The Sorting Ceremony

"Welcome to Hogwarts." After smoothly completing the handoff with Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, dressed in dark green wizard robes with her hair neatly pinned up, led the young wizards into a small room with a very high ceiling.

"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted. The Sorting Ceremony is a very important ceremony because, during your time at school, your respective house will be your home."

"You will share classes, dormitories, and spend the next seven years until graduation together with your housemates."

Professor McGonagall swept her gaze across the room, and the crowd of students grew as quiet as a flock of chicks.

Su Er mentally gave her a thumbs-up; Professor McGonagall's crowd-control skills were maxed out.

She continued:

"There are four houses at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Each house has its own glorious history, and likewise, they have all produced many outstanding wizards."

"During your studies, good behavior will earn points for your house, which will help you compete for the House Cup at the end of the year-a very high honor."

At this, Professor McGonagall's expression grew a bit more serious. "However, if you break the school rules, remember-any rule-it will result in points being deducted from your house!"

The students, including Su Er, nodded like chicks pecking at rice, and a few were practically ready to beat their chests to swear they would never break the school rules.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Professor McGonagall nodded in great satisfaction.

"Now, before the Sorting Ceremony, I hope you will all check your appearance and make sure you are neat. I will be back in a few minutes."

Before leaving, Su Er noticed Professor McGonagall's glance drift toward the main character's location for a split second before vanishing.

Hermione was tugging at Su Er's sleeve in the corner, asking him to help check her robes.

The young wizards suddenly let out gasps of alarm, and Su Er, facing the wall as Hermione pulled him, had no idea what was happening.

Neville came over as well. After Hermione finished checking Su Er, she untied Neville's cloak strings and retied them properly; it turned out he had tied them right under his left ear.

"Now, form a single file," Professor McGonagall called out sharply. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin. Follow me."

Every young wizard wore a tense expression, and Su Er heard Hermione, who was lined up right in front of him, breathing much heavier. Neville was so nervous he had already started stepping with the same hand and foot.

"Don't be nervous, Neville," Su Er whispered, leaning in close to the boy's ear. He was genuinely afraid Neville might accidentally trip himself, which would be quite a spectacle.

The Great Hall at Hogwarts was much larger than it appeared in the movies. Four banners hung beside four long tables, embroidered respectively with a snake, a maned lion, a badger, and a soaring eagle.

Countless candles floated mid-air, illuminating the Great Hall brightly.

They made the golden plates and golden goblets on the tables gleam brilliantly.

Professor McGonagall had the young wizards line up in front of the staff table facing hundreds of older Hogwarts students, with a four-legged stool placed between the older students and the first-years.

At this moment, Hermione didn't seem nervous anymore.

She whispered to Su Er, "Hogwarts, A History mentioned that the ceiling is bewitched so that it looks like the sky outside."

At that moment, Professor McGonagall picked up a shabby, patched wizard's hat and a roll of parchment from the staff table and walked over to the stool.

Everyone stared at the hat.

The Great Hall was pin-drop silent.

Then, the hat twisted, a wide rip opened near the brim-and it began to sing.

"You may not think I'm pretty,

And do not judge by sight,

If you can find a smarter hat,

I'll eat myself outright!

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make your real friends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

(ps: A portion of the lyrics has been omitted.)

As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted through the hall. The hat straightened its body like a gentleman and bowed toward the four long tables.

To be honest, it didn't sound very good. Su Er dug at his ear.

"It looks like we just have to put on the hat," Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, whispering, "I actually heard someone say earlier that we were going to have to fight a troll."

Su Er smiled without speaking, gesturing for Hermione to look ahead.

Professor McGonagall had already picked up the roll of parchment. "Now, when I call your name, you will come forth, put on the hat, and sit on the stool to await your sorting."

"Hannah Abbott!"

A plump little girl with pigtails stumbled out from the crowd, put on the hat, and sat on the stool, the brim slipping down to just cover her eyes.

"Hufflepuff!" shouted the hat.

The people at the table on the right applauded to welcome Hannah, and she ran over, blushing.

"Susan Bones!"

A thought stirred in Su Er's heart; this was the Bones girl.

