Wearing her new Hogwarts uniform and a cute little bottle plant necklace, Irithel made her way to the front of the room. So this is the Great Hall! Her heart fluttered at the thought of having meals and hanging out in this awesome room for the next seven years of her life. She scanned the faces of the professors, then turned around to look at the older students already seated at their house tables. Her green eyes quickly found all three of her brothers at the Ravenclaw table and she gave them a cheerful wave. She knew she had nothing to worry about - she was confident that she would be sorted into the clever kids’ house too.

“Rutherford, Irithel!”

“Oh, that’s meeeee,” she waved her hand in the air excitedly and moved forward to sit on the stool. Another reason why she was so looking forward to putting on the sorting hat was because of how fashionable it is. Vintage style, y’know?? The hat did not smell so good though and it seemed too big for her. She gulped nervously as it was slowly placed on the top of her head. It had barely touched her head when it screamed,

“RAVENCLAW!”

… uh, is that it? She hadn’t even put on the hat properly. But her initial disappointment was quickly replaced by happiness as she realised her dream had come true. She was finally a Ravenclaw student! She handed the good old hat to the next student and skipped down to the blue and bronze eagle house table.

"Fox, Ashley." The voice took Ashley out of her thoughts. She walked over to the hat, trying not to trip in front of the whole school. She put the 'Sorting hat' on her head. the hat was annoyingly humming in her mind. "ooo, lets see, so many options. But I think I'll have to put you in Ravenclaw. RAVENCLAW!" It called out. She took off the hat and went over to the Ravenclaw table. She could see Irithel and some other people she recognized were there. good. At least she wasn't alone.

Mamie followed the other first years through the Great Hall by pure instinct, not looking where she was going but instead staring up at the ceiling, at the tables full of older students all looking at them, at the floating candles. It was a miracle she didn't run into one of the other first years.

And 100% not unexpected that she would trip over her own robe.

Stumbling, Mamie caught herself before she caused a domino effect with the other students and blushed. Her grandmother had helped hem her robe, but apparently not enough.

"Turov, Margaret!"

When Mamie's name was called, she walked slowly (she didn't want to trip again) up to the stool and took a seat. She fidgeted as the hat deliberated, pondering the four different houses with the strange names. Mamie hoped she could make friends in whichever house it put her in, and that her house had a color that would look good on her nails.

So, probably not yellow...

"Hufflepuff!"

Mamie startled as the hat suddenly made its decision. After she gave the hat back, she looked, briefly confused, out at the four tables. Which one was Hufflepuff again? Oh, the...yellow and black one. Well, she'd make it work. Mamie pulled a smile onto her face and walked over to the Hufflepuff table.

Thankfully for Adam, "Luck" wasn't THAT far back in the alphabet, so the bouncing first year didn't have to wait THAT long to be called up to the sorting hat! Also, he got to go BEFORE Ingrid got sorted. Hehehehe. Although was it weird to admit he kind of hoped they were in the same house? No, no, he would never voice that out loud. Nope. He didn't care where Ingrid went. But it would MAYBE be nice to know someone in his house at least...

OH! There! His name had been called! He blinked for a second, still processing that it was HIS turn before he hurried up the stairs and plopped down on the stool, biting his lip as the sorting hat was dropped onto his head, coming down to the very tip of his nose.

"Well hello there! Another Luck child, I see. My my, so many thoughts rushing through that brain of yours. It's hard to pick just one and really get to the root of who you are. But I can see what is in your heart and that is all that matters, you're brave, and always willing to jump into new things. No question about it. Better be..."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Adam heard the hat yell out the last word to the hall and he felt himself BEAMING with excitement as the hat was lifted off of him and he headed to the Gryffindor table. Gryffindor!?! THAT WAS LIKE, THE BEST HOUSE! HARRY POTTER HAD BELONGED TO THAT HOUSE!

In a split second, he had taken off and was heading to his table, heart pounding in his ears as the realization of it all finally hit him. HE. WAS. A. LION!

