When the Sorting Ceremony ground to a complete halt, Dumbledore finally had no time to waste on two unstable factors.
He truly couldn't fathom how Jane Yu had managed to stir up such an enormous mess—
What should have been a straightforward few hours of opening ceremony had become a complete rollercoaster: first fighting, then disrupting the sorting process, and now corrupting the new students' minds entirely.
As a respectable man, Dumbledore swiftly realized he had no choice but to salvage this disaster:
He had to extinguish the flames immediately, regain control, and provide the entire school with a reasonable explanation!
"Ahem—quiet, please—!"
Dumbledore, who had nearly coughed his throat raw, felt his ears and brain buzzing incessantly. He forced himself to project calm authority:
"I want to emphasize that the Sorting Ceremony is Hogwarts' thousand-year tradition."
"The Sorting Hat assigns you to houses based on your talents and qualities. Please don't prejudge the results—you'll discover your strengths there and find kindred spirits."
The moment he finished speaking, he keenly observed dissatisfaction flickering across the first-years' faces.
"Nobody's prejudiced! I think Gryffindor's brilliant!" the freshly-minted little lion protested. "But we four have been split up—how are we supposed to visit Senior Jane in Slytherin to play her gaming console? How can we fight... er, play together anymore?"
Dumbledore suddenly grasped how these first-year students differed from his expectations:
They weren't protesting prejudice against their assigned houses—they were upset that the Sorting Hat hadn't considered their personal wishes or allowed them to stay with their friends!
Listen to their words—
"Friends should go to Slytherin together," "but we've been divided into four houses"...
Their enthusiasm for Slytherin, their ability to speak such words—it was because they'd just arrived with nothing but thoughts of playing games with friends and witnessing an epic Slytherin battle. They viewed the houses without any stereotypical baggage!
In other words, they hadn't yet donned colored glasses to judge inter-house relationships or used their house affiliation to determine their loyalties!
In that moment, something struck his heart like lightning:
He suddenly remembered that example from long ago...
Lily and Severus...
Dumbledore turned his head slightly toward the Slytherin Head of House's seat.
Snape had indeed transformed into an ice sculpture, sitting perfectly still with hollow, vacant eyes.
Dumbledore sighed deeply. He realized:
Before these children became "Slytherins," "Gryffindors," "Ravenclaws," and "Hufflepuffs"—
They all belonged to Hogwarts first!
They were already friends!
What appeared to be an enormous catastrophe...
Was actually an opportunity that Jane Yu and her Slytherin followers had subtly orchestrated through their influence!
A chance for him to declare before the entire school:
The barriers between houses should crumble, and unity—friendship that transcends house boundaries—was what truly deserved promotion!
This perfectly embodied "the dawn of ending division"!
In a flash of brilliance, he understood exactly what to say and do.
"Before answering your questions, allow me a brief digression."
Dumbledore spoke with grave solemnity:
"I believe everyone present heard the Sorting Hat's song. The four founders selected qualities and talents they cherished, welcoming new students into their houses."
"But over the years, I've repeatedly heard certain sayings circulate among students—even before enrollment—about house characteristics: Gryffindors are reckless hothead; Ravenclaws are antisocial bookworms; Slytherins are scheming Dark wizards; and Hufflepuff is where hopeless dimwits end up when nowhere else will take them."
At these disparaging words, every student's face darkened with displeasure, and boos echoed throughout the Great Hall.
"I suspect you know how such toxic rhetoric spreads—every house contains individuals who think this way. They believe that by diminishing other houses, they elevate their own status, proving their house superior and feeding their egos. They drag other students into mutual contempt, escalating inter-house conflicts."
Several students suddenly hung their heads and turned away, as if their secret thoughts had been exposed.
"What I must tell you is this: houses possess no inherent good or evil—every house stands equal. The only difference lies in the people within them."
"Gryffindor courage, taken to extremes, becomes reckless endangerment—some students even bully others under its banner; Ravenclaw wisdom and scholarship, pushed too far, becomes obsessive madness that abandons moral judgment; Hufflepuff loyalty and dedication, corrupted, transforms into blind servitude; and Slytherin ambition, in ruthless pursuit of victory, can embrace Dark magic's most unscrupulous methods."
Dumbledore's gaze swept across every student at the four long tables, satisfied to see them fall silent and sink into contemplation.
"I hope each of you will open your eyes to see the brilliance and precious qualities in other houses. Using prejudice to label students from different houses is both foolish and blind—remove those tinted glasses, and you'll witness Slytherin's relentless drive for excellence, Gryffindor's courageous advocacy, Hufflepuff's warm solidarity, and Ravenclaw's tireless dedication to learning."
Suddenly, applause erupted in the Great Hall. Every student turned toward the sound, discovering their own Heads of House—Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, and Professor Flitwick—clapping in perfect synchronization.
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—Even Snape was slowly, deliberately bringing his palms together in measured applause!
This spectacle was so extraordinary that every student couldn't help but stare at their Potions professor, double-checking he hadn't been possessed by some foreign soul.
"I am deeply gratified," Dumbledore continued, "that our newest students raised their sorting concerns on their very first day. I'm moved that you haven't arrived burdened with entrenched prejudices about our four houses."
"What I want you to understand is this: regardless of your house placement, you aren't merely a student of that house. You belong to Hogwarts—you are part of Hogwarts. Your identity as a Hogwarts student will always supersede your house affiliation."
Thunderous applause suddenly filled the Great Hall. Every single student was clapping, the sound unified and overwhelming!
They remembered the reformed four-house collaborative group assignments and class arrangements implemented across many subjects in recent years—
Despite arguments and frustrations, they had indeed forged friendships beyond house boundaries, recognizing that everyone shared the same fundamental humanity!
They recalled the countless days and nights spent teaming up in gaming clubs since consoles became popular—
Ravenclaws weren't just study-obsessed bookworms—they'd sneak out for all-night gaming sessions too;
Gryffindors weren't reckless, arrogant fools—they employed clever strategies to outwit Filch;
Hufflepuffs weren't just food-obsessed simpletons—when caught by professors, they never betrayed accomplices from other houses;
And Slytherins weren't sinister, manipulative Dark wizards—they'd even donated gaming consoles for everyone's benefit!
"Now I can address your concerns."
Dumbledore focused on the standing first-years:
"Hogwarts' educational system has undergone extensive reforms recently. Many required courses now employ four-house collaborative classes and group projects, specifically designed to help you learn from each other's strengths, deepen mutual understanding, and forge lasting friendships."
"Additionally, Hogwarts hosts gaming enthusiast clubs welcoming students from all four houses. Your Senior Jane won't treat you differently simply because you're not in Slytherin—she excels at embracing and integrating diverse perspectives."
"Therefore, you needn't fear that different house placements will cost you friendships or opportunities for connection."
As his words concluded, another wave of applause swept through the hall, and many first-years' expressions visibly relaxed.
Recognizing that his explanation had been accepted and had successfully conveyed the spirit of unity, Dumbledore exhaled with profound relief.
He finally recalled his earlier strategy and, with subtle maneuvering, positioned himself to block the sight lines between the two unstable factors, maintaining that strategic position until every new student had been sorted.
Afterward, he rapidly delivered the term's essential announcements and declared the opening ceremony concluded, watching as students from all four tables filed out of the Great Hall.
However, as she left the Great Hall, Jane Yu suddenly noticed something peculiar:
Had this year's headmaster's address somehow skipped the traditional introduction of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?
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