Beth Grevyson was anything but pleased at that moment, really. It was strange, she had been utterly happy and a total treat all the way to school. Even ask her compartment mates and new friends, because she had those new friends. Still, she wasn’t pleased.

Those stupid jerks had told her the hat had to decide.

Pouting just slightly the determined little sprite that had tried to force herself into Slytherin without E V E N getting the hat’s approval had been shunned away. She’d show them. She was a Slytherin and she knew it.

Stupid traditions.

Still, she’d managed to sit there for a good minute before someone noticed that her robes had no color to them. Stupid…stupid charmed robes. When it came time and she heard her name called out ”GREYVSON, ANABETH” she couldn’t help but wince. Anabeth – now people would get it into their thick dumb skulls that Ana was a fitting name for her. It wasn’t. It was B E T H and only Beth. Climbing up to the stool she sat down with a slight plop and then she heard it. The voice as if it were screaming through her brain but she was sure the entire school could hear it.

”Oh – I remember your mother…” the hat spoke in an almost kind fashion, ”you’re father on the other hand I’d like to forget…seems like you never met him – you’re nothing like him.” the hat informed her even if it seemed a little rude at that moment still she didn’t tell it that. ”if you keep that up you’ll likely be expelled” it told her as a fleeting thought of wondering what her prefect life-coach friend would think of her now. ”mmm, you’re cunning – and determined. Best be SLYTHERIN” it called out finally after what couldn’t have been that long two minutes tops, still it was nice to feel right.

She had been right before hand and the hat just confirmed that for her. Beth was going to own that common room one of these days.

SO...this was it. The infamous Hogwarts Sorting Hat. Trinetta had read a bit about it in her research, trying to figure out which house she would be sorted in. She was honestly relieved that it was something as simple as putting on a hat - no matter how old and disgusting the thing may be. She'd feared she would have to take some long exam or something, or submit her wand to a test or something else like that. This was easy! She hadn't really given much thought to the house thing at all, but now that the moment was upon her, she was anxious to see where she would end up. She wondered if she would end up with any of the first years she had already met...

She waited, thankful that her last name was SORT OF close to the front of the alphabet, and when it was finally her turn, she skipped a little in her ballet flats as she hopped up to the top of the stairs and plopped down on the stool. She had only a second to peer out at the rest of her classmates before the hat was dropped over her head, and all she saw was darkness.

"HMMMMM, what do we have here? A French born witch? Interesting that you're here at Hogwarts," a voice mumbled in her ear. OH MY GOSH...was the hat TALKING to her?! That was both terrifying and AWESOME at the same time! She gripped the edge of the stool in anticipation as the hat continued on.

"Let's see what we have in this head of yours...curiosity, that's for sure. Have you ever heard the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat?' Be careful on that end. Risky, but risky enough for Gryffindor? I don't think so. Loyal, but willing to do whatever necessary to achieve your goals....hmmm...I see two houses you could be in. I'd ask if you have a preference but I can tell you don't know enough about this school to have one," the hat said.

Was...that last bit a slight at her? It wasn't her fault that she really didn't care WHERE she ended up - she was here to LEARN, not to be concerned with house rivalries. She would have approached Beauxbatons the same way. Perhaps it was that thought that helped the hat finally decide on where it was going to put her...

"Alright, it's a toss up here, I think I could see you being successful in Slytherin or Ravenclaw, but...your craving for knowledge and experiences makes it clear where you should go. Better be RAVENCLAW!"

She heard the hat yell out that last bit to the entire hall. There was an eruption of cheers from the Ravenclaw house, and she beamed as the hat was taken off her head. That was supposed to be the...smart house, right? She was pretty sure she had remembered reading that in 'Hogwarts, a History' when she had briefly skimmed the section on houses.

Finding the house with the blue banner, she hopped off the stool and quickly ran over to her new house.

Quinnlin paused, just for a fraction of a step upon seeing the Great Hall for the first time. It wasn't like she imagined at all. It was huge, and wonderful and most importantly of all. "I bet it has even better acoustics than..." Oh. Beth wasn't next to her anymore. There was barely anytime to try and locate her as the herd of first years was making its way to the front, sweeping Quinn along with it.

On a stool in front of them was the filthiest, ugliest old hat she'd ever seen. Couldn't they use some of the school budget to buy a newer hat? Really?

That thing isn't infested with lice is it?

The first kid was called, and then the second, and then...yeah, this was boring. Quinn pulled out her book, flipped it open and began to read. Peter Pan; that was her livre du jour.

