I Decided to Take My Talents to Hufflepuff

Katie, whose name had been called, stumbled toward the Sorting Hat. Professor McGonagall could see the nerves practically spilling out of Katie, the first to be called, and gently reassured her.

"Relax, Miss Bell."

Professor McGonagall gently placed the Sorting Hat on the stool onto Katie Bell's head. The moment it touched Katie's golden hair, the Sorting Hat shouted its decision.

"GRYFFINDOR!!"

A burst of applause erupted from the Gryffindor table. Kai Bell seemed quite pleased. She took off the Sorting Hat and ran toward the Gryffindor table.

Professor McGonagall seemed pleased as well and continued reading out the names of the next new students to be sorted.

Seeing that they would not have to fight a troll, the Weasley Twins visibly relaxed quite a bit.

"Cedric Diggory."

Cedric was quickly called up for his sorting. As he passed between the tables of the four Houses, his handsome appearance stirred a faint rustle of whispers.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Sorting Hat hesitated slightly before loudly announcing Cedric's House.

The Hufflepuff table erupted in enthusiastic cheers at the arrival of such a handsome young wizard. Cedric flashed a sunny smile and strode toward Hufflepuff.

"I'm telling you, whatever House you two get sorted into is going to kick you out."

Roy now seemed to have gotten used to making all sorts of jokes about the Weasley Twins.

Fred refused to be outdone and smiled as he fired back at Roy's joke.

"Really? I think you'll definitely get sorted into Azkaban."

Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept over the twins and Roy as they laughed and fooled around. After being glared at, the three of them immediately behaved much better.

"Aislin Grindelwald."

Expressionless, Aislin walked elegantly between the students' tables and came before Professor McGonagall. Some well-informed students recognized the special significance of the surname Grindelwald and began whispering among themselves.

Aislin gave Professor McGonagall a very graceful bow, but when the dirty Sorting Hat was placed on her head, a look of distaste still appeared on her face.

"Hey, little witch, I only look dirty. I'm actually very clean. When Gryffindor created me, he even cast a self-cleaning charm on me."

A voice only Aislin could hear sounded in her mind. She closed her eyes and silently replied in her thoughts.

"Then, Mr. Sorting Hat, which House do you plan to sort me into?"

"Hmm... hard to say. I think every House except Hufflepuff would suit you well. It depends on what you want."

Aislin lowered her eyes and gave the answer she had long since decided on.

"Is that so? As expected, you still want to go to Slytherin. Dumbledore thought you would go to Gryffindor. Slytherin will help you achieve your ambitions, but you must also be careful not to be consumed by them."

The others saw that Aislin had worn the Sorting Hat for a long time without any result. The Great Hall soon filled with discussion as everyone guessed which House this extraordinary-looking young witch would ultimately enter.

"SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting Hat shouted its decision, and the Slytherin table burst into thunderous applause.

After removing the Sorting Hat, Aislin gracefully bowed to Professor McGonagall. She turned to glance at Dumbledore in the center of the staff table, and he merely gave her an encouraging smile.

The sorting continued, and one after another, most of the young wizards were called up and sorted.

"Roger Davies."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Lee Jordan."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Roy noticed that Marcus Flint, who was built as heavily as a gorilla, had been sorted into Slytherin. At the Slytherin table, Marcus shamelessly fawned over the aloof Aislin.

"Roy Smee."

Finally my turn? Roy felt a little nervous as well. He walked forward stiffly.

Fred even gave Roy a shove from the line. Roy staggered before Professor McGonagall and gave her a somewhat awkward smile.

Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Roy's head, and a strange voice sounded by his ear.

"Hmm, so this is the child Dumbledore has been paying special attention to? Such powerful magic at such a young age. There really are quite a few geniuses this year."

A smug, silly grin appeared on Roy's face as he spoke to the Sorting Hat in a tone that was anything but modest.

"Nothing special. So, which House are you going to sort me into?"

"That depends on your own wishes. Gryffindor values courage, Hufflepuff values loyalty, Ravenclaw respects knowledge, and Slytherin is full of ambition. You possess a little of all these qualities, but I think Gryffindor suits you best. So, would you like to go to Gryffindor?"

Since he could choose for himself, Roy did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked the Sorting Hat a question.

"If a student is neither brave nor steadfast, isn't clever, and has no great ambitions, which House would you sort him into?"

The Sorting Hat thought for a moment before giving its answer.

