Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 565 Mother Fire Dragon

Afdegrunia understood Sergei's gesture, stopped talking, and stood there obediently, waiting for the next group of little sprouts ahead of him to step up, put on the Sorting Hat, and be sorted into their respective houses.

Because of the sheer number of participants, even though Tyra presided over the Sorting Ceremony with the Sorting Hat in one hand and a knitting needle in the other, minimizing the time allotted for each young wizard, the entire ceremony still took an hour and a half.

During the Sorting Ceremony, the senior students who were on the Hogwarts Express finally understood why the train, which usually took most of the day, had stopped at Hogsmeade Village station before 2 p.m. today.

By the end of the entire college assignment process, very few people from the four colleges were even willing to stand up and applaud.

As is customary, each time a new student is assigned to a college, the upperclassmen of that college are expected to applaud, cheer, or whistle to express their welcome.

But when the fiftieth little sprout was sorted into Gryffindor, only polite but mechanical applause came from the usually enthusiastic Gryffindor seats. When the hundredth little sprout was sorted into Gryffindor, the polite applause was replaced by sparse applause. When the one hundred and fiftieth little sprout was sorted into Gryffindor, everyone began to pray that this long sorting ceremony would end soon and that no one else would be sorted into their house.

After all the bean sprouts had been distributed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Next up is the division of our outstanding international students into different colleges." Tiera, who was presiding over the division ceremony, smiled gently.

Tyrell's brief remark instantly made the Hogwarts students, who had been sitting silently for over an hour, tense up once again.

"Couldn't you have let us finish eating before we split the food?" Ron grumbled at Tiera, who was sitting in the student section.

“Since you exchange students have already studied at your original schools, you are clearly no longer suitable candidates for the Sorting Hat,” Tierra said with a smile. “Therefore—”

As she spoke, Tiera waved her finger at the exchange students.

The exchange students suddenly felt something on their chests, looked down to look, and found that it was a badge.

Some people have badges on their chests with a silver-green serpent, others with a gold-red griffin, still others with a gray-blue raven, and some with an orange honey badger.

“To help everyone integrate into the Hogwarts community more quickly, your house sorting is randomized. Please keep your badges safe; they are your access passes to your house dormitories,” Tierra explained with a smile. “Miss Mercedes Amishitia, is there a problem?”

A witch with long blonde hair, a voluptuous figure, and a sunny, sweet face raised her hand as Tyella was speaking.

"What if we don't like the college we're in?" Mercedes Amishitia asked without hesitation. "Or what if we have a college we prefer, a college we'd like to go to?"

All eyes were drawn to the badge on her chest—

The emblem of Slytherin House.

“I’m a wizard at Thunderbird School in Iphamony, and I think I should have gone to Gryffindor or Huffpatch,” Mercedes Amishitia said.

"Oh--"

As soon as Mercedes Amistia finished speaking, cheers erupted from both the Gryffindor table and the Hefpatch table.

Clearly, any young wizard in their prime would welcome such a sweet and beautiful witch. "The academies aren't as sacred as you imagine; they're just places for you to live and sleep," Tiera replied with a smile, completely unconcerned.

“But I heard that when you first enrolled, you were supposed to go to Ravenclaw, but you were sorted into Gryffindor by threatening the Sorting Hat with a knitting needle. Why can’t we choose our dormitories?” Mercedes Amishitia asked again.

"Oh?" Tierra was indeed a little surprised. He never expected that Mercedes Amishitia, this little witch from America, would know so much.

Tierra's gaze swept over Draco Malfoy, who was hiding in the crowd.

Draco Malfoy guiltily avoided Thiera's gaze.

“Because I threatened the Sorting Hat with this needle,” Tierra said, waving the needle in her hand. “And I preside over and decide your Sorting. If any of you are not satisfied with the Sorting result, you can try threatening me.”

After Tiera finished speaking, she looked at her with a smile, her domineering nature evident.

Mercedes Amishitia glared at Tierra, stomped his foot, and said nothing more, which was considered an acceptance of Tierra's explanation.

"Who is this woman?" Hermione asked, frowning.

“Mercedes Amishitia,” Tiera said. “A fourth-year student at the Thunderbird Academy of Ifamoni Magic School. He’s outspoken, doesn’t hold back, and dares to say anything. He hates evil as if it were his enemy, which has offended many people. Originally, another girl was supposed to be sent here, but that girl’s suitor helped her and Mercedes Amishitia swap their final exam scores, which led to Mercedes Amishitia being sent here. Moreover, because Mercedes is not popular, almost all the teachers at Ifamoni Magic School know about this situation, but they all pretend not to know and sent Mercedes Amishitia here.”

“She’s so pitiful,” Hermione said, immediately feeling pity for this typical American girl. “She’s away from home and family, and she’s been sorted into Slytherin. Tierra, can’t you really help her change houses?”

“Oh dear, Miss Granger, put away your sympathy,” Tyella said. “You can try spending a week with her, and after a week, it will be Slytherin’s turn to suffer.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked.

“Look at her appearance, charming and beautiful, sweet and sunny, without a single flaw on her body, not even a single scar,” Tierra said.

"What do you mean?" Hermione still didn't understand.

“Do you remember when I received unprocessed boba tuber juice in fourth grade?” Tierra gestured toward Mercedes Amishitia. “She’s so hated, even the teachers don’t help her, so why hasn’t she been framed?”

"Is she not simple?" Hermione asked.

“Of course,” Tiera said. “Her nickname in Iphamoni is Mother Fire Dragon. Her talent in spellcasting, curses, potions, and dispelling spells is top-notch. The only reason she didn’t make the top fifty is because none of the teachers liked her.”

"If Slytherin dares to cause trouble behind our backs, I can assure you that the rest of the year will be a chaotic mess for Slytherin."

“So,” Hermione suddenly asked, “your assignments to the Houses weren’t entirely random, were they?”

(End of this chapter)