The Sorting Ceremony

[Katherine Alicastell]

Vivid stars twinkled through white wisps of cloud overhead of those entering the Great Hall, shining brightly against the velvet darkness of space that blanketed the entirety of it's ceiling, dominated by a single pale moon that bathed the room's entrants in a silvery light. The hall itself was further illuminated by flickering candle flames that appeared to sway and float in mid-air as if held aloft by invisible threads, bathing the building's lengthy tables adorned with shining dishes in a warm glow. Katherine herself stood positioned behind a podium at the forefront of the hall, greeting the youths who entered with a silent nod and a brief smile toward some of the more well-behaved students in the past, but for the most part, her expression was stern. She would not be tolerating any nonsense this year, and the newcomers were going to have to learn from the get go that she wasn't going to be anything of a pushover. If they wanted to abuse their abilities, they could find another school to attend, or not learn at all.

"Welcome," She began, her eyes sweeping over the sea of faces already gathered at the house tables, and those waiting to join them. "To those of you returning for another year, and to those of you joining us for the first time today. This day marks the start of your journey as young witches and wizards in the magical world. The castle and its surrounding grounds will be your home for the next seven years - a place for you all to live, to learn, and to grow. That being said, I must remind the older students, and caution those of you who are new, that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits to students unless supervised by a professor or member of staff. It may look enticing to some of you, but many dangers lurk within the forest. It is restricted for your safety, and any rule breakers will be punished accordingly."

The woman let her warning linger for a moment, eyeing those in particular who appeared more than willing to break that rule, before continuing on. "Now, let's begin. Each of you will be sorted into a house, which you will remain in for the duration of your time here. These houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, named after each of the original founding members of this prestigious school." As she spoke each name, banners rolled up against the farthest wall suddenly unfurled, depicting the colours and crests of each individual house, matching the silk cloths adorning each table. "First Years, as I call your name, step forward and seat yourselves here." Katherine gestured toward the short stool at the front of the hall, situated in perfect view of everyone present. "Once seated, I will place the Sorting Hat upon your heads, after which your future house will be decided and you are to move on to your table and join your new housemates. This decision is final, and houses cannot be changed once the Sorting Hat has made its decision. Now, let us begin." Ending it on that note, the woman unraveled the roll of parchment in front of her and called up the first name.​

Out of Character: Please read

As stated in the Information about Sorting thread, you must fill out the sorting form entirely properly and fill in an RP as exemplified in the post. If your RP does not leave room for the sorting hat to sort you: you will not be sorted. If the sorting hat does not receive your sorting form: you will not be sorted. Follow instructions and: you will be sorted.

You can edit your post once you are sorted, but be sure that you only reply to this topic once and it is through the sorting form provided. Thank you.

 

[Sorting Hat]

The time has come now once again,
To greet you all in song.
New year, new friends, and all new faces,
In amongst the throng.

But who am I? The Sorting Hat!
I'm here to sort you all.
I'll tell you soon where you should go,
Be you great or small.

The bravest of you might become
Old Gryffindor's new pride.
Your bold, courageous housemates
Will always have your side.

Or Ravenclaw might better suit
Those clever of the mind.
Your wisdom will grow far here
if you're scholarly inclined.

In Hufflepuff the fair and true
Will find their closest friends.
A house made strong by working hard
To achieve their ends.

In Slytherin a cunning heart
Will see your goals succeed.
Your ambitions will be fostered
All subtle in your deed.

So try me on! I never bite
And hardly ever dither.
Your house awaits, as does the feast
So call the students hither!

 

[Razia al-Abbas]

Razia stood silently as she awaited her name to be called. She wasn't nervous, but she would like this to be over already. Sure, it was exciting seeing how it was a new adventure, but there were so many students, she wondered how long it would take for her name to be called. Of course, it shouldn't be too much longer, seeing how her last name started with an 'A'.

"al-Abbas, Razia." Her name was called.

She made her way up to the seat and towards the strange hat. Razia knew there were strange things in the world of magic, but a singing hat was definitely up there. At least it was somewhat pleasant. She sat down and allowed the hat to be placed upon her head. 'I want adventure. Please provide that for me.' She thought.

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"Better be Gryffindor for you!"

