The Sorting Ceremony

[Harriett Hoover]

The eleven year old with a plastic flower hairband on her hair walked side by side with the other children being presented to the older students of Hogwarts New Zealand. Her eyes wide as she looked up at the enchanted ceiling with candles floating. Harriett was scared, shaking even. The thought of her spending her seven years at this castle was a joke, her parents could have just sent her to military school but then again, what could have she possibly done that made her end up here? As everyone halt to a stop, Harriett, too, stopped on her tracks. She immediately focused her gaze at an old hat, it looked raggedy but not too much. But the best part of the most ridiculous experience she'll ever have was when the first kid was called upon in front and sat at the stool provide. The hat was placed on her and the hat spoke.

Harriett gulp when she see what was going to happen when it was her turn. The girl watched as one by one, were assigned to their houses which she doesn't have a clue what is what. When it was the people whose last names starts in 'H' was called, Harriett was counting on her options, whether to run or walk in front and be done with it. With a deep breath, the young girl opted to walk in front and sat at the stool. She could feel hyperventilating any minute now and would puke which will be embarrassing and she'll be a laughing stock of the school. The hat was pressed upon her head and prayed that the hat wont be too harsh about his decision.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Peyton Wright]

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Peyton Wright had absolutely no idea of what to imagine when she had gotten her acceptance letter from Hogwarts. She had tried to do some research about the school to get some sort of idea of how it looked and what it would be like, but the written descriptions she had read were nothing compared to the sight she came to behold when she finally arrived at the school. It had been breathtaking from the outside, but the feeling she got once she made her way into the school together with the other first years was even better. This was really going to be her home for such a long period of time? As they got closer to the great hall, and with that the sorting ceremony, she started to get more and more nervous. Peyton still wasn't exactly sure what the deal was with the four houses and what every house meant exactly, but she was hoping for the best.



After the giant doors in front of the group of students was opened and they revealed the incredibly huge hall that had been hidden behind them her nervousness seemed to fade a bit as it had to make some place for her feeling of exctement that was now starting to take over and her mind started to fill itself with questions she could not yet answer. What house would she be sorted in? And why? What would classes be like? What kind of people would she meet? As they reached the front of the hall Peyton focussed back on what was ahead of her and waited patiently whilst the other kids got sorted. She had known from the start that she was going to be one of the last to be called, having her last name start with a "W" it had always been that way. Being almost the last person that was left she nervously stepped forward when her name was called out. "Wright, Peyton." Sitting herself down on the stool she could feel many, many pairs of eyes looking at her when the old, wrinkled hat was placed onto her head and she took a deep breath, awaiting it's decision. ​

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Ethan Carter]

So this was Hogwarts. This was the famous castle his sister had come to all those years ago to join the school he had only imagined until now. She was just entering her fifth year as a Gryffindor, and though he did not know much about the houses, Ethan knew exactly to which his parents had belonged. He didn't mind where he was placed, but he did wonder how his Hogwarts life would fare if he ended up sharing a common room with his sister. Though the siblings generally got on, they always managed to bicker over this and that, and a large part of him hoped to be in her house for the comfort and wisdom she might offer- Unlikely, Ethan thought, trailing in after the other fresh-faced students awaiting sorting, she'd be much keener to kick a football in my face again and laugh at me.. Though true, she hadn't intended to hit him in the face, or so his mother told him, but the fact that she laughed.. Still, that particular grudge had gained a good six years in age and maybe it was time to forgive and forget.

When someone up the head of the hall (who Ethan couldn't see past a tall gaggle of girls) called out his name, Ethan stepped forward to sit upon the stool. He felt the hat sliding snuggly over his ears, over his eyes, so that now only his mouth and nostrils could be glimpsed. He sat there in the darkness of the aged hat, thinking about how many people were probably sniggering. He was very sensitive about being small for his age. And then a voice began to speak. At first, Ethan wasn't sure if he was imagining it because it sounded like it was literally inside his head, then he realised it must be the hat. Well, he thought as he drew a deep breath, here goes.

