Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 192 Did you understand, Harry!

“I’m not saying the Sorting Hat’s job is wrong. That doesn’t make sense,” Murphy said. “Because everyone has many traits, and when you have to look at someone based on a certain trait, bias arises. And the more biases accumulate, the more they are reinforced.”

Each college is essentially an information cocoon of personality, where most people share the same traits, making it easier to maintain a unified understanding of others. Without the clash of differing opinions, prejudice grows stronger, and students repeatedly reinforce their narrow-minded views through those around them, eventually becoming "individualistic but stubborn."

In short, Murphy believed that Hogwarts' four houses, which categorize students by personality, artificially create differences and conflicts.

This is not just a problem unique to Hogwarts. In fact, the practice of "categorizing" people in Western society as a whole is itself a form of creating distinctions, building walls between people, and rejecting communication, understanding, and win-win cooperation—a form of divisiveism.

"It's difficult for people to grow up outside of their environment. How can we become mentally sound in an environment full of prejudice?"

"More than twenty years ago, Hogwarts even experienced the tragic situation where the entire Slytherin House became a breeding ground for Death Eaters," Murphy said.

Snape, sitting in the teachers' section, looked as if he had been stabbed in the face.

"Are Slytherin students inherently bad?"

"No!" Murphy said firmly, "That's only because they were swayed by evil thoughts. They were trapped in the quagmire of prejudice, mistaking lies for truth, and there was no one around to point out their mistakes!"

Now that things had come to this point, McGonagall and the other professors were all on tenterhooks, fearing that Murphy might suddenly say something like, "From today onwards, abolish the academy system."

But Murphy wasn't that radical. He was just a school board member, not the principal, so he couldn't make such a decision. Besides, it would inevitably provoke opposition from the entire school's faculty and students.

"The sorting system has a long history," Murphy said. "We must respect tradition."

"However, I believe it is necessary to make some adjustments to address the drawbacks it brings."

"Therefore, as a professor of practical courses, I will create more opportunities for students from the four houses to interact and collaborate in my classes. And as a Hogwarts Inspector of Teaching and a member of the Board of Trustees, I will actively coordinate with the school to create more opportunities for everyone."

"This is all work that I and the school should do. And students, you are the future of the wizarding world. I hope that you can break down your prejudices, become partners with more young wizards, grow together, progress together, and become the best version of yourselves."

As he spoke, Murphy looked down at the boy at the Gryffindor table below the stage.

Did you understand, Harry?

……

After the dinner, the students were all led back to their respective college lounges to sleep by their seniors.

Murphy was invited to the principal's office.

This was his first time here.

Fox was watching him from the bird perch by the window.

Murphy also curiously examined the magical creature.

Phoenixes are a rare sight in the outside world.

Murphy had long admired its ability to be reborn from the ashes. If he could transform into a Phoenix Animagus, would his cancer and other ailments be easily cured?

What's there to be afraid of in death?

At worst, you can just be reborn.

But in fact, research on the magic Animagus is not yet complete. The only successful individual is himself, and that was achieved through a combination of various accidental factors. Whether it can be replicated is still uncertain.

Rather than directly transforming into a phoenix, studying its rebirth mechanism might be more useful.

The man and the bird stared at each other for a while, and Murphy suddenly had a thought: Could this bird, like his raven, be able to share senses with Dumbledore?

With great difficulty, Murphy suppressed the urge to pluck a feather or bleed Fox, and turned to admire the exquisite devices placed in various corners.

A little while later, Dumbledore came in.

The two had met before, but had not had a detailed conversation since the welcome dinner was about to begin. This was their first private meeting.

"Professor Dumbledore," Murphy bowed slightly, "I apologize for making that statement without your permission."

Although Murphy didn't offer any specific policy recommendations in the end, questioning the school's system in front of the principal was already quite disrespectful.

Dumbledore didn't lose his temper on the spot and even let him finish speaking, which showed his good manners. No matter what Murphy thought in his heart, he had to at least say these polite words.

"You're too kind, Murphy. As a member of the Board of Trustees, you have every right to do so," Dumbledore said gently, inviting Murphy to sit across from him at the Headmaster's desk. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you."

Dumbledore sat down in his seat, "And it is thanks to this that we have heard some truly insightful observations."

"Insightful observation? You must be being sarcastic."

No, of course not.

"So, you agree with my comments about the sorting system?"

Murphy's four-color vision kept a close eye on Dumbledore's expression. He was very curious whether this headmaster, who could not possibly be a simple, kind-hearted person, was unfathomably cunning or truly innocent.

"Yes, at least I agree that there should be more communication and cooperation between colleges."

Murphy frowned. "If you saw the drawbacks of the sorting system so early on, why didn't you make some changes?"

"Change..." Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Yes, perhaps I can make some changes. However, I'm already over a hundred years old, and I've become accustomed to too many things, losing the sharpness of a young person."

"The sorting system may not be perfect, but it has some advantages, doesn't it? For example, it allows students to be with similar people, which makes them more happy, and it allows them to better develop a certain trait."

"Change might bring something better, but it could also mean something worse."

"Perhaps I have lost the drive to strive for excellence, and the ability to judge right from wrong has always been an area I am not good at. For me, something more perfect often means something that is more adaptable to the current environment, and it may become more fragile when external circumstances change."

This……

Well, there's some truth to that.

Just look at the evolution of life on Earth to see that the king of the current version is often the first to die in the next version.

Moreover, it is true that Slytherin House was almost a breeding ground for Death Eaters when Voldemort was at the height of his power, but from a dialectical point of view, the other three houses did not collude with him, did they?

Without the Sorting Houses, how can we be sure that the entire Hogwarts would not be corrupted?

That's certainly not without reason.

But this is too passive.

"Professor, your knowledge and experience far surpass mine. I lack your wisdom to see the past and the future, but if we refrain from making changes out of fear of making mistakes, won't we never be able to progress?"

"Making the present better might make us passive in the future."

"But, professor, we live in the present."

(End of this chapter)