Chapter 481: Sorting

Are there really things like Nargles and Wrackspurts in the world?

That is indeed a question.

Sean was leading the Thestral and hadn't been thinking for long when he saw Hagrid return, looking annoyed:

"I think it's going to be wandering around for a while. Sorry to trouble you again, Sean. Leave the rest to me—follow me! First-year students!"

Hagrid let out a loud roar, and the first-years followed him, shivering, toward the small boats.

The rest of the students boarded the carriages that "moved on their own," which formed a line and creaked and swayed as they traveled along the road.

They passed the high stone pillars leading to the school grounds, topped with winged boars.

Hogwarts Castle loomed vaguely closer: the towering turrets appeared even darker against the backdrop of the night sky, with an occasional window emitting a fiery, dazzling light above their heads.

"She is truly eccentric."

Hermione frowned as she looked at the first-years here: Sean, while reliable, never expressed his dislike directly; Jia Siting was a complete fool; and Neville was even worse than Jia Siting.

"Perhaps... I mean, yes, judging by what just happened, that might be the case."

Noticing Hermione's sour expression, Jia Siting quickly changed his tune.

The Entrance Hall was bathed in the red glow of torches, echoing with the footsteps of students.

They crossed the flagstone floor and walked toward the two large doors on the right leading to the Great Hall, where the opening feast was being held.

The Great Hall was packed with four long house tables, beneath a pitch-black ceiling without stars, identical to the sky they had seen outside through the high windows.

Candles floated above the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts scattered throughout the hall and the excited faces of the students. They were chatting happily, exchanging news from the summer holidays, greeting friends from other houses loudly, and scrutinizing each other's new hairstyles and clothes.

They parted ways here, and Sean walked slowly toward the Ravenclaw table.

Strangely, the long table was full, with only a few spots left for Sean at the very front.

The Ravenclaws stopped whispering as Sean approached the table, watching him walk toward the front seats with reverent gazes.

"Will he return to the team?"

Luo Jie Davis looked somewhat uneasy. The old captain had graduated with satisfaction, while he had just taken the captain's seat.

Last year, they had captured the Quidditch Cup and won the House Cup. Looking at those bronze and sky-blue ribbons, looking at that portrait of an eagle soaring with wings spread, every Ravenclaw knew whose credit it was.

A certain first-year had almost become the mascot of the Eagle House, and his deeds were spread throughout Hogwarts:

Defeating a troll single-handedly, thwarting the conspiracy of an unspeakable wizard, being the first wizard in hundreds of years to be allowed to stay at school during the summer...

Just this summer, "Wizarding Weekly" had even snapped a picture of a certain young wizard entering the Fairy Workshop—he actually had an invitation!

They had thought that shop had nothing to do with the young wizards of Hogwarts.

"Luo Jie, don't be too greedy,"

Prefect Penelope reminded him, then turned her head and asked with a smile.

"Sean, how was your summer?"

"Very good, Prefect Penelope."

Sean sat down in the front row, puzzled, as this was originally Prefect Penelope's seat.

At the high table, watching the wobbling old hat, Sean's calm face showed a trace of emotion.

When it came to the sorting, he naturally thought of the old hat's rotten behavior.

"Jin Ni Wei Silai—Gryffindor!"

Professor Marcus Maige was still presiding over the sorting.

A cute little witch with red hair took off the Sorting Hat, and the Gryffindor table erupted in enthusiastic cheers, with the Wei Silai twins almost standing on the table to applaud.

Jin Ni glanced quietly at the Ravenclaw table before running toward the applauding little lions.

"Nice to meet you, do you know Sean Green?"

She whispered to the witch applauding beside her.

"Really—congratulations on finding the most famous one as soon as you entered school."

The witch shook her head with a smile.

"Lu Na Luo Yina!"

Professor Marcus Maige continued.

Immediately, sparse applause rang out at the Ravenclaw table.

"Sean, I heard you went to that Fairy Workshop. What do they sell inside? Is it really bread that can transform into magical creatures?"

Michael leaned over from an unknown part of the table, looking very curious.

"Strictly speaking—it's biscuits, not bread."

Chen Shu corrected, holding a book.

"Alright, alright, as long as it's not Tai Rui's gooey potato cake."

Michael raised his hands in surrender.

"That's potato pie!"

Tai Rui retorted in a low voice with a hint of annoyance.

"I can't see any difference."

Michael muttered, then added as if coaxing someone,

"Of course, of course it's potato pie, definitely not potato bombs, potato airplanes, or anything like that..."

They started chatting on their own, and Sean, holding his book, didn't pay much attention until a figure hopped into the seat beside him.

"I'm Lu Na, nice to meet you."

She didn't realize at all that her name had just been called.

"Sean Green."

Sean replied.

"Do you read 'The Quibbler' too?"

Lu Na said in a singing voice.

"I have some of it."

Sean was referring to the interview invitation "The Quibbler" had sent during the summer; although he had declined, Mr. Luo Yina had still sent him a series of books.

"Then do you think Cornelius Fudge has his own secret army? An army made of Heliopaths."

Lu Na said solemnly.

"Impossible."

Chen Shu said slowly at this moment.

"It's absolutely true."

Lu Na said.

"What is a Heliopath?"

Michael asked, looking very confused.

"They are fire spirits,"

Lu Na said, her protruding eyes wide open, making her look even crazier than before,

"They are huge creatures covered in fire, galloping across the earth, capable of burning everything in front of them to ashes—"

"They don't exist at all."

Chen Shu said with equal seriousness.

"Oh, they do!"

Lu Na said angrily.

"Alright, you two look for evidence, whoever is more reasonable is right, how about that?"

Michael quickly smoothed things over.

Sean, who was thinking about ancient runes, silently moved away from them; he had never been interested in the arguments of young wizards.

The only thing that concerned him slightly was the Sorting Hat; if he could pull the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, his chances of winning might be greater.

That sword was eerily powerful, capable of killing a basilisk with a single strike.

However, at the thought of the Sorting Hat's evil deeds, Sean's thoughts paused slightly. Headmaster Buliduo allowed him to drink tea in the headmaster's office during extra time; next time, he would settle the score with the Sorting Hat.

Soon, there is one more chapter; Deer is doing four updates today.