Chapter 1: Sorting Ceremony

"Susan Pence... Hufflepuff!"

"Justin Finley... Hufflepuff!"

In the grand, beautifully adorned exhibition hall, a weathered Sorting Hat perched atop a head, its wide brim twitching restlessly.

As the names of the students and their designated houses rolled off the Sorting Hat's metaphorical tongue, the young wizards in the audience would either applaud warmly or feign interest, depending on their disposition.

Even during this sorting ceremony, the longstanding rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin gave way to a temporary harmony. The aspiring young wizards in the audience, waiting anxiously to be sorted, watched as their peers donned the Sorting Hat and then proceeded to their respective house tables, all while entertained by the Hat's whimsical commentary.

However, amidst the crowd of fresh faces, one boy stood out, seemingly out of place. He gazed in bewilderment at the opulent and antique decorations, as well as the levitating candles that bathed the hall in a warm, luminous glow. Transparent ghosts floated gracefully through the air, adding to the surreal atmosphere. All of this left the boy feeling both disoriented and fascinated. It took him a while before he whispered to himself.

"Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing here?"

He pondered further, "Could it be that I'm dreaming?" Just as the boy grappled with the familiarity and strangeness of his surroundings, a powerful female voice resonated through the vast hall.

"Ivan Hals!"

Professor Minerva McGonagall, standing near the table bearing the Sorting Hat, stared at her parchment scroll. She waited for Ivan to step forward but was met with silence. Frowning, she called his name again.

"Ivan Hals!"

There was still no response from the new students. Dumbledore cast a quizzical look, and the veteran students from the other houses began to murmur among themselves.

"Who's Ivan?"

"Could it be he has taken a wrong turn? Did he get lost?"

"This is quite amusing..."

At this moment, the remaining new students began to subtly nudge Ivan, as if conveying an unspoken message. Obligingly, they pushed him forward onto the stage. Ivan, the blond-haired boy with the enigmatic look, remained rooted in place, drawing even more attention to himself.

"Mr. Ivan Hals, please come to the stage!" Professor McGonagall repeated impatiently.

"Me?" Ivan pointed to himself, still bewildered by the bizarre turn of events. Nevertheless, a strange feeling of familiarity accompanied the strangeness.

"Yes, please step forward. Just like the others..." Professor McGonagall's tone softened. She realized the new student might be nervous due to his status as a freshman.

Before Ivan could react, a gentle push from behind propelled him onto the stage. He found himself standing before Professor McGonagall, who placed the Sorting Hat upon his head.

The Sorting Hat wiggled and squirmed on Ivan's head, speaking in a hushed tone.

"Hey there, don't be shy. You're not the first to feel nervous in this place. Trust me, it's all over before you know it, and it doesn't hurt a bit!"

Ivan rolled his eyes. He had some inkling of his situation after spending a while in this unfamiliar place, but it was still hard to believe.

Is this truly Hogwarts, the magical school of witchcraft and wizardry? But that would mean...

Ivan couldn't help but contemplate the implications. However, the Sorting Hat's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Yes, it is Hogwarts! You're not dreaming; I'm absolutely sure of it!"

"I suppose you come from a Muggle family, right? Every few years, we encounter a few young wizards who doubt the existence of magic, thinking it's all tricks. They want me to produce a rabbit with long ears. I told them there's nothing inside the hat, but they never believe it..."

The Sorting Hat, still a bit silly, extended its split mouth almost to the edge of its brim as it recounted the tale.

Given the Sorting Hat's ability to read the mind, Ivan didn't dare delve too deeply into his thoughts. He focused on something inconsequential instead.

"Cough..." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, reminding the Sorting Hat to proceed with the sorting.

The Sorting Hat ceased its chatter, bringing relief to Ivan. Yet, he couldn't help but be curious about which house he would belong to.

"Let's see... Optimistic, intelligent, with a touch of cunning... And a hint of dark magic..."

"Dark magic? Can I perform dark magic?" Ivan was puzzled, considering the memories he'd just experienced.

"Oh, indeed, a rare and ancient form of dark magic," the Sorting Hat whispered as if sharing a secret.

"Though, in my opinion, this is quite intriguing dark magic. It allows people to see things they'd rather not... Some have used it for pranks. Maybe you could too, give it a try..."

"Though Dumbledore certainly wouldn't approve," the Sorting Hat added with a chuckle.

"Which house should I be in, then? Slytherin?" Ivan wondered aloud, torn between his newfound dark magic knowledge and his earlier optimism and intelligence.

After all, he was eager to rid himself of this hat that could read memories.

Gryffindor required bravery, or perhaps recklessness. Ravenclaw sought wisdom and a thirst for knowledge. Slytherin valued cunning, ambition, and magical prowess.

As for Hufflepuff...

Ivan couldn't help but wonder if Hufflepuff was simply the house for those who didn't quite fit anywhere else.

"I'm afraid not Slytherin," the Sorting Hat's tone took a humorous turn. "Though it might disappoint you, Slytherin typically selects talented young wizards. So..."

'Trying to say am talentless?..sad'

"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat announced with a sudden change in volume, ending the suspense.

"Gryffindor?" Ivan removed the Sorting Hat from his head, a bit surprised, and too caught up in the moment to argue with its assessment of his abilities.

"Yes, Gryffindor suits you perfectly," the Sorting Hat declared confidently. "I've never been wrong; you possess the qualities for it!"

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