The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 16: I'm going to assign you to Azkaban!

After the Sorting Hat finished singing, the entire audience fell silent.

The professors and the senior students at the four long tables looked at each other, they had never seen the Sorting Hat so happy, so much so that even the Sorting Song was a new song.

The students quickly started discussing it; they understood a short part of the sorting song, but could only guess at the rest.

Moriarty noticed Dumbledore whispering something to a female professor with large glasses in the professors' chair. Through Dumbledore's half-moon glasses, one could see the solemnity in his eyes.

Is it about the Sorting Song?

Moriarty felt that the only thing he could get Dumbledore's attention for now was the Sorting Song.

It's obvious that the boy in the song refers to him.

"Hat, your singing was the first gift I received when I entered school, and I really liked it, so I'm giving you a gift in return."

Amidst the commotion, Moriarty's clear voice rang out, drawing the students' attention. They saw Moriarty wave his Slytherin staff at the Sorting Hat, a thin layer of frost covering the hat.

"You should pay more attention to your appearance, hat, otherwise you won't be able to see your old friends."

The Sorting Hat grinned: "Aha, what did you do to me? Cool and ticklish, oh, so comfortable, I mean—what a pleasant surprise."

A few seconds later, the frost disappeared, and the Sorting Hat was completely renewed, returning to its state a thousand years ago when it was still on Godric Gryffindor's head—a brand new wizard's hat.

"Hey," the Sorting Hat called out, "what you're doing reminds me of Salazar and Godric when he was together, always urging Godric to cleanse me."

Okay, young man, thank you. Although I don't like cleanliness, you've brought back that feeling from back then.

"It's nothing," Moriarty said. "I hope you're happy, Hat."

A round of applause erupted around the Gryffindor table, praising Moriarty. A red-haired fourth-year student even whistled at him, "Well done! I've wanted to do that for ages!"

Percy, standing behind Moriarty, covered his forehead: "Oh no, it's Charlie!"

The strange atmosphere that had existed since the end of the sorting song was suddenly broken, and the students burst into laughter.

Professor McGonagall had to raise her voice: "Whoever I call by name now, put on your hat, sit down on your chair, and await the Sorting Ceremony."

"Jellico Blanche!"

A tall, thin boy with short, light blond hair quickly stepped out of the line and put on his hat.

Lilith then leaned close to Moriarty and whispered, "Blanche is an American surname. If I remember correctly, he is the son of James Blanche, the current Director of the Sports Department of the Magical Congress of the United States. His family is a sports family."

Then she smiled at Moriarty: "I bet he'll be sorted into Slytherin."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hat called out in an operatic voice, "Slytherin!"

Jericho Branch dropped his hat and nimbly ran to the Slytherin table, where a not-so-enthusiastic round of applause broke out.

Lilith winked at Moriarty, her slightly upturned face resembling that of a bear enjoying a sweet treat.

From then on, whenever a pureblood wizard came forward, she could always rattle off the background and origins of those purebloods.

"Penelope Crivat!"

Upon hearing her name called, Penelope glanced at the other freshmen around her, and Moriarty encouraged her, "Don't be nervous, relax."

Penelope excitedly walked up, but as soon as she put on the hat, her true colors were revealed. She lowered her head and mumbled something indistinctly.

"Want to go to Slytherin?" said the Sorting Hat. "Oh, Merlin, there are already enough Slytherin students this year!"

"What? You still want to go to Slytherin?" The Sorting Hat insisted on its point of view: "Going to Ravenclaw will help you achieve your goal faster and better, okay, child?"

Moriarty saw Penelope shaking her head frantically, but the hat was clearly too excited today, and Moriarty suspected that it hadn't been listening carefully to what Penelope was really thinking.

"Then—Ravenclaw~"

Penelope's face turned pale instantly. She took off her hat and casually placed it on the stool, which drew a disgruntled cry from the hat, but she ignored it and slowly walked to the Ravenclaw table, where a burst of enthusiastic applause erupted.

Percy looked regretful: "It seems I'm the only Gryffindor among the four in the box."

"Don't be discouraged, Weasley," Lilith comforted him. "Great achievements have nothing to do with where you are."

At that moment, Professor McGonagall announced in a melodious voice, "Moriarty Slytherin!"

The entire auditorium fell silent once again; not even a breath could be heard.

Moriarty was already at the front of the class; he only needed to take one more step to sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat smiled and said, "Come on, put it on me and let me see what you're thinking."

A playful glint flashed in Moriarty's eyes. He had learned a few little magic tricks in the castle to prevent others from spying on his thoughts, and he could try them out with his hat.

As he picked up the Sorting Hat, the system prompted: "Detected that the host has found and touched a wizard's hat that can think independently, granting two exploration draws."

Moriarty didn't choose to draw a prize; instead, he put on the Sorting Hat, and in an instant, the hat cried out, "Oh no..."

The hat wanted to see what Moriarty was thinking, but was instead invaded by Moriarty.

Moriarty saw some images in the hat's memory:

A tall man in a bright red uniform pointed his sword at a man in a silver robe with an arrogant expression, while the silver-robed man pointed a staff at him.

There was also a magnificent castle—the hat looked as if it had been placed on someone's head, and it revealed the interior of the castle.

And—four wizards pointed their wands at the hat, wisps of blue smoke and white mist emanating from the tips of their wands…

"Hey! You naughty boy!" the hat shrieked again, breaking Moriarty's spying. It huffed, "You must have learned that old man Salazar's detection magic! If you weren't a Slytherin, I'd have sorted you into Azkaban!"

Both freshmen and returning students let out a murmur, but Moriarty paid no heed. He laughed and said, "I think you must have inherited Godric's sense of humor; you have a real talent for telling jokes!"

"Really? I mean it?" the Sorting Hat pressed, its earlier anger seeming feigned. Now, it seemed thoughtful: "Perhaps next time we sort the houses, I should ask the freshmen to line up and tell me jokes. That way, I can quickly assess their character."

A burst of laughter erupted from the Gryffindor table, and several of the mischievous lion cubs cheered loudly, "That's fantastic!"

Seeing that the hat had forgotten his job, Moriarty coughed lightly: "Stop thinking nonsense, just sort me into a department, I don't want to become a hat bum."

"Alright, alright, I'd like to chat with you a little longer," the hat smacked its lips. "Isn't it obvious? Slytherins should definitely go to Slytherin House!"

The Slytherin table erupted in the loudest cheers and applause. An older student summoned a silver snake with his wand and exclaimed, "Honorable Slytherin!"

Most of the little snakes clapped with smiles on their faces, while only a few had intriguing expressions on their faces.

When Moriarty arrived at the Slytherin table, everyone stood up to shake his hand, but was stopped by the oldest prefect, William Romötter.

Moriarty recognized him as the one who had released the silver serpent. He told the students to continue looking at the Sorting House and arranged for Moriarty to sit next to a pretty and lovely girl.

"Hello, Mr. Moriarty, I'm Gemma Farley, your senior in the third year."

This senior student had long, brown hair that reached her waist and a pair of bright green eyes. At that moment, she was smiling at Moriarty.

Moriarty greeted them politely, and they watched the branch campus together.

After two more freshmen were sorted into Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively, Professor McGonagall announced, "Lilith Piliwick!"

(End of this chapter)