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"Let's see where you should go. Oh, you're a tricky one, aren't you? You're curious and like to learn, but you also care about appearances. Hmm...you're pretty adventurous too. Ok. I've figured this out. I knew I would. Better be...GRYFFINDOR!"

 

[Twyla Rothery]

Twyla was having trouble doing anything other than staring at the Sorting Hat. There was a whole new world around her, but she'd have plenty of time for gawking at everything else later. Right now, the Sorting Hat was what mattered the most to her. She felt a little pang every time she saw it sit on some other kid's head and call out their house. Sometime - very soon, she hoped - it would be time for her to feel that weird little creation on top of her own head. Her anxious fidgeting only worsened as the gap between then and now seemed to get bigger rather than smaller with every passing moment.

"Rothery, Twyla!"

Finally! Twyla actually stumbled over her own robes as she left the line of first years, falling flat on her face on the stone ground. She picked herself up and glared at whoever might've been watching her, then headed for the front of the room. The stool was uncomfortable enough to make her hope she wouldn't have to sit on it very long, but all of that was quickly drowned out by the butterflies in her stomach. She felt the rough material of the hat come down on her hair and clenched her hands together as she awaited the all-important announcement.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Lukas Baros]

Lukas felt pretty out of place as he filed into the Great Hall with his fellow future classmates to be sorted into a House that they would have to remain in for their time here at Hogwarts New Zealand. Lukas wasn't really familiar with how it all worked, despite his father having attended the Hogwarts in Scotland. Also,Lukas' older sister was currently studying at Drumstrang and they weren't seperated into houses or anything like that. Honestly, it put him off the idea of attending this school but it was something his parents wanted him to do so he wasn't going to refuse. The tall brunette towered over some of the averge height ten and eleven year olds so he was able to review his surroundings easily as they lined up and waited for the ceremony to begin. Lukas was fairly certain that he had some family in this school but he had such a large family that it was so hard to keep up with all of his cousins and probably some younger aunts and uncles, he wasn't even that sure himself. As he observed the four long tables that ran the length of the Great Hall almost, he assumed they were one per house, he saw how everyone was chattering and excited to see each other after their break - he hoped that he would be that excited to see people and in turn people would be excited to see him in his years to come.

It wasn't long before the ceremony began and Lukas listened intently to the sorting hat, which was something he had never seen before and he was fascinated with. He was intriguied with how it was able to sort people into their respective houses, it was magic that he couldn't quite fathom. Luckily Lukas didn't have long to wait until he was sorted, a bonus of having a surname that began with B. When his named was called he walked up to the platform and took his seat, wondering if he would follow in his fathers footsteps or not.

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Lewis McLennon]

Lewis waited anxiously in the great hall to be sorted. He was talking to a girl he had met on the train when his name was called. He walked silently up to the chair and allowed the sorting hat to be placed on his head "ahh lots of artistic talents in this one" it said "hmm and some bravery and also it seems like you pay attention to details" "well I do in my drawings" replied Lewis "very well then it'd better be..."

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"Sure, you're smart but Ravenclaw is not the right house for you. You value other qualities which can only be developed in...HUFFLEPUFF!"

 

[Azalea Mallie]

Hogwarts. The beauty of the paintings and the way everything hung in it's rightful place really alerted Azalea of the beauty of proper aestetics. Her parents always taught her to appreciate beauty at face value unless it presented more, and in that moment Hogwarts presented more. Fingers gently placed themselves along the walls, the textures bumping the tendrils like braille in a blind man's manual. Once the walls were too far away to be felt, and Aza was forced into a sea of people, she was forced to focus on the task at hand - being sorted. Two of her brother's had attended Scotland, and ended up in vastly different houses. Frankly it mattered not where she landed, she knew what she wanted out of her learning and would achieve it regardless of her house.

