Kyle had always been curious about how the boats transporting first-year students across the Black Lake actually worked. He had assumed it was magic, but now he wasn't so sure. Despite observing the boats closely for a long time, he hadn't detected any obvious magical traces.
What puzzled him even more was Hagrid's boat. Despite the half-giant's massive size, his boat floated just as effortlessly as the ones carrying four much lighter first-years. That was clearly abnormal.
Maybe there's more advanced or concealed magic at play, Kyle thought, or perhaps these boats are alchemical objects. But deep down, he was beginning to suspect that something might be supporting the boats from beneath the surface of the lake.
Could it be that giant squid? Kyle wondered, leaning over the side of the boat to peer into the water. Unfortunately, the visibility was too poor in the dark, moonlit lake to see anything below the surface. All he could make out was his own reflection.
...
Soon, the boat exited the tunnel and docked at what appeared to be an underground pier. One by one, the students disembarked and followed Hagrid up a cobblestone path. They eventually arrived at a flat, damp meadow beneath the looming silhouette of Hogwarts Castle. From there, they made their way up a flight of stone steps to a massive oak door.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Hagrid said, before pounding on the door with his huge fist.
The door creaked open to reveal a tall, stern-looking witch in a green robe, her black hair pulled back in a tight bun. Professor McGonagall had an air about her that immediately commanded respect, much like a strict homeroom teacher suddenly appearing in the back of the classroom. The chatter among the first-year students fell into an instant hush.
Even Hagrid straightened up a bit as he spoke. "The first-year students have arrived, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here," she replied curtly, glancing over the group of new students before leading them into the castle.
As they stepped inside, the warmth of the torches lining the stone walls enveloped them, melting away the cold they'd felt outside. The flickering light cast long shadows, adding to the castle's sense of grandeur. To their right, Kyle could hear the low hum of voices coming from behind a closed door, clearly the sound of the older students waiting in the Great Hall.
However, Professor McGonagall didn't lead them into the Great Hall just yet. Instead, she guided the group into an empty chamber at the other end of the hall.
"First, welcome to Hogwarts," she began, her voice precise and commanding. As the first-year students gazed around in awe, Professor McGonagall delivered her well-practiced speech. "The feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, we must first determine which House you will join. House divisions are an important ritual, as your House will serve as your family here at Hogwarts for the duration of your stay..."
Even though Kyle already knew everything she was about to say, he listened attentively. After all, he was standing in the front row, right under Professor McGonagall's watchful eye. Daydreaming now could mean trouble later, and Kyle had no intention of making his Hogwarts experience difficult. Plus, this was a famous moment in wizarding life, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Kyle didn't want to miss a single detail.
Professor McGonagall moved on to explain the House Cup and then introduced the four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Or, as Kyle humorously thought of them, the brave, the hearty, the brainy, and the purebloods.
Around him, the other first-year students listened eagerly, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Some even sneaked glances toward the direction of the Great Hall, clearly itching to rush inside and experience the Sorting for themselves. It was obvious that this was the moment they had all been waiting for, the one that would define their next seven years at Hogwarts.
...
"In a few minutes, the ceremony will begin in front of the entire school. I suggest you tidy yourselves up while you wait so that you look presentable," Professor McGonagall advised, giving the group of first-years a final glance. "Please be quiet while you wait."
The moment Professor McGonagall left the room, however, it was as though her words had flipped a switch. The silence was quickly replaced by a buzz of chatter as the students huddled together, all eager to speculate on what the Sorting Ceremony would involve.
"How are we going to be sorted? Do we get to choose our own house?" a young witch asked nervously, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
"I bet it's some kind of test," a Muggle-born girl chimed in confidently. "I almost got into a Middle School when I received my Hogwarts letter, but I decided to come here instead… I mean, Professor McGonagall convinced my mum that Hogwarts was better."
She was clearly trying to impress, but her story didn't have the intended effect. Most of the students were too focused on the impending Sorting Ceremony to care about her mention of "Middle School," which left a few of them puzzled.
"I think the heads of the houses choose us," said another student with conviction. "At Ilvermorny, they use statues to pick students. My father is friends with someone in the Department of International Magical Cooperation at the Ministry of Magic, and he told me all about it."
This Bragger Dad's story was much more convincing, and he immediately attracted a crowd of followers and basked in their attention. He continued to brag about his father as if he were the Minister of Magic himself.
Kyle, standing off to the side, suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned to find Kanna looking up at him, her face filled with worry.
"Kyle, is it really the headmaster who chooses?" Kanna asked anxiously, her voice trembling. "What if no house wants me? Will I be expelled?"
