Mackenzie nervously walked up and sat on the stool, as the hat slid down on her head he heard a booming voice in her ears "Ahh! A Jones, I was beginning to wonder when I'd have another one of you to sit here again." As the voice spoke it sent shivers down the small girls spine, what would happen to her, if she didn't get Gryffindor would her parents be upset?

"Oh yes, I can see the desire to be in the "family house" but you have other qualities here, you could be sorted in any of our four houses" the hat debated itself for a moment, during which Mackenzie thought she would faint just waiting on the answer, finally when Mackenzie least expected it the hat shouted out "Very well then, GRYFFINDOR!!"

Ellura had made it.

Through a wall...riding a train...taking carriages up the hill.

And now she was actually within the castle's walls and officially a student of Hogwarts. With a brief detour to another room off to the side to await being called into the Great Hall to be sorted into her house. Her nerves had returned that very moment, making themselves known full blown when her name was being called for her turn. Ellura made her way slowly to the stool as directed and awaited the placing of the Sorting Hat upon her head as she bit the inside of her cheek.

"Avid reader like a Ravenclaw...friendly and loyal like a Hufflepuff. But something more..."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

With her newly-sorted house proclaimed she waited with a relieved smile before heading down to the proper table. The house of Godric Gryffindor was now her home.

Interesting how they do it here at Hogwarts. At Durmstrang, there were no houses seperating the students. Wade observed the hat that sat on the stool. He saw how the younger first years surrounding him took that seat one by one alphabetically being sorted to their new house, until his name was called, "Wade Elisabeth-Potter!"

Oh, yeah that's you Wade. Walking towards the stool to sit whilst the hat was placed on his head.

"Well there, an Elisabeth-Potter.. ah yes, I remember your parents. So they made you the first.." Wade blinked at the voice. .Am I going crazy? Wade thought.

"No, no, not just yet." Yet? Wade couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling the came from knowing his own thoughts were being read.

"Relax.. you won't be here for long.. Now where to put you.." Wade thought of that younger girl who was insisting on Gryffindor, though he didn't know much of them other than their red attire and how 'cool' they supposedly were. "Gryffindor?! No, no, no, Mr. Elisabeth-Potter, while you are no coward, you certainly don't share the rest of their qualities as strongly."

Wade just shrugged, he was just going to let the hat work it's magic. The sooner he could stop hearing voices, the better.. Not that the hat cared.

"My, my, how little you know of Hogwarts... Well, you certainly gotten plenty of sleep last term....I see why you're here now. Ahhh and your goals don't seem uncertain.. definitely not for Slytherin.."

..Okay? So what does that leave? Wade looked up at the hat.

"Like father, like son..." Then it donned on Wade as he remembered the only house left. He was going to be in-

"Hufflepuff!"

Huffle..puff.. Wade was aghast as the hat left his head while the applause commenced. His own parents were in that house! ...Maybe it won't be as bad as the name sounds.. Yeah, sure, we'll go with that. Wade then calmly stood off the stool to join his house table.

Daphne Hughes looked around at the first years and other students who were about to be called to death sorted and she could feel the tension in the air. It didn't really help that she was scared of everything and once the sorting hat called her name, her eyes widened and she looked around hoping someone else would go up there.

A first year that she had sat with on the train pushed her and she mentally had a fit as she slowly walked towards the talking hat. Sure she had went to Salem, but a talking hat? Really? What if it swallowed her head or something? Then again it's mouth was on the inside but still. That thing looked dangerous.

The blonde took a deep breath in and out and took a seat upon the stool, flinching once the hat was placed upon her perfectly curled hair.

"Hmm....another one of the Hughes family I see..." Daphne rolled her eyes at this and hoped that no one would compare her to her weirdo brother, Landon.

"Though much more cowardly than him..." She pouted as the hat said this and motioned her hand as to have the hat continue. She just wanted to know which house she was going to be in and get this silly hat off of hers.

