"Susan Bones, HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Justin Finch-Fletchley, HUFFLEPUFF!"
In the exquisitely decorated Great Hall, a tattered hat was opening its large mouth, split at the seams, chanting and restlessly twisting. Occasionally, a few fearless young wizards would knead the brim, causing it to emit strange bursts of laughter.
As the names of the students and the houses they were assigned to were announced from the Sorting Hat's mouth, the young wizards in the seats below applauded, some enthusiastically, others perfunctorily.
At least at this welcoming feast, even Gryffindor and Slytherin, who disliked each other, would maintain a relatively harmonious atmosphere.
The young wizards waiting below the stage to be sorted into houses watched, either nervously or expectantly, as others donned the Sorting Hat and then, amidst the hat's quirky commentary, walked to their respective house tables.
However, among the crowd of newcomers, there was an out-of-place, thin boy who was staring blankly at the magnificent and antiquated decorations, as well as the bizarre candles floating in mid-air. The starlight-like bright flames illuminated the Great Hall, and translucent ghosts could be seen flying through the air. All of this was overwhelming the boy, and after a long while, he muttered to himself.
"Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"
"Strange, wasn't I dying in a hospital bed?" Just as the boy was feeling both familiar and strange about everything around him, a loud female voice echoed through the Great Hall.
"Ivan Hals!"
Professor Minerva McGonagall stood at the four-legged table where the Sorting Hat was placed, looking at the parchment roll in her hand. She waited for a long time but didn't see the new student come forward. She frowned and loudly read the name again.
"Ivan Hals!"
After a long silence from the new students, even Dumbledore cast a questioning gaze, and the older students from each house began to whisper among themselves.
"Who? Who is Ivan? How dare they?"
"Could it be that they took the wrong way and missed the Sorting Ceremony?"
"This is going to be interesting."
At this moment, the remaining new students, under the gaze of many professors and older students, moved a few steps towards the back, leaving the blond-haired, black-eyed boy, who still hadn't figured out the situation, standing alone in place, looking extremely conspicuous.
"Mr. Ivan Hals, please come up to the stage!" Professor McGonagall repeated once again.
"Me?" Ivan pointed to himself in a daze, suddenly feeling that this scene was somewhat unfamiliar but also had an unexpected sense of familiarity.
"Yes, please come up as soon as possible, okay? Like the others have done. There are other children who need to be sorted next." Perhaps because Ivan was a new student, even though Professor McGonagall was asking for the fourth time, she didn't show any signs of anger, but simply thought that this new student might be a little nervous.
Before Ivan could react, he felt himself being gently pushed, and then the new students in the front row pushed Ivan onto the stage with unexpected tacit understanding, one after another.
"Alright, child, come over here quickly." Professor McGonagall walked forward, put her hand on Ivan's shoulder, and pressed him down on the chair, picking up the Sorting Hat and placing it on Ivan's head.
The Sorting Hat twisted restlessly on Ivan's head, opening its mouth in a rather quirky manner.
"Hey, kid, don't be too shy. You're not the first person to feel nervous in this situation. Trust me, just close your eyes and it'll be over. It doesn't hurt at all!"
Ivan rolled his eyes. After spending some time with the new students, he had some guesses about the current situation, but he still found it hard to believe.
Could this really be Hogwarts? That magical place where magic is taught? But that's not…
Ivan was about to continue thinking, but the Sorting Hat's voice rang in his ears at the right time.
"Yes, of course, this is Hogwarts! You're not dreaming, I'm 100% sure!"
"I bet you're from a Muggle family, aren't you? Every few years, there are always a few new young wizards who don't believe that magic is real. They say it's all tricks and always want to pull a long-eared rabbit out of my body. I tell them there's nothing in the hat, but they just don't believe me…"
The Sorting Hat chattered on, telling cold jokes, its cracked mouth almost extending to the brim.
The Sorting Hat's ability to read memories made Ivan afraid to think too much. He quickly collected his thoughts.
But perhaps because of the Sorting Hat's influence, a series of unfamiliar memories flashed through Ivan's mind like slides. Ivan himself couldn't piece them together, but it seemed to be a scene of a witch teaching him magic…
The witch in the memory was probably around thirty years old, with beautiful long golden hair, opening her mouth and saying something. Then Ivan only felt a surge of fear rising in his heart…
The Sorting Hat was also complaining, seeing a young wizard with such messy thoughts for the first time, but it was also surprised that Ivan didn't come from a Muggle family. How could a wizarding family's child not know about Hogwarts?
A trace of cold sweat broke out on Ivan's forehead. Although the various thoughts and memories being read by the Sorting Hat were the original owner's, if this continued, he didn't know if the hat would read any important secrets. Ivan could only try to force himself to think about some unimportant things.
"Ahem…" Seeing that the Sorting Hat seemed to be going on endlessly, Professor McGonagall had to cough lightly, reminding the Sorting Hat on the stage to get down to business.
The Sorting Hat finally stopped talking, and Ivan finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he was also a little curious about which house he would be sorted into.
"Hmm, let me see, optimistic, smart, and likes to overthink…" The Sorting Hat dragged out a long tone, then suddenly lowered its voice and said, "And also knows a little bit of Dark Magic."
"I know Dark Magic?" Ivan vaguely remembered the memory from just now.
"Oh, yes, an ancient and rare Dark Magic." The Sorting Hat whispered to Ivan, as if telling a secret.
"Of course, in my opinion, this is also an interesting Dark Magic. It always lets people see things they don't want to see. Someone once used it to play pranks, maybe you can try it too…"
"Although Dumbledore definitely doesn't want anyone to do this again…" The Sorting Hat complained to itself.
"Then where should I go? Slytherin?" Ivan was a little curious about his knowledge of Dark Magic, but the most important thing now was the issue of sorting.
After being sorted, he could take off this damn memory-reading hat.
Among the four houses of Hogwarts, entering Gryffindor requires sufficient courage (or recklessness?), Ravenclaw wants wisdom or a thirst for knowledge.
Slytherin corresponds to cunning and insidious personalities and outstanding magical talent.
As for Hufflepuff, it is the kindest and most inclusive house, especially skilled in food-related spells, making it the best choice for foodies.
The Sorting Hat's statement about learning Dark Magic fits the criteria of Slytherin House, but of course, it is also possible that he could be sorted into Ravenclaw because he is both optimistic and smart.
Ivan thought somewhat narcissistically.
"No, no, no, none of those." The Sorting Hat's tone suddenly became somewhat humorous. "Although this might make you a little sad, Slytherin usually only chooses some talented young wizards, so…"
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat changed from the soft whispers it had been using with Ivan to a loud voice that echoed throughout the hall.
"Gryffindor?" Ivan took the Sorting Hat off his head, somewhat surprised, and didn't even have time to complain about the Sorting Hat's evaluation of his talent.
"Yes, yes, you should go there! " The Sorting Hat said confidently. "I have never been wrong, you have the corresponding qualities!"