in front of everyone. Of course his robes would do that. He looked around the Hall, glad that his clothes hadn't started singing, and by the look of the faces on the older students, this was the norm. The Headmistress started calling out names, and he watched as the Hat called out 'Houses'. Finn was quite a way down the list, feeling a bit nervous and impatient. Finally it was his turn, so he took in a deep breath and strode forwards, taking a seat on the stool, looking up as hat covered his eyes.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Bisera Zhefarovich]

Bisera couldn't tell if she was hungry or nervous. Perhaps it was both, but Bisera pushed the thought aside as she focused on the events unfolding in front of her. This entire thing was a new adventure, and the very thought of being away from her siblings and able to make a name for herself drove Bisera to such a level of excitement, she could almost dance! "I hope the whole sorting process isn't done alphabetically. Having a last name that starts with Z really sucks sometimes." Bisera thought to herself as the group came to pause before a stool and old looking hat. Bisera presumed it to be the sorting hat. One by one they were to be called up and sorted into their houses. Bisera bit her lip and looked around. Ah, she had forgotten that she was going to be sorted into a house. Nor did she have any idea what house would be best for her. Perhaps it was a good thing that they had a hat to help them decide.

It took a little bit, but Bisera's name was finally called. The brunette smiled and pushed down on her robed before she headed up to the stool. It took a minute to get on the stool comfortably with her short legs, but once she was settled she gave the headmistress a wave to let her know that it would be okay to stick the hat on her head. The moment the hat was sat upon her head, Bisera tensed up. "Oh my god, did that hat just move?" Bisera resisted the urge to move about, what if the hat got upset with her? It felt awkward, but she did her best to remain still and allow it to do it's job. Plus, the sooner it came to a conclusion, the sooner she could get it off of her head.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Kassye Styx]

The thought of being under her dad's careful eye made Kassye nervous. For the most part, she was the mother hen of her siblings and spent more time watching after them than anything. However, Kassye did have a mouth on her. Ninety percent of the time the things that came from her mouth got her into trouble, and with her dad being close he'd be able to punish her a lot easier. Her mother was bad enough to deal with because she was very unpredictable when it came to how she reacted to Kassye's attitude. Her father however, never disappointed her. He was quick and on the ball to end whatever attitude Kassye had brewing. The first thing she did upon entering the Great Hall, was glance in her father's direction. He looked as gloomy and cold as always. Kassye had to wonder if he was always like that, or if he was once a kid who got excited for stuff like this too. Kassye glanced away and followed her classmates until they gathered in front of the place they were going to be sorted at. due to having a father that worked at the school, and many siblings, Kassye already knew exactly how this worked. Silently, she waited until it was her turn.

Once her name was called, Kassye sighed to herself and started up to the stool. "I wonder if he'll be upset if I get into Slytherin? Or maybe that's where he wants me to be? I hope I get the complete opposite. Hufflepuff maybe?" Kassye thought to herself. In the end she'd suck it up and took whatever the hat gave to her, but she was scared to think of what her dad would think. Her mother would be proud either way, or so Kassye thought. Nicolette didn't speak much about her choice on houses. Both of Kassye's parents had been in Slytherin though, and so had many of her siblings. Was she pretty much doomed to be in Slytherin?

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Carolina Summers]

A Hall filled with twinkling lights was impressive but the young witch Carolina couldn't help but wonder what she could accomplish at the end of her schooling years, probably a lot more than twinkling lights, thought she had to admit the room looked like an alternate reality, she couldn't help but wonder if any Muggleborns here were having a slight panic attack with all the new things in this room they have never experienced before in their life. Her Brown eyes scanned the faces of the group of young Witches and Wizards who would proceed to study and learn with her over the next few years. Carolina pulled the cuff of her robe to keep her hands occupied, she wondered if anyone in this group had heard of her, she hadn't heard of any of them. Carolina knew that some of her past family had attended this school before, one was a Prefect and the other had become a Professional Quidditch player, Carolina's mind wandered she hoped no one connected her family she didn't want to have any expectations to have to live up to.

