Chapter 7 The Sorting Hat's Judgment

Maca tiptoed forward when he heard screams coming from the front.

Suddenly, about twenty pearly white and translucent figures appeared on one side of the wall. Maca examined them carefully and realized they were a group of ghosts. They were talking to each other and floating gracefully above the room. Maca could faintly hear the word "Peeves" being mentioned.

"I say, what are you doing here?" One ghost, wearing a ruff and tight-fitting coat, noticed the first-year students and asked.

"New students!" Another chubby wizard smiled at them. "I think they are here for the Sorting ceremony, right?"

Some students nodded silently, without speaking.

"I hope you get sorted into Hufflepuff!" The wizard said. "I used to be in that house."

"Now, let's move forward," A thin voice spoke beside the wizard. "The Sorting ceremony is about to begin."

Professor McGonagall returned, and the ghosts drifted through the opposite wall and disappeared one by one in front of everyone's eyes.

"Now, line up," Professor McGonagall addressed the first-year students. "Follow me."

Maca was near the back of the line and followed the other students out of the room a little later. He couldn't help it - he had started at the back.

This was Hogwarts' dining hall. Students from other years were already seated at four long tables, with thousands of candles floating in the air and illuminating the entire hall.

The four tables were decorated with sparkling gold plates and tall wine glasses. Seniors looked at the new students, whispering to each other about who might be sorted into their house, and who might not.

Another long table was set up on the dais, where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led them there, and they lined up facing all the senior students, with the teachers standing quietly behind them.

The candlelight flickered gently in the air, brightening the faces of the senior students and the elusive silvery ghosts, who blended in among them. Everyone's eyes were fixed on them.

Maca boredly gazed up at the magically enhanced ceiling. Countless twinkling stars were sprinkled against the inky black backdrop, like a wondrous night sky veiled in a faint mist of magic - he even recognized a few familiar constellations up there.

"That place was enchanted to look like the outside sky, just like what I read in Hogwarts: A History." Maca heard a faint voice nearby, and it sounded like Hermione.

Professor McGonagall gently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-year students, and Maca looked away from the ceiling to see her place a pointy-wizard hat on top of it. The hat was patched up, old, and very dirty. Frankly, the thought of wearing it on his head made him feel uncomfortable.

As soon as the Sorting Hat was placed on the stool, whispers in the dining hall subsided, and everyone knew that the main event was about to take place.

Sure enough, the hat wriggled a bit, its crease opened and closed like a mouth, and it began to sing a song.

"You may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge a book by its cover. If you can find a hat prettier than me, I'll eat myself."

Upon hearing this, Maca's mouth twitched a little.

"You can make your top hats glossy and your bowlers sleek, but I am the Sorting Hat, used by Hogwarts to determine your fate. Naturally, I'm more high-end and unique than your hats..."

The Sorting Hat continued to sing in a harsh tone, but Maca had already redirected his gaze to the ceiling, which was much more interesting than this.

It wasn't until everyone started clapping that Maca came back to reality and joined in, while some of the new students who were already familiar with each other began discussing.

"Maybe I can go to Gryffindor," a small boy with long black hair next to Maca whispered, lowering his voice. "My dad says I've always been courageous. When I was a kid, I swallowed a whole Floo Flooselworm!"

"Are you Bear Grylls?" Maca swallowed hard at the words.

"Who's that? I'm Michael Kona, you can call me Mike," the little boy tilted his head.

As they talked aimlessly, Professor McGonagall took two steps forward and gently unrolled a parchment scroll in her hand.

"I will call out the name and whoever's name is called, will put on the hat, sit on the chair, and wait for the sorting," she said. "Hannah Abbot!"

A little girl with two golden braids and red cheeks stumbled out of the line and put on the Sorting Hat. The hat was obviously too big for her, covering her eyes.

Maca found this accident-prone little girl quite interesting to watch.

She sat down and in no time, the Sorting Hat drawled, "Hufflepuff!"

People at the table on the right clapped and cheered Hannah, welcoming her to sit with them, and the fat friar ghost at the head table waved at her happily.

"Susan Bones."

"Hufflepuff!" the hat changed its tone and Susan quickly ran to sit beside Hannah.

