Lilith walked gracefully to the stool, picked up the hat, and sat down. Every movement and expression was impeccable.
"Why aren't you putting me on?" The hat was puzzled as Lilith turned it over and examined it in her hands.
"I just feel there's something a little strange about you." Lilith's lips curled slightly. "But don't worry, I won't look for long. If Mr. Moriarty hasn't cleaned you, I'll cast Aguamenti first, then Scourgify."
"Oh, Merlin's hat! Every little wizard has wanted to do that for centuries, but you're the first one who dared to say it!"
The hat cried out in shock, and then, with a clang, a sword fell out of it and landed in Lilith's hands.
Lilith swiftly raised the sword, allowing everyone to see it clearly. It was a gleaming silver blade, its hilt set with a dazzling ruby as large as an egg.
"The Sword of Gryffindor!"
The students' eyes widened, and even the professors at the staff table rose to their feet.
Moriarty noticed a flash of surprise in Dumbledore's eyes. Clearly, this had caught him off guard.
But Moriarty felt it was only natural that Lilith had drawn the Sword of Gryffindor.
She was confident and brave, challenged rules, and was bold, passionate, and contemptuous of the law.
Lilith shared far too many qualities with Godric Gryffindor.
The Sorting Hat clearly thought so too. Without waiting for Lilith to put it on, it loudly declared, "Gryffindor! You must be a Gryffindor!"
"No—" Lilith protested. "I haven't put you on yet. You can't sort me early!"
Lilith pressed the hat onto her head and stated the House she wanted. "Slytherin! You'd better not get it wrong. Every Peverell is a Slytherin!"
"Slytherin? No, no, no. You drew the sword. Gryffindor will help you succeed." The hat began trying to persuade her.
"Who said that drawing the Sword of Gryffindor means I have to be sorted into Gryffindor House?" Lilith refused to yield.
"Well... no one has said that, but..." The hat gathered its words. "Do you remember the story I told about the Sword of Gryffindor and the Slytherin staff? The Slytherin staff has returned, and its old friend ought to be held by a little wizard as well, so they can continue their duel."
"What? You mean I should hold this sword and duel Mr. Moriarty?" Lilith's gaze flickered back and forth between the sword and Moriarty.
"Though I would very much like to exchange magic with Mr. Moriarty, and I wouldn't mind trying to challenge the Slytherin family's magic, dueling with a sword is absolutely not a good idea."
The hat grew anxious. "You need to get used to it. It can cut through most things, and there aren't many things that can stand against the Slytherin staff."
"But I'm a witch!" Lilith looked utterly resolute, then her eyes rolled mischievously.
"If you don't sort me into Slytherin, I'll use the Sword of Gryffindor to cut you open and see whether there's a monster hidden inside you!"
"Hey! You're threatening me. That doesn't look very Gryffindor!" The hat wriggled on Lilith's head.
"Ha." Lilith let out an exaggerated laugh. "The law doesn't say I can't cut open the Sorting Hat with the Sword of Gryffindor."
"You..." the hat said indignantly. "Fine, then..."
"Say it, say it!" Lilith waved the sword. "You've wasted too much time. I don't want to become a hat embarrassment because of this!"
"Hmm, let me see what exactly you're thinking. Someone who can draw the Sword of Gryffindor wants to go to Slytherin?" As if deliberately stalling for time, the hat said slowly, "Is it because of that boy from before?"
Lilith blushed. "I've changed my mind. I'm going to sew your mouth shut!"
"Sigh, Gryffindor will help you achieve success quickly, but your thoughts are so very Slytherin..." The hat pondered seriously.
A full ten minutes passed before the hat reluctantly shouted, "Slytherin..."
The cry sounded utterly listless. Lilith immediately felt relieved, took off the hat, and glared at it fiercely several times. "You made me into a hat embarrassment! Thanks so much!"
"You're welcome. I hope you remember me."
Lilith walked toward the Slytherin table, where another wave of cheers erupted. This time, the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables were cheering too.
The Gryffindors thought being a hat embarrassment was cool, while the Hufflepuffs thought Lilith was a genius.
"Miss Peverell," Professor McGonagall suddenly said, "leave the Sword of Gryffindor behind."
Lilith tilted her head. "Doesn't it belong to me?"
"For centuries, students have occasionally drawn the Sword of Gryffindor, but it belongs to no student."
"But strictly speaking, I didn't draw it out. It fell into my hand on its own..."
Lilith wanted to give more examples, but when she saw Professor McGonagall's expression growing more and more like Professor Snape's, she wisely chose to shut up. After handing the sword to Professor McGonagall, she went to the table and sat beside Moriarty.
Professor McGonagall stared at her for quite some time before calling the next name. The Sorting Hat had lost interest; the moment it touched the new student's head, the student was sorted into Hufflepuff.
The final new student was Percy Weasley. The hat cried dramatically, "Another Weasley! Without a doubt, Gryffindor~"
Professor McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat and left, while Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts for the start of a new school year! Before the feast begins, I would like to say a few words."
Dumbledore turned his gaze toward the Slytherin table and met Moriarty's eyes. "This year, Hogwarts has welcomed the descendant of Headmaster Salazar Slytherin, young Mr. Moriarty.
