The Sorting

[Eden Browne]

September fourteenth. It was the first day of school, even if it should have started two weeks earlier. She stood near some of the other children, most who were quite a bit taller than her four feet, nine inch tall self. She stared around the Great Hall, her eyes sweeping over the children who sat at each of the four tables. Where would she be sorted? Only time and the Sorting Hat would be able to tell her. She was snapped out of her thoughts by the loud call of her name "Eden Browne!" she hat shouted, the tip tilting towards her.

She hesitantly walked up to the stool, putting the hat on her head. The questions began flowing through her mind, and she began to analyze each one. Your professor asks for a volunteer on a particularly useful (and entirely harmless) charm. What do you do? She knew her answer would depend more on the exact charm and the other children in the room, but she could assume one thing. "I'd probably raise my hand and volunteer!" she said, a smile on her face.

You are assigned to write an essay on your favorite memory in order for your professor to get a better idea of what you're like — what would you write? She loved writing, and she'd also learned her writing style over time. "I like to go through what happened, step-by-step, but I also write down how things make me feel. I'm more of a visual writer instead of someone who goes through everything I'm feeling," she explained to the hat, her gaze tilted upwards.

A fellow first year has been having difficulty in affording all of his potion supplies. You happen to see him stealing a rather wealthy student's vial of salamander blood — of which she had several of. She likely won't even notice it missing. What do you do? That was really a tough question. It depended more on the personality of the student who was stealing and if she liked them or not, but she was sensitive to others' needs and emotions, so she'd probably understand their intention without getting angry or mean. "I wouldn't call them out on it in front of others, but rather simply talk about it after class and try to convince them to give it back to the person as if they dropped it. There's loads of charities around Britain for needy students, anyways," she reasoned, imagining the situation in her head.

An odd magical artifact suddenly appears in the middle of your common room. A prefect tells everyone to get to their dorm rooms immediately and then leaves to fetch the head of house. While your housemates comply, what do you do? This was an easy question. She knew she would agree to go along with everyone else, but slowly slink back into the room once they were done. "I'm not sure, but I know I'd be curious. If I got the vibe that the artifact was dangerous, I would stay away from it, but if I felt that it wasn't any harm I might take a closer look," she said simply.

  

[Saundra Darrow]

Sunny was sure she was going to be sick as her name was finally called- well, not finally, Darrow was hardly far into the alphabet- but waiting had seemed to take eons. And now everyone would know that the girl who looked like she’d been caught in the headlights was a relative of Grandad Professor Darrow too!

She was pretty much shaking with nerves as she reached the stool and the hat slipped down over her head, giving a visible start as the voice sounded in her head. What if she wasn’t fit for any house? No one had questioned that she was anything but a squib until Friday when she’d found her letter! She couldn’t even remember ever doing anything vaguely magical- it had taken her so long to find her wand too- and the hat would probably know that!

“I- I’d volunteer. I don’t expect I’ll be very good at magic so I’ll have to make the extra effort to try and be good at my classes and make my professors like me and to make my Papa proud.”

Her favourite memory- that was a hard one. All her memories of her Papa were happy, but she also knew that he never got to find out that she wasn’t a squib or wave her off to Hogwarts or anything, and that made them all a bit sad. And since her Papa’s passing, she didn’t think she’d been really happy. Finding her Hogwarts letter had been exciting though, so she’d probably write about that. ”I don’t think any stories are any good if they don’t contain your feelings, so that’s what I’d make sure to include. Just facts gets rather boring.”

As for the third question, Sunny answered it a little more confidently. “I’d talk to them and offer them one of my own vials if they put the stolen one back. It wouldn’t be right to get them in trouble for it’s not their fault they can’t afford ingredients, and I’d try to help as much as I could. I’m sure they wouldn’t be stealing if they could afford them.”

A magic artefact just appearing? That sounded so exciting! [i]“If there’s noone there to see me, then a quick peep couldn’t hurt, could it? I’d probably look at it from a safe distance- then I could inform someone if something happened. It’d wouldn’t be very wise to leave it on it’s own if it was so dangerous- and if it did suddenly become dangerous I’m sure I’d be able to see that myself and get out the way and not get in trouble!”

