The Sorting Hat

You stand in a line in the Great Hall with a couple dozen other first years after making the perilous journey across the Great Lake. Professor McGonagall, headmistress of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sits above you at the centre of the High Table, looking very stern but giving a small smile at the new students as the hall falls to silence.

A very tiny wizard with a shock of white hair, dressed in dark green robes, comes forward with the dirtiest, most threadbare wizard’s hat you’ve ever seen. He places it on a three-legged stool beneath the High Table, and the hat gives a little shudder before, to your surprise, it begins to speak:

I am the famous Sorting Hat,
I can feel the sense of dread
When children sit before me
And I get placed upon their head.

Will you be brave Gryffindor?
Or loyal Hufflepuff?
You could be cunning Slytherin,
Ravenclaw, if clever enough.

But there’s no need to fear
As I’ll illustrate in verse,
I don’t pick willy nilly,
So let us first converse.

I am a most curious cap
Insight of great renown,
Make sure to answer honestly,
As I sit upon your crown.

The students sitting at the four tables applaud uproariously as the Sorting Hat gives a slight bow and then falls still. One by one, the first years are called forward, some trembling, others assured of their fate. For some the hat takes its time, deliberating silently, the entire hall frozen in anticipation. For others the hat immediately cries out, "Gryffindor!" "Hufflepuff!" "Sytherin!" or "Ravenclaw!" Each respective House leaps to their feet to cheer and applaud as they welcome their new House Member to the fold.

You wonder how the Hat decides until your name is called and you step forward. When the Hat is placed on your head there’s a sort of silent conversation that seems to take no time at all, but one thing is for sure… the Sorting Hat is very curious about you.

The Sorting Hat’s Questions:

What is your name?

Who are your parents? Siblings?

Where did you grow up?

What is your wand made out of?

Which class are you most looking forward to at Hogwarts?

What do you fear most?

You learn one of your classmates has gone into the Forbidden Forest and gotten into danger, what do you do?

Which tarot card from the Major Arcana do you think best represents you?

Which House do you think you belong in?

What House do you hope not to get sorted into?

What is your name?

Ava Richardson

Who are your parents? Siblings?

My parents are Marcus and Alicia Richardson. My father works for the Ministry in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but he's really just sort of a paper-pusher, and my mother is an artist. Her paintings of nature and magical beasts are highly sought-after. My brother, Angus, he's a third-year. Hufflepuff. I guess we get along okay, but he's kind of dull. Not much imagination. Mum and Dad always talk about what a hard worker he is. I think it's just because he has to work harder than most just to keep up. My little sister Angela is two years younger than me. She's... well, how do you describe Angela? She loves EVERYONE. Never met someone she couldn't be friends with. Yes, we're all separated by two years. Almost exactly. Our birthdays are all in November, even.

Where did you grow up?

London. That place is a cesspool. Muggles everywhere. I mean, they're fine and all, it's not like I hate them, or think we should be ruling them. I'm not... well, you know. I would never be -- would never have been -- a follower of Vol... ugh. You-Know-Who. Yuck. But, they're kind of sad creatures, don't you think? Muggles? Not knowing how wonderful magic is? I'd rather not have to deal with them.

What is your wand made out of?

Alder! Unicorn hair core, 14.5" long, and hard flexibility. I hear that unicorn hair doesn't make the strongest core, but alder is good for advanced magic! It's going to be a wonderful wand.

Which class are you most looking forward to at Hogwarts?

Transfiguration! Can you imagine, changing one thing into something else? I've heard it's super hard, and super dangerous, but that's what makes it so great -- and powerful too, I'll wager. I can't wait to learn the real spells... I've been reading all about them, every chance I get. And charms too, I guess. There's a lot of really useful stuff in that class, and if you're clever enough -- which I am! -- I bet you can find some new ways to accomplish some pretty interesting things. And Ancient Runes! I can't believe I forgot Ancient Runes. I love puzzles and finding out lost secrets and... *sigh* there are just so many. Do I have to choose just one?

What do you fear most?

Oh my goodness, looking dumb. Can you imagine, getting called on in class and not knowing the answer? Or worse -- giving the WRONG answer? Ugh! I'd just want to crawl under my bed and die. That will NOT happen to me, I guarantee it. I'm going to study harder than anyone. I'm not going to just shuffle papers around in the Ministry or paint pictures when I'm done here. I'm going to be an Auror. Or a magical researcher. Just anything not ordinary and boring.

