Everyone was silent, staring at the gigantic castle towering into the clouds.
As they approached the cliff where the castle stood, it seemed to loom above them.
"Duck your heads!" Mr. Yue shouted as the first batch of boats neared the cliff.
Everyone bowed their heads, and the boats carried them through a veil of ivy covering the cliff face to a hidden, wide entrance.
They seemed to have arrived underground at the castle, moving along a pitch-black tunnel until reaching a dock-like area, then climbing onto a surface of gravel and small pebbles.
Ascending the stairs, Gladwin took out a key and opened an oak door.
The students followed Gladwin over the stone-paved floor.
This was the entrance hall of the castle. Harry looked around, realizing it was big enough to fit the entire Dursley family inside.
They arrived at a small room. Gladwin knocked on the door and said, "Lady Weasley, I've brought everyone here!"
The door opened, and Harry saw a familiar face standing there.
It was Professor Matilda Weasley.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." Professor Weasley gestured for everyone to enter. Once everyone was in place, she continued, "The opening feast will start soon, but before you can take your seats in the dining hall, you must first find out which house you will be entering. The sorting is a very important ceremony, because during your time at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. You will attend classes with your housemates, reside in your house's dormitories, and spend your free time in your house's common room."
"The four houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own glorious history and has fostered outstanding witches and wizards. During your studies at Hogwarts, your excellent performance will earn points for your house, while any misconduct will result in point deductions for your house. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup, a great honor. I hope no matter which house you go to, you'll do your best to bring glory to it."
"In a few minutes, the sorting ceremony will be held in front of all teachers and students. I suggest you take this time to tidy yourselves up and be more spirited."
At this point, Professor Weasley gave a pointed look at the pale-faced Gareth.
"Once everything is ready over there, I'll come to get you," Professor Weasley said. "Meanwhile, please remain quiet."
At that moment, Harry noticed several pale ghosts floating down from the ceiling.
He was truly frightened, standing there trembling and unable to move.
The others weren't as composed. A girl with dark skin screamed and darted backward.
"Ah, new students." A chubby monk-like ghost smiled at them, "I see you are waiting to be sorted. I won't disturb you then—I'm so sorry for scaring you, children."
After saying that, the three ghosts floated away again.
"He's quite polite." Gareth said, "But I've heard of one called Peeves, who is quite a menace to both students and professors."
"Really?" Harry struggled to digest the term Peeves, unable to fathom why a ghost would have such a name.
Soon, Professor Weasley returned.
"Now, line up in a single file," Professor Weasley instructed the first-year students, "and follow me."
Harry joined his classmates, performing a line-up. He followed behind a boy who kept his head down, with Gareth behind him.
They left the room, passed through a door, and entered a luxurious hall.
Harry had never seen such a grand and wondrous place before. Students from other grades were already seated at four long tables, while thousands of candles floating in mid-air illuminated the dining hall.
At the top table, the teacher's seats were located.
Professor Weasley placed a four-legged stool in front of the staff seating area and placed a tattered pointed wizard hat on it.
The hat was quite worn out, and Harry suspected it hadn't been cleaned in at least ten years.
At that moment, the hat twisted its body, its edges splitting open wide, and began to sing a rambling song.
The lyrics were unclear to Harry; the hat had an accent.
"So, it seems we only need to wear this hat." Gareth breathed a sigh of relief, his color returning to his face. "Aunt deceived me into thinking I'd have to fight a Giant—what a wonderful aunt!"
Seemingly having heard this comment, Professor Weasley cast Gareth a smile.
She walked forward, holding a roll of parchment.
"I will now call your name. When called, wear the hat, sit on the stool, and await sorting," she said. "Stella Abercrombie!"
A silver-gray-haired girl with freckles quickly walked out of the line and put on the hat, just covering her eyes.
After a brief pause—
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted loudly.
People at the Gryffindor table applauded, welcoming Stella to join them.
When the hat announced the house, Harry noticed Stella's robes changing to Gryffindor's style.
"Quisida Bloom!" "Gryffindor!"
"Astoria Criquette!" "Ravenclaw!"
"Omnius Gaunt!"
Harry observed the boy with his head down, stepping forward and sitting on the stool.
"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat shouted before even touching his head.
"Imelda Reyes!" "Slytherin!"
"Cassandra Malfoy!"
Upon hearing the familiar name, Harry saw a proud girl with golden hair stepping out, arrogantly sitting on the stool.
The hat didn't even touch her hair before it shouted, "Slytherin!"
Cassandra stood up contentedly, taking a commanding look around.
The Slytherin students rose to applaud, cheering Miss Malfoy finally arriving at her loyal Slytherin.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry heard his name and stumbled forward to sit on the stool.
As the hat descended on his head, he suddenly heard a voice.
"Hm... very hard, really hard indeed. You seem courageous and kindhearted. Talented, oh my gosh, indeed—not bad—you have a strong urge to prove yourself, which is interesting... So, where should I place you?"
"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin!" Harry thought fervently. He didn't want to be in the same house as the detestable Principal Black.
In other words, he didn't want to become like them.
"It's a pity you don't wish for Slytherin; Slytherin might help you achieve greatness!" The voice sighed upon realizing Harry's firm choice, "Alright, since you don't want to, then... Gryffindor!"
Harry stood up, greeted by the enthusiastic applause of Gryffindor students, and took a seat at the bench.
He turned his head, continuing to watch the sorting.
"Annie Saru!"
A quiet girl stood, sat on the stool.
"Slytherin!"
"Sebastian Saru!"
Another boy, slightly shorter, emerged from the crowd, presumably Annie Saru's brother.
"Slytherin!" The hat loudly announced the result, a flicker of satisfaction in the boy's eyes.
"Pabi Swedding!" Professor Weasley called again.
A short-haired girl walked forward and sat on the stool.
After a moment of contemplation, the hat loudly proclaimed, "Hufflepuff!"