Chapter 11: The Sorting Ceremony

"Look, that is the Sorting Hat. Which college we new students are assigned to is all up to it."

Titus said in a small voice to John in the crowd.

"It? This hat can even talk?"

"Of course. This is a magic hat and has a long history at Hogwarts."

After listening to Titus's explanation, John understood a bit. This college is really full of magical atmosphere everywhere.

John looked curiously at the people at the row of professor tables.

The person in the main seat was an old man with a long gray beard, wearing a pair of half-moon glasses. If he wasn't mistaken, that should be the greatest white wizard of this century, Albus Dumbledore, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts.

On the right side of the table, John also found two people he had seen before. One was Professor Snape who came to his house to deliver the letter, and the other was Professor Lupin who saved him on the train.

Seeing that everyone was there, Professor McGonagall stood on the stage, took out a piece of parchment with one hand, took the Sorting Hat with the other, and said: "Now start the Sorting Ceremony. I will call the names, and you come up."

After several students went on stage for sorting one by one, John finally figured out the sorting ceremony.

The folds on that hat were really a mouth and eyes. Whenever a student went up and sat down, Professor McGonagall would put the Sorting Hat on the student's head.

The Sorting Hat seemed to be able to understand the student's thoughts and could also talk.

After understanding for a while, it would assign the student to a relatively suitable college.

At this time, there was finally an acquaintance.

"Titus Claur."

The little fatty whose name was called trembled subconsciously, only then pretending to be calm and walking on stage.

After Titus went on stage, he sat on that high stool, and Professor McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on Titus's head.

The Sorting Hat mumbled something, and suddenly shouted: "Hufflepuff!"

As soon as Titus heard the result of Hufflepuff, a happy look appeared on his face immediately. After giving John a wink, he ran toward the Hufflepuff long table amidst the applause of Hufflepuff.

"John Merick."

The name Professor McGonagall called next was John's. Titus immediately cast his gaze over, looking forward to being in the same college as John.

After John went on stage, he put on the Sorting Hat and finally heard what the Sorting Hat was mumbling.

"Hmm... first exclude Hufflepuff and Slytherin. You don't look honest, and you aren't shrewd."

"?"

You say I'm not honest, I admit it, but where am I not shrewd?

This kind of rebuttal thought just appeared in John's mind, and the Sorting Hat answered immediately: "You don't even know how to bargain when buying things. Where are you shrewd?"

"I!..."

John was speechless.

"Hmm... a little courage, but not much..."

Just kidding, I'm super brave, okay!

"Courage is knowing it can't be done but doing it anyway. That's brainless recklessness. Although it has some relation, it's not much."

John just rebutted in his mind, and the Sorting Hat read his thoughts and replied directly. John was speechless.

"Hiss, you only have that little bit of thirst for knowledge that can be praised... Since that's the case..."

"Ravenclaw!"

With the shout of the Sorting Hat, John was officially assigned to Ravenclaw.

But John wasn't happy at all.

What do you mean "only that little bit of thirst for knowledge can be praised"?

Damn it, this hat must have been working too long and its function is not normal.

John had no choice but to walk toward the Ravenclaw table obediently.

The seats for first-year new students were adjacent to the second year.

And Luna happened to be a second-year student in Ravenclaw. Because everyone didn't like sitting with Luna, she was squeezed to the very edge.

Seeing Luna, John naturally sat beside his acquaintance.

"See you again, Senior Luna."

"Yes, see you again. I am very happy you were assigned to Ravenclaw."

Luna's face still maintained a smile, not minding at all that John sat beside her.

"Can you imagine that the Sorting Hat actually relies on the elimination method to assign? I'm really speechless."

John complained to Luna with dissatisfaction about the Sorting Hat.

"Think about it from another angle. This proves that Ravenclaw is the most suitable college for you, isn't it?"

"This way you won't feel sorry because you couldn't choose other colleges."

Luna's angle of looking at things is really strange.

It was clearly something that couldn't be chosen, but it was said to be a chosen feeling.

"... Makes sense."

John didn't particularly want to go to any college. It was all the same to him.

It was just that he was assigned by the Sorting Hat using the elimination method, so he couldn't help but complain.

Soon their new student sorting ceremony ended, and eight more new students were assigned to their Eagle House. After simply greeting them, it was considered getting to know each other.

After the sorting ceremony ended, it was time for a chorus. The choir students, led by a short choir conductor, each held a toad and sang in chorus.

According to what Luna said, this choir conductor was actually their Ravenclaw Head of House, Filius Flitwick, who was also the Charms professor.

(I know it's not him in the original work, but let's recognize it as him. After all, introducing it later is quite troublesome.)

Don't look at his height of just over one meter, but his ability is one of the best. Whether it's students or other professors, they all like him very much.

Under the command of Professor Flitwick, the choir sang moving music.

Although John didn't understand, John applauded vigorously.

"New school year, welcome everyone back to Hogwarts."

After the choir's chorus ended, Headmaster Dumbledore stood out and came to the owl lectern to say loudly.

"Before the banquet starts, I have a few words to say."

"First is the new students. The Forbidden Forest behind the college is forbidden to enter. You must remember this."

"Then, I am very happy to tell everyone that Professor RJ Lupin, he has agreed to serve as our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

Professor Lupin at the professor table stood up and bowed slightly to the students, letting everyone know him.

Although everyone was applauding, John always felt it was a bit sparse.

Little did he know it was because in the previous two years, the previous two Defense Against the Dark Arts professors had disappointed everyone very much, so now they didn't have much expectation for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"There is one more thing, and that is our Care of Magical Creatures professor, because of physical deficiency, decided to retire."

"Fortunately, our Forbidden Forest guard, Rubeus Hagrid, will take over this job."

This time the applause from the students below was even more enthusiastic. It seems this Professor Hagrid's popularity among students is quite good?

Dumbledore saw the applause was so persistent, raised his hand to press it, and the little wizards calmed down again.

"Finally, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, there is another disturbing piece of news."

"This year, Hogwarts will have a batch of special guests, Dementors from Azkaban."

"Until Sirius Black is caught, they will guard every entrance and exit of Hogwarts."

"Although the Ministry of Magic tries its best to guarantee that Dementors will not affect our normal life."

"But I still want to remind everyone that Dementors are extremely evil creatures. They don't know what mercy and forgiveness are, and they can't distinguish between prey and blockers."

"So I warn everyone, don't let Dementors have a chance to hurt you."

Dumbledore said to everyone with a serious expression, and the atmosphere of the Great Hall also became oppressive for a while.

"Of course, happiness is everywhere. No matter how dark it is, as long as we light the lamp of the heart."

Dumbledore's tone suddenly became cheerful again, dispelling the haze of everyone.

"Now, the banquet begins!" ===== CHAPTER 12 =====