The young wizards lined up obediently in a single file, silently following Professor McGonagall's footsteps as they entered the grand hall.
What greeted their eyes was a magically splendid and majestic hall.
Inside the hall, older students sat quietly around long tables, divided according to their respective houses, with numerous floating candles providing ample illumination.
To be honest, even in this solemn atmosphere, not just the first-years, even Ino felt a hint of pressure.
Ignoring the professors seated at the head table, the mere gaze from hundreds of eyes around the long tables made one uneasy.
But Ino was used to grand occasions. After a brief astonishment, he quickly regained his composure and even took a moment to admire the enchanted ceiling he had heard so much about.
Perhaps it was because of himself, but he never heard Hermione boastfully introducing Ron to "A History of Hogwarts."
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall had already placed a high stool in front of all the new students, followed by the mysterious Sorting Hat making its appearance.
Listening with interest to the Hat's song, if there was one thing in Hogwarts that intrigued him the most, it was undoubtedly the Sorting Hat.
Centuries-old, with a wisdom of memories, and perhaps even possessing thoughts and an independent personality, such a hat was a legendary figure in fairy tales and folklore alike.
The Hat spoke, sang even, leaving the new students astonished and unable to close their mouths, finally understanding how Hogwarts sorted its students.
Actually, it wasn't surprising that the newcomers were unaware. Even Draco Malfoy, from a pure-blood family, couldn't have known about the Sorting.
The Sorting ceremony, with older students teasing the new ones, had almost become a tradition at Hogwarts.
Once the Hat finished its song and the applause gradually subsided, McGonagall, who had been waiting on the side, slowly unrolled a scroll in her hands.
"Now, when I call your name, please come forward!"
...
"Hannah Abbott!"
As soon as Professor McGonagall called out, a timid blonde girl stepped out from the crowd, her pigtails swaying lightly as she moved forward.
"An old acquaintance!" Ino sighed inwardly.
During the time he stayed at the Leaky Cauldron before school started, he had gotten quite familiar with this generous and story-loving young witch.
Of course, everything had its pros and cons.
Compared to Hannah's clingy warmth, the Leaky Cauldron's landlord, Tom, seemed rather unfriendly.
Ino had noticed more than once that Tom always eyed him with a suspicious look.
Back to the point.
As Hannah settled onto the high stool, it signaled the beginning of the Sorting Ceremony for the year 1991.
As time passed, one by one, the new students put on the Sorting Hat. Due to his surname being later in the alphabet, Ino had the privilege of watching the scene as a bystander.
Beyond just Harry's awkward moment with the Hat, Draco's swift entry into Slytherin, the true swordmaster Neville, the explosive talent Seamus, and so on...
It's worth mentioning that Hermione eventually also joined Gryffindor, just as in the original.
During this time, Ino noticed something interesting, something that also resolved his long-standing curiosity.
That was how a young wizard's robes would change to the color of their house after the Sorting.
Otherwise, everyone buying plain robes and later embroidering them in their house colors? That didn't seem practical.
(PS: The idea of house robes changing color comes from the official mobile game "Hogwarts Mystery.")
Meanwhile.
As Professor McGonagall called each name, the number of students in the lineup gradually dwindled, with only a few left unsorted.
"Ino Swinburne."
The moment he heard his name, Ino calmly walked towards the head table, his cheeks showing a gentle and timid smile.
With an elegant posture and those pure and clear eyes, he managed to win a wave of admiration from those who appreciated beauty.
After a series of maneuvers, including Professor McGonagall, several other heads of houses also showed expressions of satisfaction. After all... all teachers liked well-behaved children.
Of course, there were always exceptions.
Such as another figure at the head table, Severus Snape, the Slytherin head of house. He remained cold and aloof throughout the Sorting Ceremony, but now, he rarely showed a faint smirk.
That expression was like watching an opera with a familiar plot. Other viewers shed tears of deception, while he alone remained clear-headed.
As the person involved, Ino was now doing his best to disguise himself. He just wanted to see if the Sorting Hat could still chat with him in this situation, read his thoughts.
"Relax, there's nothing to worry about!"
Beside the high stool, Professor McGonagall reassured him gently.
"Thank you, Professor!" Ino replied with a shy smile.
Sitting lightly on the stool, he appeared relaxed and at ease, but inwardly he was highly focused.
However, the next moment!
Even before the Sorting Hat touched the tips of Ino's hair, it already had an answer.
"Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat shouted hoarsely.
"Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!"
There was an instant burst of enthusiastic applause from the Slytherin table, with several lower-year girls clapping so vigorously that their palms turned red without them noticing.
"It's over..." Ino's heart sank.
He was numb all over now, with countless words he wanted to say stuck in his throat. But under Professor McGonagall's gaze, he could only resign himself to walking towards the Slytherin table.
To be honest, Slytherin wasn't that bad. He never looked down on any house.
But the problem was, the Sorting Hat's performance... not only ruined his plans but also attracted unnecessary attention.
Ino now felt like dying. Just moments ago, he had watched the entire Sorting Ceremony. Among all the new students, no one else had been sorted into a house the moment the Hat touched their hair.
Even Draco Malfoy, the fastest to be sorted into Slytherin... even he had worn the Hat for a second before being assigned to Slytherin.
...
Ino walked with his head down towards the Slytherin table, already imagining the scene.
Dumbledore's meaningful gaze, even Quirrell and Voldemort's curious expressions...
Just thinking about it made him feel uncomfortable all over.
Of course, it wasn't that the headmaster was bad. Ino never doubted Dumbledore's character.
You see, this was the world of magic, where no white wizard had a dark and evil heart. Even Severus Snape, who was skilled in Occlumency, had a nature of redemption and protection, rather than cruelty and slaughter.
That being said, compared to being the expendable Quirrell, what worried him more was the attention and care from the headmaster.
If that were the case, then his school life for the next few years... he didn't even need to think about it. It would definitely be unusually "exciting."
"This is going to be... "
At this moment, Ino just wanted to sit at the Slytherin table, blend in as quickly as possible, and live quietly for half a term.
He figured that once Quirrell started causing trouble, Dumbledore wouldn't have the time to focus on anything else.
___
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