A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

Hermione, if I may ask, do you research the author's life before reading a book?

"How did you know?" Hermione asked, sounding quite surprised.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "I guessed, but are you sure you don't want to go to Ravenclaw? I think that's the best place for you. You'll make a lot of like-minded friends, and you'll definitely be the best student there."

“Well…” Hermione hesitated for a moment, “Let’s talk about it later! Sorting isn’t something students decide.”

"That's true." Aaron shrugged and said nothing more, but it was clear that the girl still wanted to go to Gryffindor.

Professor McGonagall led everyone to a high platform. At the very center of the platform stood Albus Dumbledore, whose long white beard made him unrecognizable. To his left and right were teachers from various disciplines, as well as staff members like Hagrid.

In the center of the steps was a stool, and on the stool was a worn-out, old pointed hat with many patches on it, its original color covered by a thick layer of dust.

"This is the Sorting Hat? It's nothing like what I imagined!" Aaron said, somewhat conflicted. The thought of wearing this tattered hat made him feel particularly uncomfortable.

The most important thing is that it seems that which college they are assigned to is determined by this title. Is this reliable?

Although its dilapidated state indicates that it is an old magical artifact, it seems somewhat absurd to use it to determine the fate of a newborn for the next seven years.

The hat on the stool seemed to hear Aaron's mutterings, wrinkling into a human face and giving him a provocative smile.

It's not the first time it's encountered a newborn like Aaron, but it still has to wear the badge; there's no escaping it.

“Hey! I have a short temper.” Aaron responded by glaring at it.

The creases on the Sorting Hat's 'smiley face' have gotten even bigger. I love that look of you not liking me, but being unable to do anything about it.

“Please wait here for a moment,” Professor McGonagall said. “Before the ceremony begins, Professor Dumbledore will have a few words to say to you.”

The white-haired old man sitting in the main seat stood up and said, "I have a few things to announce about the start of the school year. First-year students, please note that the school strictly prohibits any student from entering the Dark Forest."

Furthermore, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, asked me to remind you that the corridor on the third floor, especially the one on the right, is off-limits. If you don't want to die a horrible death, please don't go there.

Aaron looked in the direction of Dumbledore's right hand and saw a tall, thin old man with a gloomy gaze and some balding hair staring at them, as if waiting for them to make a mistake.

At his feet was a black and white cat that looked somewhat ferocious.

After Dumbledore finished speaking, Professor McGonagall picked up a long piece of parchment and said, “Now, students whose names I call, come forward. I will put the Sorting Hat on your heads and then determine which house you will be assigned to.”

“Wait a minute.” Aaron took a step forward. “Professor McGonagall, I’d like to ask if Hogwarts only has this one Sorting Hat?”

"Could you please replace it? It's really filthy, almost frighteningly so, and it's not very friendly to someone like me who likes cleanliness."

After Aaron finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted in the hall.

Professor McGonagall was taken aback for a moment, then said with some regret, "There's only this one Sorting Hat."

"Could you wash it? That would be barely acceptable to me," Aaron said.

The Sorting Hat couldn't take it anymore and said directly, "I can't accept this, so don't even think about it."

"I was asking the professor, isn't it a bit impolite of you to suddenly interrupt with your hat?"

"A prop is just a prop. Don't put yourself on too high a pedestal, or you'll lose sight of yourself," Aaron said coldly, then turned his gaze to Professor McGonagall. "Professor, is it alright?"

"Ah..." Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore in the main seat, but found that he had not said anything, and for a moment she did not know how to answer.

“Alright, Professor, I understand.” Aaron didn’t want to put her in a difficult position any further, and let out a long sigh. “Please continue with the Sorting Ceremony.”

“Alright.” Professor McGonagall gave Aaron a deep look before starting to call out names.

"Hannah Abbott!"

A rosy-cheeked little girl sat nervously on the stool, and Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

“Let me think,” the Sorting Hat murmured for a moment, then suddenly said, “I know, Hufflepuff.”

The upperclassmen at the long table on the right clapped and cheered for their new students. Hannah quickly ran to the empty seat at the Hufflepuff table.

“Susan Bornes!” Professor McGonagall called out the second name.

"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed readily, much faster than the first one.

"Terry Butt!"

"Ravenclaw!"

......

The Sorting Ceremony continued, with Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin all admitting many new students. Cheers could be heard from the four long tables below.

Ron did not disappoint his parents and brothers, and was sorted into Gryffindor as he wished, as did Hermione.

It's worth mentioning that when it was Draco Malfoy's turn, the Sorting Hat barely touched a strand of his hair before giving the result, as if he were born for that house.

Another ten minutes or so later, only Harry Potter and Aaron Gaius remained standing in front of the platform.

"Harry Potter!"

When Professor McGonagall uttered this legendary name, the entire auditorium fell silent.

The students at the four rows of long tables below began to whisper among themselves, with those at the back craning their necks to try and see what he looked like.

Even Dumbledore, who was sitting in the main seat, straightened up slightly and looked at the boy with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead with expectant eyes.

“Don’t be nervous, just follow your heart,” Aaron said, “though it may not be of much use.”

"Thank you!" Harry slowly walked forward and sat down in the chair.

