Chapter 299 — The Sorting Hat Sog
The Great Hall was a vast sea of pointed black hats.
Every long house table was packed with students, their faces lit by thousands of floating candles suspended above them.
Ghosts shimmered in silver as they drifted lazily through the air.
The moment Dumbledore finished speaking, murmurs broke out all across the hall.
Two wizards sharing the same position—Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?
Unbelievable.
The Slytherin table reacted even more strangely. Truthfully, they had seemed odd from the start.
They kept staring at Tom Riddle with a mixture of reverence and fear—like worshippers looking at a deity.
And when they heard that someone else would be sharing a post with Riddle, many of them looked almost offended.
But a moment later, Harry understood.
In the British wizarding world—especially among pure-blood families—everyone was related somehow.
It was inevitable that families like the Malfoys had heard stories about the young Voldemort.
And while Harry had never truly known Voldemort as a person, there was one thing he understood perfectly:
Voldemort had no hesitation when it came to sacrificing his own followers.
He might even lash out at them for his own failures.
Qi Luo's fate had already proven that.
So the Slytherins' expressions made perfect sense—fear mixed with caution.
They didn't want to say anything that might implicate them if Riddle chose to retaliate.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. His light blue eyes scanned the room behind his familiar half-moon spectacles.
Instant silence.
Every student leaned forward, eager to hear his next words.
The ghosts, however, looked indifferent. Nothing that happened at Hogwarts could possibly be kept from them.
"Now," Dumbledore began, "this is Remus Lupin, who will serve as assistant professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
He gestured toward Lupin.
Lupin stood up, receiving only scattered, lukewarm applause.
Alexander Smith wasn't surprised.
Even though Lupin wasn't dressed as poorly as he had in the original timeline—how could anyone compete for attention with the dazzling Tom Riddle sitting nearby?
And, on top of that, Snape was glowering at Lupin along the staff table with a twisted expression—something beyond hatred.
The Slytherins noticed it too. And because they mistakenly assumed Lupin was Riddle's new servant, they didn't dare applaud loudly.
Insulting someone associated with the Dark Lord was a bad idea—even if it wasn't true.
But Harry, Ron, and Draco clapped loudly.
They knew Lupin.
Seeing the trio applaud so enthusiastically, others gradually joined in, and soon the applause became respectable.
Dumbledore waited until the hall settled again.
"This," he continued, "is the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year—and for the foreseeable future—Tom Riddle."
"I believe everyone already knows him well."
The moment he finished—
The Slytherins exploded into frantic applause.
Students from other houses—especially those charmed by Riddle's appearance—joined in, creating a deafening roar.
The sheer volume made the suspended candles tremble, their flames flickering wildly.
Ten minutes passed before the cheers finally subsided.
"All right," Dumbledore said cheerfully, "let us proceed with the Sorting. Our first-years must be hating me for making them stand so long."
"It's time! I'm starving," Ron muttered.
Lisa Dupin rolled her eyes—both at Ron's impatience and at the fact that he hadn't applauded for her "idol," Riddle.
On the stool, the Sorting Hat trembled—reminding everyone it had been waiting—and a tear near the brim opened like a mouth.
It began to sing:
---
Don't judge by my shabby look—
For I am the Hat of Gryffindor,
In me were placed the minds and thoughts
Of Hogwarts' Founders, four.
Their names echo still today,
So listen well as I sing their story:
A barren swamp where Gryffindor rose,
A quiet riverside Ravenclaw chose,
A wide green valley Hufflepuff tilled,
A damp dark marsh Slytherin filled.
Brave Gryffindor strode from the mire,
Wise Ravenclaw dreamed by the river's choir,
Kind Hufflepuff planted gardens below,
Cunning Slytherin thrived where few could go.
Four lands shaped four hearts,
Four minds with differing arts—
But one great vision bound them tight,
A single dream, a shared new light.
Thus Hogwarts rose, stone by stone,
Four noble houses built as one.
Gryffindor welcomes the brave of heart,
Ravenclaw those of wisdom and art,
Slytherin the ones with will to rise,
Hufflepuff the loyal, steadfast, and kind.
Come place me upon your head!
For through the Founders' thoughts I tread.
Do not fear, and do not hide—
Let me see your mind inside—
And I shall choose your house with pride!
---
Warm applause filled the hall.
As it faded, Professor McGonagall stepped forward and unfurled a long parchment.
"When I call your name," she said crisply, "place the hat on your head and sit on the stool."
"When the Hat announces your house, go to your table."
"Jason Astra!"
A trembling boy stumbled to the stool.
"Hufflepuff!" the Hat shouted immediately.
"This is the song it took a whole year to write?" Ron whispered to Harry as the Sorting continued.
"He ought to have given us a warning—Harry, you know what I mean. It's in the Headmaster's office, it knows—"
"One year?" Alexander murmured. "It contains the Founders' thoughts. I'd say this one was improvised."
"What warning?" Seamus asked, leaning closer.
"You were eavesdropping on me!" Ron snapped, waving his fork.
Hunger and irritation made his face even fiercer than usual.
"You were shouting," Seamus retorted. "Hard not to hear. Probably bragging again."
He turned away before Ron could explode.
Hermione—sitting with Alexander—not far away, nodded quietly when she heard Seamus complain about Ron's volume.
"Luna Lovegood!"
"Ravenclaw!"
Harry turned immediately.
The "crazy girl" Ron had described earlier walked calmly to the Ravenclaw table—elegant, serene, and not the least bit nervous.
In fact, she appeared more composed than many older students.
Harry blinked in surprise.
A second earlier, the seat beside Alexander had been empty.
Now Luna sat there, as if she had appeared out of thin air.
That must be Alexander's doing.
Which meant Luna clearly knew him.
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