"Hufflepuff!" shouted the hat, and Susan quickly sat down beside Hannah.

Professor McGonagall paused for some inexplicable reason, then continued, "Su Er Bones!"

Thinking of Mr. Ellison's chat with him that night, Su Er let out a slight sigh and stepped out of the queue, while Professor McGonagall looked at him with a smile.

"Put on the hat; personally, I very much hope you will come to Gryffindor," she whispered just before Su Er put on the hat.

Su Er nodded slightly and put the hat on.

"Ah, another Bones," the hat's voice sounded in Su Er's mind.

"Actually, I have another last name, Mr. Hat. I prefer you to call me Su Er Ellison," Su Er replied. "I grew up in the Ellison family since I was an infant."

"Oh, apologies," the hat said politely.

"Never mind, Mr. Hat, you sing quite well," Su Er buttered it up insincerely.

"Ha, I think so too. I prepared for it a whole year," the hat shook its brim happily.

"Ahem..." Professor McGonagall gave a soft cough as a reminder.

"Right then, young wizard, let me see..." The hat remembered its job. "Hmm, outstanding talent. You seem different from any Bones I've known. Perhaps you're better suited for Ravenclaw, but you also possess extraordinary courage. I can tell you're quite shrewd as well-Gryffindor and Slytherin suit you equally."

"It's a tough choice, very tough. Perhaps you have any thoughts?" said the hat.

"I'm fine with anything, Mr. Hat, but I'd rather lie on the sofa reading in a comfortable common room. It would be even better if there were some delicious food at the same time."

"Ah, that's very Hufflepuff," the hat said. "The Hufflepuff common room is the best of the four houses, and besides, it's right next to the kitchens. So, it's decided..."

"Hufflepuff!" shouted the hat aloud.

A burst of applause immediately erupted from the long table on the left. Su Er took off the hat and walked with a smile toward the house where he would spend the next seven years.

Susan, sitting beside the golden-pigtail Hannah, looked at Su Er curiously.

"Sit here, Su Er," Cedric Diggory, whom he had met earlier, beckoned to him.

Su Er sat down beside Cedric.

A pearly-white ghost popped up from the middle of the long table in front of them, smiling in greeting.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff," it said.

"That's the Fat Friar," Cedric introduced in a low voice to Su Er. "He's our Hufflepuff ghost."

Su Er curiously eyed the smiling ghost; this was the first time in his past or present life that he had seen one.

"Thank you, Mr. Friar."

The Fat Friar tipped his hat in return.

The Sorting Ceremony continued. Next, a young wizard named Terry Boot was sorted into Ravenclaw.

The first Gryffindor emerged: Lavender Brown.

Justin Finch-Fletchley was sorted into Hufflepuff, and Su Er joined the others in applause.

The Sorting Hat's pace was sometimes fast and sometimes required more thought, but it couldn't be ruled out that it was just chatting with the little wizards-slacking off was an instinct that knew no race.

Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, and Su Er keenly sensed that the little girl seemed a bit... unhappy?

Several more people followed in quick succession, and then Professor McGonagall called out-

"Harry Potter!"

A buzz of discussion instantly erupted from the four long tables, and Su Er heard a few young wizards sitting near him debating whether this was the Harry Potter they all knew.

The Sorting Hat didn't take long to decide Harry's placement.

"Gryffindor!"

Immediately, a burst of applause and cheers erupted from the direction of the Gryffindor table, and two red-headed boys beat silver spoons against their gold plates, shouting loudly, "We've got Potter! We've got Potter!"

Ron Weasley was naturally sorted into Gryffindor, and the two after him went to Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively.

It was finally over. Su Er let out a soft breath, looking down at the empty plate in front of him.

On the train he had only eaten some biscuits and bread made by Mrs. Ellison, along with some Diagon Alley snacks extorted from Angel, and his stomach had long been rumbling.

"Welcome! Welcome to a new school year!" Headmaster Dumbledore, sitting in the golden central chair, stood up and said with a smile. "It seems everyone is rather hungry, so before the feast officially begins, I would like to say a few words to you all."

"And they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"