"You might think I'm not very pretty,"
"But never judge by appearance."
"If you find a hat more beautiful than me,"
"I will eat myself."
...
As Professor McGonagall announced that the Sorting Ceremony was about to begin, the old, dirty hat on the high table suddenly stirred. In the astonished gazes of Harry and the others, the hat wriggled, and then a wide crack opened up, like a mouth, and it began to sing.
Harry and the others stared wide-eyed, shocked at first, then filled with curiosity.
Was this really an old, tattered hat?
Why did it sing so beautifully?
When the song ended, the hall erupted into thunderous applause.
Ron clapped enthusiastically, but also with a hint of frustration. "That damn liar Fred! He actually said that the Sorting Ceremony involves a dangerous test that could hurt us! I'll kill him."
Harry chuckled. "Ron, I think you should take action."
Ron, who had clapped so hard his hands hurt, quickly stopped and swore, "I'll take action for sure."
The hat, looking delighted like a gentleman, bowed towards the audience, its voice full of gratitude.
"Thank you, thank you! Your applause is my motivation."
"I think I can still offer you another poem."
...
"I will never admit that the union of two hearts,"
"Could face any obstacle, love is not true love,"
"If you change course at the sight of someone else,"
"Or leave when someone turns away,"
"Oh no! Love is an eternal lighthouse."
...
Harry and the others were taken aback, hearing the Sorting Hat sing so joyfully, but some girls, like Hermione, were completely mesmerized.
"What a beautiful and moving poem!" Hermione said, captivated.
"This hat is so interesting! I wish it could sing more beautiful poems like this every day," one of the younger girls said in admiration.
"I want it too! I believe this Hat Mr. must be a very gentlemanly poet."
Professor McGonagall's normally stern face showed some panic, especially after seeing how the children reacted; she felt utterly embarrassed.
No, it wasn't the students—it was the Hat! It had suddenly become so irreverent, utterly shameful.
Dumbledore, equally baffled, looked at the Sorting Hat with confusion. "Are you still the Sorting Hat I know? Where is your dignity? Has it been eaten by a dog?"
Callister's lips curled slightly, and the smile in his eyes was unapologetically visible.
The Sorting Hat was a bit different from what he had expected!
It even knew poetry!
"Quiet!" Professor McGonagall extended her hand and pressed the Sorting Hat down, her expression stern as she ordered, "Enough singing!"
The Sorting Hat twisted, trying to resist, but in the end, it had no choice but to bow to McGonagall's authority.
Professor McGonagall then turned to the first-year students, pulling out a scroll of parchment. "When I call your name, step forward, wear the hat, sit on the stool, and wait for your sorting."
"Hannah Abbott!"
A girl with rosy cheeks and two golden braids nervously walked out of the line, sat on the stool, and put on the Sorting Hat.
The Hat was a bit too large, almost covering her cute, nervous eyes.
After a moment, the Sorting Hat spoke, "Hufflepuff!"
The students at the right table cheered and waved to Hannah Abbott, enthusiastically welcoming her to join them.
"Susan Bones!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Terry Boot!"
"Ravenclaw!"
...
"Malfoy!"
With the confidence and pride of a pureblood, Malfoy strode onto the stage, placed the hat on his head, and cast a glance at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, his mouth curling slightly in a smirk.
However, it must be said that Malfoy looked rather handsome at that moment, and some of the younger girls thought so.
Ron grimaced and immediately looked away from Malfoy.
"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat hesitated for a moment before announcing.
Malfoy got exactly what he wanted.
His father had been from Slytherin, so Malfoy was more than pleased, returning to sit with Crabbe and Goyle, then casting a glance at Harry. "Harry, you should come to Slytherin. We're the same kind of people."
It was clear that Malfoy still had some fixation on Harry.
It wasn't really Malfoy's fault. After all, Harry's parents were famous, and for a child born into a pureblood family like Malfoy, there was a sense of being raised with an image that they should stick together, standing on the same side to look down on others.
"Thanks for the suggestion, Malfoy, but I just hope we don't end up as enemies," Harry replied, rejecting him.
Malfoy didn't take it well, and Crabbe and Goyle also seemed unhappy with Harry's response, ready to do something, but Malfoy stopped them.
"We need to be more gentlemanly. I believe he will understand the noble status of us pureblood wizards."
Harry didn't respond to Malfoy's words as more students were being sorted.
Ron was thrilled to be placed in Gryffindor.
As Professor McGonagall continued to read out names, the Sorting Hat kept calling out the different houses, and Hermione Granger was successfully sorted into Gryffindor.
Finally, after all the students were sorted, it was Harry Potter's turn.
"Harry Potter!"
Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the hall, and all eyes turned toward Harry.
Most of the people already knew what this meant.
Harry, though somewhat used to the attention by now, felt a slight tension, but he still stepped up to the stage, put the Sorting Hat on, and repeatedly whispered to himself, "Don't go to Slytherin, don't go to Slytherin."
"Don't go to Slytherin, right?" A faint voice echoed in Harry's mind.
"Have you made up your mind? You will do great things, you have a great destiny. In Slytherin, you will get more help and become something great."
"Alright, you're not happy with that?"
"Oh, I see, you have your own ideas. In that case, off to Gryffindor you go!"
Harry was nervous, wondering if he was imagining things. Was the Sorting Hat communicating with him?
Had he answered?
Callister said I belong in Gryffindor!
Does that mean Callister might be teaching at Gryffindor?
"Gryffindor!"
The Sorting Hat suddenly shouted, and Harry sighed in relief—he was finally in Gryffindor.
He turned to look at Callister, offering a small, happy smile.
Ron, Hermione, and the older Gryffindors rushed forward to hug Harry Potter, clearly thrilled.
Dumbledore, watching the cheering children, shakily rose to his feet, smiling warmly as he addressed the crowd. "Welcome to Hogwarts, and to a new school year."
"Before the feast begins, there's one very important thing I need to announce to everyone."