The Sorting Hat

Candlelight flickered in the Great Hall, and hundreds of faces watching them were like pale lanterns. Ghosts mingled among the students as well, glimmering with hazy specks of silver light.

Looking up, Ye Ting saw stars twinkling across the velvet-black ceiling.

He heard Hermione whisper, "The ceiling here has been enchanted to look just like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

It was hard to believe there really was a ceiling above them, and just as hard to believe the dining hall's roof was not open to the sky.

Professor McGonagall gently placed a four-legged stool before the first-years, then set a pointed wizard's hat on it. The hat was patched, worn old, and terribly dirty. Ye Ting knew that this was the legendary Sorting Hat, and he began looking forward to the classic moment—the Sorting Hat's song, different every year.

Then the hat twitched. A wide slit opened along its brim like a mouth—and the hat began to sing:

You may think I am not pretty,

But never judge by appearances.

If you can find a hat more beautiful than me,

I will eat myself.

You may make your bowlers glossy black,

And your top hats sleek and stiff.

But I am Hogwarts' magical testing hat,

Naturally, I surpass all your hats.

Any thought hidden in your mind,

The song lasted about five minutes. When the magical hat finished, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.

However, Ye Ting found himself utterly unable to appreciate the strange song. He felt the applause had been rather insincere.

The Sorting Hat bowed to each of the four tables in turn, then fell still.

Next came the official Sorting.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward a few paces, holding a roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your sorting," she said. "Hannah Abbott!"

She was a rosy-cheeked little girl with two golden braids. Ye Ting remembered that she eventually married Neville in the original story.

She stumbled out of the line and put on the hat, which fell over her eyes.

She sat down. After a brief pause—

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.

The people at the table on the right applauded and cheered for Hannah, welcoming her to sit with them.

"Susan Bones!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted again. Susan hurried over to sit beside Hannah.

"Terry Boot!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Hermione Granger!"

A few names later, it was Hermione's turn. The little girl practically ran to the stool, then turned back anxiously.

Ye Ting smiled and nodded at her. Her nervousness eased slightly, and she hurriedly pulled the hat over her head.

This time, the Sorting Hat did not announce a House immediately. It stalled for two or three seconds before reluctantly spitting out, "RAVENCLAW!"

It seemed Hermione had had a discussion with it in her mind, and the little girl had successfully persuaded it to change its decision.

"Excellent!" Ye Ting clapped excitedly.

This was not only because Hermione had successfully been sorted into Ravenclaw. It also meant that the "plot" was not unchangeable, and perhaps even that the "fate" represented by the plot did not exist at all.

The young wizards at the second table from the left applauded. Cho Chang and Marietta stood up and led Hermione over to join the students.

The Sorting Hat called out many more names, and the crowd steadily dwindled.

When it was Neville's turn, the chubby boy ran toward Gryffindor with the hat still on his head, completely forgetting to take it off. It caused quite a bit of laughter.

Finally...

"Ye Ting!"

This unusual name drew the young wizards' attention. Ye Ting stepped out of the crowd openly and confidently, arriving before the Sorting Hat under everyone's gaze.

He wore a standard Clock Tower cloak. Its sharp, stylish design differed from the dark, old-fashioned cloaks worn by the young wizards, and combined with his exceptional appearance, it sparked countless gasps and discussions among them—especially the girls. The boys all wanted to know where such a beautiful cloak had come from, while the girls were even more eager to learn who this handsome person was.

Ye Ting picked up the Sorting Hat. Its slimy texture made him fully realize just how filthy it was, and coupled with the strange stench that assailed his nose, it felt as though he were holding a rotten orange. He wanted nothing more than to throw it away at once.

Suppressing his disgust, Ye Ting put on the Sorting Hat.

The instant it touched his head, the Sorting Hat let out a loud cry of surprise, startling all the teachers and students at Hogwarts.

"How strange. This is the first time I have been unable to see a new student's thoughts." The Sorting Hat's comical voice rang out in his mind. "Inside your mind, I see only a chaotic, ever-changing world. What did you do?"

"I don't know either," Ye Ting answered theatrically in his mind. But he realized that his experiences and trials in the time-space tunnel had not only given him limitless potential for growth and talents related to time and space—they might also have given him a resilient soul that could not be seen through.