Armando Dippet was the headmaster of Hogwarts before Dumbledore. He was also Voldemort's headmaster during Tom Riddle's time at the school.
Every successor to the Hogwarts headmaster position was a powerful wizard with profound magical knowledge and immense magical power.
The only exception was the clown sent by the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter's time, but he was a proxy. Garfield could not even remember his name.
As for the Sorting Hat, it was rumored to be inscribed with the advanced spell Legilimency. It could talk, something akin to artificial intelligence.
Garfield always felt there was a soul inside, or perhaps a soul that had been nurtured over many years. Soul science was still a profound art even in Kamar Taj.
Garfield's talent allowed him to master it easily. Other wizards simply did not possess such powerful gifts.
"Nice to meet you here. I am Armando Dippet, headmaster of Hogwarts." Armando Dippet extended his right hand to Garfield. Garfield naturally accepted such politeness.
"Hello, Headmaster Armando Dippet. I am Garfield Pando Godzilla Pendragon, owner of the High claw Group, and also the new morality teacher."
Dumbledore, standing behind, had summoned the owner of the High claw Group.
To be honest, Armando Dippet was initially quite surprised, especially since the other party had managed to enter the Hogwarts Board of Trustees with his vast wealth.
Armando Dippet had paid close attention to the rise of the Highclaw Group.
He had initially been very suspicious of why the Ministry of Magic in the United States would allow it to grow so large.
That was until later, when the magical world took advantage of Garfield's first absence to draw out the power of Kamar Taj.
Then he understood. It turned out that they were just that powerful. So powerful that they ignored all these external factors.
If Garfield knew what Armando Dippet was thinking, he would definitely tell him about the more complex interpersonal relationships.
For example, Mephisto, the lord of Hell. The angels of Silver City. And his adoptive father, Odin.
Perhaps after hearing so much, Armando Dippet would first think he was crazy.
After a brief chat with Armando Dippet, Garfield took advantage of the fact that the others had not yet arrived and expressed a small wish.
"I've heard that the Sorting Hat can read minds. Can I try?" Armando Dippet replied.
"Of course. But it can't do that for wizards with advanced magic. It's more effective on new students."
"Is it Legilimency?" Armando Dippet did not answer directly. He just smiled.
After all, some things are best left unsaid.
Garfield did not delve further. He flew to the Sorting Hat, staring intently at the tattered hat.
Perhaps frightened by Garfield's gaze, the Sorting Hat itself pulled out two legs and retreated.
Garfield said, "Bro, what are you afraid of?"
The Sorting Hat sounded a little aggrieved. "Oh, God, don't even mention it. I remember someone used to like cats."
"I was scratched and used as a toy by that cat for years. Luckily I was under a spell, otherwise I would have been scratched to a pulp. And what's worse is that..."
Garfield teased, "Did that cat like to rub itself against you and poop on you?"
"Exactly."
The Sorting Hat, its sore spot touched, showed a human like expression of extreme discomfort.
Thinking about being scratched and pooped on by a cat, Garfield felt that his own Sorting Hat would probably break down too.
Armando Dippet, watching from the side, was also hearing the Sorting Hat talk about this for the first time.
He was so surprised he could not close his mouth. He even questioned the Sorting Hat, "Why didn't you tell me?"
The Sorting Hat replied, "If I had told you, would you still be carrying me around like this?"
Wow, this guy was so cunning.
Armando Dippet looked down at his hands, which now felt like they were covered in cat poop.
This was awful. This was not the result he wanted.
Seeing Armando Dippet's discomfort, Garfield silently took two steps back. He reconsidered whether to put the hat on.
Just thinking about all the countless people who had worn it over the millennia, the dandruff and mites inside... Oh my god, so disgusting.
Perhaps sensing Garfield's disgust, the Sorting Hat explained, "My brim has been cleansed with a cleaning spell."
"There won't be any residue or stains." Oh, is that so? That was terrifying.
Garfield walked back to the Sorting Hat, hooked his paw, and lifted the Sorting Hat onto his head. "Hmm, you are very powerful. I cannot enter your mind at all," the Sorting Hat said.
Garfield was naturally quite pleased with himself. "I'm a cat after all. I naturally have some abilities."
"By the way, haven't you been bored in the headmaster's office all these years, except for the sorting ceremony?"
The Sorting Hat replied, "Uh, actually, I have been a little bored. But according to my basic programming, my intelligence isn't high enough. Most of the time I am just in a daze."
Oh, it had realized its shortcomings. It seemed the Sorting Hat's intelligence had evolved.
However, it could not escape the limitations of Hogwarts, which represented its thinking. Perhaps in another thousand years, it might evolve into a magical artifact with a complete mind.
For now, its intelligence was not low either.
"That's not bad. At least you have wisdom. The Gryffindor sword has also developed its own sword spirit, right?" The Sorting Hat asked, "How did you know that?"
Garfield said, "Just a guess. Oh, by the way, there is a special case among this year's freshmen."
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, the heir to the Slytherin bloodline. I think you could try sorting him into Gryffindor."
The Sorting Hat felt a little uneasy. The heir of Slytherin sorted into Gryffindor?
If Salazar Slytherin were still alive, he would definitely crawl out of his grave and throw the hat into a cesspool.
"Oh my god, that won't do. Salazar will definitely come back from the realm of spirits and kill me." Garfield said.
"Don't be afraid. We can actually talk about it, can't we? Students can choose their own house, right?"
The Sorting Hat said, "Yes, but how?" Garfield said, "You can suggest he go to Gryffindor. Whether he goes or not is his problem."
The Sorting Hat said, "I still feel uneasy."
Garfield said, "Isn't it good to change fate a little here, even if we don't try to see if it will succeed? At least it can avert a potential catastrophe in the wizarding world."
The wizarding world had its own prophecies. Most of them were stored deep within the Ministry of Magic, sealed in prophecy orbs.
These orbs contained predictions from the Trelawney family, a lineage of prophets throughout history, and other prophets.
The Sorting Hat, after much thought, agreed to Garfield's suggestion. "I'll give it a try."