"But you know what you want...and don't want, other than your brother." The hat laughed. Daphne sat there, tapping her foot awaiting the answer and the hat sighed. "Alright, alright. You do have the courage to stand up for what you want and your loyalty is...quite outstanding. Though you and your brother certainly have similarities....so it might as well be....

GRYFFINDOR!"

Daphne flinched as the hat yelled and she took the hat off as quickly as possible, walking down the steps to take a seat at the Gryffindor table. Was she excited? Not really. She was angry that she had to be compared to Landon the entire time. He would laugh once he found out that she would be in the same house as he was anyways.

>_____<

Christmas Goldman had once chance to try on the famous Sorting hat of Hogwarts and she looked about at all the other first years that were waiting to be sorted and sighed she may as well get this over with

Hmm plenty of brains and courage, a slight disregard for rules but where to put you?

Better Be GRYFFINDOR Christmas was glad and took the hat off and walked down the steps to join her fellow gryffindors at the table

Zack saw as all the firsties move one by one to the stool to take their turns for the sorting and the unmerciful hat giving them orders to where they would belong for the rest of their years at Hogwarts. Why can't everyone decide where they would like to go instead of a hat deciding it?

He couldn't make sense of the whole process anyway so he just sat there looking at the scared faces who had feelings like they were about to die as soon as the hat announces their house. But some of the students looked very happy and they joined their friends and brothers and sisters as they were all in the same house.

He then remember the time when he had been sorted into Gryffindor and his older sister smiling at him from the Gryffindor table as he got up and ran towards her to sit next to her. Oh, those good old days. Anyways after the first year his sister graduated and he was left alone but somehow he wasn't sad that his sister won't be around him anymore he was actually glad she won't be around all the time.

He came back to reality as he heard the student's applause again as another student got sorted into Gryffindor. He had the feeling that a lot of students were getting sorted into gryffindor as he didn't hear any other house name being called for a long time or was it just him that he could only remember the once who got sorted in to gryffindor. GRYFFINDOR OH YEAH GRYFFINDOR ROCKS! :p

Holy mother of mine. Seth thought to himself as he awed The Great Hall, followed by the floating candles. He didn't expect this much fanciness. Yet again it was Hogwarts, after all.

His hands began to get clamy, nerves boiling up inside of him. He wanted to so desperately be in the house, his father wanted.

"Seth Ubel Aguirre!" The Sorting Hat, called out.

Seth clutched his fists and slowly walked towards the hat. His heart was beating like a drum, while his feet felt like tangling up with each other. As he slowly and gently sat on the stool, to await his future.

"Hello.Hello!"

Seth raised his eyebrow and made a face, symbolizing how weird he found the hat.

"Hmmm. I sense a fiery bravery, hidden within."

Seth's eyes widened "Ohhh no you don't..." he mumbled.

"He seeks knowledge and a thirst for power. And the way he'll reach it, is through acts of valor. So I say...."

Seth began trembling with nerves.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat, made its decision.

"Gry-....Gryf-" Seth's eyes rolled to the back of his head, before the room began spinning. His body laid on the ground.

He had fainted!

After a couple of seconds to a minute, he gained consciousness and stood up once again.

Mathilda watched carefully as students successively bore a talking hat on their heads. What a bizarre instrument, she thought.

Within a few minutes of observation, she concluded that the hat would be the one deciding which house she would be joining... But how? Were decision-making hats frequent in the wizarding world? Would this sort of activity be a daily occurence?

When her turn finally came, Mathilda took slow, steady steps towards the hat. The young girl was apprehensive, not knowing exactly how to approach the hat. Finally, she sat on the stool, and the hat was placed upon her head.

Mathilda had no preference as to which house she would be sorted in. After all, she wasn't familiar with any of them.

The hat seemed to know an awful lot about the young girl: "Ah, you're not very familiar with magic, are you?" it said. "No, you're a muggle. But that won't stop you from thriving at Hogwarts."

Those last words pleased Mathilda. She smiled. She would do everything to prove the sorting hat right on that point.