Kyle smiled, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, there's no way that'll happen. Think about it—Hogwarts and Ilvermorny are completely different schools. They wouldn't use the same sorting method. That'd be way too boring."
Kanna exhaled a sigh of relief, but she still looked a little unsure. "So… do you know how we're sorted?"
Kyle hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and whispered with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Well… the professor hits each student with an Avada Kedavra spell. The ones who survive get to enroll. Don't worry—you'll be fine."
Kanna's eyes widened in horror, but before she could react, a ghost drifted through the room, floating eerily past them.
Kyle, acting as if everything was perfectly normal, waved casually. "Hello there, senior! We're about to be sorted. Wish us luck!"
The ghost, though clearly baffled by Kyle's greeting, gave a nod before continuing to glide away.
Seeing the ghost respond so casually, the light drained from Kanna's eyes, and she stood frozen, looking utterly defeated.
-------
A few minutes later, more and more ghosts began to appear in the small room, each one with a different shape and size—some tall, others short, some thin, and others rather rotund. The sight of so many ghosts took the new students by surprise. At first, many of the young witches and wizards were frightened, but they soon realized that the ghosts were quite friendly, greeting everyone with cheerful enthusiasm.
One ghost, eager to ease the students' nervousness, decided to put on a little show, performing a "ghostly" talent—removing his head and holding it above his body as it dangled in the air.
"Cool..." someone whispered, watching the ghost's head bob up and down.
"Thank you," the ghost replied, clearly in the mood for more. "But I can do something even cooler."
With a grin, the ghost tossed his head high into the air. What followed was an impressive acrobatic display: a front somersault followed by a triple-and-a-half aerial spin. The ghost's body reached up just in time to catch his head smoothly, reattaching it without a hitch.
The performance was flawless. The crowd, including Kyle, erupted into applause. It was truly impressive—after all, a talent like that wasn't something you saw every day.
"Thank you, thank you!" the ghost beamed as he took a bow, circling the group of students with pride. "Oh, and did I mention? It was with this very routine that I joined the Headless Hunt. Not to brag or anything, of course—just letting you know you've got good taste!"
His smug air only made the students laugh harder, and soon the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Everyone urged him to perform more tricks, which he happily obliged, though none quite as difficult as his first routine. Even so, the continuous tricks had the first-years laughing and cheering.
"Hmph," came a sneering voice from the side. "What's so impressive about that?"
The group turned to see another ghost, this one wearing a distinctive wrinkled collar.
"I'm sorry, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington," the headless ghost quickly responded. "I was just trying to entertain the children."
"You'd better be," Nearly Headless Nick said coldly.
The headless ghost, unfazed, added, "Of course, I sincerely hope that you'll finally join the Headless Hunt this year."
Nick gave him a blank look before turning and walking through a nearby wall without another word. The interruption left an awkward silence hanging in the air, and the headless ghost shrugged, looking around at the students. "Well, it's time for the Sorting Ceremony, anyway. Get ready, kids, and I'll see you later!"
With that, the headless ghost drifted through the wall, heading for the Great Hall.
Though the crowd felt a slight pang of disappointment at the abrupt end of the performance, their excitement for the Sorting Ceremony kept the mood high. Most of the students were buzzing with anticipation, eagerly whispering to each other about what was to come.
Except for Kanna.
Unlike the others, she hadn't paid attention to the ghost show at all. Instead, she had retreated into a corner, her face pale and her posture tense. She radiated an air of quiet despair, though, unfortunately, no one seemed to notice.
Moments later, Professor McGonagall returned, her expression stern.
"I was only gone for a moment, and you've already made such a mess!" she scolded, her voice cool but firm. "Your laughter could be heard all the way in the Great Hall. Was something really that funny, or do you think the house system is a joke?"
Though her voice wasn't loud, the effect was immediate. The room fell silent, and every head bowed as the students tried to avoid her sharp gaze.
After a tense minute, Professor McGonagall continued, "The House system is a very serious matter. I expect you to treat it with the respect it deserves. Now, form a single file and follow me."
In less than a minute, the students scrambled to form a neat line, quiet as mice. They were ready to follow Professor McGonagall, the laughter from earlier now a distant memory.
Kanna also shuffled forward like a zombie, her pale face and stiff movements making her look more like one of the ghosts than a first-year student.
...
They walked out of the room, passed through the foyer, and through another pair of double doors, finally entering the luxurious auditorium.
Compared to the hall, the auditorium was even more magnificent. It was so vast that it was almost overwhelming. Even with four long tables filled with students, the space didn't feel crowded at all. The tables were adorned with golden plates and goblets, and thousands of floating candles illuminated the room.
