Chapter 17 Is this the only hat?
The freshmen followed Professor McGonagall into a luxurious auditorium, two by one.
There were small fires on the walls of the auditorium, and countless candles hung from the ceiling, illuminating the place brightly.
All senior students sit around four long tables representing their respective colleges. The front of each table is a blank seat, which should be prepared for the new students who are about to join the college.
"It's quite beautiful." Aaron looked up at the ceiling. It was a night sky, similar to what he saw next to the Black Lake.
"It's enchanted, I read about it in the Hogwarts history," Hermione said.
Aaron was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up, "You are more knowledgeable than I thought. I think no one among the freshmen except you will notice these details.
Hermione, I would venture to ask, when you read a book, do you want to know more about the author's life? "
"How do you know?" Hermione looked very surprised.
Aaron rolled his eyes, "I guess, but are you sure you don't want to go to Ravenclaw? I think that is the best place for you. You will make a large group of like-minded friends, and you will definitely be one of them." The best student.”
"This..." Hermione hesitated, "Let's talk about it again! Things like sorting are not decided by students."
"That's true." Aaron shrugged and said nothing more, but it could be seen that the girl still wanted to go to Gryffindor.
Everyone was brought to a high platform by Professor McGonagall. In the center of the high platform was Albus Dumbledore. It was hard to recognize him with his long white beard. On his left and right sides were teachers from various subjects and Hagrid. Such employees.
In the center of the steps is a stool. On top of the stool is a broken and old pointed hat. There are many patches on it, and a thick layer of dust conceals its original color.
"Is this the Sorting Hat? It's different from what I imagined!" Aaron said with some confusion. When he thought about wearing this old hat in the future, he felt particularly uncomfortable.
The most important thing is that which college they are assigned to seems to be determined by such a hat. Is this reliable?
Although it can be seen from its dilapidation that it is an old magic item, it still feels a bit ridiculous to rely on it to determine the fate of the new student for the next seven years.
The hat on the stool seemed to hear Aaron's muttering, wrinkled into a human face, and gave him a provocative smile.
This was not the first time it had encountered a new student like Aaron, but he had to wear it if he should, it couldn't be avoided.
"Hey! I have such a bad temper." Aaron glared at it in response.
There are more wrinkles on the "smiling face" of the Sorting Hat. I like the way you look at me but you can't do anything about me.
"Please wait here for a moment," said Professor McGonagall. "Before the ceremony begins, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words to everyone."
The white-haired old man sitting in the main seat stood up and said: "I have a few things to announce at the beginning of the school year. Attention first-year students, our school strictly prohibits any students from entering the dark forest.
In addition, our administrator Mr. Filch asked me to remind you that the corridor on the third floor and the corridor on the right are also forbidden areas. If you don't want to die miserably, don't go there. "
Aaron looked in the direction of Dumbledore's right hand. A tall, thin old man with gloomy eyes and some baldness was staring at them, as if waiting for them to make a mistake.
At his feet was a black and white cat, which also looked a little ferocious.
After Dumbledore finished speaking, Professor McGonagall picked up a long piece of parchment and said, "The students whose names I read below will come to the front. I will put the sorting hat on your heads, and then determine the house you want to go to. ”
"Wait." Aaron took a step forward, "Professor McGonagall, I want to ask, is this the only sorting hat in Hogwarts?
Can I change it? After all, it’s really dirty and scary, and it’s not very friendly to people like me who like to be clean. "
After Aaron finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter in the lobby.
Professor McGonagall was stunned for a moment, and then said with some regret: "There is only one Sorting Hat."
"Can you wash it so I can barely accept it?" Aaron said.
Now the Sorting Hat couldn't bear it anymore, and it said directly: "I can't accept this, so don't even think about it."
"I'm asking the professor, is it a bit rude for you to suddenly interrupt?
Props are always props. Don't place your position too high, otherwise you will lose your self-awareness. Aaron said coldly, and then turned his attention to Professor McGonagall, "Professor, is this okay?" "
"Ah..." Professor McGonagall couldn't help but look at Dumbledore in the main seat, but found that he didn't say anything, and he didn't know how to answer for the moment.
"Okay! Professor, I understand." Aaron did not let her continue to be in trouble, and sighed deeply, "Please continue with the sorting ceremony!"
"Okay." Professor McGonagall looked at Aaron deeply, and then began to call names.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A little girl with a rosy complexion sat on the stool nervously, and Professor McGonagall put the sorting hat on her head.
"Let me think about it." The Sorting Hat murmured for a moment, then suddenly said: "I know, Hufflepuff."
The senior students at the long table on the right applauded and cheered for the new students in their houses, and Hannah quickly ran to the empty seat at the Hufflepuff table.
"Susan Bones!" Professor McGonagall called out the second name.
"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat said happily, much faster than the first one.
"Terry Butt!"
"Ravenclaw!"
...
The sorting ceremony continued. The four houses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin all recruited a lot of new students, and the four long tables below also made cheers from time to time.
Ron lived up to the expectations of his parents and brothers and was assigned to Gryffindor as he wished, as was Hermione.
It is worth mentioning that when it was Draco Malfoy's turn, the Sorting Hat just touched his hair and gave the result, as if he was born for that house.
Another ten minutes later, only Harry Potter and Aaron Gaius were left standing in front of the high platform.
"Harry Potter!"
When Professor McGonagall read out this legendary name, the entire auditorium fell silent.
The students on the four rows of long tables below began to discuss in low voices, and the students in the seats at the back even raised their necks, hoping to see what he looked like.
Even Dumbledore, who was sitting in the main seat, sat up slightly and looked at the boy with the lightning scar on his forehead with expectant eyes.
"Don't be nervous, just follow your inner thoughts." Aaron said, "Although it may not be of much use."
"Thank you!" Harry slowly walked forward and sat on the chair.
"Hmm... It's hard to handle! This is really difficult to handle." The Sorting Hat said, and then began his own analysis, "I can see that you are very courageous, not bad-minded, talented, and extremely eager. Prove yourself.
But where will you be assigned? "
The tip of the Sorting Hat was hammered down and kept swaying left and right, looking particularly tangled.
"I won't go to Slytherin, I won't go to Slytherin..." Harry closed his eyes and kept muttering in a low voice, for fear that this hat would put him in the house he least wanted to go to.
Aaron watched this scene with interest from below. It was obvious that Harry, who had been "brainwashed" by Hagrid and Ron, instinctively believed that he belonged to Gryffindor and was very resistant to Slytherin.
But without his own ideas, other people's opinions will take up a large proportion in his future life, but this is Harry's own choice and has little to do with him.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to Slytherin?" The Sorting Hat naturally heard Harry's murmur, "You can get ahead there, the wisdom is all in your little head.
Slytherin can help you achieve great things, there is no doubt about it. "
Harry still didn't change his mind and kept repeating the words 'not going to Slytherin'.
"Okay! Since you are determined, then go to...Gryffindor!"
Harry opened his eyes and received a satisfactory answer, with a relieved smile on his face.
Because he was so famous, the response from Gryffindor was particularly strong this time, and the applause was even louder than before.
Prefect Percy Weasley stood up and shook his hand excitedly. Brothers Fred and George kept clapping their hands and said, "We have Potter."
Most of the teachers and staff at the guest table also applauded vigorously, and Dumbledore even raised his glass to Harry from a distance.
After a brief burst of cheers, everyone's eyes fell on Aaron, who had not yet completed the sorting.
