The Most Unusual First-Year

The Most Unusual First-Year

The first-years lined up and followed Professor McGonagall toward the Great Hall.

Hermione looked around—at the corridors, stone pillars, fountains, and rooms—but Harry was nowhere to be seen!

"Little Cutie, where are you? It's time to eat, meow! Come out quickly." The voice came from nowhere in particular.

The students filed into the hall, then all froze in amazement!

It was a magnificent chamber. Calling it a room was no longer quite appropriate! It was enormous—so enormous that it felt like a plaza. The main reason for that impression was the ceiling.

In ordinary houses, the moment one entered, one could see the ceiling and feel constrained. But this hall did not give that impression, because its ceiling was so high that one had to look up to see it. Yet what they saw was no ordinary ceiling, but a starry sky that made them feel as though they stood beneath the heavens!

Four banners floated in the air, each representing one of the four Houses. There were only four extremely long tables in the hall, each filled with older students from their respective Houses. Before every student was a neatly arranged set of gleaming Western cutlery and a goblet. At the front of the four long tables stood another table on a raised platform—the teachers' table.

It was like where the headmaster and other faculty sat during school assemblies in Chinese schools.

Professor McGonagall walked to the teachers' table, where there was a stool. She placed a filthy pointed hat on it.

The hat began to sing, its clear voice ringing throughout the hall:

You may think I'm not much to look at, But never judge by appearances. If you can find a hat more handsome than me, I'll eat myself whole.

You may make your bowler hats glossy black, And your silk top hats smooth and crisp, But I am Hogwarts' testing magic hat, Naturally finer than all your hats.

Any thought hidden within your mind Cannot escape this magic hat's sharp eyes. Try me on, and I will tell you Which House you ought to join.

You may belong in Gryffindor, Where courage lies deep within the heart. Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindor apart;

You may belong in Hufflepuff, Where the people are just and loyal. Hufflepuff students are patient and honest, And do not fear hard work;

If you have a clever mind, Perhaps you'll enter wise old Ravenclaw, Where those who are intelligent and learned Will always meet their like;

Or perhaps you'll enter Slytherin, And there make true friends. But those cunning and sinister people Will stop at nothing to achieve their ends.

Come and put me on! Do not be afraid! Do not panic! In my hands—though I have no hands— You are perfectly safe, For I am a magic hat that can think!

Both the first-years and the older students applauded enthusiastically, as if they were about to shake the roof apart!

Professor McGonagall held a parchment scroll. "As long as you put on the hat, it will tell you your House. I'll start calling names now."

The older students all looked toward the first-years, their faces filled with memories of the past. Back then, I was young too!

Hermione was frantic. She had assumed that even if there was a Sorting, it would happen after the school had said a few things and they had eaten. Who would have thought it would begin now?!

"That bastard!" Hermione did not even know why she was so anxious.

"Hannah Abbott."

A little girl nervously walked toward the Sorting Hat and put it on.

"...Hufflepuff!"

One of the tables erupted in cheers. That was Hufflepuff House. If Harry had seen it, he definitely would have said, "They really have it rough. One younger student, and they're already this excited!"

"Susan Bones."

"Terry Boot."

One name after another was called. Every time a name was read, Hermione's heart leapt into her throat, afraid it would be Harry Potter.

This was supposed to be exciting. It was bad enough that he couldn't see it himself, but now he'd dragged me into it too.

Finally... "Hermione Granger."

Hermione helplessly walked onto the platform, sat down, and put on the hat.

"Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat shouted, announcing Hermione's House. Yet Hermione felt neither excitement nor joy as she walked almost dejectedly toward the Gryffindor table.

Professor McGonagall's gaze swept to the bottom of the parchment, and she called out loudly, "Harry Potter!"

A commotion immediately broke out below. "What was that just now? Harry Potter? Which one is he?"

"Don't tell me it's the one who defeated Voldemort? Damn it, why did you hit me?"

"Can't you stop saying that name? You nearly scared me into getting arthritis!"

"I..."

Instead of quieting down, the voices grew even louder, because... where was he?!

No one walked up to the platform at all!

Everyone whispered among themselves, discussing and guessing what had happened.

"Could Voldemort have kidnapped him?"

