Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 19 Are You Here to Buy a Hat?
Unlike its dark exterior, the interior of Hogwarts Castle can be described as magnificent and stunningly beautiful.

What’s interesting is that the ceiling above seems to be transparent, and you can see the twinkling stars outside.

Paying attention to Sherlock's actions, Hermione beside him whispered to him:

"It's enchanted here, and it looks like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."

Sherlock nodded.

Indeed, it was hard to believe that there was a ceiling above one's head, and it was also hard to believe that the auditorium was not open-air.

When Sherlock saw the size of Hogwarts Castle, he thought his life for the next seven years would be very cramped.

But now it seems that the space here is obviously much larger than it appears from outside the castle.

I can only say that this is not scientific at all.

If it doesn't make sense, magic will be added.

When Professor McGonagall returned, the ghosts also floated through the wall and disappeared.

At this time, all the teachers and students in the school have taken their seats, and everyone is staring at these first-year students, waiting for them to complete the sorting ceremony.

Under everyone's gaze, Professor McGonagall gently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-year students and put a hat on the stool.

Sherlock noticed that the pointed hat was patched and worn, and even from a distance it looked dirty.

The next moment, the hat began to twist, and a wide crack appeared in the lower middle part of it, as if its mouth was opening.

Then it started singing.

"You may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge a person by their appearance. If you can find a hat prettier than mine, I can eat myself..."

A little tune that sounded a bit noisy to Sherlock was sung.

The Hat's singing voice was not very good, and the music was not even close to his own violin level.

But it did provide Sherlock with some information.

It mainly introduces the four colleges.

Its introduction is also very objective and more professional than Mag's. In short:
Gryffindor - Brave, fearless, represented by the animal lion, symbolizing the four elements of fire.

Hufflepuff - honesty and loyalty. Its representative animal is the badger, which symbolizes the earth of the four elements.

Ravenclaw - wisdom, erudition, the representative animal is the eagle, symbolizing the four elements of wind.

Slytherin - shrewd, ambitious, its representative animal is the snake, symbolizing the water element.

At this time, the first-year students also realized that all they had to do was wear this hat.

"I'm going to kill Fred!"

Ron couldn't help but say to Sherlock and Harry, "He sounds like he's going to fight a troll."

Harry and Hermione both breathed a sigh of relief, as they were obviously very nervous just now.

Sherlock was naturally not nervous, but felt that things were becoming more and more interesting.

At this time, the Sorting Ceremony had already begun. McGonagall took a roll of parchment in her hand, walked forward a few steps, and read out the first name:
"Hannah Abbott!"

A little girl with two golden braids stumbled out of the queue under the gaze of all the teachers and students in the school and put on her hat nervously.

I don't know what happened, but after a moment, the hat called out Hufflepuff.

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

The ghost of the fat monk who had greeted Sherlock also waved to her happily.

Then, one by one, freshmen were called out by McGonagall, and they were asked to put on their hats, be sorted into their houses, and then take off their hats.

Mechanical repetitive movements, nothing new.

Soon, the person who was with Sherlock was called.

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione was so nervous that she even forgot to greet them and almost ran to the stool and put her hat on her head in a hurry.

Finally, the hat called out Gryffindor.

Ron couldn't help but snort when he heard this, and was obviously a little unhappy that the little girl might be assigned to the same college as him.

Sherlock watched this scene with great interest.

He didn't care about Ron's little thoughts, what he cared about was the time it took for the Hat to sort.

Sometimes the hat calls out the house's name right away, but other times it takes a while to decide.

Hermione, for example, took nearly four minutes.

This was the one that took the longest time among all the people who had been sorted into houses, and it felt as if the hat was also hesitating.

Then the problem is coming.

When it is my turn, how long will it take and which college will I be assigned to?
In fact, Sherlock had already thought about this question when the hat sang that little song.

The result is... everything is possible.

He has never lacked courage. The fundamental reason why he chose to come to Hogwarts was the desire to explore the unknown. When necessary, he could even put life and death aside. That feeling would only make him more excited.

He is upright. One of his interests is to fight crime. Of course, his methods cannot be called lawful good, but they are definitely not evil, and the results must be just.

There is no need to mention his wisdom, although due to his family's reasons, he once thought he was an idiot before he met other children.

He undoubtedly possesses both shrewdness and ambition. Judging from the little song just played by the Sorting Hat, he is self-important and despises the rules. This temperament really fits Slytherin well.

So even Sherlock, who is good at reasoning and analysis, finds it difficult to judge which college he will be assigned to.

It would be nice to ask Hermione what happens when she puts on the hat. I'm sure Miss Granger would be happy to answer.

Unfortunately, I can’t ask.

Because after each freshman has determined his or her college, he or she will leave the current team and go to his or her own college - senior students from the same college will be waiting there to welcome them.

Just then, McGonagall saw that Hermione had taken her seat to be welcomed by the senior Gryffindor students, and her eyes fell back to the parchment.

Her gaze paused slightly, and she read out the name of the next new student:

"Sherlock Holmes!"

When they heard their names, Sherlock didn't say anything, but Harry and Ron suddenly became nervous:

"Don't go to Slytherin!"

"You must go to Gryffindor!"

In addition to the two good friends, there are naturally other people paying attention to Sherlock.

The news that he taught Malfoy and the other two a lesson on the train had spread, and the students who knew about it would inevitably pay attention to him when they heard his name.

Not to mention that Sherlock has a look and appearance that is enough to attract attention at first sight.

In addition, McGonagall also mentioned this little wizard with keen observation and analytical skills to Dumbledore.

but.

Sherlock walked up to the stool and didn't put his hat on his head like the others did.

He took the hat in his hand and spun it around while observing it carefully.

All the teachers and students were greatly surprised.

McGonagall, who presided over the sorting ceremony, looked even more surprised.

I didn't ask you to come here to buy a hat, so why did you pick one?

She couldn't help but look at Headmaster Dumbledore who was sitting at the head seat.

(End of this chapter)