 

[Fleur van Houten]

Fleur was amazed by the hall the first years found themselves in. She was looking around with eyes as wide as saucers, and judging by the reactions of the others around her she wasn't the only one that was amazed. It was still so weird to think she was in New Zealand, let alone at Hogwarts there! Her mother had attended the school when she was young, so Fleur had wanted to go there as well instead of Beauxbatons. She was sure her brother and sister would join her here in a few years, but until then she was going to make herself at home and see everything there was to see so she could show them when it was their time. She briefly touched the pendant on the necklace she was wearing, shaped like a dragon's egg. This was the first step on her way to being a dragon tamer, or caretaker as she preferred to think of it. But before she could focus on the career after school, she had to get sorted and get through the coming seven years. She waited for her name to be called, watching each sorting before hers with interest. Then, it was finally time. She heard her name! It was funny to hear it pronounced like they would in English, as the sounds in this language were different from Dutch. She made her way to the stool and sat down, closing her eyes in anticipation of the hat. She didn't know where she would be sorted, but she was sure she would have a blast there.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Hermione Walden]

Hermione made her way into the Great hall with a broad smile on her face. She was eager to be sorted and begin her time at Hogwarts, there was much to do and see, many pranks to pull. Hopefully she would be able to get some of her cousins involved with her, if they were willing to stoop to such levels of course. The train ride to the school had been fun, Hermione had a brief encounter with Madeline and Aaron before settling in with some fellow first years. Hermione had no idea which house she would end up, her father was a muggle and her mother hadn't attended Hogwarts either in Scotland or New Zealand, so there was no family tradition to live up to, at least not on her side. Hermione had wondered if she would follow the lead of her cousins and be sorted into Gryffindor, thought from what she learned of the house, she wasn't sure if it was for her or not.

The first years gathered outside the Great hall and were then led inside, up between the tables to the front of the hall where the sorting hat sat. There was a loud chatter as they waited and one by one students were led up to the hat and put into their houses. Hermione was anxious for it to be her turn, but she would be one of the last students to be called. The group thinned out until there was only a handful left and that was when Hermione was called. The hat was lowered onto her head and she waited.

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"You can cause mayhem in any of the houses, but the one that'll drive you to be your best is..Slytherin!"

 

[Leda Strangewayes]

The day had finally arrived, where Leda would be placed into the Hogwarts House that would remain her home for the next seven years. There were so many faces, some eager, some nervous, some that downright looked like they had to throw up. The eleven year old herself however was calm. There was no point in getting torn up about something so trivial. As the group of new first years made their way towards the sorting hat, Leda made sure to walk fast enough that by the time they reached the front table, she was ahead of the rest of them. Not because she wanted to be first, but so that as names were called she would be able to turn and watch, putting names to faces, as each student before her took their place.

After a few students had been sorted, a girl was called. The girl shifted around behind Leda as faces turned to see why no one was approaching, and although she looked frozen to the spot the rest of the room was waiting. "It's you isn't it" Leda mentioned quietly. As soon as the girl nodded in return, Leda reached out to pull the girl from the crowd, pushing her towards the sorting hat. "Go on," She said to her, nudging her up the steps as the other students looked on. She looked at another boy who had taken the girls place beside her. "Hufflepuff" she bet under her breath, before turning her attention back to the students were continuing to be sorted.

"Leda Layton" Her own name was called, and the red head was soon up the stairs and perched on the stool, ready for the hat to be placed on her head. Remaining cool and collected, Leda waited for her verdict, running through the names of those she'd just seen getting sorted, storing them into her mental library for later, just in case.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Mhairi Olaf]

Mhairi followed her sister, closely behind, cautious that she was the only person she recognised in the room. It wouldn't be too much longer until they were split into their houses, and although Mhairi knew that she would ultimately prevail wherever she was, she appreciated those last few moments she would possibly be having at her twins side. There were many bright faces, at least from the first years. The other students seemed interested, but as though they just wanted to get on with eating their dinner now. To watch a sorting ceremony, Mhairi imagined, for the seventh time, couldn't have been a favourite for everyone.

As Mhairi watched the students around her walk up to the Sorting Hat, she suddenly felt a jab in her arm. Mhairi flicked her blonde, wavy hair as her head turned sharply to look into her sisters face, befuzzled for a moment, before realising her own name had just been called. Nodding to Lina, Mhairi moved between the students, taking a seat carefully on the stool. She put her hands into the pockets on her cloak, to feel the soft knitted palm sized bear that she had made for this occasion. Her mother had said it would bring her comfort, and any negative stress could be fed into it. Mhairi waited as the Hat decided where she would be placed, and it was only has she saw the crowds clapping around her, and her sister signing a word with her hands, that she smiled.

