In the spacious Great Hall,
All eyes turned towards him.
Sean saw Wizards at different long tables craning their necks,
and beside the shining golden plates and goblets at the Professor's table, Dumbledore watched with mild interest.
Sean tried his best to act as if he knew nothing, and under Professor McGonagall's gentle instruction, he put on the Sorting Hat.
"I shall teach many, and treat them all alike."
Sean silently recited the words of Ms. Helga Hufflepuff, hoping to let the Sorting Hat know his target House through this.
"A comforting Young Wizard,"
Sean heard a faint voice say,
"Few people remember the songs the old hat has sung. You want to go to Hufflepuff? Of course... not."
Sean: "..."
Better not to answer.
"Why?"
Sean quietly asked in his mind.
"Let the old hat sing it again—Beautiful Ravenclaw, from the peaceful riverside..."
The Sorting Hat suddenly began to sing, twisting on Sean's head.
"Mr. Sorting Hat?"
Sean held his head, asking in confusion.
"Those wise and knowledgeable will go to the intelligent Ravenclaw..."
The Sorting Hat continued to twist and sing.
"I want to go to Hufflepuff."
Sean seemed to realize something.
"Ravenclaw said: The students we teach, their intelligence must be superior..."
The Sorting Hat sang on and on.
"I want to go to Hufflepuff!"
Sean tried to make a final struggle.
"Stubborn Young Wizard, why must you go to Hufflepuff?"
"Mr. Sorting Hat, why must I go to Ravenclaw?"
"Hmm, practicing a Spell thirteen hours a day, practicing until you can't move; unable to even read English, memorizing all the books you bought within two months... Besides Rowena, the old hat hasn't seen a Wizard so eager for knowledge in a long time.
Slytherin can help you achieve your ambition, Gryffindor appreciates your courage, and Hufflepuff accepts your kind heart."
The Sorting Hat's voice carried a hint of emotion,
"But only Ravenclaw can give a wise Wizard the ability to walk towards truth!"
"I want to go to Hufflepuff."
Sean felt his morale drop significantly.
"Alright."
Unexpectedly, the Sorting Hat actually agreed, and Sean's emerald eyes brightened.
"Just kidding,"
The Sorting Hat's voice became loud,
"Ravenclaw!!!"
The crestfallen Sean pinched the Sorting Hat.
"Ouch ouch ouch..."
Hearing the Sorting Hat's voice, Sean felt much better.
However, he didn't hear the latter half.
...Hey, I tricked Ravenclaw... It's truly a family trait, Rowena, you always used to pinch the old hat so thoughtlessly... Twelve centuries... The old hat has finally fulfilled its promise to Gryffindor, finding an heir for Ravenclaw.
Just watch, within that scrawny body of this little fellow, a great power lurks. The old hat is never wrong.
Ravenclaw is fine too.
Sean told himself,
At least it's not Slytherin.
Before Sean could even hand the Sorting Hat to Professor McGonagall, he heard enthusiastic applause from the Ravenclaw Dean's table.
Even Gryffindor and Hufflepuff clapped, and Sean saw that the most enthusiastic was Justin, who stood up.
He led a group of Hufflepuffs in a thunderous applause.
Seeing this,
Sean felt even worse.
What a wonderful Hufflepuff!
What a hateful Sorting Hat!
In the center of the Great Hall,
Professor McGonagall looked at Sean gently.
His previously pilled robes had been replaced with Hogwarts plain robes;
His ill-fitting shoes had also become British-style leather boots;
A light of longing shone in his cautious emerald eyes.
She took off his hat:
"Are you ready, Mr. Green? To embrace your new life."
Sean paused for a moment, then was gently pushed by Professor McGonagall towards the Ravenclaw long table.
"Welcome!"
Sean saw a slightly chubby Young Wizard next to his seat waving at him.
"I can't believe you're a Hatstall!"
A curious gaze came from behind his large, copper-rimmed glasses, and after a jolt, he extended his hand to Sean.
But unfortunately, his copper-rimmed glasses were slipping down, so his outstretched hand went back to adjust his glasses.
Finally, he apologized repeatedly to Sean in a flustered manner.
"Hatstall?"
Sean didn't mind, his large eyes full of confusion.
"Oh! My goodness! You don't know!"
The slightly chubby Young Wizard's mouth fell open.
"Terry, not everyone studies that tattered hat."
A voice came from behind him.
It was a Wizard with long black hair, who somewhat helplessly interrupted Terry's next words.
"Don't mind him too much, Terry always likes to research these strange problems. When I first sat down, he was asking me how many windows Hogwarts has.
Merlin, who cares about that? Unless they all fall down, they'll surely crush Terry Boot, who's counting them below."
"No, windows are important!"
The Young Wizard named Terry's face was flushed, clearly anxious.
"Alright."
The long-haired Young Wizard replied in a coaxing tone, then he introduced himself to Sean with considerable interest,
"Hatstall.
It means a sorting difficulty, referring to Young Wizards whose sorting takes more than 5 minutes.
It's very rare, said to occur only once every fifty years or so.
By the way, I'm Michael Corner, welcome to Ravenclaw."
He extended his hand.
Sean was even more confused, over five minutes?
But he clearly remembered it was only a short time?
It was as if something had stolen time.
Sean thought so.
"Sean Green."
Their hands briefly clasped.
As the last new student went to Slytherin, Dumbledore stood up.
He smiled broadly at the students, spreading his arms to them, as if nothing pleased him more than seeing his students gathered together.
"Welcome!"
He said,
"Welcome everyone to Hogwarts for a new school year!
Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words.
They are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
As he spoke, Terry frantically took notes, while Michael beside him had an expression of "I knew it would be like this."
Sean didn't pay attention, because on the table in front of him, food had magically piled up.
Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steak, boiled potatoes, roasted potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, apple pie, treacle tart, chocolate eclairs, jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jelly, rice pudding... Sean checked his own menu, and it was exactly as he remembered.
Dipping beans, it began.
Sean told himself.
Immediately, he activated 'one-click sweep' mode.
"How does he manage to be so elegant and eat so fast?"
The dumbfounded Michael asked another boy to his left.