Oh, to go to Neverland... Now that would be the dream come true.

"Kevelle, Quinnlin." But Quinn was fully engrossed in her book now. She was nearing the end and Peter was just about to... "KEVELLE, QUINNLIN!"

She started, and glared at the Professor that had called her name. MUST they yell? Quinn stuck her thumb between the pages to mark her place and made her way up to the stool, curling a lip at the unsightliness of the hat. It was even worse up close. Let's just get this over with shall we? She took a deep breath of resolve, sat firmly down on the stool and opened her book to continue reading.

If she had to endure that thing on her head, she was going to be distracted for it! Peter Pan was just about to....

"What do we have here?" A sharp, gravelly voice spoke inside her head. Inside her HEAD! That, my friend, was a severe invasion of privacy! And even worse it was distracting her from reading, which was supposed to be distracting her from the filthy rag they just put on her head. "A fearless, bravery, yes. But a sharp mind too. Cunning and plenty of ambition. But also an inquisitive mind that thirsts for knowle..."

"SHUSH!" If she was going to sit here and endure this, the least the crummy hat could do was let her read in peace! The sorting hat's words faltered and died with a sputter. She was pretty sure no one had shushed it before.

Silence. Good. Quinn focused again on the book in her lap. Peter Pan was just about...

"RAVENCLAW!" The word was shouted so loudly at point blank range to Quinn that it tore its way into her brain, ricocheting painfully over and over again.

By the time the word finally registered, the hat had been pulled off her head, and she had made it half way to the Slytherin table. She'd been expecting Slytherin. But that hadn't been what the hat screamed.

Quinn stood there awkwardly just for a moment, then she spun on her heels and headed instead in the direction of the Ravenclaw table.

Olivia Hurst was next to be sorted. Curls bouncing from the back of her head, fringes obscuring her face, she made a mental note to make sure to brush her hair once all this nerve-wracking sorting ceremony comes to a close. She watched Beth go to the Slytherin house tables, everyone were all cheers for the new little addition to their team. Olivia was restless and excited while waiting for her turn but when her name was called, she went blank. Being home-schooled, she was never really the type to like the attention. All eyes followed her every footsteps, the silence was deafening.


Do not fall.
Do not fall.
Do not fall.


Olivia knew she’s going to be a laughing stock once her clumsiness flares up.

Right on the dot. Oli made it to the throne safely. Just like her fellow first years, she sat on it to get sorted. Oli was surprised at the unfamiliar movement up her tangled hair when the sorting hat was placed on her head.

“Undoubtedly. RAVENCLAW!” the hat shouted. Loud cheers emerged from the Ravenclaw House Table.

It was over just like that.

With all the applauds she heard, Oli could not help but beam from ear to ear with her eyes wide open. Oli was full of pride as she made her way to the house where she belongs. Long gone were her promises to munch food with Beth at the Slytherin house table and to hang out with Rylee at her own house table. She had her own house table now and she’s going to stay there.

Reese waited along with all the other first year students that stood as they awaited their turn to be sorted. He watched as his new friends from the train were sorted... Beth seemed tickled that she was sorted into Slytherin just as she had said she had hoped for on the train.. But he was left blinking when Quinn was placed in Ravenclaw.. He had thought she'd be sorted into Slytherin along with Beth..

Hmm?.. Maybe they'd be in the same house.. Well, they'd all soon find out just where he'd be placed, but it was a bit of a wait until he heard his name called out by the professor.


Prichard, Reese!


With a somewhat nervous sigh he made his way to the stool and down he sat.. He knew the hat would take his feelings into consideration in where he'd be placed, but from the moment the hat was set on his head he felt almost violated.

Another Prichard.. But.. Not at all what you see yourself as.. SLytherin?.. No no.. You're far friendlier than you'd care to admit and unfailingly loyal.. But a bright head on your shoulders.... Where to put you?.., muttered the Sorting hat as it deliberated his placement fate.

Merlin!.. Get on with it!.. Which house are ya gonna stick me in already?, the young redhead thought to the musty hat that sat low on his brow.

Very well, Master Prichard!...Better be!... Hufflepuff!


And as soon as he heard the 'H' sound Reese deflated.. And he sighed as he slipped from the stool after the professor removed the smelly old hat from his head.. And all of a sudden his robes had a yellow lining and he slowly made his way to sit silently with the other baby badgers..

As he made his way over to his house table he had found Rylee and shot her the saddest look ever.. He hadn't been sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw or Slytherin.. Nope.. He was stuck by himself.. This was going to suck.. He could feel it.. He wondered if there had ever been someone so unhappy as him when sorted into their house as he sat there arms crossed over his chest and sulking.

