"Welcome to Hogwarts."
"The opening Feast is about to begin, but before that, the Sorting ceremony."
"During your time here, your House will be your home. You will attend classes with your classmates and stay in your dorms during your free time."
"There are four Houses, each with its own name, outstanding Wizards, and glorious history."
"During your studies, strive to bring honor to your House. Outstanding performance will earn points, while violations will result in point deductions. The highest score will win the House Cup."
"The ceremony will begin in a few minutes, so take this opportunity to tidy yourselves up."
"I will come to call you when things are ready on the other side. In the meantime, please remain quiet."
Professor McGonagall left the room after speaking, and the Little wizards behaved for less than half a minute before immediately starting to discuss the Sorting ceremony.
Cho shook Nina's hand and poked Karl's back, signaling to start a conversation.
"If they are this loud, won't they wake up the dragon Smaug?"
Nina's tone was very serious: "At this time, Smaug should have already awakened."
Beside her, Karl had an equally grave expression, "The dragon has been sleeping for a year and must be very hungry now. I don't know how many of us will be eaten."
The three of them appeared to be whispering, but their voices were loud enough to be heard throughout the entire room.
The other Little wizards were attracted by their conversation and all fell silent one by one.
Cho hugged Nina, shivering, with a hint of a sob in her voice, "I don't want to be eaten by a dragon! I want to go home!"
Karl couldn't help but praise her; her acting was spot on. He hadn't realized this kid was such a drama queen.
"It's too late. We have no way back now."
Nina finished her lines expressionlessly, then lowered her eyes and said nothing. The three of them fell into silence together.
The Little wizards, who were already very nervous about the Sorting ceremony, immediately became uneasy, and a tense atmosphere began to spread throughout the room.
Finally, a little Wizard couldn't help but ask Karl: "What do you mean by the dragon you were talking about?"
"The Sorting ceremony, of course."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Little wizards collectively took a step back, instantly erupting:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"How could it be a dragon? Has the school gone mad?"
"We're going to be eaten!"
"Please! Tell me you're joking! This isn't real!"
Facing this expected scene, Karl, who was well-prepared, pressed his hands down to signal everyone to be quiet.
"Don't you know that Hogwarts' school motto is 'Never Disturb a Sleeping Dragon'?"
"The'sleeping dragon' here refers to the sleeping dragon, Smaug."
The Little wizards whispered among themselves and soon confirmed that Karl wasn't making it up. Some of them also knew this motto, so everyone's face turned pale.
"A thousand years ago, new students at Hogwarts had to enter the Castle and take the Galleons guarded by the sleeping dragon."
"Those who succeeded were sorted based on their performance, while those who failed... would be eaten alive by the awakened dragon."
"That is why there is the motto 'Never Disturb a Sleeping Dragon'."
It was logical and convincing, so the Little wizards huddled together, shivering, "What about now?"
"Because too many students were being eaten, the four founders of the school sealed the dragon Smaug into a hat."
"Every year during the Sorting, Smaug wakes up, pretends to be a hat, and sings to celebrate its Feast."
"And the Sorting ceremony we have to face is putting on the hat, which means putting our heads into the dragon's mouth."
"Then, Smaug will choose some gluttonous, playful, naughty, disobedient... or lying Little wizards and bite their heads off in one gulp!"
After Karl finished speaking, the Little wizards had only one thought in their minds: This is even worse than it was hundreds of years ago!
At least back then you could run away, but now you just shove your head into the dragon's mouth... We're doomed!
They recalled Karl's adjectives and then despairingly realized—Oh my god! That's exactly me!
It's like looking in a mirror!
"By the way, everyone must not expose Smaug, because if you do, you will definitely be eaten."
"Just treat it as a hat and firmly believe in your heart that you can enter Hogwarts; that gives you the highest chance of passing!"
"Finally, good luck to everyone!"
Hearing this, the Little wizards couldn't help but express their gratitude to Karl one after another.
What a great guy!
...
When Professor McGonagall returned, she clearly noticed that the atmosphere was wrong.
What happened? Why does everyone look so terrified?
Did the ghosts in the school come by?
But there was no time to ask; they were waiting in the Great Hall.
"Everyone line up in a single file and follow me."
Karl, Nina, and Cho, who had entered the room last, were now leading the line.
Once again passing through the entrance hall and entering the Great Hall, Karl was immediately attracted by the thousands of candles floating in mid-air upon entering. He couldn't help but sigh at how magical magic was; if these were to drip wax...
Ahem! Four long tables were placed in the Great Hall, with older students sitting around them, pointing at the new students.
And on the platform above the Great Hall, there was also a long table with a row of strange-looking Professors sitting there.
After the first-year students stood still, everyone realized something was wrong.
Why were they all pale, terrified, and looking so frightened?
And when Professor McGonagall placed a dirty, tattered pointed Wizard's hat on a four-legged stool, the entire Great Hall was even shrouded in a feeling of despair.
The Professors looked at each other; previous students were just nervous, so what was wrong with this year's new students?
They were afraid of the Sorting Hat, but what were they afraid of? Could a dragon jump out of the hat?
...
For some unknown reason, the Little wizards were as quiet as quails.
Karl felt like something was missing, so he reminded Nina and Cho in a faint voice.
"Look up~"
Cho took a cautious look, "Candles?"
"It's the ceiling."
Nina softly explained to Karl: "Hogwarts: A History records that the ceiling is enchanted to look like the sky outside."
Karl: ( ▔,▔ )
Seriously... besides Hermione Granger, does anyone actually read Hogwarts: A History before starting school?
Rubbing his ears, Nina's trailing tone made him feel a bit ticklish.
"Wow! There really is a starry sky!"
Just as Cho was surprised, a singing voice suddenly rang out in the Great Hall:
"Don't look at me as just a hat~
A hat's intelligence is hard to imagine~
Four legends infused me with thought~
A thousand years have passed~
Ravenclaw, Gryffindor value wisdom and Courage~
Slytherin, Hufflepuff value ambition and integrity~
Seeing through hearts and sorting Houses is the meaning of my existence~
...
Come on~ put me on~"
The hat opened its large mouth and finished singing, immediately causing the whole hall to applaud and cheer.
Of course, except for the first-year students, who only felt it was noisy.
Karl was actually quite surprised. Who said the Sorting Hat sang badly? This level is good enough for a concert!
The Sorting Hat twisted and bowed to each of the four dining tables one by one, then became still.
After the Great Hall quieted down, Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a roll of parchment, "Whoever I call, come up, put on the hat, and sit on the stool to await Sorting."
The Little wizards in despair couldn't help but let out sobs and wails.
It matches! Everything matches!