Dumbledore Tells a Story

Lilith walked gracefully to the stool, picked up the hat, and sat down. Every movement and expression was impeccable.

"Why don't you put me on?" The hat, turned over and over in Lilith's hands, was confused.

"I just feel you're a little strange," Lilith's lips curved slightly. "But don't worry, I won't look for long. If Mr. Moriarty didn't clean you, I'll cast a 'Clear Water' and then a 'Scouring Charm' on you."

"Oh, Merlin's beard! Every little wizard for centuries has wanted to do that, but you're the first to dare say it!"

The hat shouted in shock, and then with a clang, a sword fell out of it, landing in Lilith's hand.

Lilith, quick as lightning, raised the sword. Everyone saw clearly that it was a shining silver sword, its hilt inlaid with a dazzling, egg-sized ruby.

"The Sword of Gryffindor!"

The students' eyes widened, and even the professors at the high table stood up.

Moriarty noticed a flash of surprise in Dumbledore's eyes; clearly, this was unexpected.

But Moriarty felt it was only natural for Lilith to draw the Sword of Gryffindor.

She was confident, brave, and challenged rules. Bold, passionate, and defied laws.

Lilith shared too many qualities with Godric Gryffindor.

The Sorting Hat clearly agreed. Without waiting for Lilith to put it on, it loudly declared, "Gryffindor! You must be a Gryffindor!"

"No—" Lilith retorted. "I haven't put the hat on yet, you can't sort me in advance!"

Lilith placed the hat on her head and stated the house she wanted to go to: "Slytherin! You'd better not be mistaken, every Peverell is a Slytherin!"

"Slytherin? No, no, no, you drew the sword, Gryffindor will help you succeed." The hat tried to persuade her.

"Who says drawing the Sword of Gryffindor means you must be sorted into Gryffindor House?" Lilith refused to back down.

"Well... no one has ever said that, but..." The hat organized its words. "Do you remember the story I told you about the Sword of Gryffindor and the Slytherin staff? The Slytherin staff has returned, and its old friend should also be held by a young wizard to continue their duel."

"What? Are you saying I should duel Mr. Moriarty with this sword?" Lilith's gaze flickered between the sword and Moriarty.

"Although I'd love to exchange magical knowledge with Mr. Moriarty and I don't mind trying to challenge Slytherin's family magic, dueling with a sword is definitely not a good idea."

The hat grew anxious. "You need to get used to it. It can cut through most things. You know, not much can rival the Slytherin staff."

"But I'm a wizard!" Lilith looked very determined, then she rolled her eyes mischievously.

"If you don't sort me into Slytherin, I'll cut you open with the Sword of Gryffindor to see if there's a monster hidden inside!"

"Hey! You're threatening me, that's not very Gryffindor-like!" The hat squirmed 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..."

"Hurry up and say it!" Lilith brandished the sword. "You've wasted too much time, I don't want to be a hat-stand because of this!"

"Hmm, let me see what you're really thinking. Someone who can draw the Sword of Gryffindor wants to go to Slytherin?" The hat, as if deliberately stalling for time, 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!"

"Alas, Gryffindor will help you succeed quickly, but your thoughts are very Slytherin..." The hat pondered seriously.

After a full ten minutes, the hat reluctantly shouted, "Slytherin..."

The voice sounded weak and listless. Lilith felt a great sense of relief and took off the hat, glaring at it fiercely. "You made me a hat-stand! Thank you!"

"You're welcome. I hope you remember me."

Lilith walked towards the Slytherin table, where cheers erupted again. This time, the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables were also cheering.

The Gryffindors thought being a hat-stand was cool, and the Hufflepuffs thought Lilith was a genius.

"Miss Peverell," Professor McGonagall suddenly said, "Please leave the Sword of Gryffindor here."

Lilith tilted her head. "Doesn't it belong to me?"

"For centuries, students have drawn the Sword of Gryffindor, but it doesn't belong to any student."

"But strictly speaking, I didn't pull it out; it just automatically fell into my hand..."

Lilith wanted to offer more examples, but seeing Professor McGonagall's expression turn increasingly like Professor Snape's, she wisely chose to shut her mouth. After handing the sword to Professor McGonagall, she walked to the long table and sat next to Moriarty.

Professor McGonagall stared at her for a while before calling out the next name. The Sorting Hat lost its enthusiasm. As soon as the hat touched the new student's head, it sorted him into Hufflepuff.

The last new student was Percy Weasley. The hat exclaimed dramatically, "Another Weasley! Without a doubt, Gryffindor~"

Professor McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat and left. Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome everyone to Hogwarts for the start of a new school year! Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words."

Dumbledore's gaze fell upon the Slytherin table, and he met Moriarty's eyes. "This year, Hogwarts welcomes the descendant of Headmaster Salazar Slytherin, young Mr. Moriarty.

