Chapter 21: Is the Sorting Hat Really That Brave?

Support me and be 20 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/Draco_

For every 4 new paid patreon I get irrespective of tiers I will mass release 15 chaps of this book.

******

After the unexpected incident, the Sorting Hat no longer hesitated; it was able to sort new students as soon as it came into contact with their hair.

With such efficiency, soon only the last two new students remained.

"Connap Plintz!"

Upon hearing this familiar name, Kyle and Cedric glanced over simultaneously.

"That's the little girl from the train, right?" Cedric asked curiously. "Where do you think she'll be sorted? Slytherin, maybe?"

"Probably," Kyle replied instinctively, scratching the back of his neck. "Since she's wearing non-Muggle clothing, she's likely a pureblood. It should definitely be Slytherin… huh?"

At that moment, Kyle suddenly froze. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but after Professor McGonagall called out Connap's name, Snape, who had been maintaining a stern expression and seemed completely uninterested in the sorting, actually leaned forward slightly, his attention finally focused on the Sorting Hat.

"They can't possibly know each other!" Kyle thought to himself.

Although Snape rarely participated in social activities due to his unique position, he was one of Hogwarts' four heads of houses and a renowned Potions Master, so it was impossible for him not to have any acquaintances in the wizarding world.

It was possible that Connap's family was among them.

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Kyle suddenly had a bad premonition.

If that were the case, knowing Snape's personality, if he found out that he had put Connap in a difficult position, Kyle would most likely be in for an early taste of protagonist treatment.

"Surely it can't be that coincidental…" Kyle thought, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over him.

What a stroke of misfortune.

Just moments ago, he had mocked the Weasley twins for their misdeeds, and now karma was coming back to him so swiftly.

Kyle anxiously glanced at the stage.

For some reason, when it was Connap's turn, the Sorting Hat's efficiency seemed to revert to its earlier sluggishness.

After more than a minute of waiting, the Sorting Hat finally spoke:

"Hufflepuff!"

Huh??

A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table, with the upperclassmen rising again to welcome Connap into their house.

Only Kyle watched Connap walk past him, his mind swirling with questions.

What was happening? Aside from Scamander, it was quite rare for a pureblood family to choose Hufflepuff.

It wasn't that there were none—each of the four houses had purebloods—but Hufflepuff simply had fewer of them.

As for the notion that Connap had followed him here… that was entirely impossible.

Sorting wasn't a game; in fact, it could significantly impact a wizard's future path.

So even if Connap was young and naive, the Sorting Hat wouldn't allow her to act recklessly; otherwise, her family wouldn't let the matter rest so easily.

Kyle recalled that Chris had once told him about how, when Sirius Black was sorted into Gryffindor, Black's mother caused quite a scene at Hogwarts.

If it hadn't been for Dumbledore's firm intervention, the Sorting Hat would have almost been set on fire by her furious spells.

This incident had caused quite a stir back then; although Dumbledore managed to suppress it on Hogwarts' side, the Ministry of Magic held several meetings to discuss whether to abolish the Sorting Hat and adopt alternative sorting methods.

Moreover, the proposal had considerable support because most pureblood families were unwilling to allow their children to attend houses other than Slytherin, especially the staunch traditionalists.

Having a child sorted into Gryffindor was, in their eyes, a disgrace.

Of course, the proposal ultimately did not pass.

After all, Dumbledore from over twenty years ago was not as agreeable as he was now. Once he clearly expressed his opposition, those pureblood families dared not disregard his stance.

As a result, the matter simply fizzled out.

However, since then, the members of pureblood families who had supported the proposal had not visited other houses again.

Kyle glanced at the staff table.

It was quite simple to verify whether the sorting was proceeding normally; one only needed to observe Snape's reaction. If Connap's family was indeed close to Snape, he certainly wouldn't remain calm after she was sorted into Hufflepuff…

Uh…

Well, Kyle was mistaken.

At the staff table, Snape's face was so gloomy it seemed ready to rain. He was incessantly talking to Dumbledore, occasionally casting glances toward Hufflepuff.

Kyle quickly lowered his head, striving to reduce his presence.

Could it really be that coincidental? Was the Sorting Hat genuinely this brave? Kyle felt a growing unease.

Meanwhile, the last new student had just finished being sorted into Gryffindor.

Dumbledore then stood up, his face beaming as he looked at the students below, stretching out his arms. "Welcome! Welcome to Hogwarts for another new school year! There is nothing more delightful than seeing all of you here.

What are you waiting for? Dig in!"

The previously empty dining table was instantly filled with steaming food.

Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, sausages, and steaks piled up like small mountains, making everyone's appetite surge.

If anyone found these dishes too greasy, there were fragrant boiled potatoes, pea shoots, and crispy chips nearby that paired nicely together.

The entire hall was filled with the enticing aroma of food.

Kyle shook his head, trying to push away those chaotic thoughts.

Well, it was what it was; there was no point in overthinking things. He'd take it one step at a time.

After all, no matter what happened, he wouldn't be the first to suffer misfortune; the Sorting Hat was still up ahead.

Moreover, even if Snape did want to make trouble for him, it wouldn't last long. As long as he could hold out until Harry Potter started school next year, Snape wouldn't have the time or inclination to bother with him anymore.

Kyle took a deep breath and reached for a fried chicken leg, shoving it into his mouth.

After being jostled on the train, he hadn't had much appetite and had only snacked a little. Now, he was genuinely hungry.

The house-elves' cooking was quite good.

The fried chicken leg was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. With a single bite, juices burst forth, and the flavor instantly filled his mouth.

The roasted potatoes were also excellent, cooked just right without any unnecessary seasonings, perfectly preserving the potatoes' natural aroma. If the taste was too mild, there were separate servings of ketchup and black pepper on the side.

Kyle found this combination surprisingly good and decided to grab another potato.

However, just as he sliced the potato and reached for the black pepper, Cedric suddenly leaned in, whispering, "Have you noticed she's been staring at you the whole time?"

"Staring at me? Who?" Kyle replied without lifting his head.

"The new girl, Connap Plintz, the one we met on the train," Cedric raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of teasing, and pointed in her direction. "Don't believe me? Look, she's staring at you again."

(End of Chapter)