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Luke Starshine]

Luke Starshine was excited as he got into the line of students waiting to be sorted. He had a very big smile on his face. He got more, and more excited as it was almost his turn to step up and have the sorting hat placed on his head. When it was his turn to go, he stepped up and the sorting hat was placed on his head.

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"You're easy to place. Better be...GRYFFINDOR!"

 

[Sadie Falshaw]

Sadie still couldn't believe it, eyes wide, almost unblinking as she looked around the Great Hall. All throughout the journey, she had to keep pinching herself, reminding her that it was real, that she really was attending Hogwarts. The excitement and nervousness that coursed through her were almost becoming unbearable, beginning to fidget as she watched others being sorted. Everywhere she looked, she found herself amazed, staring up at the ceiling that looked like the sky. Everything she felt and thought showed on her face, leaving little to the imagination. It had always been that way. So distracted she'd been that when her name was called, she'd not heard, feeling someone nudge hard into her side, attention snapping back towards the sorting hat.

Hands clenched into tight fists as she quietly began to berate herself, head shaking the slightest as she made her way up towards the sorting hat, trying to ignore the eyes that were on her. The excitement had fizzled away, leaving only her nerves. As she made her way towards the stool, she turned, taking a seat on it as her eyes looked out towards the other students, sorted and unsorted. She knew which house she wanted to be in, she'd always known since the day her father told her about Hogwarts. Whether that would be the house best suited to her, well, she would soon find out as the sorting hat was now lowered down onto her head.

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"Your level of curiosity makes you perfect for...RAVENCLAW!"

 

[Lina Olaf]

Lina walked down the centre of the Great Hall; it was much smaller than she had thought. Her mum had once spent some time in here when she came for the Triwizard Tournament, but in the girls mind, the Great Hall was much more grand than it was in reality. Watching her sister from the corner of her eye, she could hear the other children excitedly discussing which houses they would be in. Slytherin would have been nice, for at least those in that house weren't intimidated as easily as others by the idea of greatness, but on the other hand, Lina thought Ravenclaw would be better, since no one would tease her for her reading.

When Mhairi's name was called, she jabbed a finger into her sisters arm, shocking her into paying attention. She applauded as her twin was sorted, but sure enough it was her turn next. "Zhaklina Olaf" The eleven year old strolled up confidently to the chair, taking a seat under the hat. She couldn't wait to just be in her dormatory, and to have turned her new bed into a tent, and perhaps if she were lucky she'd get to play the new game she'd brought with her to play on her handheld.

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"You're an ambitious little witch, aren't you? I know just the place for you. This house will lead you to that greatness, that power, you desire. Slytherin!"

 

[Amiria Karauna]

Amiria looked at the doors as they opened and followed the other students inside the vast room. Inside there were more students and ... the room was exquisite, she could not help but stop and stare up in wonder at the enchanted ceiling and for all that she thought she would feel terrified, Amiria suddenly for the first time in a very long time, felt as if she were home. A peace settled in her heart and she felt herself smile but the moment soon passed as other students moving forward pushed her along with them. Soon she stood listening as the headmistress addressed them and then she began calling students up, one by one to sit upon a stool whereby she placed a worn dirty looking hat upon their heads. Amiria stared in wonderment, what was this for?

Her name was called and she moved forward, feet not quite as unsure as she thought they would be. She felt her heart beat loudly in her ears but she whispered to herself in Maori to stay strong, all would be well and so saying she sat down to have the hat upon her head also.

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"Don't be afraid. My job is to find the best place for you to spend the next seven years. For you, that's Hufflepuff!"