Above them, the velvety black ceiling was dotted with stars and drifting clouds, mesmerizing everyone who looked up. Someone whispered to their companion, "It's like magic in here. It looks just like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
Kyle glanced in the direction of the voice but quickly lost interest when he saw it was a boy speaking. A shame. If he had started at Hogwarts a year later, he could have been friends with Hermione.
The group moved to the front of the auditorium and came to a stop. Higher up was the teachers' bench. In the middle sat Dumbledore, dressed in a purple robe, his silver-white hair and beard neatly groomed. He wore his signature half-moon glasses and gazed warmly at each new student.
Seated next to him were the four Heads of House.
Slytherin's Head, Severus Snape, with his greasy, slick hair. Ravenclaw's Head, Filius Flitwick, who was notably short. Hufflepuff's seemingly kind Head, Pomona Sprout and the Head of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall, whose seat was temporarily empty since she was overseeing the House Sorting.
In total, there were nearly twenty professors present for the opening banquet, but Kyle recognized fewer than ten of them, either from guesswork or intuition. He had no recollection of the others, but that was understandable. Hogwarts was so large, and if only a handful of professors were memorable, it wouldn't have been enough. Moreover, half of the ones he did recognize were already quite old, making that number even smaller.
Kyle turned his attention away. Just then, Professor McGonagall placed a small square stool in front of the new students and set a patched, brown wizard's hat on it. Well, brown was an approximation—the hat was so filthy that a small cloud of dust puffed up when McGonagall lightly placed it down.
In the candlelight, the hat gleamed with a worn, dull shine. It was impossible to tell its original color under such conditions. Kyle was sure that if this hat wasn't the Sorting Hat and somehow ended up in his house, either he or Chris would meet their end. Or maybe Diana would kill them both.
-------
The entire auditorium fell silent.
The older students from the other grades eagerly watched, waiting for the show to begin, while the new students nervously eyed the dirty, tattered hat as if a troll might leap out of it at any moment. Then, without warning, the hat began to wriggle. Its tip swayed side to side, while the brim undulated up and down, as if it were attempting to dance.
But the more Kyle observed, the more he felt that something was off.
How to describe it? Whoever had designed this sequence of movements clearly had no idea what they were doing. It reminded him of a flounder—a particularly unattractive one at that—flailing around awkwardly. And unlike the more graceful, fluid movements he'd expect, this one was stiff, clumsy, and lacking any sense of finesse.
It was also considerably uglier.
The Sorting Hat, apparently aware that dancing wasn't its strong suit, soon stopped its movements. Instead, it split open a mouth-like gap and began to hum softly before launching into its song:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
When the song ended, thunderous applause erupted throughout the auditorium. It was clear that the students in the wizarding world were quite polite when it came to tradition.
The Sorting Hat bowed deeply toward each of the four tables, then remained still, no longer moving.
Although the Sorting Hat's song was a bit difficult to understand, the new students gradually figured out that the "Sorting" simply involved wearing the hat. This realization brought a sense of relief to many. Compared to the wild rumors they'd heard, just wearing a hat seemed easy enough. Sure, the hat was dirty, old, and not particularly appealing, but it would only be for a brief moment—they wouldn't have to wear it for long.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a parchment in her hand. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and wait to be sorted."
She glanced at the parchment. "Thomas Albright."
A blond boy with his head held high strode confidently over to the stool, placed the hat on his head, and, after a few moments, the Sorting Hat announced: "Ravenclaw!"
The boy looked pleased as he removed the Sorting Hat. Despite being sorted into Ravenclaw, he couldn't resist walking over to the Gryffindor table, where the applause was the loudest at that moment.
"Marietta Edgecombe!"
A little girl bounded up excitedly, grabbed the Sorting Hat, and placed it on her head.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat declared.
"Oh, that's great!"
The first new student being sorted into Gryffindor had already thrilled the Gryffindors, and the young eagles were ecstatic, cheering so loudly it seemed like the ceiling might lift off.
"Katie Bell!"
This time, a nervous young girl rushed up, hurriedly jamming the Sorting Hat onto her head. In her fluster, she pushed it down too hard, causing her head to poke out of the hat, with only her neck exposed.
"Hahaha!"
The entire hall erupted in laughter.
Professor McGonagall sighed and quickly stepped forward to adjust the hat for her.
"Thanks, Professor McGonagall, I thought I was going to suffocate," Katie said with relief.
The Sorting Hat gave a nod to Professor McGonagall. "Without a doubt, Gryffindor!"
