The Sorting Ceremony

"Are you Harry Potter?"

"Looks like the rumors are true."

"I think we should get acquainted. I'm Draco Malfoy, and these two are Goyle and Crabbe."

After getting off the boat, Malfoy approached Harry Potter with Goyle and Crabbe in tow, smiling somewhat arrogantly.

Harry Potter looked at Malfoy before him and smiled faintly. "Harry Potter."

Harry Potter's response pleased Malfoy. He glanced at Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger beside Harry, then smiled. "Harry, you should understand that wizarding Lineages are inherently superior to certain other wizards—and not by just a little."

"You may be a pretty girl, but a Muggle is still a Muggle. No matter how pretty you are, you're only a decorative vase. Even though you've become a witch, you're still a witch without much ability."

"Look at him. Red hair, old robes passed down through the Household—he's a child of the Weasley family. People like that are far beneath us. I hope you'll stay away from them. They tarnish us."

"Now, we are the same kind of people. We are friends."

With that, Malfoy extended his hand toward Harry Potter, gesturing for him to take it.

Hermione and Ron were deeply displeased by Malfoy's words.

However, they also knew exactly what advantages and pride came with Malfoy's status as a pure-blood.

Harry Potter had been looked after by Hermione and Ron throughout the journey.

At Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Ron's family had been very kind to him and told him how to enter the platform.

Hermione had repaired his glasses. She was also adorable and extremely knowledgeable. She knew a great deal, though she could be a little long-winded.

"They're my friends. On the contrary, your words disgust me."

"You should apologize to them!"

Malfoy seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world. He spread his arms, an exaggerated and disdainful smile on his face, and shook as he looked at Crabbe and Goyle. "Did you hear that? What an amusing joke! He actually wants me to apologize to them!"

At that, Malfoy abruptly turned to Harry and said seriously, "Harry, I can tell you very seriously that this is impossible."

"How could a gentleman from a pure-blood Lineage lower himself and apologize to a Muggle or a Weasley?"

Harry faced Malfoy and said seriously, "Right now, you don't look like a gentleman."

Harry did not know exactly what differences in status existed between pure-bloods and Muggles, but when it came to gentlemen, he believed Katelyle was the true aristocratic gentleman.

Malfoy snickered, glanced at Ron and Hermione, then left with Crabbe and Goyle.

Because Hagrid was walking over.

He did not want to provoke Hagrid, even if Hagrid was only a groundskeeper!

But Hagrid was far too big. They could not possibly beat him. This was a game among children; adults should not get involved.

Outside the Great Hall.

Professor Minerva McGonagall wore emerald-green robes. Her black hair was exquisitely styled, and she walked slowly before the stairs with a somewhat stern expression.

When the new students came around the stairwell corner and saw Professor McGonagall, they subconsciously stopped and fell silent.

Professor McGonagall's expression was rather stern, making her seem difficult to approach.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron stood together, looking at Professor McGonagall. All three had shut their mouths and did not dare speak.

However, Ron shot Harry several teasing looks. This woman looks so fierce. We're going to have it rough.

Harry looked at Ron, raised a hand to touch his glasses as if shielding himself from Professor McGonagall's gaze, and winked at Ron. Yeah, she's fierce. If we fall into her hands, we might be in for a terrible time.

Hermione looked at Ron and Harry, her delicate little face filled with disbelief. "You two are actually like this."

When Hagrid saw Professor McGonagall, he still wore a cheerful smile. "First-year students, this is Professor McGonagall, a great master of Transfiguration. She'll be teaching you Transfiguration."

Upon hearing that, Harry and the other new students hurriedly applauded.

Faced with such a stern teacher, they hoped that applause and praise might soften her expression and help them relax a little.

It seemed the effect was rather good.

A faint smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's face, lending her a touch of gentleness. Yet she still looked stern, because the smile vanished after only a second.

"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave the rest to me." Professor McGonagall had a good impression of Hagrid, and he had made a fine start.

"No problem, Professor McGonagall!" Hagrid said with a smile, making a welcoming gesture.

Professor McGonagall nodded, turned around, and opened the great doors behind her.

The doors were enormous, tall, and even heavy-looking, yet this slender woman pushed them open with ease.

Harry and the others, who had not truly encountered magic before, cried out in amazement.

Of course, most astonished were the children called Muggles. Pure-blood children like Draco Malfoy, whose parents were both wizards, remained calm at the sight, looking upon the excited Muggles with disdain.

The interior of the Great Hall was wondrous and magnificent.

Older students were already seated beside long tables. Above them, countless candles floated through the air, illuminating the entire hall.

What surprised Harry even more was the starlight glittering across the ceiling, as though the ceiling did not exist at all.

The entire hall looked sacred. Under everyone's gaze, the atmosphere felt particularly solemn.

Seeing Harry looking up at the ceiling in surprise, Hermione whispered, "Magic has been cast here, so it looks as beautiful as the sky outside."

Harry nodded to show that he understood.

Because it was difficult to believe there was truly a ceiling above them, and equally difficult to believe the hall was open to the sky.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first-year students." Professor McGonagall stood on the stage. Beside her sat a black hat, placed alone on a tall stool.

It was a pointed wizard's hat, patched, old, tattered, and somewhat dirty-looking.

Yet it had been placed there in plain sight, utterly out of place amid the hall's current splendor.

"Before the start-of-term feast begins, we must first determine which House you will be assigned to."

"This is an extremely important ceremony, and everyone must take part."

"Because during your time at school, your House will be your Household at Hogwarts."

"You will attend classes with the other students in your House, stay in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House library, gardens, and Quidditch grounds."

"Hogwarts has four great Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own glorious history, and many powerful wizards have emerged from them."

"I hope you will be as outstanding as they were, and surpass them."

"All right, the Sorting Ceremony now officially begins. I hope that when you undergo the sorting, you will compose yourselves properly. It may determine which House you are assigned to."

Professor McGonagall said a great deal. The new students listened attentively, not daring to speak carelessly or interrupt her.

Of course, the main reason was that there were other professors and the headmaster watching them as well.

Only after Professor McGonagall finished did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

However, Harry's mood had been very good ever since entering the hall and seeing Katelyle standing beside Dumbledore.

Mr. Katelyle really is here. He didn't lie to me.

Katelyle had also seen Harry. Meeting Harry's gaze, he smiled.

Harry looked at Katelyle and clenched his little fists. Amid his excitement, he also wondered which House he would be sorted into and whether he would become Katelyle's student.

"Wow!"

A cry of alarm suddenly stirred the quiet, solemn hall, making the children cry out and scream as well.

They were terrified.

More than twenty ghosts had suddenly emerged from the walls, ceiling, and even the ground behind them, passing straight through their bodies.

When had these poor children ever seen ghosts? As for things on television, well, those were only actors.

But these pearly white, translucent ghosts had truly appeared before them. They even seemed to be arguing, though some were not.

Thus, they were completely certain that these ghosts were real.

"Welcome to Hogwarts."

"I hope you're sorted into Hufflepuff. That was once my House."

"I think my head ought to leave my body, but it hasn't. I lost again."

Professor McGonagall looked at the ghosts, her brows knitting slightly. "This is a solemn process. You should remain quiet."

Upon hearing Professor McGonagall's words, the ghosts drifted to either side and quietly watched the children. However, their faces still held faint smiles, as though they were quite pleased with their handiwork.

Professor McGonagall looked at the pale-faced children and said sternly, "You must learn to accept things that are magical and unimaginable, such as those ghosts just now."

After a pause, Professor McGonagall's gaze swept across Harry and the others before she said, "Now, when I call your name, come forward and undergo the Sorting Ceremony."