The Sorting Hat

"You may think I'm not very pretty,"

"But never judge by appearances,"

"If you can find a hat more beautiful than me,"

"I'll eat myself."

As Professor Minerva McGonagall announced the official start of the Sorting Ceremony, the dirty, old hat on the high stool suddenly moved. Before Harry and the others' eyes, it wriggled, then split open along a wide seam like a mouth and began to sing.

Harry and the others stared wide-eyed. After their shock faded, they were filled with curiosity.

Was this really just an old, tattered hat?

Why did it sing so beautifully?

When the hat finished its song, thunderous applause erupted in the Great Hall.

Ron Weasley clapped with all his strength, though he was also a little angry. "That damned liar Fred said we'd have to undergo some extremely dangerous test during the Sorting, one that would hurt us badly. I'm going to kill him."

Harry smiled. "Ron, I think you should take action."

Having clapped too hard, Ron's hands hurt, and he quickly stopped. "I definitely will."

The hat happily bowed to everyone around it like a gentleman.

"Thank you, thank you. Your applause is my motivation."

"I think I can offer you another poem."

"I never admit that the union of two true hearts,"

"Could meet with any obstacle; love is not true love,"

"If it changes when it sees another change,"

"Or leaves when it sees another turn away,"

"Oh, no! Love is an everlasting beacon."

Harry and the others were somewhat stunned by the Sorting Hat's joyful and enthusiastic singing.

But young girls like Hermione Granger were utterly captivated, like maidens in love.

"What a beautiful and moving poem!" Hermione said dreamily.

"This hat is so interesting. I wish it could sing more beautiful poems like this for me every day," a little girl said admiringly.

"I want that too. I believe Mr. Hat must be a very gentlemanly poet and gentleman."

Professor McGonagall's stern face showed a hint of panic. Especially after seeing the children's reactions, she suddenly felt utterly embarrassed.

No, it was the hat that had suddenly become too improper. It was simply mortifying.

Dumbledore stared at the Sorting Hat in bafflement. Are you still that Sorting Hat? Where has your dignity gone? Did a dog eat it?

Katelyle's lips curved slightly, the amusement in his eyes entirely undisguised.

This Sorting Hat was a little different from the one he remembered!

It even understood poetry!

"Shut up!" Professor McGonagall reached out and pressed down the Sorting Hat, which was about to continue singing, her face stern.

The Sorting Hat wriggled, trying to struggle, but in the end it had no choice but to yield to McGonagall's authority.

Professor McGonagall then looked at the first-year students, took out a roll of parchment, and said, "When I call your name, put on the hat, sit on the stool, and wait to be sorted."

"Hannah Abbott!"

Among the new students, a rosy-cheeked little girl with two golden braids nervously stepped out of the line, sat on the stool, and put on the Sorting Hat.

The hat was rather large, nearly covering her cute, slightly nervous eyes.

A moment later, the Sorting Hat opened its mouth. "Hufflepuff!"

Upon hearing the name of the House, the people at the table on the right immediately waved happily at Hannah Abbott and warmly welcomed her over.

"Susan Bones!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Terry Boot!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Malfoy!"

Malfoy walked onto the stage with confidence and the pride of a pure-blood, put on the hat, and cast a glance at Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, giving him a somewhat wicked charm.

But it had to be said that Malfoy was genuinely rather handsome at that moment. At least, that was what some of the little girls thought.

Ron curled his lip at this and stopped looking at Malfoy.

"Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat declared after a brief pause.

Malfoy got his wish.

His father had graduated from Slytherin.

Thus, Malfoy was very satisfied. He returned to Crabbe and Goyle, then looked at Harry again. "Harry, you should come to Slytherin. We're the same kind of people."

Clearly, Malfoy was still somewhat fixated on Harry.

It was not Malfoy's fault. Harry's parents had been very famous, and children born into pure-blood Lineages like Malfoy had been instilled with the notion that they needed to stay together, stand on the same side, and look down on everyone else.

"Thank you for the offer, Malfoy. I only hope we won't become enemies," Harry rejected him.

Malfoy was displeased upon hearing this, and Crabbe and Goyle were also very unhappy with Harry's answer. They wanted to bully Harry, but Malfoy stopped them.

"We need to be more gentlemanly. I'm sure he'll come to understand the status and nobility of us pure-blood wizards."

Harry ignored Malfoy because more and more people were being sorted into their Houses.

Ron entered Gryffindor as he had hoped,

As Professor McGonagall continued calling names, the Sorting Hat continued announcing Houses, and Hermione Granger was successfully assigned to Gryffindor.

Finally, after everyone else had been assigned to a House, it was Harry Potter's turn.

"Harry Potter!"

Professor McGonagall's voice rang out, and nearly everyone in the Great Hall turned their eyes toward Harry Potter.

Many people knew about Harry Potter, and they understood what his presence meant.

Harry Potter had already grown somewhat accustomed to such looks.

So, though he was a little nervous, he still stepped onto the stage and placed the Sorting Hat on his head, muttering constantly, "Not Slytherin, not Slytherin."

"Not Slytherin, is that right?" a faint voice sounded in Harry Potter's mind.

"Have you made up your mind? You'll achieve great things. You have a great mission. In Slytherin, you'll receive greater help and become someone great."

"All right, you don't want that?"

"Oh? So you have your own thoughts. In that case, go to Gryffindor!"

Harry nervously wondered if he was hallucinating. Was the Sorting Hat communicating with him?

Did I already answer?

Mr. Katelyle said I was suited for Gryffindor!

That means Mr. Katelyle might teach in Gryffindor?

"Gryffindor!"

The Sorting Hat suddenly shouted. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally entered Gryffindor.

Harry turned to look at Katelyle and smiled happily.

Ron, Hermione, and the older Gryffindor students happily rushed forward and embraced Harry Potter, looking incomparably delighted.

Dumbledore watched the cheering children, rose shakily to his feet, and smiled at everyone. "Welcome to Hogwarts, and the start of a new school year."

"Before the feast begins, I have one very important matter to announce to everyone."