A deafening cheer burst from the Gryffindor table at the far left of the hall. Fred and George Weasley stood on their stools, whistling in excitement—it was clear they had taken an instant liking to Katie Bell. She rushed down the stairs, her face flushed with embarrassment.
The Sorting continued, but Professor McGonagall decided it was best to oversee it more closely, just in case there was another mishap. Instead of stepping aside as she had earlier, she stood behind the stool, holding the Sorting Hat in one hand and the parchment in the other.
"Cho Chang!"
An Asian girl calmly walked up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall carefully placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Ravenclaw!"
"Oh!"
For the third time, the Sorting Hat called out the name of Ravenclaw, sending the young students of that house into a frenzy. Some stood on their stools, kicking their feet in excitement, while others grabbed flowers from the table decorations and tossed them into the air. Their usual reserved demeanor vanished as they erupted into wild cheers.
"Three! We've already got three new students, and the Sorting's just begun!"
"Ravenclaw's going to rise this year!"
...
The professors on stage didn't intervene at first, simply watching the excitement with smiles on their faces. However, when the students began tossing plates in their enthusiasm, Professor McGonagall stepped forward, her expression stern.
The effect was immediate. The young eagles, who had been full of wild energy moments ago, instantly quieted down, as though they'd been doused with cold water. Their transformation from jubilant eagles to meek quails was almost comical as they sat back down at their table, behaving once again.
Seeing the effect of her presence, Professor McGonagall's expression softened, and she returned to the parchment in her hand.
"Omidyv Rowle!"
After a brief pause, the Sorting Hat announced, "Slytherin!"
The new students were slowly being sorted, and the crowd of first-years was thinning out. Kyle stood among them, waiting patiently for his name to be called. But for some reason, he felt an irritating itch between his shoulder blades, as if someone were poking him.
Instinctively, he turned his head and found Kanna glaring at him, her face flushed with anger. This wasn't the usual shy look she wore—this time, her fury was unmistakable. Her usually timid demeanor had transformed into something far more intense, her teeth grinding together as if she might pounce on him at any moment.
"Ahem... Lovely weather, isn't it?" Kyle muttered, clearing his throat as though he hadn't seen her, trying to act nonchalant. He turned back around and casually edged forward, hoping to put some distance between them.
But his attempt to escape was futile. There was only so much space in the room, and the crowd had thinned out too much for him to hide. No matter where he moved, Kanna's eyes followed him, her gaze making him feel like a rat trapped on a hot tin roof.
Just as the tension became unbearable, a voice rang out.
"Kyle Chopper!"
For the first time in his life, Kyle found Professor McGonagall's voice to be the most beautiful sound in the world, like music from heaven, offering him salvation from his predicament. To be honest, if there were ever another election for headmaster, he would vote for Professor McGonagall without hesitation.
-------
Kyle didn't waste a second. With three quick strides, he was up on the stage, escaping the tension he'd felt under Kanna's watchful glare. Once on the stage, he let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest. He turned to Professor McGonagall and said sincerely, "Thank you, Professor."
His sudden show of politeness seemed to catch her off guard. It took her a moment to react, but then she gave a small shake of her head, saying, "It's my duty." Still, her stern expression softened noticeably. Before placing the Sorting Hat on Kyle's head, she even took the extra step of brushing off some of the dust from the hat.
Such a polite child, she thought, I hope he can be sorted into Gryffindor. Gryffindor was in desperate need of more model students like him. Last year, she had secretly wished to bring Cedric Diggory into her house, but both Professor Sprout and Dumbledore had objected. This year, she was hopeful again.
As she placed the Sorting Hat on Kyle's head, McGonagall looked at him intently, silently hoping the Sorting Hat would finally make the right call.
...
"Strange, very strange," a soft voice whispered in Kyle's ear as soon as the hat was on. "You sincerely thanked her? That's unusual. Are you really one of those good kids?"
"Of course I am!" Kyle responded seriously. "You can ask around. The Weasley family and even Mr. Scamander have said I'm the most polite and well-behaved child they've ever met. So please, don't slander me. Otherwise, I'll complain about you, even if you are just a hat."
The Sorting Hat fell into a rare silence. Its brim wobbled back and forth, as if unsure how to respond or perhaps struggling with a decision.
After a long pause, the hat finally spoke again. "Your shamelessness reminds me of the old days, a thousand years ago, back when I was just an ordinary hat on Godric's head. Well then, how about Gryffindor? I feel like that's where you should be... But no, it's not quite right for you."
"I think—" Kyle began, but the Sorting Hat cut him off.
"Let me think," the hat interrupted, mulling over its options. "Maybe Slytherin would be better. You could achieve great things there, no question about it."