The gaggle of Witches and Wizards stopped walking and she almost walked into the back of the person in front of her but stopped and collected herself before doing so. The Headmaster began her speech listing off places they couldn't go and instructing them what to do when their name was called.
Student after student walked up and sat on the chair looking scared or brave or some like they were about to pass out from holding their breath, Carolina watched how they walked and analyzed the best way to approach the stool without tripping and to take up the least amount of time but before she could have a plan in place her name was called.

"Summers, Carolina"

Carolina Sneezed, her face went red as she held her sleeve up to her nose and approached the sorting hat, hoping that she didn't just put a giant sign above her head saying "Miss Sneezy" Carolina sat on the chair and folded her hands in her lap and felt the hat get placed upon her head.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Soren Sedridor]

Though the Great Hall was beautifully decorated, with its cozy fires roaring on either side of the expansive room and the twinkling, starlit ceiling overhead, Soren couldn't bring himself to look anywhere but at his shoes. He stood, hands restlessly fidgeting with each other, amongst the other small first year students who were probably all just as nervous as he was. But truth be told, it was the first time the young boy had been surrounded by this many people in one place and it made him feel uneasy and closed in. He wasn't sure if attending the wizarding academy was the best move for him, with little social interaction in his life due to his severe speech impediment, but his father had insisted, and his mother suggested that it would be beneficial for him. Not that she even knew the first thing when it came to the magical world, but he knew she was trying to make it seem like it was the most normal thing to her.

Now here he was, amongst children his age, too afraid to open his mouth in case he was judged for his inability to form words smoothly. So far he'd managed to avoid any conversation, which had been most difficult during the train ride to the castle, but he wondered how long he could stay quiet for. The wizard managed to tear his eyes away from the floor to focus back up on the ongoing ceremony. By now, the crowd around him was slowly dissipating, each boy and girl approaching the dusty-looking hat that spoke their fated house. Soren wasn't sure where he'd fit in, or if he even would. He wasn't that smart, or brave. He wasn't cunning, nor did he think he was whatever a Hufflepuff was meant to be. Did they ever have students who didn't belong anywhere?

"Sedridor, Soren."

Soren's heart almost skipped a beat the moment he heard his name called across the hall. His stomach was doing flips and he took a breath, attempting to soothe his racing heart. The boy stepped forward, eyes focused to the front as he imagined that no one else was present in the room, that the hundreds of people simply weren't there. It was just him and the old hat. Step after step, the walk down the hall felt like an eternity, but he finally reached the seat where the Headmistress stood, waiting. He turned, sat down, and waited, feeling the Sorting Hat slowly lowering onto his head.

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"This is too easy. Hufflepuff!"

 

[Ulysses Viteri]

The amount of new information that Ulysses had to proceed the past one month was nothing compared to what he was experiencing ever since he had set a foot on Hogwarts. One month ago, the boy believed that magic was a fairytale thing but there he was now, having a wand that was spitting sparks in his pocket and a pet owl in a cage waiting for him somewhere in the imposing castle. Just today's journey to his new school was something that his muggle friends could never imagine and would laugh at his story if he was ever going to try and relate it. Not that Uli was allowed to tell anyone non-magical, apart from his parents, that magic truly existed and he was really a wizard. The old man who appeared sort after the mysterious invitation for this magic school, was clear-cut. Wizardry world had to remain secret from non-magical people.

The old man that Ulysses was now calling 'grandpa' was a wizard as well. It was hard for the boy and his parents to initially believe the strangers allegations of a magical world. When the wizard however, conjured a chair out of thin air, a new, unexpected world unfolded. The old wizard with the peculiar name, supported that he was helping wizards and witches coming from non-magical families to be smoothly introduced to their new reality. Ulysses was taught a plethora of new information at the old wizard's institute which provided accomodation and education to people like him. Amongst other things, he had learned that fireplaces were used for transportation, his parents and other non-magical people were called 'muggles' and that dragons, along with several other fantastic beasts, were real. Unlike most other children at the institution who were staying and educated there, Uli stayed just for a couple of weeks. This hard to believe journey was going to continue at Hogwarts but he was always welcomed at grandpa's institution to visit and stay during holidays.