The sorting continued, and the hat deftly switched between one and another weirdness that seemed to be amusing to them all.

As expected, Harry and his friends were assigned to the Gryffindor house, representing bravery and courage. Anthony and Lisa, whom they met on the train, were assigned to Ravenclaw, and Ernie was assigned to Hufflepuff.

The boy next to Maca who swallowed the Floo Flooselworm, Michael, did not go to Gryffindor as he had hoped, but was also assigned to Ravenclaw. Maca could tell he was unconvinced.

"Maca McClain."

Finally, it was his turn and Maca promptly walked forward, took the Sorting Hat, hesitated for a moment, and surrendered to its unavoidable destiny by placing it on his head.

"Hmm... you seem unwilling?" the Sorting Hat twisted its body and grumbled dissatisfiedly.

"Actually, I'd rather take a shower," Maca admits. He figured that the hat could roughly understand his thoughts and it was best to be honest.

"Well, I think so too, but can I go to the bathroom by myself?" the Sorting Hat twisted again, and its tall brim drooped dejectedly. "But every headmaster has never thought of such a thing, they're too busy."

After a little complaint, it regained its energy, muttering to itself.

"Hmm...ah...this is difficult, very difficult," the Sorting Hat said, "logically, you should go to Ravenclaw, where the atmosphere allows you to fully absorb the essence of knowledge. But your cleverness and broader view can be better cultivated in Slytherin..."

"What about Gryffindor and Hufflepuff?" Maca curiously asked.

"Ah? Gryffindor! Do you think it's possible?" the Sorting Hat directly questioned with a unique tone.

"Well, actually, I was thinking that too..." Maca shrugged helplessly.

At this moment, the Sorting Hat suddenly turned around, rubbed the wide brim with its pointed top, and then said while considering, "Hmm, Hufflepuff, yes, that's right...you have to go there, that should be the most correct choice."

After saying that, without waiting for Maca to respond, it immediately cleared its throat and shouted loudly, "Hufflepuff!"

Maca placed the hat back on the stool, looking confused, and made his way towards the Hufflepuff table amidst the applause of the older students.

"Welcome! Welcome, everyone, to the start of a new year at Hogwarts! Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words. That is - idiot! Crybaby! Loser! Twit!" Maca stopped talking to a tall senior and looked up at Dumbledore, who was speaking. "Thank you, everyone!"

After Dumbledore sat back down, everyone began to applaud.

"What does that mean?" Maca asked the senior next to him.

"I don't know, probably just showing off his sense of humor," the senior shrugged, indicating that he was also confused, "Just go along with it, don't worry too much."

At that moment, the empty golden plates on the table were suddenly filled with a large quantity of food; roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steak, boiled and roasted potatoes, potato chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, tomato soup, the options were endless, making one's head spin.

"What is this?" Maca reached over and grabbed a plate, "Peppermint hard candy?"

"Dumbledore has been into that recently," the senior explained, while munching on a piece of lamb chop and mumbling, "He always shares his favorite sweets and drinks with everyone."

Maca shrugged after hearing it and pushed the plate of peppermint candy far away.

"Maca, aren't you hungry?" Ernie asked curiously, watching Maca take small bites of roast beef.

"Oh, actually, I'm not eating much," Maca smiled. Apparently, he was more concerned with eating quickly than eating with finesse.

"I think Ernie is just trying to maintain his composure!" A senior sister who seemed a bit carefree teased Maca.

"Ah ha! The senior sister sees right through me," Maca wasn't offended at all, on the contrary, he tried to make her laugh, "Otherwise, how can I get the beautiful senior sister to talk to me like this! I mean, someone as pretty as you."

The senior sister didn't expect to be teased by Maca and, caught off guard, her cheeks turned red, but she still tried to show off by saying, "Well, that's not bad! I'm booking you as my boyfriend, senior sister!"

"Wow! Charlotte, you're finally ready to get married!" Another girl next to her laughed and teased her, seemingly her good friend.

Amidst the cheering of the surrounding students, Charlotte could no longer resist and quickly lowered her head to pick up a roasted potato from her plate, her pretty face becoming even redder.