  

[The Sorting Hat]

Eden Browne
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "I believe that you'll do very well where chivalry and bravery are justly rewarded. Better be-" Out loud, it declares, "Gryffindor!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.

Saundra Darrow
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "Interesting... you'll thrive in a house that is ambitious and resourceful. You're going to-" Out loud, it declares, "Slytherin!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.

  

[Pansy Tinker]

Pansy was ecstatic. It was finally time! Of course she'd sought out that Owen kid - he seemed cool! - and chattered all the way to Hogwarts with him. Or at him. She had a tendency to not leave room for anyone else when she was excited, but that hardly mattered. She'd be at Hogwarts. One step closer to realizing her dream. Her mind was buzzing with all the greatness she'd accomplish in Hogwarts - this was where she'd become the best witch ever and everyone would be so amazed by her. There was no way she wouldn't be an Auror - even a Head Auror!

So when they finally arrived at Hogwarts, she wanted to blaze past the boring introductory stuff of course but she could hardly do that. And her name was so far down the list! There was a pout to her lips as she waited, arms crossed over her chest and looking all too petulant. She wanted to be sorted right then and when her name was called, Pansy practically leapt onto the stool when her named was called. This was it! This was when she'd find her place at the school!

She had to hold back a squeal when she heard the voice in her head and luckily only just managed to, smile broad on her face regardless. "There's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see. Answer me a series of questions to decide where you'll best be."

Your professor asks for a volunteer on a particularly useful (and entirely harmless) charm. What do you do?
"Raise my hand, of course! Everyone can see how awesome I am. And those spells will come in use on my way to being the best Head Auror that ever lived!" She was certain of that. If she wanted to be the absolute best, she'd need to know every single spell! And she had it in her head that she would have eternal glory - history books would write about her!

You are assigned to write an essay on your favorite memory in order for your professor to get a better idea of what you're like — what would you write?
"I'll write about meeting Auror Benedict Sterling!" Pansy remembers every detail - even his name! - with great clarity. Of course she'd embellish the story in her childish way, and be certain to leave in any and all praise the auror gave her! She'll leave out the part where she cried, though, because Head Auror's shouldn't cry and she's going to be one when she's older.

A fellow first year has been having difficulty in affording all of his potion supplies. You happen to see him stealing a rather wealthy student's vial of salamander blood — of which she had several of. She likely won't even notice it missing. What do you do?
"That would depend," She thinks, perhaps the first pause so far in the sorting. "If they were my friend I wouldn't snitch! But if I didn't love them then of course I'd tell! It's rule breaking and auror's can't let rule breakers slide!" Her friends and dear ones, however, get a special ticket because if they did it then it wouldn't be that bad.

An odd magical artifact suddenly appears in the middle of your common room. A prefect tells everyone to get to their dorm rooms immediately and then leaves to fetch the head of house. While your housemates comply, what do you do?
"I'm going to inspect it of course!" She couldn't run away just because someone implied it might be dangerous. She's curious, after all, and would want to know what it is! "I don't know if I'd touch it though, but I wouldn't run to my dorm! The prefect is probably just trying to scare us."

  

[Syna Hyslop]

I was gonna ask for Syna to be placed in the same house as Helixa and apparently she wants to be difficult like Seneca

Syna had been nervous, of course, on the train ride to the lake and then on the boat ride to the castle. It was needless worry, she knew, because Hexie was with her. She couldn't let any worries show on her though because Hexie was doing that enough for the both of them. So they had stayed attached to the hip much as they always did the entirety of the way to Hogwarts, Syna even grabbing her hand when students cluttered and she feared she might be lost in the crowd. It all seemed to pass so quickly, however, and when Hexie was called before her Syna watched with a bit of secondhand anxiety as her sister approached the stool. Hexie had to be nervous - she had been slightly anxious about Hogwarts on a whole - and Syna couldn't wait to have her sister back by her side.