Although I never advocate for privileges for the children of headmasters or governors, given that for over a thousand years, Hogwarts has continuously provided the international magical world with outstanding wizards, I think this time we should raise our glasses to commemorate the four founders.

To Slytherin!"

Dumbledore raised his goblet. Moriarty suspected the liquid inside might be honey.

Young wizards couldn't drink, so their goblets were filled with various liquids. Moriarty, holding the meatball ice cream Lilith had prepared for him, stood up with the professors and students. "To Slytherin!"

The little snakes' cheers were particularly fervent. The entire school, faculty and students, toasted Slytherin together. This made them happier than Slytherin winning the House Cup for three consecutive years.

"To my delight, one young wizard this year managed to draw the Sword of Gryffindor," Dumbledore said, glancing with a smile at Lilith. Everyone was looking at her, but Lilith showed no shyness, sitting upright and looking straight ahead.

"As an old Gryffindor, I regret that you didn't choose Gryffindor," Dumbledore's words resonated with the young lions, but he quickly changed his tone. "However, as Headmaster, I am proud that you can possess the excellent qualities of both Slytherin and Gryffindor.

Almost every wizard who graduated from Hogwarts said that Slytherin House and Gryffindor House were incompatible, but this situation is not conducive to unity."

Dumbledore's gaze under his glasses turned serious. Professor McGonagall glanced worriedly at Dumbledore, then at the students at the long table. "Albus, it's too early to say these things now."

"It's not too early at all, Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore said matter-of-factly. "With the Slytherin staff and the Sword of Gryffindor appearing together at Hogwarts, isn't that obvious?

As the Sorting Hat said, what better friends are there in this world than Gryffindor and Slytherin!

So, let us toast to great friendship, let us toast to Gryffindor!"

People stood up with Dumbledore. "To Gryffindor!"

"Ah, just now I was talking about friendship," Dumbledore's gaze shifted to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. "What friends in this world are better than Slytherin and Gryffindor? Unless you count another pair of close friends—Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

Oh, speaking of which, it reminds me of an ancient legend that says each of the four founders of Hogwarts had their own weapon."

The students' interest was immediately piqued. William asked loudly, "Excuse me, sir? Are you talking about the Slytherin locket, the Hufflepuff cup, and the Ravenclaw diadem?"

"No, no," Dumbledore slowly shook his head. "You are talking about the relics of the four founders, while I am talking about the weapons of the four founders.

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 a locket and cast spells at Gryffindor."

Dumbledore made a joke and then winked at Moriarty. "On this point, I think young Mr. Moriarty can attest to that."

Many people secretly looked at Moriarty's Slytherin staff. Moriarty showed no reaction and quietly listened to Dumbledore tell the story.

"And the Sword of Gryffindor—undoubtedly both a relic of Gryffindor and his weapon."

Dumbledore was suddenly interrupted by a girl who said, "Professor, don't always talk about Slytherin and Gryffindor. What were the weapons of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

I think we are more interested in their weapons. Which girl doesn't want to be as beautiful and powerful a witch as Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff."

"Yes!"

"That's right!"

"Professor, hurry up and tell us!"

The girls from the four houses were extremely excited, chattering to their companions about their dreams.

The atmosphere suddenly shifted from solemn to enthusiastic. To show off in front of the girls, some boys couldn't sit still either. A few young lions even tapped their plates, urging Dumbledore to speak faster.

Seeing the hall, though noisy, full of vitality, Dumbledore smiled. Nothing seemed to make him happier than this.

"Alright, alright, perhaps I will disappoint you when I say it, but I don't want to hide it—as far as I know, there is currently no one, no record, or document that shows what the weapons of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were. There isn't even a clue.

After all, they also had wands, and it's hard for people to imagine what their other weapons might be."

At this moment, the disappointed voices of the girls almost shook the roof—if Hogwarts had one.

Dumbledore had to speak loudly. "However, I do have a rather immature thought. Do you want to hear it?"

"Hurry up and tell us! Professor, you always like to keep us in suspense!" It was that Hufflepuff girl again.

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Alright, alright, Tonks, you're always impatient. Well, let me think... Ravenclaw's other weapon might be knowledge, and Hufflepuff's other weapon might be a cauldron!"

???

Everyone was confused and quickly realized this was another joke from Dumbledore. Tonks, annoyed, took a large gulp of ice cream. Lilith looked speechless, while Penelope blushed and smiled.

Dumbledore stood up again. "For the last two weapons, I leave it to you to find and explore. Let us toast to the most precious treasure—knowledge, and thank you for the delicious food on the table!"

Everyone understood the implied meaning and raised their cups again. "To Ravenclaw! To Hufflepuff!"

"Eat up," Dumbledore said, spreading his arms. "Ladies and gentlemen, eat to your heart's content."