The students of the four houses were already seated at their respective long tables, illuminated by thousands of candles floating midair.
The tables gleamed with gold plates and goblets, and at the head of the hall was another long table for the teachers. Looking up, one could see the velvety black ceiling twinkling with stars.
"That's an enchanted ceiling. It looks just like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History," Hermione whispered to the group.
Ian held Hermione's hand as his gaze focused on the four-legged stool at the very front of the hall.
On top of the stool was a tattered wizard's hat, looking as though it hadn't been cleaned in centuries. Its many folds formed what resembled a mouth.
As the first-years drew closer, the folds of the hat moved, and it 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 tops 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 brave of 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 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 achive their ends.♪
♪So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands(though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!!"~♪
When the Sorting Hat finished its song, Professor McGonagall unrolled a parchment scroll. "Now, when I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and wait to be sorted."
Hearing this, several first-years immediately turned their heads to look at Ron, who had claimed earlier they would have to duel a troll.
"Hah! Weasley! Is this the troll you were talking about?" Draco sneered from behind them.
"I'm going to get Fred for this!" Ron muttered under his breath, his face red with embarrassment. Then, glaring at Draco, he added, "And you're one to talk—you were going on about fighting dragons earlier!"
Draco's expression darkened. "You—!"
"Alright, enough. Now's not the time for arguing," Ian said, cutting them off with a sigh.
Just then, Professor McGonagall called the first name.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A rosy-cheeked girl, looking very nervous, stepped out of the line, put on the Sorting Hat, and sat on the four-legged stool.
"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat shouted after about a minute.
Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table as Hannah made her way over to join her new housemates.
With the first student sorted, the second and third quickly followed. Before long, Professor McGonagall called out:
"Hermione Granger!"
Ian patted Hermione's hand reassuringly. "Don't be nervous, Hermione."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione walked to the front and placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Hmm! I can see you're very clever, yes… Ravenclaw would surely be delighted to have you," the Sorting Hat's voice whispered in Hermione's ear. "Oh! Courage, a very brave young witch… Hmm… Well then… Well then…"
"Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat finally shouted.
Thunderous applause erupted from the Gryffindor table as they welcomed the bright and courageous young witch.
Hermione removed the Sorting Hat, her face beaming with excitement as she jogged over to the Gryffindor table. On her way, she made sure to flash a pointed smile at Ian—a clear message: You must join Gryffindor too!
Professor McGonagall continued calling names, sorting several more students, most of whom ended up in Hufflepuff.
"Draco Malfoy!"
Draco immediately straightened up, puffing out his chest like a proud peacock as he strode forward and sat on the four-legged stool.
Before the Sorting Hat even touched his perfectly groomed blond hair, it shouted, "Slytherin!"
A round of applause erupted from the Slytherin table. Draco shot a smug look at Ian and the others, as if he had known the result all along, before striding confidently to join the Slytherins.
Ian and the others waited a little longer until they finally heard the name "Harry Potter."
Almost instantly, every head in the Great Hall turned to look at Harry, and the murmuring was several times louder than when Draco was sorted.
Harry nervously pressed his lips together as he walked to the front and placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Hmm...," the Sorting Hat's voice began, "This is difficult... I see you're very brave... kind at heart... talented, and with a strong desire to prove yourself. Hmm... where should I put you?"
Hearing the hat's muttering, Harry nervously shut his eyes.
"You really have traits of all kinds. What a cursed decision...," the hat grumbled.
"Not Slytherin! Not Slytherin!"
Harry suddenly whispered, recalling Ron's earlier words that "Slytherin is full of bad wizards, and You-Know-Who was in Slytherin."
"Not Slytherin? Are you sure?" the hat asked again. "In Slytherin, you could achieve greatness, you know."
"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin," Harry repeated firmly.
"Alright, if that's what you're set on, then...," the hat's voice rose dramatically, "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in thunderous applause, the cheers so loud they seemed to shake the roof of the hall.
"We've got Potter! We've got Potter!"
Students at the Gryffindor table shouted joyfully.
Harry removed the hat, visibly relieved, and ran toward the Gryffindor table. On the way, he enthusiastically waved at Ian and Ron, a wide grin on his face.
Ian returned Harry's wave with a smile and then quietly waited for Professor McGonagall to call his name.
It would be his turn right after Harry, right?
Sure enough, as the commotion gradually died down, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out again.
"Ian Potter!"
The hall erupted into noise once more, with every eye turning to focus on Ian at the front.
Just as Ian was about to step forward, Ron whispered beside him, "Ian, you have to join Gryffindor! All the Weasleys are in Gryffindor, and now Harry and Hermione are there too. The four of us have to stick together."
Ian smiled but didn't answer, striding confidently to the stool. He sat down and placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
'System, the Sorting Hat can't detect you, can it?' he suddenly asked in his mind.
[Ding! Rest assured, Host! No one can detect this system's presence!]
Relieved, Ian immediately employed Occlumency, ensuring the Sorting Hat only saw what he wanted it to see.
He couldn't be too careful—if this nosy hat ended up spilling his thoughts to Dumbledore, all the groundwork he'd laid so far would be ruined.