The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 15 The Sorting Hat's Sorting Song

Penelope glanced out the train window. It was already dark, and the mountains and forests shrouded in twilight looked as if they had been dyed a deep purple. The train gradually slowed down.

"I'm going back to my box to change into my robe. See you at the Sorting Ceremony, Mr. Moriarty." Lilith waved to Moriarty, then got up and left.

Penelope then took out her wizard's robes, and Moriarty pulled Percy outside, letting Penelope change first.

Five minutes later, the train stopped, and the young wizards pushed and shoved their way to the doors and onto a small, dark platform.

Led by Hagrid, the young wizards boarded the small boat in groups of four, with Moriarty, Penelope, and Percy being the last to board.

Just as they were about to board the ship, Lilith came over.

She winked mysteriously at Moriarty: "When I went back to the box to change into my robe, I heard some news."

Most purebloods are delighted by your arrival, but as you know, there are always a few people who don't fit in, who are awkward and annoying.

So? Mr. Moriarty, you need…”

"I need to be constantly on guard, don't I? I don't think I need to." As if what Lilith said didn't exist, Moriarty simply glanced at her and looked away.

Moriarty's plan included dealing with pure-blood families, whether it was the head of the family like Lucius Malfoy or the pure-blood junior wizards at Hogwarts.

As the small boat glided across the lake, a colossal castle towering into the clouds came into Moriarty's view.

A warm sensation flowed through the Slytherin staff. Moriarty was certain he hadn't used any magic, so it must be a special connection between Hogwarts and the Slytherin staff.

For the staff, it's like coming home.

Moriarty then thought of some little secrets hidden in Hogwarts.

With the staff, it might not take long to find those secret passages, and perhaps we could open the secret chambers without using Parseltongue.

Seeing Moriarty's thoughtful expression, Percy, not wanting the conversation to become awkward, took the initiative to start a conversation: "Legend has it that new students enter Hogwarts in groups of four by boat across the lake, in memory of the four great masters of Hogwarts..."

However, Percy's efforts were in vain. Lilith crossed her arms and stared at Moriarty's profile with great interest, while Penelope looked at the castle just like Moriarty, her eyes full of longing.

The boat wasn't going very fast, but the little wizards' longing and fantasies about having wings made time slip by quietly.

After crossing the lake, passing through the tunnel, arriving at the meadow, and climbing the stone steps, the young wizards finally arrived at a huge oak door.

Hagrid's mission has come to an end. There may be more pure-bloods this year. When Moriarty heard Hagrid leave, many young wizards snorted with disdain.

But before the young wizards could start bragging, Professor McGonagall opened the door and led the new students inside.

They walked to a small, empty room at one end of the room. Professor McGonagall gave the new students a stern look, her gaze lingering on Moriarty for a moment. Moriarty was quite certain that she recognized him.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. "The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you should first decide which house you will be attending."

Professor McGonagall paused, her glasses reflecting the torchlight, making her appear both sacred and dignified.

"The names of the four houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own glorious history and has produced outstanding wizards."

Penelope now understands why Moriarty is getting so much attention, but she's not happy about it; she feels even further away from Moriarty.

Professor McGonagall then introduced the bonus points and the College Cup, giving the freshmen some time to tidy themselves up.

At that moment, more than twenty ghosts from Hogwarts—including Barrow the Blood, Madam Grey, Nick the Nearly Headless, and the Fat Monk—came out from the walls of the room.

Led by the blood-soaked Barrow, the ghosts drifted past the freshmen as if searching for something. Nick, who was almost headless, spotted Moriarty and screamed, "Look, Barrow, look! He looks exactly like Principal Salazar!"

"Nick, shut up. You don't need to tell me, I'll see for myself," the blood-man Barrow roared rudely, but when he floated in front of Moriarty, his lifeless eyes were filled with light.

"Although it may be of no use, I still want to apologize to my teacher, your ancestor. This is my answer after careful consideration. I have thought about it a lot over the past few hundred years. I cannot die with a clear conscience... I have too many things to cherish."

As he spoke, Barrow glanced at Mrs. Grey behind him and the students sitting in the auditorium, his gaze heavy with sorrow and grief, before he drifted away, lost in thought.