This was it. The moment of truth! Lydia had learned from Rylee in the Leaky Cauldron that the Sorting was basically wearing the world's ugliest old hat. That had made her feel better. Imagine if she had to take some sort of test in front of the whole school? And speaking of the school, it was amazing! When Rylee had said Hogwarts was a castle, Lydia wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it wasn't this! The Great Hall was magnificent with its ceiling showing the night sky outside and the candles hovering over the long tables where her fellow schoolmates now sat in anticipation of the Sorting.

Unfortunately, Lydia didn't have long to wait before it was her turn to be called. She saw Ewan and Trinetta in the huddle of first years, but she'd have to go before them. Never before had she regretted where her last name fell in the alphabet! Calm down, she told herself. All you have to do is wear a hat...while sitting in front of the entire school...with all the professors and literally everyone staring at you the whole time!

Beckett, Lydia!

Oh no! Lydia half walked, half stumbled down the stool and the ratty old hat. Slowly it was lowered onto her head and...she could hear a voice! In her head!

"Hmm," murmured the hat into her ear. "A tough one. There's definitely some bravery there and also loyalty...but above all a desire to prove yourself...an ambition to rise to the top. Better be..."

SLYTHERIN!

As the table full of students with green-trimmed robes clapped and even hooted, Lydia stumbled down from the stool towards them. She couldn't believe what had just happened. That hat had looked into her mind! And it saw things she hadn't even entirely recognized or acknowledge in herself. And Slytherin? Oh no, she had heard such terrible things about that particular house. But as she sat down at the table with fellow Slytherins grinning at her, she didn't think they looked all that bad...At least she certainly hoped not.

And suddenly she was determined more than ever to bring honor and pride to the house of Slytherin! If she was a Slytherin, she would be the best Slytherin there was and prove to everyone that Slytherin was just as great of a house as the others.

Chloe had gone on the boats with all the other first years and clung to Xar, she had to be with Xar the entire time, she just had to. Her eyes as big as owl eyes she looked around the Great Hall and gasped seeing the ceiling. She heard about it from her parents and her brother, but seeing it in person was amazing. Standing in front of all the students she turned her head and waved towards Gunnar when she spotted him. The Slytherin table, it was the table she was hoping to be at, she wanted to be with her brother. If her and Xar became Slytherin this would be the best day of her life.

... "To achieve their ends. 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 the thinking Cap!"


As the sorting hat came to an end of its song Chloe could feel the questions bubbling over, did he write the song on his own? How did he write it without having hands to write it down? How does he remember that? How can he see into your brain? How old was he? She bit her lip to keep quiet as the first of the alphabet was called. Xar would be before her and she had to see what her best friend would be.


Hearing name after name they were finally at her own name and she heard;

MCARTHY, CHLOE

EEEEEE! That was her and Chloe nearly jumped out of her skin with excitement. "That's me, that's me, I'm McCarthy Chloe, I mean Chloe McCarthy." Raising her hand up and waving like they didn't already know she made her way to the hat and eagerly sat down and put it on.


Well let's see, let us see, where should you be. Oh yes I can see the bravery and daring side, but then I can see a loyal..

She was wiggling and bouncing, come on already, please just pick one, pick one now! She didn't want to be sitting up there she needed to go sit with her brother, she needed to be in his house.

... maybe not the patience part though, no, maybe you do have the ambitions to achieve your goals and I could see you, no, maybe not that either... no, I think you could do well there, yes I see it very clearly...


RAVENCLAW


She was getting super impatient and about to start asking instead of just thinking for it to hurry up when it boomed so loud she jumped off the stool she was sitting on and looked around with the hat over her eyes. "Ravenclaw?"

She slipped off the hat and stared at the Slytherin table and her big brother, don't cry, don't cry, he told her not to cry, she would be fine, yes, this was her daddy's house. Her daddy, that she looked up to, the dad that was the most amazing and smartest man she knew, the person who she wanted to be like with Herbology, her daddy...

Gulp...

He was a prefect and played on the house team...

What if she couldn't do as great as him, what if she couldn't live up to his name in this house? What if she wasn't smart enough? What if she didn't know anyone and didn't make any friends in this house.

Her eyes were getting watery as she glanced back to her brother before hurrying over to her knew house table.