Despite having introduced already to most aspects of this new world, Ulysses could help but be awestricken throughout his journey to Hogwarts. The scarlet steam engine was followed by carriages pulled by invisible steeds and then the first years like him sailed across a lake without paddles or any other means that could explain the boats' locomotion. From outside the castle looked gargantuan and only made Ulysses wonder what could be behind the towering, stone walls and the lit windows.

Ulysses was informed about the sorting ceremony. Apparently all students were belonging to a house and first years were going to be sorted on their first night at Hogwarts. Throughout his journey, the boy was overhearing other children of his age talking about their house preferences but he wasn't that fussy. The topic was heavily discussed in whispers amongst the first years as they entered the most extraordinary chamber that Ulysses had ever witnessed. He stumbled on the girl in front of him as he was keep walking between the long table while he was staring breathless at the night sky flying over them instead for ceiling. It was also the candles that were floating casually above the students and a couple of transparent figures flying through objects and walls that Ulysses assumed shocked that they were ghosts. The swarm of nervous or, in case of Uli, blown away first years stopped before a podium. A woman was standing behind it and was smiling courteously at them. Behind her another table was located with professors seated, waiting for the ceremony to start. The headmistress welcome was warm and genuine and was followed by a round of applause from the students.

Ulysses only noticed the stool with the hat on it, when the latter started talking. It evoked an awkward smile on Uli's face when it started singing but the boy was so absorbed in observing the hat's movements and expressions that he missed the meaning of its song. It had to be something really good because the new round of applause was even louder than before. Few moments later the name of a student was called. Uli's celery green eyes followed the student who walked towards the stool, sat on it and had the hat placed on his head. Soon after the strange hat shouted a word and the students from one of the four tables burst into cheers. As soon as the hat was taken off the student's head, the student made a beeline for the table where the older students warmly welcomed him.

So this was the sorting ceremony? A shabby hat was deciding in which house you belonged? Perhaps all the revelations about flights on brooms, dragons and portraits that were talking, had made Ulysses to expect something more fantastical. As students were having their time with the hat on their heads, Uli thought that this hat could be infused with ancient wisdom and magic that he was unable to understand right now. He glanced at the floating candles when he realized that he was unable to understand the magic causing them to levitate. Undeniably, less complexity should be needed to make an object levitate compared to making a head covering intelligent. The number of waiting student decreased and when only a few were left he heard his name by the headmistress. Ulysses took a step out of the safety of the small group and made his way to the stool. He sat on it and for a second he could see the whole hall looking at him before the hem of the hat covered his eyes. Patiently waiting for the hat's verdict, he was curious to know what else was awaiting him to be discovered in this school when so many wonders were concentrated in this hall.

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"Your quest for knowledge will best be fulfilled in Ravenclaw!"

 

[Alana Finch]

Gazing around the Great Hall as she entered, Alana tried her best to take everything in with her red eyes as she made her way to the front. She'd already heard some of the students whispering about the strangeness of her eyes, and although it wasn't something she'd ever get used to, today she was trying her best to ignore it. It was easier to do today with all of the other distractions about.

Listening as the Headmistress welcomed them and gave them their instructions, Alana couldn't help but wish that her brother had prepared her more for this, maybe then she'd know what she had to do to become a Slytherin. The blonde girl couldn't help it as her heartbeat kicked up a notch. It was almost the moment, the moment that would define her...everything. Stepping forward as her name was called, Alana sat on the stool and waited for the hat to be placed on her head, her red eyes gazing out into the crowd, seeking out the comfort of a familiar face.

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You are a fine line between a brave lion and a sly snake. But your immense desire to please your family puts you in Slytherin!

