Chapter 21: Is the Sorting Hat This Brave?

After the unexpected chaos caused by the biting ball, the Sorting Hat quickly returned to its efficient pace, sorting the remaining students as soon as it touched their hair. With this newfound speed, they were soon down to the last two new students.

"Kanna Prince!"

The familiar name caught Kyle and Cedric's attention at once. Both of them looked over at the girl from the train.

"That's the girl we saw earlier, right?" Cedric asked curiously. "Where do you think she'll end up—Slytherin?"

"Probably," Kyle replied, scratching his back out of habit. "Judging by her fancy clothes, she's likely a pureblood. Slytherin makes the most sense..."

But then, Kyle suddenly froze. Something seemed off. Just after Professor McGonagall called Kanna's name, he noticed that Snape—who had been sitting with a bored, disinterested expression throughout the ceremony—had leaned forward, focusing on the Sorting Hat with unusual intensity.

Wait... do they know each other? Kyle thought, a chill running down his spine.

It wasn't completely impossible. Despite Snape's reclusive tendencies and his general avoidance of social gatherings, he was still a well-known figure in the wizarding world, especially as a Potions Master and one of Hogwarts' Heads of House. He was bound to have connections, and it wouldn't be shocking if Kanna's family was among them.

A sinking feeling took hold of Kyle. Could this be bad for me? If Snape really had ties to Kanna's family, and he found out that Kyle had tricked her on the train, things could get messy. Knowing Snape's personality, Kyle feared he might be in for some unpleasant "protagonist treatment" far sooner than he'd like.

It can't be that coincidental, Kyle thought nervously, feeling the back of his neck prickle. He had just been gloating about the Weasley twins getting what they deserved, and now it seemed like retribution was already headed his way.

As he anxiously watched the platform, Kyle noticed something strange. When it came time for Kanna's sorting, the usually fast Sorting Hat seemed to slow down, as if it had returned to its earlier indecision. The entire hall waited, and waited. A minute passed before the Sorting Hat finally called out:

"Hufflepuff!"

Huh?

A wave of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table, and the prefects jumped up to welcome Kanna. Kyle, however, was left staring in confusion as she passed by him, question marks practically floating above his head.

What just happened? Purebloods rarely ended up in Hufflepuff, and while it wasn't completely unheard of (after all, Newt Scamander was a famous Hufflepuff), it was still uncommon. Purebloods were typically sorted into Slytherin, and Kyle had assumed Kanna would follow that path.

Could it have been because of me? Kyle dismissed the thought quickly. The Sorting Hat didn't play games. It had the responsibility of determining a student's best path, one that would influence their future. No matter how young or naive Kanna might be, the hat wouldn't let her personal whims affect its judgment. Otherwise, her family wouldn't take it lightly.

Kyle recalled something his father, Chris, had once told him. When Sirius Black was sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin, the Black matron had thrown a fit at Hogwarts. If it weren't for Dumbledore stepping in, the Sorting Hat might have been destroyed by Fiendfyre. The incident had caused quite a stir, and for a time, there were serious discussions within the Ministry of Magic about replacing the Sorting Hat with a different method for sorting students.

The idea had even garnered a surprising level of support. Many pureblood families, especially the most traditionalist ones, didn't want their children sorted anywhere but Slytherin. For them, having a Gryffindor—or any other house—member in the family was a mark of disgrace.

Of course, the proposal never went through. Dumbledore, who had been far less lenient back then, had firmly opposed it, and pureblood families were too intimidated to challenge his authority. The matter had been dropped, but since that time, no member of the pureblood families involved had been sorted anywhere but Slytherin.

Kyle couldn't resist a glance toward the teachers' table to gauge Snape's reaction. If Snape had a connection to Kanna's family, it would be easy to tell by his response to her sorting.

Well...

Kyle was wrong. Snape's face was as dark as a storm cloud, and he looked as if he might start dripping with rage at any moment. He was deep in conversation with Dumbledore, occasionally glancing over at the Hufflepuff table, where Kanna had just taken her seat.

Kyle quickly lowered his head, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Could the Sorting Hat really be that bold? His heart pounded a little faster.

Meanwhile, the final new student had been sorted and took their place at the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore stood up, smiling warmly at the students, and spread his arms wide. "Welcome, welcome to another new year at Hogwarts! There's nothing more delightful than seeing you all here once again. What are you waiting for? Eat!"

At once, the empty tables before them filled with steaming dishes. Mountains of beef, roast chicken, pork chops, sausages, and steaks appeared, along with boiled potatoes, pea shoots, and French fries for those who preferred something lighter. The smell of the feast filled the air, making everyone's appetite grow.

Kyle shook his head, trying to push all the Snape-Kanna worries out of his mind. Forget it, he thought. What's done is done—what's the use of overthinking it? Whatever came next, he wouldn't be the first to suffer. The Sorting Hat was the one who made the final call, after all. And if Snape really wanted to make his life difficult, it wouldn't last forever. Once Harry Potter enrolls next year, Snape won't care about me anymore, Kyle reassured himself.

He pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the meal, reaching for a fried chicken leg and biting into it. The skin was perfectly crispy, the meat tender and juicy, filling his mouth with a burst of flavor.

The baked potatoes were equally delicious, simple but perfectly cooked. He liked that there wasn't too much seasoning, allowing the natural flavor of the potatoes to shine. For an extra kick, he added some black pepper and ketchup from the side and found the combination surprisingly good. He reached for another potato, ready to enjoy it in peace.

But just as Kyle cut into the potato, Cedric leaned over, lowering his voice. "Have you noticed that she keeps staring at you?"

"Staring at me? Who?" Kyle asked, not looking up as he reached for the black pepper.

"Kanna Prince, the girl from the train," Cedric said, raising an eyebrow and pointing mockingly across the table. "Look—she's doing it again."