"The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before you enter the Great Hall and take your seats, you must first determine which House each of you will join."
"Sorting is a very important matter, because during your time at Hogwarts, your House will be like your home. You will attend classes with the other students in your House, live together in your House dormitories, and spend your free time together in your House common room."
"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"Each House has its own glorious history and has produced outstanding wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, excellent performance will earn points for your House, while any rule-breaking will cost your House points."
"At the end of the year, the House with the highest score will receive the House Cup. That is a great honor, and I hope that no matter which House you are sorted into, you will bring glory to it."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, her gaze sweeping over the new students' faces once more.
"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will be held before the entire school. While you wait, I suggest you tidy yourselves up and try to look a bit more presentable."
As she spoke, her gaze passed over several rather scruffy boys before she gave Gemini another look. Only then did she nod in satisfaction.
Then, as though she had remembered something unpleasant, Professor McGonagall's expression stiffened again.
"When they are ready over there, I will come and get you. Until then, please remain quiet."
With that, Professor McGonagall left the room.
The new students waiting there did not remain quiet as Professor McGonagall had instructed. The moment she left, the room became noisy.
"Do you know how they sort us?" Hermione tugged lightly at Gemini's sleeve and whispered.
"If I told you, wouldn't that take all the surprise out of it?" Gemini chuckled softly.
Hermione's nervous little face had gone pale. "I just hope it isn't a fright instead."
The Little Wizards around them were panicking like crazy, while Gemini remained as steady as an old dog.
Actually, if he could, Gemini wished he could be a little nervous too. Unfortunately, he knew the plot, which made the whole thing completely uninteresting.
If there was anything he looked forward to, it was probably being sorted into Slytherin...
A small incident occurred while they waited. Several ghosts, white from head to toe, seemed to have taken a wrong turn and passed through the wall into the new students' little room, but they quickly left again.
Shortly after they departed, Professor McGonagall returned.
"Now, form a line and follow me."
The new students lined up behind Professor McGonagall, left the room, crossed the entrance hall, and passed through a pair of double doors into a magnificent Great Hall.
Candles floated in the air, illuminating the entire hall brightly, while flocks of bats occasionally swept across the ceiling.
The walls of the hall were decorated with beautiful marble carvings. Students from the older years already filled the four dozens-of-meters-long tables, which were set with gleaming golden plates and spotless crystal goblets.
Another long table stood on the raised platform at the front of the hall. That was where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led the first-years to the space before the staff table and had them line up facing the entire student body, which made Gemini feel slightly awkward.
"The ceiling has been enchanted. It looks just like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
Hermione muttered softly into Gemini's ear.
"I'm glad you still have the mood to think about that." Gemini smiled. "Looks like you aren't too nervous."
"No." Hermione's little face was frighteningly pale. "It's just that when I'm nervous, I don't know what to say."
Gemini: "..."
Gemini did not have to wait long. Professor McGonagall soon placed a four-legged stool before the new students, then set a pointed wizard's hat on top of it.
The hat looked worn-out and tattered, patched all over and polished shiny from age. Gemini figured it had not been washed in years.
The instant the wizard's hat was placed on the stool, the Great Hall fell completely silent.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, the hat began to sway flamboyantly, splitting open along a mouth-like crease.
Here it came—the Sorting Hat's Hogwarts rap!
Ready? Everybody, come along with me!
Gemini quietly imagined it in his mind.
"You may think I'm not very pretty,
But never judge by appearances,
For if you can find a hat cleverer than I,
I'll eat myself.
You can make your bowler hats glossy black,
And your tall silk hats smooth and crisp,
But I am Hogwarts' testing hat,
Naturally far superior to your hats.
Any thought hidden within your minds,
Cannot escape this magic hat's keen eyes,
Put me on and give me a try, and I will tell you
Which House you belong in.
You may belong in Gryffindor,
Where courage lies hidden in the heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You may belong in Hufflepuff,
Where the people are just and loyal,
Hufflepuff students are patient and true,
And unafraid of hard work;
If you are sharp of mind,
Perhaps you'll enter wise old Ravenclaw,
Those witty and learned folk
Will always find their kind there;
Perhaps you'll enter Slytherin,
Perhaps you'll make true friends there,
But those cunning and sinister sorts 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 will be perfectly safe,
For I am a thinking magic hat!"
It was exactly the same as the one Gemini had seen in Philosopher's Stone. The Sorting Hat's song had not changed in the slightest just because Gemini had come to this world.
Well, damn. They really did just copy and paste it?
When the Sorting Hat finished singing, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. The Sorting Hat laughed heartily, bowed to each of the four tables in turn, and then went still.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward two 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."
As Professor McGonagall spoke, she called out the first name. No one noticed that Gemini, standing in a corner of the front row, quietly mouthed the words at exactly the same time as Professor McGonagall.
"Hannah Abbott!"
Oh, Paris~
A rosy-cheeked little girl with two golden braids stumbled out of the line, put on the hat, and had her eyes completely covered by it.
She sat down, and the Sorting Hat paused for a moment—
"Hufflepuff!"
The clear cry rang out, and the students at a table on the right immediately cheered and applauded Hannah, welcoming her to sit at the Hufflepuff table.
"Susan Bones!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Terry Boot!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Actually, I think Ravenclaw would be pretty nice too." Gemini said with a light laugh. "Did you notice? At least sixty percent of the Ravenclaw table is girls. Smart and pretty girls gathering in groups—sounds pretty great."
The moment Gemini said that, Hermione was no longer nervous.
It was replaced by a bellyful of irritation and a little face flushed bright red.
Just then—
"Hermione Granger!"
Hermione practically ran to the stool and pulled the Sorting Hat down over her head.
"Aha! A very clever and brave little witch. Let me see, where should I put you?"
A small voice sounded beside Hermione's ear.
"Gryffindor!"
Hermione roared inwardly.
She wanted to go to Gryffindor and use her intelligence to crush every one of those Ravenclaw bitches, so Gemini would realize what kind of girl was truly the best!
Before you continue