"...You really dare to guess that!"

"I've never seen anyone absent during the Sorting. That's incredible!"

Professor McGonagall came back to her senses and found that there was still no one before her. She could not help turning to look at the old man in the middle of the teachers' table.

Light reflected off the old man's blue half-moon spectacles, making him impossible to read.

"Creeeak..." The great doors to the hall were suddenly pushed open slowly. The sound was so distinctive that the students could not help looking toward them.

The doors opened a crack, and a figure appeared there.

Harry was helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to push them all the way open—it was that he was completely out of strength! Which bastard designed these doors?!

Even being watched by countless people was nothing compared to this! Every student in the entire school was staring at him. Even Harry was starting to get a headache.

Stay calm, stay calm! I'm a man who's going to become the Pirate King!

Harry strode forward, his long black hair flowing behind him. A kitten lay on his shoulder, and a smile hung on his mixed-race face. He looked completely unlike the other first-years, whose faces were full of nervousness!

Everyone's attention was drawn to Harry Potter. This was a living legend!

Malfoy glared fiercely at the goose printed on his plate. "Just let him show off. Just let him show off!"

Beneath Harry's calm expression, he was thinking, Although my act here is far inferior to Li Qiyi's, it still surpasses the likes of Long Aotian and Ye Liangchen! Mm, keep it up!

Harry walked to the stool, looked at the Sorting Hat, and frowned. It was way too dirty!

Then, amid everyone's stunned expressions, Harry picked up the Sorting Hat and slammed it hard against the stool several times, sending dust flying everywhere!

Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Hagrid, and Headmaster Dumbledore were all petrified!

Harry covered his nose and only put on the hat after the dust had settled.

"I want Gryffindor, not Slytherin. Got it?" Harry whispered.

"Mm, I think Slytherin suits you better," the hat said shrilly.

"Hehe. If you're not afraid of me throwing you into the fire, then go ahead and do that! This definitely isn't a threat, dear!" Harry wore a kindly smile.

The Sorting Hat: "..."

No one knew what Harry had said. Only Dumbledore wore a splendid smile.

When Harry walked toward Gryffindor, the Gryffindor students stood up and cheered because he was the famous Savior!

Harry found Hermione and sat down beside her.

"Who said you could sit here?" Hermione asked angrily.

Harry looked innocent. "What did I do to upset you?"

"Hmph!" Hermione merely snorted disdainfully. Just now, she had heard many girls saying that they absolutely had to make Harry their boyfriend. Hermione felt it was such a waste for those girls. That was right, that was all!

After sitting down, Harry dealt with some fans before observing the teachers.

Hagrid was greeting Harry, and Harry waved back at him. Mm, Snape, why are you glaring at me?! Loki, you bastard, what are you grinning foolishly about? Do you think I don't know what sort of person you are? You're putting on such a convincing act, and you still want to play undercover with me? It's not like you're Yu Zecheng!

"Do you know what Dumbledore will say in a moment?" Harry suddenly asked Hermione mysteriously.

"How would I know?" Hermione replied irritably.

Harry nodded solemnly. "I'm guessing he'll first stand up and give all the students a hug, then say something cryptic like, 'Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak.' Believe it?"

Hermione clearly thought Harry was joking. "If that were true, you would have become the most famous prophet in the wizarding world long ago!"

"Hehe." Harry only smiled without saying anything.

Then Dumbledore stood up...

And then... Hermione's eyes widened. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she could barely speak. "Y-you, how did you know?" When she saw Dumbledore do exactly what Harry had said, she truly had no idea how to describe her feelings! How did he... how did he...

Seeing her stunned expression, Harry thought she was truly adorable. "Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you," Harry whispered. "Who wants to know!" Hermione turned her head away.

"Haha... you're being tsundere!" Harry teased.

"W-who's being tsundere?!" Hermione snapped.

After Headmaster Dumbledore finished speaking, countless dishes appeared on the tables, piling them high—a genuine lavish feast!

Their plates were filled with food: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup...

Harry swallowed. With so much food before him, how was a foodie like him supposed to endure this?!

So, time to eat! Eat to your heart's content!

Luo Bei: When you saw that list of food, did it make you hungry?