Kamari Sagemore's Sorting Ceremony

With her hair, the hat sat rather well atop her head -- compared to many classmates, whose faces vanished underneath the dark flap. She still had somewhat of a view of the hall, which surely added to the nerves as everyone started at her. Waiting for the result. Whispering about her name or speculating her house. Their focus, entirely on her. Even the staff, too.

'A Sagemore, eh?' spoke the hat, in a voice only she could hear. 'Quite an honour, I'd say. Hmm, right, let's see then...'

The moment dragged on and on. Whispers grew, and faces shifted from curious to confused the longer she sat there.

'Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult, indeed,' said the hat, tone neutral but serious. 'Perhaps Ravenclaw, I see. You've a ready mind and would do well there, no doubt about that. And yet...'

Her Mama had mentioned something called a "Hatstall", but in such a passing way that it seemed rare or extremely unlikely. It was a footnote in those stories of Hogwarts, at best. But the longer Kamari sat there, she knew. 

She knew this was what a Hatstall looked like. And it was one of the longer sortings she'd seen thus far. The tension was thick, reminding her of those times when cameras flashed bright in her eyes when she wasn't expecting to be scrutinised. Everyone stared, waiting. She may as well be under a spotlight.

'Any house would suit you well, I see,' the hat finally continued. 'Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin too... but where to put you? Rare be it a student would do well in any of the four, yet here you sit. But not to worry, we'll find where you ought to be. I've never yet been wrong. Never met a student I couldn't sort.'

Confident as the hat became, it also meant another drawn out moment as it contemplated her fate. Whispers grew, even among the staff now. Since she could see them, they tried to at least be discreet about it... but it was clear. Kamari was used to the sound of whispers in the background; could detect them quicker than most.

'Not Slytherin,' the hat said, managing to eliminate one.

Considering how long that took, how would they go down from three others? But this moment of pause felt different. Kamari had no way of knowing, but could feel it deeply that the hat was awaiting her input this time. She was well-understood in the different houses, as her Mama had showed her Hogwarts: A History, and thus explained each house in detail -- without prejudice.

'Hmm. Gryffindor, eh?' the hat sounded rather amused by that. 'Bravery exists in all forms. All houses. That much is true... ah, but yes, you are quite the courageous one. Daring, too. Yes, if you're sure...'

As if performing an act of mercy, there was no long pause after that. No serious note in its tone, and no further contemplation as to where she belonged. The more she'd spoken, the more sure the hat was of its decision. Yes, suddenly it became quite clear, as it rose its voice for the entire hall to hear:


There was hesitation from the Great Hall, though. Having waited and specuflated for so long -- the declaration of her house took a moment to sink in. As if startled that, yes, the hat had finally made a decision, applause then broke out. Gryffindors came out of their trance to cheer her on, just as they did for anyone placed there.

'We've got Sagemore,' began a bit of a chant, however. Many were excited, welcoming her and beckoning with such eagerness yet with overwhelmingly casual informality. 'We've got Sagemore. We've got Sagemore!'