Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 13, the place where dreams begin in the Sorting Hall.

Following Professor McGonagall, we arrived at a small, empty room where all the freshmen were huddled together, shoulder to shoulder, nervously staring at everything around them.

Welcome to Hogwarts.

Professor McGonagall introduced Hogwarts in a gentle voice, about the four houses, and about the House Cup.

Light shone from the eyes of all the young wizards, and for some of them, the world was forever changed.

"...I hope that no matter which college you are assigned to, you will bring honor to your college."

"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will be held in front of the entire university. I suggest you tidy yourselves up and keep quiet while you wait. I'll come to pick you up in a bit." With that, Professor McGonagall left the room.

The young wizards soon began talking to each other.

Harry asked Ron and Neville, who came from a wizarding family, "How are they so sure about which house we'll be sorted into?"

Hermione was also listening intently, waiting for the answer.

"I think it was some kind of test. Fred said it hurt us a lot, but I think he was joking."

Harry and Hermione felt another jolt of fear, a sense of panic spreading through them.

"【Restore to its original state】..." Hermione began to silently recite the incantation she knew.

Loren was worried that the Sorting Hat might see his past life memories, and that he might be mistaken for an evil dark wizard. Surely no one actually gets sorted into Azkaban at the start of Hogwarts?

He hadn't thought about this before; he originally believed that Dumbledore and Snape wouldn't bother to spy on first-year students' minds. But he forgot about the Sorting Hat.

A group of ghosts emerged from the back wall and chatted with the new students, comforting them and introducing their respective houses. However, they didn't reveal the specifics, which frustrated Hermione greatly.

Not long after, Professor McGonagall returned and directed the students to line up in a single row and walk through the foyer into the luxurious dining room.

The magic of the dome brought the night sky into the hall. Around four long tables in the center sat students from the four houses, the tables adorned with glittering gold platters and goblets. The professors' seats were on the platform in front.

Everyone was watching the group of new students.

Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of her, on which sat a worn-out pointed wizard's hat.

The freshman stared wide-eyed as the hat split open like a gaping mouth, and began to sing:

...Try wearing it and I'll tell you all.

Which college should you be assigned to?

You may belong to Gryffindor.

There lies the courage buried deep in one's heart.

Their courage, spirit, and chivalry

This makes Gryffindor stand out;

You may belong to Hufflepuff.

The people there are honest and loyal.

Hufflepuff students are persevering and honest.

Undeterred by arduous labor;

If you are smart,

Perhaps the wise old Ravenclaw will be included.

Those wise and learned people,

They would always meet their kindred spirits there;

Maybe you'll go to Slytherin.

Perhaps you will make true friends here.

But those cunning and treacherous people will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

To achieve their goals.

Come on, put me on! Don't be afraid!

Don't panic! ...

After the song, the freshmen understood the process of choosing their majors and relaxed.

Aside from Ron, who was terrified by Fred's various terrifying rumors for half a day, he was yelling that he wanted to twist Fred's neck off.

The Sorting process officially began, and Professor McGonagall started calling out, "Hannah Abbott!"

Loren finally saw the Hogwarts new student leader, a little girl with two golden braids, who stumbled up to sit down and put on her hat.

"Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff wizards erupted in enthusiastic applause, welcoming everyone regardless of whether they were purebloods or half-bloods.

When Hermione's name was called, the little girl rushed forward, but before she could even put her hat on properly, the Sorting Hat called out, "Gryffindor!"

Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table, calmed her racing heart and breathing, and began to stare at Loren. People in unfamiliar environments always prefer to be with those they know.

"Loren Morgan."

Finally, it was his turn. At this moment, Loren was worried about his little secret, and his heart began to race uncontrollably.

"Oh, strange boy, there's a fog in your head, you don't seem very bright," the Sorting Hat whispered.

Although Loren felt this was a personal attack, he also breathed a sigh of relief, as it seemed the Sorting Hat couldn't see his past memories.

"Hufflepuff is a good choice," the Sorting Hat continued. "Very well, the attack has spread to the badgers."