"Barrow meant no harm; he's just very guilty. He's been wanting to apologize to the four headmasters for letting them down." A clear voice rang in Moriarty's ears. Mrs. Grey said to him, "Barrow has been grieving ever since we learned you were coming. We often see him blaming himself, but it's all his own doing. No one forced him."

I'm leaving now too. If possible, please give my regards to Professor Salazar.

Moriarty watched Madame Grey leave. There were many reasons for Barrow's tragedy, and Madame Grey was one of them. However, he couldn't judge matters of the heart; he could at least be a quiet listener as Barrow poured out his heart.

The ghosts and Hogwarts were already inseparable; they were worth Moriarty doing this for.

After Barrow the Blood Man left, the ghosts began to chat freely, and without exception, all the topics were related to Moriarty. They were all clearly very happy.

The fat monk from Hufflepuff came over and said to Moriarty, "You may find Barrow a bit strange, but we old guys are just as fond of Hogwarts as Headmaster Dumbledore."

In fact, not only Barrow and Mrs. Grey, but everyone else showed varying degrees of unusual reaction when they learned you would be coming back:

Nick no longer cared about his unbroken head, Mrs. Grey became more talkative, and even Peeves—he locked himself in an empty classroom for three days and three nights before coming out.

Moriarty gave the kind ghost a bright smile: "I don't mind at all, you know, Hogwarts is more than just a school to me."

"Ah, ah, yes, I knew we hadn't misjudged you," said the fat monk. "The Sorting Hat is coming, we have to go. Finally, although you will certainly be sorted into Slytherin, I welcome you on behalf of Hufflepuff."

The ghosts began to leave, and Nick shouted at the top of his lungs, "Gryffindor welcomes you too! Gryffindor welcomes Slytherin, ha ha, how wonderful!"

Professor McGonagall returned with the four-legged stool and the Sorting Hat, and placed the Sorting Hat on the stool.

"Hey! Hey! Look over here, okay? I want to see the last descendant of Slytherin," the Sorting Hat stared at Moriarty, wriggling excitedly. "I was infused with a part of Salazar Slytherin's mind, so I'd like you to put me on your head, okay, Mr. Slytherin?"

"I understand how you feel, Sorting Hat. But this is not in accordance with tradition." Professor McGonagall stopped the Sorting Hat from jumping on Moriarty's head.

"Alright, alright, I should sing now," the Sorting Hat muttered, then it regained its excitement: "You absolutely have to hear it, it's something I spent a whole year creating."

Moriarty understood its meaning; the song was written for him.

"Cold wind, fireplace, snow-covered roof, winter in the East."

The boy spent one long night after another, and one day after another filled with fantasies.

The September sunlight shone through the wings of the golden thief.

The boy on Monday, filled with pride.

Tuesday, young man, please do not disturb me.

The boy on Wednesday was the main character at the banquet.

A teenager on Thursday teaches a baby who survived a near-death experience.

On Friday, a giant snake coils around the boy.

Saturday's Teenager: Breaking out of prison, mind-bending, fairy-like, and mocking!

On Sundays, the boy doesn't need to come to school; he can sail across the ocean and stir up waves.

If time could make the years endless, I would wish for more eighth and ninth weeks...

That way I can continue to watch the boy's adventures.

The same goal connects the boy and magic, just like when I was still a new hat a long time ago, my master and his three friends shared a common goal.

What friends in this world could be better than Gryffindor and Slytherin?

Even their weapons—the Gryffindor sword and the Slytherin staff—showed mutual respect during their repeated duels.

Baojian told me that the pen and the secretary had written a name, and then I met many old friends.

Stone man, little elf.

Armored warrior, mural beauty, and stinky little devil.

Staircases, secret passages, forbidden forests, flying brooms...

I cannot stop them from pursuing their dreams, because every dream is accompanied by unwavering faith!

For over nine hundred years, they have repeatedly hoped that the runaway Slytherin would return...

Although I am destined to cause division among the newborn, I am not worried at all now.

The elderly Slytherin leaves, and the young Slytherin returns.

I know we will fight side by side.

I know we can do better.

I know the adventures of the boys and girls continue.

Now, let's begin the sorting process!

(End of this chapter)