Chapter 237 Sorting Ceremony with Audience

The auditorium was a sea of ​​pointed black hats, and Roger reluctantly changed into a pajamas-like school robe as required by the school.

Compared to previous years’ sorting ceremonies, there were many more spectators this year. The wizard parents sat beside their children and asked with concern about their condition and their encounter with dementors.

Jessica also came. She looked at her son up and down carefully and kept asking about things on the train. Hearing that his son had killed all the dementors, he hugged his son tightly with red eyes.

"You, how can you be so reckless!" Jessica complained.

Dumbledore sat on the stage, quietly listening to the commotion below. He knew about the dementors' search of the train, and also learned the details from Lupine. He squinted his eyes, thinking about what to do.

Professor McGonagall signaled to him that the sorting ceremony could begin. He cleared his throat, and the auditorium quickly returned to silence.

"Welcome the new students..." Dumbledore looked around the auditorium and said calmly: "Welcome parents. I received news that everyone was disturbed by dementors during the trip. Minister Fudge should be on the way. Now, we Sort the new students first.”

Astori walked forward with the other freshmen with an uneasy heart. She looked left and right, but couldn't see where the dragon Daphne was talking about was.

However, there was the Sorting Hat on the high stool in front of them. It was exactly the same as the victory hat described by Rogge. It was a big, tattered hat that was extremely disgusting.

As in previous years, the little wizards ran over at Professor McGonagall's signal. When they saw that the big hat was about to be placed on their heads, countless worries and expectations surged in their hearts.

"Hufflepuff...Ravenclaw..."

One by one, the little wizards ran to their desks, and soon, it was Astoria's turn.

"Mr. Hat, aren't we going to challenge the dragon?" she asked doubtfully.

"Oh, someone must have lied to you. Little wizards are fooled every year." The Sorting Hat answered Astoria in a weird accent, and then announced to everyone: "Slytherin!"

"Great!" Daphne and her father Mr. Greengrass clapped excitedly.

They never thought Astoria would go to any other house besides Slytherin.

"Dad, my sister lied to me!" Astoria complained to her father.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Greengrass laughed: "I lied to Daphne in the same way back then."

Immediately afterwards, there was laughter.

After all the freshmen had their own colleges, Professor Dumbledore spoke again: "Professor Flitwick will lead the students to perform the song "The End of Day" to thank parents for their concern for the school."

"Isn't Fudge here yet?" someone started talking.

"The principal is obviously stalling for time." Another person also expressed dissatisfaction.

The parents started to get noisy, even more annoyed by the Ministry's irresponsible attitude. Although some parents themselves are employees or even officials of the Ministry of Magic, this does not prevent them from complaining about the Ministry of Magic.

The white-haired Professor Flitwick walked up to the podium with a stool. The choir members lined up in three rows, and wizards playing musical instruments were waiting aside.

The huge glass behind the auditorium was flashing with lightning, and outside the castle it was windy and rainy.

Everyone's noise gradually decreased, and the silence calmed down the tension and anger, and people began to look forward to the chorus performance. Some parents even whispered to others that their children were performing above.

Flitwick stood on the stool and crossed his arms. His wand now became a conductor's baton, and with his movements, the chorus officially began.

"The meat and gizzards of the swamp python are taken and cooked until cooked... No matter the hard work or trouble, the foam in the cauldron has turned into waves..."

As the melodious voices of the male and female chorus came, the terror and cold brought by the dementors slowly subsided. Following their voices, everyone was immersed in the story told by the song.

"Destiny is like a prostitute, deliberately flirting with the traitor, fueling his sinful arrogance, and finally leading him to destruction." The adult wizard next to him couldn't help but resonate while listening to the chorus.

"Yes." Another wizard agreed, "No matter how long the night is, day will always come."

“What begins in unrighteousness must be strengthened by sin.”

…

What these parents said was obviously closely related to the song. Others could only listen but couldn't say a word. Everyone can only send admiring looks and continue to enjoy the chorus.

"Roger, what are they talking about?" Daphne asked in a low voice.

"I don't know either."

"This is Macbeth." Jessica explained to them. "A warrior received a prophecy from a wizard. He thought he could become the king of Scotland, so he killed the king and ascended the throne. In the end, destruction ushered in."

