My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 16. Hogwarts

Lynn pinched his smooth chin, not having had time to fully appreciate the changes in his mind and the new title he had just received, when he heard Hagrid speak loudly.

"Only four people can sit on one boat!"

He pointed to a row of small boats moored along the shore of Black Lake and repeated, "Note! Each boat can have no more than four boats!"

With that, he led the way and jumped into a small boat.

Lynn and three other young wizards he didn't know boarded a small boat.

Soon, Hagrid looked around and, seeing that the new students were all on board, he issued orders to all the small boats like a general:

"Okay, let's go now."

The small boat moved automatically without wind, carrying a group of freshmen gliding quickly across Black Lake.

There were two men and a woman on the small boat where Lynn was sitting. Their brows were furrowed, their lips were tightly pressed together, their faces were pale, and they looked very nervous.

Only Lynn seemed relaxed, and even had the leisure to stir the lake water.

The newly acquired title seems to have a pretty good effect. Although there are some side effects, these side effects can be completely avoided. At least it's much better than the previous title that insulted his character.

The only downside is that the name is a bit unpleasant to hear.

He scooped up a handful of lake water and brought it close to his eyes, only to discover that the Black Lake's water wasn't actually black in the true sense, but rather a dark green.

"Aren't you worried at all?" the girl with two braids and a few freckles asked him, puzzled.

Lynn blinked: "What are you worried about?"

"The sorting test," a boy said. "They have some special way of identifying which students belong to which college, and according to those who have experienced it, it's a process they never want to recall for the rest of their lives."

It was only then that Lynn remembered that Hogwarts had such a tradition.

But that's understandable. After all, it's been almost twenty years since he read the Harry Potter series, including this lifetime, so he might not be able to remember some of the details.

Lynn looked at them with an innocent expression.

"I've always lived in a normal society and know almost nothing about the magical world."

Lynn's calm demeanor initially led the three young wizards on the ship to hope that he was a mole who knew some inside information and could secretly leak secrets to them. However, it turned out that he knew even less than they did, which immediately disappointed them.

"Are your parents Muggles?" another boy asked him suspiciously.

Lynn nodded calmly: "If by Muggles you mean ordinary people who can't use magic, then I guess they probably are."

The boy straightened his back, as if he were kindly explaining some things about Hogwarts to him, but there was a hint of contempt in his tone.

"Then you can't be sorted into Slytherin. Hogwarts has four houses, and Slytherin only accepts those with pure-blood wizard blood and outstanding magical talent, like me."

The other three houses—Ravenclaw values ​​intellect, Gryffindor values ​​courage, and Hufflepuff values ​​loyalty—are quite lenient in their selection criteria, according to my parents. Apparently, most Muggle family wizards with little talent come from here. I guess you'll most likely be sorted into this house.

Lynn had seen plenty of these unpleasant little brats in the orphanage and was used to it.

He shrugged and said nonchalantly, "I'm fine with going anywhere, but I heard from the wizards in Diagon Alley that the best house at Hogwarts right now is Gryffindor, right?"

It's said that our headmaster is an alumnus of this house, while Slytherin doesn't have a good reputation; people say it's a breeding ground for dark wizards.

The boy, clearly from a pure-blood family with a history of racial discrimination, was slightly stung by Lynn's small remark. His face flushed red, and he tried to argue.

But after muttering to himself for a long time, he couldn't think of a single rebuttal.

Lynn didn't take this little incident to heart, because they soon crossed the Black Lake and arrived on the other side.

Hagrid led them off the small boat and together they walked to the oak door at the front of the castle. Then he knocked heavily on the wooden door three times with his fist, which was twice the size of a normal person's.

The door was immediately opened from the inside.

Professor McGonagall, with her ever-serious expression, stood straight in front of the new students.

Upon seeing Professor McGonagall, Lynn couldn't help but recall his audacious act of petting the cat. Although he knew Professor McGonagall didn't mind, he still shrank back guiltily.

