Hearing screams from ahead, Maca stood on his tiptoes and peered ahead.
Suddenly, about twenty pearl-white, semi-transparent humanoid figures emerged one by one on the side wall. Maca looked closely and realized that these were probably a group of ghosts.
They conversed with each other, gliding lightly above the room. Maca faintly heard the term "Peeves" among their chatter.
"...I say, what are you all doing here?" one of the ghosts, wearing a ruffled collared snug jacket, seemed to have just noticed the first-year students below.
"Newcomers, eh!" another chubby monk smiled at them. "I suppose you're getting ready for the Sorting?"
Some students nodded silently, and no one spoke.
"I hope you all get sorted into Hufflepuff!" the monk said. "I used to be in that House."
"Now, move forward," a sharp voice next to the monk said. "The Sorting ceremony is about to begin."
Professor McGonagall returned, and the ghosts floated through the opposite wall in an orderly manner, vanishing before everyone's eyes.
"Now, line up in a single file," Professor McGonagall told the first-year students. "Follow me."
Maca positioned himself towards the back of the line and followed the students in front of him out of the room after a while—well, he had started at the back, after all.
This was the Hogwarts Great Hall. Students from other years were already seated around four long tables. Thousands of candles floated in mid-air above the tables, illuminating the entire hall.
Shimmering golden plates and tall goblets graced the four tables. Seniors gazed at the newcomers, whispering about who might end up in their Houses and who might not.
At the head of the hall was another table, reserved for the teachers. Professor McGonagall led them there, having the first-years line up facing the upperclassmen, while the teachers stood quietly behind them.
Candlelight flickered in the air, casting a slightly pale hue on the faces of the older students. The ghosts they had seen earlier shimmered among them, glinting with a faint silver light. All eyes were fixed on this side of the hall.
Maca looked up lazily at the magically enchanted ceiling, a deep black background adorned with countless twinkling stars that seemed to dance in the subtle magical mist—it even seemed he recognized a few familiar constellations up there.
"That's charmed up there to look like the outside sky. I read about it in 'Hogwarts: A History,'" Maca overheard a faint voice nearby, probably Hermione.
Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-year students and gently placed a pointed wizard hat on it. The hat was patched up, old, and incredibly dirty. Frankly, the thought of putting that hat on his head made him uncomfortable.
Seeing the Sorting Hat being placed, the murmurs in the hall immediately hushed. They all knew, the main event was about to start.
Sure enough, the hat twitched a few times, its slit opened and closed like a mouth, and it began to sing.
"You might think I'm not pretty, but don't judge a book by its cover. If you can find a prettier hat than me, I'll eat myself."
At this point, the corner of Maca's mouth twitched.
"You can make your top hats sleek and shiny, your peaked caps smooth and smart. But I'm the magical hat of Hogwarts testing, naturally superior to your hats..."
The Sorting Hat continued singing in an unpleasant tune, and Maca had already shifted his gaze back to the ceiling, much more interesting than this.
It wasn't until the applause started that Maca snapped back to reality and joined in clapping. A few outgoing first-years were already discussing with their neighbors.
"Maybe I'll get into Gryffindor," a boy with long black hair next to Maca lowered his voice and said, "My dad says I've always been courageous. I swallowed a whole Flobo Blabberworm when I was little!"
"Are you Bell Greerls?" Maca had difficulty swallowing.
"Who's that? I'm Kona, Michael Kona. You can call me Mike," the boy, Michael, tilted his head.
As they chatted about this and that, Professor McGonagall took two steps forward and gently unrolled a parchment in her hand.
"I will call out a name, and that person will wear the hat, sit on the stool, and await sorting," she said. "Hannah Abbot!"
A red-cheeked girl with two golden braids stumbled out of the line, donned the Sorting Hat, which was clearly too large for her, and it slipped over her eyes.
Maca watched the clumsy girl and found her genuinely amusing.
She sat down, and in a moment, the Sorting Hat elongated its tone and proclaimed, "Hufflepuff!"
The people at the table on the right applauded and cheered for Hannah, welcoming her to their table. The chubby monk ghost beside the long table also waved cheerfully at her.