"That..."
"Hold on, hold on," the Sorting Hat interrupted him again. "No, Slytherin doesn't feel quite right either. Besides, if I send you there, Snape will probably pour some strange potion on me later. Let me think... Dumbledore's put me in a difficult spot this time... If only Azkaban or Nurmengard were part of Hogwarts..."
...
The Sorting Hat sounded like it was joking, but Kyle couldn't find it funny at all. What's going on? He hadn't done anything that bad—at most, he'd just scared Kanna a little earlier. Could that really get him sent to Nurmengard? How was that fair? Plenty of wizards did far worse things, and they weren't being shipped off to wizarding prisons!
Kyle realized he needed to do something, fast. If the Sorting Hat actually shouted out "Nurmengard," it'd be a disaster. Azkaban was at least under Ministry control, and you couldn't just be sent there on a whim. But Nurmengard... that was different. Dumbledore had connections, and if anyone could pull some strings, it was him.
Deep down, Kyle suspected the Sorting Hat's remarks were simply a jab at him for his earlier comment about filing a complaint. But still, what if... What if the hat, with its thousand years of history and independent consciousness, decided to make things interesting and call out something ridiculous, just for a laugh? Who knew what went on in that ancient mind?
"That..." Kyle began, putting on his most harmless smile. "That was a fantastic song you sang earlier. Especially the first few lines—concise lyrics, light tone. Way better than the clichés from the Weird Sisters."
The Sorting Hat immediately perked up. "You think so too? I've been saying that for ages! It took me a whole year to come up with it. But Dumbledore never appreciated it. He even tried to get me to sing the school song. That old bee!"
Uh oh... Kyle didn't feel comfortable badmouthing the headmaster, even if he wasn't around to hear it. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he decided to steer the conversation in a safer direction. "By the way, that song of yours—there's something about it that sounds familiar. Is it, perhaps, in the rap style?"
"Rap style?" The Sorting Hat sounded curious. "What does that mean?"
"You don't know? You've invented it yourself—impressive!" Kyle exclaimed, feigning shock. "Rap is a style of Muggle music that's very popular."
"Muggle music..." The Sorting Hat seemed even more intrigued.
"Yes, I think it would suit you perfectly. If you want, I could get you something related to it for Christmas," Kyle offered sincerely.
"Okay... wait, no!" The Sorting Hat caught itself. "We've got to focus. It's already been a while, and you must be hungry. Let's not keep dinner waiting." Clearing its imaginary throat, the hat resumed, "Now, where were we?"
Kyle grinned and reminded it, "You said I was polite and well-behaved, but that neither Gryffindor, Slytherin, nor Ravenclaw felt quite right."
"Huh? Did I mention Ravenclaw?" the hat murmured, sounding momentarily confused. "Oh, right! You're absolutely correct. In that case, the decision is obvious..."
"Hufflepuff!"
The moment the Sorting Hat announced Kyle's house, the hall erupted into applause. Even the teachers at the staff table joined in. The Sorting, which had taken a record-breaking twenty minutes—easily the longest in Hogwarts' history—was finally over. And not a moment too soon, as everyone was starving by now. Normally, the feast would have already started by this time.
The Hufflepuff table was especially lively. Cedric Diggory, grinning broadly, rushed over to give Kyle an enthusiastic hug. "Great, Kyle! I knew you'd end up in Hufflepuff."
Kyle laughed. "The Sorting Hat got great tastes."
"Huh?" Cedric looked momentarily puzzled, unsure of what Kyle meant.
But Kyle just smiled and didn't elaborate. At that moment, several older students approached to shake Kyle's hand. Judging by the badges on their robes, they were Hufflepuff prefects. It was a tradition to welcome new students, while also helping prefects get to know the incoming first-years.
Kyle greeted them warmly and then took the empty seat next to Cedric. The prefect who had been sitting there graciously offered up his spot after realizing Kyle and Cedric were already acquainted.
Once seated, Kyle joined the rest of the hall in looking back at the Sorting Hat. But deep down, his decision had already been made. He had always wanted to be in Hufflepuff. After all, Newt Scamander had been a Hufflepuff, and so had his father, Chris. As someone who loved magical creatures, Hufflepuff was the natural choice. Plus, Kyle wasn't interested in dwelling on dark wizards or Voldemort right now. He wanted to fully embrace the joy and magic of Hogwarts life, and there was no better place for that than Hufflepuff, with its enthusiastic and loyal community.
Besides, the Hufflepuff dormitory was conveniently located right next to the kitchen—an undeniable bonus.