 

[Niamh Macmillan]

Niamh was in absolute awe as she entered the beautiful castle that would be her new home. Never had she seen such a castle, not even in Ireland. As she walked, she still remembered her mother's goodbyes and good lucks that day at the train station. It practically took forever to finally get on the train with her mother's fretting, But at least she made it. Along with the other unsorted students who have yet to figure out the house they will be assigned. They were lead into the Great Hall where the ceremony was being held. As they passed the four House Tables, Niamh caught a glimpse of her sister, Marietta, frantically waving at her and smiling widely. She waved and smiled back, but timidly. The new students were chatting, and then silenced once a professor started to speak. It was Sorting Time.

Niamh believed she will be sorted into the Hufflepuff House just like her mother did and her sister was. Then again, she might not be the Hufflepuff type, who knows. She was just going to leave it up to the hat when she got up there. Most of the Unsorted actually knew which house they would get into. Niamh could tell too, just by listening in on their conversations. She did do a bit of research on the House traits. One by one the students went up. Sorted into Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. Some got the house they wanted, some didn't, and some seemed indifferent. Then...

"Macmillan, Niamh."

She suddenly became the centre of attention. Walking through the remaining students and up to the platform. She seated herself on the stool, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. All these eyes looking at her made her nauseous, so she kept her eyes closed and stayed calm. She could feel the hat being placed on her head. She just wanted to be placed in a house that was right for her. A friendly and warm house, that would welcome her...

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"I hope you learn something about hard work and ambition in your new house. Hufflepuff!"

 

[Nicolas Bane]

Nicolas Bane had been waiting for this day, ever since his father told him that they have a magical blood. Nicolas walked into the Great Hall. It was everything he had ever dreamed about and more. He wanted the line to move faster. He felt like the Sorting Hat was taking forever. Nicolas was excited to be here and he just wanted to get on with it, it was all terribly exciting after all. He stood frozen when the women in front of them called out their names. The students were starting to be sorted. Then...

"Bane, Nicolas"

Hearing his named being called, Nicolas inhaled deeply, smiled, and approached the three-legged stool that stood in front of the hall. Nicolas sat back onto the stool and waited patiently for the verdict.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Lily Bouvier]

Lily stood in the middle of the queue of young students ready to be sorted. Already, from the energetic and frenetic activities that were taking place at the tables around her, she could see that she would fit right in with the rest of the students; there was a sense of magic, but also of fun and partying. She couldn't wait for it to happen.

Suddenly, her name was called, and Lily strutted to the front of the queue, smiling reassuringly at her sister who looked as nervous as ever. She hoped that Emily would be sorted into the same house as her. She soaked up the gazes from the current students gathered in the hall, both the unfriendly, the curious, the uninterested and even the admiring. She took pride in her looks, and she hoped that was obvious to all of the students watching her. She was still slightly annoyed, however, that many of the students just didn't care about her, and weren't interested in watching her get sorted.

Still, Lily sat with her legs crossed, and waited for the hat's decision to come.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Rose Bouvier]

Walking into the brightly lit, crowded and colourful Great Hall, Rose took an instant disliking to it and decided to avoid it when she could. The idea of all these people looking on at her as she wore the sorting hat sickened her and she fidgeted, restlessly, wanting to leave.

She was past the point of no return, and even if she could leave she wouldn't as Lily would undoubtedly stay. She'd only agreed to leave home because of her twin sister. but now was silently regretting it ever so slightly. the crowd of children was slowly getting smaller and smaller to Rose's relief as the mass of bodies was starting to freak her out. So far she'd been able to avoid other human interaction which had been difficult on the train, but she'd managed to keep quiet.

"Bouvier, Rose."

Her eyes narrowed the moment her name was called. She felt cheated having to go up before her sister, not knowing if they'd be in the same house or not. She stepped forward, keeping her eyes to the floor as she moved towards the stool and finally reaching the seat, the headmistress lowered the hat onto her head.

