Let The Feast Begin!
11: 11: Sorting Ceremony.
Let The Feast Begin!
“Look, that’s the Sorting Hat.
It’s the one that decides which house us first-years will be sorted into.” Titus whispered to John from within the crowd.
“That?
Can that hat actually talk?” “Of course.
It’s a magical hat with a very long history at Hogwarts.” After hearing Titus’s explanation, John understood a little more.
This school really was filled with magic everywhere.
John curiously looked toward the people seated at the staff table.
At the center sat an elderly man with a long silver-white beard and half-moon glasses.
If John remembered correctly, that should be the man known as the greatest wizard of the century, Albus Dumbledore, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts.
On the right side of the table, John also spotted two familiar faces.
One was Professor Snape, who had delivered the letter to his home, and the other was Professor Lupin, who had saved him on the train.
Once everyone had gathered, Professor McGonagall stood on the stage, holding a piece of parchment in one hand and the Sorting Hat in the other.
“The Sorting Ceremony will now begin.
When I call your name, please come forward.” After several students went up one after another to be sorted, John finally understood how the ceremony worked.
The folds on the hat really were its mouth and eyes.
Whenever a student sat on the stool, Professor McGonagall would place the Sorting Hat on their head.
The Sorting Hat seemed able to read the students’ thoughts and even speak with them.
After a brief assessment, it would assign each student to the house most suited to them.
Finally, a familiar name was called.
“Titus Crawler.” Hearing his name, the chubby boy subconsciously trembled before walking onto the stage, trying to appear calm and composed.
After Titus sat down on the stool, Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
The Sorting Hat muttered something unintelligible, then suddenly shouted: “Hufflepuff!” The moment he heard the result, Titus’s face lit up with joy.
He gave John a wink before hurrying over to the Hufflepuff table amid loud applause.
“John Merrick.” Professor McGonagall called John’s name next.
Titus immediately looked over, clearly hoping they would end up in the same house.
After John stepped onto the stage and put on the Sorting Hat, he could finally hear what it had been muttering.
“Hmm…
first, we can rule out Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
You’re clearly neither honest nor cunning.” “?” Fine, maybe I’m not that honest, but how am I not cunning?
The moment that thought appeared in John’s mind, the Sorting Hat immediately replied, “You don’t even know how to bargain when buying things.
How are you cunning?” “I…” John was completely speechless.
“Hmm…
you have some courage, but not much…” Are you joking?
I’m obviously very brave!
“Courage means doing what must be done even when you know it’s impossible.
What you have is simply reckless impulsiveness.
They’re related, but not the same thing.” As soon as John argued back in his mind, the Sorting Hat read his thoughts and answered directly, leaving him with nothing to say.
“My my…
the only thing remotely worth praising is your slight thirst for knowledge…
In that case…” “Ravenclaw!” With the Sorting Hat’s announcement, John was officially sorted into Ravenclaw.
But John was not happy at all.
What did it mean by “only a slight thirst for knowledge worth praising”?
Boo!
This hat must have been working for too many years and started malfunctioning.
John could only walk obediently toward the Ravenclaw table.
The first-year seats were arranged right beside the second-years.
And Luna just happened to be a second-year Ravenclaw student.
Since nobody liked sitting with her, she had been pushed all the way to the end of the table.
Seeing Luna, John naturally went to sit beside the only person he knew.
“We meet again, Mis Luna.” “Yes, we meet again.
I’m very happy you were sorted into Ravenclaw.” Luna still wore the same smile, completely unconcerned that John had chosen to sit beside her.
“Can you believe it?
That Sorting Hat actually sorts people by elimination.
I’m honestly speechless.” John complained to Luna about his dissatisfaction with the Sorting Hat.
“Look at it from another perspective.
Doesn’t that prove Ravenclaw is the house most suited to you?” “That way, you won’t feel regret over not choosing the other houses.” Luna’s way of looking at things was truly unique.
Something that was obviously a lack of choice somehow sounded like fate when she said it.
“…That actually makes sense.” John did not particularly care which house he entered.
To him, they were all basically the same.
He just could not help complaining about being sorted through a process of elimination.
Soon, the Sorting Ceremony for the first-years came to an end.
Ravenclaw had gained eight new students, and they briefly introduced themselves to one another.
After the Sorting Ceremony, it was time for the choir performance.
The choir students, led by a small conductor, each held a toad as they sang together.
According to Luna, the conductor was actually Ravenclaw’s Head of House, Filius Flitwick, who also taught Charms.
Although he was barely over a meter tall, his abilities were among the best at Hogwarts, and both students and professors liked him very much.
Under Professor Flitwick’s direction, the choir performed a beautiful song.
Even though John did not understand it, he still applauded enthusiastically.
“Welcome back to Hogwarts for another school year.” After the choir performance ended, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up, walked to the owl-shaped lectern, and addressed the hall loudly.
“Before the feast begins, I have a few words to say.” “First, for our first-year students, the Forbidden Forest behind the school grounds is strictly off-limits.
Please remember this.” “Next, I am pleased to announce that Professor R.J.
Lupin has agreed to take the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.” Professor Lupin stood up from the staff table and gave the students a slight bow in greeting.
Although everyone applauded, John felt the response was rather lukewarm.
What he did not know was that the previous two Defence Against the Dark Arts professors had thoroughly disappointed the students over the past two years, so nobody had particularly high expectations for the class anymore.
“One more thing.
Our Care of Magical Creatures professor has decided to retire due to poor health.” “Fortunately, our Keeper of Keys and Grounds, Rubeus Hagrid, will be taking over the position.” This time, the applause from the students became much more enthusiastic.
It seemed Hagrid was very popular at Hogwarts.
Seeing the applause continue for quite a while, Dumbledore raised his hands, signalling for silence, and the young witches and wizards quickly quieted down again.
“Lastly, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, I must share some unsettling news.” “This year, Hogwarts will be hosting a group of special guests, the Dementors of Azkaban.” “Until Sirius Black is captured, they will guard every entrance and exit of Hogwarts.” “Although the Ministry of Magic has strongly assured us that the Dementors will not interfere with our daily lives…” “I must still remind you that Dementors are extremely dangerous creatures.
They know neither mercy nor forgiveness, nor can they distinguish between their prey and those who merely stand in their path.” “So I warn you all, do not give the Dementors any opportunity to harm you.” Dumbledore spoke with a serious expression, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the Great Hall became heavy.
“Of course, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light within.” Dumbledore’s tone suddenly became cheerful again, dispelling the gloom that had settled over the hall.
“Now then, let the feast begin!”