Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 26 The Sorting Hat

After Professor McGonagall left, while they waited, one by one, translucent, gray ghosts crawled in from the walls, from the floor, and from outside the windows.

The students, who were Muggle-born or from timid wizarding families, screamed in fright.

However, the more humorous and kind of ghosts quickly dispelled the young wizards' fears.

But when the young wizards asked about the Sorting Ceremony...

These ghosts would suddenly become very serious and terrifying.

“The Gryffindor Sorting Ceremony involves fighting a dragon,” said a ghost resembling a knight. “If you win, you’ll go to Gryffindor; if you lose, you’ll have to go to another house, like Slytherin.”

After saying this, the ghost glanced at the elegantly dressed, tall and thin gentleman-like ghost next to him.

"Bullshit!" the ghost cursed, "Gryffindor is a second-rate house! We, Slytherin, are the real place to learn magic!"

And so, the room full of ghosts started arguing and insulting each other, almost coming to blows.

The chaotic scene only stopped when Professor McGonagall reappeared, and the ghosts filed in and disappeared into the walls.

“Now, line up in a single file,” McGonagall said. “Follow me.”

Ron stood at the front, followed by Harry, with Tierra standing behind Harry. Behind Tierra was a boy with brown hair, a little shorter than him.

They walked up the stairs, through the foyer, and into an incredibly luxurious restaurant.

The restaurant's ceiling is a starry night sky, with countless candles floating like jellyfish beneath it.

All the students except for the first-year students sat at four long tables.

Four tables were set with gleaming gold platters and wine glasses.

At the head of the table in the restaurant, there was another long table, which was for the teachers, and Hagrid was also at that long table.

Professor McGonagall led the first-year students over there, making them line up facing the entire upperclassman class, with the teachers behind them. The candlelight flickered, and hundreds of faces watching them resembled pale lanterns. Ghosts, too, mingled among the students, shimmering with a hazy, silvery light.

“There’s been a spell cast here; it looks just like the sky outside. I read about it in ‘Hogwarts: A History of the School,’” Hermione said quietly to Tyrell, standing beside her at some point, her voice brimming with undisguised pride.

Professor McGonagall gently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-year students, and then placed a tattered, patched pointed wizard's hat on the stool.

The greasy surface of the wizard's hat reflected a greasy sheen, and the wrinkles on the hat looked like an old man's wrinkled face.

The hat twisted. A wide slit appeared in the brim, like a mouth, and the hat began to sing:

"You may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge a book by its cover. If you can find a hat prettier than mine, I'll eat myself."

You can make your top hats jet black and shiny, and your tall silk hats smooth and crisp, but I am the magic hat used for Hogwarts tests, so naturally I am far superior to your hats.

No matter what thoughts are hidden in your mind, they can't escape the discerning eyes of the Demon Hat Yun. Try wearing it and see!

I will tell you which college you should be assigned to.

You may belong to Gryffindor, where courage is buried deep in the heart. Their boldness, spirit, and generosity make Gryffindor stand out.

You may belong to Hufflepuff, where people are honest and loyal, and Hufflepuff students are persevering, honest, and unafraid of hard work.

If you are clever, you might go to the wise old Ravenclaw, where you will always meet your kindred spirits;

You might enter Slytherin, and perhaps you'll make genuine friends there, but those cunning and treacherous individuals will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Come on, put me on! Don't be afraid! Don't panic!

In my hands… even though I don’t have a single hand… you are absolutely safe because I am a thinking magic hat!
After the magic hat finished singing, the whole audience erupted in applause. The magic hat bowed to each of the four tables and then remained motionless.

Professor McGonagall then stepped forward, holding a roll of parchment. “Whoever I call your name now, put on your hat, sit on the stool, and we will proceed with the Sorting,” she said. “Hannah Abbott!”

A rosy-cheeked little girl with two golden ponytails sat down obediently. Her eyes, eyebrows, and nose resembled the owner of the Leaky Cauldron... Hmm, I may come and go, but Hannah Abbott remains the same, Tierra thought.

"Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted.

The people at the table to the right applauded and cheered Hannah, welcoming her to sit at their table.

“Susan Burns!” — “Hufflepuff!”

"Terribt!" — "Ravenclaw!"

……

“Tiera the Witch!” McGonagall murmured.

Tierra obediently sat down.

Before the hat landed on her head, Tierra forced herself to have only one thought in her mind.

"Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor..." Tierra had drunk a bottle of Herith potion half a month ago, and the residual effects were still quite strong, but not strong enough for the Sorting Hat to notice anything unusual, at least not enough for the Sorting Hat to see her memories...

If it were just that he stole the Philosopher's Stone or there was a library in another world, that would be fine...

If the Sorting Hat were to see its own memories connected to the one behind the "Seven Chapters of the Mysterious Lord's Secret Scripture"...

The Sorting Hat would probably mutate on the spot.

The Sorting Hat was unusually silent for a few seconds.

“Hmm…interesting, very interesting…” the Sorting Hat said.

Tierra felt that her deepest and strongest desires had been unearthed, but fortunately, with Tierra's adult self-control and the help of her spiritual walls, the Sorting Hat didn't see too much.

It was just a simple thought, without any memory.

This also explains why Tyella's mental strength was far superior to that of ordinary young wizards, allowing her to sense the Sorting Hat's examination.

"Hmm... First and foremost, it's your thirst for knowledge. You're a very curious little wizard, your thirst for knowledge is so strong, it even surpasses that of some adult wizards I've seen... You're very suitable for Ravenclaw..."

"Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor..." Tierra kept repeating in her mind, but the thirst for knowledge that had been aroused in her mind was quickly suppressed.

But then, a greedy thought surged from the depths of Tierra's mind.

Fortunately, Tiera was prepared and was quickly suppressed.

"You're also very ambitious and crave fame. Slytherin seems like a good fit for you..." the Sorting Hat added.

“But clearly, you don’t want to go to either of those houses; you want to go to Gryffindor…” the Sorting Hat said slowly.

“But you’re not suited for Gryffindor…” the Sorting Hat teased. “You’re a natural snake or a natural raven, but you’re not a lion, and you don’t have the qualities a honeypot needs… Can you tell me…”

Before the Sorting Hat could finish speaking, Tierra silently pulled a long, thin knitting needle from her wizard robes and gently poked the Sorting Hat.

“Oh, alright, alright, I admit you’re a Gryffindor. You’re the first person to dare threaten the Sorting Hat at the Sorting Ceremony, alright, that is…” the Sorting Hat shouted, “Gryffindor!”

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted at the Gryffindor table, with the Weasley twins giving the loudest applause.

They clearly considered Tierra to be a troublemaker just like them.

Otherwise, who in their right mind would stuff knitting needles into their clothes?

(End of this chapter)