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"You have a thirst for knowledge but do you have the ambition to seek it? We'll find out when you're in Ravenclaw!"

 

[Marianna Goldsham]

Marianna, vast-eyed and quaking, neared the stool. She'd read all about the Hat -- it considered, sincerely, their wishes, did it not? But a part of her insisted its interest in the desires of those whom it Sorted was in truth feigned, and in seconds her mind flooded with equally disquieting thoughts. In her head, she was preparing her voice, hoping she'd achieve success at imitating certainty.

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" You don't fool me, but that's ok. You have a strong desire to be the best, don't you. What house will help you with that? I know. Ravenclaw!"

 

[Parker Greystone]

Parker Greystone shuffled into the great hall with the other first years around him, confident and proud to finally be at Hogwarts. He was determined to excel this year. He felt Hogwarts was his true calling, and he aspired to be great. As he listened to the list of names being called out, he watched student after student get sorted into the various houses of Hogwarts. Parker himself was hoping for Gryffindor. He was a straight forward and honest person, and he wasn't one for the books, so he felt Gryffindor suited him best. As his name was called, Parker stood up to the stood and sat down, smiling to himself as the sorting hat was placed on his head. 'Gryffindor.' he thought.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Dallben Pembroke]

Dallben Pembroke had been looking forward to this. He really had. It wasn't just that he was happy to be at Hogwarts New Zealand, but just at school. His mother since moving to New Zealand, had decided to live so remotely that he had no school anywhere nearby, and so hadn't gone. It was just a good thing that he was actually a wizard and therefore didn't need to know silly muggle things. But, at long last here he stood with his classmates ready to just get started. Ready to be sorted and to start learning spells. Dall had decided early on in his long journey to this school that where he hadn't been too studious before he might just try. He didn't care about houses, he thought they were pointless, but he wanted to leave the school, with most knowing who he was. He wanted to be known. It would helped that having spent a lot of his life in Wales, and coming from parents who were also Welsh, that he had a very clear Welsh accent. Not that was at the front of his plan to take over, but it was at the very least something that would make him different from the rest of these students. That was really all he was going for, nothing else. Happily he stood with the students in his year as they made their way to the front of the hall, waiting to be sorted.

Dallben knew very well that this would be a deciding moment in his life. He knew that for most sorting was this huge deal, it came with family pressures, internal pressures, but Dallben didn't care. He thought that no matter where he got placed he could do well. He could achieve. He knew that most people would think him a slytherin, and both his parents were rooting for Hufflepuff, as that's what they'd been while at Hogwarts in Scotland, but Dallben didn't care. He looked to the front as the hat started singing. He knew this was part of the whole, sorting tradition, but he was not enjoying it. Dall didn't think that it was entirely necessary. But really he didn't think any of this was. He just wanted to get started. Happily the song ended, and the students began being sorted. Alphabetically of course, when meant that with his surname he was fairly far down the list. However, eventually it began getting closer. When the surnames hit L, Dall, got himself ready, he fixed the tie, made sure his shirt was tucked in, he combed his hair slightly, and gave his sleeves a small brush down. He was about to be face with the entire school for the first time, he couldn't be looking terrible. Finally, his name was called,

"Pembroke, Dallben", Dall took a deep breath and then walked forward. He smiled at the professor before facing the room, and sitting down. The smile still graced on his lips. He felt a little like a king facing his people for the first time, and that was the composure he held. Superior. He let those thoughts slide away as the hat was placed on his head, he would wait, let the hat do it's job and then get started. "I'm not fussed about the house, I just want to get started" was his only thought.​

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"You have a lot to learn. I know you'll do just that in Slytherin!"

 

[Meadow Ostberg]

Meadow walked confidently into the Great Hall, letting her eyes soak up all there was to see. The floating candles, the bright colours and the roaring fires were all but a small fraction of what Hogwarts had to offer and she knew it. On their way in Meadow had seen the massive lake and had already decided that she must swim in it at least once before her first year was up. If she was even sorted. This was the deal breaker, what if she wasn't sortable? Having been a muggle all her life what if the Headmistress turned around and told her "Sorry, but there's been a mistake."

