Getting off the train, Leo immediately saw an extremely tall, bearded man holding up a lantern. He was shouting in a loud, booming voice:
"New students, this way, this way. Hurry up, hurry up, don't be shy."
Seeing this person, Harry actively walked forward and greeted him: "Hello, Hagrid!"
Hagrid looked down and smiled at Harry. "Hello, Harry. Are these children all new friends you've made?"
Hagrid surveyed Leo and the other two standing beside Harry, asking in his deep, rumbling voice. Harry nodded shyly and replied quietly: "We just met on the train."
Hagrid smiled at the several young wizards. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Alright, children, follow me!"
Soon, Hagrid led dozens of first-year students to a pitch-black lake... the Black Lake. Across the Black Lake, Leo could already see Hogwarts Castle.
The towering Gothic spires of an ancient castle rose before them, windows glowing like amber eyes in the darkness. Pointed arches and flying buttresses caught the moonlight, while the thousand-year-old stones seemed to whisper of centuries of magical secrets.
Leo's heart surged with excitement. Hogwarts, here I come!
"Children, four to a boat."
After speaking, Hagrid found a small boat for himself and began leading the young wizards forward. Leo naturally led Harry and the other two onto a boat, slowly following behind Hagrid.
From behind, even sitting down, Hagrid looked like a small mountain, and his boat's waterline was deeper than that of four young wizards combined.
The path they were taking now was said to be the route the four founders of Hogwarts had taken. So every year new students had to take this route when enrolling, considered a kind of ritual.
"So which house are you hoping for?"
Ron leaned forward and whispered to Leo and the others. Knowing the others might not understand Hogwarts' house system, Ron took the initiative to explain.
"Hogwarts has four houses in total: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Every young wizard is sorted into different houses when they enrol. Each house has its own characteristics..."
After speaking, Ron shook his head and spread his hands. "Don't know which house you'll go to, but I'm basically guaranteed Gryffindor."
Red-haired Weasleys were all Gryffindors, without exception.
Harry remained quiet about his own preferences. Ron's descriptions made all the houses sound acceptable except Slytherin—any of the other three would be fine.
Hermione fought a losing battle with her wind-tousled hair. "Gryffindor sounds perfect! Dumbledore was a Gryffindor! And Ravenclaw seems wonderful for learning."
Ron scoffed. "Charlie says Ravenclaw's nothing but bookworms—dead boring."
Hermione's smile grew pointed. "Perhaps someone doesn't have the right qualities for Ravenclaw anyway."
Ignoring the quickly reddening Ron, Hermione turned to ask Leo: "Leonardo, which house do you want to be in?"
"No particular preference... I can learn magic in any of them."
Soon, the boats reached shore, and a group of young wizards followed behind Hagrid, gathering in front of a massive oak door. With a creak, the door swung open.
A witch wearing emerald green robes walked out... it was Professor McGonagall.
"Professor McGonagall, all the first-years are here." Hagrid pointed behind him.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here. Children, follow me."
Professor McGonagall turned and stepped through the door first, with the young wizards following closely behind, filing in.
In stark contrast to the dark cold outside, the castle's walls were lined with burning torches, and hundreds of candles drifted overhead like fallen stars. Looking up at the ceiling, there was actually an illusory starry sky.
Faced with this dreamlike castle scene, many young wizards couldn't help but exclaim in wonder, curiously looking around everywhere. The great hall had several long tables arranged lengthwise, already filled with older students on both sides.
At the far end was a raised platform with only one long table arranged horizontally. Teachers sat there, most looking at the newly enrolled young wizards with gentle eyes.
Walking to the front of the platform, Professor McGonagall looked at the young wizards and said seriously: "I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House."
All the young wizards quieted down.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Before the opening feast, the Sorting Ceremony will take place. You will be sorted into different houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. During your time at school, this will be your home. Your excellent performance will earn points for your respective houses, while any rule violations will result in point deductions. At year's end, the house with the highest score will win the House Cup..."
Just as Professor McGonagall finished speaking, the hat beside her suddenly split open with a tear, and a hoarse voice came from within.
"My turn, my turn! You may think I'm not pretty, but don't judge by appearance... You might belong in Gryffindor, where courage lies buried in hearts; You might belong in Hufflepuff, where people are just and loyal..."
Listening to a shabby-looking, heavily patched greyish-brown hat singing there, most young wizards looked at it with curiosity. They were all wondering why a hat could talk and sing, but no one listened carefully to what it was singing, because it really was quite ordinary.
After the Sorting Hat finished its performance, it closed its mouth contentedly. McGonagall picked it up and took out a student roster.
"When I call your name, step forward. Hannah Abbott."
Leo watched as a blonde girl with a ruddy complexion and two golden braids stepped nervously onto the platform. The first student to be sorted—alphabetical order, of course.
McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Hannah's head, and it didn't hesitate much.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Hufflepuff table immediately applauded and cheered... their first student of the year was a Hufflepuff. What a good omen! They'd have to eat extra to celebrate later!
"..."
"Hermione Granger."
After taking several deep breaths, Hermione stepped onto the platform. After being placed on Hermione's head, this time the Sorting Hat pondered noticeably longer. But it was only quiet for less than five minutes.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Hearing this result, Ron leaned toward Harry and whispered: "She mocked me for not having Ravenclaw qualities, but she didn't get sorted into Ravenclaw either."
Actually, his parents and brothers had told Ron that the Sorting Hat only divided students based on their most obvious and truest qualities. If the Sorting Hat hesitated longer, it meant the young wizard possessed qualities suitable for different houses.
So Ron knew Hermione should have Ravenclaw qualities but just wanted to make snarky comments.
Harry didn't respond to Ron because Leo would be called soon, and he was very curious which house Leo would go to.
"Leonardo Grafton."
As Leo stepped onto the platform, Professor McGonagall showed a rare smile. The Sorting Hat was placed on Leo's head, its mouth-like opening tightly pressed together, while the two depressions like eye sockets kept changing size.
One minute passed. Three minutes passed. Five minutes passed. Ten minutes had passed...
As time went on, Professor McGonagall's expression gradually became strange. When she was sorted, she had also made the Sorting Hat consider for a full five minutes, which was already very long... she could be called a Sorting Hat hatstall.
But the time Leo was taking was a bit too long!
The professors at the staff table also looked surprised, glancing at each other... this was the longest they had ever seen a student take with the Sorting Hat.
Dumbledore, sitting in the centre, clasped his hands together, a gleam flashing in his blue eyes behind his half-moon glasses. His interest and attention toward Leo intensified even more.
The young wizards who had never waited this long before became anxious and began whispering among themselves.
"Could that broken hat be malfunctioning?"
"No way, can magical artefacts break?"
"It looks like it... don't you think that hat is ridiculously old?"
"..."
Harry, who had been staring at Leo the whole time, felt his eyes getting tired. He adjusted his glasses and blinked. Immediately, those beautiful emerald green eyes widened in shock.
"Professor, Professor! That hat is smoking!"