"Although I have never advocated giving privileges to the children of headmasters or School Governors, considering that for over a thousand years Hogwarts has continuously produced outstanding wizards for the international magical world, I believe that this time we should raise our glasses in remembrance of the Four Founders.
"To Slytherin!"
Dumbledore raised his goblet. Moriarty suspected the liquid inside might have been honey.
Little Wizards could not drink alcohol, so their goblets were filled with all sorts of drinks. Holding the gravy ice cream Lilith had prepared for him, Moriarty rose alongside the professors and students. "To Slytherin!"
The Little Snakes' cheers were especially fervent. The entire school raised a toast to Slytherin together, and this made them happier than Slytherin winning the House Cup three years in a row.
"What delights me is that this year, a little wizard drew the Sword of Gryffindor." Dumbledore smiled at Lilith. Everyone was looking at her, but Lilith showed no shyness. She sat properly, staring straight ahead.
"As an old Gryffindor alumnus, I regret that you did not choose Gryffindor." Dumbledore's words resonated with the Little Lions, but he swiftly changed direction. "However, as headmaster, I am proud that you possess the fine qualities of both Slytherin and Gryffindor.
"Almost every wizard who graduates from Hogwarts says that Slytherin House and Gryffindor House are as incompatible as fire and water, but this is not conducive to unity."
Dumbledore's gaze behind his glasses turned serious. Professor McGonagall looked worriedly at Dumbledore, then at the students at the tables. "Albus, it is too early to say such things."
"Not at all, Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore looked utterly matter-of-fact. "The Slytherin staff and the Sword of Gryffindor have appeared at Hogwarts together. Isn't that obvious enough?
"As the Sorting Hat said, what pair of good friends in this world could possibly compare to Gryffindor and Slytherin!
"Then let us toast to great friendship, to Gryffindor!"
The crowd rose with Dumbledore. "To Gryffindor!"
"Ah, I was just speaking of friendship." This time, Dumbledore turned his gaze toward the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. "What friends in this world could be better than Slytherin and Gryffindor? Unless you count another pair of close friends—Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
"Oh, speaking of that, it reminds me of an ancient legend. It says that each of the Four Founders of Hogwarts had a weapon of their own."
The students' interest was instantly stirred. William asked loudly, "Excuse me, sir? Do you mean Slytherin's Locket, Hufflepuff's Cup, and Ravenclaw's Diadem?"
"No, no." Dumbledore slowly shook his head. "Those are the Four Founders' relics, while I am speaking of their weapons.
"According to some lost records, Salazar Slytherin's weapon was a staff, not a locket. How could a locket be a weapon? You can't expect Slytherin to hold up a locket and cast spells at Gryffindor."
Dumbledore made a joke, then winked at Moriarty. "On that point, I believe young Mr. Moriarty can provide proof."
Many people secretly looked toward Moriarty's Slytherin staff. Moriarty showed no reaction, quietly listening to Dumbledore tell his story.
"And the Sword of Gryffindor—without question, it is both Gryffindor's relic and his weapon."
Dumbledore was suddenly interrupted by a girl. "Professor, stop always talking about Slytherin and Gryffindor. What were Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw's weapons?
"I think we are more interested in their weapons. What girl wouldn't want to become a beautiful and powerful witch like Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff?"
"Yes!"
"That's right!"
"Professor, tell us quickly!"
The girls from all four Houses were thrilled, chattering away to their companions about their dreams.
The atmosphere instantly changed from solemn to lively. To show off in front of the girls, some of the boys could no longer sit still either. Several Little Lions even banged on their plates, urging Dumbledore to tell them faster.
Looking at the Great Hall, noisy yet brimming with vitality, Dumbledore smiled, as though nothing could make him happier.
"All right, all right. Perhaps what I say will disappoint you, but I do not wish to hide it—so far as I know, no person, record, or material has revealed what Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff's weapons were. There is not even a clue.
"After all, they had Wands too. It is difficult for people to imagine what their other weapons might have been."
At this, the disappointed cries of the girls nearly blew the roof off—if Hogwarts had one.
Dumbledore had no choice but to raise his voice. "However, I do have an immature idea. Would you like to hear it?"
"Tell us already! Professor, you always like keeping us in suspense!" It was that Hufflepuff girl again.
Dumbledore smiled at her. "All right, all right, Tonks. You are always so impatient. Hmm, let me think... Ravenclaw's other weapon may have been knowledge, while Hufflepuff's other weapon may have been a large cauldron!"
???
No one could make head or tail of it. They quickly realized this was another of Dumbledore's jokes. Tonks angrily gulped down a large cup of ice cream, Lilith looked utterly speechless, while Penelope blushed as she laughed.
Dumbledore rose again. "As for the last two weapons, you shall seek and explore them yourselves. Let us toast to the most precious treasure—knowledge—and give thanks for the delicious food upon our tables!"
Everyone understood the deeper meaning and raised their goblets once more. "To Ravenclaw! To Hufflepuff!"
"Eat up," Dumbledore said, spreading his arms. "Ladies and gentlemen, eat your fill."
Before you continue