Shrugging off her daunting fear, she waited until her name was called. "Ostberg, Meadow." There were slight mutterings about her name, which must have been very uncommon, and she feared the judgement was already starting, even though nobody knew who she was. She walked to the stool and sat down, her feelings slowly dwindling, the perks of Hogwarts fading away and the negatives crawling to the forefront of her mind.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Drake Dekker]

Drake sauntered into the brightly lit room and his eyes widened. This was it, the moment he'd been waiting for. His time to shine. The sorting had played a big part in his family and his mother (a Gryffindor) had told him and his siblings many stories about it. Most were falsehoods she'd made up to keep them in line such as "If you don't behave the sorting hat won't sort you." and stuff like that. It washed with the littler kids but now Drake was too old for that nonsense. He was here to be sorted and that was that.

He was the first of the Dekker children to attend Hogwarts and was looking forward to leaving a lasting impression. He would not go unnoticed, or so he hoped. His name was called and Drake swaggered up to the seat and sat down awaiting the hat's decision.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Victoria Havelock]

Every moment since Victoria step foot on the hidden platform she had been wonder struck. She truly understood her sisters jealousy as she boarded the train to her new school. Her sense of wonder was gradually matched by her rising nerves as the train reached their destination and she and her fellow first years were rounded up and taken up to the school. Hogwarts was everything she imaged and more, the castle was amazing to behold and as they students were led inside she couldn't believe she would be spending the next seven years of her life here, she would grow up in this castle. She shuffled along the towards the Great Hall with the first years, she listened to them as they tried to guess what house they would be sorted into. Victoria didn't know what the houses were, or what the criteria was to be sorted into which ever house so she had no way of guessing where she would end up, she didn't care all that much she just wanted to enjoy her time.

The students were led into the Great hall and taken down to just in front of the head table, there sat an old hat on a stool. From the mutterings around her, she was able to gather that the hat would sort them into the houses, this just confused her more. When the children were instructed to stop just before the stool. One by one the students were called to sit upon the stool and had the hat lowered onto their head. What happened next amazed Victoria, the hat began to talk, it discussed the student beneath it, what they were like and eventually called out their house. It wasn't long before it was her turn, Victoria nervously slid herself onto the stool and took a deep breath as the hat was lowered onto her head and she waited as the mouth opened up and hat decided her fate.

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Leila Hamilton]

Prim and polished, stood Leila Hamilton who was quite the opposite to her older sister. Dark and light, even their names explored their clear differences and yet she sought out the gaze of her sister in her nervous state. She wondered what her sister might hope for her time here. If she would like them to become closer by sharing a house like she hoped. While their differences were so stark it might bring them together, goodness knew what being in Slytherin actually meant as their parents told them so little and Lux had been just as tight-lipped. As the young girl waited, she wondered why there was such silence in her family because looking at the beautiful dining hall around her, she could only assume that there would be just as much beauty everywhere else. Of course, green was hardly her colour as it seemed to wash her out a little bit but silver could be something she could work with easy enough. Now, she had on a simple dress underneath her cloak. Whether it was regulation or not was of no concern to the girl, she assumed that with so many other students waiting to get sorted that a white dress would not kick up a fuss with any of the Professors and for the most part no one had mentioned it, despite how some of the bodice dared to sneak through the loosely clasped cloak.

Leila’s dark curls bounced as she walked up to centre-stage when her name was called. She glanced at the Professor who was doing the calling and then took her seat, crossing her legs at the knee and then daintily placing her hands atop of them clasped. She was calm although admittedly the thought of a hat that had touched the heads of so many students, some of whom she could not help but think were a little less than clean. She tried not to focus on it, as she was certain that they were bright people although she could hardly understand how a hat could speak or even think at all. It was one of the many facets that had not been explained to her and so she listened as intently as was possible.

