Chapter 28. Sorting hat!
"Who do you think you are? The Savior?" Draco's tone was full of sharp mockery as he contemptuously eyed Harry's old robes. "Wearing a set of ragged clothes and hanging out with the poor Weasley boy, you're really losing face for the 'Savior.' I kindly invited you to join us, and you actually dared to refuse?"
"Don't you dare insult my family!" Ron's face flushed red, his clenched fists cracking, "You arrogant jerk!"
"The Weasleys are just a bunch of penniless blood traitors to begin with!" Draco sneered, his tone even meaner. "Mixing with Muggle-borns, it's an absolute disgrace to pure-blood families!"
Harry's gaze instantly turned cold. He gripped his wand and stepped in front of Ron: "Shut up! Malfoy, let me tell you, even if I'm friends with Ron, I would never associate with someone like you!"
Draco was so angry his face turned pale, and just as he was about to lash out, a cold voice suddenly rang out.
"Noisy."
Edward walked up slowly and stood beside Draco. There was not a ripple in his gray-blue eyes, and his gaze carried undisguised indifference as he swept it over Harry and Ron. He couldn't be bothered to waste words on them; with a slight flick of his wrist, his wand was already in his hand, and the flame at his fingertips flashed and vanished along the length of the wand.
"Langlock!"
As the low incantation fell, two pale purple lights struck Harry and Ron with precision. Their lips were sealed as if stitched tight by invisible threads. They tried to open their mouths, but could only produce muffled "mm-mm" sounds. Their faces instantly turned bright red, and even their attempts to pull at their lips looked clumsy and ridiculous.
This was a typical prank hex; it wouldn't cause any real harm, but it was enough to make the two shut up temporarily and help Draco regain face.
Draco was stunned for a moment, then revealed a smug smile, making a provocative face at Harry and Ron. Goyle and Crabbe also laughed along.
"Stop it!"
A stern rebuke rang out abruptly. Professor McGonagall walked over quickly, her sharp gaze landing on Edward's wand, her tone icy: "Edward Black! Using a prank hex on a fellow student inside the Castle - do you know this is a violation of school rules?"
Without waiting for Edward to speak, she immediately raised her wand, tapped it twice at Harry and Ron, and said in a deep voice: "Finite Incantatem!"
The invisible threads binding their lips instantly dissipated. Harry and Ron covered their mouths and coughed twice, their eyes full of anger as they looked at Edward.
Professor McGonagall turned around, her brow furrowed, and admonished him in a serious tone: "Mr. Black, Hogwarts forbids students from using any hexes on fellow students outside of a dueling context, even if they are of a prank nature. This is your only warning; otherwise, I will deduct points from you. Do you understand?"
Edward slowly put away his wand, his face showing not a hint of panic. He bowed slightly to Professor McGonagall, his tone flat yet polite: "Apologies, Professor. It was an impulse on my part."
He didn't make excuses, nor did he shirk responsibility. That calm, composed attitude actually lessened Professor McGonagall's anger somewhat. She frowned, swept a glance over the bickering group, and said sternly: "All of you, behave yourselves! If I see you arguing or messing around in the corridor again, I will put you all in detention! Now, get back in line immediately!"
Harry and Ron glared fiercely at Edward and Draco before dejectedly returning to the line. Ron wanted to say something more, but Harry pulled him back.
Draco leaned in toward Edward and whispered excitedly: "Well done! That was so satisfying just now!"
Edward didn't speak, just glanced at him indifferently, turned around, and walked toward the front of the line, his back still straight and aloof.
Passing through a pair of tall oak doors, the first-years finally stepped into the Hogwarts Great Hall.
In an instant, gasps of wonder erupted throughout the crowd.
The ceiling of the Great Hall had been enchanted to resemble the eternal night sky. Brilliant stars slowly rotated across the deep blue canopy, and shooting stars occasionally streaked across with silver trails, breathtakingly beautiful, as if one could reach out and touch that vast sea of stars. Four long wooden tables were arranged on either side of the Great Hall, laden with shimmering gold plates and silver goblets. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of roast beef, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and pumpkin pie. Above each table hung the house banners, swaying gently in the breeze - Gryffindor's red and gold lion banner, Hufflepuff's yellow and Black badger banner, Ravenclaw's blue and bronze eagle banner, and Slytherin's silver and green serpent banner.
The first-years watched, dumbstruck, and even the chatter of the older students was drowned out by this stunning sight. Just then, a crisp female voice rang out, breaking the gasps of wonder: "I've seen records of this in 'Hogwarts: A History.' It's an ancient illusion magic that connects the ceiling to the real night sky, and it has remained active for hundreds of years without failing."
Edward followed the voice and saw the girl with brown braided hair - Hermione Granger - looking up at the ceiling, her eyes full of a thirst for knowledge, her tone certain and confident.
His gaze paused slightly.
This girl was very smart, more clear-headed than most of the first-years present who only knew how to gasp in wonder, and she could even accurately state the origin of magic.
Such a person was either a potential asset or an object worth utilizing.
Edward Black rubbed his wand with his fingertips, feeling a spark of interest in a peer for the first time.
The older students from the four houses were already seated at the dining tables, their gazes falling in unison upon the first-years, with curious whispers rising one after another.
Professor McGonagall led the first-years to the stone steps at the front of the Great Hall, where a lonely wooden stool sat, covered by a ragged, pointed wizard hat, patched at the brim and looking as though it had seen better days.
Suddenly, the hat moved, a long slit opening up like a mouth, and it began to sing a witty and amusing song that echoed throughout the Great Hall.
The song introduced the traits of the four houses: Gryffindor's bravery and fearlessness, Hufflepuff's integrity and loyalty, Ravenclaw's intelligence and wit, and Slytherin's ambition.
The first-years listened with great interest, while the older students hummed along, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.
Once the song ended, Professor McGonagall took out a thick parchment list, cleared her throat, and her voice rang out clearly: "The Sorting Ceremony starts now! When I call your name, come forward immediately, put on the Sorting Hat, and undergo sorting!"
"Hannah Abbott!"
A chubby girl walked forward timidly, trembling as she put on the Sorting Hat.
A few seconds later, the hat shouted: "Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table immediately erupted into warm cheers, the older students applauded one after another, and the girl, blushing, ran over with a smile.
"Susan Bones!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Hermione Granger!"
Hermione took a deep breath, walked forward quickly, clutching her hem tightly, her eyes full of nervousness mixed with a hint of anticipation.
The Sorting Hat stayed on her head for a long time, so long that the entire Great Hall fell silent, and everyone held their breath.
Finally, the hat shouted: "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table instantly eruptep, jumped up, waving vigorously at Hermione, and Percy Weasley even whistled with excitement.
Edward Black watched Hermione's back as she ran toward the Gryffindor table, the fleeting interest in his eyes dissipating completely, replaced by his usual indifference.