The Sorting Ceremony Y45

[Matt Alcott-Ward]

The sky overhead looked a little cloudy tonight, but bright moonlight still shone through and added to the candlelight in the Great Hall. Matt had been here many times before, but it was no less exciting. He stood in front of the entire school, smiling at the students, he adjusted the roll of parchment before looking up from the podium. He 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.

 

[Hazel Ashworth]

Hazel was barely surpressing her squeals of excitement as she walked through the castle. It looked so COOL. There was art everywhere, though the portraits were a bit olf-dashioned for her taste. She waved at the inhabitants of the portraits as she walked past them. They were led to the great hall, which looked even more awesome. Hazel looked up at the sky, amazed. She wondered if whatever spell was making the ceiling look like that could also be used on fabric. A dress like that would kill. Her attention was quickly drawn to the headmaster who spoke to them, he told them a few rules, but Hazel barely paid attention to them. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet, eager to get to the sorting part. She nearly fell backward when the hat suddenly started singing. She hadn't expected that, mostly because she hadn't been listening to the headmaster. Still, she thought it was pretty cool. She was grinning by the time the hat was done. She was glad she didn't have to wait long for her name to be called, as it started with an 'A'. She happily skipped forward and sat down, closing her eyes. She was ready to hear her destiny.

"Hmm, how interesting. There is certainly enough creativity here for Ravenclaw, and some bravery for Gryffindor to opt to be so unique. But there's something to that uniqueness isn't there.....Slytherin,"

 

[Rowan Roscoe]

Rowan was nervous, anxiously wringing his hands and fumbling with the sleeves of his robes as he glanced around the Great Hall. He'd heard stories of Hogwarts from his father, but nothing really prepared him for what it would actually be like to attend Hogwarts himself. He was also quite unfamiliar with so many other kids his own age, unable to stop himself from shrinking back from the group and loitering at the edge a little away from everyone else. And the nerves didn't stop with so many people watching his every move, Ro swallowing nervously as names were called out. Unfortunately, with a name beginning with R, he had a little bit of a wait. And boy was the wait killing him, the nerves building and building with each passing second no matter what else he tried to think of. And, after what felt like an eternity, he finally heard his name called out across the Great Hall.

The boy very nearly jumped, a soft squeak of surprise slipping out as he began to shuffle his way towards the front of the group. He didn't know where he was going to get sorted. Getting into Ravenclaw like his father would be nice, but he wasn't about to start begging. In reality, he knew it would make no difference where he ended up. So, with that thought in his head, he finally reached the front of the hall, turning around, so he could sink onto the stool as the hat was lowered over his eyes.

"I can see that slither of desire for a certain house. I can see why, and with a peak into your head I know that while, you could manage just fine in Hufflepuff, that you could likely manage in any of the houses, the place for you, where you will thrive, will be where that desire sits...Ravenclaw,"

 

[Travis Simons]

Travis had no idea what was waiting for him. The magical world so far was already totally new and incredible. But an magical school?! Wow that sounded awesome. But he wasn't actually looking forward to study and classes and all, more the total experiance and meeting others who are magical. He had met some people during the break when he spend some time with his parents to get his supplies. But so far he didn't met anyone like him, someone new to this world. Most people were just familliar with magic he figured, since their parents used it on daily basis. But his parents were different, muggles it's what they called them he heard around here. His mother was an lawyer and his father an famous tv host and personality back in The Netherlands. He had to grin about the idea of his father using magic on tv. But that was never gonna happen.

Following the rest to the castle his mouth almost stayed open when he saw it with his own eyes. It looked like something from an book, an story that his mother had read him when he would go to bed. An castle from an fairytale or like that. But this was actually his new school. He chatted something along the way when they arrived in big hall with an incredible ceiling. As he looked above he almost fell to the person in front of him who suddenly stopped walking. '' That's so cool! '' He said out loud. And smiled cheerfully to some people around him. When an man started talking he tried to focus, but he was way more interested in what was around them. He heard something about forbidden and than his attention was all with the man again. That kind of stuff interested him. An forbidden forest? That sounded cool. Than an hat started singing and he had to grin for an moment, it was funny to him. He had no idea after it, but he would be sorted in any of the houses. Travis had no idea how that worked, but an hat could look in his brain or something that sounded cool. Students were all called upon and when it was his turn he walked to the front with an big smile on his face. '' Hiya mister hat.'' Travis said and let it all happen. He wondered if the hat could read his mind. That would be so handy. Travis watched towards the rest of the students, wondering who he would end up with in the same house.

