Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 8, Part 8: The Hat Dilemma

A spacious auditorium,
All eyes turned to them.

Sheen saw the wizards at different long tables craning their necks.

Beside the gleaming gold platter and goblets on the professor's chair, Dumbledore's gaze held a hint of interest.

Sheehan tried to act as if he knew nothing and put on the Sorting Hat under Professor McGonagall's gentle instructions.

"I want to teach many people and treat them all the same."

Sheen silently recited Helga Hufflepuff's quote, hoping to let the Sorting Hat know his target house through this.

"A delightful little wizard,"

Sheen heard a faint voice say,
“Few people remember the songs Old Hat sang. You want to go to Hufflepuff? Of course... no way.”

Sheen: "..."

It's better not to answer.

"why?"

Sheen asked himself quietly.

"Let the old man sing it again—beautiful Ravenclaw, from the tranquil riverbank..."

The Sorting Hat suddenly started singing, while simultaneously twisting and turning on Sheehan's head.

"Mr. Sorting Hat?"

Sheen covered his head, asking in confusion.

"Those who are wise and learned will enter the Ravenclaw of wisdom..."

The Sorting Hat was still twisting and singing.

"I'm going to Hufflepuff."

Sheen seemed to realize something.

"Ravenclaw said: 'The students we teach must be intellectually superior...'"

The Sorting Hat kept singing.

"I'm going to Hufflepuff!"

Sheen made a last-ditch effort.

"Why does this stubborn little wizard insist on going to Hufflepuff?"

"Mr. Sorting Hat, why do I have to go to Ravenclaw?"

"Hmm, practicing spells for thirteen hours a day, until I couldn't move at all; "
He couldn't even recognize all the English words, yet he memorized all the books he bought in two months... Apart from Rowena, I haven't seen a wizard so eager for knowledge in a long time.

Slytherin can help you achieve your ambitions, Gryffindor admires your courage, and Hufflepuff accepts your kind heart.

The Sorting Hat's voice was tinged with emotion.

"But only Ravenclaw can grant wise wizards the ability to reach the truth!"

"I'm going to Hufflepuff."

Sheen felt his confidence had waned considerably.

"Ok."

To everyone's surprise, the Sorting Hat agreed, and Sheen's emerald green eyes lit up.

"I lied to you."

The Sorting Hat's voice grew louder.

"Ravenclaw!!!"

A dejected Sheen clutched the Sorting Hat.

"It hurts, it hurts..."

Hearing the Sorting Hat's voice made Sheen feel much better.

However, he didn't hear the second half.

"...Hey, I lied to Ravenclaw..."

It's just like them, Rowena. You used to be so reckless with your old hats back then...

Twelve centuries later... Old Hatter finally fulfilled his promise to Gryffindor, finding an heir for Ravenclaw.
"Just watch, that little guy's frail body harbors immense power; Old Man never misjudges."

Ravenclaw is also an option.

Sheen said to himself,

At least not Slytherin.

Before Sheehan could place the Sorting Hat in Professor McGonagall's hands, enthusiastic applause erupted from Headmaster Eagle's desk.
Even the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff groups were clapping, and when Sheehan looked, he saw that Justin, who was standing up, was the most enthusiastic.

He led a group of Hufflepuffs in a loud clapping session.

Looking at it this way,
Sheen felt even worse.

What a wonderful Hufflepuff! What a wretched Sorting Hat!

In the center of the auditorium,

Professor McGonagall looked at Sheehan gently.

The original pilling robes have been replaced with the plain robes of Hogwarts;
The ill-fitting shoes were transformed into British-style leather boots;
A glimmer of longing flashed in her cautious, emerald-green eyes.

She took off his hat:
"Are you ready, Mr. Green? To embrace your new life?"

Sheehan was stunned for a moment, then Professor McGonagall gently pushed him toward the Ravenclaw table.

"welcome!"

Sheehan saw a slightly chubby little wizard next to him waving.
"I can't believe it, you're Hatstall!"

A curious look came from behind his large, brass-rimmed glasses, and after a moment of surprise, he reached out his hand to Sheehan.

Unfortunately, his brass-rimmed glasses were slipping down, so he reached out to adjust them.
Finally, he hurriedly apologized to Sheen.

"Hatstall?"

Sheen didn't pay attention; his big eyes were full of doubt.

"Oh my god! You don't know!"

The slightly chubby little wizard opened his mouth wide.

“Terry, not everyone will bother to examine that tattered hat.”

A voice came from behind him.
He was a male wizard with long black hair, who interrupted Terry with a hint of helplessness.

"Don't worry about it too much. Terry always likes to study these strange and unusual questions. When I just sat down, he was still asking me how many windows Hogwarts has."

Merlin, who would care about that thing?

Unless they all fall, they'll definitely crush Terry Boots, who's counting down below.

"No, the windows are very important!"

The young wizard named Terry's face turned slightly red, clearly anxious.

"Ok."

The long-haired, dark-haired young wizard responded in a coaxing tone, then proceeded to introduce the situation to Sheen with considerable interest.

Hatstall.

It means the sorting problem.
This refers to the young wizards whose sorting time exceeds 5 minutes.

It is extremely rare; it is said that only one case occurs every fifty years or so.

By the way, I'm Michael Corner, welcome to Ravenclaw.

He held out his hand.

Sheen was even more confused. More than five minutes?
But he clearly remembers that there was only a little time.

It's as if something has stolen time.

Sheen thought to himself.

"Sheen Green".

The two gently shook hands.

As the last new student went to Slytherin, Dumbledore stood up.

He looked at the students with a beaming smile, opening his arms to them, as if nothing could make him happier than seeing his students gathered together.

"Welcome!"

He says,

"Welcome everyone to Hogwarts to start a new school year!
Before the banquet begins, I would like to say a few words.

That is: Idiot! Crybaby! Trash! Twist!

As he spoke, Terry frantically took notes, while Michael beside him wore a "I knew it would be like this" expression.

Sheen didn't pay attention, because the table in front of him had been magically filled with food.

Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausage, steak, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, potato chips, Yorkshire pudding, pea sprouts, carrots, gravy, ketchup, apple pie, syrup pie, chocolate muffin, fried jam donuts, liqueur-soaked jam pudding, strawberries, jelly, rice pudding...

Sheen checked the menu he had made against his memory, and it was exactly the same.

Dipping beans, let's begin.

Sheen said to himself.

He then activated the one-click sweep mode.

"How does he manage to eat so elegantly and so fast?"

A stunned Michael turned to the other boy on his left and asked.

(End of this chapter)