The Sorting Ceremony and the Banquet

(The previous chapter's author's note was updated to explain a few things. I hope everyone can go back and take a look. It can't be helped—I'm just this humble.)

After passing through a narrow corridor, the new students arrived at Hogwarts' Great Hall under Professor McGonagall's guidance.

Candles floating in midair illuminated the hall; gleaming golden plates and goblets, ghosts mingling among the students with hazy silver glows, and thousands of stars above the vaulted ceiling slowly turning in the darkness, radiating a mysterious light.

Everything was just like in the novels!

Jon looked through the crowd toward the teachers' table on the dais. At its center sat a white-bearded old man. His glasses obscured his eyes, but his tall frame alone carried an unusual air of authority.

Hogwarts' headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.

But if Jon had not known the man's personality beforehand, it would have been hard to see his kindly nature from his expression. It was equally difficult to imagine that this stern old man had spent his life entangled with the infamous Dark Lord, Gellert Grindelwald.

Then there was that tattered hat singing away.

It stood atop a tall four-legged stool, tormenting the new students with its grating voice. The stains on its surface also made Jon deeply uncomfortable.

Fine. Endure it, and it would be over soon.

Jon pinched his nose and took two steps back, nearly bumping into a black-haired little girl beside him.

Huh? Why did this girl look so familiar?

Before Jon could remember who she was, Professor McGonagall's voice rang down from the dais.

"Marietta Edgecombe."

A medium-height girl hurried out of the crowd and nearly tripped. Amid everyone's laughter, she put on the hat.

"Ravenclaw!"

Cheers erupted from the second long table on the left. Marietta Edgecombe nervously ran over and happily shook hands with the Ravenclaw students.

Was this the girl who would betray Dumbledore's Army?

She probably had no idea she would achieve something so "great" in the future.

Half of Jon's attention was focused on searching for familiar faces, leaving only one ear to listen to the names.

Katie Bell was sorted into Gryffindor. The Weasley twins stood up to welcome her—their red hair was simply too conspicuous. The somewhat serious red-haired young man beside them was probably Charlie Weasley.

Over at Hufflepuff, he saw only one familiar face: Cedric Diggory. Sitting among the Hufflepuff students, Cedric did not seem reserved at all, completely unlike how he had been on the train. Bella sat at the Ravenclaw table, smiling at Jon. She was probably waiting to see whether he would end up in Gryffindor or Slytherin—Jon had always felt that he could not see any conflict between Ravenclaw and Slytherin on this point.

In the brief time he and Bella exchanged looks, Ravenclaw gained another new student: Eddie Carmichael—another familiar name.

Slytherin, meanwhile, seemed steeped in solemnity. Every one of those aristocratic students sat perfectly upright, observing proper table manners.

So far, only three new students had joined Slytherin. That was not a good sign; Gryffindor already had seven new students.

Just as he was preparing to enjoy the show, Professor McGonagall called his name.

"Jon Smith."

There was nothing special about that name. Smith was the most common surname in the British Isles, and Jon was an equally common given name.

There was absolutely none of the all-eyes-on-Harry-Potter feeling. That was wonderful.

He walked onto the dais and let Professor McGonagall place the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Wow, difficult. Very difficult!"

A shrill voice sounded beside Jon's ear.

"Your magic is powerful, you have courage, your heart is not bad, and you have decent talent..."

I want to go to Hufflepuff!

Jon silently repeated in his mind.

"What? Are you sure? I think a Young Wizard like you could certainly go to Gryffindor."

The Sorting Hat's shrill voice seemed somewhat incredulous.

I want to go to Hufflepuff!

"Without question, you possess every quality needed to become a Hufflepuff student, but I don't think that would be a very good choice... Ravenclaw would be nice too."

I want to go to Hufflepuff!

"Don't you have any other thoughts?" The Sorting Hat was becoming impatient. "Both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw can help you become an outstanding wizard... And if all else fails, Slytherin would work too."

"Enough nonsense. I want Hufflepuff. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll give you a bath!"

Sorting Hat: "...Fine then, Hufflepuff!"

Smiling, Jon took off the hat and handed it back to Professor McGonagall before walking toward the cheering Hufflepuff table.

No one found it strange. Just like his name, he belonged in an ordinary, unremarkable house like Hufflepuff. The only one somewhat surprised was Bella.

But Bella merely let out a soft sigh and said nothing else.

Jon sat among the Hufflepuff students and shook hands with several people around him. Cedric was the only one who knew him, so they could exchange a few words. Since Cedric, that universally well-liked fellow, knew Jon, every Hufflepuff was willing to say a few words to him.

Even without Cedric, they would have been like this.

Jon smiled at everyone who greeted him, but said nothing else. He acted as though he was very hungry. Of course, everyone was hungry, so no one found it strange.

One other thing worth mentioning was that when Professor McGonagall called the final name, Jon finally remembered who the girl he had nearly bumped into was.

Cho Chang, the future girlfriend of Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory.

Hogwarts really was small.

The spark of matchmaking opposition Jon had just stamped out flared up again. He decided to nip any possibility between Bella and Cedric in the bud, then get Cedric to fall in love with Cho Chang as soon as possible.

He firmly believed that as long as his little butterfly flapped its wings hard enough, preventing a few deaths should not be a problem.

After the Sorting Hat called the last student into Ravenclaw, Professor McGonagall picked it up and left. Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet.

Beaming at the students, he spread his arms wide, as though nothing made him happier than seeing them all gathered together.

"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. They are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the empty plates on the long tables suddenly filled with food, and the hall immediately burst into laughter and cheers.

Perhaps this was a pretty good start?

Jon cut himself a piece of Pumpkin Pie and began enjoying the feast.

The Hogwarts House-elves were excellent cooks. During this year before Harry Potter enrolled, perhaps he could have a pleasant school life.

How nice.

Smiling, Jon raised the Watermelon Juice beside him and clinked it against Cedric's. "Happy new school year!"

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