Loren relaxed, his thoughts drifting: It's good that it's not Azkaban.

"What's going on in your head? How could you be Azkaban?" the Sorting Hat asked.

Loren trembled and did not answer.

"Alright, alright, then—" the Sorting Hat drawled out.

"Gryffindor!"

Loren found an empty seat at the Gryffindor table and relaxed completely.

When the Sorting Ceremony ended, most of the young wizards below were sizing up the professors on the stage.

The most eye-catching character is Albus Dumbledore with his shimmering silver hair. He looks very old but is very energetic.

"Idiot! Crybaby! Trash! Squeeze! Thank you everyone!"

Dumbledore stood up and said a few words that made people think he wasn't quite right in the head.

But when Percy explained to everyone that Dumbledore was the greatest wizard in the world, those few words seemed to take on a deeper meaning.

Food kept appearing on the plates on the table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, carrots, and the potato dish that Loren remembered so vividly.

The banquet reached its climax as the freshmen chatted happily with the ghost.

A ghost, who called himself "Sir Nicholas of Minsey," was reluctant to talk about his head. But finally, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, he shakily slid his head off his neck.

Loren was thoroughly entertained, but said to him with some regret, "If you had lived until Louis XVI improved the guillotine, you wouldn't have had this problem."

He then began to discuss Louis XVI and his guillotine with Sir Nicholas, and at the end, Sir Nicholas paid high tribute to Louis XVI.

After the main course came various desserts. Loren took several flavors of pudding and savored them slowly, and even hid some to make a late-night snack.

The conversation then turned to their respective families.

Ron and Neville are both pure-blood wizards, but such families are still in the minority. More common are half-bloods like Seamus, and the rest are lucky little wizards from Muggle families like Hermione and Loren.

Amid the laughter, Loren saw dark shadows flash across Professor Snape's arm and Harry's scar, respectively, which were particularly glaring in the soft light of the hall.

The shadow quickly faded, but the scarf on Professor Quirrell's head began to glow black again, and this continued for quite some time.

Prefect Percy introduced everyone one by one: the one in purple was Professor Quirrell, who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. The one in black robes with the hooked nose was Professor Snape, who taught Potions and was very knowledgeable about the Dark Arts.

Harry silently kept the professor in mind.

Professor Snape, who was in the distance, had noticed those eyes long ago. Memories flooded him like the sea, and complex emotions surged through his heart again and again.

The child wasn't particularly attractive, but he had beautiful eyes.

"Oh, everyone has finished eating now. I have a few more words to say to you all..." Headmaster Dumbledore told everyone not to go into the woods or cast spells in the corridors, and then frantically emphasized the right-hand corridor on the fourth floor.

Loren thought this was somewhat like trying to hide something obvious.

The banquet ended with the school song, which was rather complicated, set to the melody of "Funeral March." The singers were thoroughly enjoying themselves, and Loren listened with great interest. He was sure he would teach the Lost Rivers twins before graduation; that would be quite a sight.

After the meeting, the freshmen dragged their tired bodies back to the lounge with their seniors. Loren and his group followed Percy and saw the fat lady in the portrait.

Loren, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Seamus were assigned to the same dormitory room.

I was exhausted when I was in the restaurant, but when I got to the dorm, I felt refreshed and didn't want to go to sleep.

After exchanging greetings, conversation gradually began. Harry and Ron had already met on the train, and Loren and Neville were also somewhat acquainted. Seamus had met Loren and Neville on the ship.

Everyone was very enthusiastic, discussing the courses they knew, from Transfiguration to Charms, from herbs to potions.

Neville knew a little, but he wasn't very good at speaking and would stutter if he spoke too fast. Ron did most of the talking, and he was enjoying the scene.

Harry was a little worried about whether he could keep up, but Loren and Neville took turns reassuring him, and he quickly felt at ease.

Before going to sleep, Loren saw Harry sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at the moon outside the window.

"Harry?" Loren asked.

"Um?"

Sweet dreams.

(End of this chapter)