Hogwarts: Please, Just Graduate Already!

The Sorting Hat replied cheerfully, "But I can shout 'Azkaban.' I think that would have quite an effect."

"I once heard Dumbledore complain that Azkaban has become Hogwarts' advanced training class. With talent as good as yours, going straight in wouldn't be much of a problem." Wayne remained calm. "That's Ministry of Magic territory. You don't have that ability."

As if. If he had SS-rank talent in the Dark Arts, he might have panicked for a few

seconds.

But now?

A+ Dark Arts talent was certainly not bad, but that depended on what it was compared to.

With nothing but S-rank talents across the board, Wayne was practically

stupid when it came to the Dark Arts. "Hmph."

Seeing that it had failed to scare Wayne, the Sorting Hat gave a soft snort and began carrying out its duty, chattering away in Wayne's mind.

"Talent overflowing... This comfortable feeling reminds me of Dumbledore back then.

"How about Gryffindor?"

"Hmm? You don't like Gryffindor?"

"Hey, boy, show some respect for the house my master founded. Though I don't much like those little lions either. They're always trying to give me a bath.

"Then Slytherin. Without a doubt, you could reach the pinnacle there. But your ambition... Merlin's bitter tea seeds, why is your ambition this?"

"If I sorted you into Slytherin, Slytherin would hate me to death." Wayne's old face actually reddened for once.

His ambition... Ahem, better left unmentioned. Strengthening the Lawrence family was the duty of his generation!

"Then Ravenclaw. Clever little minds are very popular in Ravenclaw! You could also fulfill your ambition while you're at it. Ravenclaw has the most girls—"

Wayne could not take it anymore. "Old Hat, why haven't you mentioned Hufflepuff?" The Sorting Hat fell silent.

Perhaps it was because of Wayne's novel form of address, but more likely because... it was astonished by Wayne's utter lack of self-awareness.

"No." The Sorting Hat asked somewhat incoherently, "Where exactly do you see the qualities Hufflepuff requires in yourself?"

"What do you mean by that?" Wayne was displeased. Which one did he lack? "Loyalty?"

"My underlings are all very loyal to me. Back in primary school, no one dared betray me." The Sorting Hat said, "Is that what it means?"

"Kindness?"

"I can't even be bothered to step on ants by the roadside."

"Perseverance?"

"I'm always SP." Wayne answered that last one with absolute certainty.

The Sorting Hat: "..."

"Do you really want to go to Hufflepuff?" The Sorting Hat had already been talked in circles. It felt that nothing Wayne said was wrong, yet there was something very wrong with all of it.

Fortunately, a little wizard's wishes also carried considerable weight in Sorting, so it asked again.

"Absolutely. Hurry up, and when I have time, I'll bring you a set of Muggle hat-care tools."

"Deal." The Sorting Hat became interested.

A dirty deal was struck. The Sorting Hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!" With the matter settled, thunderous applause erupted throughout the Great Hall, everyone sincerely offering their congratulations.

Except for Hermione. The little witch was somewhat disappointed. She had hoped Wayne would go to Ravenclaw, so she would have someone to accompany her in class.

That was way too long!

A full fifteen minutes! Hogwarts had actually produced another Sorting Hat incident—meaning a student for whom the Sorting Hat could not decide a house for over five minutes. The entire school, teachers and students alike, remembered the name Wayne Lawrence.

Looking back through history, only two Sorting Hat incidents besides Wayne had occurred in this century.

One was Peter Pettigrew, the deceased recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class.

The other was Professor McGonagall, who was standing beside Wayne.

Watching Wayne remove the hat, nod to her, and run over to the Hufflepuff table.

She had considered several possible outcomes. Wayne might have gone to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or even Slytherin.

But she had never expected it to be Hufflepuff in the end.

She called out the next little wizard's name and discreetly glanced at the Sorting Hat. Could the hat have worked so long that it had lost its mind? "Over here!"

Cedric enthusiastically rose and waved. The students beside him made room for Wayne, and only after he sat down did Cedric lower his voice and say,

"You're incredible. Fifteen whole minutes—I could barely stand it." Wayne watched Cedric rub his stomach in horror.

"I'm starving to death already. Your year took so long." Oh, that was what he meant. Wayne had nearly jumped out of his skin. "How long did you take?"

"Me? Three seconds and it was done. Fast, right?"

"Too fast." Wayne gave him a thumbs-up, and Cedric looked thoroughly pleased. The following students went much more smoothly, until Harry Potter appeared and caused another uproar in the Great Hall.

When he was sorted into Gryffindor, the twins and several students nearby nearly flipped the table over.

Chapter 23: Professor McGonagall Settles Accounts After Autumn (Please send flowers and votes)

After the last student, Blaise Zabini, was sorted into Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment, took the Sorting Hat, and returned to Dumbledore's right-hand side.

The little wizards all looked expectantly at the headmaster, waiting for him to give the word so they could dig in.

Dumbledore rose with a beaming smile and spread his arms, as though nothing delighted him more than seeing the students gathered together.

"Welcome!" he said in a Sonorus voice. "Welcome to Hogwarts for the start of a new school year. Before the feast, I would like to say a few words. They are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

"Thank you all!"

Old Dumbledore sat down again, and everyone applauded and cheered. Diagonally across from Wayne, a Little Badger looked utterly bewildered. "What do those words mean? What did the headmaster mean?"

"Are you a Ravenclaw?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Of course I'm a Hufflepuff." "Then why do you care? Hurry up and eat!"

The previously empty plates filled with food: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steak, mashed potatoes, fries, pudding, all kinds of vegetables, gravy, sauces, even peppermint hard candies.

