"Students whose names are called, please come forward," Professor McGonagall said, taking out a paper list. "The Sorting Hat will help you make your choice."
"First-"
"Hannah Abbott."
Lorne wrote on his phone: Blacksmith.
A gentle-looking girl sat on the chair, the enormous Sorting Hat looking like a traffic cone on her head.
The Sorting Hat muttered to itself before finally announcing loudly, "Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted in celebration.
Next, as Professor McGonagall called their names, one young wizard after another put on the Sorting Hat. Like sorting rubbish, the hat sorted them into their respective houses.
Cheers and shouts rose one after another. Lorne could not help wondering which house the Sorting Hat would put him in if he wore it.
"Hermione Granger."
Lorne looked up and saw the girl at the very front of the crowd step forward.
Her hair was like a cascading waterfall of golden waves, her features were deep-set, and she wore a confident smile.
Lorne erased everything he had written before and continued his assessment: The trio's main DPS, main tank, and initiator.
The Sorting Hat hesitated for a while this time. "Gryffindor!"
"Ron Weasley-Gryffindor." Chicken drumstick swordmaster, reaction meme expert.
"Draco Malfoy-Slytherin." Young Master Dragon, horse dung.
Professor McGonagall suddenly paused. She looked at the boy at the very front of the crowd. "Harry Potter."
Countless eyes turned toward him. Even Lorne stopped writing. This was tonight's main event.
Harry's hair was a tangled mess. He felt as though he were heading to the slaughterhouse. Those stares were more terrifying than knives.
He sat on the chair, and the Sorting Hat was placed on his head.
It was a little heavy.
"Oh-Harry Potter. This is a little difficult. Brimming with talent, kindhearted, eager to prove yourself. Perhaps you could go to Slytherin... anywhere but Slytherin? I understand. The final result is-"
"Gryffindor!"
The long Gryffindor table immediately erupted in cheers. Some people even threw their wizard hats into the air.
"We've got Potter! We've got Potter!"
Harry was very happy with the result too. He excitedly sat down beside Ron and shook everyone's hands, one by one.
Ron was even more delighted to see Harry join him in Gryffindor. "That scared me to death! I thought we wouldn't get to be together. Was that stupid hat broken just now? Why did it go so long without saying anything?"
Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore waved his hand, and the tables were immediately covered with a dazzling assortment of food.
Nobody paid any more attention to the Great Hall's starry ceiling or floating candles. Since boarding the train, all they had eaten that day was a few snacks. Ron even abandoned manners and appearances, grabbing a chicken drumstick in each hand and digging in.
Who cares? Leave appearances to people with full stomachs.
After the feast ended, Dumbledore specifically called Lorne to the Headmaster's Office.
"Sorry I was so vague about your duties today. Perhaps you could find some time to tell the students," Dumbledore said, gesturing for Lorne to sit. "Would you like some honey tea?"
That's because you have no idea what I can do, dear Headmaster.
Lorne did not call him out on it. He accepted the tea Dumbledore handed him, lowered his head, and took a sip.
"Too sweet, Professor."
"Minerva says so too," Dumbledore said, taking a large gulp. "Personally, I think it's a little weak."
"You did a very good job welcoming the new students today. Do you have any plans for what comes next?"
Lorne sat up straight, his expression turning serious. "Of course, Professor, provided I have your support."
"First, regarding what you said before the feast today, that I would solve any problems students have in their daily lives and studies-that wasn't quite complete. In fact, the General Affairs Office's duty is to serve all staff and students wholeheartedly."
"I've been at Hogwarts for a month. Forgive my frankness, Professor, but Hogwarts really does squeeze a little too much out of its staff."
"The professors teaching the core subjects are responsible for seven years' worth of classes. That alone is enough to keep them busy: preparing lessons, marking homework, arranging exams, and tutoring certain students with special needs."
"Seven years of students-they have to remember the names of everyone in the school! They also have to patrol at night and supervise detentions, along with all sorts of other miscellaneous tasks. Professor McGonagall is the deputy headmistress, and she handles staff interviews and transfers. Professor Snape is researching Potions as well. He only sleeps four hours a day."
"If I were them, I might have reported you to the labor bureau ages ago." Worried Dumbledore would not understand, Lorne added, "That's the place in the Muggle World that protects workers' rights."
Lorne was getting a little thirsty from talking, but after glancing at the sickeningly sweet honey tea on the table, he licked his lips and kept going.
"The General Affairs Office could help take some duties outside teaching off the professors' hands, such as night patrols and detentions. I might not be able to handle the older students on night patrol, but I can supervise the children in detention."
"Besides that, people could come to me about purchasing Potions ingredients and disputes between students. Even if I can't resolve them, I could act as a front desk, gather these matters together, and hand them over to the professors to deal with in one go, so nothing gets duplicated or overlooked."
Lorne smacked his lips. Unable to bear his thirst any longer, he asked politely, "Professor, could you change my tea to plain water?"
Dumbledore had been smiling and listening politely the whole time. At these words, his expression finally changed.
"You have no taste, Lorne."
He waved his hand, and the tea on the table turned clear.
Lorne took a hearty gulp. "As for specific plans for what comes next, I intend to gather the students' opinions first. I have several options."
"There's one thing you must remember-" Dumbledore suspected nothing. "Your studies."
Lorne let out a long breath. "Don't worry, Professor. I haven't forgotten. I'll enter the classrooms under the pretext of supervision and study in the back row."
"Good. As for the other things you mentioned, let me thank you on behalf of Minerva and the others first. I'll give proper thought to how to lighten their workload, but those duties mustn't fall on you. We can't let these trivial matters interfere with your studies."
Lorne felt exactly like an elementary school student being nagged to do his homework, with Dumbledore as the nagging parent.
Study. Of course I know I need to study.
But studying doesn't give me power of emotion!
Buying just two books had nearly emptied his balance. He had checked: the beginner shop would only last a week, after which he would only be able to buy things at full price.
Time is running out, Headmaster!
Lorne lowered his head helplessly, like a defeated quail. Just before leaving the Headmaster's Office, something suddenly occurred to him, and he turned back. "Professor, could I try on that Sorting Hat?"
Dumbledore was taken aback for two seconds, then replied, "Of course."
The Sorting Hat had not yet been returned to its usual place and was sitting on a chair nearby.
Lorne walked over and, without sitting down, put the hat straight onto his head.
Perhaps because they were in the Headmaster's Office, the Sorting Hat did not communicate with Lorne inside his mind. Instead, it shouted aloud.
"Oh, let me take a look at your sense of adventure first. Well, you aren't brave at all. What about knowledge? You crave it but don't want to put in the effort. Ambition? Oh my, extraordinary ambition, but all you want to do is daydream. Still, you seem to crave people's emotions. You're practically a little Dementor. Oh, then there couldn't be a more suitable place-Azkaban!"
"I'm joking. He loves food and hates work, yet he's shrewd and capable. He's suited to sitting in your seat, Dumbledore."