The Sorting Ceremony

It was already evening when the train slowly pulled into an old-looking little station.

"Eli, Eli?"

Eli opened his sleepy eyes to find Harry and Ron Weasley in front of him.

"Mm... are we there already?"

Eli rubbed his eyes and yawned, his hair a complete mess from sleeping.

Harry and Ron stared strangely at the newly awakened Eli.

This guy could sleep way too much.

They had barely exchanged a few words before Eli lay down on the seat and fell asleep.

If he had not started snoring, they would have thought he was carsick.

Harry caught sight of the large wet patch of drool on the seat and could not help feeling embarrassed for him.

This guy looked like some noble young master, yet he slept so badly that he drooled everywhere.

But Eli did not care about it at all. He tidied his hair and stood up.

It was not as though he had slept badly. Maybe it was a talent he had inherited from being Chinese in his previous life—he got sleepy the moment he got on any vehicle.

Eli had always maintained that fine tradition.

Didn't you guys sleep while traveling?

The prefects' urging voices came from outside the train.

"Everyone, get off the train quickly. There are special house-elves to take care of your luggage."

The three got off the train.

"First-year students, over here!"

Harry's eyes lit up when he heard that incomparably deep voice.

"Hagrid!"

Harry dragged Eli and Ron over.

"Whoa..."

At the sight of that enormous human built like an iron tower, Ron swore that he was genuinely scared.

Even in the wizarding world, it was rare to see someone that huge, aside from giants.

Eli studied the big man before him with interest.

If there was one character from the movies in his previous life that he liked, then Hagrid, that gentle giant, definitely had a place on the list.

He wore an oversized leather coat that looked custom-made. His somewhat messy hair and thick beard made him look rather furry.

His beetle-like black eyes were especially bright in the night.

Holding a large lantern, Hagrid discreetly greeted Harry and several young wizards, then immediately put on a serious expression and began directing the first-years.

It had to be said that, as an old employee of Hogwarts, he was quite competent.

Eli looked around curiously. This place seemed to be a village, though he did not know how far it was from Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade was a village inhabited entirely by wizards, and it had plenty of good things.

A group of first-year wizards in black school robes followed behind Hagrid, looking like a flock of tiny radishes.

Hagrid led everyone to the lakeshore. There was no bridge here, only a number of little wooden boats.

"In a moment, we'll take the boats to Hogwarts just as the four founders did back then. It is a glorious tradition..."

Hagrid looked extremely solemn as he passionately described the greatness of the four founders. When he finished, he was so moved that he even wiped tears from the corners of his eyes.

Eli and the other two listened with serious expressions, occasionally clapping along to humor Hagrid.

Sparse applause gradually rose from the people around them.

Eli had always been interested in these school legends.

Ron, meanwhile, began teaching them some basic facts about the four Houses.

"I'm telling you, Hogwarts' four Houses are named after the four founders! My favorite is Gryffindor. It has always welcomed brave people. Even Dumbledore came from there. My whole family is in Gryffindor! I definitely will be too."

The more Ron spoke, the prouder he looked.

After hearing that, Harry became interested in Gryffindor, though his face was full of worry.

"But... what if I can't get in...?"

Having suffered bullying since childhood, he had always lacked confidence. Hearing how outstanding Gryffindor was, he immediately doubted that he could ever get in.

"Don't worry. Even Ron is confident he can get into Gryffindor, so why can't you?"

Ron: "?"

Eli comforted him. He knew that Harry really would go to Gryffindor.

Besides, with Dumbledore around, how could that scheming old man possibly let his Savior go to another House?

With that in mind, Eli decided that he would go to Gryffindor too, so that his not-so-bright-looking brother would not get bullied again.

Besides, he already liked Gryffindor.

Who could refuse a group of brave little lions?

A haughty voice suddenly came from nearby.

"Only noble pure-bloods can enter noble Slytherin!"

The three looked over in displeasure.

The speaker was a blond boy as arrogant as a little rooster.

The moment Eli saw that flamboyant slicked-back hair, he knew exactly who this guy was.

Draco Malfoy, born into the ancient pure-blood Malfoy family. After his offer of friendship was mercilessly rejected by Harry, whether from humiliation or unrequited love, he opposed Harry at every turn and earned the nickname—Draco the Drag.

A textbook vicious second male lead.

But Eli had always thought he was just a brat.

An annoying brat.

Ron immediately wanted to argue back, but Hagrid's urging made him swallow his words.

"Pay attention! Only four people can sit in one boat. If you fall in, I'll have to fish you out. Though I heard there are water demons in the lake..."

That frightened the young wizards senseless.

So Hagrid knew how to scare children too!

Naturally, Eli, Harry, and Ron got into the same boat, along with another young wizard they did not know.

And so they set off, with Hagrid's boat at the front.

As they passed through a tunnel, Hagrid shouted to the young wizards behind him.

"Watch your heads!"

All the young wizards ducked. In truth, only someone as tall as Hagrid would hit their head at this height.

Sure enough, someone noticed that.

Ron immediately straightened up. "You don't need to duck. You can't hit anything. Look."

"Oh, watch out!"

Bang!

"Oh! My nose!"

Ron was knocked flat by a hanging rock.

Eli held back his laughter and said, "Yes, I saw it. Hahahahaha."

Hagrid glanced at the rowdy young wizards and pursed his lips. "I told you to duck."

At last, everyone arrived at Hogwarts.

The Great Hall's doors were closed. At the entrance stood a tall witch wearing a pointed wizard's hat.

