When the students had all crossed the lake and onto the grounds of Hogwarts, they were led to big doors of the castle, where they'd soon be sorted into houses.
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Gryffindor -- for the students with the most bravery and nerve.
Hufflepuff -- for those loyal, patient, and whom value hard work.
Ravenclaw -- for the individuals of wit and wisdom.
Slytherin -- for the ambitious and shrewd folk, known best for their skills in self-preservation.
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Being sorted into one house didn't mean you couldn't have traits of another, people of like minds and personalities were simply grouped together to see what kind of benefit it would bring. The founders of the school, whom the houses were named after, had varying beliefs in how students should be taught, and therefore created separate groups where the students would flourish wherever best suited. The sorting was a formal ceremony held every year at Hogwarts. First years would be placed in a house where they'd remain for the next seven years.
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Though many of the students slowed to take time to gawk at the interior of the castle, they were quickly guided just outside a pair of large doors, the leading professor referred to as the entrance to the Great Hall. When the doors were finally opened, they revealed a grand hall full of students and faculty, brilliant decor, and a loud cheer. They were instructed to move forward to the very front down the center isle, and did just that. The headmistress stood at her post, and waited a moment before quieting everyone. One would expect that the new students would've been completely overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds, but most kids stood completely in awe of the most remarkable thing in the room: the talking hat. For this was the hat that decided their fates. The one that would read their minds and place them in a house. This was The Sorting Hat. To some, it was an ugly old thing, as wrinkly and crotchety as it was aged. To others it was a good laugh, or simply, an honour to be placed beneath it. This hat, of all things to be doing, was complaining to the headmistress about not getting to perform his song. "Must we do this each year?" she asked the hat.
"Must we sort the children each year?" the hat responded.
"Fine," she conceded, rolling her eyes. "Make it quick." Clearing what could've been his throat, though was just a lint filled piece of fabric.
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"Oh you may not think I'm pretty
But don't judge on what you see
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me!"
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He bellowed out the next verses, a few kids humming along.
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"You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindor apart
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You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil
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Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you've a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind
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Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends
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So put me on; don't be afraid
And don't get in a flap
You're in safe hands; though I have none
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
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The Great Hall erupted in applause and that hat somehow managed to grin. When the headmistress was able to hush the students once again, she instructed the first years on what they should do once their name was called. "Miss Kyra Burke!"
"Bloody hell, I'm first?" she whispered to Cassie, whom gave her a slight nudge forward. Kyra walked up the steps and stood beside the headmistress as the woman lowered the talking hat onto Kyra's head.
"Ah, well look at this. Mm, intelligent.. a good amount of daring.. but what's this? An ambition to match the greatest of Slytherins!" Headmistress McGonagall gave Kyra a subtle nod, gesturing toward the Slytherin table. "First of the new year goes to Slytherin!" Kyra sighed in relief and headed toward the sea of green and black. Calling off names in alphabetical order, Cassie knew she'd be waiting a while. She'd found her way next to James again, finding comfort in the presence of a familiar face.
"Miss Finely Elflock!" McGonagall called out, smiling a bit more than she had when calling out to the children before. Cassie is watched as a fluffy haired young girl approached the hat, then realized the familiarity of the two witches standing up front. The headmistress had been the elder woman in the pointy hat whom delivered the young girl to the train.
"Oh," the Sorting Hat hummed. "What an odd thing you are." The girl named Finely wrinkled her nose at the accusation.
"One could say the same thing about a talking hat." she quipped. The hat chuckled.
"Gryffindor!" he yelled. McGonagall seemed pleased with this. Finley joined the table of cheering students, clad in red and gold. Cassie watched her curiously, only returning her attention when James' name was called.
"Mister James Goodwin!"
"See you on the other side Cassie." he shot her a friendly smile, then prepared for his own sorting.
"Mm," the hat began. "I sense great potential in you, yes. Kindness and chivalry, yes indeed. A thirst for knowledge -- how, ambitious." The hat fell silent for a moment. "You could achieve greatness is Slytherin." James's eyes went wide.
"As long as my greatness helps others."
"Ravenclaw!" The hat yelled out, and James was quickly ushered toward the sea of black and blue.
"Mister Thomas Grey!" Cassie watched James make his way to the Ravenclaw table. Once the thought registered that Thomas Grey was the kid whom fell in the lake, that she decided to pay closer attention to him.
"Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted out, barely having been placed on Thomas' head. Thomas nodded in agreement, as if it was exactly where he was expecting to be placed, and joined the Hufflepuffs already welcoming him in applause. Cassie looked around -- there weren't many students left. Her friends were all seated and she realized she'd be one of the last to be sorted, which instantly caused her some anxiety. She didn't like being singled out, and she was beginning to see that's exactly what the Sorting Hat did. Headmistress McGonagall called on a few more students, and Cassie tried to keep calm as the Ts got closer. After a kid who's last name was Shafiq was sorted into Hufflepuff, came Cassie's time of reconning.
"Miss Cassandra Thistle!" The headmistress shouted out. Her throat went dry, but Cassie forced herself to move forward, thankful that her robes were just a bit too big, so no one could see her shaking hands. McGonagall placed the hat on Cassandra's head, and he began to analyze her aloud.
"Oh my..." The hat trailed off. "How refreshing." Cassie's brows furrowed as she wondered just what refreshing meant. The hat was amused by her. "It is I whom is to be analyzing you," he said. "Not the other way around." A pinkish hue flooded Cassandra's cheeks and she bit her lip firmly. "You're quite inquisitive, Miss Thistle. Logical.. observant." The Sorting Hat hesitated for a moment. "There's also a passion inside you to help others. A loyalty I've seen in few over the years." Cassie made eye contact with Kyra, then searched the rows of blue for James. She smiled softly when their gazes locked together, and he motioned to her to take a deep breath. She did as he said and closed her eyes, attempting to clear her mind of all anxiety. "Where to put you..." the hat said mostly to itself. "Better be.. Ravenclaw!" There was a slight delay in the time it took Cassie to register just what the hat had said. By the time she realized which house she'd been put in, the headmistress was already ushering her in the direction of table. She sat down beside James, whom immediately greeted her with a smile.
"Miss Leah Yaxley!" The girl with the short, blonde hair from before walked up, visibly worried. The hat was placed upon her head, and after a brief analysis of her courage, cunning, and wit, she was placed into Slytherin.
The headmistress shared a short speech afterward, then introduced the first of many feasts of the school year. The food, enchanted by elf magic, suddenly appeared before them, and all the hungry students dug in.
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