But it wouldn't be so until they were both sorted. Hexie walked off to the Ravenclaw table and Syna watched her the entire way, not letting her eyes move from her sister until she was seated and her own name was called. Ravenclaw was suiting, she figured, and when she approached the stool she took a seat on it and waited for the hat to be placed on her head. When it greeted her she clasped her hands in her lap and thought very resolutely: "My twin and I are just the same. I refuse to be placed anywhere but Ravenclaw." She thought it with all the authority she could muster because she would not be separated from her sister. She made it a point to relay that she'd take no other questions - it was Ravenclaw or it was nothing at all!

  

[Frida Lestrange I]

Frida was beyond nervous. A thousand different scenarios where her sorting went horribly wrong were flitting about in her head. She could trip on her way up to the podium. SHe could miss hearing her name called and they would have have to call it again. She could be sorted into the wrong house! What if her father didn’t approve of the house she was sorted into? What if she had to sit next to a poor person at the table? What if she fell off the stool? Or what if the hat didn’t like her? As her anxiety built upon itself, she stood, wringing her hands in front of her until finally her name was called. With careful steps she made her way up to the stool and managed to maneuver herself onto the stool and the hat was placed on her head. She had was momentarily worried that it would mess up her hair before the voice spoke and her pale eyes went wide.

Questions...but what if she answered incorrectly? What if they were trick questions? What if the hat didn’t like her answers?

Your prefessor asks for a volunteer on a particularly useful (and entirely harmless) charm. What do you do?

Frida gave her head a faint shake. She didn’t want anyone using charms on her. Magic used on people was never harmless. At least not in her experience; not that she’d ever been disobedient enough to have Papa use any magic on her. But she’d heard what it had done to Meta. And even if it was harmless what if it changed her; gave her freckles or turned her skin blue or made her nose like an elephants? No, she would not volunteer to be used for charms.

You are assigned to write an essay on your favorite memory in order for your professor to get a better idea of what you're like — what would you write?

Immediately she called to mind a memory of her father. She had always loved her father dearly. He was a serious and busy man. She understood why he didn’t have much time to spend with his children and she accepted it. Still, all she ever wanted was to make him proud of her. Especially now with her mother dead, he was all she had now. Her sisters had their governess but Frida had known that she was bound for Hogwarts and so she would have only Kristoffer and Seneca and her other siblings for family. But that summer, after they’d moved to London, she’d gone to get her wand. The second she’d gotten home, she’d run to her father to show him. He’d patted her on the head and even smiled and said “That’s nice, dear.” He’d been proud of her! She was sure of it. Her little heart had swelled until she wasn’t sure her chest could contain it. She’d never been more happy than in that moment, knowing that her father was proud.

A fellow first year has been having difficulty in affording all of his potion supplies. You happen to see him stealing a rather wealthy student's vial of salamander blood — of which she had several of. She likely won't even notice it missing. What do you do?

Her nose wrinkled as she thought of this. She didn’t like thieves! She liked poor thieves even less. What right did they have to take from someone else? Just because someone was wealthy certainly didn’t mean that they should have to go without because someone whose parents didn’t work hard enough wanted what they had! No, she would point that out to the professor. Thieves should be punished! And being a Lestrange, punishments generally meant screaming and crying. Not that she’d ever been punished. But yes, thieves should be punished! It was only fair; do something wrong and you get punished.

An odd magical artifact suddenly appears in the middle of your common room. A prefect tells everyone to get to their dorm rooms immediately and then leaves to fetch the head of house. While your housemates comply, what do you do?

Of course she would do as she was told! Why would you ever want to mess with some strange magical artifact, especially if someone in charge told you to stay away from it? Obviously it could be dangerous. What if it killed you? Or made you ugly! Or turned you into a beetle! Oh what if there was an artifact in the castle that turned people into beetles. Hadn’t students gone missing in the near past? What if they’d been turned into beetles and been stepped on! She didn’t want to be a beetle. She didn’t want to get stepped on. Papa would be so disappointed with her. No, she had to get into a good house, one that would make him proud. She had to do well in her classes. Get good OWLs and behave respectably and befitting her class and family. She had to be perfect so that Papa would be proud!

