Chapter 18: The Sound Of Nature

The entire great hall was silent.

People from other grades were waiting to watch the show, while the freshmen stared nervously at the dirty and torn hat as if a giant monster would jump out of it in the next second.

Then, the hat suddenly began to twist, the tip of the hat swayed from side to side, and the brim of the hat on both sides rose and fell as if dancing.

But the more Kyle looked at it, the more he felt something was wrong.

How should he put it? He didn't know who designed this set of movements, but it looked like a certain kind of fish that liked to eat its colleagues. It's just that the movements were a little stiff and not as smooth.

Also, it was a little ugly.

The sorting hat probably knew that dancing was not its strong suit, so it quickly opened a mouth-like opening and started humming.

"I am a hat.

But don't underestimate my appearance.

I was born thousands of years ago.

I have seen the world change.

I have crossed the mud of the wilderness.

I have also walked along the forest river.

Come on, wear me.

Find the most suitable house.

If you desire power, then go to Gryffindor. They are brave, righteous, and courageous. They can uncover the courage hidden in your heart.

Maybe you will go to Slytherin. They are strong, calm, elegant, and self-contained. There is no need to hide your ambition and desire for power here because everyone here is just like you.

Hufflepuff is honest, loyal, tough, and tenacious. Come, here you will find the most trustworthy companions.

Ravenclaw. If you have extraordinary wisdom and a cunning mind, then don't hesitate, there are fellow students like you here.

Come and wear me.

Don't worry or be afraid.

I will tell you the desire of your heart."

After the song ended, there was thunderous applause. It was obvious that the little wizards in the magic world were very polite.

The sorting hat bowed to each of the four tables and then stopped moving.

...

Although the sorting hat's singing was a little difficult to explain, the freshmen could basically tell that the so-called sorting was just about wearing this hat.

This made many students secretly relieved.

Compared to the rumors they heard before, wearing a hat is not difficult at all.

Isn't it just a little dirty, old, and ugly hat? It doesn't matter, it's just for a while anyway, and they didn't have to wear it all the time.

Professor McGonagall walked forward quickly, holding a piece of parchment in her hand.

"Whoever's name I call now will put on his hat, sit on the stool, and wait for the sorting."

Professor McGonagall glanced at the parchment.

"Thomas Albright."

A blond boy held his head high and quickly walked over and put on his hat. After a moment...

"Ravenclaw!" the sorting hat shouted.

The boy looked very satisfied. After taking off the sorting hat, he couldn't wait to walk to the long table of Ravenclaw, which was the place where the applause was the loudest in the great hall at the moment.

"Marietta Ackmore!"

A little girl ran up happily, picked up the sorting hat, and put it on.

"Ravenclaw!"

"Oh...that's great!"

The first two freshmen were both Ravenclaws, which made the young eagles extremely excited, and the enthusiastic cheers seemed to lift the ceiling.

"Katie Bell!"

This time it was also a little girl. She ran up in a panic and put the sorting hat on her head. 

Maybe because she was too nervous, she used too much force when putting on the hat, causing her whole head to poke into the hat, leaving only a neck outside.

"Hahahaha!"

There was a burst of laughter in the great hall.

Professor McGonagall sighed upon seeing this and quickly stepped forward to help tidy up.

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, I almost thought I was going to suffocate."

The sorting hat nodded to Professor McGonagall: "Without a doubt, Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table on the far left side of the auditorium suddenly erupted in a round of enthusiastic cheers!

Fred and George were even standing on their bench, whistling excitedly. It was obvious that they really liked this little girl.

Katie Bell ran down with a red face.

The sorting continued, but in order to prevent what happened just now, Professor McGonagall felt that it was better for her to preside over it. Therefore, she did not step aside as before, but stood behind the square chair, holding the sorting hat in one hand and the parchment in the other hand.

"Cho Chang!"

An Asian girl slowly walked to the square chair and sat down. Professor McGonagall stood behind her and gently placed the sorting hat on her head.

"Ravenclaw!"

"Oh!!"

As the sorting hat called out the same house's name for the third time, the young eagles were completely crazy. Some of them stood on the bench and danced in front of all the teachers and students. Some students picked up the decorative flowers on the dining table and threw them to the ceiling with excitement.

They put aside their usually proud composure and cheered wantonly.

"Three, the sorting has just begun, and we already have three freshmen!"

"Ravenclaw will definitely rise this year!"

...

The professors on the stage did not stop them and just watched until they started throwing the plates. Professor McGonagall stood up with a straight face.

What an outstanding effect.

After seeing Professor McGonagall, the young eagles felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on their heads. They calmed down a lot, transformed from eagles into quails, and sat back at the dining table in a polite manner.

Professor McGonagall's expression improved a lot and she looked at the parchment again.

"Omid Devereux!"

...

"Slytherin!"

...

There were fewer and fewer freshmen.

Kyle stood in the crowd, patiently waiting for his name to be called. However, for some reason, he kept feeling a prickling sensation on his back, as if someone was poking him with a needle non-stop.

Kyle turned his head instinctively, only to see Kanna, whose face was red, and stared at him fiercely.

But unlike before, she was angry this time.

The originally shy little girl seemed to have changed into a different person at this time. She was grinding her little white teeth as if she would pounce on him and bite him at any moment.

"Ahem...Oh, the weather is so nice."

Kyle laughed dryly as if he hadn't seen anything, and turned his head back pretending to be calm.

After that, he moved his feet slightly and squeezed forward quietly, trying to get as far away from Kanna as possible.

Unfortunately, it didn't go as he wished. There was only so much space here, and there weren't many people, so there was nowhere to hide. No matter where he went, Kanna could always see him.

That prickling sensation on his back never went away.

Fortunately, at this time, a voice suddenly came.

"Kyle Chopper!"

For the first time, Kyle felt that Professor McGonagall's voice was so beautiful, like the sound of nature, and like an angel who gave people salvation.

To be honest, if he could re-elect the headmaster, he would definitely choose Professor McGonagall.

(End of chapter)