 

[Lenore Harvelle-Ateara]

This was it the final moment and the moment that Lenore would be placed in one of the houses. Len had kissed her parents goodbye and was now stuck on the train. The train ride was rather pleasant and Lenore wiggled into her seat to look out of the window. Her tiny legs holding her body up to get a glimpse from the outside world. The train came to a halt and with her trunk in her hand she walked out of the train trying to avoid all people. When she finally could see the castle she squeaked in excitement. It was happening and at the same time really scary. Lenore walked into the castle and let out a sigh of relief. In a moment she knew which house she would be in. Not that she cared really, everything was fine. When the students were asked to walk inside the hall Lenore gasped for air. It looked amazing, but then again she didn't expect anything less from a magical school. There was a brown stool placed in the middle of the hall. That stool would be the start of the next seven years at Hogwarts. Her name would be called as one of the first ones and Lenore was really for it. ''Harvelle, Lenore'' That was it the call for her new start. Lenore walked up to the stool excitingly having to climb a little bit to sit on it.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Frankie Tillington]

Frankie was glad that she was slightly tall for her age, because it meant she didn't have to bother standing on tip toe to have a look at the weird old hat sitting on the stool in front of them. Growing up in America, she'd always expected to be standing on a carving at this moment in her life, waiting for a statue to spring to life - maybe even two statues. In comparison, a hat wasn't really that exciting. Still, she was about to placed in a house full of people that were supposed to be somewhat similar to herself, and that was a whole different sort of exciting in itself. Lots of other first years had already been called up to the front, but being further along in the alphabet, Frankie was still waiting her turn. She recognised a few of the students that remained with her, the ones she had met earlier in the year on her first visit to the country. It would be great if she could -

"Tillington, Francesca."

The wait was over! Frankie began to eagerly push through the students in front of her, intermittently mumbling, "'Scuse me; sorry" as she did so. She noticed the serious blonde girl she had met on the train giving her an extremely odd look as she passed by, but the observation quickly flew away to settle in the back of her mind as she approached the stool she was supposed to sit on. Dropping onto the seat, Frankie drummed her fingers along the underside of the stool as she waited to see what this Hogwarts sorting business was all about.

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"Gryffindor!"

 

[Zoe Westwick]

Hogwarts was even bigger than Zoe had imagined, and thought it was a bit disappointing that she hadn't seen any exciting or fascinating magical creatures yet, Zoe was thrilled with the whole experience. Saying goodbye to Jason at the train station had been harder than she expected, and had lingered in the pit of her stomach the whole way to school, but she was here now, and the big, beautiful castle was more than enough to distract Zoe from her homesickness. It was almost too much, when Zoe entered the Great Hall and saw the ceiling. It was like nothing she had ever seen, and she gasped delightedly, dancing from foot to foot slightly. She had never seen anything so beautiful.

When Zoe finally tore her eyes away from the ceiling and took a look at the room around them, it didn't take her long to spot Harley, sitting at the Gryffindor table with her friends. She beamed, bouncing up a little higher on her toes to wave at her big sister excitedly. Things at home had been a lot quieter the last couple of years without Harley around, and while their parents didn't make much secret of being relieved by that, Zoe had missed her immensely. It was going to be amazing to finally get to live in the same place as her big sister, and see her every day.

Zoe was so distracted staring all around the room, trying to take in every detail of everything around her, that she didn't pay much attention to the names being called, even as the group around her was dwindling more and more.
"Tsuji, Zoe!"
Zoe actually yelped in surprise at hearing her own name (followed by a whoop of pride from Harley's direction) and she bounced quickly over to the Headmistress. She had been so distracted by everything else around her that she hadn't quite taken in the fact of this fascinating hat in front of her just yet. Sitting down, Zoe tried to stare up at the hat as it was put on her head, curious to see what was inside it, what was making it work. Harley and her parents had both described this process, but it felt surreal, a hat that could read minds?! The most exciting thing Zoe had ever encountered in her life, by far. Was it alive? Was there a race of little sentient hats running around in the wild somewhere? The thought was thrilling, and more than enough to distract Zoe from the amount of people staring at her, which otherwise would have terrified the young girl.

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"I'm one of a kind. Now let's see...yes. Yes. I know just where to place you. Ravenclaw!!

 

[Oliver Foy]

Oliver felt his heartbeat quicken as his name was called, and he made his way over towards the sorting hat. He cast his eyes over the different tables as he past them, and then let them roam upwards towards the ceiling. How could his Dad have forgotten to mention any of this? It was truly breathtaking.
When he'd been told of this very moment, the boy had imagined it over and over again in his head, and now it was actually happening. He really didn't know anything much about the different houses except for the names and colors. And sure, while Oliver fancied some colors over the others, where he ended up he didn't really care .

