Dumbledore's Encouragement

The increase in the number of new students was unexpected, because during the period when these students had been born, the magical energy active in this world theoretically had not yet begun to recover.

But observations were not entirely accurate; there were always some discrepancies. By the time Jon had entered Hogwarts, five years had already passed. For the "lifespan" of the magical world, an error of six years was not a particularly long span of time.

The first-years' faces gleamed a ghastly white in the candlelight. In particular, there was a little boy in the middle of the line who seemed to be trembling all over. He was clearly very nervous, though nervous students like him appeared every year. It was nothing unusual.

The Sorting Hat began to sing. This song was somewhat different from those of previous years. From what Jon remembered of the hat, it likely bore the responsibility of watching over the school, though it had never truly carried out that duty.

After all, it was only a hat.

A magical life was not a true life in the end.

"What is going on?"

Stephen looked somewhat surprised, and the people around him wore the same expression. Though they were clapping stiffly, they were clearly taken aback by this.

"The Sorting Hat is as ancient as Hogwarts itself, so its mission naturally carries a responsibility—to issue appropriate warnings to the school whenever it believes such a warning is necessary."

"But it's only a hat."

"We live in a magical world. Never underestimate anything. What is wrong with a hat? This hat has existed in this world for over a thousand years, and its memories have never been interrupted. Even when I meet it, I have to offer a greeting, because it represents that Founder from the