Full disclosure, she may have been clinging to Kizzy as much as Kizzy was clinging to her. Fuller disclosure? It wasn't because she was nervous. Every First Year up here on this stage with them and everyone else down at their tables needed to know this was her bestfriend from the very start. It was a little like a kneazle marking its territory. Oh! And to comfort Kiz, too. Yeah. She knew her friend might actually be wallowing in nerves now. That, too, for sure.

Emmerson Cambridge.

THAT WAS HER!!! Emm gave Kizzy's hand a final squeeze before skipping over to the stool and the talking hat and the man holding the talking hat. The little girl sat confidently, back straight, perfect dancer posture. She already knew the house she'd be going into and which she absolutel--

"GRYFFINDO--"

"Whooooaaa there." Emm said, instantly clinging to the hat in case the man tried to take it off. "That's it? No spectacle? No going on about my greatest and the things I'll do? You're just gonna pass me up on a two second sit before anyone even remembers my fa--"

"GRYFFIN--"

"I said hang on!" She wanted to be a hatstall like her mama had been. She wanted the drama, the suspense, the sitting at the edge of her seat with her breath caught in her throat. This...this was definitely not it and she was not having it, nor was she having this man now trying to tug the hat off her head and nudge her off the stool. Everyone else could wait, this was important.

The hat sighed, no less inclined to change its first judgement. It remembered her mother, headstrong and foolhardy. This one had not fallen far from the tree. He could see it clearly. "HUFFLEPUUUFFF!!"

"Oi!" Emmerson nearly tossed the hat off her head but now it would not move. She tugged against it, wanting that label nowhere near here.

"Hufflepuff!" It bellowed again, louder. Mocking her, surely.

"Cut it out before they believe you and gimme a yellow tie!" She whined, still trying to shove the hat away from her.

"You said you wanted a show." The hat replied in singsong fashion. Truly, it was taunting her.

"Not like THAT! What do you take me for??"

"A GRYFFINDOR!!!!!"

Before Emm could protest or acquiesce, the hat was snatched and she was nudged to her feet with an "alright, that's enough" and a patronizing pat on the shoulder from the man she didn't know would be her Headmaster and Head of House. She spared a final look at Kizzy before heading down to the table, knowing her friend now knew what she would have to do.

Branxton. Cambridge. James. Rider. Rider-Mae. Summers.

In the middle. The way she liked it. Comfortable. Protected.

Kizzy tightened her grip of cousin Cooper's arm and clung even tighter to Emmerson, hiding behind the two while the sorting hat sang. Though she tried to shrink herself into the crowd, she didn't want to miss any of it. She wanted to remember everything. Tonight was very special. She had been waiting for it since her siblings had started Hogwarts forever. But one by one, people were called up to the stool and Kinsay became more and more reluctant to let her favorites leave her. First, Branxton. Ravenclaw. Then, Cambridge. Gryffindor.

She scooted closer towards her three friends who were still waiting for their names to be called. Hopefully Matty and Emma wouldn't mind clingy Kiz. There was only one other sorting she was interested in for the moment anyway. Fence. Slytherin. It took him a really long time, much longer than the others. She wondered if he asked the hat uncomfortable questions (because that's something he did), thinking maybe that's why it took him so long. Kinsay thought this made enough sense to accept, making it easier to focus on the rest of the sortings that happened to fall between the letters F and J. Like, Hembree. Hufflepuff. Good. She didn't want to be in the same house as him. He's unhygienic.

"James, Kinsay"

She didn't start towards the stool right away. First she looked back at Sammy, then at Emma, and finally at Matty. Sammy who looked excited. Emma who looked equally, if not more (definitely and always more), excited. Matty who Kiz looked at with all the worry she was feeling on the inside. She gave his hand a squeeze before scurrying towards the hat. There was nothing to be worried about. She knew which house she wanted. She'd be with Emm and Phoebe. The hat would listen, Fifi said it would.

Waiting for the hat to be lowered onto her head, she quickly searched the house tables (first Gryffindor) for Fifi and (then Ravenclaw) Teddy and gave them both a tiny wave. It was good that she did that right away because once the hat was lowered, it sunk so far down over her head, that she couldn't see beyond the inside of it's rim. She looked silly. She knew she did.

