HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

"The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you take your seats, you must first determine which college you will be attending. College sorting is a very important ceremony..."

She explained the characteristics of the four colleges and how college affiliation would affect their entire lives during their time at the college.

Ian felt Severus's body tense slightly beside him, while Lily opened her green eyes wide and listened intently.

"I'll come pick you up once they're ready," Professor McGonagall said finally. "Please keep quiet."

She left the room.

The freshmen immediately began to buzz with discussion, many nervously adjusting their robes or hair.

"How will they assign us to different departments?" Lily asked softly, both excited and uneasy.

"I heard we're going to fight giants," a boy with flaxen hair said seriously, causing several freshmen around him to gasp.

"Don't listen to him, Rol," another girl scoffed. "My dad said we have to answer a bunch of difficult questions, and if we get them wrong, we'll have to drop out."

Ian recalled Mr. Borkin's vague statement—"an ancient judgment that sees into your very bones."

Just as he was about to speak, a sudden chill made everyone shiver.

About twenty translucent ghosts floated out of the wall, gliding in mid-air, arguing about ancient topics of bloodline and privilege, and commenting on the crowded new students.

"I hope you can come to Hufflepuff!" said a short, stout, monk-like ghost kindly.

"Go away, don't listen to him," a ghost wearing a ruffled collar—almost headless Nick—floated over, gave an elegant bow, and said, "Gryffindor is the place where true courage is shown!"

"Slytherin welcomes ambitious souls," a ghost with silver bloodstains on his robes and gloomy eyes said hoarsely, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, lingering for a moment on some pure-blood faces.

The ghosts argued noisily for a while until Professor McGonagall returned, at which point they all rushed through the opposite wall and disappeared.

"Now, line up in a single file," Professor McGonagall said. "Follow me."

They walked out of the room, through the foyer, and through a double door into the luxurious auditorium.

Ian had never seen anything so wondrous. Hundreds of candles floated in mid-air, illuminating four long college tables, on which sat gleaming gold platters and goblets.

Another long table was placed on the stage at the head of the auditorium, which was for the teachers.

The velvety black ceiling shimmered with starlight.

Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the new student, and on it, a worn-out, patched, dirty pointed wizard's hat.

The hat twisted and opened a wide slit, like a mouth, and began to sing.

The lyrics tell the story of the founders of the four colleges and the qualities they each valued.

After the song ended, the audience erupted in applause. The hat bowed to each of the four tables and then remained motionless.

"When I call someone's name, that person should put on their hat, sit on the stool, and await sorting."

Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment. "Amiya Burns!"

A girl with neatly braided hair walked quickly forward and put on the hat.

The hat barely touched her hair before she screamed, "Gryffindor!"

Cheers erupted from the table furthest to the right, and Amelia, blushing, ran over and sat down.

The names were read out one by one.

"Sirius Black!" The name caused a buzz of discussion.

It is almost common knowledge that the Black family has been Slytherin for generations.

Sirius stepped forward, his expression deliberately casual, and put his hat on his head.

The hat fell silent.

Time passed second by second, and the auditorium was so quiet that you could hear the wind in the distance.

The hat seemed to be arguing about something in Sirius's mind, and then it shouted in a clear, loud voice:

"Gryffindor!"

A moment of silence fell over the auditorium, as if no one had reacted yet.

Immediately afterwards, the Gryffindor table erupted in thunderous cheers, mixed with screams of shock and excitement.

Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, murmurs arose, with many people displaying expressions of astonishment, disdain, and even anger. One sixth-year girl had a terribly gloomy face.

Sirius himself wore a smile that was a mixture of provocation and relief as he strode toward the Gryffindor table.

Professor McGonagall continued calling out names, and finally—

"Ian Burke!"

Ian took a deep breath, walked over, and sat down.

Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head.

The hat was too big and blocked his vision.

"Hmm..." A faint voice sounded in his ear, "Interesting, very interesting, different seedlings can grow in the soil of the Burke family's... Knockdown Alley."

"Very opinionated, not blindly following others... shrewd, insightful, eager to prove yourself... oh yes, you know exactly what you want and are not afraid to use... unconventional means to get it."

"Ambitious, but the goal doesn't seem so...pure? Interesting. Well then, it would be best to put you in—Slytherin!"

The hat uttered the last word.

Polite applause rang out from the Slytherin table, not enthusiastic, but appropriate enough.

Ian took off his hat, walked toward the Slytherin table, and found an empty seat in the middle.

Several older students around him nodded, and a pale-faced blond boy glanced at him again, his gaze scrutinizing him.

The branch continues.

Lily was sorted into Gryffindor, as was the obnoxious James Potter.

"Severus Snape!"

Severus stepped forward with steady steps, but Ian noticed that his fingers were clenched tightly at the cuffs of his black robe.

The hat was placed on his greasy black hair, and this time the silence lasted even longer.

People in the Great Hall began to whisper among themselves. Ian saw Lily leaning forward worriedly on the Gryffindor table.

Finally, the hat called out, "Slytherin!"

The applause was sparse and not nearly as loud as it had been for Ian.

At the Slytherin table, many people displayed undisguised contempt; some sneered, while others whispered "bastard" or "half-blood."

Ian immediately moved aside, and as Severus stepped off the stage and walked expressionlessly toward the Slytherin table, he slapped the empty seat next to him.

Severus paused for a moment, then sat down next to Ian, his back ramrod straight, his eyes fixed on the empty gold plate in front of him, his lips pressed tightly together.

"Welcome," Ian said softly, his tone as usual.

Severus nodded slightly.

The Sorting Ceremony finally ended, and the last Gryffindor freshman took his seat.

Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment, took the Sorting Hat, and left.

Professor Albus Dumbledore stood up.

He looked at the students with a broad smile, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture.

"Welcome everyone!" he said. "Before the new semester begins, I want to say a few words: Idiot! Crybaby! Trash! Screw! Thank you everyone!"

He sat down again.

Many people applauded and cheered.

Ian was a little stunned; this principal's speech... was truly unique.

Then, the banquet began, and the long table was instantly piled high with all kinds of delicious food.

Ian and Severus ate in silence.

Ian tried to find something to talk about, but Severus was clearly not in the mood.

The conversations of the Slytherin students around them mostly revolved around family, bloodline, Quidditch, and disdain for the rebellious son of the Black family.

No one took the initiative to talk to the two freshmen.