"Yes, there's only one house for you", murmured the sorting hat, as if confirming his own suspicions. "RAVENCLAW!" he finally shouted.

Relieved, Mathilda left the stool and headed towards her house's table.

Peyton walked along the Great Hall with a starry look in her eyes. This. Is. Awesome. It was better than her grandmother's manor and that was saying something since the lady practically lived in a palace. But, jeezus, this was...

Ooooh!

The stool! Was it her turn yet? If it wasn't for the large table of professors up ahead, Peyton would have shoved everyone aside and hopped on that wooden stool, but no. She had to wait for her turn. She then heard a familiar name and peeked around a student in front of her.

Oh! Seth was up. Well, this was going to be interesting. She crossed her arms on her chest as she waited for him to be sorted. And sorted he was...to Gryffindor. She should have expected that since she knew several lions in his family. Oh boo.

O__O

Ergh. He fainted. Peyton's eyeballs went from side to side in their socket. This was weird. She'd never heard of anyone fainting during Sorting. Was Gryffindor THAT bad? Oh, WAIT! Seth was getting up. Good. Now maybe she could go....

Then she hear it. Her entire name: Peyton Xiomara Baltazar. *smirk, smirk*

She was off faster than a Golden Snitch and skipped up toward the stool, where she flopped her little bum on and bounced out of pure excitement. Okay, Hat, do your magic!

"Stop bouncing, will you?" The Sorting Hat grunted. Peyton huffed in return, but nonetheless complied with a roll of her eyes. Pffft. "A bouncing spirit we have here --literally-- and a cunning mind, yet you lack fear, but your ambition is what overrules any of that. I know where you belong..."

Uhuh, uhuh, uhuh. Speak, you rusty old hat! Thought the red head.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Eeeeeeeeeeeep! She knew it! She sooo tooootally knew iiiit! "Thank you, Mr. Hat." And with that she bounced off the stool and walked to what would be her house table for her entire stay at Hogwarts.

She couldn't wait to Owl her daddy. Eeep!

Melody smile was wide. The biggest one she ever had. This was so totally real. She bounced back and forth from one foot to the other foot. This was her moment to shine and she couldn't stand still for one second. After all the years of practice of standing still it was time to let lose some. She was sure she probably looked like she was dancing in place, or had to pee.

"Melody Sparks." That was her. Finally it was her turn! Melody grin widen even more as she walked up to the stool and sat down. This was... well there was no word to explain how fantastic this was... even the word fantastic couldn't even cover this moment. The sorting hat was placed upon her head.

"Ah.. a Sparks eh?" Melody blinked some Hey! What is that suppose to mean? Melody questioned the hat in her thoughts, I highly think that was called for.

"Yes, most diffidently a Sparks. Only your closet friends know your deepest fears, you are cunning and there is a small spark hidden deep inside of you that will make you great... yes indeed the is no question where to put you... and I know you are very confident in where you think you belong...." the hat said.

Get on with it!

"Very well..."

SLYTHERIN!

Melody jumped up and took the hat off and skipped over to her table. She KNEW it. As far back as she could remember there was never a family member that wasn't a Slytherin. Her parents would be proud.

Xavier watched as students were called up alphabetically, he wasn't looking forward to this. It was all simpler at Durmstrang. They were all grouped as one, not into fourths. For what had seemed like hours, he sat there, his name was almost at the end of the alphabet anyway. Finally as he was getting really impatient they called his name. "Xavier Lancaster"

As Xavier walked up to the stool and sat down, the dirty hat was immediately placed on his head. "Ah, a Lancaster your the first I've seen in generations" What so this hat knew family history? Even though, most of his family went else where for school.

"Yes I remember which names pass through this school, yours is a blur though"

Xavier just silently sat there.

"Now where to place you hmm" Xavier knew nothing about these houses except small qualities they each possessed. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw came to his mind. "You are an intelligent young man I can sense and brave but you don't have many of the other qualities of these houses"

"You certainly are no hufflepuff, so that only leaves one house left. Self preservation, cunning, ambitious, and arrogant maybe the reason you were sent to this school"

"Slytherin!"