"Hello there mister student! Hmm, this is a relatively easy one. You've got a talent for adventure, and a desire for the arts. I know exactly where you should go....Gryffindor,"​

 

[Briony Mettlestone]

Briony had nearly wandered away from the group of new students several times between getting off the train and finally making it into the hall. First she'd spotted a tree out on the grounds, looming in the evening dusk, that looked like exactly the sort of tree that knew secrets that Briony was dying to find out. Then she'd seen a trail leading around the side of the castle and could imagine where it might go. Inside the castle, with all its corridors and paintings it hadn't been much better and Briony was sure if it weren't for the flow of the other kids around her pushing her along she'd had drifted off immediately, stories already spinning in her head as she glanced around, nearly walking directly into the girl in front of her as they came to a stop in the hall proper.

Right, the hall, Briony tried to focus and remember what tidbits she'd heard from Emery and Vanity, craning her neck to see if she could spot her siblings at the various tables around the room. That task was derailed quickly though when the man at the front started speaking, their headmaster apparently. It sounded exactly the beginning of an excellent story and Briony listened closely, attention piqued by the mention of the Forbidden Forest. A perfect name, Briony had to check it out immediately, though she was again distracted by the hat placed before them, and more so by it singing. As the song settled, Briony tried to quietly hum the melody to herself, eyes still drifting around the hall and the ceiling and the professors at the table, and. well, everything. as names started to be called. She nearly missed her own, staring at a particularly interesting cloud forming on the ceiling above before she regested it was her turn to go up. What could a talking, singing hat tell about her? Briony was curious to find out.

"I can't really tell you anything, you do not already know. Even if it is buried. But, what I can see in you is a curiosity, a sense of adventure, and numerous stories. These could make you a decent Hufflepuff, or a fair Gryffindor, but you will be best placed, where curiosity is always fostered....Ravenclaw,"

 

[Morrie Ayre]

What a load of nonsense this sorting was, thought Morrie as she waited in the huddle for her name to be called. To her, it seemed like students were being divided into houses based on an arbitrary set of broad personality traits. Anyone could tick off any one of these traits, but the ultimate decision of course rested with a hat. Morrie glanced around at her fellow students, observing that for many, this was a pivotal moment filled with great importance. Their house placement seemed to matter a lot to them. Morrie, on the other hand, felt quite the opposite.

When her name was called, she stepped forward with a nonchalant air. To the Sorting Hat, she quipped, "Go on titfer, do your worst." Morrie wanted house option 5, Morriehouse.

"My worst? I can only do my best and you'll just have to accept it. I think for you, it's a difficult choice between two of our houses, and really you manage in either. But I think you'll find your path best in....Slytherin,"

 

[Penelope Zatare]

Penelope didn't know how she felt about this... school. She wasn't sure she'd be staying here, in any case. Even if she was quietly impressed with the castle. The sleeves of her robes were a little bit too long. She had her arms crossed anyways, though, keeping quiet as she walked through the hall with the other students. She kept to herself. She wouldn't be seeing any of these students for long, anyway. Even if she did somehow stay through the entire seven years she didn't expect to see any of them again once school ended. She waited quietly, just studying the room. Eventually she was called up to the sorting hat- one of the last in the hall- and she took her seat without a word, just waiting for it to be over and done with. Go on then, get on with it.

"I will take as long as I want, though for you really, the choice feels clear. You could make a decent Ravenclaw, you've enough intelligence for it, but that won't be it for you. No. But let's just wait a little longer before I get on with it...................Slytherin,"

 

[Fiona Burke]

It was finally Fiona's time to go to Hogwarts. It was a shame that not all of her siblings were here together at the same time as Nolan had just graduated, but it was okay. Fiona was happy it was finally her turn. She couldn't wait to explore the castle and meet new friends. Fiona didn't really know many people who were going to Hogwarts, aside from Lucy, Travis and her siblings, but she was always excited to make new friends.

As they entered the great hall, Fiona couldn't help but look at the place with awe. She had heard bits and pieces from her siblings about the castle, but it was completely different to what she was experiencing. She managed to see Molly and Conan along the way in the great hall and gave them a wave. Though Fiona quickly ducked her head away as Molly gave her a big enthusiastic wave like no one was seeing her.