Name after name was called. Last name, first name, every time save for one. Someone named Elt - she'd have to inquire about why the hell she only had one name. Perhaps more politely as some may not get her humor as well as her family would. The English woman approached the stool at the call of her last name, barely allowing her first name to leave the woman's mouth. She glanced at her and gave a small nod, and then sat, facing the audience. She wanted to watch the faces and gauge reactions, but her face was swallowed by the hat. Knowing already what this was all about, that it could sorta read minds, or perhaps she was supposed to talk she thought. ""I'd ask ya not to muss my 'air but I've got none." other than that, she was quiet in mind, and body.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Tallulah Loveday]

It was a good job someone had told Tallulah to change into her school robes on the train, because she would have stuck out like a sore thumb getting out in the flipflops, denim shorts, and smiley face shirt she'd boarded in. When she'd discovered what it meant to be a witch, she hadn't been expecting everyone and everything to be so old fashioned. How would she even live without her top of the range mobile? All the things that had made her popular with Muggle meant absolutely nothing to these wizarding people. Fitting in here was going to be hard work.

After the train ride, Tallulah followed the other students up the steep path to the castle. She didn't know how long she'd been on the train, but it was dark now, and when the castle came into view its windows were illuminated like fireflies in the distance. Tallulah's draw dropped. Her own house was big, but this place was colossal.

Eventually she made it inside, saying an uncharacteristically small amount as they went into the great hall. If her mother had been there, she'd have asked if she were sick; it was usually impossible to get Tallulah to be quiet. The hat's song excited her, but there were still butterflies dancing around in her stomach. Gryffindor seemed like the house to be in. Hufflepuff seemed friendly, too, but nowhere near as exciting. Slytherin sounded a bit intimidating, and Ravenclaw full of clever people that knew a lot more than she did.

"Loveday, Tallulah!"

Tallulah edged through the crowd and took her seat on the sorting stool. As the hat was lowered onto her curls, she thought hopefully, 'Please Griffindor? Pleeaase?'

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Aaron Walden]

It was Aaron's time to go to Hogwarts. He remembered being very jealous of his sister when she first left for the school a couple of years ago and he couldn't wait till it was his turn, and now it was. He shuffled into the hall with the other unsorted first year students and each one seemed nervous about their future at the school but Aaron was excited. He was excited to start this adventure, Maddie had told him so many stories about Hogwarts and he couldn't wait to start his own story at the school. However, he was a bit concerned that his fate at the school lay in the hands of the strange old hat. He wondered if he would be put in the same house as his sister and he laughed at the thought. Having two Walden's in the same house would spell disaster he was sure, especially because of the notoriety Maddie had already earned for herself. But this was his time, he was the centre of attention for once and he was going to make the most of it.

One by one students left the crowd to get sorted and it was nearly time for Aaron's name to be called out and the suspense was killing him, he wanted to know where he would belong for the next few years. He hated that he was going to be one of the last names to be called out, however, fortunately for him, he wasn't alone. The people he met in the bookshop were also standing close by and the boy Aaron got on with best, Lucas, shared the misfortune of having a last name beginning with W so he was in good company right until the end.

"Walden, Aaron"

His name was called and Aaron slowly walked towards the front of the hall where the hat was waiting for him. He sat on the stool and took a deep breath waiting for the Sorting Hat's verdict.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Noah Kingsley]

Noah Kingsley looked around the Great Hall, trying to spot a familiar face. The Great Hall was packed with students and teachers. Somewhere in this room was Noah's mother and three of his cousins, but Noah didn't see them as he was in the middle of the crowd of first years waiting to be sorted. What Noah had seen of Hogwarts so far was amazing. His mother had often talked about the school, but he was shocked by the scale of it and the grandness of it. Noah tried to be patient as the other students were called before him. Finally, he heard his name. He thought he heard whispers as his name was called that sounded suspiciously like they contained the phrase 'Minister's son' and 'Professor Kingsley'. Noah held in his annoyance as he walked to the front of the room. He sat down on the stool as the hat was placed on his head.

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Hmm a tough cookie you are. Unfortunately, you cannot follow your mother's footsteps of Gryffindor, for you are Slytherin!