  

[The Sorting Hat]

Pansy Tinker
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "Interesting... you'll thrive in a house that is ambitious and resourceful. You're going to-" Out loud, it declares, "Slytherin!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.

Syna Hyslop
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "Ah, right then. You'd be best placed with those who value knowledge and wit. I'll put you in-" Out loud, it declares, "Ravenclaw!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.

Frida Lestrange
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "Interesting... you'll thrive in a house that is ambitious and resourceful. You're going to-" Out loud, it declares, "Slytherin!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.

  

[Charity Lestrange]

**fingers crossed that it's not Ravenclaw**

“Lestrange, Charity!,” the deputy headmaster, a fairly tall and stocky man with silvery hair, called out -- and Charity took a deep break to calm her nerves. This was it -- the moment she had been waiting for since she had first displayed signs of magic as a young girl, and it was with nervous anticipation that she slowly began walking up to the front of the line, her heartbeat thudding in her chest as she attempted to avoid the curious gazes of her classmates. Until she was certain of who to avoid, she couldn’t trust them -- not yet.

After seating herself lightly upon the stool that had been provided, Charity allowed the frayed Sorting Hat to be placed over her head, and before she knew it, her vision was obscured by darkness and a little voice whispered into her ear that made her jump a little in surprise. She had heard a lot of things about the Sorting Hat from her sisters, but they had never informed her that it could talk!

Your professor asks for a volunteer on a particularly useful (and entirely harmless) charm. What do you do?

It depends, Charity thought, answering the hat’s first question. I would much rather prefer to sit and observe and practice on my own, but if no one seems to be forthcoming (and I’m positive I won’t make a fool of myself), I’d volunteer. Easy enough, so far.

You are assigned to write an essay on your favorite memory in order for your professor to get a better idea of what you're like — what would you write?

At the hat’s second question, Charity chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. While her family may not be doused in riches or noted for their accomplishments, her parents ensured that her and her siblings’ childhoods were not unhappy ones, and she did have plenty of happy memories involving her sisters, but there was not a particular memory that clearly stood out in her mind that was worth acknowledging. After a moment, however, she felt that she had dawdled too long, and she answered, I suppose my fondest memory is of when I first showed signs of magic. I made a red rose bloom in winter, and thus began my interest in all things botanical.

Again, Charity bit her lip in thought as she pondered the hat’s third question. She wondered how many more questions she would be made to answer. It wasn’t that she found them irksome -- indeed, she actually found them quite interesting, and would have elaborated on her answers if she wasn’t so eager to be sorted! -- but the faster she was sorted, the more relieved and happy she would be. Well…, she thought, unsure of how to respond. A part of her wanted to reply that the poor student would most likely be caught and punished in the end, but instead, she opted for, I wouldn’t tell on them. If I am feeling courageous enough, I may approach them and inform them that I had witnessed their actions, which I think would make him or her be more cautious in their stealing pursuits or perhaps even put a stop to it altogether. If it should come to it, I would share my own vials of Salamander Blood because they cannot help that they’re unable to afford their own supplies.

An odd magical artifact suddenly appears in the middle of your common room. A prefect tells everyone to get to their dorm rooms immediately and then leaves to fetch the head of house. While your housemates comply, what do you do?

Getting the impression that perhaps she had rambled a bit on her last question, Charity felt her cheeks grow warm, but she didn’t have time to compose herself before the hat asked the fourth (and thankfully) and final question, which she was able to answer with ease. I would stay out of the way. Not because I’m concerned by the odd contraption in the room -- I’d be very curious about it -- but because the Prefects have enough to worry about, and I do not wish to add to their workload.

  

[Josephine Fontaine]

For months, Josephine had worried and worried about what house she would be in. She honestly had no idea. Her family was not sorted into one specific house. They had told her not to worry about what house she was put in, and so she hadn't. Until now, that is.

