Following Professor McGonagall, everyone entered a small, empty room, nervously rubbing shoulders and looking around.
The Sorting was about to begin, and most were not feeling relaxed.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Professor McGonagall addressed them seriously. "The opening banquet is about to start, but before you go to the Great Hall and take your seats, you must first be sorted into your houses..."
"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will commence in front of all the teachers and students. I will come to collect you when it's time. Please remain quiet until then."
With that, Professor McGonagall headed toward the Great Hall.
Once she left, everyone sighed in relief. Professor McGonagall's stern demeanor had been quite intimidating.
"How do they sort us into our houses?" Ethan heard Harry ask.
"Maybe there's some kind of test," Ronald replied, showing off again. "My brother said it's really hard on us."
Ronald's memory wasn't very reliable. The twins had deceived him countless times, but he still believed their tales.
With Harry and Ronald leading, the urgency among the crowd grew. People began discussing the rumors they had heard.
Some speculated that they might have to duel trolls, while others thought they might have to perform magic on the spot.
A group of pure-bloods were convinced that their noble blood and talents would ensure they were sorted into Slytherin.
"What is that?" A panicked voice cut through the crowd, silencing everyone.
More than twenty pearly-white, translucent ghosts emerged from the walls, captivating everyone's attention.
Ethan observed the ghosts closely. Although he had visited Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley many times, he had never seen a ghost before.
He wondered about the difference between Voldemort's current state and these ghosts, and whether Horcruxes had any connection to the creation of ghosts.
The only certainty was that these ghosts lacked physical forms, and Ethan was curious whether magic could affect them.
"Move forward now!" A sharp voice commanded. "The sorting ceremony is about to begin."
At Professor McGonagall's arrival, the ghosts vanished through the opposite wall.
After organizing the line, the young wizards followed Professor McGonagall out of the room, through the entrance hall, and into the opulent Great Hall.
Students from other years were seated around four long tables according to their houses. Above the tables, thousands of candles floated in mid-air, illuminating the entire hall.
At the top of the hall, there was another long table for the professors. Dumbledore sat in the center, wearing a luxurious dark blue robe, with flowing silver-white hair, a small wizard hat, and a long, neatly trimmed beard, along with a long and crooked nose.
Professor McGonagall led the first-years to the front of the hall, where she placed a four-legged stool with a tattered and worn Sorting Hat on it.
The hat suddenly twitched, and a wide crack appeared along its edge, resembling a mouth. It began to sing its annual song in a strange melody: "You may think I'm not beautiful…"
After seven or eight minutes, the Sorting Hat completed its song and received applause from the audience, not for its performance but for the cooperative audience.
"Now, when I call your name, come forward, put on the hat, and sit on the stool to await your sorting."
Professor McGonagall took out a parchment and addressed the young wizards. The real event was about to begin.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A girl with golden braids nervously approached the stool. It was Hannah, who had been on the same boat with Ethan and the others.
The hat was placed on her head, and the result came quickly.
"Hufflepuff!"
Hannah's anxious expression relaxed as she joined the cheering Hufflepuff table.
"Susan Bones!"
The result was soon announced.
"Hufflepuff!"
Susan, too, was pleased and joined Hannah at the Hufflepuff table. The badgers were thrilled, clapping enthusiastically as Hufflepuff gained more new students.
As the sorting continued, the long tables of the four houses erupted in cheers.
"Hermione Granger!"
Hermione nearly ran to the stool and quickly donned the hat. The sorting took a bit longer, but it was not embarrassing.
"Gryffindor!"
The sorting was as Ethan remembered. Neville was sorted into Gryffindor, and Draco into Slytherin.
The hall reached a peak of excitement when Harry Potter was sorted into Gryffindor. The cheers from the Gryffindor table almost shook the ancient castle.
"Cassandra Vole!"
The slender girl with golden curly hair gracefully walked to the stool. As soon as the hat touched her head, it proclaimed:
"Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table erupted into cheers, their applause louder and more enthusiastic than before.
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