 

[Christina]

I was nervous, so so nervous. I could feel my entire body shaking, announcing to the whole world that I wasn't cut out for being a witch. Even as the deputy headmistress spoke I heard nothing, so certain I was that I would be turned away at any moment. Of course the curse of having a last name starting with the letter 'a' caught up to me again and I was first up. I stumbled at the first step, heat blooming in my cheeks as the sheer embarrassment made me want to cry. Taking a deep breath, I made it to the stool and sat down heavily, relief enveloping me when the hat was placed over my eyes and blocked my view of the sea of faces before me.
"Why hello, miss Christina, what an interesting mind you have. So intelligent and hard working you are, and yet such lack of loyalty to yourself. You're full of self-hatred. You aren't very brave, or witty, either, but you are true in what you believe. Unwavering. Quite ambitious, and yet not cunning. Such a mystery you are, with qualities from all four houses and yet none. What shines most vividly within you is your desire for knowledge and to prove yourself. Keep in mind, though, young Christina, that people change as they age. Although you fit into no house now, in the future you might.With this in mind, I'll have to put you in... **********."
Relief overcame me at finally being officially accepted into Hogwarts. And yet, fear that I wouldn't be smart enough, that I would be kicked out for not making the grades, continues to eat at me.

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"You'd make a good Hufflepuff, but your ambitions lie in using your smarts to make the world better. To accomplish that, you need to be in ...RAVENCLAW!"

Out of Character:

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[Clare Witts]

Clare followed the others through the huge oak doors, into the great hall. Her eyes lit up when she saw how enormous it was. Of course, she had heard it had to be majestic, but it was even more beautiful than she had imagined. When she came closer to the front of the great hall she came to a shop, carefully listening to the words said by the person in front of her.

One by one the names of other students were called; A slytherin, a hufflepuff, a gryffindor and a ravenclaw. Students got sorted into all the houses, and after what felt like hours she finally heard the words coming from the magical hat, that she had been waiting for all her life: "Witts, Clare"

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"You'll learn what to do with all that ambition in...SLYTHERIN!"

 

[Kaia Rosemary Grimm]

Kaia smiled brightly when the castle came into view. Her older twin cousins Amy and Dan (twins. Kaia thought it to be so cool!) had told her so many marvelous things about Hogwarts New Zealand. Because she was a curious person Kaia had literally interrogated the both of them over the summer break, the poor children must have thought something was up with the ten year old. She was ecstatic and couldn't wait to come here the moment she received her acceptance letter. She found it a bit odd that she received it a bit early, after all her birthday was only in April but the earlier the better. It meant she got to see and live in the place in her earlier young years. Kaia was feeling satisfied. When the first years entered the castle, Kaia fought the urge to gape at how wide and high and beautiful the school was! And she would be going here for the next seven years. It was truly magnificent.

They were led to the Great Hall - one of the many names her cousins had told her was important to know - and Kaia straightened. Her parents had always taught her how good first impressions were significant if she wanted to be liked. A bit harsh, but thus was the reality back home. Kaia hated sloppiness, of course but she was only ten. She would learn, give or take a few months. She pushed a lock of her from her face; as they entered the wide room Kaia stared at the ceiling, the first thing to catch her and many other of her classmates' attention. Wow. The twins had explained and prepared her for the majority of things - but not this! She doubted anyone could ever be prepared for such a thing. She focused on the many pair of students sitting at each table. There were four, Kaia counted.

After a few minutes a Hat started singing. Kaia held back a giggle, she was very amused. Not creeped out necessarily - okay well, maybe a little - but it was the funniest thing she had seen yet! It was saying something considering Kaia had seen many entertaining things in her life. After the song, claps and the Headmistress's introduction her year was sorted. Fortunately for Kaia she wasn't the first one so she could wait a bit before it was her turn. That way, people wouldn't exactly remember her expression as she sat on the sorting hat. Unfortunately, she wanted to get sorted and sit at her house table. She had no preference. All houses just seemed so lovely.