Finally Xavier got up and walked to his house table, not that he knew anyone or was in the mood for pointless chit chat tonight.

Ivy grinned nervously, jumping up when her name was called. It wasn't that she hadn't expected it, it was just that she was lost in her own little world, not listening to the names being called and other students being sorted. The little girl shuffled up to the seat and bit her lip as she felt the hat being placed on her head. She didn't understand why she had butterflies, as she didn't mind where she was put. After all, all the houses were awesome in their own ways.

"Tanberry," the hat said thoughtfully. "That's a new one. Muggle-born, I suppose?" Ivy nodded at this, too scared to even think, let alone speak. "Well, this one's pretty easy. Though you do have quite a few other qualities."

She listened to this attentively, occasionally wondering what the strange hat was going on about. "Loyal, most definitely, yet no other Gryffindor qualities. We can ruleout Slytherin straight away. Not quite a Ravenclaw. That means you must be...

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Sorting Hat announced.

Ivy hurried down to the table,glad it was all over now. Hufflepuff! That was the house that the nice prefect girl she'd met on the train was in! The house of the good, sweet people! D'aww, thanks Sorting Hat!

Susan was starting to get nervous watching the first years ahead of her getting sorted. What if I don't get sorted into Hufflepuff? Then she wouldn't be in the same house as Min

Oh no, her name was called...what was she suppose to do now? Come on stupid go to sit on the stool she chided herself. Ok deep breaths, you'll be fine, Min said all.....just then her feet decided to trip over the other and she fell right before she got to the stool. Her clumsyness always came at the worst times...she got up and sat on the stool blushing.

"Well, well, who do we have here? Susan Bones...I remember your mother, sorted into Gryffindor." Susan was chanting "Please put me in Hufflepuff' over and over in her head as the hat talked to her. "You don't want to be in Gryffindor like your mother..you would fit in and do well in Gryffindor" Susan's eyes were squeezed shut tightly still chanting "Hufflepuff...please Hufflepuff" "Well if you are so set on it....HUFFLEPUFF!! shouted the hat.

Susan smiled the biggest smile ever...Thank you she replied to the hat. Then went over to join her cousin and other Hufflepuffs. She couldn't be happier

So this was the Great Hall, and that was the Sorting Hat, and... oh, HAAIIII MUM, and here was the line. Marcus Orion Branxton bopped along from his spot in the line, casually watching those ahead of him and watching those around him and watching... well, he was watching everyone. He was busy up in his brain pan, so when it finally came time to sit on the stool, it was almost like he hadn't waited at all.

Although he hadn't minded the wait much.

He hopped on the stool and tugged the hat down over his eyes. "Branxton? You're late, aren't you? Not as late as that sister of yours, but I was expecting you two years back."

Mo shrugged, apologized, and proceeded to mentally regale the hat with everything that had happened to him over the past two years. For some reason, the hat listened patiently, and when Mo paused for breath at around Christmas of last year, the hat burst in, "Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw."

Oh? "Why?" Mo put his hands on the brim to keep the hat from being taken from him.

"Because you thought to ask why? Because they'll accept your wanderings with open arms. Just... go on with you. The hat wouldn't say anything else after that.

James stepped forward and walked towards the hat as another first year, about half his size jumped off the stool and ran towards a table, a smile as bright as the candles on his face – enthusiastic first years. He took his seat on the wooden stool that sat so many before him and blinked when the rim of the old hat blocked his vision.

It really did reek in here.

“You’re a snarky one, aren’t you?” The hat suddenly replied, surprising James as he jumped slightly in surprise

“Yeah, well, as you can see – or maybe not since you’re a hat – I’m a little too old to be sorted.” The blonde 15-year-old replied with a roll of his green eyes.

“Rude too.” The hat added dryly.

The boy kept silent as he raised an eyebrow at the hat’s remark. He was rude? He wasn't the one judging people into houses, was he?