This was it. After the long train ride from London, he had finally made it to Hogwarts. Beaming, taking in the grand tables, the many students and the row of teachers at the front, he walked slowly, surrounded by his fellow first years. Despite the cold boat ride in, he was positively shaking with excitement. Honestly, he was surprised he wasn't levitating off the floor! One by one, his fellow students were called up, different expressions clouding their features. Nerves, excitement, nausea.

" Jones, Ewan" Boomed out of the hats rips, reverberating around the hall. A quiet gasp whistled out of his mouth. Taking a deep breath, he moved through his fellow first years, quiet s'cuse me's every so often as he brushed past someone. Standing at the front now, almost petrified, he stared. Transfixed at the hat. 'Stop being a baby' he though as he stood there, rooted to the cold stone floor. With one deep breath, he stepped forward and lifted the hat before finally sitting down and placing it on his head. Despite his nerves, he had to admire the craftsmanship of the sorting hat. It was surprising soft. reassuring.

"Aha, Mr Jones. Welcome to Hogwarts" echoed the sorting hat. "Hmm... where to put you. Smarts. There's definitely a brain in there. And courage. Interesting.. Shaking slightly now, Ewan sat there, frozen with panic, his eyes shut in worry. "I see you enjoy the odd practical joke too! Well, this is difficult".

"Difficult? How could it be difficult? He was the sorting hat? He knew everything. Didn't he?. Ewan sat there, waiting. It could have been a minute, or an hour...


"Ravenclaw!!!! Boomed out the hat, now certain of his answer.

With relief, Ewan opened his eyes and looked back at the pairs of eyes that bored into his. Quickly, wanting to go and jump into a dark hold and hide, he looked for the Ravenclaw banner. Spotting it, he pulled the hat off his head and stood up, eager to get away from the hat. Placing it gently on the table, he walked towards his fellow Ravenclaw pupils and sat down between two other children, his eyes looking down at the floor.

There was NO way that dirty, dingy, flea-infested hat was going to be worn by Annaliese. Her pristine blonde locks came into contact with only the finest accessories; and this particular one was so unsanitary, the first year was almost certain her hair would begin to shed if stuffed underneath its grimy rim. Balding was definitely not in style.

However, when Toussaint finally made its appearance on the roster, there was little else she could do but toe her way up to the stool. Daddy would be having a WORD with the administration if their precious cap gave her lice, did they know?

Cringing a little as the hat was placed on her head, slipping over her eyes, Leecey prepared to demand a queenly room in Ravenclaw Tower. But the annoying conversation described by her siblings never came. Instead, her hopes were immediately put to rest by a deafening roar.

“Better be SLYTHERIN!”

“Excuse me?” Annaliese’s eyes flashed open to glare at the inside of the hat. Her voice, chock full of outrage, could barely be heard over the applause from the table of green and silver. “I am NOT sleeping in the dungeons. Put me in Ravenclaw!”

“SLYTHERIN!”

The hat repeated its announcement grandly, bringing on another round of clapping.

Scowling, she rose to her feet and threw the hat back onto the stool. How dare it try to make her live among RATS? And SEWERS! With angry red in her cheeks, Leecey marched off towards the Slytherin section of the Great Hall.

That shopkeeper had said her wand was good for fire, hm? Maybe its first task would be setting that blasted hat aflame.

If this wasn't terrifying then this Gunter girl didn't Know what that word meant anymore. Her hands were playing with her hair, something she's picked up as a nervous habit lately as she watched those before her go up to be sorted....

"Ravenclaw!"
Gryffindor!
Ravenclaw!
Slytherin!!
Hufflepuff!

Her heart was in her throat as she cling to the arm of her best friend, Chloe. Whoever's idea this was to make. Public spectral of this was stupid because she was scared and suddenly wanted a very private sorting. "I don't think I can do this, Chloe!" she whispered into her ear. "Think they'll notice if I slip out the back to the bath----"

"Gunter, Xaria!"

Her eyes blinked a few times as Chloe's grip started to let her go "stop no I'm fine"

"GUNTER, XARIA????"

"ohno".....

That was HER name.. that was her name and she was going to throw up. With tears welling in her eyes she slowly let go of Chloe and made her way to the front of the crowd. Why would no one mooooovvvvve?!

"hello?? Get out of my way I'm /trying/ to go up there... Moooove." she was shoving at people slightly who were clearly rude and didn't know how to be polite and move for oncoming traffic.

The hat.... It got closer and closer and bigger and bigger and her palms were starting to feel sweaty which was gross and she couldn't deal---"Whoa!" Xaria Gunter had been too focused on the hat she didn't notice there were steps and here she was, terrified and alone and now face down on the great Hall steps in front of everyone.