"Rosemary, Kaia"

Finally. Kaia smirked at some people's reactions. They had no idea another Rosemary was on the way, did they. Too bad they had to deal with her as well. Not that Kaia cared. They also had no idea that although her older sister was a muggle, her little brother was like Kaia. She felt proud. The brunette walked gracefully, thankfully not being clumsy and tripping over...well, nothing, making it to the stool. She plopped down on the seat and because of her height the Sorting Hat covered her vision, making it very dark and hard to see. She hoped the hat knew what it was doing. After all, spending seven years with the wrong people was so not Kaia's intention.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Ryder Hall]

Ryder entered the Great Hall, mesmorised by everything. He had requested details from his mother and half sister, Arabella - who was currently a Sixth Year Hufflepuff, and his mother who had been a member of the Ravenclaw House when she was younger. As he filed in with the rest of his future classmates he tried to scan the room to find Arabella but he had underestimated the sheer number of people that would actually be here. The shuffling forward finally came to an end and Ryder realised that it was almost time for sorting to start. Ryder listened intently to everything that was been said and eagerly awaited for his own name to be called out. He waited and waited and finally they arrived at the H's. Ryder didn't have long to wait until he was called out. Working his way to the front he made his way to the stool and sat down, smiling stupidly as the hat was placed on his head and as he awaited to hear where he would be sorted.

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Lizzie Parker-Taylor]

Mum and dad had told Lizzie that Hogwarts was grand and beautiful, but none of her anticipation could have prepared her for the twinkling ceiling and roaring fires of the Great Hall. It was just like home, except a million times grander and more beautiful. She stared around in awe, bouncing on her toes, too excited to stand still. She was really here! It was really time! Time for sorting! Time for magic! Time for flying, and going to Quidditch games, and exploring the castle, for living all the stories her parents told her about how wonderful Hogwarts was, and making a few stories of her own.

Lizzie watched eagerly as the first few students were sorted, but her attention quickly began to wander again, eyes roaming the hall. Why did her name have to fall so late in the alphabet? As the sorting hat worked through the list, Lizzie's impatient shifting became more pronounced, heart and mind racing as she considered which house she would be put in. Would she follow her father to Gryffindor, or her mother to Slytherin, or forge a path of her own in one of the other houses? The slowly filling tables looked so inviting, a new home, a new family, and new adventures about to start, and as the names finally ticked into the S-es Lizzie perked up even more, beginning to scoot closer to the front of the dwindling pack, each moment feeling as though it was dragging by, until finally...

"Taylor, Elizabeth."

Lizzie bounded up to the stool, settling down eagerly, hands drumming on her lap with excitement as the hat was set atop her head.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Lisa McCellan]

Lisa was more than excited for sorting. The idea of being around other magical members of the community from all over while frightening was also just as exciting. Her flaming red hair stood out among the sea of dark haired people she stood with, though from what she could see in the crowd she wasn't the only red haired first year there. Lisa had yet to really converse with anyone, deciding to show loyalty to her house more than the friends she'd meet. The list that was being read off came to her name shortly, and the ginger haired girl made her way with confidence to the podium.

It was not a matter of which house in her mind, as she knew she could strive anywhere, that was the person she was. So she waited patiently for her verdict.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Liam Finch]

Amongst the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts' newest recruits a lanky blonde boy, a head taller than his peers, squinted at the Sorting Hat from across the sea of black robes. Much like what the rest of the students crammed into the great hall were likely thinking, he contemplated how its decision would shape his life at Hogwarts New Zealand and how it had affected those before him, namely his family's. All his life people had always told Liam how much he took after his mother; his height, his lush blonde hair, his wide-eyed enthusiasm for life. He could only hope that this prophecy would continue to fulfil itself and he'd be sorted into Gryffindor, like his mother was all those years ago.