"Susan Bones."
"Hufflepuff—!" the Hat shouted again. Susan quickly ran to sit next to Hannah.
The Sorting continued, the Hat smoothly changing its tones from one odd inflection to another, as if it spent every term contemplating these mundane matters to pass the time.
As expected, the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sorted into Gryffindor, representing bravery and courage. Antony and Lisa, who they had met on the train, were sorted into Ravenclaw, and of course, Ernie went to Hufflepuff.
Maca's newfound friend Michael, the one who had swallowed the Flobo Blabberworm, didn't end up in Gryffindor like he had thought. He was sorted into Ravenclaw as well. It was clear he was a bit disappointed.
"Maca McLean."
Finally, it was his turn. Upon hearing his name, Maca stepped forward and picked up the Sorting Hat. After a moment's hesitation, he reluctantly placed it on his head.
"Hmm... you seem rather unwilling?" the Sorting Hat twisted its body and said in a dissatisfied tone.
"Actually, I'd prefer if you could give yourself a good wash," Maca didn't deny. He figured the hat could roughly read his thoughts, so he might as well be honest.
"Well, I think the same, but can't I just go to the bathroom myself?" the Sorting Hat twisted again, and its pointed tip drooped sadly, "But none of the Heads thought of that, they're too busy."
After a brief complaint, it regained its original vigor and muttered to itself.
"Um... ah... this is difficult, very difficult," the Sorting Hat said, "Logically, you should go to Ravenclaw, where the atmosphere would allow you to absorb the essence of knowledge more fully. However, your quick wits and broad perspective would be better nurtured in Slytherin..."
"What about Gryffindor and Hufflepuff?" Maca asked curiously.
"Ah? Gryffindor! Do you think that's possible?" the Sorting Hat directly counter-questioned with a peculiar tone.
"Well, I thought so too..." Maca shrugged, admitting his thoughts.
At this point, the Sorting Hat suddenly twisted itself around, used its pointed tip to nudge the broad brim, and then said as if contemplating, "Hmm, Hufflepuff, yes, yes... that's right... you should go there, it's probably the most accurate choice."
With that said, it didn't wait for Maca to reply and shouted loudly, "Hufflepuff—!"
Maca put the hat back on the four-legged stool with a puzzled look on his face, carrying a head full of confusion as he walked toward the Hufflepuff table. He took his seat amidst the applause of the senior students.
"Welcome! Welcome, everyone, to the start of a new school year at Hogwarts! Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words. That is—Dummies! Crybabies! Dregs! Turn!" Maca stopped his conversation with a tall senior and looked up at Dumbledore, who was speaking, "Thank you, everyone!"
After Dumbledore sat back down, everyone began to applaud.
"What does that mean?" Maca turned to the senior next to him and asked.
"I don't know either. Professor Dumbledore is probably just showing his sense of humor," the senior shrugged, indicating that he didn't understand either. "Just go with the flow, don't take it too seriously."
At this point, the previously empty golden plates on the long table suddenly filled with a plethora of food. Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steaks, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, crisps, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, tomato soup, and more were laid out in a dazzling array.
"What's this?" Maca reached out and grabbed a plate, "Mint humbugs?"
"Professor Dumbledore's been fond of these lately," the senior gnawed at a piece of meat on his lamb chop, explaining with muffled speech, "He always likes to share his favorite sweets and drinks with everyone."
Maca shrugged after hearing that and pushed the plate of mint humbugs away.
"Maca, aren't you hungry?" nearby, Ernie looked curiously at Maca, who was stuffing roast beef into his mouth in small bites, and couldn't help asking.
"Oh, I'm not eating that much," Maca smiled. Clearly, he was prioritizing speed while ensuring he didn't look too uncouth.
"Look at Ernie, he's maintaining his elegance!" a slightly carefree senior teased, grinning at Maca.
"Ah-ha! Charlotte, you're finally ready to get married!" another girl next to them laughed, clearly her good friend.
Amidst the surrounding students' laughter, Charlotte couldn't resist anymore. She quickly lowered her head, picked up a roasted potato from her plate, and blushed even redder as she sent it into her mouth.