The great hall looked so cool, and Fiona couldn't wait to explore the castle a little more. Fiona waited with the rest of the first years as she listened to the headmaster about the rules and whatnot. She finally saw the talking hat that her siblings were excited to talk about when they were younger. She guessed the hat was cool. It was a talking hat after all. The Forbidden Forrest had been a perk to Fiona's ears, she was bummed that it was Forbidden, but she knew she wanted to explore it anyway.

It wasn't long before their names were called. She called and cheered for people. But her surname was quite close to the beginning of the alphabet, so it wasn't long before her name was called. Fiona began to be a little nervous. The youngest Burke made her way towards the stool that was placed in the front of the great hall. Fiona slowly sat down on the stool and muttered a small 'hey'. It was appropriate to greet the hat right?

"Hello there! It is polite to greet even the hat, though people often don't. I'll make this quick, since this decision is not hard.....Gryffindor,"

 

[Zaros Lodowick]

Zaros was actually curious about the school as he arrived, taking the time to look around. He was relaxed as he moved, hands in his pockets. He recognized a few faces in the crowd, but he didn't move towards them. Instead he watched the sorting on and off, looking around at the Great Hall. His eyes, however, kept moving back to the ceiling. The ceiling was gorgeous, and he made a mental note to figure out how to do that himself. Who would ever have a normal ceiling if this was an option? He hummed under his breath, only drawn out of his thoughts as he was called up. He moved up and took his seat, shutting his eyes. Do you spend all year on that song? He wondered idly. Or does someone write it for you?

"I write them myself, of course! Why would I get someone else to do something I can do myself. Now, for you, the choice is difficult, but I think I can see it. You'll maybe find your classmates a little friendlier than you'd expect, but give it a chance....Hufflepuff,"

 

[Miranda Dawes]

Miranda was here. The last few months, since 'changing schools' (read: doing some home schooling until the Hogwarts semester started) and since her letter had come had been a build of gradual tense excitement for the day she left. But now she was actually here! She wondered if the original Hogwarts looked just like this, how her dad must have felt when he was lining up to be sorted. She tried not to think about her mother's reactions, as she could see her craning her neck at the staff table looking for her and pointedly decided not to try and meet her eyes. Instead, she looked around at the students besides her, grinning at them and whispering as they milled about waiting. "Hey! You excited? This is so cool, right?" She clapped at the hat's song, thinking it must be some pretty awesome magic to give it the power to sing and make decisions. Miranda wondered if they'd learn anything like that later on.

Dawes was not the first name to be called, but it was fairly early in the list, a fact for which Miranda was pretty grateful. She knew her dad had been in Hufflepuff, and her mother had been in Ravenclaw, but she wasn't quite sure what the hat had in store for her. Her dad had said that it didn't matter where she went because he knew she'd have a great time and make the most of it anyway. No wonder he'd been in Hufflepuff, she thought, fondly. She let the hat lower onto her head with a grin, gripping the side of the stool as the anticipation built. Hello, she mentally greeted, having been told the hat could read into your mind. I liked the song, you're a great singer! Compliments were always a good start, she knew.

"Thank you! I am very glad you liked it. But this shouldn't be about how great I am, but about how great you are, and where this greatness will take you. To me, there is only one choice...Ravenclaw,"

 

[Osiris Vale]

Osiris Vale could hardly wait to join the students. He wondered if he would be in the same house as his dear sister. She was in Slytherin but he knew that she was Ravenclaw material. Was he? There was no telling since he was mainly interested in just a few things. So, he might end up in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Oz did not really care where he went, honestly. Eventually, they made it to the V's and heard his name. He approached the stool and sat down. He felt the hat upon his head and waited for his result.

"Hmm, well, you might be one of the last I sort this year, but this is certainly an interesting mind, but not one that needs me to delve too deep....Slytherin,"​

 

[Lucy Holland]

The sadness of leaving her family behind had faded away bit by bit as the train brought Lucy closer to Hogwarts, but it was only on actually entering the castle that her excitement had really kicked in. This was it! After eleven years of waiting, hearing her family's Hogwarts stories and watching them cast spells like it was nothing, Lucy's turn had come at last. She had read her textbooks over and over in anticipation, eager to start already. And finally the time had come. There was a whole castle waiting for her to explore it, friends waiting to be made, mysteries to be solved, goals to be reached. It was all waiting.

