Becoming Harry Potter: Finding your place #BHPSorted

Oh, you may not think I’m pretty,

But don’t judge on what you see,

I’ll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There’s nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can’t see,

So try me on, and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart.

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal.

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you’ve a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You’ll make your real friends.

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don’t be afraid!

And don’t get in a flap!

You’re in safe hands (though I have none)

For I’m a Thinking Cap!

SS/PS

In the wizarding world, Harry, Ron, and Hermione first find their place when they are sorted into houses. Thanks to Pottermore, we, too, can discover which house we belong to at Hogwarts. But as much as we Muggles would love to really go to Hogwarts, it is even more important that we join our world and then find our place in it.

Harry’s place was in Gryffindor, as the youngest Seeker in a century, the Boy-Who-Lived, Triwizard Champion, the Chosen One, vanquisher of the Dark Lord, and eventually Head Auror.

Hermione’s place was also in Gryffindor, as the top of her class, founder of SPEW, loyal friend of the Chosen One, initiator of Dumbledore’s Army, faithful partner in the vanquishing of the Dark Lord, and eventually Deputy Head of Magical Law Enforcement.

Ron’s place was in Gryffindor, best friend to the Boy-Who-Lived, Gryffindor Keeper, Prefect, Wizard’s Chess wiz, faithful partner in vanquishing of the Dark Lord, and eventually co-owner of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

J.K. Rowling’s place is in the writers’ world. More specifically, novel writing. More specifically, author of the Harry Potter series. Founder of Lumos. Mystery author. And more to come.

We all have a “magical” community, and we all have a very specific place in that community.

Challenge: Once you’ve joined your world, it’s time to jump in and find your place in it. Are you the lead singer of a band in the music community? A fandom-based band?Are you a fiction author in the Wonderful World of Writers? Fantasy? Fan fiction?

Our place will constantly evolve and define itself as it did for Harry and his friends. Let us know your place in your “magical” community along with your Hogwarts house in the discussion section or on Twitter with #BHPSorted.

Next Week: “Becoming Harry Potter: Dealing with Expectations”