It made her shrink her whole body and she kicked her feet around in nervous anticipation. She wondered when it would start talking. It was supposed to do that, she knew. "Hmmm...Interesting."

O_______O

"Interesting?" She whispered with worry, though she knew the hat could hear her even if she weren't to speak out loud. "Very interesting." Interesting wasn't good. Kinsay knew it wasn't good. Interesting meant there was deliberation and she didn't need deliberation, she had already decided her house. She had already set plans in motion with Emm. It was very important that they didn't get ruined by a stinky hat. "Ravenclaws run in the family..." Kiz frowned. "All the houses run in the family," she corrected the hat. What did it know anyway?!

"Hmmm... Creativity... Drive... A desire to seek out the truth..." NO! Kinsay KNEW which house those traits belonged to. No! "You're sure?" Yes.

Fifi said the hat would listen. Why wasn't it listening? "You would do exceptionally well in Ravenclaw House..." She frowned again. "I know." But Gryffindor would be more exceptional.

The two kept deliberating this way for a few minutes. The sorting hat, determined to persuade Kizzy to accept Ravenclaw. The Kizzy, determined to persuade sorting hat to accept Gryffindor. Just like this. Back and forth. Neither stepping down.

Until an uncharacteristic bout of doubt set in. Kinsay didn't know anymore. Despite the confidence of her continued assertions, in truth, the more the hat spoke to her, the more uncertain she became. Maybe she DID belong in Ravenclaw with Teddy and cousin Cooper. The house of her parents. Uncle Mo. The house of her grandmother with whom she shared a name. "But perhaps there is another fit for you yet..." Perhaps? She sat up a little straighter. "Yes." She held her breath. "You have proven yourself stubborn and headstrong." Thanks. She got that from her momma. ".... I can see great potential..." Potential for Gryffindor? "I sense underlying strength and values of courage and loyalty." She straightened her back.

"Hmmm... An opportunity for growth... But you are reluctant to embrace discomfort. Hmmm... Yes. You will do best to seek that which differentiates you from your peers..." This was, in Kinsay's opinion, the worst advice she had ever heard in her entire eleven years of life.

After five minutes and 21 seconds had elapsed, the hat finally shouted.

"Gryffindor!!!"

And though she had won in the end, Kinsay Cassandra James was so physically, mentally, and emotionally spent from the entire ordeal that she almost fainted of exhaustion right on the spot. With what little remained of her energy, she lifted herself off the stool and made her way to the table where her sister, her best friend, and Cecelia Summers sat.

Bracken, Amabel

Welp guess it was time and thankfully not enough time for her to think of every possible way for this to go wrong for her. But enough for her to think about how annoying the boats where and see who else was in her year. Which probably was the highlight. The young Bracken walked up to the the stool and tried to not look like a fool getting onto it. Once the hat went on her head the first thing she did was roll her eyes. "Let's see...another Bracken" Well ok that was fair considering her sister and all her cousins.

"Cunning...Creativity...Ambitious..Clever..... very peculiar"

She had to admit she was liking what she was hearing from the weird talk hat. The only thing she didnt like was how long it was taking. "Hurry up" Amabel whispered to the Hat. "You would do excellent in slytherin.....but also ravenclaw...now where to place you" But now she was saying some rather rude things to the hat before he finally made his decision after what felt like forever which ok it was a while. No idea why it was taking thhis long.

"RAVENCLAW"

Eh it will have to do. Not surprised she wasnt in the same house as Lois and Louis or the same house as Malia or Roma. Which she look over to all their tables once the hat was off her head and she got off the stool and made her way to the table.

This should be fun.

This was it. Sophie could barely contain her excitement as she followed her fellow first years to the front of the great hall where the Sorting Hat sat looking rather shabby on its little stool. She was practically bouncing on her feet as she barely paid attention to where others were being sorted. Luckily, she did not have to wait long as her surname came early in the alphabet.

"Duncan, Sophie!" cried the professor leading the ceremony.

Heart almost leaping from her chest, Sophie walked briskly to the stool and sat down, adjusting her robes. The hat was placed on her head, and immediately the din of the students in the great hall seemed to magically disappear. Ha, magically, of course.

