A huge wizard with a bushy beard emerged from the darkness, carrying a lantern and waving his arms as he called, "I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and I'm here to lead the first-years! Any more first-years?"
"Everyone here? All right, watch your step and follow me!"
Hagrid led several dozen nervous, curious first-years stumbling along a narrow, uneven path for a while, until a vast lake suddenly opened up at its end. On the opposite shore stood a magnificent castle that towered into the clouds, its countless windows glowing beneath the night sky. Tall spires pierced the heavens, reaching toward the twinkling stars and exuding an ancient, mysterious aura.
"Hogwarts is just ahead. You can get across in the boats by the shore. No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted over his shoulder to the awestruck first-years. He then led them to the shore and watched as they boarded one by one.
Avada, Baron, and Cho Chang had already gotten to know one another, so they naturally chose to ride in the same boat.
"Everyone seated? Then—off we go!"
Hagrid filled a boat all by himself. At his command, every boat began moving without a breeze, gliding smoothly across the lake toward the castle. The first-years kept silent along the way, all gazing at the towering castle that would be their home for the next seven years with curiosity, nervousness, or awe.
The little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy covering the cliff face and into a hidden, open entrance. They then followed a dark tunnel to what looked like an underground dock before climbing onto a patch of gravel and pebbles and arriving at a huge oak door. Hagrid stepped forward and knocked on it three times with his fist.
The door opened a crack, revealing a kind-faced witch in a patched, gray-brown robe.
"I've brought the first-years, Professor Sprout," Hagrid said in his deep, rumbling voice.
"Thanks for all your help, Hagrid."
Sprout nodded warmly, then gave a small wave. The door, which had only been open a crack, swung wide, leaving an opening so enormous it could have fit an entire house. She stood in the doorway, smiling down at the throng of students, and called out,
"First-years, welcome to Hogwarts!"
"The start-of-term feast is about to begin. But before you officially start your studies, you'll need to take part in the Sorting Ceremony and be assigned to one of the four Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin."
"Your House will be like your family at Hogwarts. You'll attend classes with your Housemates, live with them in your House dormitory, and spend your free time together in the common room. Your achievements will earn points for your House, while rule-breaking will cost your House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will receive the highest honor of the year: the House Cup."
"The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin, in front of the entire school. Keep quiet, straighten yourselves up a little, and then follow me."
Sprout led the way through the doorway. The first-years filed in behind her and came to a halt in the Entrance Hall, where they had a moment to straighten themselves up and whisper among themselves.
"I once asked my mum what the Sorting was like," Cho whispered to Avada and Baron with a mysterious look. "But she just smiled and told me I'd find out when I got there. No matter how much I pressed her, she wouldn't say another word."
"My parents were the same," Baron said seriously. "I asked other relatives, too, but every one of them clammed up. I suspect the Sorting might involve some kind of magical contract that prevents students from revealing exactly what happens."
"But why would that be?" A boy nearby had overheard them and couldn't help asking. "Is the Sorting dangerous, or even illegal?"
Another girl joined in. "It can't be that bad. My father works for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and he graduated from Hogwarts. If there were a problem, he would've investigated it long ago."
"My parents told me that if you're a bad kid, you get sent straight to Azkaban..."
The hubbub of discussion gradually grew louder, leaving Avada speechless.
Only in the small wizarding world could people maintain such a strange understanding about something so strange.
"All right."
Sprout clapped her hands, quieting the discussion. "Everyone line up and follow me into the Great Hall. It's time for the Sorting."
"Also, there will be some ghosts appearing shortly. Don't be alarmed. They won't hurt you, and they can't even touch you. At most, they'll make you feel a little cold..."
As she spoke, Sprout led the first-years along a corridor and into a magnificent hall. Students from the other years were already seated around four long tables. Thousands of candles floated overhead, illuminating the hall. The four tables gleamed with golden plates and goblets. The teachers sat at the far end of the hall, on a raised platform where another long table had been set. Headmaster Dumbledore sat behind it, along with several other witches and wizards.
Sprout gently set a four-legged stool in front of the first-years, then placed a pointed wizard's hat on top of it. The hat was patched and worn, and looked filthy. Who knew how long it had been since anyone cleaned it?
Avada was surveying the teachers' table, trying to pick out the professors he recognized, when he saw every professor—including Dumbledore—raise a finger and tap the side of their ear as the Sorting Hat appeared. Quite a few of the older students below did the same with their wands.
Then a wide rip appeared along the brim of the Sorting Hat, like a mouth, and it began to sing loudly...
"Holy crap!"
The moment the Sorting Hat started singing, Avada's face changed. He hurriedly pulled out his wand and pointed it at his ear.
"Muffliato!"
As the spell he'd worked out took effect, Avada felt the world go completely quiet.
When the Sorting Hat's song ended, thunderous applause filled the hall, as if everyone were celebrating their liberation. Avada waved his wand, too, and removed the magic around his ear.
Professor Sprout stepped forward to stand beside the Sorting Hat, holding a piece of parchment. "When I call your name, put on the hat and sit on the stool. Then you'll be sorted."
"Michael Duncan!"
A blond boy ran up to the platform, thrilled. He nearly fell off the stool as he sat down.
"Gryffindor!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the long table just right of center erupted in applause.
"Shabi Nott!"
"Hufflepuff!"
The largest table, on the far right, burst into thunderous applause.
"Henry Summers!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Cho Chang!" Sprout called loudly. Cho took a deep breath, clutched the hem of her robe, and walked forward to put on the Sorting Hat. The tables below broke into a murmur.
"Wow, she's Asian! You don't see that often!"
"I think the first Chinese wizard at Hogwarts was here a few decades ago. She must be the second!"
"And she's really pretty..."
The Sorting Hat hesitated on Cho's head for a moment before shouting, "Ravenclaw!"
The cheers from the Ravenclaw Table were noticeably louder than before.
"Baron Shafiq!"
Baron glanced back at Avada with a smile, then walked forward with his head held high and put on the Sorting Hat.
"Slytherin!" The hat shouted almost as soon as it touched his hair.
"Tch." At the Gryffindor Table, two redheads huddled together, whispering. "He went to Slytherin without a second thought. He's got to be bad news."
"Watch what you say," a tall, red-haired wizard beside them said, shooting them a glance. "He's a first-year, after all."
Baron was quite pleased with the result and strode over to the Slytherin table.
Professor Sprout was about to call the next name when she glanced at the student list, frowned, and fell silent for a short while.
"Next, um... Mr. K!"
Before Avada could react, the tables below were already buzzing with chatter.
"What's going on? Why doesn't he even have a full name?"
"Not necessarily. Maybe his name really is Mister K."
"That's so careless! Were his parents drunk when they named him?"
"The last one with such a careless name was Tonks, Ni—"
"Shut up, you idiot!"
Avada sighed silently, walked forward, and put on the hat beneath the gaze of the entire school.
First day of school, and he was famous.
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