He knew there would be magic and excitement in each house, and he grinned sheepishly as the hat was now placed over his head. It was almost too much. From this point forwards, he really was a real wizard. This, he felt, sealed the deal.

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Charlie Madison]

Another new home, so quick after the move to New Zealand. It was beginning to feel very much like the first stretch of Charlie's life. The group of first years she was in felt gigantic to Charlie, but as they entered the Great Hall for the first time, it finally struck Charlie just how huge this school was. There had to be a thousand people - more, even. Trying to keep her shock concealed, Charlie looked over the tables, then up at the staff table. Mum waved the second Charlie caught her eye, beaming in delight, and Charlie gave an uneasy wave back.

Once the initial excitement at seeing such a grand room (that ceiling!) had passed, there didn't actually seem to be much to do. Charlie stood with her arms folded, watching the kids around her go up and get sorted. Mum had explained this whole process, but it still seemed a bit silly. Why did it even matter that people were grouped up by personality? Charlie really didn't like the idea of some magic hat digging through all her thoughts. Her thoughts were her own - private. What gave them the right to make mind-reading the price of an education? To make value judgements so publicly about what kind of person a child was?

Charlie was getting more and more sullen and nervous about the whole idea, and as the surnames got into the L-s she was starting to feel like just running for it would be a better option. Before she could make a move though, it was too late.
"Madison, Charlotte."
Wincing at the unfamiliar sound of her full name, Charlie's whole body was tense as she made her way up to the hat. "It's Charlie." She mumbled to the Headmistress as she took her seat, resisting the urge to cringe away from the hat. 'Hey hat, if you can really hear my thoughts, I'll make you a deal.' She thought, full body trembles giving away how frightened she really was. 'Don't read my mind, you can just pick any random one you like, I don't want you to read my mind. It's private. I promise I won't tell anyone or throw a tizzy.' For a girl who had often never had any privacy but her own thoughts, this whole process had Charlie more scared than she had ever felt in her life. She would give anything to be anywhere else.

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"I'll make it as quick as possible, but I've got a job to do and there's only one way to do it. Now let's see. Hmm...better be Gryffindor!"

 

[Ella Bishop]

So this was it, this was the castle her mum and dad had told her about ever since she received her acceptance letter. A part of her wished that she would have gone to the school both her parents went to instead of here, but Hogwarts sounded like loads of fun also. Ella looked up and inspected the outside of the gigantic castle while she and the other first year students walked up the path leading to it. She had never seen anything like it before so hoped that everything she had heard and read about the castle was true.

From the inside, the castle seemed even bigger than expected and the walls were covered with moving paintings, surely they would come in handy if she ever lost her way around here. There wasn't much time for her to look around though because they were almost immediately guided into the Great Hall. The hall was enormous and Ella looked around whilst walking up to the front of the hall, looking at the tables and the students sitting at them. A smirk appeared on her face, she was going to do better than any student sitting in the Great Hall that she knew for sure. Ella stopped walking forwards when the first year's in front of her did so too. In front of the stood a three-legged stool with a hat on top of it and next to it stood an old woman who started to call out their names one by one. Ella had already seen a couple of kids going up there and claiming their place in one of the four houses she had read about, but now it was finally her turn to be sorted into one of them. "Bishop, Ella." The old woman said and without a nervous though Ella walked up to the stool, taking her place on it. She felt the hat be placed upon her head and smiled, looking around into the hall while she waited for the hat to make its decision.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Siria Calderon]

Sira's dark eyes sparkled in awe as they roamed over the Great Hall. It was immense, and it was only one area of the castle! She felt a sense of great pride and belonging as she stood there. It was a truly magnificent place to be, and Siria could feel a powerful magic woven into the castle. She knew she was meant to be here, and her attention moved onto the students being sorted just ahead of her. She had heard a boy talking about the different houses as they had strode inside the castle, and now watched with wide eyes as a hat was placed onto someone's head, and the hat boomed what house they'd be sorted into. She had never seen a hat that talked, and she suppressed a giggle. How would that hat place her into a house where she would remain for seven years? She smiled in amusement as she pondered this. The girl didn't know much of the houses, but she hoped to be placed somewhere important -- though simply being here felt important enough, she supposed.

