<strong>Mood Music:</strong>Entry into the Great Hall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jy51NHDFAM)<br/><hr/><div align="center">Each year when the First Year students arrive at Hogwarts, they undergo a ceremony to sort them into one of the Four Houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. It is done through the use of the famous Hogwarts Sorting Hat. The First years do not arrive by carriage as the other six years do, but instead gather and make their way across the great lake by boat. During this time their upper class-men file into the great hall taking their place at their respective house tables, and await the arrival of the first years and their sorting.<br/><br/>A stool is placed in front of the students sitting at tables in the Great Hall, and the Sorting Hat is placed upon it. Usually it sings a rhyming song, either describing the sorting process or the ceremony itself, or giving a warning about House unity if Hogwarts is in danger. When that is over, each new student is called forward in alphabetical order by their last names. A professor (This year being the potions professor Lucious Karkus) puts the famous Hogwarts Sorting Hat on the student’s head, and it looks into their mind and mulls over their placement.<br/><br/>While the Hat is on the student’s head a sort of back-and-forth conversation goes on in their minds. The Hat tells the student where they would do well, but also seems to take the First Year’s own wishes into account, since usually they get the House they want. Though there have been some cases in which the hat has sorted a student unexpectedly. Very rarely a “Hatstall” occurs in which the Sorting Hat takes a long time to decide where to place a student. A true Hatstall has only happened twice in Hogwarts history or so they say.<br/><br/>Once the ceremony is over, the Sorting Hat’s decision is final. No one ever switches houses, though they may still have an affinity for another house.<br/><br/>(https://images.pottermore.com/bxd3o8b291gf/nt4ZV4578WQWcCUK68QIq/9538ef0e87518551344b2b930a118690/The-Sorting-Ceremony.png?w=1200)<br/><br/>"<em>Oh you may not think I'm pretty,<br/>But don't judge on what you see,<br/>I'll eat myself if you can find<br/>A smarter hat than me.<br/><br/>You can keep your bowlers black,<br/>Your top hats sleek and tall,<br/>For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat<br/>And I can cap them all.<br/><br/>There's nothing hidden in your head<br/>The Sorting Hat can't see,<br/>So try me on and I will tell you<br/>Where you ought to be.<br/><br/>You might belong in Gryffindor,<br/>Where dwell the brave at heart,<br/>Their daring, nerve, and chivalry<br/>Set Gryffindors apart;<br/><br/>You might belong in Hufflepuff,<br/>Where they are just and loyal,<br/>Those patient Hufflepuffs are true<br/>And unafraid of toil;<br/><br/>Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,<br/>if you've a ready mind,<br/>Where those of wit and learning,<br/>Will always find their kind;<br/><br/>Or perhaps in Slytherin<br/>You'll make your real friends,<br/>Those cunning folks use any means<br/>To achieve their ends.<br/><br/>So put me on! Don't be afraid!<br/>And don't get in a flap!<br/>You're in safe hands (though I have none)<br/>For I'm a Thinking Cap!</em>"</div>