“I don’t know what it means to be in any of the houses, but it would be nice to be with my sister.” She thought hopefully although she would never admit it to her sister out of sheer embarrassment. The young girl knew that she would be honoured to be put in any of the houses because she would be working with people whose goals and hopes were the same as her own and hopefully were lovely people as well. She found herself to be quite an honest person when it came to her work ethic and her appreciation of people and so Leila left herself in the able… hands… of the Sorting Hat.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Cynthia Coleman]

If Cynthia was going to be sorted she at least wanted to make sure she was looking her complete best before she entered the Great Hall. Standing with the other first years she started to flatten down her robes a little and sort her hair out after it had become a little windswept from the journey over to the castle. It did feel amazing to finally be there, experiencing everything she had been told from her various different family members and now she was going to make sure she paid attention to everything so she might be able to tell her younger siblings what it was like. She did hope they turned out to be magical like her, it would be a shame to end up being all alone at Hogwarts without her own family there to experience everything with her.

Finally they were allowed into the Great Hall and Cynthia's eyes lit up as she saw everything in front of her. Wow, it really was starting to turn out better than she had ever thought it was. Almost stumbling over her feet with the excitement building up the girl followed after everyone else, hanging back a little to make sure that she was getting a chance to see everything. You only went through the sorting once and so she was planning to make the most of it and see everything. Unfortunately, her last name was close to the front of the alphabet so she was called pretty soon. Head spinning towards the hat she paused for a moment before gingerly making her way up the steps towards the stool. It was a very old looking hat and she wondered for a moment how long it had actually been used, a question which was still in her head when the hat was lowered over her eyes. All the girl could do was wait for the verdict and just hope she was put somewhere which she would fit in.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Doriana Strati]

Doriana had read books about the school but they had miserably failed to describe its beauty. There shouldn't be another place in the world where magic could be manifested in all its glory. As Doriana along with her rest first years, walked under the light of hundreds of hovering candles, she felt the aura of of comfort and reassurance. She was happy that her new home was going to have such a nice aesthetic quality. She was a bit nervous when she took the Hogwarts Express and left her dad waving at her on that platform. The two of them were inseparable and Doriana was having qualms for leaving him alone. She was going to owl him as soon as the ceremony ended. She had promised him after all to let him know about the house she was going to represent.

Doriana was familiar with the whole process of sorting. Her older cousins were already students at Hogwarts and they had told her also about the different houses. She hadn't any particular preference. Her cousins were both Gryffindors but she wasn't sure if she really possessed the traits defining this house. She didn't bother her head much with such thoughts. In the end it was the sorting hat's choice. She was informed about it as well. As Doriana was watching the hat talking, she remembered her cousin Perseas telling her that it could actually read people's mind. Doriana wasn't sure if she had to believe this. Her cousin was an infamous teaser and he could have said that to unsettle her. Her curious, gray eyes observed the children that sat on the stool before her and they looked unharmed from the whole process. The sorting hat was sending them with the applause of the other students to their new house's corresponding table. Doriana noticed that some times it took more time for the hat to choose were to sort each student and this made her wonder why.

Doriana flinched when her name was called but she mustered the necessary courage to step out of the safety of the remaining students group. The few steps separating her from the hat felt deafening as the hall's occupants settled to see where she was going to be sorted. She sat down and when the hat touched the top of her head, she squeezed her eyes shut. She cracked a soft, mischievous smile as she brought in her mind the funny scene of three gnomes belly-dancing. If the hat could really read minds, it was in for a surprise

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"Nice try distracting me. Gryffindor!"

 

[Dakarai Della-Robbia]

Dakarai Della-Robbia sighed as he waited in line. The boy found himself doing that a lot lately. It was expected. He felt like his mother died, he moved in with his father, and now, he was being whisked off to Hogwarts New Zealand. He went from the United States, to France, and then to New Zealand. He just wanted to stay stationary for one moment. Jazmine had told him Hogwarts New Zealand would be perfect for him. It was far away, and there were lots of nice people. Dakarai hoped that the woman was right. He could not bring himself to call her sister. Just like he could not bring himself to call Concord father.