Her name was called, and she could hear her heart thudding viciously. She made her way towards the mysterious looking hat, and then slowed her pace as she was close to running. As Siria took her seat at the stool, she anxiously looked up towards the hat, watching it sink lower until it rested on her head.

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"Slytherin!"

 

[Camille Hall]

Camille Hall entered the Great Hall with all of the other first years. She looked around the room to see if she could spot Ryder anywhere. As annoying as he could be, it would be nice to see a familiar face right now. She waited as patiently as she could for her name to be called but it felt as if it was taking forever to get to the H's. Camille's stomach felt like it was a pit of knots all twisted up as she heard her name called out. The blonde girl walked forward and sat down on the hard wooden stool. Okay, hat. Do your worst. she thought as the sorting hat was placed on her head. She didn't know where it was place her but she half hoped it wouldn't be with her brother.

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"Is that a challenge? I can see your desires and dreams, your goals and ambitions. So if doing my worst is placing you in the right house, I'll do just that. Hufflepuff!"

 

[Dani Blade]

Dani Blade walked alongside the rest of the new first years as they walked into the castle which would be their home more or less for the next seven years of their life. It was going to be a huge change for some people, she was sure, and there was absolutely no way that the spoiled brats that had never had to work their entire life would now be treated just like everyone else. It would be funny, but at the end of the day Dani wouldn't bother herself with them. She was here to learn everything she could for herself.

She looked around as they entered the Great Hall and she was blown away just a little bit. She'd read a little bit about the castle but it was one thing to read about something and another entirely to see it for yourself. She waited at the front of the room as the Headmistress spoke, and then patiently waited for her turn. She had no idea where she would end up as her family had been all over the place. "Blade, Dani." She looked up as her name was called and stepped forward to take her seat on the stool. Please place me correctly. I gotta be there for seven years.. She thought.

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"I haven't been wrong yet. You'll do just fine in..Slytherin!"

 

[Benjamin Davis]

Benjamin Davis walked through the threshold into the Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle and he pushed his way to the front of the line as they all walked. He knew that it would make absolutely no difference at all as it went in order of their names, but he still wanted to be there at the front so that he could get this over and done with. He was excited to see what house he would end up in, and hoped there wasn't too many people in front of him. Before long, he heard what he had been waiting for though. "Davis, Benjamin." He walked towards the stool and took a seat. Come on, let's do this.. He said in his head.

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"Ravenclaw!"

 

[Lia Barros]

An involuntary gasp slipped from Lia's lips when she stepped into the great hall. The ceiling was crowded with stars, clearer than she had ever seen before. For a second, she wondered if perhaps there was no roof, if perhaps she was staring at the actual night sky. However, the stories from Papa came back to her. He had mentioned that the great hall's ceiling reflected the sky outside. However, he had failed to mention just how startlingly realistic the image was.

That had been a common theme throughout her journey here. Even though Papa had attended the Hogwarts in England, she had been able to pick out similar details. The only difference was that everything was even more lovely in real life. Tearing her gaze away from the ceiling, Lia examined the long wooden tables sprawled in front of her. True to his word, there were hundreds of students waiting on the benches, each sporting their house's colors. She stared hard at the table with the students in blue. There. That must be Ravenclaw. Papa's house.

Lia continued to stare, only half-listening to the Headmistress's speech. What house would she get? Before she had left, Papa had winked at her when she asked what house he thought she'd get. "I have an idea, but we'll see what happens." He could be infuriating like that. She went through the houses as the sorting hat sang its song. Gryffindor didn't sound half bad. Neither did Hufflepuff. And if Slytherin would help her "see her goals succeed," it didn't seem like that bad of a house either. And then there was Ravenclaw.

"Lia Barros." She had been so lost in her thoughts that she nearly missed her name. Stiffly, Lia stepped forward. Before she sat down, she cast her eyes upward, finding the Southern Cross as her parents had taught her to. She could never be lost as long as she was able to find the constellation. Keeping the star formation in sight, Lia sat on the rickety stool and awaited her fate.

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"Hufflepuff!"

 

[Caligo Mortem]

Caligo stood silently in line, not wishing to participate in the nervous chatter most of the other students in queue were. At his side stood his sister, who was currently twirling a curly strand of hair around one finger. He looked at her amusedly, pondering what house she'd end up in. The young wizard suppressed shaking his head, he was used to her loopiness by now. Sure it estranged her from the rest of their small family, but he almost saw it in a oddly comforting light.

