Professor Minerva McGonagall stepped forward, holding a roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will come forward, put on the hat, sit on the stool, and wait to be sorted," she said.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A rosy faced girl with two blonde braids stumbled out of the line, placed the hat on her head, and sat down. The hat slid down and covered her eyes.
There was a brief pause.
"Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted.
The table on the right burst into applause and cheers as Hannah went to join them.
"Look at that girl's face. That hat must smell terrible," Solim said, turning slightly toward Hermione behind him. "Before I put that hat on, I'm definitely going to cast Scourgify on it. So Hermione, you'd better stand behind me. That way you won't suffer."
Hermione wanted him to shut up.
"Susan Bones!"
Little Susan walked past Solim and gave him a somewhat aggrieved look.
"Hufflepuff!"
Even before the applause began, Susan ripped the hat off her head and hurried toward the Hufflepuff table without looking back.
"She's pitiful."
"Shut up."
"Terry Boot!"
"Oh no!"
When Terry put the hat on, Solim could see the muscles in his cheeks twitching violently.
"Ravenclaw!"
Boot snatched the hat off immediately. He brushed his hair with one hand… then lifted his hand to his nose and sniffed it.
His expression became very strange.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley!"
No one stepped forward.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley! Please come here!"
Professor McGonagall scanned the students waiting to be sorted.
A boy slowly shuffled forward and nervously whispered something to her. She hesitated, then shook her head.
Justin sighed deeply and reluctantly put on the hat.
"Hufflepuff!"
"I bet Justin just asked Professor McGonagall to wash the hat, but she refused," Solim said loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Maybe if more of you ask, she'll agree. Hermione, if you end up before me, you'd better insist she wash it. Think of your appetite for the opening feast."
"Mandy Brocklehurst!"
A trembling girl walked past Solim.
"Good luck, Miss Brocklehurst," Solim said with a friendly smile.
The remaining students watched her with hopeful eyes as she spoke to Professor McGonagall.
The professor looked surprised at first, then frowned, and finally pointed toward the stool.
The girl had no choice but to put on the hat.
"Ravenclaw!"
"This is useless! They won't wash it," one student in front of Solim complained.
"No, if enough people say it, the professor will consider it seriously," Solim continued stirring the crowd. "If you don't want a thousand years of oil, dust, and grime on your head before dinner, you'd better insist."
"Lavender Brown!"
"Come on, Brown! Maybe Professor McGonagall will agree!"
The students encouraged her hopefully.
One request could be ignored. Two could be ignored.
But when the third student refused to wear the hat unless it was cleaned, Professor McGonagall finally took it seriously.
However, washing the Sorting Hat during the ceremony had never happened before.
And Lavender Brown was wasting far too much time.
So…
"Gryffindor!"
Professor McGonagall abruptly placed the hat on her head.
Lavender ran toward the Gryffindor table while patting her hair where the hat had touched, looking utterly defeated.
"Draco Malfoy!"
Our young Draco swaggered forward and pointed at the hat while saying something to Professor McGonagall.
"Heh, this is going to work," Solim said with a grin. "Looks like I won't need to act."
"How do you know? Three people already asked and she refused."
"That spoiled kid's father is on the school board. His opinion matters."
Sure enough, Professor McGonagall quickly walked over to the table where Albus Dumbledore was seated and spoke with him.
The students from all four houses began whispering.
They had never seen the Sorting Ceremony interrupted before.
After speaking with Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall returned expressionlessly to the hat.
Then she drew her wand.
"Woooo!"
"That's amazing!"
"We're saved!"
The unsorted students cheered when they saw the freshly cleaned hat.
Older students stared in disbelief. They had never imagined something like this happening during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, newly sorted students began telling their housemates what Solim had said earlier. The older students suddenly realized just how filthy the hat must have been when they wore it years ago.
"Hermione Granger!"
"Good luck, Hermione," Solim said.
"Gryffindor!"
Hermione had been sorted into the house she believed was the best.
"Solim Selwyn!"
Solim walked forward with a smile and sat on the stool.
"Aha! It's you!" the Sorting Hat's voice sounded in his mind.
"Oh? You know me?"
"I learned all about your 'good deeds' from those students' thoughts."
"So?"
"So I should thank you. I haven't been this clean in a long time."
"Slytherin, please," Solim said calmly.
"Of course. Slytherin suits you well. Then…"
"Slytherin!"
Solim removed the hat, bowed politely to Professor McGonagall, who was staring at him oddly, and walked toward the applauding Slytherin table.
"Welcome, first year!"
The Slytherin prefect and the male Head Boy stood up to shake his hand and gestured for him to sit beside Draco Malfoy.
