Chapter 7: The Sorting Ceremony

"Congratulations on your admission to Hogwarts. The welcoming ceremony for new students will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must decide which of the four houses you will enter. There are four houses in total: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has a glorious history and has produced great wizards and witches."

Afterwards, there were explanations about earning and losing points and information about the House Cup, but Leo tuned it out. He had no interest in the House Cup, and he believed that as long as he didn't waste time getting penalized, losing points wouldn't be a problem.

The new students speculated about what the sorting would entail. Some thought it might involve a test of spells, while others proposed rather unrealistic ideas involving pain.

While waiting, ghosts appeared, and a few students screamed. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Leo looked around and observed the various enchantments placed on the castle.

After a while, they were summoned by Professor McGonagall and led to the Great Hall. 

The scene that greeted them was magnificent. Thousands of candles floated in the air, illuminating the hall. Four long tables were set up in the center, adorned with golden plates and goblets. Upperclassmen sat at the tables, observing the newcomers. The ceiling was bewitched to resemble the night sky, with stars twinkling above.

"Reading about it in 'Hogwarts: A History' is one thing, but seeing this magic in person is something else," Hermione remarked.

"Yeah, magic is best experienced firsthand," Leo agreed.

Leo and Hermione were captivated by the beauty of the magic around them. As the new students lined up, Professor McGonagall placed a rickety old hat on a stool.

The new students wondered what was about to happen, and in the next moment, the hat began to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

As the song concluded, a thunderous applause erupted from both students and teachers. Learning that the sorting process was as simple as wearing the hat brought a collective sigh of relief from the surrounding students.

Leo, however, remained fixated on the Sorting Hat, concentrating on analyzing the magical structure within.

"I will call out names in alphabetical order. Please put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your sorting."

"Hannah Abbott!"

First, a blonde-haired girl was called, and she donned the hat before taking her seat. In an instant, the hat determined her house.

"Hufflepuff!"

Subsequently, names were called one after the other, and students were sorted into their respective houses.

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione exchanged a glance with Leo and eagerly placed the hat on her head. It took the hat more than five minutes to decide, indicating her hesitation in choosing a house.

"Raven... no, Gryffindor!"

Hermione made her way to the Gryffindor table with applause, where she was warmly welcomed.

The sorting continued, and as a particular boy's name was called, the various conversations that had filled the hall just moments before instantly vanished, leaving the Great Hall in silence.

"Harry Potter!"

Everyone, except Leo, was now focused on The Boy Who Lived, wondering what kind of person he was and which house he would be sorted into.

"Gryffindor!"

The hero's destination was Gryffindor, and the Gryffindor table erupted in explosive cheers. The twins who had taken Potter were especially conspicuous as they celebrated.

Leo, however, remained uninterested in his surroundings, continuing to scrutinize the hat.

(What a complex structure... It should have been created during Hogwarts' founding period, nearly a millennium ago... Not only the magical composition but even the magical power it holds has not deteriorated at all. It must have been created by one of Hogwarts' founders... Incredible.)

"Leonard Taylor!"

As Leo was engrossed in his analysis, his turn came.

When Leo's name was called, he didn't attract as much attention from the Great Hall as Harry did, but there was still a notable buzz of curiosity. A young magical genius studying magic at Hogwarts, who knew which house he'd belong to? People were also surprised by how young he looked.

(Hmm... This child possesses quite remarkable qualities. I've never seen anything like this before.)

(You truly are the most magnificent piece of magical craftsmanship I've encountered. Was this crafted by Hogwarts' founders themselves?)

(Indeed. It seems your 'Eye' is quite insightful.)

(I haven't fully grasped everything yet, though. By the way, which house is he suitable for?)

(Oh, right. My apologies. Well, there's certainly bravery and kindness, but there's also a tendency to neglect others in favor of magic research. Not Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. The willingness to understand magic, though! In that case...)

"Ravenclaw!"

The Great Hall erupted into applause and cheers, with the majority coming from Ravenclaw.

The sorting ceremony continued smoothly, and the final sorting concluded without any issues. Dumbledore gave a brief welcome speech, and various dishes appeared on the tables for the students to enjoy. While Leo tasted the nearby dishes, being Ravenclaw students who sought knowledge, both new and older students bombarded him not only with questions about him but also about his research.

"I'm Anthony Goldstein. Nice to meet you for the next seven years!"

"I'm Padma Patil! Nice to meet you."

"I'm Earl. I'm a fourth-year. If you ever have any questions about Hogwarts, feel free to ask. By the way, I heard you're researching further improvements to Wolfsbane Potion..."

"I want to hear about Patronus Charms!"

Questions flowed from Ravenclaw's tables. Eventually, the discussion shifted to which topic it would be most meaningful to start with. Leo was relieved that they decided they wouldn't discuss anything until they had more time and focused on enjoying the meal.

After dessert, when everyone was satisfied with their meal, Dumbledore stood up.

"Well, I believe you've all eaten and drunk well. Ravenclaw students seem to be having quite an intense discussion, but there will be another opportunity to talk later."

In the end, no conclusions were reached regarding the topic of discussion, and they decided to talk about it on another occasion when they had more time. Subsequently, there were announcements about not entering the Forbidden Forest, the prohibition of magic in the corridors, and information about Quidditch.

"Finally, for those who don't want to meet a very painful end, avoid the fourth-floor right corridor this year."

Many students seemed puzzled by this warning.

"Now, let's sing the school song before bedtime!"

Each student sang the school song to their favorite melody, resulting in a cacophonous rendition. The final verses were sung by the Weasley twins.

"Music is the most powerful form of magic, my dear students! It's bedtime, off you go!"

The students headed to their respective common rooms. Leo tried to follow the other new students to the Prefects, but he was stopped by Professor Flitwick, the Ravenclaw Head of House, and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall.

"Mr. Taylor, could you spare a moment? The Headmaster wishes to see you. Please come with us."

It was rather sudden, and Leo wondered what it could be. However, given McGonagall's no-nonsense tone, he followed them, thinking. 

(Well, I wonder what this is all about...)

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So, Leo ended up in Ravenclaw.

In the original series, Hermione was said to have Ravenclaw traits as well, but in this story, thanks to Leo's influence, even the hat (myself included) was in quite a dilemma until the end. She's become quite the sorting challenge.

If the order of sorting had been Leo first, it would have taken only a few seconds to place him in Ravenclaw.

What is Dumbledore going to talk to Leo about?

Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Fan fiction can lead to all sorts of interesting stories, can't it?