In terms of variety, it was absolutely lavish, especially for Britain, that culinary wasteland.

You could not ask for more from a culinary wasteland where even state banquets were French cuisine. Wayne ate fairly well. He was not a picky eater; as long as the ingredients were good, steaks and lamb chops would not taste bad even when casually prepared.

He also saw Ron at the Gryffindor table, holding a drumstick in each hand and eating so frantically that he wished he could swallow one in every bite.

Wayne felt Ron should have been sorted into Hufflepuff. This was a foodie's paradise. The other houses chatted while eating, but among the Little Badgers, there was only eating. Cedric had only managed a few words with Wayne at first; later, his cheeks were stuffed full, yet he still remembered to put a huge drumstick on Wayne's plate.

He really... Wayne could cry.

At the High Table, Snape was talking with Quirrell. Quirrell had a turban wrapped around his head, making him look even more like an Arab.

Professor McGonagall was also speaking quietly into Professor Sprout's ear, and Sprout looked somewhat displeased.

"Lawrence, can you get me two Yorkshire puddings?" Iron Hat King asked pitifully from one seat away.

"Just call me Wayne, Hannah." Wayne handed her the puddings.

The little girl gave him a cute smile, her pigtails swinging as she lowered her head and continued eating.

A milky-white ghost sat nearby, introducing dishes and recommending those he considered good. Everyone called him the Fat Friar.

Hmm, Wayne's feelings were somewhat complicated:

Wizards, who had been hunted madly by the Church in the Middle Ages, had become friars. That feeling

was really hard to describe.

The feast lasted nearly an hour, and a pile of desserts was served at the end. Wayne respectfully declined. England's desserts were practically pure icing sugar, and he did not want diabetes at such a young age.

Finally, the pudding vanished too. Dumbledore stood, and the Great Hall fell quiet once more.

The little wizards waited for the headmaster's final address.

But just as Dumbledore was about to speak, Professor McGonagall suddenly said, "Please wait, Albus. Before you speak, there are some matters I need to handle." Dumbledore froze. There had never been such a segment before, but he soon smiled gently and let McGonagall speak first.

Though Old Dumbledore was the headmaster, when McGonagall became stern, even he had to avoid her edge.

Dumbledore was nominally the headmaster, but Professor McGonagall was actually the one responsible for the school's daily operations.

"George, Fred, starting tomorrow, the two of you will be in detention. Report to Filch at eight every evening and polish every trophy in the Trophy Room three times. Your detention will be lifted whenever you finish."

The twins, who had been telling jokes to make the girls laugh, froze, then sprang to their feet.

"Why, Professor McGonagall?!"

The twins' eyes were full of confusion and grievance. They might have a bellyful of mischief, but they had just arrived at school and had not even had the chance to do anything.

Had preemptive punishment become fashionable now?

"And you dare ask me?" McGonagall glared sternly at them.

"Who told you to intimidate the little wizards and make the Sorting Ceremony sound so terrifying?"

Sprout also spoke with a smile. She was a plump woman who looked exceptionally gentle.

"Cedric, you go help them too." At that, the twins and Cedric all looked at Wayne. Case closed.

Wayne lowered his head "shyly," as if embarrassed.

"Yes, Professor." The three answered dejectedly. Cedric gritted his teeth and whispered,

"You set us up on purpose!"

Wayne remained impassive. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm a little wizard who just enrolled. I don't understand anything."

"You're too evil. You should have been sorted into Slytherin." Cedric raised his middle finger. The twins exchanged a glance and silently grinned.

Though Wayne had gotten them in trouble, why did they find it even more interesting? He was much more fun than their stupid little brother Ron!

"Enough." Dumbledore spoke, still smiling. "Seeing that you are all still so full of energy, I am much relieved."

"However, I still have a few points of note for everyone."

"First-year students, take note: the forest on the school grounds is forbidden to all students. Our older students should remember that as well."

His bright eyes swept over the twins, but the two were plotting how to get Wayne back and did not notice at all.

It was like winking at the blind.

"Also, Mr. Filch would like me to remind everyone not to perform magic in the corridors between classes."

"Quidditch tryouts will also be held in the second week of this term. Any students interested in joining their house team may contact Madam Hooch."

"Finally, I must tell you all that anyone who does not wish to meet an accident and die a painful death should not enter the corridor on the right-hand side of the fourth floor."

Wayne curled his lip dismissively.

Wasn't that just drawing attention to it?

Old Dumbledore might as well have said that he had buried all treasures and glory in the corridor on the right-hand side of the fourth floor.

Go seek it!

Those little lions were already rubbing their hands together.

"Now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore announced loudly.

All the teachers and students stood, and Wayne rose as well. At the same time, the system in his mind issued a prompt.

Congratulations to the host...

Please give me some data, and thanks as well to boss gk for the reward.

Chapter 24: A Privilege Belonging Only to Hufflepuff

Congratulations, host. You have successfully allowed the Weasley twins and Hufflepuff model student Cedric to witness the treachery of the human heart.

As this is the host's first time displaying "talent" at Hogwarts, points have been doubled. Points +200.

The Great Hall descended into chaos as everyone sang. Dumbledore conjured the lyrics with magic, but there was no score, leaving the students free to improvise.

Wayne mouthed the words on the surface, while his thoughts raced.

He had casually set up the twins and Cedric, and received two hundred points. Even without the first-time doubling bonus—ah, no, the initial doubling—that would still have been one hundred points. It seemed that after the system upgraded, points had become much easier to earn than before.

Back then, he had beaten up every student in his class and only earned a little over a hundred points.

Good. Hogwarts really was his blessed land.

Setting up the twins once earned him a hundred points. If he did it once every three days, then this