Chapter 13: Sorting Ceremony
"Are you cold?" Ethan shivered in the night air and turned to Hermione, who stood behind him.
She crossed her arms. "I'm not cold."
He saw through it but said nothing. Instead, Ethan positioned himself against the wind and stood in front of Hermione, shielding her from the cool gusts.
At Hagrid's beckoning, the first-year students followed the giant down a steep path to a black lake.
On the hillside across the lake stood a magnificent castle, its spires towering, its lit windows twinkling beneath the starry sky.
Hagrid pointed to a group of small boats moored on the shore and shouted, "No more than four people in each boat!"
The three of them shared a boat by themselves.
The boat sliced through the mirror-like surface of the lake and glided toward the castle.
"Duck!" Hagrid shouted as the small boat approached the cliff.
Everyone ducked and passed through the curtain of ivy covering the cliff face to reach the hidden entrance.
"We didn't actually need to duck," Ethan told his two friends once they had passed through. "Only he needs to bow his head." This earned a light laugh from them.
They followed the dark tunnel to what looked like an underground dock, stepping onto a surface paved with gravel and pebbles.
After everyone disembarked, Hagrid found a toad while inspecting the empty boat.
"Neville, your toad!" Hermione shouted.
"Trevor!" Neville was overjoyed, thanking Hagrid profusely.
No one knew where the elusive toad had been hiding, but it had suddenly appeared on the boat.
Carrying lanterns, they climbed through tunnels, across grass, and up steps until they finally arrived at a huge oak door.
"Everyone, check that all your fellow passengers have arrived."
After confirming that no one had been left behind, Hagrid raised his fist, which was as big as a casserole dish, and knocked on the door three times.
The door opened, revealing Professor McGonagall, dressed in a bright green robe.
Her expression was serious. "Thank you, Hagrid. Leave the rest to me."
She pulled the door open, revealing stone walls lined with blazing torches.
The ceiling stretched so high it seemed to vanish into darkness, and before them rose a grand marble staircase.
Professor McGonagall led them to a small chamber at the far end of the entrance hall. "First of all, welcome to Hogwarts. Next, we shall conduct the Sorting Ceremony, which will determine your House, your fellow students, your dormitory, and your companions in the common room for the next seven years."
"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
Each House had its own noble history and had produced many outstanding witches and wizards. Excellent performance in your studies would earn points for your House, while infractions would result in deductions.
At the end of the year, the House with the highest score would be awarded the House Cup, a tremendous honor. "I hope you will all bring glory to your respective Houses."
After explaining the glorious history of the four Houses and the rules of the House Cup competition, Professor McGonagall surveyed the assembled students. "The ceremony will begin before the entire school in a few minutes. I suggest you compose yourselves and ensure you look presentable."
She swept from the room, and Ethan's fellow young witches and wizards burst into excited chatter about the momentous Sorting ahead, debating which House they hoped to join.
Hermione was no exception; she chatted nervously with Ethan to keep her own anxiety at bay.
"Ah! Ghosts!" More than twenty translucent figures drifted through the wall, sending a ripple of alarm through the group.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall reappeared almost immediately, and the spirits glided through the stone and vanished from sight.
The apparition startled Ethan, but he soon found himself wondering how ghosts came into existence.
"Follow me. Single file, if you please."
Ethan fell into step behind Hermione, crossing the entrance hall and passing into the Great Hall.
The four long tables already groaned with students; the vacant places were clearly reserved for the new arrivals.
Thousands of candles floated in the air above the tables, their light dancing on gleaming gold plates and goblets.
At the head of the hall sat another long table, where Dumbledore and the rest of the staff were assembled.
"That's brilliant," Hermione breathed, leaning toward Ethan. "I wonder if they used a Levitation Charm for all those candles."
"I can't imagine how powerful a wizard would need to be to cast that spell over so many flames."
The first-years lined up with their backs to the teachers' table, facing the assembled student body.
Professor McGonagall set a four-legged stool before them and placed an old, patched, filthy, pointed wizard's hat upon it.
A broad slit suddenly opened across the brim, and the hat burst into song.
Soon, the song ended, and thunderous applause erupted. Even though Ethan thought the singing was nothing special, he still joined in.
With a round of applause, the Sorting Hat bowed its pointed top to each of the four long tables, completing its performance.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a roll of parchment. "Now, those whose names I call, come forward, put on the hat, and sit on the stool."
"Hannah Abbott!"
At the sound of her name, a little girl with rosy cheeks and two blonde braids stepped nervously out of line and placed the hat on her head.
She sat down, and after a brief pause, the hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
The students at the Hufflepuff table cheered and applauded. Hannah took off the hat, placed it on the stool, and went to join them.
As the sorting continued, Ethan figured out which house was at each long table.
Gryffindor occupied the far left table, Ravenclaw the second from the left, Hufflepuff the second from the right, and Slytherin the far right.
Hermione was so nervous she could hardly breathe. "Which house do you think I'll be sorted into?"
"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, I guess," Ethan said with a shrug. Of course he knew Hermione was one of the Gryffindor trio, but he pretended not to.
"Really?" Hermione looked as though she might be sick.
"Hermione Granger!" Professor McGonagall called out after Justin Finch-Fletchley of Hufflepuff.
"Go for it!" Ethan whispered, encouraging her.
She took a deep breath, hurried to the stool, and put on the hat.
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted after a long moment.
Hermione gave Ethan a bright smile before walking toward the cheering Gryffindor table.
Neville was called after Hermione, and he was so nervous that he tripped on the way, even forgetting to take off his hat as he ran to the Gryffindor table.
Ethan was both amused and exasperated. Neville was so forgetful.
When it was Harry Potter's turn, the entire room fell silent, and everyone's eyes fixed on him, eager to see where he would be sorted.
It was a long, long time before the Sorting Hat finally shouted, "Gryffindor!"
There weren't many people left. Ethan looked around. Only four remained.
"Ethan!"
When his name was finally called, his heart hammered in his chest. He stepped forward.
"What's his name? Ethan? What a handsome boy!" The teasing whispers from some older girls made Hermione scowl. It felt as though someone was trying to snatch away her beloved toy.
Ethan didn't care. He stepped forward, seized the Sorting Hat he despised, and lowered it onto his head.
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