Lucy could hardly contain her excitement as she entered the Great Hall with the rest of her classmates, bouncing a little on her toes as she looked around. It was exactly how her family had described it, and yet somehow she hadn't expected it to be quite so big. She gazed up into the ceiling for a long time before tearing her eyes away, looking over to the teachers table. She quickly spotted her cousin, grinning brightly as she waved. She had never spent much time around Grace - there was some kind of issue between their parents that Lucy didn't really understand - but it was nice to know she would have family at the school all the same.

Her attention snapped to the headmaster as he started speaking, though everything he said was all well and truly drilled into her by now. She knew she wouldn't be paying much attention to the rule about the forest, and she knew all too well about the different houses. The hat's song was interesting at least, after having heard so much about it. She had somehow expected it to have a prettier voice, but it was still exciting to actually see in person. And then the sorting began.

Lucy felt a little bit like she was going to pass out as the people whose names came before hers began to filter forward and take their turns, wishing her surname came earlier in the alphabet. She knew she should be happier for her friends who were going earlier, but she was too focused on her own fate. She knew that no matter what happened now, someone in her family was going to be thrilled, and the others would be a little disappointed, even if they hid it. The excitement at her own future was somewhat tempered by that knowledge, but it didn't hold her back for a second. As soon as her name was called Lucy was running forward, grinning brightly as she took her seat and felt the hat settle on her head. Hello Mr. Hat, she thought immediately, I've heard all about you. I'm looking forward to seeing where I go, thank you for all your hard work!
"Thank you! I see you've had a few siblings grace our halls already. But, now it's time for you. Hmmm...this is tricky. There are elements of all our houses, but which one wins out....I may need some time to think....Okay, I see that, but then there's....and what about this...Hmmm...Oh now I see.....Ravenclaw,"

Out of Character:

This decision took a bit of time so please feel free to Roleplay this as a hatstall

 

[Jean Lancaster-Snow]

Jean Lancaster-Snow knew that this was going to be the place to be. He did take after his dad with his hair at least, but he did have his mother's eyes. He was definitely their kid, there was no doubt about it. He wondered if they would use the Lancaster surname or Snow as he waited for his name to be called. He hoped it was the Lancaster name since he would be sorted that much sooner. He did not have to wait too long since he heard his name, which was used as the Lancaster part. He walked up to the stool and sat down. He sighed when the hat touched his head. He thought, knowing that the hat could hear, 'Slytherin, please. Mom, dad, and brother were all Slytherin, so I will be left out if I'm not there,' Jean hoped, as he clasped his hands together. He even looked over to the Gryffindor house, knowing that his uncle was there, so he would not mind too much if he went there.

"I do not believe it would be the worst thing in the world if you were not a slytherin..I can see elements of Ravenclaw, a little Gryffindor and a little hufflepuff in you..no? Okay...I'll let you have what you so desire...Slytherin,"​

 

[Kyousuke Kurosawa]

Kyousuke stepped into the hall, a little weary of the other students around him. It was a new situation but he was trying to play it cool, trying not to show how neat he thought the ceiling was. He stood with his hands in his pockets and waited for his name to be called out. He'd been expecting this - expecting this day to come for a long time, and now it was finally here. An opportunity to do his best, bring success to himself and to his family. Make everyone proud. With that in mind, he waited patiently for his name to be called out. K was a midway down the list, but his name was called out eventually and headed up to the stool to put on the hat. He had no preference for house - other than it was the one that would bring him the glory he sought. That was all that mattered, and he made sure the hat knew that as he thought it loudly to himself.

"I see what you seek about all else, and there are two places one might be best placed for that. For you that one will be...Slytherin,"

 

[Aroha Blenheim]

Aroha had been sad to see her family go, but she had to remind herself that this was a new and exciting journey - and one her siblings would be joining her on in a couple of years. Hogwarts was magnificent, and she couldn't wait to explore every nook and cranny. There had to be secrets hiding somewhere and Aroha was determined to find them. She didn't have to wait long for her name to be called out, which was just as well - she was getting antsy for her chance to shine, to step under the hat and see what it called out. Her parents had been a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw, so she hoped she'd get into either of those houses. Though in all honesty she couldn't see herself getting into Ravenclaw. She wasn't booksmart, or whatever you had to be to get into that one, Aroha thought.

