Birthday sorting

My daughter's 15th birthday is coming up, and she's trying to settle on a theme for a party here at our house. Last night at dinner, she and her friend Jessica kicked around the idea of a Harry Potter theme, possibly combined with a movie marathon. The groom and I waxed enthusiastic at the idea. We could turn the front door into Platform 9 3/4! We could sort the party guests into houses! He and I immediately got into a sidebar discussion about wiring a Sorting Hat with a microphone. In the process, we probably scared away our client, i.e., the birthday girl. You remember how scary it used to be when the adults in your life Got Hold of a Good Idea.