Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 741 Of course, you have to choose your department when you first enter school!

Loren and Hermione looked at the graduate with some surprise, but couldn't help being curious about Iphamony's Sorting Ceremony. They glanced at the four towering statues and followed Nancy Boots's directions toward the circular platform.

The long-horned water snake statue is located directly in front of you. The slightly frightening snake head is open and flicking its tongue. The gems on its forehead and eyes emit a soft light, which surprisingly reveals a calm gentleness.

According to the book, Longhorn Serpent House is keen to accept students who love reading and thinking, much like Ravenclaw at Hogwarts, and it reveres wisdom...

As Hermione's mind raced through these details, she stood on the circular platform, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

"Sizzle!"

Instead of the horned water serpent, the thunderbird statue on her right responded. Accompanied by a faint crackling sound and a weak yet distinct flow of crystalline blue lightning, the wooden-carved thunderbird flapped its wings, faintly hinting at a brewing storm and thunder.

Standing below the platform, Nancy explained at the opportune moment: "Thunderbirds favor students who are adventurous and brave enough to venture into the unknown. The flapping of its wings shows that it likes you very much."

Hermione pursed her lips; in truth, she preferred the horned water snake.

Loren wasn't surprised. He remarked that Ilfamoni was indeed a school with a history spanning hundreds of years, and it had something special. The Thunderbird School's motto not only included Gryffindor's courage but also a bit of Slytherin's ambition, or rather, lofty aspirations, which was very suitable for the little witch.

Hermione then turned and gave up her spot. As she stepped down from the platform, she heard Loren mutter, "Evermorny's Sorting Ceremony was pretty accurate."

Hermione: "..."

Loren stood in the center of the enormous Gordi Knot, examining the four statues with great interest.

Directly ahead is the longhorned water snake. Unlike the infamous crested serpent and the basilisk, the longhorned water snake is known for being weak and easy to bully. Because its entire body can be used to make potions and wands, it was captured and brought to the brink of extinction centuries ago. In its native Western Europe and Far East, the longhorned water snake remains a rare animal.

Some speculate that the longhorned water snakes of the Americas were brought by immigrants, and without natural predators or potion-wielding sorcerers, they gradually multiplied. Other experts believe that these longhorned water snakes mutated, sacrificing their venom for a gemstone on their forehead, which is said to grant invisibility and flight abilities; a very few even possess the ability to foresee impending doom.

The founder, Aesop Thale, once crafted a wand from the horn of a long-horned water serpent, guided by it, and gave it to his adopted son, Chawick Nancy. This wand ultimately served as a warning during Gormley Gaunt's attack, buying them time in the duel.

The Thunderbird, a magical creature native to North America, is related to the phoenix and has appeared in Muggle history and legends. The most recent legendary event was in 1926 when Newt piloted the Thunderbird to attack the entire city of New York.

Thunderbird Academy doesn't have any legendary stories. It's just that one of the founders' adopted sons liked these creatures. He was Chawick Nancy, the one who wielded the long-horned water serpent core wand, and he founded Thunderbird Academy.

The leopard cat resembles a jaguar, except it has six legs. It inhabits the Appalachian Mountains. As a cub, its head resembles that of a rabbit. As an adult, it can walk upright and run faster than an arrow. Its eyes have the ability to hypnotize and manipulate.

The Cat and Leopard Academy doesn't have any legendary stories; it's just another animal that the founder, Yangzi, liked.

Pukchi and Ifamoni have a long history together.

Pukki are not magical creatures; they are considered a subhuman race, distant relatives of fairies. The International Wizarding Federation once intended to classify them as human. They are short in stature, have gray skin, long ears, and can use powerful magic.

In his youth, Aesop Searle rescued a Pukchi from the Hidden Monsters, who later became known as William in the school's history. To repay this debt, he stayed at Ifamoni, and the rest of his story is well-known: he helped the founders through the early hardships and assisted the school's development...

The four colleges represent wisdom, body, mind, and soul, respectively.

Loren snapped out of his reverie, lowered his eyes impassively, and waited quietly for the Sorting Ceremony to begin. A wisp of crystalline blue light flashed by, capturing a subtle magical energy that swept across his entire body.

He vaguely realized that Iphamoni did not have the Sorting Hat to read minds, so he used a method of detecting magic power instead.

Everyone has a different personality, which leads to different emotions. Some scholars believe that emotions are the means by which the soul regulates magic, and can shape and change magic. Therefore, Evamon tests magic to determine personality and then sorts people into different houses.

Since this theory was still in the theoretical stage, Loren speculated that this method of dividing schools might not be very reliable.

After a few seconds, a sound was heard coming from the academy statue above.

First, the gem embedded in the forehead of the long-horned water snake shone brightly, then the thunderbird flapped its wings, the six-legged cat-leopard lowered its body slightly, and after it uttered a death utterance, the gray-armored Pukchi drew its bow and nocked an arrow.

The four college statues took time to respond to the students.

Loren and Hermione had read about this in books, but seeing it happen in person still surprised them.

"This situation rarely occurs. If more than one college's statues represent a desire to recruit students, then the choice falls to the students themselves."

Nancy seemed to find it amusing and turned to look at Pickley beside her: "The last time something like this happened was with Pickley's grandmother. By the way, Pickley's name is inherited from Ms. Serafina Pickley."

"You already know about the Longhorn Serpent Academy and the Thunderbird Academy. The Cat-Leopard Academy pursues an indomitable spirit and a strong physique, while the Pukchi Academy aspires to become healers who redeem others." Pickley Grevis leaned against the wall, unconcerned by Nancy's words, a smile on his face: "So, Loren, which academy do you want to choose?"

"I think there are flaws in this sorting system. If you encounter a student with decision-making difficulties, your school's professors will be very busy." Loren clicked his tongue and shook his head, then turned and walked off the platform.

Nancy and Pickley didn't seem to have considered this question either; they exchanged a glance, looking thoughtful.

"If there were such psychological barriers, the four academies wouldn't have responded simultaneously..."

A deep, gruff voice suddenly came from the circular terrace above, followed by a series of footsteps. Several familiar figures emerged from the terrace. Headmaster Dumbledore was all smiles, and Gilbert Fontana of Ilfamony was also grinning broadly. He chuckled softly:

"Are you really not going to choose a college, Mr. Morgan? And Miss Granger, ifamony is an enlightened school that accepts transfer students."