Chapter 329: The Sorting Ceremony
At Professor Edward's word, all the children lined up in two neat rows and followed behind him like a tail through the golden doors that swung open on their own.
The Great Hall had once been the castle's banquet chamber; now it served as the students' great hall, the place for daily meals and the Opening Feast.
Hundreds upon hundreds of candles floated in the high air, lighting the hall brilliantly.
The vaulted ceiling mirrored the night sky outside. Wisps of cloud drifted over a canopy strewn with stars, and a bright, round moon hung close as if within reach.
Beneath that sky, four long house tables gleamed so brightly they reflected candleflame and stars alike.
Each table was set with empty place settings, all wrought of gold, both lavish and exquisitely made.
At the front stood the staff table.
The professors sat in their formal robes, facing the new students as they entered.
Kael Black sat at the center upon a golden chair. The seat to his left stood empty; to his right sat his wife, Arwen, professor of History of Magic.
Lady Galadriel had come to the Opening Feast as well and sat at Arwen's right.
Tall and radiant, she seemed wreathed in a sacred light, more dazzling than the moon above, drawing a collective gasp from the students.
The elf children were even more astonished.
To Elves across Middle-earth, Lady Galadriel was a figure of deep reverence, the uncrowned "Elven-queen" in their hearts.
To see her here made even the most reserved elven children shine with excitement, their eyes fixed on her in adoration.
Feeling the children's gazes, Galadriel smiled warmly. Her radiance seemed to grow, and her gentle eyes rested upon each child in turn.
On Galadriel's right sat Gandalf.
He wore a kindly expression and watched the eager, bright-eyed children with fondness.
Deputy Headmaster Edward led the first-years to the front of the house tables.
There stood a three-legged stool, and on it a brand-new, ornate hat.
When the first-years had gathered, the hat stirred. Its brim twitched, its seams slowly opened into the semblance of a mouth and two eyes, and a melodious voice rang out:
"I was an ordinary hat once,
Worn by Kael Black of the dark robes,
But this day I'm given mind and charge,
To find where each of you belongs.
Hark, young wizards, to your heart's tide:
If in your breast a fearless fire burns,
To chase the dragon's blazing trail, to cross the bridges of the unknown,
Then Phoenix shall be your house.
If in your eyes a nest of wisdom lies,
To comb the book-sea for pearls, to map the secrets of the stars,
To make riddles bloom and knowledge bud,
Then Thunderbird shall be your house.
…
Fear not, nor falter—set me on,
And I will find your destined hall, no matter whence you come!"
The hat finished with a flourish and bowed to left and right.
Kael Black began the applause from the staff table.
The other professors and all the new students followed, their clapping full of admiration for the hat's performance.
Deputy Headmaster Edward produced a roll of parchment and addressed the first-years. "When you hear your name, come forward, sit on the stool, and be sorted."
"Anlomire!"
The young Dúnedain boy was the first called.
At the staff table, Alfar, the Astronomy professor and a Dúnedain himself, sat up straighter, his eyes on the boy.
Under many looks, Anlomire walked forward nervously and sat upon the stool.
The Sorting Hat descended onto his head.
"Oh, a little Dúnedain," murmured the hat. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Let me look within… Ah, a magnificent dream—to learn all magic? To restore the honor of the Dúnedain? To defeat evil and protect your home?
"That is no small order! Where to place you, I wonder…?"
Anlomire's mind went blank. He had no idea how to answer.
After about a minute, the hat made up its mind.
"I know exactly where you belong… Phoenix!"
As applause broke out, the hat was lifted from his head.
Edward, Head of Phoenix House, smiled and directed Anlomire to the Phoenix table.
Anlomire hopped down, hurried to his seat, and waited eagerly for the next student—especially hoping his new friend, the elf child Aranil, would join the same house.
Professor Edward kept calling names.
"Aida Butterbur!"
A little witch from Bree sat on the stool.
The hat had barely touched her hair when it cried, "Thunderbird!"
Blushing, the girl bounced away to sit at another table amid applause.
The sorting continued.
"Brandy!"
"Dragon!"
"Beth!"
"Basilisk!"
…
This year's first-years numbered one hundred and seven. Of these, sixty-five were young wizards from Kael's lands.
Next came the Elves, thirty-three in all.
The fewest were the Dúnedain—only nine.
Unlike the wizards of the territory, who split fairly evenly among the four houses, most Dúnedain went to Phoenix, house of courage, or Dragon, house of loyalty and guardianship.
The Elves showed a clearer pattern, most being sorted into Thunderbird, the house of wisdom.
There were distinctions, too: children from Imladris tended toward Thunderbird; those from Lothlórien leaned toward Dragon.
Children from Mirkwood leaned toward the Basilisk.
Among the kindreds, Noldor tended toward Thunderbird; Sindar leaned toward Basilisk; Silvan Elves tended toward Dragon.
Watching the proceedings, Alfar, the Astronomy professor at the high table, turned to Kael in puzzlement.
"Headmaster Kael, the hat's said Phoenix stands for courage, Thunderbird for wisdom, Basilisk for cunning, and Dragon for loyalty. The first three are easy to grasp, but aren't dragons the most sly and greedy? How does that align with loyalty?"
Other professors looked to Kael as well, sharing the question.
Kael answered unhurriedly, humor in his voice. "At the very least, dragons are extremely loyal to their treasure, aren't they?"
Laughter broke out around him.
It was, in its way, a convincing argument.
After the final first-year was sorted, the ceremony officially ended.
Edward waved his wand: the stool vanished, and he placed the Sorting Hat before Kael with respect. "Headmaster, the Sorting Ceremony is complete. I leave the hat in your care."
"Thank you, Edward—and from now on, call me Professor. You are a Head of House now as well; there's no need for formality." Kael smiled gently.
"As you wish, Professor," Edward replied, for he never gainsaid Kael's requests.
Edward took the empty seat to Kael's left. Lifting a spoon from the table, he tapped a goblet lightly. The clear ringing carried to every student.
"Please quiet down and listen to the headmaster."