The Sorting Ceremony

Eddrick watched the raggedy hat on the stool. He was prepared for McGonagall to start reading names off of the list. What he was not prepared for was the hat splitting open at the seam and beginning to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge based on what you see; I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, your top hats sleek and tall, for I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, and I can cap them all. There's nothing hidden in your head. The sorting hat can't see, so try me on, and I will tell you where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, where the brave dwell at heart, with their daring, nerve, and chivalry. Set the Gryffindors apart. You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal; those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil; or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've got a ready mind, where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind; or perhaps in Slytherin, where you'll make your real friends; those cunning folks use any means 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 a thinking cap!"

The great hall erupted in applause. Edrick clapped along through his shock at the singing hat. He’d read ‘Hogwarts a History’ and it hadn’t mentioned having a hat serenade him as soon as he got in the castle. Professor Mcgonagall finally unrolled the parchment and began to read names off of it. The students' names would be called, and they would go up to sit on the stool. They would put the hat over their heads, and it would shout out a house. Sometimes it shouted very quickly; other times it took a bit. Eddrick didn’t pay a lot of attention to what house people got sorted into; he was busy thinking. He knew that Gryfendor was the most popular one at the moment; it had a lot of hype because Dumbledore was in it. But the more he thought, the more he realized that he really wanted to be in Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw was for the intelligent, and he’d much rather be smart than brave. One kid that took the hat a while to sort walked off still wearing the hat; he’d ended up in Gryffindor. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Mcgonigal call out, “Hobbes Amy.” Amy gave his hand a quick squeeze before running up to the stool and taking her seat. Eddrick paid close attention as the hat was placed on her head. He was very interested in which house she’d be sorted into. The hat sat atop her head for a while. It seemed to be considering things very carefully. Eventually, it cried out, “RAVENCLAW!” The Ravenclaw table erupted into cheers as she rushed over to join them. Edrick could tell from here that she’d started chatting excitedly as soon as the table was within earshot of her. One of the prefects had to tell her to be quiet and watch the sorting.

Cho also ended up in Ravenclaw, so Edd officially had that as his house of choice. Forget the other three houses; Ravenclaw was for the smart and all the cute girls, apparently. Soon enough, Mcgonigal called out, “Lought Eddrick.” His nerves erupted in him so suddenly that he just stood for a second before he realized he was supposed to be walking. He was met with light laughter when he finally snapped out of it and made his way to the stool. He placed the hat on his head, and it dipped down below his eyes, blackening his vision. He was surprised when a voice in his ear spoke to him, “Hmmmm, interesting. Clever boy, for sure. Wit and smarts are plenty. And an odd yearning for Ravenclaw. I suspect you have less than admirable reasons for wanting that house. I sense bravery, but not much. Far too held up on worries. Loyalty is in here, for sure. Hmmmmm. I wonder where you’d best fit.” Edd thought, Please be Ravenclaw, please be Ravenclaw. The sorting hat chuckled, “Ah, I see. Desire is strong in you; that’s what really drives you. Desire for others, desire for power. You could be a Ravenclaw, but I’m not sure that it’d be the best fit. I remember your father; he made an excellent Gryffindor. As have Loughts in years past. Although perhaps Slytherin would suit you nicely, Above all, I see a desire for magic, magic, and power. You would likely find similar minds.” Ravenclaw Ravenclaw Ravenclaw. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt. You’d do fine enough in Ravenclaw. And I can see you hold no desire at all for any of the three other houses. It’s curious; I don’t often see someone who could fit nicely into any house but is so one-track-minded. Oh well.” The hat gave a small chuckle before shouting out to the entire room, “RAVENCLAW!” Eddrick pulled the hat off with a smile. Had the hat actually just let him pick Ravenclaw? Was that really how it worked? It's said he held a desire for magic and power above all else. He supposed that was sort of true. Sure, he wanted magic, and who doesn't like power? But they weren’t his greatest desires. What could that hat possibly know? He quickly made his way to the Ravenclaw table and sat down between Amy and Cho, who had saved him a seat. He received congratulations from his fellow Ravenclaws but quickly turned his attention to the sorting as he heard, “Lought Lillian.”

His sister strolled up to the stool in her usual, more calm manner and placed the hat on her head. It only took a second before it shouted out, “GRYFFINDOR!” And she went off to join them. Edd found this a little surprising. It had taken the hat a few minutes to finally sort him, but she’d been sorted almost instantly. He figured that she must’ve really wanted Gryffindor, and the hat hadn’t bothered to argue with her. Edd began chatting with Amy and Cho quietly. They only paused when McGonigal called out, “Potter Harry.” The entire hall went silent as the boy with disheveled hair walked up to the stool. Edrick was able to instantly recognize him from Diagon Alley. This was really Harry Potter? He looked so bewildered, like he didn’t know what was going on at all. Surely Harry Potter, of all people, should be well prepared for the wizarding world. Eddrick had, of course, heard stories about The Boy Who Lived. Everyone in the wizarding world knew of Harry Potter. His mom had stayed in contact with many friends in the wizarding world after his father's ****, and Edrick was able to remember several wizards and witches packed into his home to celebrate. The sorting hat took its time with Harry. Edd figured that the most famous wizard boy in the world would be a tough sort. He didn’t know why, but he hoped that Harry would end up in Ravenclaw. He realized it was a bit silly to hold this boy so highly, but he’d spent the past eleven years hearing the story and couldn’t help but have a bit of amazement in his heart for the boy. The hat eventually shouted out, “GRYFFINDOR!” A few Ravenclaws shared Edrick's light disappointment, but Edd quickly got over it. It really didn’t matter in the long run. The Gryfendor table erupted in the loudest cheer of the night. A pair of red-haired twins were shouting, “WE GOT POTTER, WE GOT POTTER!” amidst the cries of celebration.

Once the sorting had finished with the remainder of students still waiting in line, Professor Dumbledor stood and addressed the room, “Before we dig in, I would like to say a few words. And they are nitwit, blubber, and oddment.” He then sat back down, and a few students laughed, Edd and Amy included. Food of all kinds appeared on the golden dishes in front of the students. Edd made a plate and began eating. As he did, he felt Amy rest a hand on his thigh. She didn’t say anything, but Edd saw her give him a light wink and smirk before continuing her conversation with another Ravenclaw first-year named Padma Patil. She was a darker-skinned and very pretty girl with dark hair. Edd counted his lucky stars at being sorted into a house with so many cuties in it. Ravenclaw really was the best house. Amy spent the entire feast sliding her hand up and down his thigh, bringing it almost to his crotch before sliding it back down. This light teasing was making Edd very excited for when the two of them could find some time alone. She seemed keen to honor her promise about spending some time together tonight in the best way.