Sophie didn't know much about the houses, only what her mother had told her. Her mother was hoping she'd be in Hufflepuff house like she had been, but from what Sophie did know, she highly doubted she would be placed there.

"Indeed not," murmured the voice of the Sorting Hat in her mind. "Friendly enough, but there's a lot of ambition there I see. Cleverness as well. Ravenclaw might suit, but there is a strong thirst to prove yourself..."

Sophie felt relieved that Hufflepuff was immediately taken out of the running. She loved her mum, but she never took anything seriously. Ravenclaw didn't sound so bad. She was a tad offended the hat hadn't mentioned Gryffindor at all though. Surely she was also quite brave and could be a good leader.

The hat seemed to chuckle. "Best be...SLYTHERIN!" it declared to the great hall.

Sophie stood and beamed. Slytherin. Some might stay it had a dark reputation, but Sophie knew there were plenty of brilliant witches and wizards from Slytherin house. She would be proud to join them and make a name for herself there as well.

She practically bounced over to the serpents' table.

Frankie made her way up to the front of the great hall with the other first year and transfer students to be sorted in to their houses. She anxiously waited to be called to sit on the stool and have an old look hat placed on her head.

Valentyn, Frankie

It was her turn now. Frankie made her way up to the stool and sat down. At that moment is when she really realized how quit it was and all eyes were on her and the darkness.

Interesting Frankie heard in her head or ears. Hufflepuff would be a good fit. Frankie questioned in her head Hufflpuff? She heard the voice again question back No? Then it shouted.

'SLYTHERIN!'

And with that the hat was taken off her head has an applause came from the table of green and silver. She made her way over to the table of green and silver and found a seat.

Valentina had been anxiously waiting for this moment all summer!! She really, REALLY wanted to be a hufflepuff like her daddy but what if the hat decided that she was best suited for another house instead?? Maybe she could convince the hat to listen to her?? Would it even take her preference into consideration? Probably not but she was going to give a try anyway.

“Nichols, Valentina.”

GULP.

She got up and carefully walked up to the stool, making sure she didn’t trip and embarrass herself in front of all the students that were watching. It wouldn’t make a very good first impression, would it? Valentina sat down, swinging her legs nervously for a couple of moments before the hat was lowered onto her head. “Hello, mr. hat.” She whispered quickly. “I want to be a hufflepuff please.”

“Yes. You would do very well in hufflepuff.” AHHHHHHHHYESYES. Val could barely contain her excitement. “But—“ .. wait, what?? There was a BUT? “— you would be a perfect fit for another house too. Yes, yes — recklessly brave, very loyal to those you care about and determined to do what you think is right — no doubt about it-“ OH NO NO NO. But before she could protest,

“GRYFFINDOOOOOOOOR”

NO NO NO, this was not fair. Shoulders slumped, the eleven year old dejectedly jumped off the stool and headed towards her table.

Pulling at her collar, the top button done up to its fullest, Ingrid stood surrounded by the other children in the great hall as though they were all Emperor Penguins huddled together from the cold. In reality though, the great hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a lot warmer although that could have been down to the staring eyes of all the other children on her as she walked through the grand, enormous double doors to the front of the hall.

“Wow”, she mouthed to herself, A look of wonder crossed her face as she stood in the middle of the crowd, her eyes taking in everything from the long wooden tables to the suites of armour and the crisp night sky above them inside the hall. It was everything she had imagined and so much more. The only thing that didn’t seem quite up to scratch was the fusty looking hat that that sat on a stool at the front of the hall. Underwhelming and yet, it left her curious as she heard the first name called. She knew from her brothers and sisters how the next part would go and yet, the sound that the hat made when it called Ravenclaw” still took her off guard. It was resounding. Certain. Concrete. That was where the first girl belonged.