"Probably Hufflepuff. Most ordinary young wizards go to Hufflepuff. It is more accepting there. But that does not mean Hufflepuff has never produced powerful wizards. Cedric, for example, is the third most outstanding student in your year."

"I see..." After hearing the Sorting Hat's answer, Roy had made up his mind.

"Then I've decided to take my talents to Hufflepuff and study Brotherhood Magic with my brother Cedric."

The Sorting Hat was somewhat puzzled by Roy's choice.

"Why choose Hufflepuff? I was even planning to let you play with Gryffindor's relic. After all, I rarely see young wizards as brave as you."

"That's because I once made an oath—not to let anyone fall behind. Since all of you say I'm a genius, then going to Hufflepuff will let me help more young wizards with average talent."

Roy spoke with great conviction, completely shedding his usual playful attitude.

The Sorting Hat seemed to fall silent in response to Roy's answer.

"Is that so? What a noble ideal, as noble as Lady Hufflepuff herself. Have I misjudged you? Very well, I respect your choice."

"By the way, what exactly is Gryffindor's relic? Didn't you say I was qualified to inherit it?"

Roy could not stay serious for even a minute before a greedy look appeared on his face as he asked the Sorting Hat about Gryffindor's relic it had just mentioned.

The Sorting Hat also found Roy rather interesting after seeing how quickly his attitude changed, so it asked him in a tempting tone.

"Do you really want it? Let me be clear first: I can only let you play with it."

"Really, really!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"

Everyone in the Great Hall watched as nearly ten minutes passed after Roy put on the hat. The Sorting Hat did not say a word. Roy's face alternated between a silly grin, a grave expression, and now utter greed. Everyone began discussing it, while Dumbledore at the center of the staff table merely watched Roy with an intrigued look.

"Are you giving it to me or not? Are you messing with me?"

The Sorting Hat had kept Roy hanging for quite a while, and Roy was getting annoyed.

"Of course I'm giving it to you. You said it yourself. Catch."

The Sorting Hat suddenly shouted.

"HUFFLEPUFF!!"

However, Roy's next reaction left everyone present utterly shocked.

"Ow, ow, ow! That hurts!"

Roy clutched his head in pain and crouched down. Just then, something had struck his head with a heavy clang.

A sword with a pure silver blade, a hilt set with blood-red rubies, and Gryffindor's full name engraved near its base crashed heavily onto the floor with a tremendous bang.

Only then did Roy realize that it had been the sword's hilt that struck him just now.

The students all began talking at once. Quite a few recognized the sword that had fallen from the Sorting Hat as the Sword of Gryffindor.

Professor McGonagall sternly stopped the noisy students and turned to look at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore rose from his seat, walked over to Roy, picked up the sword from the floor, and loudly addressed everyone.

"This was merely a prank by the Sorting Hat on a young wizard. There is no need to worry. The sorting will continue."

Dumbledore then smiled at Roy, who was still crouched on the ground and clutching his head.

"This sword is school property. I'll hold onto it for you for now. We can discuss anything else later. For now, you'd best return to your table."

Roy held his head without comment. He had been hit so hard that stars were still dancing before his eyes. Realizing that the Sorting Hat had fooled him, he limped over to the Hufflepuff table and plopped down beside Cedric.

The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers loud enough to blow off the roof.

The sorting continued. Both twins were sorted into Gryffindor. Bill, Gryffindor's student president, happily stood and applauded when he saw his two younger brothers enter Gryffindor.

When the final young wizard was sorted into Hufflepuff, Professor McGonagall put away the Sorting Hat. Dumbledore rose to his feet, walked to the center of the Great Hall, and gave a speech to all the students.

"I am delighted to see so many new faces joining us, but before the feast begins, I have one thing to say." Dumbledore wore a purple robe covered in stars and moons, and his voice rang out loudly.

"Please enjoy the feast, children!"

All four Houses let out excited cheers at once. The gleaming tableware on the tables immediately filled with all kinds of delicious food.

Roy excitedly raised a glass of pumpkin juice, stood up, and lifted it toward the Hufflepuff students around him.

"To being sorted into Hufflepuff!" Roy said excitedly to the Hufflepuff students around him.

Cedric, seated beside Roy, was the first to raise his glass. The first-year Hufflepuff students also raised their pumpkin juice one after another.

"To being sorted into Hufflepuff!"

Owen Caldwell, Hufflepuff's prefect, smiled as he watched the enthusiastic new students. Hufflepuff students from every year also raised their glasses together.

"To Hufflepuff!"