You learn one of your classmates has gone into the Forbidden Forest and gotten into danger, what do you do?

Well... tell a teacher, of course. You can't honestly think I'd go after them, would you? I mean, maybe if it was my very best friend, but... no way. I'm not getting detention or losing House Points for just anybody.

Which tarot card from the Major Arcana do you think best represents you?

The Chariot. Control and determination sounds great to me.Which House do you think you belong in?

Ravenclaw. I want to learn everything I can, and I want to do something with all that knowledge, something that'll make people remember me. What House do you hope not to get sorted into?

Ugh, please not Hufflepuff. Not with my brother. There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuffs, I'm sure there are lots of lovely people in Hufflepuff, but... I want to be unique. I want to be different than the rest of my family. I want to be... well, special. Everyone's so proud of my brother for being this... 'pillar of strength' my mom calls him. And everyone loves my sister, she's so cheerful and pleasant to everyone. I'm... well, if I have to admit it... kind of forgotten. I hate it.

I am NOT going to start crying.

I refuse!

Ugh! I mean it, no crying, Ava!

What is your name?

Caroline Scrivener

Who are your parents? Siblings?

My parents are called William and Charlotte Scrivener. We are an old wizarding family. I don’t think my parents actually have to work, at least they always tell me we have a huge inherited fortune, but my dad has a job at the Ministry. I don’t know what exactly he does there. He says, he’s not allowed to tell anyone. Apparently, he got into a bit of trouble recently because people say he was on You-know-who’s side, whatever that means exactly, but I don’t think they could ever prove anything so he was allowed to keep his job. My mother doesn’t work. She has enough to do in our mansion, making sure the house elves and staff do what they’re supposed to.
I have an older sister, Mallory. She’s a fourth year Slytherin and definitely my parents’ favorite. Unlike me, she’s never had problems with magic, even before she came to Hogwarts. And she always tells me those cool stories of the friends she made here and how there’s always exciting things happening here! I wish I could be as cool as her.

Where did you grow up?

My parents have a huge mansion close to the sea. I’ve barely ever left it as a child. I think my parents were a bit embarrassed to show me around because they used to think I was a squib. It took me a long time to show some magic ability. It must have been a huge relief to them when it turned out I had actually inherited some of their ability. Although, I have to admit, I’m still a bit of a magical weakling (at least, that’s what my dad says)…

What is your wand made out of?

That’s a good question. I think they said it’s Chestnut, which means I’m supposed to be good with animals. Well, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing those magical creatures they have here at Hogwarts. Oh, and the core is Veela hair. My dad says that’s not good because it’ll make the wand "temperamental", whatever that means, but I think it sounds beautiful.

Which class are you most looking forward to at Hogwarts?

I can’t wait for Care of Magical Creatures! I love all kinds of animals and I want to learn more and see and befriend all those amazing creatures! Divination will probably also be neat. I’ve read up on it a lot in the summer and I think I already understand the basics of it. I hope I’ll do well and impress my teacher.
I am a bit scared of Transformation and Defense against the Dark Arts, though. Those seem really difficult and I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of my classmates.

What do you fear most?

That maybe I am a squib after all. I mean, I don’t think that’s how it works. I have used some magic before, not really spells but, you know, just the things all children do sometimes. But what if I, you know, run out of magic? I’m not a very strong witch but at least I am one. There would be nothing worse than being expelled from Hogwarts for being born defective.

You learn one of your classmates has gone into the Forbidden Forest and gotten into danger, what do you do?

Shoot, I’ve heard of that forest. My dad says there’s dangerous monsters living there. I would probably call a teacher. But what if that would take too long? And my friend could get into trouble for being in the forest, even though it’s forbidden!
No, I think I would have to go after them myself.
Oh, but don’t tell the teachers I said that. I don’t want them to think I’m a troublemaker.

Which tarot card from the Major Arcana do you think best represents you?

I think the Hierophant sounds like it would suit me. My father always made sure to teach me traditional values and to conform to what is expected of the youngest daughter of a great wizarding family like ours.

Which House do you think you belong in?

I want to be a Slytherin like my sister and my parents. That would make them proud!

What House do you hope not to get sorted into?

Anything but Gryffindor!
Seriously, my sister told me all about Gryffindors and they seem to be pretty dumb. Always trying to look good in front of the headmaster for house points, just to make us Slytherins look bad. Seriously, I think I would cry if I got sorted into Gryffindor.