Wide eyed, Ingrid stared at the front of the hall, not really taking in what was happening as her mind lingered on the house she most wanted to be in, Ravenclaw, or at least that was what she told herself until her brothers name had been called out and he was sorted into GRYFFINDOR! WhAT! hOW? WhY? They were twins! They were supposed to be in the same house, weren’t they? Did that mean she was going to be in Gryffindor too? So many questions gushed through her mind as though a dam had just been smashed to pieces and yet, seconds had only passed. Frozen in place, Ingrid just stared as her brother got off the stool beaming, the expression on her face all kinds of confused. Luckily though, she didn’t have time to consider what was happening because it was her turn…

“Ingrid Luck”

Moving through the crowd, Ingrid stepped out and walked towards the stool, her eyes now firmly on the filthy, old hat. With a deep breath, she lifted up the hat and sat down before putting the hat on her head, not waiting for it to be placed slowly placed there. No, she wanted this over. She needed to know where she belonged!

“Aha, another Luck! Interesting. Very interesting. Similar and yet so different to your brother but where should I put you. You could easily do so well in Gryffindor with him you know, if that is what you really want? OR maybe Slytherin with your other sister perhaps?”

Ingrid’s breath caught for a moment as the hat mentioned Vi but she did not move. She only listened carefully to the voice in her head, the voice of the hat as it continued to talk.

“But you don’t want that, do you? Not really.”

What did it mean, she didn’t want to be put in Slytherin? She didn’t even know where she wanted to be. All of her family had been split up, spread out and were apart so what she wanted could never happen. Sensing that the hat had made its decision, Ingrid went ridged as though she had been stunned as she waited for the hat to shout…

“RAVENCLAW!!!!!”

Exhaling in what could only be described as a huff, Ingrid removed the hat quickly and handed it to the waiting hands, her eyes instantly going to her brother over at the Gryffindor table for a few seconds before she finally got to her feet and moved towards her new home. Ravenclaw. Even despite her best efforts, despite all of the confusion, a small smile crossed her lips as she crossed the stone floor.

This...

Aunt Haddie had filled Kat in on what to expect, sure, but being here for reals was something else entirely. The old castle aesthetic. The whole transparent ceiling thing-y going on, the floating candle, the intimidating professors peering down at them, everything... it was quite overwhelming.

Mew.

Kat glanced around, checking to see if anyone heard that, or was paying attention to her. When it appeared she was in the clear, Katarina opened the pocket of her robe as discreetly as an 11 year old kid could. The tiny black face of her new kitten looked up at her, and meowed again.

"Shhh! Quiet, Panther. They'll hear you."

Mew.

"Panther!" she hissed.

"Denaker, Katarina!"

Uh-oh. Caught. First night at school and she was already in trouble...

The Professor that had called her name, however, wasn't marching toward her like she was expecting. Instead the Professor was simply standing there, looking expectantly at the small group of preteens. Oh. It was her turn for the hat.

Relieved, Kat made her way to the stool and took a seat. Why was it always so awkward to be in front of the class with everyone staring at...

The hat was placed on her head, sliding down heavily until it swallowed half her face.
Well, that was one way to get past the awkwardness of having everyone stare at her. Blindness by hat.

Hmmm... interesting.

Kat jumped. Aunt Haddie had told her the hat speaks, of course. But, well, Aunt Haddie wasn't not! a very good storyteller, despite what Aunt Haddie thought. Katarina had assumed it was just her things speak to me delusional brand of crazy. Well, except for it's habit of yelling out houses, of course.

Yes. The hat continued. Still so unsure of yourself. So much doubt clouding you, but... Ah. There. I can see it now. There's a hidden strength buried in you. A thirst for adventure and, perhaps even more so, the freedom and challenges that come with.

This is weird... And somewhat inaccurate, in Kat's opinion.

The hat chuckled. You are still young. Still learning to be yourself, but trust me, little Kat. A daring spirit is at your center. I know just the house to help you find it.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

In almost the same instant, the hat was whipped off her head, the light of the Great Hall blinding her for a second while her eyes adjusted. Hesitantly, Kat hopped off the stool and made her way to Red and Gold table.

