Sorting Ceremony

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Unlike Hagrid, when Professor McGonagall said those words, her expression was extremely stern, without the slightest hint of a smile.

The first-year witches and wizards could clearly sense that this old professor was not someone to be trifled with. They all quieted down, not daring to whisper among themselves.

"The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before you enter the Great Hall and take your seats, we must first determine which House each of you will enter..." Professor McGonagall briefly explained the Sorting Ceremony and the House Cup.

"When everything over there is ready, I'll come back for you!" Professor McGonagall was about to leave when she casually asked, "While you wait, please remain quiet... Any questions?"

Jon raised his hand high.

"What is it, Mr. Hart?" Clearly, Professor McGonagall still remembered the little wizard who had kicked her once.

"Er, Professor!" Jon cleared his throat. He was certain that, given Professor McGonagall's fairness, she would not hold a month-old accidental mistake against him.

"Earlier, on the train, I met a second-year Hogwarts student. She called me a 'Mudblood'... To be honest, I don't really understand what that word means, but judging by her expression at the time, it didn't seem very friendly!"

Jon's expression was calm, as though he truly did not know what "Mudblood" meant.

"Who was it? How dare she..." Professor McGonagall's face suddenly changed. "How dare she use such an insulting term at Hogwarts! For the past thousand years, Hogwarts has been committed to eliminating prejudice between Pure-blood wizards and Muggle-born wizards..."

"I think she mentioned her name... It seemed to be... Greengrass!"

"Greengrass?" Professor McGonagall's face returned to calm. "Mr. Hart, that is a vicious slur, a defamatory name. Forget what she said. No one would dare call you that at Hogwarts..."

As she spoke, she swept a sharp gaze over the crowd.

Then she left the room.

Jon vaguely heard Professor McGonagall's furious roar coming from the Great Hall:

"Daphne Greengrass, go to my office immediately... Wait for me in the room beside the corridor, at the top of the marble staircase outside the entrance hall!"

"Filius, could you please fetch Severus for me?"

However, Jon did not draw much attention from the first-years.

Their attention was focused mainly on the upcoming Sorting Ceremony.

After all, frightening first-year newcomers about the Sorting Ceremony was a fine Hogwarts tradition passed down through generations.

Astoria should have been eagerly discussing whether the Sorting Ceremony involved taking down a Troll or casting ten spells along with the other first-year witches and wizards. Instead, she stood there in a daze.

"Why did you do that? Sister... Daphne... She'll be expelled..."

"She brought it upon herself," Jon said calmly. "Besides, I don't think Hogwarts would expel a student over a single insult."

"She really didn't mean any harm..."

"I think you should explain that to Professor McGonagall."

"You..."

Astoria turned away, deciding to ignore him from then on.

Jon had no intention of going over to suck up to her. He saw more than twenty ghosts suddenly burst through the wall ahead. The pearly white, translucent ghosts drifted through the room, whispering to one another.

"Ah..." Several timid girls screamed in fright.

"Another batch of first-years!" said the ghost of a plump friar, smiling at them. "I suppose you're here to be tested?"

Before they could answer...

"Move along now," a shrill voice called from the walls around them. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin."

"Form a single line!" Professor McGonagall had returned.

A small commotion broke out among the crowd, but under Professor McGonagall's guidance, they eventually formed a line.

Astoria stood directly in front of Jon... but Astoria had made up her mind not to look back. Two or three yards separated them.

One by one, the young witches and wizards left the room, passed through a narrow corridor, and entered the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

It was a magnificently grand hall. A long table stood on the dais, where all manner of professors sat...

Following Professor McGonagall's instructions, they stood before the long table on the dais with their backs to the teachers.

In front of them were four long tables arranged side by side, where hundreds of older Hogwarts students applauded enthusiastically.

The "ceiling" overhead glittered with starlight, incredibly lifelike... Even though he had been somewhat prepared, Jon could not help but marvel inwardly.

Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool before them... then set a pointed wizard's hat atop it.

This must be the former hat of Godric Gryffindor—the Sorting Hat of today!

The Sorting Hat opened its mouth and began singing one of its own compositions in a raspy voice.

Its singing, like that of a soul singer, truly made one want to cover one's ears.

After several agonizing minutes, the Sorting Hat finally finished performing...

Professor McGonagall stepped forward a few paces, holding a roll of Parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your Sorting," she said. "Sean Avery!"

A tall, freckle-faced boy stumbled out of the crowd and put on the hat.

"Slytherin!"

The table farthest to the right instantly erupted in thunderous cheers, while faint boos came from the table farthest to the left.

The tall boy looked as if a great weight had been lifted from him and hurried over at a trot.

The name Avery seemed somewhat familiar... It sounded like the name of a Death Eater. Another second-generation Death Eater, perhaps?

"Teresa Baker!"

"Ravenclaw!"

This time, the second table from the left applauded, and several Ravenclaw students shook hands with Teresa.

Colin Cleever became Gryffindor's first new student. The table farthest to the left immediately erupted in cheers, and Jon spotted the Weasley twins celebrating there.

"Astoria Greengrass!"

Astoria walked over and placed the hat on her head.

"Slytherin!" The hat had barely touched her hair before it shouted the result.

Perhaps because of her sister, she did not seem particularly happy.

When Jon saw Draco Malfoy making room for Astoria, he could not help letting out a cold snort.

"Jon Hart!" The Sorting Hat immediately called his name next.

Jon rose to his feet, feeling as though the entire Great Hall's gaze had fallen upon him.

Lowering his head slightly, he walked over and put on the Sorting Hat.