Lovely!

She took a deep breath or twelve and picked herself up before sitting on the chair.... Backwards. She didn't want to face the hundreds and hundreds of students, nope! Just a couple staff will do just fine.

plop

The hat was on her head. The hat was on her head and she went BLIND!!!! The heck kind of sorcery was this?!

ohhhh, a Gunter... Brave like her mother, a smart as her father.. yesssss. This one is different.

"please be Slytherin please be Slytherin." she was mumbling very softly to herself as she heard the hat go off talking.

you will do lots of great things here... You'll be spectacular...."better be........"

"GRYFFINDOR!!!"


WAIT!!!!????? WHAT?! "what?? No, no... That's wrong... Do it again!" but it was too late the headmaster had yanked the hat off her head and she could suddenly see again and she was being pushed off in the general lion direction.


What. Just. Happened?????

There was SO MANY people in this place, probably more people than she's ever been around with in her life. And they are all so ALIVE, so FREE, so unencumbered by cares of the world or life as a whole. It wasnt just refreshing-- it was infectious.

She was so right coming here. Cant wait to tell her folks how dead wrong they were.

"Ke, Lily Lian"

That is her name yes... was she supposed to do something? Go somewhere? She approached the lady directly like an obedient puppy, only to be impatiently whispered to "go to the stool". Ooookayyy lady clearly has not read the student profiles record thingy because if she did she wouldnt be telling her if she knew who Lillian was....

... Wait, there was something really odd over yonder, a presence she hasnt felt before, and it was confusing her because that presence felt ALIVE but it didnt have a heartbeat. In fact it felt like it was a burrito blanket. Huh....

She neared the burrito blanket presence and before she knew it, she was being ushered onto the stool and the burrito blanket presence was placed on her head. And then there was the odd aroma-- heck the odd EVERYTHING--

-- And then a VOICE. A voice that is not entering her ears but is just drifting around in her head. Whoah whuuuut....

"Hello there Lillian! We are delighted that you decided to come to Hogwarts. Your strength of spirit is a most admirable quality, despite all the challenges you've had in your life thus far..."

"Well... it is what it is." the raven-haired munchkin shrugged. She didnt know how challenging her life was, because she doesnt know any other kind of life other than the one she's been living. Coming in and out of hospitals was normal. Being visually-impaired was normal. Being able to sense a great many things that normal-sighted people couldn't was not only normal, but mostly oblivious to the fact that they cannot sense what she can. As far as the young ingenue knows, she's just like everybody else, but with ridiculously overprotective parents.

"By the way.... how are you doing the whole talking thing but not talking and without a heartbeat while wrapped in a burrito blanket? Are you some kind of telepathic zombie or something?"

If the Sorting Hat could blink, it probably did. And if it could laugh, it probably would "Your spirit and your outlook in life will take you a long way Lillian. There is much you need to learn, much you need to control and develop, to understand and realize and empathize, and there is one House that can help you achieve your absolute top potential, and it will be... "


GRYFFINDOR!!!


Whoah! Now she could hear that voice in her head AND her ears. And she could hear those words echo down the hall, and the deafening noise from that corner of this really lively hall. Also she felt something happened to her robes. She touched it momentarily before she felt being ushered off the stool and was told to join her house. Ok sure... thats the one where she could go deaf before she reaches the table right? Came here blind, left here deaf. No problem.

Edmund had no idea what to expect when had been told the weird things that seemed to happen around him were actually magic. The weeks since had been pretty crazy, what with the insanity of Diagon Alley and all, but he was coming to terms with it all. This whole giant, magical castle full of other kids that could do magic was incredible though. For what ever reason, seeing this mas of kids gave him courage. Maybe it was because they were like him, that he wasn't alone. Regardless of what it was, he found himself making his way to the front of the group, walking tall into the giant hall.

While everything was new, and a little scary, he was eager for all of this. As soon as “Knight, Edmund” was called up, he stormed up to the stool, like he was storming the castle itself. Plopping himself on the stool, he pulled on the big ol' hat.

“My, my, you are eager, aren't you?” Eager or not, hearing that voice in his head, Edmund couldn't help but jump. He had seen the thing yell out loud, but a hat talking in his ear was completely different. He rolled his eyes at what the thing said, and thought to himself that of course he was, and that this place was awesome. “It is indeed, and you are making this very easy for me.”

With that, he heard the hat yell out, “Gryffindor!” Removing it, his eyes sought out the sea of red and black that were cheering the loudest for him, and he bounded off towards them, grin plastered on his face.