Chapter 8 : Sorting Ceremony

Hearing another scream from the front, Maca tiptoed and looked forward. He saw twenty or more translucent human figures suddenly appearing on the wall on one side. Taking a closer look, these were probably a group of ghosts. They talked to each other, gliding lightly over the room.

"I said, What are you doing here?" A ghost-wearing wrinkled collar tights seemed to have just discovered the freshmen below.

"Newbie!" Another chubby ghost smiled at them and said, "I think, maybe ready to be tested?"

Some students nodded silently, and no one spoke.

"I hope you can get into Hufflepuff!" said the ghost. 

"Let's move forward now," said a sharp voice next to the Ghost. "The sorting ceremony will begin soon."

Professor McGonagall returned, and the ghosts fluttered across the opposite wall, disappearing in front of everyone.

"Now, in a single line," Professor McGonagall told freshmen, "follow me."

Maca was at the back of the line, and after a while, he left the room with the students in front. There was no way; who would let him be behind at the beginning?

This was Hogwarts' Hall. Students in other grades were already sitting around four long tables. Thousands of candles floated above the tables, illuminating the entire Hall. Glittering gold plates and goblets adorned the tables, and seniors whispered and talked about which House the newcomers might join.

Another long table, set at the front of the Hall, was reserved for teachers. Professor McGonagall led the students there, lining them up in front of all the seniors, while the teachers stood quietly behind them.

The candlelight in the air flickered slightly, making the seniors' faces appear a little longer, and the ghosts seen earlier intertwined with a faint silver light. All eyes were focused on the newcomers.

Bored, Maca looked up at the magical ceiling. The dark background was dotted with countless twinkling stars, seemingly real in the faint magic smoke. He even recognized a few familiar constellations.

"There's magic there. It looks like the sky outside. I read about it in 'Hogwarts, A School History,'" Maca heard a soft voice from a short distance, likely Hermione.

Professor Dumbledore gently placed a four-legged stool in front of the freshmen. Maca withdrew his gaze from the ceiling, and in front of his eyes, he saw Professor McGonagall place a patched, worn, and dirty wizard hat on the stool. To be honest, the thought of wearing this hat made him uncomfortable.

The Sorting Hat ceremony was about to begin, and the students fell silent as the hat began to sing.

Hearing that, Maca's mouth twitched.

The Sorting Hat continued to sing in an unpleasant tone, but Maca was already gazing at the ceiling, finding it much more interesting.

It wasn't until the applause began that Maca returned to reality. Several freshmen were already discussing among themselves, excitedly sharing their thoughts.

"Maybe I can go to Gryffindor," said a little boy with long black hair next to Maca, lowering his voice. "My dad said I have always been courageous; I swallowed a Frober caterpillar when I was a kid!"

"Are you called Bear Grills?" Maca asked, swallowing hard after hearing the words.

"Who is that? My name is Corner, Michael Corner" The little boy, Michael, tilted his head.

They chatted one by one until Professor McGonagall took two steps forward, unrolling a roll of parchment.

"Whoever I call, put on the hat, sit on the stool, and listen to the Sorting Hat," she said. "Hannah Abbott!"

A little girl with red cheeks and two golden braids stumbled out of the queue, putting on the Sorting Hat. The hat was too big for her, covering her eyes at once. Maca found this sight amusing.

She sat down, and after a while, the Sorting Hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!"

The people at the right table applauded Hannah, welcoming her to sit at their table, and the chubby monk ghost near the long table happily waved to her.

"Susan Bones."

"Hufflepuff--!" Shouted another hat. Susan hurried to Hannah and sat down.

The Sorting continued, and the hat skillfully changed its tune with each student. It seemed that every semester it pondered over these seemingly mundane things to pass the time.

Not surprisingly, the trio of Harry was assigned to Gryffindor, representing boldness and courage; Lisa he met on the train and was assigned to Ravenclaw; and, of course, Ernie was assigned to Hufflepuff.

Michael, who had swallowed the Frober caterpillars around Maca, did not go to Gryffindor as he thought but was also assigned to Ravenclaw. It can be seen that he was a little reconciled.

"Maca McLean."

Finally, it was his turn, and Maca stepped forward immediately, took the Sorting Hat, and hesitated as he placed it on his head.

"Uh, you look reluctant?" The Sorting Hat twisted and voiced its dissatisfaction.

"I hope you can take a bath for yourself." Maca did not deny it; he estimated that this hat could roughly understand his thoughts. It is best to tell the truth.

"Well, I think so, but I can't crawl to the bathroom by myself, right?" The Sorting Hat twisted again, and the erect cap tipped down discouragingly. "But every principal didn't think of such a thing. They are too busy."

It complained a little, regained its original vitality again, and muttered to itself.

"Well, ah, it's hard; it's very hard," said the Sorting Hat. "It stands to reason that you have to go to Ravenclaw. The atmosphere there allows you to absorb the essence of knowledge more fully, but only in Slytherin can the overall situation be cultivated more thoroughly."

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

"Ah? Gryffindor! Do you think it is possible?" The Sorting Hat asked in a strange tone directly.

"Well, I think so." Maca pouted and said it helplessly.

At this moment, the Sorting Hat suddenly twisted itself, pointed the wide brim of the hat with the tip, and then thought and said, "Well, yes, yes, yes... you have to go there; it should be the right choice."

It declared, without waiting for Maca to speak, opening its throat and shouting, "Hufflepuff!"

With a look of confusion, Maca put the hat back on the four-legged stool, walked towards Hufflepuff's long table with doubts in his head, and took a seat amidst the applause of the seniors.

"Welcome! Welcome to Hogwarts as we begin the new school year! Before the banquet begins, I want to say a few words. That is—" Maca stopped, hearing the conversation of a tall senior who looked up at Dumbledore, who was speaking. "Thank you!"

After Dumbledore sat down again, everyone began to applaud.

"What do you mean?" Maca tilted his head and asked the senior.

"I don't know; maybe the professor is just showing his sense of humor." The senior shrugged, saying he didn't understand. "Follow the music; don't worry too much."

At this moment, a large amount of food suddenly appeared on the empty gold plate on the long table. Roast beef, grilled chicks, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steaks, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, potato chips, Yorkshire pudding, pea sprouts, carrots, gravy, ketchup soup, everything you need, people were dazzled.

"What's this again?" Maca reached over a plate and said, "Mint hard candy?"

"Professor Dumbledore liked this recently." The senior explained the meat on the lamb chops with a vague voice: "He will always share his favorite sweets and drinks with everyone."

After hearing that, Maca shrugged and pushed the plate filled with mints away.

"Maca, aren't you hungry?" Not far away, Ernie watched curiously as Maca sipped the roast beef into his mouth and couldn't help asking.

"Oh, I don't eat a lot." Maca smiled. While ensuring that the food was not so ugly, he bet his efficiency on speed.