“Hmm…this is difficult! This is really too difficult,” the Sorting Hat said, and then began its analysis, “I can see that you are very courageous, and not a bad person at heart. You are talented and extremely eager to prove yourself.”

But where will you be assigned?

The hammer at the top of the Sorting Hat swayed back and forth, appearing particularly conflicted.

"No Slytherin, no Slytherin..." Harry murmured repeatedly with his eyes closed, afraid that the hat would sort him into the house he least wanted to go to.

Aaron watched this scene with amusement. Harry, who had clearly been "brainwashed" by Hagrid and Ron, instinctively believed that he belonged to Gryffindor and was very resistant to Slytherin.

However, without his own ideas, the opinions of others will play a significant role in his future life. But this is Harry's own choice, and it has little to do with him.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to Slytherin?" The Sorting Hat naturally heard Harry's ramblings. "You can make a name for yourself there; all the wisdom is in your little head."

There's no doubt that Slytherin can help you achieve great things.

Harry still hadn't changed his mind, repeatedly saying 'I'm not going to Slytherin.'

"Fine! Since you're determined, then go...Gryffindor!"

Harry opened his eyes, satisfied with the answer, and a relieved smile spread across his face.

Because of his immense fame, the response from Gryffindor this time was particularly strong, with the applause being several times louder than usual.

Prefect Percy Weasley stood up and shook hands with him excitedly, while Fred and George clapped their hands repeatedly, saying, "We have Potter!"

Most of the teachers and staff in the main seating area applauded enthusiastically, and Dumbledore even raised his glass to Harry from afar.

After a brief burst of cheers, all eyes turned to Aaron, who was still in the final house sorting process.

Chapter 18: Finally, he entered the Slytherin.

“Aaron Gaius,” Professor McGonagall read out Aaron’s full name.

"Haha! It's finally your turn, little guy." The Sorting Hat laughed triumphantly.

Aaron shrugged. "To be honest, I didn't really want to be the last one to perform. After all, the people before me are so outstanding, the pressure on the people after me will always be immense."

As he spoke, he picked up Abe, who had somehow climbed onto his head, and carried him up the steps.

"Professor McGonagall, may I ask you one last question?"

"Sure, go ahead and ask!"

"If I put a cleansing charm on this hat, it won't take revenge during the Sorting Ceremony, will it?"

Professor McGonagall looked down at the Sorting Hat in her hand and hesitated, "I don't think so!"

“Absolutely not,” the Sorting Hat said proudly. “I was once Godric Gryffindor’s wizarding hat, and I also have the magical blessing of the other three founders of Hogwarts. I have the wisdom of the four founders of Hogwarts. I would never do something so tasteless.”

"Really? Then I'm relieved." Aaron nodded in satisfaction, then took out a black wand.

The Sorting Hat began to tremble, only then remembering the meaning of Aaron's first sentence: "What do you want to do? I'm warning you, don't mess around!"

"I'm the Sorting Hat, my seniority is probably much, much higher than you think."

“A seniority is just a title, not something to brag about,” Aaron said, then waved his wand. “Clean it up.”

"No!" the Sorting Hat cried out, then emitted a puff of white smoke, and all the dust on it was shaken off. Although its exterior was still rotten, it was at least a hundred times cleaner than before.

"How dare you?" The Sorting Hat revealed a fierce expression, but it seemed more bark than bite.

"Why wouldn't I dare? You said you wouldn't use your position for personal revenge," Ya Lun explained matter-of-factly, then calmly sat down on the stool.

Aaron's maneuver left all the students speechless with shock, as no one had ever dared to do something like this before him.

The professors in the main seat looked at Aaron with different expressions: some admired him, some frowned, some were amused and exasperated, but most were interested.

"Professor McGonagall, we may begin," Aaron said calmly.

"Oh!" Professor McGonagall paused for a moment, then carefully placed the Sorting Hat on Aaron's head.

"Huh?" After the Sorting Hat was placed on Aaron's head, his expression immediately turned to utter astonishment. "How is this possible? I thought you were just trying to attract attention, but I didn't expect you to be even more difficult than the last one."

He is not lacking in courage, possesses unparalleled spirit, has a resilient character, is intelligent, and harbors a powerful thirst for knowledge.

Most importantly, you possess exceptional talent and potential. Over the past millennium, I've seen countless students, and no more than ten of them are at your level, barely reaching that threshold. Never before has anyone possessed such powerful magical energy at the age of enrollment. Are you really only eleven years old?

"Isn't that obvious?" Aaron said speechlessly. "And don't you think you've said too much?"

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist; after all, the magical world is much larger than Hogwarts.

"So, you haven't made a decision yet?"

"No, you have to give me some time to think about it!"

You're so well-rounded; every college would be a perfect fit for you. What is your purpose in coming to school, or what do you yearn for most?

"Is it really necessary to ask so clearly?" Aaron said unhappily. He could clearly feel that this tattered hat was constantly spying on his thoughts, but it was destined not to see any secrets in front of his perfect level of brain-occlusion.

“Of course,” the Sorting Hat said. “Some crave knowledge, some crave power, some crave resources, some crave…”

"I don't care about any of what you're saying. What I crave is true friendship."

"Friendship? That's a rare thing."

"If it's friendship... Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat shouted.