Chapter 188: Hermione Leaves the Group

In the evening, the new students finally arrived at the Great Hall.

Before long, under Professor McGonagall's guidance, the Sorting Ceremony began.

Murphy sat leisurely at the staff table, watching this traditional event and chatting occasionally with Professor Flitwick beside him.

Although he had tried to hint through the notebook that Tom should join Gryffindor to better participate in the Philosopher's Stone plan, it didn't matter if Tom joined Slytherin. As long as the main trio stayed together, they weren't off track.

So he was quite relaxed now, just watching the show.

Listening to the Sorting Hat's ramblings and then assigning the young wizards to their respective houses was a bit like opening mystery boxes. If Dumbledore hadn't already returned, and Murphy wasn't obliged to maintain the dignity of a school governor, he might have even started a betting pool.

The Sorting Hat was interesting. Its ability to think wasn't rare in the magical world – there were plenty of thinking things, like the portraits around Hogwarts and the moving armors.

What was intriguing was its ability to discern students' traits during sorting. Murphy wondered how it distinguished the qualities of the students.

One possibility was that it could read minds and had developed a deep-learning mechanism over hundreds of years of sorting, determining the right house based on one's thoughts.

Another theory was that it read the magical nature of the students. According to the Spell Research Group, a wizard's "aura" – their magical nature – was related to their character traits, emotions, and even mood states.

Of course, the Hat might have both mechanisms.

Moreover, the fact that magic could operate in a hat for a thousand years was even more amazing.

A thousand years!

Even if it were just preserved in a glass case, it might not last that long.

This thing was used every year and still hadn't turned to rags.

Murphy wondered what material the hat was made of to be so durable.

It couldn't be a Horcrux, could it?

While he was lost in thought, Tom put on the Sorting Hat and was sorted into Slytherin, as expected. Murphy caught a glimpse of Dumbledore and Quirrell, who seemed normal and unaware of anything unusual about Tom.

Then it was Hermione Granger's turn. Just when Murphy thought she would be sorted into Gryffindor, the Hat declared, "Ravenclaw!"

The Ravenclaw table erupted in cheers.

Murphy was stunned.

What?

Hermione in Ravenclaw?

In a moment of distraction, how had the trio lost a member?

Hermione's character indeed made Ravenclaw a likely choice if she had no subjective preference, but... didn't she say she wanted to go to Gryffindor?

Murphy was puzzled but couldn't openly probe her mind in front of Dumbledore. Besides, no one else seemed to find it strange. He decided to put aside his thoughts and watch Harry and Ron.

He hoped there would be no more surprises with these two.

Luckily, the rest of the students were sorted as in the original story. Malfoy went to Slytherin, but the sight of Tom smiling and clapping at the table somehow dampened his triumph.

Harry was hesitantly sorted into Gryffindor, and Ron predictably joined him there.

So, only Hermione had deviated from the group.

Without Hermione in Gryffindor, could the trio still become friends?

Hermione's role was crucial. The Harry Potter series, often joked as "Hermione Granger and her two useless men," had a point. Without Hermione's intelligence boost, it was questionable whether Harry and Ron could even get the Philosopher's Stone.

Maybe Tom could take Hermione's place?

Murphy glanced at Dumbledore, who announced dinner. With Dumbledore's plans still unknown, pushing Tom forward now seemed too risky.

Maybe there was another way to reunite the trio.

After dinner, Dumbledore announced the prohibitions on the forest and the fourth-floor corridor, then introduced Murphy, the new Practical Magic professor. Murphy didn't decline and came to a small lectern in front of the staff table.

"Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore, and thank you, professors," Murphy began, addressing Dumbledore and the other professors. "Eleven years ago, I was also a Hogwarts freshman. It's an honor to stand here today and work alongside my former teachers."

"And to the new students, welcome. Seeing you reminds me of myself back then. I stood down there, full of anticipation and fear, waiting for that old hat to sort me into who knows which house."

"The professors made it all mysterious, as if intentionally keeping us in the dark about the sorting criteria, making us very nervous while they enjoyed it from the podium."

"Ah, sorry, Professor McGonagall, I didn't mean you."

"I just realized today the wicked pleasure of it."

"Anyway, the hat sorted me into Ravenclaw. I don't know why, maybe it saw some future talent in me and thought I might become somewhat smart."

"But I'm glad it didn't put me in Hufflepuff."

"I didn't become the least cool student."

Laughter erupted from the students at the three tables, but the Hufflepuffs looked displeased.

Even Professor Sprout frowned.

"I'm also glad I wasn't sorted into Slytherin. I was afraid of being bullied by future dark wizards."

Gryffindor burst into laughter, but the Slytherin table was unsettled.

Snape looked like he was about to curse Murphy any second.

But soon, even Gryffindor couldn't laugh.

"Gryffindor? Oh, sure, they're cool, trailblazers, always leading trends. But honestly, sometimes we think they go a bit too far…"

"Like a bunch of overgrown children, noisy and reckless, foolish and playful, simply troublemakers."

Professor McGonagall glared. How could a professor speak so of the students!

Ravenclaw chuckled smugly.

Indeed, those little lions were too noisy and fun-loving for their own good.

Murphy was clearly a Ravenclaw at heart, fitting their taste.

But Murphy was about to disappoint them.

"But is Ravenclaw any better?" Murphy suddenly said. "My fellow eaglets, do you know how others see us in other houses?"

"Nerds," Murphy stated bluntly, sparing no mercy.

Now all the students were confused. Murphy had criticized all four houses. What exactly was he trying to say?

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