Chapter 8

The spacious hall,

all eyes turned toward him.

Wizard Sean saw wizards at the different tables stretching their necks,

and beside the glittering golden plates and goblets on the professors’ table, Dumbledore watched with faint interest.

Wizard Sean did his best to appear oblivious, and under Professor McGonagall’s gentle guidance, he placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

“I teach many, and treat them all equally.”

Wizard Sean silently recited Helga Hufflepuff’s words, hoping to signal to the Sorting Hat his desired house.

“A commendable young wizard,”

Wizard Sean heard a faint voice say,

“Few remember the songs the old hat sings. You want Hufflepuff? Of course… no.”

Wizard Sean: “...”

Better not answer.

“Why?”

Wizard Sean whispered the question inwardly.

“Let the old hat sing again—beautiful Ravenclaw, from the quiet riverside…”

The Sorting Hat suddenly began to sing, twisting incessantly above Wizard Sean’s head.

“Mr. Sorting Hat?”

Wizard Sean covered his head, puzzled.

“The wise and learned enter the wise Ravenclaw…”

The Sorting Hat kept singing as it twisted.

“I want Hufflepuff.”

Wizard Sean seemed to realize something.

“Ravenclaw says: our students must possess intellect beyond the ordinary…”

The Sorting Hat sang on.

“I want Hufflepuff!”

Wizard Sean tried one final plea.

“Stubborn little wizard, why must you go to Hufflepuff?”

“Mr. Sorting Hat, why must I go to Ravenclaw?”

“Hmm. Practicing spells thirteen hours a day until you can’t move a muscle;

can’t even read all the English words, yet memorized every single book you bought in two months… Other than Rowena, old hat hasn’t seen a wizard so hungry for knowledge in ages.

Slytherin can help you fulfill your ambitions, Gryffindor admires your courage, Hufflepuff accepts your kind heart.”

The Sorting Hat’s voice carried a note of wonder,

“But only Ravenclaw can grant the wise wizard the ability to reach truth!”

“I want Hufflepuff.”

Wizard Sean felt his resolve sink.

“Alright.”

To his surprise, the Sorting Hat agreed—Wizard Sean’s emerald eyes brightened.

“Just kidding,”

the Sorting Hat’s voice grew loud,

“RAVENCLAW!!!”

Disappointed, Wizard Sean pinched the Sorting Hat,

“Ow ow ow ow…”

Hearing the Sorting Hat’s voice made Wizard Sean feel better.

But he didn’t hear the rest.

“…Hey, I tricked Ravenclaw…

Just like Rowena—you always pinched old hat so carelessly…

Twelve centuries… old hat has finally fulfilled Godric’s promise, found a successor for Ravenclaw.

Watch—within this frail body lies great power. Old hat never misjudges.”

Ravenclaw is fine.

Wizard Sean told himself,

At least it’s not Slytherin.

Before Wizard Sean could place the Sorting Hat back on Professor McGonagall’s table, loud applause erupted from the Ravenclaw table,

and even Gryffindor and Hufflepuff clapped—Wizard Sean saw Justin was the most enthusiastic,

leading a group of Hufflepuffs in vigorous clapping.

Seeing this,

Wizard Sean felt worse,

What a wonderful Hufflepuff!

What a cruel Sorting Hat!

In the center of the hall,

Professor McGonagall watched Wizard Sean gently;

his formerly pilled robe had been replaced by Hogwarts’ plain robes;

his ill-fitting shoes had become English-style leather boots;

his careful, emerald eyes now sparkled with longing,

she removed the hat:

“Ready, Mr. Green? To embrace your new life.”

Wizard Sean froze for a moment, then was gently steered by Professor McGonagall toward the Ravenclaw table.

“Welcome!”

Wizard Sean saw a slightly chubby young wizard waving at him,

“I can’t believe you’re a Hatstall!”

Behind his large copper-rimmed glasses, curiosity gleamed; after a jolt, he reached out his hand—

but his glasses slipped down, so he had to use his hand to push them back up,

then fumbled apologetically toward Wizard Sean.

“Hatstall?”

Wizard Sean paid no attention, his large eyes filled with confusion.

“Oh! My goodness! You don’t know!”

The chubby wizard gaped.

“Terry, not everyone studies that ragged old hat.”

A voice came from behind him,

a male wizard with long black hair, who interrupted Terry with mild exasperation.

“Don’t mind him—Terry’s always obsessed with odd questions. When I sat down, he was asking me how many windows Hogwarts has.

Merlin, who cares about that?

Unless they all fall, they’d surely crush Terry Boot counting below.”

“No, windows are important!”

The boy named Terry’s face flushed red, clearly flustered.

“Alright.”

The black-haired boy humored him, then turned with interest to Wizard Sean.

“Hatstall.

It means a student who takes over five minutes to be sorted,

extremely rare—said to appear only once every fifty years.

By the way, I’m Michael Corner. Welcome to Ravenclaw.”

He extended his hand.

Wizard Sean was even more confused—over five minutes?

But he clearly remembered it only took a moment.

As if something had stolen time.

Wizard Sean thought.

“Wizard Sean Green.”

Their hands lightly shook.

As the last new student went to Slytherin, Dumbledore rose,

beaming at the students, arms wide open—as if nothing pleased him more than seeing them all gathered together.

He beamed at the students, opening his arms as if nothing could delight him more than seeing them all gathered together.

“Welcome!”

he said,

“Welcome all of you to Hogwarts for the new school year!

Before the feast begins, I have a few words to say.

Namely: Nerd! Crybaby! Trash! Twist!”

As he spoke, Terry frantically took notes, while Michael beside him wore an expression of “I knew it would be like this.”

Wizard Sean paid no attention, for before him on the table, food had already appeared as if by magic.

Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steaks, boiled potatoes, roasted potatoes, french fries, Yorkshire pudding, pea shoots, carrots, gravy, ketchup, apple pie, syrup cake, chocolate muffins, fried jam doughnuts, wine-soaked fruit pudding, strawberries, jelly, rice pudding…

Wizard Sean compared it to his own listed menu—exactly the same as his memory.

Dip the beans, he told himself.

Then he activated his one-tap clearing mode.

“How is he managing to eat so fast—and so elegantly?”

Michael, stunned, asked the boy to his left.

Michael, dumbfounded, asked the boy to his left.