The Sorting Hat's Fear

In the lounge beside the Great Hall, the new students waited for Professor McGonagall to return. Quite a few had already resigned themselves to the matter of the exam.

After all, someone who had not studied might grow anxious before an exam, but once they knew that most people had not studied either, giving up became a shared joy.

"How many times do I have to tell you to be quiet today?" Professor McGonagall had appeared at the doorway at some point, staring at the students in the lounge like a homeroom teacher.

A shadow from his past rose in his mind, making the usually calm and composed Chu Yang shudder violently.

"Line up now. We are heading to the Great Hall, where you will complete your Sorting Ceremony."

Under Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze, the new students hurriedly got to their feet.

They quickly formed a line and obediently followed behind Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall led the new students out through a side door and turned toward the main hall entrance. As soon as they approached, the doors opened on their own, and everyone entered the magnificent hall.

There were four long tables in the hall, each occupied by one of the four Houses. At the very front stood a smaller long table by itself, reserved for the teachers.

Thousands upon thousands of candles floated in the air above the Great Hall, illuminating it as brightly as day.

Statues stood along both sides, with blazing braziers hanging beside them.

The ceiling had been enchanted to resemble the night sky. Stars occasionally appeared, creating the illusion that they were dining outdoors.

At first glance, Chu Yang found the Great Hall rather stunning, but other thoughts soon replaced that feeling.

It would be better if they replaced the candles with LED lights that could adjust their color temperature. Candlelight is unstable and terribly hard on the eyes, and it really drags down the view of the ceiling.

Magical as it was, the more familiar Chu Yang became with Hogwarts, the more he felt that it was drifting away from the development of the Muggle world.

The magical world was like a stubborn old man—conservative and afraid of change, stagnant in place with an air of decay—while the Muggle world had already boarded the train of the times and was racing ahead.

Chu Yang knew very well how much technology would transform the entire world over the next twenty years. If this generation of young wizards did not change, the balance of power between wizards and Muggles might be completely reversed.

Lost in thought, Chu Yang suddenly felt someone watching him. He followed the gaze and found Dumbledore seated at the center of the teachers' table.

The old wizard, renowned for his wisdom and regarded as the most powerful and prestigious wizard in the magical world, was studying Chu Yang with curious eyes.

Not far from him, Professor Sprout, the Herbology professor, was also waving at Chu Yang.

She kept pointing at herself with her finger.

What did that mean?

Was she telling him to choose Hufflepuff?

Chu Yang stared wide-eyed, utterly bewildered.

Sprout grew so anxious that she nearly stood up and shouted.

"Ahem." Seeing this, Dumbledore hurriedly coughed.

He signaled for Sprout to mind her manners. She could only give up and sit properly in her seat.

Yet this small incident drew the attention of Professor Snape beside Dumbledore.

Originally, all of his attention had been on Harry Potter...

Besides Snape, Quirinus Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort, was also observing Chu Yang.

More precisely, it was the Voldemort within him who was stirring restlessly.

In front of the teachers' table stood a four-legged stool, upon which rested an old pointed hat patched in countless places.

It was hard to believe that this was the Sorting Hat, infused with the thoughts of Hogwarts' four founders!

As Professor McGonagall led the new students before the Sorting Hat, the Great Hall fell unusually quiet, because everyone knew what was about to happen.

"Before the Sorting Ceremony begins, Headmaster Dumbledore has a few words for you all."

As soon as Professor McGonagall finished speaking, the elderly Dumbledore stood to address them. He did not say much, mainly reminding the new students not to enter the Forbidden Forest beside the castle or the corridor on the right side of the third floor.

Chu Yang truly had little interest in the corridor on the right side of the third floor. Even without Dumbledore's warning, he had not planned to go there.

But the Forbidden Forest...

That was a wonderful place to make money. Not even God himself could stop Chu Yang.

"Now, when you hear your name, step forward. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will decide which House you belong to." Professor McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat and looked down at the list in her hand, preparing to call the names.

"Is sorting really that simple?"

"What happened to the exam you mentioned, Hermione?"

"Thank God. As long as there's no exam, I don't care where I'm sorted."

As the new students whispered among themselves, Professor McGonagall began calling names. The first was Hannah Abbott, the future owner of the Leaky Cauldron.

As the saying went, protagonists came and went, but Hannah remained.

When Chu Yang heard her name, he suddenly recalled that long-circulating phrase.

"Hufflepuff!"

While Chu Yang was still musing over it, Professor McGonagall's voice sounded beside him.

"Chu Yang!"

Chu Yang took a deep breath and stepped out from the crowd.

As a transmigrator who did not belong to this world, Chu Yang felt considerable pressure when facing the Sorting Hat.

Because he did not know just how far the Sorting Hat's Legilimency could reach.

Could it only read superficial personality traits?

Or could it directly read memories?

Chu Yang had considered trying to avoid the Sorting Hat altogether, but when he noticed Dumbledore watching him, he immediately dismissed the thought.

Trying to play tricks in front of the greatest wizard of the age was hardly a wise choice.

Something heavy settled on his head. Chu Yang came back to his senses and realized that the Sorting Hat had already been placed on him. All he could do now was pray that its abilities were not as powerful as he imagined.

Meanwhile, the instant the Sorting Hat landed on Chu Yang's head, it detected nothing at all. It was as though it had been placed atop a stone.

This left the Sorting Hat greatly bewildered. In a thousand years, this was the first time it had encountered such a situation. Could it be that it had fallen into disrepair with age? But that was impossible. It had made a contract with all of Hogwarts. The Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance, those two mute fellows, had not broken down yet, so how could it fail before them?

Just as the Sorting Hat prepared to exert its full power and intensify its efforts...

It sensed an illusory palace.

It was a structure even more magnificent, majestic, and imposing than Hogwarts!

Then, something faintly began to emerge...

Thrones!

Countless thrones!

When it tried to understand what was happening!

Whether broken thrones or intact ones, they all erupted with an irresistible force!

Upon nearly a hundred thrones, dense silhouettes condensed into being!

Those silhouettes suddenly opened their eyes and stared coldly at the Sorting Hat.

In reality, the Sorting Hat suddenly let out a terrified shriek!