"Finch, Liam"

The boy baulked at the sound of his name as the headmistress called him forward. With each loping stride towards the hat, a knot in his stomach managed to tie itself tighter and tighter. Liam Finch was not usually one to stress but he could safely say that this was the most anxious he had felt in his entire life. Dodging hellbent bludgers or surfing fifty-foot waves could not hold a candle to this. The chatter amongst his fellow first years had died down to a murmur as he lowered himself down onto the stool and placed the sorting hat on his head. The boy's indigo blue eyes swept past the first years and out towards the older students, hoping to catch the eye of one of his cousins. However the fact that they too were both in Gryffindor only exacerbated his nerves. So he lowered his gaze and waited calmly, albeit a little impatiently, for the sorting hat to make its decision.

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"You'd do well in Slytherin, you know? You've got an eagerness to do great things. Big things. Ok, ok. If you really don't want to be there, better be...GRYFFINDOR!"

 

[Lula Grave]

The halls of Hogwarts were more extravigant and more wonderous that Lula could imagine. The petite first year darted among her group, excitedly talking to people about each and every aspect of what she loved. Some would brush her off, others were equally as excited. As a muggle coming into a semi-new world, she couldn't help but be as excited as she was. Her hair had been curled by her mother before the train ride there, as she knew that curling irons wouldn't work inside the walls of a magical school. She'd wished she could have some form of communications other than letters, but the native georgian would just have to make due.

If Lula was honest she'd expected her name to be called in the middle of the pact, as she often was so used to using her father's last name. However her legal name was called towards the begining. "Adkins-Grave, Lula." Had she not been listening to every name called she'd have missed it. The brunette looked around shocked and made her way with a hop and a skip in her step, to the stool that would hold her future. Bubbly inside and out the girl thought of all the adventures she would soon be having and sat down, with a pleased smile on her face. "Mister hat?" She asked with a strong sounding southern accent. "I hope ya don't mind, my sister was a Gryffindor she told me that before I came here. I'd like that house. Though i do look good in blue." She admitted, after all Ravenclaw's blue tones would suit her well. "I've heard that there snake house is kinda rude, but they can't be all bad yeah? But Yellow really doesn't look great on me. Plus it gets dirty easy when you're outside!" She continued to ramble about the houses, unaware how the hat picked, or thought - or frankly did anything.

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"You've got to be your own person and forge your own path. The house you'll do that best in is...Ravenclaw!"

 

[Lydia Garcia]

Lydia was terrified as she entered the enormous Grand Hall. She was all too anxious to even be at Hogwarts to begin with and now she was about to be placed in a "House" where she would be staying for the rest of her time in school. This outcome would essentially determine how the next 7 years of her life played out and it was making her slightly nauseous. She started to breathe deep breaths and she could feel her composure coming together.

It's not the end of the world. You might make a best friend in your house. Don't worry. Don't worry. Just breathe. she said in her mind

The professor in charge of the sorting ceremony called each of the students one by one, placing the hat on their head. The Sorting hat would then call out which House it deemed them fit for. After a while Lydia's anxiousness turned into wonder. She was genuinely curious as to where she was going to end up. She had no idea which value best represented her. Maybe if there was a fifth option, that would be where she best fit...

After a good amount of students had been sorted the professor called her name.

"Garcia, Lydia."

Lydia took a deep breath and walked to the professor. She sat on the stool and as the hat was placed on her head all she could think was

"Give me all you've got."

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Rose Thornhill]

The dates on Rose's calendar were meticulously crossed off with each passing day for the weeks leading up to the "Sorting Ceremony", as her mother had put it. She didn't know what the event entailed, only that it had something to do with school houses, a familiar concept for the eleven year old among the strange and new lifestyle she would have to adapt to. While she was still attending her muggle school, she had been a part of the red house, assigned to her because of the first letter of her surname, yet somehow she doubted the process was the same for Hogwarts. Hogwarts. Another difference was that her school had been named after a saint, not a feature of an animal. Witches and wizards appeared to have an odd sense of what was an acceptable name for an institute of education.

