"Difficult, very difficult." The Sorting Hat’s face twisted with indecision. "You do not lack courage. You have a talent for Divination, a strong thirst for knowledge, and a rather unusual desire.
A desire to coast through life? Do you not wish to prove yourself?"
No. Taking it easy is the best way to live.
The thought surfaced in Vade’s mind. When the Sorting Hat read it, the corner of its mouth visibly twitched.
"Very well! Since that is what you want, I know exactly which House to place you in. Slytherin!"
Vade was about to stand and walk toward the Hufflepuff table, but a moment later, he realised that he had been sorted into Slytherin.
"Wait, are you sure you did not make a mistake?" Vade could not help asking. Would Hufflepuff not be a better place for an easy life?
"Of course not. Slytherin will be far better at helping you fulfil your ambitions.
This is for the sake of your future. Surely you can tell which matters more, the present or the future!"
"You..." Vade cursed furiously in his heart.
"Hmm? You seem to be thinking about something unpleasant.
What? Throwing me into the Black Lake for a wash?
That is outrageous. How can anyone be so vicious?"
Before the Sorting Hat could finish scolding him, Vade resigned himself to his fate and walked toward the Slytherin table.
The hat had already made its decision. Arguing with it any further would change nothing.
Although things had not gone as he hoped, at least he had not been placed in Gryffindor. That was still a blessing in disguise.
"I did not expect you to be sorted into Slytherin." Draco still looked as haughty as ever. There was a trace of surprise in his eyes, but no rejection.
"Neither did I," Vade said, pretending to sound relaxed. "I thought I would be sorted into Hufflepuff.
Could it be that I possess some undiscovered talent, which is why I was placed in the finest House, Slytherin?"
Draco exchanged smiles with Crabbe and Goyle. The finest House was certainly a very fair assessment.
By then, only a few students remained. Moon, Nott, and Parkinson were sorted into Slytherin. The Patil twins, who were of Indian descent, were separated, with one going to Gryffindor and the other to Ravenclaw.
Then, at last, it was Harry Potter’s turn.
"Harry Potter."
The moment Professor McGonagall read out the name, the entire Great Hall fell silent. A moment later, waves of discussion broke out.
"Potter? Is it really that Potter?"
"Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."
"Do you think Professor Trelawney’s prophecy has something to do with him?"
Amid the discussions and the countless gazes fixed upon him, Harry sat down on the stool.
The Sorting Hat was lowered onto his head, blocking his vision.
"Difficult, truly difficult.
You clearly possess courage, and your heart is not unkind. You are also very talented and eager to prove yourself. Which House should I place you in?" The Sorting Hat once again fell into indecision.
"Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin..." Harry closed his eyes and repeated the words over and over.
"Not Slytherin? Are you certain?
You could achieve greatness. It is all there inside your head. Slytherin could help you on your way to glory, there is no doubt about that."
"Still no? Since you have made up your mind, then you had better go to... Gryffindor!"
A smile immediately appeared on Harry’s face. The Gryffindor table erupted into enthusiastic cheers, and many of the older students stood to welcome him.
Percy Weasley, the Gryffindor prefect, shook his hand, while his twin brothers, Fred and George, shouted excitedly, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
The weight in Harry’s heart finally lifted, and he turned toward the staff table.
Hagrid, who had returned from the hospital wing at some point, applauded with a relieved expression. Dumbledore even raised his goblet to him.
"I do not understand what there is to celebrate," Draco said disdainfully. "And Harry Potter actually chose Gryffindor. I overestimated him."
"Perhaps he is not particularly clever." Vade sighed and shook his head. "Still, he is the saviour of the wizarding world, and with..."
"You do not actually believe that strange woman’s prophecy, do you?
We do not even know whether it was real. Even if it was, she was referring to all the students. Why must it be Harry Potter?"
"He is the most likely candidate, is he not? A lot of people think so."
"They will eventually discover that they were wrong."
After Harry Potter, the final two first years were sorted into Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively. Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment and put away the Sorting Hat, bringing the Sorting Ceremony to an end.
Dumbledore rose to his feet with a kindly smile.
"Welcome! Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts.
Before we begin our feast, I would like to say a few words. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Thank you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the previously empty tables filled with food. Roast beef, fried chicken legs, corn, potatoes, pork chops, lamb chops, fruit, and drinks appeared in abundance.
"Were those words some kind of special incantation?" Vade asked the students around him uncertainly as he selected his favourite dishes and placed them on his plate.
"Who knows? My father often says Dumbledore is not right in the head."
"Do not ask me. I have no idea," Theodore Nott said indifferently.
"We are all first years. If Nott does not know, then naturally neither do we," said Millicent Bulstrode, a large half-blood witch.
While the students ate, the ghosts of the four Houses also appeared in the Great Hall, including the Fat Friar, the Bloody Baron, Peeves, and Nearly Headless Nick.
They were all translucent and greyish-white. After death, they had continued to exist as unusual spirits. However, they could not touch physical objects, so they naturally could not enjoy the food.
Once the students had eaten their fill, the dishes and leftovers vanished together.
Dumbledore stood once again and swept a solemn gaze across the students below.
"I have several announcements concerning matters that must be kept in mind during the new school year.
"First years should note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly out of bounds to all students. Some of our older students would also do well to remember that."
Vade nodded in agreement. Although suitable ingredients might be found in the Forbidden Forest, it was far too dangerous for him at present.
"Quidditch trials will also be held during the second week of term. Anyone interested in joining their House team should contact Madam Hooch."
"Excellent. I have played Quidditch before, so I will definitely make the House team," Draco said confidently. "Do you know anything about Quidditch?"
"I do. I also know that first years are not allowed to join the team."
"What a disappointment."
"Finally, our caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind you that anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death should stay away from the corridor on the right-hand side of the fourth floor."
There was no possibility of Vade going there. That place might be even more dangerous than the Forbidden Forest. It contained the Philosopher’s Stone, a treasure coveted even by the main villain. Keeping well away from it would be the wiser choice.
Protecting the Philosopher’s Stone was the saviour’s responsibility. Vade had absolutely no intention of involving himself.
(To be continued.)