The Sorting Ceremony

Professor McGonagall recounted the events that had taken place outside the Great Hall to Dumbledore in brief. Finally, she seemed to want to say something more, but Dumbledore interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

Professor McGonagall did not deliberately lower her voice, nor did she use any silencing charms, so the professors surrounding Dumbledore heard her account as well, their expressions shifting to ones of astonishment.

Ilona, who was not far from Dumbledore, heard it too, and a faint smile touched the corners of her lips.

Wentworth, you understood the principle that one should seek fame early even without anyone teaching you. Before you have even enrolled, you already know how to establish your image among the first-years. You have performed even better than I anticipated.

Ilona picked up the goblet in front of her, raised it slightly in Wentworth's direction, and took a sip, her face filled with satisfaction.

"Professor McGonagall, let us proceed with the Sorting Ceremony first. We shall discuss other matters later."

After waving his hand to interrupt Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore spoke.

Professor McGonagall knew that some things were indeed not suitable for discussion here, so she did not insist and immediately announced that the Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony had officially begun.

Upon hearing that the Sorting Ceremony had begun, many first-years wore nervous expressions. Looking at the anxious students around him, Wentworth, who had long known the contents of the ceremony, found it somewhat amusing.

Scanning his surroundings, Cassandra was the only first-year who appeared relatively calm, though her naturally fair cheeks were now a shade paler than usual.

Up ahead, the Sorting Hat, which had been waiting for a long time, seemed to be growing impatient.

Before the crowd, the ancient, battered hat revealed a tear and began by clearing its throat with a song:

"La la la Hogwarts, la la la..."

The moment the Sorting Hat began, many first-years could not help but cover their ears, Wentworth included.

After finally waiting for the Sorting Hat to finish its song, Professor McGonagall stood beside it holding a long piece of parchment; clearly, the names of this year's Hogwarts first-years were written upon it.

As Professor McGonagall called out names, one first-year after another stepped forward, donned the Sorting Hat, and had their home for the next few years decided.

"Cassandra!"

As Professor McGonagall's voice fell, Cassandra smoothed her long golden hair before walking forward with a graceful gait.

Although she was only eleven, Wentworth had to admit that this proud girl walking past him already possessed a graceful figure and a face of peerless beauty.

The moment Cassandra sat down and the Sorting Hat was placed upon her head, it shouted:

"Without a doubt, Slytherin!"

Inside the Great Hall, a burst of enthusiastic cheering erupted from the Slytherin table; after all, no senior student disliked a beautiful junior, did they?

Hearing the Sorting Hat's decision, Cassandra let out a long sigh of relief, smiled, and then walked composedly toward the Slytherin table.

As she passed Wentworth, Cassandra did not slow her pace as she said:

"I told you, I belong in Slytherin!"

Finally, after a long wait, Wentworth heard his own name from Professor McGonagall's lips.

Having heard what Professor McGonagall had reported about the incident outside the Great Hall, many professors on the dais turned their gazes toward him as Wentworth walked toward the Sorting Hat.

After Wentworth sat down, Professor McGonagall gave him a deep look before placing the Sorting Hat upon his head.

"Hmm, this is tricky, truly very tricky. First, let us use the process of elimination. Lacking sufficient ambition, we shall rule out Slytherin."

"You seem to possess the courage to look death in the eye. In that case, then, Gryffin..."

Hearing this, Wentworth panicked. You are throwing me into a fire pit!

Just as the Sorting Hat was about to utter the name of Gryffindor, the Occlumency Wentworth had studied before the start of term took effect.

Beyond preventing others from probing one's thoughts, Occlumency, once mastered, allowed one to construct thoughts within their own mind at will.

Thus, Wentworth did not hesitate to project into his mind the thought that if he were sorted into Gryffindor, he would certainly find an opportunity to claim the Sorting Hat as his own. After all, the Sorting Hat was an artifact of the Hogwarts founder, Gryffindor, and as a student of Gryffindor House, he was the recognized heir with a right to inherit it.

The Sorting Hat captured Wentworth's thoughts simultaneously, and the words it had been about to speak were abruptly swallowed.

The Sorting Hat muttered in a voice that sounded somewhat aggrieved:

"How could you have such a bold idea?! I have never seen such a daring student. I think you should be sorted into Azkaban!"

The Sorting Hat's voice was not loud, as if it were afraid of angering Wentworth. As a magical object possessing wisdom, the Sorting Hat actually felt that Wentworth could truly pull it off!

Only Wentworth and McGonagall heard the Sorting Hat's voice, and both were stunned. To everyone else, it only appeared that the Sorting Hat was muttering something, seemingly unable to reach a decision for a long time.

Although Professor McGonagall had been startled by the Hat's words, she had not forgotten her duty and gave a light cough from the side.

Knowing it could not delay any longer, the Sorting Hat had to say, with some hesitation and even a hint of inquiry:

"Let me think... I have it. How about Hufflepuff? I think Hufflepuff is the most suitable for you. Hufflepuff!"

Having sensed no opposition from Wentworth this time, the Sorting Hat let out a long sigh of relief and shouted the name of Hufflepuff aloud.

Upon hearing the name of their house, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table. One person cheered the loudest, and as Wentworth followed the sound, he saw it was Cedric.

After Professor McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat from his head, Wentworth walked straight toward the Hufflepuff table.

At that moment, Cedric had said something to the student beside him, and to Wentworth's surprise, he had left a seat open for him.

Seeing Wentworth approach, Cedric stood up to embrace him, and the two sat down together.

"I really didn't expect you to actually end up in Hufflepuff!"

Cedric said, still finding it hard to believe.

Wentworth replied with a face full of smiles:

"Hufflepuff has always been my dream!"

Wentworth's words caused the surrounding Hufflepuff students to cast appreciative glances in his direction.

"Why? The vast majority of new students want to go to Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, and many pure-blood wizards view Slytherin as their dream; very few new students want to come to Hufflepuff, right?"

Cedric asked, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Because it's close to the kitchens!"

Wentworth said as if it were a matter of course.