Thoughts of name choices were dashed as Rose, shuffling among a group of other same-aged students, entered the vast Great Hall. The school hall she had known was a brick square with rows of seats, a stage and a single podium. This was beyond her expectations. An enchanted ceiling, floating candles, semi-transparent beings and paintings that looked as if someone had printed a gif. It was surreal and almost too much for one little girl to believe. She wouldn't have, if not or the fact she had been shopping to purchase a wand and was able to try magic for herself. One by one the first years were called, alphabetically, and for a moment Rose thought that perhaps it was the same system she knew well, though it became evident that wasn't the case as a magical hat sent them off to different tables. If the girl had at all payed attention to its words during its song, she might have figured out on her own that they were each sent to their houses based on their values. But she had not.

Thornhill, Rose.

Rose's face broke into an excited smile. That was her name. Without much hesitation she stepped forward, breaking off from the group as she made her way down the length of the hall, turning and seating herself once she had reached the stool. The shadow of the hat fell across her face as it was lowered onto her head. If she had of known it could read thoughts, she would have tried to get the one line she knew of a tv show theme song out of her head.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Lapine Winter]

After her father's less-than-accepting attitude about her being a witch, Lapine had been excited to get away from his disapproving glares and weirdly-rehearsed speeches about how she was throwing away her life by going to Hogwarts. Her excitement only lasted until she boarded the train, and now the young girl was left with a sense of worry that she had made the wrong decision.

Lapine watched with apprehension as other students were sorted into houses before her. With her surname fairly late on the list, Lapine had a lot of time to observe her surroundings while she waited her turn. She watched the ceiling above her, marvelling at the stars and wondering why the students had to wear black robes when magic could create things like the night sky. Her mind whirring with the possibilities, Lapine almost missed hearing her name. "Winter, Lapine." Lapine took a breath and approached the sorting hat, sitting down on the stool. She could feel everyone watching, but she was used to people staring at her because of the way she looked and ignored it easily, and her mind was still fixated on the starry ceiling.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Vincent Grave]

Vincent smirked as he entered the Great Hall. It was everything his parents had told him it would be, and more. They had explained that words could not truly express the feeling the first time you enter the Hall would be like, and correct they were. Nerves were far from his mind as he proceeded with the rest of the first years to the stool stationed at the back of the hall. He could see his cousin a few students in from of him, fidgeting as if she was going to be sick. He had hardly known his cousin and he could tell already that he wasn't sure if they were going to get along. If she embarrassed him he would probably deny their being cousins. They had completely last names and she had a darker complexion than him...it would be easy enough for people to not know.

The professor calling names went through a vast majority of the list, and Vincent found himself not paying attention. He looked forward and noticed that Lydia had already been sorted. He looked around quickly but couldn't tell which house she was in. He would find out later. With any luck they woul be in different houses.

Finally, after what felt like ages, Vincent heard his name and he quickly stepped forward to the stool. The professor placed the hat on his head and his only thought was:

Give me all you've got.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Clementine Pratt]

Clementine didn't have to know where she was going because the massive sea of first years pressed all around her were already guiding her into the Great Hall. Once they had all stopped in front of a stool, she could feel her peers pushing against her trying to get closer or get a better view so the eleven year old had trouble seeing her older sister sitting at the staff table that faced them all. Once the procedure was explained to her, she was hoping all the pushing and shoving would die down, since it's not like they could approach the bench without being called, but that didn't seem to stop the kids from trying to get a better view of the sorting. Clementine hated that her name was so far down the alphabet because she had to deal with the shoving longer, but thankfully as more students got sorted, the crowd of first years was thinning out so she was able to get some space again. Finally she was able to see her older sister above at the staff table and gave her a small smile. She didn't want to draw attention to herself and wave at a professor because as much as she loved her sister, she wasn't sure she wanted people to know one of her siblings was a professor here. She didn't know how her peers would react to that so she just didn't even want to risk it.

Finally "Pratt, Clementine" was called and the petite girl shimmied her way through the dwindling crowd to get to the stool. She climbed onto it as gracefully as she could and allowed the hat to swallow her head as she giggled slightly. She inhaled shakily, awaiting to see where she would be placed.

