Chapter 4 Sorting Hat

Professor McGonagall took a few steps forward, clutching a piece of parchment in her hand.

"I will call out a name, and whoever I call will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await sorting," she said. "Hannah Abbott!"

A rosy-cheeked girl with two golden braids stumbled out of line, donning the hat which conveniently concealed her freckles. She sat down. A moment's pause—"Hufflepuff!" the hat declared.

People at the table on the right applauded and cheered for Hannah, welcoming her to their table.

"Look at the girl's expression, that hat must have a strong scent," Salim whispered to Hermione beside him. "I'd definitely give it a 'freshening up' before putting it on. So, Hermione, you better stand behind me. You won't have to suffer that way."

Hermione wished he would be quiet.

"Susan Bones!" Little Miss Bones walked past Salim, casting him a slightly resentful glance.

"Hufflepuff!" Before the applause even started, Miss Bones swiftly removed the Sorting Hat and ran towards the Hufflepuff table without looking back.

"She looks so pitiful."

"Shut up!"

"Terry Boot!"

Mr Boot, while putting on the Sorting Hat, had a twitching cheek that Salim noticed.

"Ravenclaw!"

Mr Boot quickly took off the Sorting Hat, his hand still on his hair—hmm… he even sniffed it under his nose. Then a peculiar expression crossed his face.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley!" No one stepped forward.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley! Come up here!" Professor McGonagall scanned the young wizards and witches awaiting sorting.

A figure that almost inched forward came up to Professor McGonagall, nervously saying something to her. Professor McGonagall hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. Mr Finch-Fletchley took a deep breath of resignation and then...

"Hufflepuff!"

"I bet Justin just asked Professor McGonagall to give the hat a wash, but she didn't agree," Salim made sure the surrounding students could hear him. "Maybe if you all talk about it, McGonagall will agree. Hermione, if you stand in front of me, you should definitely ask her to wash the hat so you can have a good appetite for the start-of-term feast."

"Mandy Brocklehurst!"

A trembling little witch walked past Salim.

"Good luck, Miss Brocklehurst," Salim smiled at the passing witch.

The hopeful yet-to-be-sorted students watched as Miss Brocklehurst approached Professor McGonagall and said something. Professor McGonagall first looked surprised, then furrowed her brow, and finally pointed to a high stool, gesturing for her to sit.

The little witch reluctantly put on the Sorting Hat.

"Ravenclaw!"

"This is pointless! They won't wash it at all," a young witch in front of Salim complained.

"No, if enough people mention it, the professor will seriously consider it. If you don't want to carry centuries of scalp oil, dust, and dirt on your head during the start-of-term feast, it's best to persuade the professor to wash the hat," Salim continued riling up the students.

"Ravenclaw!"

"Come on, Miss Bulstrode, maybe McGonagall will agree," a young witch encouraged their hopes.

Ignoring one request is possible, even two, but when the third student refused to wear the hat without it being cleaned, Professor McGonagall finally took notice. However, washing the Sorting Hat during the Sorting Ceremony... well, that had never happened before. And Miss Bulstrode seemed to be taking an awfully long time, so...

"Gryffindor!" Professor McGonagall promptly placed the hat on Miss Bulstrode's head. Miss Bulstrode patted the part of her head that had touched the hat and walked towards the Gryffindor table, her face full of defeat.

"Draco Malfoy!" Our young dragon walked casually up to Professor McGonagall and said something to her.

"Ha, it worked out," Salim chuckled. "Looks like I won't have to intervene."

"How do you know? Three people have gone up, and McGonagall hasn't agreed."

"Because young Malfoy's father is on the board of governors, the professor will take his opinion seriously. Just watch."

Indeed, Professor McGonagall quickly went to Dumbledore's table and said something.

Now the students from all four houses began to whisper and exchange glances. They had never encountered an interruption like this during the Sorting Ceremony before.

After finishing her conversation with Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall walked expressionlessly back to the Sorting Hat and then... pulled out her wand.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, this is great!"

"Fantastic!"

"We're saved!"

The young wizards and witches who had not yet been sorted cheered as the brand-new Sorting Hat was celebrated. The older students around were left astonished by what they were witnessing; they had never imagined such an event happening during the Sorting Ceremony. The students already sorted into the four houses and shared with the older students what Salim had told them. The senior students seemed to realize just how dirty the hats they had worn during their own Sorting had been.

"Hermione Granger!"

"Good luck, Hermione," Salim offered his wishes.

"Gryffindor!" Hermione was finally sorted into the house she believed was the best fit for her.

"Salim Selwyn!" With a smile, Salim walked up and took a seat on the stool.