Dakarai looked out to the crowd of students sitting at each table. He wondered which house would be perfect for him. Jazmine told him that Hufflepuff was a great house. So, he hoped to be placed in Hufflepuff. There was nothing that made him stand out, at least nothing no one cared about. Dakarai heard his name called. He walked up and sat down on the stool. He looked down at his lap and twiddled with his thumbs. All eyes were on him now, and he wanted it to end quickly. The Sorting Hat was placed on his head. "Okay. Give me the news."

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Aras Ivanauskas]

Aras was experiencing everything set before his eyes with restrained enthusiasm. His teal blue eyes scanned the every corner of the Great Hall once the first years were allowed to enter and cross the distance to the other end, where the Sorting Ceremony was going to take place. It might wasn't evident on the boy's face but he was so entranced with what he had seen so far from this place. Initially Aras didn't like the idea of leaving his family to study at a boarding school. It was hard to step out of your comfort zone and change your ways but Aras was adaptable and he was sure he was going to feel like home at no time.

New students were welcomed by the Headmistress but Aras attention was fixed on the hat. He had read everything about Hogwarts'history in a book, including the traditional Sorting Ceremony. He always wanted to be prepared about things he was going to encounter as he liked to have control over things. From what he had read about the four houses, he believed that Slytherin was going to be the most suitable outcome. He had dreams aspirations and he was dedicated to make them real. But it was the Sorting Hat that had the last word and no one could really doubt its judgement. Generations of wizards and witches had wore this hat and were placed to their rightful house. No chance it was going to make a mistake.

So Aras relaxed and waited patiently for his turn as his future classmates were going through the whole process. He was glancing now and then back at the tables to see the other students' reactions to the Hat's announcements. Aras was more of an observant, much less of a talker. When he was summoned he didn't hesitate and just approached the stool. His face was an expressionless mask but behind his chest, his heart was racing. Aras had a seat and the Hat was softly placed on his head. He clenched his fist in anticipation and his knuckles turned white.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Ashleigh Summers]

Ashleigh Summers walked through the Great Hall, she still wasn't sure what was happening or where she was. She was still having a hard time understanding the whole concept of the Hogwarts castle. It was an amazing place, and looked beautiful, but she wasn't entirely sure what was happening. She would get used to it eventually most likely, but for now she was a little bit amazed about the situation and was hoping that she caught on quickly. She listened for the names being called by the hat thing, and gulped when she heard hers.

"Summers, Ashleigh."

She walked over and sat down on the stool, as the hat closed over her eyes she was scared for what could happen.

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"Hmm...Ravenclaw!"

 

[Angeline Carter]

So far Angeline loved Hogwarts, in the short time that she had been there and the little she had seen she had already seen a hundred possibilities of places to explore and get lost in. When she entered the Great Hall with all the other first years she couldn't believe how vast it was, so far the place had blown her expectations out of the water. Her eyes couldn't land on one thing for two long as they bounced back and forth, examining every nook and cranny she could see from where she was standing, she was definitely going to have fun here, she could just tell it. Soon all the chatter slowed down to a hush and the Headmistress started to talk.

Angeline tried to listen to her as much as she could, she really did try but she was on excitement overload that she didn't start playing attention until the sorting process started. She rolled her eyes at all the other first years around her, talking about her nervous they were at what the sorting hat was going to say and where it was going to put them. She didn't understand why people found it nerve wrecking, they were going to sit on a seat and have their next seven years dictated by a hat, nothing to be nervous about. Angeline didn't have long to wait until she was the one called up on the stage. Making her way to the front she made her way over to the stool and when she sat down she didn't even notice the hat was on her head, all she could think about the better view she had from up here to see the rest of the hall and any possibly areas to explore and whatnot.

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"Your taste for adventure surely means you belong in Gryffindor!"