"I've brought the first-year students with me, Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall nodded, glanced at the young wizards, and her stern gaze intimidated many of the new students who were meeting her for the first time.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take care of them now."

The young wizards followed the notoriously serious vice-principal to a small room inside a castle. After giving them her annual address, Professor McGonagall left to prepare for the Sorting Ceremony.

The group of freshmen, who had been holding back for a long time, immediately erupted in chaos.

Some of them had already gotten to know each other on the train, and now that the professor was no longer watching over them, they immediately started discussing among themselves.

Lynn initially eavesdropped on some of their conversation, but lost interest after realizing it was mostly unfounded speculation about the Sorting Ceremony.

However, the system in my mind issued a new mission after completing the main quest at Hogwarts.

Main quest: Receive a commendation from the professor of the corresponding course.

Reward: +1 to the corresponding magical talent and effect.

Lynn lowered his head and pondered the new task given to him by the system. The system had a very broad scope for praise. For example, Professor McGonagall's casual praise had improved his talent for Transfiguration.

So it seems that completing this task is not difficult; basically, you just need to be a little more active in class after the start of the semester.

What Lynn was concerned about was whether it was possible to repeatedly farm points using this method.

Although it might seem like wishful thinking, it's still worth a try.

Professor McGonagall quickly returned to the room. She had the new students line up and then led them out of the cubicle to the Great Hall, which also served as the dining hall at Hogwarts.

The hall was very lively. Students from the four different colleges sat at four long tables, while the professors sat at a long table on a high platform. Lynn spotted Professor Fox among the professors at a glance.

He was still wearing that long overcoat that was completely out of place for his wizarding identity, with a tie underneath.

Fox noticed Lynn's gaze and smiled and waved at him.

After exchanging glances with Professor Fawkes, what caught Lynn's attention most was Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Headmaster, who sat in the center of the professors' table. He had a large white beard, wore strange crescent-shaped glasses, and looked like a kind, approachable old neighbor, always smiling.

Without giving Lynn time to observe the most outstanding headmaster in Hogwarts history, Professor McGonagall led them to a high platform, then brought out a stool and placed a dirty, tattered hat on it.

After the famous Sorting Hat finished its cheerful song, enthusiastic applause erupted from the students and professors at the five long tables.

For a school like Hogwarts, the start of the school year is indeed a happy occasion for all young wizards. Among all the people present, only the new students were not in a good mood.

After all the tension surrounding the Sorting Ceremony, it turned out to be as simple as wearing a hat. No one would be in a good mood.

However, this finally put them at ease, since wearing a hat is not a difficult thing.

Although the hat looked dirty and the singing was strange.

"Mien Agnes!"

Professor McGonagall called out the name of the first young wizard.

A dark-haired boy stumbled along the way, and under the watchful eyes of all the Hogwarts students and professors, sat down on the four-cornered stool and put on the hat.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Sorting Hat quickly shouted, "Ravenclaw!"

A cheer immediately erupted from the Ravenclaw table.

Lynn's palms were slightly sweaty.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous in this environment. He was very close to the Gryffindor table, and could even hear a senior Gryffindor wizard muttering in frustration that he had lost his bet on the first freshman placement.

"Lynn Bellock".

Lynn's name was third. He took a deep breath and then jogged over to Professor McGonagall's side.

He hadn't lied before; Lynn genuinely didn't care which house he was assigned to. He had no prejudice against Slytherin, nor was he overly enthusiastic about Gryffindor. He admired Ravenclaw's wisdom and appreciated Hufflepuff's loyalty and humility.

What he was nervous about was only the Sorting Hat itself.

Lynn couldn't control the brain-sealing technique that the system rewarded him with, so he didn't know if it would work.

But there's no use thinking about it now; all he can do is put the hat on his own head.

I really didn't intentionally cut off the chapter, but when I got to this point, I realized this chapter was already almost three thousand words long! (lol)

I'm not asking for votes anymore, I'm not asking for votes anymore. If I keep asking for votes like this, I'll probably get beaten up...

(End of this chapter)