She watched person after person go up and take a seat on the stool, then get sorted into their respective houses. Her name was Josephine Fontaine, which wasn't too far down the alphabet, so it wouldn't be long until she was in their place, being sorted. After what seemed like forever, she heard someone call her up to the stool. Making sure to seem outwardly confident, Josephine walked up to the podium and sat herself down on the stool, ready for whatever happened next. Almost instantly, a voice was heard from inside the hat.

Your professor asks for a volunteer on a particularly useful (and entirely harmless) charm. What do you do?

Josephine looked up at the inside of the hat's brim in thought. She had always been shy and hesitant to do things in front of people. Even though she knew the material inside and out, since she had read some of her textbooks over the summer, she would probably wait until someone else had done it and then follow. However, she supposed if no one raised their hands to volunteer, maybe she could muster up the courage to try it. She would hate all the attention on her, but she knew it would have to happen sometime.

You are assigned to write an essay on your favorite memory in order for your professor to get a better idea of what you're like — what would you write?

At this second question, Josephine looked down at the floor mindlessly. She loved her family with all her heart and had so many happy memories with them, especially with her father. All she ever wanted was for him to notice her and be as proud of her as he was of her other siblings. Since his passing, recalling memories of him and her mother had been painful for her, but she knew the best memories lay buried deep in her mind.

Her best memory would, she thought, have been when she displayed her first act of magic at the age of eight years old, and that began her interest in magic. She and her family were on holiday and were strolling along a beautiful lake. An adorable dog was standing nearby but didn't seem to notice them. She had felt a connection to the dog almost right away. Since she loved animals, Josephine had been so desperate to for the dog to trot up to her and let her pet him, but he hadn't moved. Suddenly, a little pebble a few meters away from the dog had risen up and flew through the air, landing next to the dog. To her joy, the dog turned around in surprise and saw her.

Her mother had scolded her, for she could have harmed the anima (later she praised her, realising she had performed her first act of magic). Her father, instead of chiding her for her behaviour, had smiled and said, "Well done, Josephine." His eyes twinkled as he took her hand in his and they walked on together, her smile so big it could have reached her ears. It had felt so good to be praised by the person she loved so much, and she wished she could stay in that moment forever.

Overall, she felt feelings were more important to express in writing. Details were important, as well. She loved to write and always spent longer than she should on it, preferring to make sure she got all of the details she needed in to her piece of writing.

A fellow first year has been having difficulty in affording all of his potion supplies. You happen to see him stealing a rather wealthy student's vial of salamander blood — of which she had several of. She likely won't even notice it missing. What do you do?

"I think that if I was in that situation, I wouldn't do anything. Perhaps I would speak to him about stealing and how it is wrong, but then leave it be. Stealing is wrong, but tattle-taling doesn't help it at all." Josephine replied immediately. That question was easy!

An odd magical artifact suddenly appears in the middle of your common room. A prefect tells everyone to get to their dorm rooms immediately and then leaves to fetch the head of house. While your housemates comply, what do you do?

Josephine smiled. It was an obvious answer. "Nothing, obviously. I know prefects will have had more experience and are much wiser than me, so of course I would follow their instructions. If I didn't abide by their rules, I could be punished or find myself in danger! Prefects are here for a reason and I know I will do what they say."

There was silence inside the hat, no more questions being asked. Her heart beat fast in her chest, so loud the whole school could probably hear it. This was it. In a moment she would be sorted into the house she would be in for the next seven years of her schooling.

  

[The Sorting Hat]

Charity Lestrange
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "Hm... better be where those of loyalty and hard work are appreciated. For you, it'll be-" Out loud, it declares, "Hufflepuff!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.

Josephine Fontaine
The Sorting Hat responds inside your head with, "I believe that you'll do very well where chivalry and bravery are justly rewarded. Better be-" Out loud, it declares, "Gryffindor!" Amid cheers, it wishes you the best of luck and sends you off to your new house's table.