Chapter 17 Is This the only Hat?

The freshmen followed Professor McGonagall into a luxurious auditorium in pairs.

There were small fires on the walls of the auditorium, and countless candles hung from the ceiling, making the place brightly lit.

All the senior students sat around four long tables representing their respective colleges. At the front of each table was a blank seat, which should be prepared for the freshmen who were about to join the college.

"It's beautiful." Aaron looked up at the ceiling. It was a night sky, similar to what he saw next to the Black Lake.

"This is enchanted. I read about it in the history of Hogwarts." Hermione said.

Aaron was stunned for a moment, then raised his thumb, "You are more knowledgeable than I thought. I think no one among the freshmen except you will notice these details.

Hermione, let me ask you a question, do you also need to know about the author's life when you read the book?"

"How do you know?" Hermione seemed very surprised.

Aaron rolled his eyes, "I guessed, but are you sure you don't want to go to Ravenclaw? I think that's the best place for you. You will make a lot of like-minded friends, and you will definitely be the best student among them."

"This..." Hermione hesitated, "Let's talk about it later! Sorting is not decided by students."

"That's right." Aaron shrugged and said nothing more, but it can be seen that this girl still wants to go to Gryffindor.

Professor McGonagall brought everyone to a high platform. In the center of the platform was Albus Dumbledore. It was hard not to recognize him with his long white beard. On his left and right were teachers of various subjects and employees like Hagrid.

In the center of the steps was a stool. On the stool was a broken and old pointed hat with many patches on it. A thick layer of dust covered its original color.

"Is this the Sorting Hat? It's different from what I imagined!" Aaron said a little tangled. When he thought about wearing this broken hat later, he felt particularly disgusted.

The most important thing is that the house they are sorted into seems to be determined by such a hat. Is this reliable?

Although it can be seen from its worn-out state that it is an old magic item, it always feels a bit absurd to use it to determine the fate of freshmen for the next seven years.

The hat on the stool seemed to hear Aaron's muttering, wrinkled into a human face, and gave him a provocative smile.

It's not the first time it has met a freshman like Aaron, but it still has to wear it. There is no way to avoid it.

"Hey! I have a bad temper." Aaron responded and glared at it.

There are more wrinkles on the 'smiley face' of the sorting hat. I like this look that you don't like me, but you can't do anything about me.

"Please wait here for a while." Professor McGonagall said, "Before the ceremony begins, Professor Dumbledore wants to say a few words to everyone."

The white-haired old man sitting in the main seat stood up and said, "I have a few things to announce at the beginning of the school. First-year students, please pay attention. Our school strictly prohibits any student from entering the Dark Forest.

In addition, our administrator Mr. Filch asked me to remind you that the corridor on the third floor and the corridor on the right are also forbidden areas. If you don't want to die miserably, don't go there."

Aaron looked in the direction of Dumbledore's right hand. A tall and thin old man with a gloomy look and a little bald was staring at them, as if waiting for them to make a mistake.

At his feet was a black and white cat, which also looked a little cruel.

After Dumbledore finished speaking, Professor McGonagall picked up a long piece of parchment, "The students whose names I read out will come to the front. I will put the Sorting Hat on your heads and then determine the college you will go to."

"Wait." Aaron took a step forward, "Professor McGonagall, I want to ask if Hogwarts only has this one Sorting Hat?

Can I change it? After all, it is really dirty and a little scary. It is not very friendly to people like me who like cleanliness."

After Aaron finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter in the hall.

Professor McGonagall was stunned for a moment, and then said with some regret: "There is only this one Sorting Hat."

"Can you wash it? I can barely accept it." Aaron said.

The Sorting Hat couldn't stand it anymore, and said directly: "I can't accept this, so don't even think about it."

"I'm asking the professor, isn't it rude for you to interrupt?

Props are always props, don't put yourself too high, it will make you lose your self-awareness." Aaron said coldly, and then turned his eyes to Professor McGonagall, "Professor, is it okay?"

"Ah this..." Professor McGonagall couldn't help but look at Dumbledore on the main seat, but found that he didn't say anything, and didn't know how to answer for a while.

"Okay! Professor, I understand." Aaron didn't let her continue to embarrass him, and sighed, "Please continue the sorting ceremony!"

"Okay." Professor McGonagall looked at Aaron deeply, and then began to call the roll.

"Hannah Abbott!"

A ruddy little girl sat on the stool nervously, and Professor McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Let me think about it." The Sorting Hat murmured for a moment, and suddenly said: "I know, Hufflepuff."

The senior students on the long table on the right applauded and cheered for the freshmen of their college. Hannah ran quickly to the empty seat of the Hufflepuff long table.

"Susan Bones!" Professor McGonagall called out the second name.

"Hufflepuff!" The Sorting Hat said happily, much faster than the first one.

"Terry Boot!"

"Ravenclaw!"

......

The Sorting Ceremony continued, and Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin all recruited a lot of freshmen, and cheers came from the four long tables below from time to time.

Ron did not disappoint the expectations of his parents and brothers, and was assigned to Gryffindor as he wished, and so was Hermione.

It is worth mentioning that when it was Draco Malfoy's turn, the Sorting Hat gave the result as soon as it touched his hair, as if he was born for that college.

After more than ten minutes, only Harry Potter and Aaron Gaius were left standing in front of the podium.

"Harry Potter!"

When Professor McGonagall read out this legendary name, the entire auditorium fell silent.

The students at the four rows of long tables below began to discuss in a low voice, and the students at the back raised their necks, hoping to see what he looked like.

Even Dumbledore, who was sitting in the main seat, sat up slightly and looked at the boy with a lightning scar on his forehead with expectant eyes.

"Don't be nervous, just follow your inner thoughts." Aaron said, "Although it may not be of any use."

"Thank you!" Harry walked slowly to the front and sat on the chair.

"Well... it's not easy! This is really too difficult." The Sorting Hat said, and then began its own analysis, "It can be seen that you are very courageous, and you are not bad-hearted, talented, and extremely eager to prove yourself.

But where should I put you?"

The tip of the Sorting Hat hammered down, shaking left and right constantly, looking particularly entangled.

"Not going to Slytherin, not going to Slytherin..." Harry closed his eyes and kept whispering, fearing that the hat would put him in the college he least wanted to go to.

Aaron watched this scene with interest below. It was obvious that Harry, who had been "brainwashed" by Hagrid and Ron, instinctively thought that he belonged to Gryffindor and was very resistant to Slytherin.

But without his own ideas, the opinions of others will occupy a large part of his future life, but this is Harry's own choice, and it has nothing to do with him.

"Not going to Slytherin, are you sure?" The Sorting Hat naturally heard Harry's mumbling, "You can stand out there, the wisdom is all in your little head.

Slytherin can help you accomplish great things, there is no doubt about that."

Harry still did not change his mind, and kept repeating the words "not going to Slytherin".

"Okay! Since you are determined, then go to... Gryffindor!"

Harry opened his eyes and got a satisfactory answer, his face full of a relieved smile.

Because of his great fame, Gryffindor's response this time was particularly strong, and the applause was several points louder than before.

Prefect Percy Weasley stood up and shook hands with him excitedly, and the brothers Fred and George kept clapping and said, "We have Potter."

Most of the teachers and staff in the guest seats also applauded fiercely, and Dumbledore even raised his glass to Harry from a distance.

After a brief cheer, everyone's eyes fell on Aaron, who had not yet completed the sorting.