His name was called and he felt her hand slip under his to give it a squeeze. Caligo gave her a small smirk before striding forwards towards the stool. He did his best to keep his face light, not wanting his true colors to shine through. He heard that godawful thing somewhat resembling a hat could sift through the wearer' s thoughts. He wished he could dismiss it as a little wive's tale, but from the look on the previous student's faces it was a sure truth.

He took his seat on the stool -- which seemed rickety to him, and should have replaced it a century ago -- and feigned a nervous smile towards the others as the tatty hat was lowered. Caligo couldn't just let his mind go blank as to many things were drifting into his head, so he thought of something simple and kept thinking it. 'I want my sister to be sorted into the same house with me...'

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"I'll put her in the house she belongs in, and I'll do the same for you. For you, that house is SLYTHERIN!"

 

[Eve Mortem]

Eve bounced frantically on her heels as she stood in line with her brother right beside her. She looked over to him and pursed her lips, seeing how he was all serious looking. He really thought too much into it all, and she wanted to poke him in the ribs right then. The young witch rolled her eyes and began playing with a strand of her hair, feeling the curl in it spring back upwards right after she tugged at it.

Her brother was called before her of course, and she gave his hand a squeeze before he went off. She then watched as that funny little thing sat on his head. Everyone around her called it a hat, but surely it was more than that. Eve tilted her head and grinned, amused at her ponderings. Yes, it was a creature of some sort, just like everybody else! It only looked like a hat to others, she thought, and that's why everyone called it one. Eventually the hat called out her twin's house and she whistled loudly, knowing it was her turn to be sorted next.

Sure enough, her name was called and she headed off towards the "hat". Eve twisted around on the stool and hastily ran a hand through her tangles before the sorting creature was sat upon her head. She felt a odd sense of happiness rush over her as it rested there. It was alive she thought, wildy fascinated. 'I wish I knew more about you... can you smell my shampoo?'

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"I've sat on the heads of many children, and your head is no different than most. It's what's inside that counts anyway. Oh, you're a curious one. Hmm...let's see here. Your interests are interesting. I know the house for you. Slytherin!"

 

[Nixon Mercury]

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Nixon had thought the calm views of the countryside and mountains he watched, and the people he spoke to on the train ride would keep him happy. But the potential of already having a friend in the castle and the beauty of the world around him was not near enough to quell his ever-growing nerves to be sorted. He had soon realized that such an optimistic thought was entirely wrong and no distraction would be enough to satiate how overwhelmed he felt, and how much his stomach churned with worry as he entered the great hall and the importance of what was about to happen dawned on him. This sorting ceremony would be his first step to becoming an educated, grown up wizard and the decision of the sorting hat itself would decide his fate for the next seven years. Nixon swallowed the newly formed lump in his throat at such a realization, and kept to the back of the group of other future first years as they walked to the front of the hall.

In the beginning, he kept his eyes trained to the floor and refused to draw any unnecessary attention to himself. However eventually Nixon lifted his eyes upwards, to the end of the great hall and then to the rafters where felt a sense of comfort wash over him. He reveled the familiarity of the stars scattered along the charmed ceiling and distracted his worried thoughts by attempting to name the different star types and constellations in his head. Though even the things Nixon knew best were not enough to remove him fully from what was unfolding in front of him. He had receded into his own consciousness momentarily, but not near enough to miss the sound of his own name as it rung in his ears.

Mercury, Nixon.

Nixon again attempted to swallow the lump in his throat as he weaved through the group of other children, though he felt everything worsen as he reached the front of the crowd and his eyes landed on the intimidating sight of the sorting hat and the stool he was called to sit on. He stepped forward and sat down, shutting his eyes so he didn't grow scared at the sight of how many students were staring at him while he tried to keep his cool. Nixon did know about each of the Hogwarts houses and their corresponding traits but he had not considered which house would suit him more than the others. All he could do was try not to psyche himself out too much and trust that the hat would put him somewhere he could make friends close enough to consider his family and where his magical abilities could thrive enough for his family to consider that they were proud of him. Such a request did not seem like much of an ask from a hat that could read his mind. Nevertheless he continued to wait patiently for the hat's decision.​

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<SIZE size="100">"Hufflepuff!"