Solim noticed a ghost covered in blood sitting beside Draco.
If he guessed correctly, it was the Bloody Baron.
"How does it feel being the center of attention, Draco?"
"If it weren't for that stupid hat, I wouldn't have helped you," Draco muttered.
Solim smiled. The spoiled young master was not completely foolish.
As long as Harry Potter was not involved.
"I need to discuss something with you during dinner," Solim said quietly.
Draco glanced at him.
"Is it troublesome?"
Solim looked at Neville returning the hat with a red face amid laughter.
"No. Not troublesome at all. You'll actually benefit."
"Harry Potter!"
The main event had arrived.
"Which house do you think Potter will join?" Draco asked.
"Is that even a question? Gryffindor," Solim said casually.
"Hmph. If you ask me, Potter belongs with those Weasley blood traitors."
"Gryffindor!" the hat announced loudly.
The Gryffindor table erupted in celebration.
Fred and George Weasley shouted, "We've got Potter! We've got Potter!" while clapping enthusiastically.
"See? What did I tell you?" Solim said.
Draco's pale face turned even paler.
"Draco, listen to me. Don't start conflicts with Potter," Solim said, tapping the table.
"He's under the headmaster's protection. It's not worth the trouble."
"My business isn't yours," Draco snapped.
"Suit yourself. I'm just reminding you. Don't cause trouble for your father."
At that moment another newly sorted student sat across from Solim.
"Blaise Zabini."
"Solim Selwyn."
They shook hands.
"Finally time to eat," the prefect beside Draco said as the headmaster stood up.
Dumbledore smiled warmly at the students and spread his arms.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I would like to say a few words. They are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
He sat down again, and everyone applauded.
"Do you think he's a little crazy?" Draco whispered.
Solim shrugged and continued eating a chicken leg.
The Great Hall was full of noise as students shared their summer stories. First years listened while trying to eat as older students explained the school to them.
After finishing the chicken leg, Solim turned to Draco again.
"You know about the Slytherin tradition, right? The one the other houses abandoned."
"You mean the prefect selection?" Draco asked.
"What? You want to be the first year prefect?"
"No. I'm not interested in being prefect."
Solim calmly added ketchup to a potato.
"I just want the prefect's privilege. The single room."
"You become prefect. I take the room."
Draco blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"It's simple. I'll concede. You become prefect. But the room is mine."
Solim bit into the potato.
Draco thought about it. His father had warned him not to clash with Solim. Technically, they were distant relatives.
"That works?"
"Of course. The prefect title can't be transferred unless defeated. But the room can. Just say you don't like living alone."
Solim smiled.
"And if you agree, I can help you deal with that red haired Weasley."
Draco immediately understood.
"Deal."
Soon Dumbledore stood up again.
"Before you go to bed, a few announcements."
"First years should note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits."
His gaze briefly swept over the Weasley twins.
"Also, Mr. Filch asks that no magic be performed in the corridors between classes."
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week."
"And finally, anyone who does not wish to suffer a painful death should avoid the corridor on the right side of the fourth floor."
"Now, before bed, let us sing the school song!"
The moment Solim heard that, he quickly drew his wand under the table and cast a charm to block his hearing.
He watched everyone singing loudly while Draco covered his ears and muttered complaints.
Once the singing ended and everyone stood up, Solim canceled the spell.
"You should've cast that on me too," Draco complained.
"I didn't have time," Solim said with a grin.
They followed the Slytherin prefect out of the Great Hall.
Among the four houses, Slytherin and Hufflepuff had their common rooms underground.
However, Slytherin's was farther away.
The kitchens were located directly beneath the Great Hall, and the Hufflepuff common room was nearby, meaning Hufflepuff students reached their rooms first.
After descending a dark staircase and walking through a dim corridor, the students stopped before a damp stone wall.
Behind it was the Slytherin common room.
"Glory," the prefect said.
The wall opened, revealing a long, low underground chamber made of rough stone.
Green lamps hung from chains on the ceiling, casting an eerie glow.
A beautifully carved fireplace stood at one end, surrounded by ornate chairs.
"Welcome to glorious Slytherin," the prefect said.
"Before resting, we must complete a tradition. We select the first year prefect. This tradition dates back to the founding of Hogwarts. The other houses abandoned it, but Slytherin has preserved it."
"Next, you will—"
"First years stand in the center."
A cold voice interrupted.
Professor Severus Snape had appeared silently.
"The last one standing will be the prefect and receive the privileges."
He looked impatient.
"Hurry up. My time is valuable."
Solim stood beside Draco.
"Remember our deal, Draco."
With a flick of his wrist, his wand appeared in his hand.