Her name was called out and Aroha made her way to the stool, taking a seat as the hat was placed on top of her head. Tēnā koe, Sorting Hat, she thought to the hat. She wondered if the sorting hat magically knew te reo Māori, or any other language for that matter. That'd be cool. She also wondered if the sorting hat got lonely when it was put away for a full year. Then she stopped wondering things, wondering if that was an annoying thing to do when the hat was trying to figure out where she belonged. She didn't mind the eyes on her as she sat, patiently waiting for the hat to call out the house.

"You certainly do a lot of wondering, but you also very clearly love a lot of wandering. There is a sense of adventure here that will be best suited in one place alone...Gryffindor,"

 

[Summer Irvine]

Summer could not believe the day was finally here. Or, well, actually she could. She had been looking forward to this moment for ages, crossing off the dates on the proverbial calendar as to speak. If she tried to really think about it she didn't even care that much about Hogwarts itself. It was a big, old, castle or so she had heard. Surely, it wouldn't be up to her taste but she could get over that considering all of the other things attending Hogwarts meant. Like being away from the chaos of home for a little while. Being in a place where people could pay attention to her without having to take her three other siblings into account as well. Hogwarts was going to be great. She was sure of it. She'd strut down the hallways flipping her blonde locks over her shoulder, make plenty of friends and get all of the attention she so desperately craved. Nothing could stop her now. Except for perhaps the fact that she'd need to get through the dusty sorting ceremony first before she could really start achieving all of her goals.

Being the wonderful leader she thought she was Summer made sure she was walking at the front of the group of first years as they were being lead towards the great hall, audibly gasping when the huge doors were opened. She did not mind this at all. The attention, that was. Summer put on her prettiest smile as she walked right through the middle of the great hall with the others. She was smart enough to know not all eyes were on her and yet the hopeful part of her did decide to feel that way. Like all of those older students were focussing on her in particular rather than just watching the group of eleven years old slowly shuffle towards the front of the hall. As they moved, Summer glanced around at the kids around her. A few she recognized, one of which was the boy from the park she wanted to stay as far away from as she could. When the headmaster started speaking she put on her best 'I'm definitely listening to all of the important things you're saying and not already thinking about what my dorm might look like and how I could make it cuter'-face and nodded a few times just to be sure. Her attention was pulled back to what was happening in front of her when the hat started singing, causing her to softly snort and look around at the students around her. Perhaps during all of that time it was stuffed in a box somewhere it could work on its pitch, because in her expert opinion it sounded a liiiittle pitchy. Summer refrained from impatiently tapping her foot as she watched students go up and get sorted one by one, smiling from ear to ear when her name was finally called. She strutted forward and took her seat on the stool, crossing her legs as she waited for the hat to be placed on her head and call out a house. She really hoped it wouldn't ruin her hair, that would be so annoying.

"I doubt I will ruin your hair, especially because I will not take long. The answer for where you are to go is just a little hidden in here...but I see it...Slytherin,"

 

[Makaria Styx]

Makaria Styx was the last of her siblings to walk the halls, but most certainly not the last of the Styx family, as other branches had children upon children. Makaria made her way into the school and looked around the Great Hall. She spotted Loki and gave him a nod. They were siblings after all. It would be a while before her name was called, so she just listened around her for names that she might recognize. None of them did, though. Not yet anyway. She heard her name at last, and walked up to the front and perched on the stool. She did not have to wait long for the hat to sit on her hair. Now, she just had to wait for the results.

"Well, well, well, there are simply always more Styx's aren't there. But, still, the family you are from does not determine your house, you do. And for you this inquisitive mind, will be best fostered in....Ravenclaw,"​

 

[Elise Ito]

Elise could feel the excitement and apprehension of the other students around her and she took a moment to stare at their faces as they entered into the great hall. Most were enraptured by the sight and as she tore her eyes away from them she understood why. It was gorgeous and she almost forgot to keep walking until someone nudged her forward. Ezra had talked a lot about Hogwarts so she felt relatively prepared but this moment, with all the eyes on her, felt very different now than it had in her head. She looked towards the table with the most yellow and tried to find her brother. She wondered if he was mad at her for ditching him on the train, but she had been eager to try and make her own friends. Besides Dorian could be a bit uptight sometimes. At the thought of him, she looked for the table full of blue and tried to see the older boy's scowling face. No luck. There were just so many people. She could have kept staring at them for ages, trying to guess their names or hobbies, but she was distracted as the ceremony finally began.

