Chapter 115: Sorting Ceremony
This might have been the most agonizing train journey Jon had ever endured.
Neither the scarred Auror Alastor Moody nor the Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. made for particularly pleasant company.
The two girls hadn’t dared utter a single word the entire trip, even though Moody never once looked their way.
Jon had little to say either, finding the journey unbearably dull... Mad-Eye Moody’s normal eye was tightly shut, as if he were asleep; his magical eye, however, kept swiveling restlessly.
The train pressed steadily north as the rain grew heavier and fiercer.
The sky was pitch black, the windows fogged over, and lanterns had been lit even in broad daylight.
Jon pulled out a copy of Standard Book of Spells, Level III and began reading.
Astoria took out her needlework, apparently knitting something… Natalie had already leaned against her shoulder and dozed off.
...
The Hogwarts Express finally slowed and came to a stop at the pitch-dark Hogsmeade Station.
The doors opened as thunder rumbled overhead.
“I need to survey the terrain around Hogwarts!” Mad-Eye Moody scanned the scene outside, his voice grave. “Dark wizards could be lying in ambush nearby, ready to attack the school at any moment!”
Such a convincing act… Watching Moody’s retreating figure, Jon couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.
Astoria shook awake the still-sleeping Natalie, and they disembarked!
The rain hammered down, icy and relentless, drenching them to the bone... They hunched their shoulders, eyes narrowed against the torrent, and stepped out into the storm.
“First-years, over here!” Hagrid’s booming voice rang out from afar, his dirty pink umbrella held high.
“You should head that way!” Jon pointed in Hagrid’s direction and told Natalie, “See that teacher? You’ll be going into the school with him.”
Natalie, still half-asleep, nodded and walked over to Hagrid.
“That’s right, lass, just stick behind me...” Hagrid bellowed.
“Oh, I can’t imagine crossing the lake in weather like this,” Astoria muttered, shivering as she bent down against the rain.
They pushed forward with the crowd across the darkened platform.
At last, they reached the hundred familiar carriages... Climbing into one, they were soon joined by two unfamiliar older students.
The door slammed shut; moments later, with a violent jolt, the long line of carriages rattled down the path to Hogwarts Castle, splashing water with every bump.
...
A few minutes later, their carriage came to a halt at the stone steps beneath two massive oak doors.
“What? You mean that long-awaited, grand event is really going to be revived this term?” Jon put on a look of surprise.
“Yes, I was going to tell you on the train…” Astoria blinked. “But with Professor Moody there, I didn’t dare say much… It’s absolutely true, Jon. My mother told me. This year at Hogwarts will be fascinating. She might even come back to see it herself!”
Talking as they ran, they dashed up the stone steps, nearly drenched to the skin by the storm.
“Children, this way!” Professor Flitwick was waiting at the castle entrance.
As each student stepped inside, he waved his wand and instantly dried them from head to toe.
Passing through the entrance hall, they entered the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was as magnificent as ever, decorated even more splendidly for the start-of-term feast.
Hundreds of candles floated in midair above the tables, casting their glow on golden plates and gleaming goblets.
“See you in Potions!” Astoria waved at him before heading toward the Slytherin table.
...
It was much warmer inside!
Jon made his way to the Hufflepuff table as his classmates trickled in from outside.
“Good evening, Jon!” A ghost floated up beside him, greeting him warmly.
It was a short, plump ghost dressed like a monk—Hufflepuff’s ghost, the Fat Friar!
“Good evening, Friar!” Jon smiled and gave a polite bow.
“I tried once again to convince them to let Peeves attend the feast—and failed yet again!” the Fat Friar said with a sigh. Then his expression brightened. “I do hope they start the Sorting soon. I can hardly wait!”
“Jon!” A familiar voice called from behind.
Zacharias Smith hurried over, dropped into the seat beside him, and asked with concern, “Professor Snape didn’t give you too much trouble that day over the summer, did he?”
Only then did Jon recall how Zacharias had abandoned him without hesitation when they ran into Snape in Diagon Alley.
“I was just so terrified of Professor Snape… When I saw him pull you aside, I bolted...” Zacharias chuckled awkwardly.
“It’s fine. He only left me with a burden,” Jon said with a helpless shake of his head.
More and more students were filling the Great Hall. Once everyone had gathered, Professor McGonagall led a long line of first-years to the front.
The first-years were soaked through. Jon searched for some time before spotting Natalie among them. Professor Flitwick strode over, waved his wand, and dried their clothes and hair.
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall placed a three-legged stool before the new students and placed a tattered, patched, and grimy wizard’s hat upon it.
A rip near the brim split open like a mouth, and the hat suddenly began to sing:
“It was over a thousand years ago, when I was first woven into shape...”
...
When the Sorting Hat’s song ended, thunderous applause filled the Great Hall.
Professor McGonagall unrolled a long parchment scroll.
“When I call your name, put the hat on your head and sit on the stool!” she instructed. “Once the hat announces your house, go to the corresponding table.”
“Stewart Ackerley!”
A boy stepped forward, visibly trembling from head to toe. He picked up the Sorting Hat, placed it on his head, and sat on the stool.
“Ravenclaw!” the Sorting Hat declared.
The Ravenclaw table erupted in thunderous applause.
...
“Malcolm Baddock!”
“Slytherin!”
...
“Eleanor Branstone!”
“Hufflepuff!”
...
Many Hufflepuff students stood to welcome the new arrival.
One by one, the new students were sorted into their houses.
Only a handful remained, until...
“Natalie Pavlov!” Professor McGonagall called loudly.
Natalie, looking nervous, stepped forward, sat on the stool, and placed the hat upon her head.
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