"The Sorting Ceremony"
The sky above the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was bruised with gray clouds, rumbling softly like they were whispering about what was to come.
The first-years filed in behind Professor McGonagall, eyes wide, robes too new, and nerves about to explode. The long house tables were packed with older students whispering, waving, or pretending they were too cool to care.
Except Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius was leaning back like a bored villain in a painting, watching with hawk eyes. Narcissa beside him was far more elegant, twirling her spoon with mild interest. Mei was already sketching the new students on a napkin.
The Sorting Hat sat on its stool, creaky and not in the mood.
“Let’s get this over with,” it grumbled to itself.
First up: Xenophilius Lovegood.
The tall, wispy boy stumbled up to the stool, blond hair a whole event and his tie halfway on.
He placed the hat on.
“Hmm… curious mind… utterly bonkers… but brilliant. You’ll find your oddities respected in… RAVENCLAW!”
Xeno walked off cheerfully, muttering something about Nargles.
Next: Dorcas Meadowes.
She strutted up like she owned the castle already. The hat barely touched her curls before it shouted—
“SLYTHERIN!”
Dorcas smirked. “Knew it.”
Mary Macdonald.
She hesitated, then sat down. The Hat was gentler now.
“You’ve got guts, girl. Loyalty too… but that fiery heart? GRYFFINDOR!”
Severus Snape.
He kept his head down, quiet and careful. The hat took a bit longer.
“Intellect, ambition, bottled rage… but beneath it? Loyalty and grief. Oh, you’ll thrive in… SLYTHERIN.”
He quietly made his way to the Slytherin table. Lucius perked up. Narcissa hummed. Dorcas offered him a knowing look.
Then came the thunder.
“Evans, Lily.”
Every head turned.
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
Severus straightened just a bit.
The Sorting Hat gulped.
Lily strutted forward like she was born on a rodeo stage. Chin high, steps confident, hands on her hips as she plopped down like a challenge.
The Hat touched her head and immediately started sweating.
“Oh. OH no. It’s YOU. The Muggleborn from Texas. The temper. The power. The—”
“Sort me, hat.” She said sweetly.
Thunder clapped. A fork fell somewhere.
“Right. Brave. Bold. Insanely protective. Gryffindor for SURE but—wait—WAIT. There’s ambition. Logic. A Slytherin edge. And Ravenclaw curiosity—WHAT ARE YOU—???”
“I want to be where I can visit Sev.”
“...I—FINE. GRYFFINDOR. BUT—FULL ACCESS TO SLYTHERIN AND RAVENCLAW. EXCEPTIONAL. ONE-TIME RULE. MERLIN’S BEARD PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE.”
Lily yeeted the hat off like it burned her and went straight to the Gryffindor table with the biggest, cockiest grin in history.
Severus blinked. Lucius clenched his jaw. James Potter choked on his pumpkin juice.
“Who is she,” Sirius whispered in awe.
James Potter.
The hat barely got a second to speak.
“You’ve been annoying me for weeks in your thoughts. GRYFFINDOR.”
Sirius Black.
Everyone expected Slytherin. Even Sirius.
The hat paused.
“You… want out. You’re not like them. You want to forge your own way. Very well—GRYFFINDOR.”
A moment of silence. Then cheers. Sirius looked more confused than proud.
Remus Lupin.
Quiet. Tired eyes. Hands clenching his robes.
“Ah. A wounded soul. But so brave. GRYFFINDOR.”
Marlene McKinnon.
Bubbly, chaotic energy, muttering “please not Hufflepuff I’ll cry” under her breath.
“Hmm… you’re all over the place. But your loyalty runs deep. GRYFFINDOR!”
“YESSS,” she cheered, tripping over her robe as she ran.
The last few students were called, sorted, clapped for.
The Sorting Hat looked like it aged 20 years.
At the staff table, Dumbledore smiled knowingly. “Eventful year ahead.”
Professor Slughorn just blinked at Lily. “Did we… rewrite rules for her already?”
“Texas,” McGonagall muttered. “Should’ve warned the Hat.”
The feast began, the tables filled with food like magic (because it was). But the whispers didn’t stop.
“Did you see that girl threaten the hat?”
“Is that Slytherin boy really friends with her?”
“Did the hat say she had access to the other houses?!”
“Can we do that too?”
“No, you’re normal.”
Lucius watched Lily across the hall like she was a puzzle and a fire.
Severus sat quietly, but his eyes never left her.
James was already plotting ways to talk to her.
Dorcas just rolled her eyes and muttered, “This year’s gonna be wild.”
And above them, thunder rumbled once more.
The magic had begun.