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"You belong in...Hufflepuff!"

 

[Rania Chaudhry]

Rania fiddled nervously with her black dupatta and robes as her name was called upon to approach one of the Professors and a hat which she was sorting each child into their houses. Not being from New Zealand and having parents who both attended a different academy left the young witch at a disadvantage because she knew nothing of the houses and what they meant, especially as she had been entirely too enthralled with the lavish design of the room to pay attention to the hat's little diddy. Making her way down through the crowd, Nia tried to make herself as small as possible so as not to bump into anyone but it was difficult to do, admittedly as there was no rhyme or reason for the way things were organized. The witch smiled politely at the professor while she climbed onto the stool and waited to hear her fate. She only hoped that it would make sense for her because it wasn't second nature for the girl to trust a hat with big life decisions. Still, if it worked for Merlin it should work just fine for her.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Vikare Borgia]

Vikare had began his journey from the train station halfhearted for separating from his family but eventually he realized, he was at the threshold of a new adventure. He might was used to travel along with his family so far but it was his chance to get out of the comfort zone and carve his own path. The boy hadn't expected to have such a good time. After a day-long trip with a steam-engine though New Zealand's countryside, he was now in a small boat with a few other kids he had met during the trip, crossing the dark void of a vast lake. The small boats were heading towards the magnificence of an enormous stone castle. The darkness was so thick that Vikare couldn't distinct any details of it. Lights coming out of the castle's windows were bouncing off the lakes surface. He really wanted to learn that spell that caused the boat to know its destination, cutting through the water like a swift arrow. Little he knew that he had a long run until he was able to cast such advanced magic.

A shiver struck his spine as the boat gently hit the dock of a boathouse. He jumped out of the vessel, impatient to find out what was next. Soon enough the first years were before the extravagant doors which opened to reveal the crowded yet mesmerizing Great Hall. Vikare tilted his head back as an exclamation of admiration escaped his lips when he noticed the enchanted ceiling that resembled the night sky. He had to apologize when he accidentally stepped on the preceding girl. He followed the group with the heavenliest smile on his face, watching the flickering candles floating above their heads. He then realized the silence in the hall as the sounds of their footsteps echoed against the stone walls. The older students occupying the four long tables were looking quietly and Vikare felt for a moment like a sheep taken to the slaughter. He mustered his confidence, feeling secure while he was part of this group of first years.

They stopped in front of a fifth table where adult wizards and witches were seated. He figured out they were professors but he didn't focus for long on them. He kept looking around him, admiring every inch of this spacious hall. His eyes were attracted again upwards, looking at the jaw-dropping, enchanted ceiling. He was definitely going to ask his father to do this on his own bedroom's ceiling back home. He was so spellbound scanning the place that he didn't realized that the rest of the group was looking at something else, resting on a stool in front of them.

Vikare stood there, looking rather gobsmacked at a sodding hat as the Headmistress made an opening speech. His eyes widened in astonishment when the hat started singing. Vikare comprehended the message that the song bore. He could tell there was wisdom inside this bad patched hat but he hadn't figure out yet how it was going to be involved in their sorting. When the singing was over, the adult standing before them, unrolled a long parchment and picked up the hat, calling the name of a student.

A puzzled expression spread all over his face as he watched closely the summoned student having a seat on the stool and the adult placing the hat on their head. He nearly jumped out of his skin when after moments of silence, the hat shouted the name of one of the four houses. It looked simpler and less daunting with each student undergoing the same procedure. A few names before having his own called, he found himself actually looking forward to walk over to the stool. Fortunately his surname started with a 'B' and he didn't have to wait long.

When his name was called, he squeezed through the group and confidently walked the few meters separating him from the stool. He sat down and the professor placed the hat on his head. Can you read my mind? He wondered and looked upwards at the brim of the hand protruding over his head.

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"I can definitely tell you that you belong in...Slytherin!"