Suddenly the hat called out [B]“Slytherin!”[/B] eliciting a round of applause coming from the table as the hat was finally lifted off his head.

She was so mixed in her feelings for which house she wanted to be in. Maybe she should just hope she was in the same as her mums...no dads. Yeah dads, she wanted to be a smart bright Ravenclaw. Well really she wasn't fussed as long as it wasn't Hufflepuff. She was almost positive Danny was going to be in Hufflepuff and that she couldn't bare to be put in that house!

She also knew that Auntie Cece might even claim she had no idea who Zoe was if she ended up there. But Zoe was sure she didn't want to be in Slytherin, she didn't like that idea, because she knew Auntie Cece had been in Slytherin. And her auntie didn't like Hufflepuffs much. Hmm maybe she did want to be in Hufflepuff.

No, that she was certain she did NOT want. Sighing she puffed out her cheeks as she waited for it to be her turn. Ravenclaw...yep she was going to hope she got Ravenclaw.

Finally it was her turn! Getting her small 4'5" self up onto the stool, she felt the hat being placed on her head.

Hmmm....Ravenclaw? Nooo I don't see...well you are smart I give you that. But no, I don't think that's the house. And certainly not Hufflepuff. Your auntie would be proud though! Hmmm, well I still stand by what I say. SLYTHERIN!

Her eyes widened, when the house was called out. She'd not expected that house! She wasn't evil! Well...she did enjoy teasing Danny, erm okay Daniel. Was that why she was sorted into Slytherin. She avoided looking towards the staff table in case her auntie was watching, and hopped down off the stool hurrying over to the Slytherin table.

He had never been so darn terrified in all his life! EVERYONE was watching the gaggle of first years and Daniel wasn't brave enough to have hidden himself in the middle. He was one of the stragglers who probably wouldn't have been picked out from a crowd unless someone was looking for a kid who was having one of the worst days of his life.

His blue eyes immediately fell on a hat which was perched on a stool and he had to remember what his parents had said. It was just a hat. That read his mind. And spoke to him. Oh, Merlin. Can I go home? The one thing his parents had neglected to tell him was that he had to take a boat to the castle and probably shouldn't attempt to help if someone decided to jump on him and lose their balance lest he lose his own balance and fall in too. Though admittedly, that was probably common sense.

A scan of the top table and the big people brought nothing but fear into him until his eyes settled on Leobald who'd helped him in Diagon Alley. Dan managed to give the man a somewhat forced smile, even though the terror was in his eyes because of the current circumstance he was in. What was Leobald's job in this place? He'd never said. Would he ever spend a day here feeling comfortable? Well, maybe if he didn't have to leave his dorm or bed or if he could find himself a corner to hide in. This place had a library, right?

He was pulled from his thoughts as Zoe approached the stool and with baited breath, he watched her get placed into Slytherin. Fitting. Just because he was an outwardly quiet boy, it didn't mean he didn't have a nasty internal commentary reserved just for Zoe who'd spent many a year teasing him.

When his own name was called, his breathing sped up and it felt like he was suffocating because of all of the eyes on him. He approached the stool while looking over at Leobald for some reassurance, but he should have known better. He should have been watching his feet because he fell over and landed right in front of the stool instead. Oh, Merlin. The whole school just saw me fall over. Is that a good enough reason to cry, Zoe?

Embarrassed beyond belief, Daniel stood and brushed himself off, grimaced at everyone and sat on the darned stool. He closed his eyes as the hat was placed on his head and the one sided conversation that followed was not something that he could have ever, ever been prepared for.

Now what do we have here? Well, from that little display back there, you're definitely not a Gryffindor. You're not cunning enough to be a Slytherin, nor do you value intelligence enough to be a Ravenclaw. Everything about you says Hufflepuff to me, so... Hufflepuff!

Merlin, that had been strange. Dan opened one eye to peer at the occupants of the hall only to see most of them staring back. He gulped and turned to look at Leobald again, but then scuttled off to sit at the right table and hope no one tried to engage him in conversation, especially a big person, which to him was anyone older than him.

