Professor McGonagall returned shortly, instructing the first-years to form a single line before leading them into the Great Hall.
The hall was vast, lined with four long tables already filled with students. Hundreds of candles floated overhead, their light illuminating the entire space.
The candle flames must have been some kind of magical fire; otherwise, the sight of all those candles dripping wax simultaneously would have been far too beautiful.
As bizarre thoughts swirled through Albert's mind, the line reached a stool topped with a tattered, filthy hat.
This, it was said, was the Sorting Hat of Gryffindor.
"I really wish they'd give that Sorting Hat a good wash," Albert thought, his nose wrinkling in distaste. The hat was so grimy—perhaps from a thousand years of neglect, or maybe it had simply never been cleaned.
It was truly unbearable.
By the time Albert snapped back to attention, the Sorting Hat had already finished its customary opening song to thunderous applause.
Professor McGonagall unfurled a roll of parchment and began calling names for the Sorting Ceremony.
Naturally, Albert was called first, his surname starting with "A."
Under the watchful eyes of the entire hall, Albert strode forward, sat on the stool, and allowed Professor McGonagall to place the hat on his head.
"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin," Albert whispered, though he knew the chances of being sorted into Slytherin were slim. He repeated the words to avoid accidentally falling into that particular pit.
"Hmm, difficult. You show great courage, a kind heart, talent, and no lack of intelligence," the Sorting Hat murmured. "Apart from Slytherin, where would you prefer to go?"
Albert was speechless. Did the Sorting Hat mean he was suitable for any house except Slytherin?
"Oh, I see you've already made your choice. Then..."
"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat's shout confirmed what Albert had suspected.
If he hadn't met the Twins and Lee Jordan in the train compartment, but students from other houses instead, he might have ended up somewhere else.
In the end, the Sorting Hat made the decision for him.
After all, Albert would be spending seven years in his house. He didn't want to become the original Hermione, friendless and miserable.
And of course, there were the midnight adventures. The Twins were undoubtedly the best partners for those.
When the Sorting Hat announced Gryffindor, a roar of cheers erupted from the farthest table on the left.
However, the Twins and Lee Jordan couldn't help but gape in disbelief. They never expected Albert to be sorted into Gryffindor.
What happened to Ravenclaw?
After Professor McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat, Albert walked toward the cheering. The front row of the long table had been cleared, clearly reserved for the new students.
As Albert approached, several people stood up to shake his hand. They wore badges on their chests, likely Prefects or the Student Council President.
He shook hands with each of them, returning their smiles with a nod.
The Sorting Ceremony continued. After the Sorting Hat shouted "Slytherin," Albert refocused his attention on the hat. When Professor McGonagall called out "Cedric Diggory," Albert curiously studied the character destined to be a minor casualty in the novel's plot.
Cedric was still quite handsome, no wonder he was called a "pretty boy." Albert wondered if he could prevent Cedric's tragic fate, now that his own actions were stirring the winds of change.
As expected, the Weasley Twins were indeed sorted into Gryffindor. A red-haired man waved enthusiastically at them. Albert took a closer look—it had to be the legendary Percy Weasley.
By the way, the Weasley Twins were the last to be sorted. After they were placed in Gryffindor, the Sorting Ceremony concluded. Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment, took the Sorting Hat, and left, and the stool vanished with her.
"Wow! We thought you'd be in Ravenclaw," the Twins and Lee Jordan exclaimed, staring at Albert with exaggerated expressions, as if he were some rare animal.
If he wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw, is the Sorting Hat broken?
"Is that so strange?" Albert shrugged. "Oh, I just discovered a secret about the Sorting Hat."
"What secret?" Lee Jordan asked curiously.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore," Albert replied, refusing to elaborate. "That's also why I was sorted into Gryffindor."
Albert's gaze swept across the group, and he shook his head. "I made it so clear, yet no one guessed. I suppose that's just typical of Gryffindor, isn't it?"
However, the others quickly lost interest in this so-called secret. With the Sorting Ceremony over, it was time for Dumbledore's speech, followed by a lavish feast.
"Welcome..." Dumbledore beamed at the students, his arms outstretched. "Welcome to Hogwarts! A new term begins! Before the feast, I have a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you all!"
True to his word, it was just a few words.
Ah, the difference!
Compared to those who droned on with endless speeches, Dumbledore truly understood the freshmen's impatience.
"Do you know what those words mean?" Albert asked the Prefect beside him, tilting his head.
The Prefect's expression stiffened, clearly at a loss for an answer.
In that moment, he suddenly agreed with Weasley's earlier comment: this guy belonged in Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor.
"Looks like no one knows. Guess I'll have to ask him myself," Albert muttered. These words remained one of the unsolved mysteries in the Harry Potter novels.
The students nearby twitched their lips, unsure how to react. Was he really planning to ask Dumbledore directly?
Even Ravenclaw students weren't this relentlessly curious!
This was undoubtedly an eagle disguised as a lion, infiltrating their ranks.
Hey, someone, quick! Throw this guy to the next table!
Ignoring the strange looks from others, Albert fell into deep thought.
In his previous life, there were several interpretations of those words circulating online:
Rumor had it that the Latin translation meant: "May Merlin protect you."
Of course, others believed they represented the four houses' distinct attitudes toward outsiders:
Ravenclaws thought anyone not in their house was a fool.
Gryffindors believed others lacked their courage.
Slytherins considered half-bloods and mudbloods to be worthless scraps.
Hufflepuffs hoped students from other houses would adjust their behavior.
As for the truth, Albert didn't know. Perhaps he would have a chance to learn it from Dumbledore.
Boom!
Lightning suddenly struck the castle roof, causing the weather magic to fail instantly.
The spectacle startled everyone.
Dumbledore drew his wand, cast a spell overhead, and the lightning and thunder vanished. The torrential rain ceased, and the starry night sky reappeared above them.
"Very well, let the feast begin," Dumbledore announced, tapping his spoon against his glass. As soon as he declared the feast open, the plates on the tables magically filled with food.
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T/N— You can read upto Chapter 50 and get two chapters a day at— Patreon.com/EtherealTL
Details about bonus chapters mentioned in Auxiliary, Chapter 0.