It was Professor McGonagall.

"First-year students, Professor McGonagall."

Hagrid handed the young wizards over to McGonagall, exchanged greetings with her, and left.

McGonagall looked extremely stern, and the young wizards barely dared to breathe.

Ron was still covering his nose.

McGonagall introduced the four Houses to them, then entered the Great Hall to report to Dumbledore.

"So it's true? The Savior, Harry Potter, has come to Hogwarts too."

Malfoy's words stirred up a wave of whispers.

All the young wizards were shocked. Harry Potter had actually come as well.

Malfoy was quite pleased with himself for drawing everyone's attention.

He stood pompously in front of Harry and extended his hand in a practiced manner.

"My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy!"

Ron burst out laughing at his smug act.

Hearing the snicker, Malfoy looked at Ron in displeasure. After sizing him up, he immediately revealed a disdainful expression.

"Red hair, old robes covered in patches. You're obviously a Weasley!"

Ron's face flushed red with anger at the insulting words.

Then Malfoy looked at Eli, whose expression was equally unfriendly. "Oh, another redhead. Are you a Weasley too? Those robes must have cost your family all its savings!"

Eli: "?"

I haven't even said anything, and you're already picking a fight with me?

Eli had just been thinking about how to mock Malfoy, but the other boy had come looking for trouble himself.

He insulted Eli's friend and insulted him too, so there was no need to be polite.

"I'm your dad."

"What?"

Malfoy looked stunned. He even suspected that he had heard wrong.

"I said I'm your dad."

Eli mercifully repeated himself.

How could the inexperienced Malfoy have ever suffered such humiliation? His pale face immediately turned liver-colored.

Just as he was about to start cursing, McGonagall suddenly appeared behind him and tapped him with an unfriendly expression.

He returned to his place with an indignant look.

Harry immediately grinned like a four-foot-tall kid. Eli had not disappointed him after all!

Ron was also thrilled. That comeback had been so satisfying!

The young wizards were led into the Great Hall. Hundreds of older students watched them curiously, making them feel a little shy.

"Ron, did your family tell you how the Sorting works?"

Harry asked quietly.

Ron's expression darkened slightly as he answered, "Fred Weasley told me we have to fight a troll!"

Harry's face instantly went pale.

In front of the teachers' table stood a four-legged stool, with a battered hat babbling away on top of it.

It looked as though it had not been washed in centuries, and the creases in it formed a mouth.

"You may think I'm ugly, but I swear you'll never find another hat as handsome and dashing as me!"

The young wizards were immediately drawn to the hat.

McGonagall held a parchment scroll.

"Hannah Abbott."

The girl whose name had been called nervously walked forward.

She sat on the four-legged stool, and McGonagall placed the hat on her head.

"Hmm... Hufflepuff!"

Less than a minute later, the hat announced loudly.

Warm applause erupted from the Hufflepuff table.

Harry poked Ron with a strange expression. "That's the troll?"

Ron looked embarrassed. "Damn Fred, he tricked me again!"

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione looked extremely nervous, taking deep breaths one moment and muttering to herself the next.

Ron quietly said to Harry and Eli, "I knew there was something wrong with her."

"Gryffindor!"

The young witch ran toward the Gryffindor table with a relieved expression.

Ron also continued his family's tradition and entered Gryffindor.

Soon, it was Harry's turn.

Eli noticed that Dumbledore, seated at the head table, was no longer looking relaxed and had straightened up slightly.

Eli could not help grumbling inwardly, So even you get nervous sometimes, old Dumbledore!

When he saw Dumbledore's gaze sweep over, he immediately lowered his head, letting his hair cover his face.

You can't see me, you can't see me...

He did not want Dumbledore to notice him too early.

Harry was nervous too. Once he put on the hat, he began muttering quietly.

"Gryffindor, Gryffindor..."

The hat hesitated for quite a while.

"Then... Gryffindor!"

Harry's face immediately lit up with excitement, and applause burst out from the Gryffindor table.

"We have Potter!"

Harry and Ron waved at Eli from the Gryffindor table.

Eli remained calm. After all, it seemed that the Sorting Hat could be negotiated with.

"Eli Hall."

At last, it was his turn.

He lifted his head, brushed the hair by his ear aside, and walked forward.

Snape suddenly went blank at the teachers' table.

Professor McGonagall gave Eli a kindly smile. She had a very good impression of this polite young Wizard.

He put on the hat before the Sorting Hat could speak.

"No need to think about it. I'm going to Gryffindor. If I go anywhere else, I'll cough."

The Sorting Hat froze. He had never seen such a blunt young Wizard.

"Though that one also... I haven't forgotten that person's instructions... Slytherin!"

"Mm... huh?!! You... cough, cough, cough..."

Eli, who had thought he was going to Gryffindor, instantly choked.

Professor McGonagall looked somewhat surprised. Dumbledore's expression changed, while a certain headmaster with waist-length hair's eyes lit up.

Harry and Ron Weasley stared in astonishment.

Eli walked toward the Slytherin table with a livid face.

Malfoy was sitting right beside him.

"You think you deserve to be in Slytherin too?"

"If you keep yapping, I'll slap you silly."

Though he had no idea what kind of nasty curse "slap you silly" was, Malfoy did not dare say another word.

But the little lackeys beside him were immediately displeased and started shouting at Eli.

"If you keep yapping, I'll tear all your heads off."

The two idiots instantly went pale.

He was already furious!