This is embarrassing. Totally embarrassing! Why couldn't Uncle Max use his influence to get me sorted in PRIVATE? I swear everyone is watching me. And that hat. I know it's ancient and a relic and stuff, but it looks like it might smell funky.

Lice. Oh, Merlin, please let it not have lice! If it does, I'm suing the school. Seriously.

Suddenly, he froze as he heard his name being called.

RAWDON VINDICTUS.

Gulp.

Rawdon felt everyone's eyes on him as he approached the stool and he sat down. The stool creaked a little and his blue eyes looked up at the hat as it was lowered over his head.

Anything but Slytherin and lice. Just put me where I belong. Mum said - he pleaded silently as the hat came closer to his head. It barely touched his blonde hair when it announced rather loudly the house Rawdon would be sorted into.

RAVENCLAW!

He let out a sigh of relief as he scrambled off the stool and headed for the Ravenclaw table, with a few fresh thoughts on his mind.

Dad and my uncles will be pleased, but how can I tell mum that I didn't get sorted into Hufflepuff? She was convinced I'd be a Badger, just like her!

Hilda Xavier watched all the students ahead of her get "sorted". She didn't really like the sound of that, she had at first been nervous that maybe the Hat would start shouting out in a way that everyone could hear whatever he wanted to say to you. But so far it seemed like his voice could only be heard by the student he was talking to.

Then it was her turn. She slowly walked towards the chair and sat down, nervously twisting the edge of her black robe as she did so. The Hat was a little too big, easily covering her raven black hair and nearly reaching her purple eyes.

"I know where you are going to put me!" Hilda whispered that very quickly, before the Hat could say anything.

"Eh?" The Hat chuckled softly. "You guessed I would put you in Slytherin...why?"

Hilda thought back to it, "Because I always try to stay away from a crowd of people in a dark place so I can watch everyone, because I like snakes, and because my grandfather who was here too was in Slytherin." She smiled smugly as she assumed she had just thought the Hat's thoughts for it. But then she added, as if a afterthought 'But I am not a half-blood, so maybe not. But then again, haven't you ever heard of the Half Blood Prince?"

The Hat answered in an entirely amused voice, "I must admit that you have some of the traits, but Slytherin is not your true house. But you did use deductive reasoning, yes? Better be RAVENCLAW!"

Oh. Hilda thanked the Hat and walked towards the Ravenclaw table. Before her, two boys and one girl had been placed in Ravenclaw.

Rachel looked around absolutely petrified, while watching the other students get sorted.

She always hated being the center of atention, and the fact that her name was going to be called anytime soon was making her feel slightly uncomfortable.

Ok, not slightly, terribly uncomfortable.

She looked around once again, making sure no one was looking at her.

- Ok, no need to panic, no one is looking at you Rachel, now calm down or everybody is gonna think you should be at St. Mungus instead of Hogwarts - the girl whispered to herself, relaxing a little bit with her own comfort words.

RACHEL FLETCHER

- Oh god - gulped Rachel, making her body respond to her commands as she walked towards the chair and sat down, absolutely sure that at least now everybody was looking at her.

- Oh well - said a voice in the girl's head, making her jump on the chair - You have a really brilliant mind I'd say... and seems like you're just waiting to be challenged, even though you'd not want it to happen soon... hmmm... oh I see a lot of cunning as well, really interesting... and oh, why not right? You'd love to make some close friends, and you'd be a really loyal friend to them...

Rachel was astonished by the Sorting Hat voice in her head, she was trying to concentrate on it but her mind kept working to find out how come a hat could know so much about her, since herself never realized half those things.

- You're a interesting case because you have qualities of all the 4 houses, as everyone else, but they really manifest a lot on your personality, this thirsty to prove that you're not only this shy girl is quite strong but... well, yeah... better be... RAVENCLAW!

Rachel stood up as the hat was taken off her head and made her way towards the Ravenclaw table. Shaking a little bit, but smiling to see so many happy faces applauding her. Maybe she could make new friends... why not?