"Ah, it's you!" The voice of the Sorting Hat echoed in Salim's mind.

"Oh? Do you know me?"

"I know all about the 'good deeds' you've done down there, from the thoughts of those young wizards."

"So?"

"So, I want to thank you. You see, I haven't been this clean in a long time."

"Slytherin, please," Salim stated the house he wanted to be in.

"Of course, Slytherin suits you quite well. So..."

"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat announced loudly.

Taking off the hat, Salim bowed to Professor McGonagall beside him, then headed toward the Slytherin table, where he was greeted with applause.

"Welcome, new student!" The Slytherin prefects and the head of the male student council stood up to shake Salim's hand, motioning for him to sit next to Draco. Salim noticed a ghost covered in bloodstains sitting on the other side of Draco. If he was guessing correctly, that must be the Bloody Baron.

"How does it feel to be in the spotlight, Draco?"

"If it weren't for that wretched hat, I wouldn't have been your pawn," Draco muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Salim.

Salim chuckled; this young master wasn't that naive—just as long as he didn't run into the Boy Who Lived.

"I'll discuss something with you later during dinner," Salim whispered to Draco. Draco glanced at Salim. "Is it bothersome?"

Salim looked at the now-crimson Nev while the hat was being returned to Professor McGonagall, and he smiled at her. "No, not at all bothersome. You got a good deal."

"Harry Potter!"

Here comes the highlight.

"Where do you think Potter will end up?" Draco asked.

"What's there to guess? Gryffindor, of course." Salim raised one leg onto the bench beneath the table.

"Hmph! In my opinion, Potter belongs with those pureblood scum."

Clearly, Draco hadn't forgotten what happened on the train.

"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat announced Harry Potter's house loudly.

The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers—students celebrating. The Weasley twins chanted, "We got Potter, we got Potter," while clapping enthusiastically.

"See, I told you so," Salim grinned at Draco, "I should've made a bet with you."

Draco's face paled a bit—although to be fair, he was already quite pale.

"Draco, listen to me, don't provoke Potter. Remember, the headmaster favours him. Don't get involved in unnecessary trouble."

"It's none of your business!" Draco turned his head away, glaring at Salim.

"Up to you. Just a reminder, your family... heh heh, don't cause any trouble for your father."

At this moment, a Slytherin student who had just been sorted sat across from Salim. "Blaise Zabini."

"Hello, Salim Selwyn," Salim shook hands with the famous "Widow's Son."

"Ah, we can finally start eating. I'm starving," the prefect next to Draco noticed the headmaster standing up.

Professor Dumbledore smiled at the students, stretching his arms out to them, clearly delighted to see the students assembled. "Welcome! Before we retire for the night, let's sing the school song together!" he announced loudly.

When Salim heard this, he quickly pulled out his wand with his left hand and cast a spell under the table to block his ears. He watched as everyone around opened their mouths one by one, and Draco, next to him, covered his ears, muttering something.

Seriously, did they not know what Hogwarts' school song sounded like? It was just noise. Seeing everyone else standing up, Salim lifted the spell on himself.

"You should've done that for me too, Salim," Draco complained.

"But there wasn't enough time," Salim grinned, following Draco as they left the Great Hall under the lead of the Slytherin prefect.

Among the four houses, the Slytherin and Hufflepuff common rooms were underground, with the Slytherin one being a bit farther away. The kitchens were directly beneath the Great Hall, and the Hufflepuff common room was right beside it. Therefore, the first to arrive at their common room was the Hufflepuff Badgers.

Following their perfect down dim stairs and through dark corridors, the young wizards and witches arrived at a blank, damp stone wall. Behind it lay the Slytherin common room.

"Glory." The prefect spoke the password. Leading the first years, he walked into the common room—a narrow, low-ceilinged underground chamber. The walls and ceiling were made of rough stone, and round, green-glowing lamps hung from chains, dangling from the ceiling. There was an exquisitely carved fireplace, surrounded by many ornate chairs.

"Welcome to Slytherin's Dorms. Before resting, Slytherin has a tradition for first-year students. It's about choosing the perfect for your year, a tradition that Hogwarts has had since its founding. The other three houses have abandoned it, but we, Slytherin, still uphold it. Now, you all need to..." The prefect's words were interrupted.

"All the first-years gather in the middle. The last one standing there will be the prefect for the first year and will enjoy the privileges of a prefect." Professor Snape appeared seemingly out of nowhere, holding his wand, and wore an annoyed expression as he gazed at the new students. "Hurry up, my time is precious!"

Salim and Draco stood together.

"Remember what you said, Draco." With a flick of his left hand, Salim conjured his wand.

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