The Sorting Hat was a good hat, willing to take responsibility for his mistakes. He immediately clarified that Brian was not a candidate for an advanced course at Azkaban, explaining that his earlier announcement had merely been a special means of quieting the room. After he further promised the new students that "no one will be going to Azkaban," the exciting Sorting Ceremony finally began.
"Chet, when are you planning to leave?" At the staff table, Professor Sprout teased Brian. "Azkaban is quite a long way from Hogwarts."
"Depends on my mood, Pomona-at least, I'm not leaving before I finish all the sunflower seeds in your pocket." Smiling, Brian reached out to ask Professor Sprout for another handful. Because of the illusion, he felt as though several hours had passed, leaving him a little hungry. Fortunately, he could finally watch a proper Sorting Ceremony now.
After the Sorting Ceremony came the start-of-term feast-he decided to take an extra helping of beef and potato stew later.
"Then you won't be leaving today." Professor Sprout smiled as she began counting the new students below. "I wonder how many new students our house will get this year. Hmm-I hope it's twenty-eight."
"Why twenty-eight?" Brian asked curiously. In the magical world, certain numbers held mystical significance, such as multiples of seven. Twenty-eight happened to be a multiple of seven. Perhaps Professor Sprout had arrived at that answer through divination beforehand?
"Because there are exactly a hundred and twelve new students, and twenty-eight is a quarter of that. As you know, the Sorting Hat bases his decisions on the Four Founders' thinking. If our house has too many students, those children might start thinking, 'We're the leftovers the other houses didn't want.' Still, even if that happens, it's all right. I'll tell them, 'You've never