Deeeeeeeeeep inhale. Long and slow exhaaaaaaaaaale. Stepping foot into the Great Hall for the first time, Sloane couldn't decide if she wanted to scream from excitement, cry from joy, or vomit from nerves.... Maybe all three at once? That would make quite the first impression, she thought in her usual comical, self deprecating middle-child kind of way. Before she could give her feelings much more thought, she visually scanned the room from right and to left, top to bottom, and grew increasingly awestruck by all that her eyes were taking in.

Are those floating candles? And how did they get the ceiling to look like that? Those wall sconces are the absolutely coolest things ever! Check out those banners on the walls - they must represent the houses I heard about! Oh gosh, the houses... the sorting ceremony... Where will I end up? What if they think I'm a fraud because I don't come from a magical family? What if I can't actually do magic and this is all a mistake? Oh my word, I'm going to hyperventilate... Sloane stood rooted to the spot with anxiety, practicing her deep breathing exercises, until at last her name was called.

"Fordyce, Sloane!"

Focusing only on putting one foot in front of the other so as not to trip in front of all these people, Sloane slowly made her way to the stool and the Sorting Hat. She lifted it gingerly by the brim with both hands and took her seat on the stool. With one last long exhale, Sloane placed the hat on her head as she saw the students before her had done, and waited...

"Well, this is most interesting. Yes, indeed. Despite your insecurities, your magical ability is quite clear to me. But how to choose where you will best achieve your magical potential? Hmmm... Best be...

RAVENCLAW!!!"

Sloane breathed deeply in relief. If this magical hat, that has sat on the heads of thousands of real witches and wizards, believes I have this ability they tell me I have, then maybe I really do. Maybe it is time I start believing in myself. Sloane stood from the stool, replaced the Sorting Hat, and strode to the Ravenclaw table with her chin up a little higher than it was moments prior.

Diagon Alley and a wand? Check.
The Magical Express? Check.
First Year Boats? Check.
Meeting the Sorting Hat? ...

Matty was far from an anxious person, but his insides were wiggly, which... actually... was most likely due to excitement. For once, it wasn't just group excitement that rubbed off on him but actual genuine personal glee for the experience to come. With a big smile, he watched as one by one his friends and BEST friend (slash niece) were sorted into the same house.

GRYFFINDOR. GRYFFINDOR. GRYFFINDOR.
___Emmerson. _______Kinsay. _________Emma.

One after the other, after the other. It was almost like rapid fire in his mind even if there were plenty of names between them... Except for his and Emma's. Emma was just before him. RIDER, instead of RIDER-MAE. HE WAS READY.

"RIDER-MAE, MATTHEW."

Finally, they'd all be together like old times. Except not in diapers. Definitely not in diapers. Please. The girls and Sammy had been all together in primary school and he'd... well, mum had put him in Woldobo's like Coby. But!!!!!! he didn't care anymore!!! He wasn't lowkey upset anymore!!!! They were all gonna be together now and have all the sleepovers in their shared common room and he couldn't wait!!!

Quickly and carefully (!!!) he made himself comfortable on the stool and before he knew it, the magical hat was nestled comfortably on his soft brown hair.

He didn't even have to think about it, he knew where he was supposed to go and he was just waiting for the hat to--

"SLYTHERIN!"

"WHAT?"

hahahaeshfahsdhhahahaaha. Very funny. Matty normally didn't get mad and he was BIG MAD. But this? This wasn't funny. SURI had been a Slytherin. And maybe a younger Matthew had associated Slytherin with the monster in the closet version of Suri. He wasn't Slytherin. No. Not funny.

In a rather hushed, sharp whisper, "You meant Gryffindor. The red one." Surely.

"Slytherin," it insisted. "recklessly brave does not suit you, young Matthew, for you are not chasing fame and glory." Spoilers much??? "I don't-" Did it matter? "Can't I just-" be with my friends... As much as it PAINED him not to insist it, he wasn't much for arguing. And maybe his interest was piqued somewhere deep under that giant mound of disappointment. Especially not with authority. An ancient magical hat had plenty of authority over him..... probably.....

"okay..." please don't let Hogwarts make him the monster in someone else's closet.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat repeated in a final shout as the young boy made his way to the Slytherin table, head hung low.



Good luck, Sam.