Sorting Ceremony
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Unlike Hagrid, when Professor Minerva McGonagall said this, the expression on her face was extremely serious, without any smile.
The little wizards in the first grade can obviously also feel that this old professor is not easy to deal with. They all quieted down and did not dare to whisper.
"The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you go to the restaurant, you must first determine which college you enter each..." Professor McGonagall briefly introduced the sorting ceremony and the college cup!
"When I'm ready over there, I'll come back to pick you up!" Professor McGonagall was about to leave and casually asked: "While waiting, please keep quiet... Are there any questions?"
Jon raised his hand high.
"What's the matter, Mr. Hart?" Obviously, Professor McGonagall still has a little impression of the little wizard who kicked her.
"Uh, professor!" Jon lighted his throat. He was sure that with Professor McGonagall's justice, he would not be angry with him because of his unintentional mistake a month ago.
"I was on the train before, I met a second-year Hogwarts student who called me a mudblood... To be honest, I don't quite understand what this term means, but from her time, Judging from his expression, it does not seem to be a friendly word!"
The expression on Jon's face was calm, as if he really didn't know what "mudblood" meant.
"Who dare..." Professor McGonagall suddenly changed his expression: "Dare to say such an insulting word at Hogwarts. Hogwarts has been working hard for the past thousand years. To eliminate the prejudice between pure-blood wizards and Muggle-born wizards..."
"She seems to have said her name... it seems to be... Greengrass!"
"Greengrass?" Professor McGonagall's face returned to calm: "Mr. Hart, that is a vicious curse, a slanderous name, forget her words, no one dares, to call you like that at Hogwarts. you guys..."
While talking, she glanced at the crowd with sharp eyes.
Then, she left the room.
Jon faintly heard Professor McGonagall's roar from the hall:
"Daphne Greengrass, you go to my office now... Wait for me on the marble staircase outside the hall, in the room next to the corridor!"
"Filius, can you please call Severus for me?"
...
However, Jon did not attract too much attention from the group of first-year students.
Their focus was mainly on the upcoming "Sorting Ceremony" after all.
After all, Hogwarts' "sorting scare" for first-year students was a long-standing tradition passed down through generations.
Originally, Astoria should have been eagerly discussing the Sorting Ceremony with these first-year wizards, whether it would involve defeating a giant or casting ten spells... But now, she stood there in a daze.
"Why did you do this, sister... Daphne... She could be expelled..."
"She brought it upon herself," Jon calmly replied, "And I don't think Hogwarts would expel a student just for an insult."
"She really didn't mean any harm..."
"I think you should explain that to Professor McGonagall."
"You..."
Astoria decided to turn away, no longer paying him any attention.
Jon also had no intention of approaching her. He saw about twenty ghosts suddenly emerge from a wall ahead. These pearly white, translucent ghosts glided through the room, whispering to each other.
"Ah..." Several timid girls let out a scream.
"Ah, first-year students!" a chubby monk-like ghost smiled at them. "I suppose you're ready for the test?"
Before they could reply...
"Now, move forward," a sharp voice came from the surrounding walls. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin."
"Single file!" Professor McGonagall returned and said.
The crowd became slightly noisy, but under Professor McGonagall's guidance, they eventually formed a line.
In front of Jon was Astoria... but Astoria had made up her mind not to look back. There was a distance of a few yards between them.
The young wizards walked out of the room one by one, through a narrow corridor, and entered the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
It was a magnificent hall, with a long table on the platform, where various teachers were seated...
They were instructed by Professor McGonagall to turn their backs to the teachers, facing the four long tables arranged horizontally in front of them. Hundreds of Hogwarts students enthusiastically applauded them.
The "ceiling" above them twinkled with starlight, incredibly realistic... Even though he had mentally prepared himself, Jon couldn't help but feel amazed.
Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of them... and then placed a pointed wizard hat on the stool.
This should be the hat of Godric Gryffindor from days past, the current Sorting Hat!
The Sorting Hat opened its mouth and, with its hoarse voice, began to sing its original song.
The soulful singer-like voice was truly ear-covering.
After a few minutes of agony, the Sorting Hat finally finished its performance...
Professor McGonagall took a few steps forward, holding a scroll of parchment in her hands.
"I will call out the name, and whoever I call will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await sorting," she said. "Sean Avery!"
A tall boy with freckles stumbled out of the crowd and put on the hat.
"Slytherin!"
The rightmost table erupted with loud cheers, while the leftmost table emitted faint boos.
The tall boy seemed relieved and quickly walked over.
The name Avery seemed somewhat familiar... like the name of a Death Eater, and he seemed to be a pureblood?
"Theresa Baker!"
"Ravenclaw!"
This time, the second table on the left applauded, and a few Ravenclaw students were shaking hands with Theresa.
Colin Creevey became the first Gryffindor first-year student. The farthest table on the left immediately burst into cheers, and Jon saw the Weasley brothers celebrating there.
...
...
"Astoria Greengrass!"
Astoria walked up and placed the hat on her head.
"Slytherin!" The hat shouted loudly, barely touching her hair.
Perhaps because of her sister, she didn't seem very happy judging from her expression.
When Jon saw Draco Malfoy giving up his seat for Astoria, he couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
"Jon Hart!" The Sorting Hat immediately called out his name.
Jon stood up, feeling as if the entire hall's gaze was focused on him.
Lowering his head slightly, he walked over and put on the Sorting Hat.