Their whole journey was leading to this moment and it was just the very first step. Elise tried to listen to the headmaster's speech but got distracted counting the candles floating in the air. If there was something actually important being said Ezra would tell her later. But when the hat started to sing, she watched with rapt attention to the whole thing and even clapped when it was done. Then came the excruciating wait. She wished she had a last name that started with 'A' like Alvarez or even better Aaron. Her blood felt like it was humming louder and louder with each name that was called. Finally after what felt like a life time, her name was called and it felt like she was shocked by lightening when she realized it was her turn. She tried not to run to the front and instead walked as quickly as she could. Elise sat down and took a few deep breaths to calm down. And tried to clear her mind like the time her uncle tried to teach her how to meditate. She wanted to be a blank canvas for the hat to decide her fate with no pesky stray thoughts to sway it one way or the other.

"There is no need to keep pesky stray thoughts away, they help build the canvas of you, which helps me know where you go. But in saying that, you have this creativity...which seems to define you, and for that, I can see one place....Ravenclaw,"

 

[Miro Morales-Albertson]

Miro felt as if he had been waiting his entire life to be sorted. That all of his time learning at home - despite wanting to be outside, all the stories he had heard from his parents during their time at school, and all his made up adventures as an imaginary wizard were all leading up to that moment and his time at Hogwarts where he could finally learn magic like all of the grown ups. After waiting for so long, the reality, not only a daydream of being a wizard where he picked up a stick and waved it while playing, but the reality was finally so real and tangible in front of him. Miro was in his school uniform for the first time about to be sorted and he couldn't wait to walk along and forge his own path, to start a new adventure that was entirely his own. He was therefore practically itching to be sorted, and as much as he had initially tried (which was not very much at all, if he was honest) to wait patiently and follow along the rest of the group he was in as they walked through the great hall, like he had been told to, it wasn't long after they stopped and the sorting ceremony began before Miro to predictably begin to grow fidgety and move around as he pushed slightly through his peers to get a better view of what was happening. It was all too exciting, both the sorting ceremony and the atmosphere of the hall surrounding him and Miro of course did not want to miss out on any second of it.

Miro managed to elbow and squeeze his way up to the second row, standing on his tippy toes while trying to catch a glimpse of the sorting hat between people's heads. He could hear the voice - had heard the song, but that wasn't the same as actually seeing the hat come to life as it decided and proclaimed the fate of each student. Miro heard the hat exclaim house name after house name and the excitement of it all was overwhelming in the best way. He watched and listened he was counting down to hear his own name, following the alphabet his mind with every name that was called. As impatient as it made him feel he realised early on he wouldn't only be on the list as 'Albertson' so as the alphabet continued he tried to listen for surnames starting with 'M'. It felt like another lifetime of waiting, but Miro did finally hear his name called and this caused goosebumps to form on his arms as he pushed his way to the front of the crowd. Miro smiled as he moved to sit on the stool, trying his best to sit still. The entire eyes of the school were on him which was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, he couldn't deny being in front of so many people was overwhelming but at the same time he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He closed his eyes, trying not to get distracted by the hall surrounding him as the hat was placed on his head. Miro had no expectation or preference for houses, he just trusted the hat would choose the best house for him, as it had done for his parents so he could spend the next seven years of feeling alive and making memories to last the rest of his life.

"Hmmm, well, this is interesting, you have a keen ability to lead and a drive for adventure. I can see that sense of adventure takes on a few forms. But all in all, my choice is simple...Gryffindor,"​

 

[Elissa Masterson]

Elissa Masterson chattered away excitedly as she moved into the Great Hall with the other first years. She knew all about what was about to happen, and the closer she got to the head table, the better view she had of the patched brown hat that was perched on a stool. Looking to her left, she took note of the expressions of the other students—some were visibly anxious, while others simply looked bored.

”Hey, d’you think they wash the hat after every Sorting?” she asked out loud, finally coming to a stop in front of the Sorting Hat. “Or does it magically clean itself? I would think it cleans itself. It has all year to do it, you know.”

