Perhaps it was because the time for the Sorting Ceremony was running short, perhaps she was used to the children's mischief, or perhaps she had figured out the reason after questioning them.
Anyway, Professor McGonagall sternly reprimanded Ryan, saying things like, "Mr. Elias, don't cast spells on your classmates," and "If you're already enrolled, your actions will earn you a detention and points deducted from your house." She also warned Malfoy, "There are certain words you shouldn't use towards your classmates, Mr. Malfoy."
After giving each of them fifty lashes, she led the young wizards straight into the Great Hall. It's worth noting that Mr. Draco, still crying with fear and anger, continued to say things like, "My dad won't let you go," but no one paid any attention.
"He's so cool, Harry, did you see that—those spells..." Instead, young wizards like Ron admired Ryan even more.
By the time the young wizards followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall, it was already filled with senior students.
Countless candles floated in the air, and the enchanted Great Hall took on a dreamlike quality. Old students cheered and applauded, welcoming the new students. Ryan could see the Weasley twins at the Gryffindor table and Cho at the Ravenclaw table. The former raised their hands in greeting, while the latter nodded subtly with a smile.
Ryan smiled back at them, then cast his gaze towards the center of the Great Hall—the table for the Hogwarts professors. Ryan immediately spotted Professor Flitwick, who had brought him to Diagon Alley. As the Head of Ravenclaw, he sat quite close to the center.
His stature necessitated a small cushion on his chair, making him look rather endearing. Next to him, on the most unique bench of all, sat an elderly wizard with a long white beard, sky-blue eyes, and a slightly crooked nose. He seemed to be chatting with Flitwick.
Looking at the old wizard, Ryan felt as if he had traveled back a thousand years, seeing those powerful, hidden wizards he had once visited with his four teachers. He possessed an aura that only wizards who had reached the highest depths of their magical path could possess.
"Albus Dumbledore..." Ryan whispered to himself, repeating the name he had long heard. The headmaster of Hogwarts, the greatest wizard of this century. This was the first time he saw the man, and honestly, Ryan was curious about him. Little did he know that at the long guest table...
"That's Ryan, Dumbledore," Flitwick was also introducing Ryan to Dumbledore.
"He's a good boy, with a remarkable talent for spells—I've exchanged letters with him, and he's already mastered quite a few..." Flitwick continued to praise Ryan.
Across from him, Dumbledore simply listened quietly. After Flitwick expressed his admiration for his gifted student, the elder, renowned in the wizarding world, smiled and said, "While you're right, Filius... there's still something to be desired." He looked at Ryan among the crowd. His words were gentle, with a hint of wonder and admiration.
"Oh?" Flitwick raised an eyebrow curiously. He knew Dumbledore had advanced far in magic—far beyond them all. Perhaps the old man saw things differently.
And indeed, so it was.
Dumbledore's azure eyes surveyed the young wizards. He could see traces of magic in them—some powerful, some weak, and of varying shades. But one thing remained constant—the young wizards' magic was always volatile and untamed.
However, Ryan was an exception.
His magic was incredibly docile, surrounding him like a guard. This commanded the old wizard, who had lived for over a century, to marvel.
"Talented? Genius? Of course, that's true, but it's not quite the right word," Dumbledore said absently to Flitwick. "More than a genius... yes, much more." Judging solely by his control over his own magic, he was practically a mature, even formidable, wizard!
At this moment, Professor McGonagall, who had walked into the hall with the freshmen, came to Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid told me that we had some problems on the way today—the Giant Squid in the Black Lagoon..." Professor McGonagall whispered to Dumbledore what Hagrid had said, interspersed with some of the information she had learned from the children.
"Draco Malfoy claimed that the Giant Squid might want to kill Miss Parkinson," she said hesitantly. She certainly knew how powerful the Giant Squid was—as a magical creature that had existed since the time of the Big Four, its power was unquestionable.
"Giant Squid?" After hearing this, a hint of doubt and thought flashed in Dumbledore's blue eyes. But after a moment, he just smiled and said to Professor McGonagall, "I understand, Minerva." These simple words were enough to calm her heart.
"It's time to start the Sorting Ceremony—the children are waiting impatiently," Dumbledore spoke softly, and Professor McGonagall nodded.
She gestured for the new students to stand in front of the podium. Atop the podium stood a wooden stool, and on it sat a tattered, gray-brown hat. It was so old, even covered in cobwebs. After watching the young wizards descend, the hat spun, and three slits appeared—what looked like eyes and a mouth.
"It moved!"
"It's alive, a living hat!"
The young wizards exclaimed in surprise. "Oh, I wouldn't say it's alive, exactly—I possess wisdom and knowledge, yes... the great wisdom of the Founders."
Then, they heard the hat suddenly speak. The exclamations threatened to turn into screams. But the Sorting Hat clearly didn't care. It began to sing the Hogwarts anthem—if that tuneless song could even be considered a song. When it finished, Professor McGonagall clapped her hands.
"Okay, everyone, be quiet." She raised her hand and picked up the worn hat. "Next, the Sorting Ceremony will begin. Whoever's name I call, please come forward and sit down—put on the hat, and wait for the result." She had made similar introductions countless times, so her words were concise and clear.
"Hannah Abbott!"
The little witch, whose name was called, shakily walked to the chair and sat down. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head, and a moment later, the Sorting Hat made its judgment.
"Hufflepuff!"
The Sorting result was accompanied by enthusiastic applause from the Hufflepuff table. Then, Professor McGonagall called out the name of "Susan Bones."
"Is this the Sorting Ceremony?" But now, Ryan looked at the worn hat in amazement. He heard it clearly—it said it was a creation of the Big Four.
"It seems that four teachers created this thing after I left." This discovery made Ryan excited. "It possesses wisdom and knowledge; perhaps it knows the teachers' whereabouts!" With this thought in mind, Ryan soon heard his name.
"Ryan Elias."
As Professor McGonagal called Ryan's name, all the freshmen looked at him almost simultaneously. They all recognized Ryan after their experience on the Black Lake, and some of them looked at him with strange eyes.
Pansy Parkinson, for example, looked at Ryan with a complex expression. Draco Malfoy, for example, looked at Ryan with a look filled with anger and lingering fear. Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger all gave Ryan subtle looks as well. And in the guest of honor seat, Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and glanced at Ryan as well. Under the gazes of many, Ryan calmly sat down in his chair. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
And then...
"!!!!"
Every student and professor present could swear they saw it clearly.
The moment the Sorting Hat was placed on Ryan's head, it trembled noticeably, and then the brim of the hat sank down. It seemed to be saluting. And in Ryan's mind, a slightly respectful voice indeed came. "Oh, it's you. Welcome back, the heir of the Founders."
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Author's note
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