"Harry Potter!"
As Harry walked forward, a buzz of whispers suddenly spread through the Great Hall.
"Potter? Did she say Potter?"
"Is that the Harry Potter who defeated You-Know-Who?"
"Gryffindor."
Boy and hat conferred for a while. In the end, Harry's firm preference sent him to Gryffindor.
The Sorting Hat had barely spoken before cheers and applause erupted from the Gryffindor Dining table.
Harry had only just removed the Sorting Hat and reached the Gryffindor Dining table when Prefect Percy sprang up and gripped his hand. The other students crowded around him.
The Weasley twins went further, jumping up and shouting, "We've got Potter! Gryffindor's got Potter!"
Gryffindor welcomed Harry Potter like a hero. Even McGonagall's stern expression softened a little.
Slytherin was the complete opposite. Its students watched the reckless lions cheer with cold eyes.
"Hermione Granger!"
Hermione walked slowly up to the stool and hesitantly put on the hat. The two began talking in low voices.
More than ten minutes later,
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted.
Hermione took off the hat and hurried toward the Gryffindor table, but not before shooting Jerry a glare.
"Jerry Green!"
At last, it was his turn. Jerry strode to the stool, then pinched the filthy Sorting Hat between two fingers of his left hand, looking disgusted. He hesitated.
"Hey, kid, could you put me on your head already? Don't you know this is rude?" the Sorting Hat said angrily.
"Sorry, Mr. Hat, but you're really dirty." After another moment's hesitation, Jerry put the Sorting Hat on his head.
"So you're the little brat who told that young witch I could control minds and read memories?"
Jerry hurried to explain. "Sorry, sir, I was only joking!"
Before the Sorting Hat could reply, Jerry asked, "Sir, how do you sort students into the Four Houses so accurately? Have you ever made a mistake?"
Hearing Jerry question its judgment, the Sorting Hat shot back, "I belonged to Godric Gryffindor, the founder of Gryffindor. Don't underestimate me. I'm a thinking, intelligent magic hat, and I can see what talents students possess."
Jerry made a show of amazement. "Sir, you're incredible! Are you a product of Alchemy?"
If I had that kind of technology, I could make a thinking, talking inflatable doll... No, wait. Figurines. There had to be a market for those.
"More or less. The four founders of Hogwarts poured their thoughts into me, so I could sort students into the Houses according to their talents and qualities."
"Mr. Hat, now that you have a mind of your own, doesn't it feel awful being trapped in a hat? Have you ever thought about using Alchemy to make yourself a body, and then..."
"Stop, stop, stop! Do you hear what you're saying?" the Sorting Hat cut in before Jerry could finish.
"This is your Sorting, kid! A student like you belongs in Slytherin. You'll achieve great things, and Slytherin will help you rise to glory."
Jerry felt the Sorting Hat was implying something about him, so he protested. "No, no, no. I think Gryffindor suits me. Everyone who knows me says I'm brave, daring, bold, and generous."
The Sorting Hat said, "That's because you've fooled them. You're good at putting on an act. That's all the more reason for you to go to Slytherin."
Jerry fell silent.
"Mr. Hat, I think you've misunderstood me..."
Half an hour later, Jerry was still explaining himself to the Sorting Hat, oblivious to the passing time.
Students from all Four Houses were growing impatient, and everyone was talking about Jerry.
At the Gryffindor table, Harry asked Hermione beside him, "Hermione, do you know what's going on?"
Hermione shook her head. She was worried now and regretted telling the Sorting Hat that Jerry had frightened her. If that kept Jerry from enrolling, she would have to explain everything to a professor.
Jerry had no idea what was happening below. He was still flattering the Sorting Hat, hoping to coax some useful information out of it. "Sir, you really are amazing. It's a shame there's only one Sorting Hat in the world. Do you ever get lonely?"
"Ah, kid, you do understand me. It's just a pity the Alchemy book that explains how to make me is locked away in the Restricted Section..."
Jackpot. The Restricted Section! Jerry was thrilled. He had only been fishing on the off chance something might bite, and now it had. If he could sneak the book out, memorize it, and put it back without anyone noticing, it wouldn't count as stealing—as long as he didn't get caught!
"Mr. Hat, what was that last part? I didn't catch it. Why have you gone quiet? Are you all right?" Jerry asked warmly.
"Slytherin! Slytherin!! McGonagall, little McGonagall, hurry! Get me off this little bastard's head!" the Sorting Hat shrieked, losing all composure.
The sudden scream startled everyone in the Great Hall, students and teachers alike. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
McGonagall was startled too. Once she recovered, she quickly lifted the Sorting Hat off Jerry's head and stared at him in disbelief.
Jerry rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed. "We were just having a chat."
Seeing that the Sorting Hat was still cursing, Jerry hurried over to the Slytherin Table.
Once seated, Jerry glanced around at the people at the Table. They were all staring at him.
"Mr. Green, which family are you from?" an older student beside Jerry asked.
Jerry shrugged and answered casually, "A Muggle family."
The looks around the Dining table changed. Some were curious, some cold, and some openly hostile.
Jerry felt helpless. It was all the Sorting Hat's fault. How could an upright, brave, honest, wise, learned, farsighted, deeply curious student who loved exploring things possibly belong in Slytherin?
Hmph. How was I supposed to learn magic properly among these Slytherin pests?
The next few years are going to be interesting.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione and the others were discussing it too.
"How could Jerry have been sorted into Slytherin? The Sorting Hat must have made a mistake," Harry said.
Hermione looked worried too. "Exactly. Jerry's Muggle-born. He's bound to be bullied in Slytherin. I have to find a professor and ask them to move him to Gryffindor."