The Lively Sorting Ceremony

The students were in an uproar, all buzzing about the two groups that had arrived today.

Many of them had never known other wizarding schools existed. This had truly opened their eyes.

Some students who had not gone to join the commotion heard their friends talking so animatedly that they, too, grew restless with curiosity.

The students in the Great Hall had all gathered together. It was livelier than any previous start-of-term feast, and everyone was incredibly restless.

The professors at the staff table seemed to have no time to quiet the students either. They were busy talking among themselves, looking no calmer than the students.

Only when the first-years arrived did the Great Hall settle down a little, with quite a few people turning their attention to the little newcomers.

Some of the newly arrived students sighed in relief. It seemed not that many people were paying attention to them. Many upperclassmen appeared to have urgent matters to discuss. Were they discussing magic? Hogwarts truly lived up to its reputation!

Others looked deeply uneasy. Hogwarts' tradition apparently remained perfectly intact—parents always hid the true nature of the Sorting Ceremony from their children.

After an unremarkable yet somewhat anticipated Sorting Ceremony, the expected food still did not appear on the tables.

Dumbledore stepped up to the podium, looking ready to give a speech.

Eli hoped Dumbledore would keep it short. He had slept the whole way on the train and was genuinely hungry.

"Quiet, please."

Dumbledore's voice easily reached everyone's ears. Whether he had used some sort of magic or not, the Great Hall immediately fell silent.

Everyone looked toward Dumbledore. The new students were curious about what the headmaster would say, while the older students eagerly anticipated the major announcement he might make.

Seeing the expectant looks on the