After the Sorting Hat finished its song, the entire hall fell silent.
The professors and the older students at the four long tables looked at one another. They had never seen the Sorting Hat as happy as it was today, so much so that even the Sorting Song was a new one.
The students soon began discussing it. They had understood a small part of the Sorting Song, while the rest could only be guessed at wildly.
Moriarty noticed Dumbledore whispering to a female professor wearing large glasses at the professors' table. Through Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles, he could see the solemnity in his eyes.
Was it about the Sorting Song?
Moriarty felt that, at present, the only thing that could draw Dumbledore's attention to him was the Sorting Song.
Obviously, the boy in the song referred to him.
"Hat, your song is the first welcome gift I received upon entering school. I like it very much, so I have a gift for you as well."
Amid the noise, Moriarty's clear voice rang out. The students turned toward him, only to see him wave the Slytherin staff at the Sorting Hat. A thin layer of frost wrapped around it.
"You should pay more attention to your appearance, Hat. Otherwise, you won't be able to meet your old friends."
The Sorting Hat grinned. "Aha, what did you do to me? Cool and itchy—oh, it feels so good. I mean—what a pleasant surprise."
A few seconds later, the frost vanished. The Sorting Hat looked brand-new, restored to how it had been a thousand years ago atop Godric Gryffindor's head: a pristine wizard hat.
"Hey," the Sorting Hat cried. "What you did reminds me of when Salazar and Godric were together. He was always encouraging Godric to clean me.
Well, boy, thank you. Though I don't like being clean, you've brought back the feeling of those days."
"It was nothing," Moriarty said. "I hope you have a happy life, Hat."
A round of applause broke out at the Gryffindor table, praising Moriarty. One red-haired fourth-year even whistled at him. "Nicely done! I've wanted to do that for ages!"
Percy, standing behind Moriarty, covered his forehead. "Oh no, it's Charlie!"
The strange atmosphere that had lingered since the Sorting Song ended was instantly broken, and the students all burst into laughter.
Professor McGonagall had no choice but to raise her voice. "When I call your name, put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your sorting."
"Jericho Blanche!"
A tall, thin boy with short pale blond hair hurried out of the line and put on the hat.
Lilith leaned close to Moriarty and said softly, "Blanche is an American surname. If I remember correctly, he's the son of James Blanche, the current head of the Department of Sports at the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Their family has produced athletes for generations."
Then she smiled at Moriarty. "I bet he'll be sorted into Slytherin."
As soon as she finished speaking, the hat announced in an operatic voice, "Slytherin~"
Jericho Blanche took off the hat and darted toward the Slytherin table, where a less-than-enthusiastic round of applause rose up.
Lilith winked at Moriarty, her slightly raised little face like a bear cub that had just tasted honey.
After that, whenever a pure-blood little wizard stepped forward, she could always rattle off their background and origins.
"Penelope Kriawatt!"
Upon hearing her name called, Penelope looked around at the other new students. Moriarty encouraged her, "Don't be nervous. Relax."
Penelope walked up excitedly, but the moment she put on the hat, her true nature was exposed. She lowered her head and muttered something indistinctly.
"Want to go to Slytherin?" said the Sorting Hat. "Oh, Merlin, there are already enough Slytherin students this year!"
"What? You still want to go to Slytherin?" The Sorting Hat stuck to its opinion. "Ravenclaw can help you achieve your goals faster and better, all right, child?"
Moriarty saw Penelope shaking her head desperately, but the hat was clearly too excited today. Moriarty suspected it was not carefully listening to Penelope's inner voice at all.
"Then—Ravenclaw~"
Penelope's face turned deathly pale. She took off the hat and casually set it on the stool, drawing an indignant cry from it. But she acted as though she had not heard and slowly walked toward the Ravenclaw table, where enthusiastic applause erupted.
Percy looked regretful. "Looks like, out of the four from the compartment, I'm the only Gryffindor."
"Don't lose heart, Weasley," Lilith comforted him. "Great causes have nothing to do with where you are."
At that moment, Professor McGonagall announced melodiously, "Moriarty Slytherin!"
The entire Great Hall fell silent once more. Not even breathing could be heard.
Moriarty was already at the front of the first-years. He only needed to take one step forward to sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat said with a smile, "Come on, put me on quickly. Let me see what you're thinking."
A trace of amusement flashed through Moriarty's eyes. At the Castle, he had learned a few minor spells to prevent others from peering into his thoughts. This was the perfect chance to test them on the hat.
As Moriarty picked up the Sorting Hat, the system prompted: "Detected that the host has discovered and touched a wizard hat capable of independent thought. Obtained two Exploration Draws."
Moriarty did not choose to draw. He put on the Sorting Hat, and in an instant, it cried out, "Oh no..."
The hat wanted to take a look at Moriarty's thoughts, but Moriarty invaded it instead.
From the hat's memories, Moriarty saw several scenes:
A tall man in a bright red uniform pointed a sword at a proud-looking man draped in silver robes, while the silver-robed man aimed a staff at him.
There was also a magnificent Castle—the hat seemed to have been worn on someone's head, allowing it to see inside the Castle.
And then—four wizards pointed their Wands at the hat, wisps of green smoke and white mist rising from their tips...
"Hey! You naughty boy!" The hat let out another shriek, interrupting Moriarty's prying. It said furiously, "You must have learned that old Salazar's probing magic. If you weren't called Slytherin, I'd definitely sort you into Azkaban!"
Both the new and older students let out low cries, but Moriarty did not care in the slightest. He laughed heartily. "I think you must have inherited Godric's sense of humor. You have quite the talent for telling jokes!"
"Really? You mean it?" the Sorting Hat pressed. Its anger from before seemed entirely fake. Now it mused, "Perhaps during the next sorting, I should make the new students line up and tell me jokes. That way, I can quickly judge their character."
Roaring laughter came from the Gryffindor table. Several Little Lions who usually enjoyed pranks cheered loudly. "That's brilliant!"
Seeing that the hat had forgotten its duty, Moriarty gave a light cough. "Stop daydreaming and sort me already. I don't want to become a hat embarrassment."
"All right, all right. I wanted to chat with you a little longer," the hat smacked its lips. "Isn't it obvious? Slytherin should naturally go to Slytherin House!"
The Slytherin table erupted with the loudest cheers and applause. One older student summoned a silver serpent with his Wand and said, "Glory to Slytherin!"
Most of the Little Snakes smiled and applauded, though a few wore inscrutable expressions.
Moriarty walked to the Slytherin table. Everyone rose, wanting to shake his hand, but the oldest prefect, William Romot, stopped them.
Moriarty recognized him as the one who had summoned the silver serpent. He told the students to continue watching the sorting, then arranged for Moriarty to sit beside a delicate, adorable girl.
"Hello, Mr. Moriarty. I'm Gemma Farley, your third-year senior."
This senior had coffee-brown hair that fell to her waist and a pair of emerald-green eyes. At that moment, she was smiling at Moriarty.
Moriarty greeted her politely, and they watched the sorting together.
After two more new students were sorted into Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively, Professor McGonagall called, "Lilith Peverell!"
Before you continue