A whispered “Shh!” came from behind her. Elissa chuckled, then fell silent as the ceremony began. Ten minutes into it, she was starting to feel irritated by the fact that her last name was squarely in the middle of the list, which forced her to wait longer than she wanted to. After another five minutes, she heard her name called.

“Masterson, Elissa!”

“Finally.” she murmured, pushing her way through the crowd and up to the stool, where she sat and felt the hat cover her eyes. It was the moment she’d been waiting for…

"Finally indeed, and you won't have to wait too much longer, the choice is very easy. I can say that your determination to do well, would've made you a good Slytherin, but for you, your journey will be best in...Gryffindor,"

 

[Merlijn265]

Merlijn had been waiting to be sorted for eleven long, long years. Now she was finally here, the last minutes before being sorted seemed to last hours, days even. She knew it was going to be a while. Her last name started with an S, so more than half the people would likely be sorted before her. While she did not dislike any of the houses, she secretly wished to be sorted into Ravenclaw, just like her parents before her. However, she fully trusted the sorting hat to do what he did best, so she wasn't going to push it. They were calling over people with last names 'R', which meant it was almost her turn. "Merlijn van de Sande". Finally.

"Hmmm, interesting, I see a desire to learn and one to make friends...I see what you desire, but sometimes there's something else which will suit better than what we think will. And you'll be better suited to...Hufflepuff,"

 

[Caius Vaughn]

Caius was well dressed- or at least, as well put together as he could be with the school robes. The fact that they were custom made and tailored to his form wasn't anything in his mind. His hair was well groomed, and he was looking around curiously as they entered the castle, Cassius at his side. The castle was nice, but not anything really compared to a few places he'd visited. The ceiling was definitely amazing, of course, and the main draw of the room. But what he was really interested in was the people. He stood still, watching each person get sorted and seeing where they went, trying to remember names and faces. These were his possible roommates, housemates, classmates. He was certainly excited to be sorted himself, and strode up to the stool, head held high, shoulders back. He walked like any rich boy would- with an air of grace and poise that had been trained into him from a young age. He took his seat, and smiled as the hat slid over his eyes. Hello, Mr. Hat. Which house is the best for making friends? Like, lifelong friends that won't care who my family is? He asked, curious.

"Hello there. Really, any of the houses could very well enable that, it will depend on who else is with you...But I see for you an easy choice, that might help you along the way to your goal, and that is....Hufflepuff,"

 

[Genesee Carter]

The excitement of starting school had been building up over the summer for Genesee. She had been told many times all about the school by her father she felt as though she already knew her way around. She glanced around at her future classmates as they made their way into the Great Hall. These were going to be friends, probably some enemies over the next seven years. She knew her mother had once had a boyfriend at this very school who was a couple of years older. So glancing at the tables while she was passing it made her wonder if she too would find romance in the future. Right now, she did not really care for holding hands, her younger sisters made her hold their hands too much already.

"Carter, Genesee," a Professor at the front of the crowd spoke out. Her last name had always put her towards the front of lists. She smiled and waved at her father sitting at the Professor's table before turning towards the rest of the students and sitting down on the stool. I'm ready for this, I want to make my parents proud, I know they don't care what house I go to but somewhere I can succeed in everything else would be exactly what I want, Gen thought to herself as the hat was placed on her head.

"There is no doubt that where you will end up, you will succeed. I see your drive and desire for to try for it. I also see a sense of wonder and adventure...and the place you will will foster both...Gryffindor."

 

[Cassius Vaughn]

Cassius entered the Great Hall with the others, but kept his twin brother Caius by his side. The castle seemed simply one-of-a-kind and there will definitely be a lot of places to explore, but still, before the sorting, you had to go through it and hopefully you will have the opportunity to express your thoughts to the hat. Just call his name and Cassius didn't seem nervous at all, but walked forward to the stool with a sure step. He took a seat on a stool and looked down the hall, he was looking so far ahead when a hat was put on his head. He was aware that it would be a few moments before he knew which house will be inserted. Hello! Put me in the same house with my brother so that we can make many friends together. he asked the hat, hoping that his request would be heard.

"Didn't I just sort you? No matter, this choice is as easy. I can see that you have a hard-working nature and a desire to make friends. One of which may come easier than the other, but you'll do both in...Hufflepuff,"