Outsider Sorting Ceremony

[accionpc.livejournal.com]

After Monday's announcement that Hogwarts would play host to several Outsiders, the school was a hub of gossip, and the break-in of Sirius Black during the Hallowe'en Feast had almost been forgotten. Everywhere you went, there were people talking about the Outsiders in hushed voices, almost as though it was forbidden. Many of the rumours sounded ridiculous - apparently, Outsiders could throw houses, fly without aid, and turn invisible at will. Some students would try to discredit the rumours by explaining how such things were impossible, but it was to little avail.

Saturday was the day Hogwarts would open its doors to Outsiders, through a small Sorting Ceremony. It wasn't expected to be a large event, as reports indicated only a few Outsiders had accepted the offer, but it still seemed as though the entire school came to the Great Hall for the feast that evening.

The Great Hall was laid out the same way as the start of any Sorting Ceremony, though the tattered, frayed Sorting Hat had already been placed on the stool that stood before the staff table. The Outsiders - a mere four of them - were already present, lined up near the Sorting Hat.

Once all students and staff had arrived, Professor Dumbledore stood, raising a hand to quell the chatter and noise. Once all but a few quiet murmurs had ended, he addressed the school.

"Today," he said, "we welcome four new students into our school. I am sure you are all aware of the circumstances that have brought them here, and ask only that you treat them the same as any other student in this school. They are here to learn, just as you are."

Some couldn't help but wonder how Dumbledore could expect this, when one of the four Outsiders didn't even look human.

"Our four new students will be placed in a suitable House in the same manner as our First Years were at the start of term. Their House will be their home for as long as they remain at Hogwarts.

"Professor McGonagall, if you please?"

And the Headmaster took his seat. Professor McGonagall stepped forward.

"When I call your name and year, you will wear the hat and sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat will select the most appropriate House. You will then seat yourself at that House's table."

Comments

Re: AFTERWARDS

[youngnobelman]

Touma raised his eyebrows just slightly, interested by the question. Despite his frequently confusing people by being a Muggle-born in Slytherin house, no one had really asked him this before. He had to give it some thought.

"Resourcefulness. Determination. Intelligence. Strength of character.

"I'm not the typical Slytherin, though," he admitted as an afterthought, thinking back to his own sorting and the other Houses he could have been in.

Re: AFTERWARDS

[fealty-to-none.livejournal.com]

"My own experiences tell me that hardly anyone is a typical anything when you get to know them. Though you don't seem the sort throwing words like 'outsider' and 'mudblood'." The former Balthier could guess the sneering manner of. He was, after all, an unwelcome guest in a strange world, and being a thief and criminal, that hardly surprised him (though he'd been maintaining the act of a perfect gentleman and had only pickpocketed three ministry officials.)

The latter, however, he had no connotations to place. He doubted it meant 'dirty' simply because he'd forgone a day's shower. But he'd heard it uttered a few times and it puzzled him.

"Still, those are good traits to aspire to. It seems as though you do well by your house, if not necessarily the other way 'round."

Re: AFTERWARDS

[youngnobelman]

"No, I get the latter term enough myself," Touma muttered. It was why he didn't spend a lot of time in his own common room or dorms.

However, he bowed his head slightly as Balthier complimented his values of choice. He was far too used to being told he was a disappointment (or worse) to his house; to hear the opposite of this, even from someone who only just entered Hogwarts, was rather nice.

"Thank you."