Rogge was stunned for a moment, what an appropriate story. He couldn't help but look at the Gryffindor table. Isn't Harry Potter the prophesied warrior? Isn't this the Scottish Highlands?

After singing the song, the auditorium burst into warm applause. The nervous hearts of the students and guests relaxed, and there were even a few laughs from the long table.

Dumbledore stood on the podium in high spirits again, his silver-white hair and beard, and iconic half-moon glasses still so familiar.

"Before everyone starts enjoying the food, there are a few things I want to tell you. The school is currently welcoming the Dementors from Azkaban, who are sent by the Ministry of Magic to perform official duties."

"Presumably, you should know about this." Dumbledore said what he meant, but he did not stop Fudge's order.

"They conducted a search on the train and there was a vicious incident of attacking students." Dumbledore's tone became serious, obviously unhappy with the dementors' actions.

"Before the Ministry of Magic issues new orders, they will still be stationed at every entrance to the school." Dumbledore continued: "I must make it clear that when they are there, no one is allowed to leave the school without permission. Any tricks or tricks. Dementors can't be fooled by disguises, not even invisibility cloaks."

Rogge curled his lips below, if the Dementors were really that powerful, Sirius wouldn't be able to escape Azkaban.

"I hope the prefects and our newly elected Head Boy will ensure that not a single student..."

"I object!" Before Dumbledore could finish speaking, a clear voice of objection came from the Slytherin table.

Immediately afterwards, countless objections came one after another. The prefects and student union president lowered their heads and did not dare to express any opinions.

Rogge stood up, walked to the long table and looked at Dumbledore: "Principal, did you know in advance about the Dementor's order to search the carriage?"

Dumbledore's glasses were shining, and he said gently but firmly: "The Ministry of Magic did not notify the school."

"Since the Hogwarts Express is managed by the Ministry of Magic, no one else needs to be notified of the dementors' actions."

"Percy, have you received the paper order for the search?" Rogge looked at the Gryffindor table, and students and parents also cast doubtful glances.

Verbal commands have no effect. Even if there is a recording, you can turn your back on the person and even use the basic principles of the recording to quibble. This is not the case with paper orders. It allows the other party to stand there and not be able to slip away with oil on their soles.

Percy pursed his lips, sweat beads forming on his palms. After graduation, he wanted to work in the Ministry of Magic, but now he had to quit the Ministry of Magic.

"No, the dementors stopped the train and forced us to open the door." Percy told the story in a low voice but very clearly.

"What! How dare they!"

"Those are dementors, and we don't even want to confront them head-on! If something goes wrong, will Fudge dare to take responsibility?"

"Responsibility? Is it useful to talk about responsibility at that time?"

"Hmph, I think he asked the dementors to check because he thought his child was not there."

"Does that coward have a child?"

The parents were excited, and Percy sat down quickly at the principal's signal. Dumbledore had no intention of stopping everyone from discussing.

With him around, Hogwarts is definitely the safest place in the wizarding world. Fudge sent the dementors here to question his ability and suppress his prestige.

Dumbledore knew this very well, and he was unwilling to argue with Fudge. After all, Fudge is the Minister for Magic, nominally in charge of all wizards in the UK.

Even though the express train is the property of the Ministry of Magic; even though the Ministry of Magic has the right to let dementors search the train; even though the student president and prefects are a little stupid... even though Dumbledore can find countless excuses for Fudge, he can't allow the dementors. Harm students.

Even if that student killed all the dementors.

Now, a knife of public opinion has taken shape. Pure blood, mixed blood, white wizards, black wizards... everyone launched a crusade against Fudge.

The target of everyone's crusade was not there. This made the reasons for crusade against him even more solid, and the issues that he could have argued against became conclusive evidence of guilt.

The dementors who were spared by Rogge fled directly back to the North Sea, and the paper plane delivering the message was seized by the office secretary, Ms. Percy.

As for Minister Fudge himself, he was having dinner with the famous wizard singer Celestine Warbeck.

Delis had tried to persuade him, but Fudge pointed at him with a wine glass and said, "As the Minister of Magic, can't I enjoy it?"