Sorting Ceremony

Most Hogwarts professors paid little attention to their personal image.

Those like Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were even rarer.

The former wore a light-colored wizard robe today, paired with an intricately embroidered silk outer robe. The translucent silk adorning the hem made him look like an immortal.

Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, wore a emerald green wizard robe and a matching hat. Combined with her stern expression and crisp movements, she exuded an extraordinary presence.

As for Voldemort... he donned a full set of elegant wizard robes. The avant-garde, form-fitting design garnered considerable attention, while also drawing a disdainful glance from Snape.

But Voldemort paid no mind to his contempt, instead meeting his gaze with interest.

As a master of Legilimency, Snape's deep eyes held nothing but disdain. Yet, Voldemort was content to meet Snape's gaze.

The eternal love of Harry Potter fans could only be reserved for Snape--Voldemort, in Lin Zuo's main consciousness, would always reveal more curiosity, but this also served to effectively hide his true identity.

At least no one would suspect that this young man, always smiling and eager to ask questions, was Voldemort himself.

"Hagrid, no need to be nervous, relax a little." After meeting Snape's gaze, Voldemort looked at Hagrid beside him--Hagrid had been assigned a seat on the staff bench due to his position as associate professor.

"I'm not nervous, just a bit uncomfortable," Hagrid said, shifting in his seat.

Professor Kettleburn, sitting on his other side, patted his shoulder in comfort. Further away, Professor Trelawney, the Divination professor, gazed at Hagrid with bleary eyes.

"You will be in a dilemma, a choice between darkness and light, deciding the fate of many," she said in a hoarse voice.

The professors paid her no mind, and even Hagrid shrugged indifferently--compared to her death prophecies, this was nothing.

Only Dumbledore, seated on the golden throne, looked at Hagrid with confusion. Voldemort, beside Hagrid, also showed a flicker of confusion in his eyes as he fiddled with his bracelet.

Damn it, could this guy have succeeded with another intermittent prophecy... he thought.

"Quiet, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." Amplified by the Amplifying Charm, Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the Great Hall.

The students at the four long tables gradually quieted down at Professor McGonagall's words. The ghosts also stopped talking, floating above the tables or within the walls.

Professor McGonagall led the first-year students into the hall, lining them up in a row before the staff table. Voldemort noticed one student's cloak tie was fastened beneath his left ear.

"So nostalgic," Voldemort murmured to Hagrid. "I wish I could experience it again."

"Me too," Hagrid replied perfunctorily, still looking a bit nervous.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall had placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-year students, and upon it rested the patched Sorting Hat.

In the silent dining hall, all eyes were focused on the Sorting Hat. Then, a slit opened in the hat, and it began to sing.

In its song, Gryffindor was described as the epitome of bravery, courage, and boldness.

Hufflepuff was described as the epitome of honesty, loyalty, hard work, and sincerity.

Ravenclaw was described as the epitome of shrewdness, wisdom, and learned intelligence.

But when it came to Slytherin, it said:

Perhaps you'll be in Slytherin, perhaps you'll make true friends there, but those cunning and treacherous will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

This made Voldemort raise an eyebrow, a smile forming on his lips--bravery linked with arrogance, breeding prejudice, how very Gryffindor.

While he pondered, the Sorting Hat finished its song, and the entire house applauded, Slytherin included. This made Voldemort, who was applauding with a smile, deeply displeased:

Allowing others to slander you will only make you the bearer of all sins. These students should learn to resist. No one is always right, and a hat certainly isn't.

The resentment in his heart was not outwardly expressed, but he firmly kept it in mind--the little snakes of Slytherin, the gates of hell have opened!

After the applause, Professor McGonagall took out a parchment scroll.

"I will now call out the names. Whoever is called steps forward, puts on the hat, sits on the stool, and awaits sorting," she said. "Hannah Abbott!"

A rosy-cheeked young girl with two blonde braids stumbled out of the line, put on the hat, which covered her eyes.

She sat down. After a moment's pause-- "HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.

The students at the right table applauded and cheered for Hannah. The Fat Friar ghost also waved happily at her.

"Susan Bones!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Terry Boot!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

More and more students were sorted. Voldemort's gaze locked onto a little girl.

"Hermione Granger!"

Called out, she scurried nervously to the chair. After putting on the hat, she was immediately sorted into Gryffindor.

I wish it were Ravenclaw... Voldemort thought.

"The students are quite lively this year," Professor Flitwick remarked. "They weren't this excited in previous years."

"There wasn't Harry Potter in previous years," Hagrid said. "His arrival will inspire everyone."

The professors chuckled. No one responded, but the agreement was evident.

The boy who lived could inspire more than just the new students; many among the professors held high expectations for him.

Voldemort's gaze drifted to Dumbledore's back, wondering how his "upbringing plan" would unfold--especially if he refused to cooperate.

When he withdrew his gaze, he noticed the dining hall had grown quiet, everyone waiting. Voldemort also looked towards the boy with the Sorting Hat on his head—the one who had fastened his cloak clasp incorrectly.

"Gryffindor."

After a long deliberation, the hat shouted. The boy, still wearing the hat, ran towards the table, causing everyone to burst into laughter and making the boy blush.

"Neville Longbottom, a true warrior. I wonder if he can achieve anything, at least his parents aren't dead," Voldemort murmured inwardly.

Ever since he had witnessed Hagrid's bravery, he had wanted a subordinate like him. Of course, calling him a companion would also do, but that was difficult, wasn't it?

After Neville came Malfoy. The brat swaggered up, drawing everyone's attention. Voldemort sneered inwardly.

If he had to choose one student he could place high hopes on, it would undoubtedly be Malfoy. However, this brat needed to be trained.

"If hell has eighteen levels, then the eighteenth level has already opened for you, my loyal Mr. Malfoy..." Voldemort murmured inwardly.

After Malfoy, a few more people went, and then it was Harry Potter.

This naturally drew everyone's attention. Even Voldemort feigned excitement—he couldn't possibly be a beacon of light in the darkness, as that would signify a mistake.

Harry's sorting was prolonged. When the word "Gryffindor" rang out from the Sorting Hat, the Gryffindor table erupted.

After the last new student was sorted into Slytherin, the ceremony finally concluded. At this moment, Dumbledore also stood up and delivered his famous "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" speech.

However, he did not sit down immediately after, as he still had something to say.