Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 31: The Sorting Hat's Fear

In the lounge next to the Great Hall, the new students waited for Professor McGonagall's return, many having resigned themselves to the idea of an impending exam. After all, it's one thing to panic when you're the only one who hasn't studied, but when everyone else is equally unprepared, giving up becomes a shared comfort.

"How many times must I tell you to be quiet?" Professor McGonagall, who had silently appeared at the door, stared at the students like a stern homeroom teacher.

The shadow of past traumas floated to the surface, making the usually calm and composed Chu Yang shudder.

"Now, line up properly and get ready to proceed to the Great Hall, where you will complete your Sorting Ceremony."

Under Professor McGonagall's piercing gaze, the new students quickly jumped to their feet.

They swiftly lined up, following McGonagall obediently.

She led the students through the side door, turning towards the main entrance. As they approached, the grand doors opened automatically, and the group entered the magnificent hall.

Inside the Great Hall, four long tables were laid out, each belonging to one of the four Houses, while a smaller long table at the front was reserved for the teachers.

Thousands of floating candles illuminated the hall, making it as bright as day.

On either side were statues and burning fire bowls.

The ceiling had been bewitched to look like the night sky, occasionally dotted with stars, creating the illusion of dining under the open sky.

Chu Yang was momentarily awestruck by the sight of the Great Hall, but his thoughts quickly shifted elsewhere.

"It would be better if they replaced the candles with adjustable LED lights. The flickering candlelight is unsteady and rather harsh on the eyes. The magical ceiling, impressive as it is, loses some of its grandeur because of it."

Though he found it magical, Chu Yang, now somewhat familiar with Hogwarts, realized that the magical world seemed to be diverging from the technological advancements of the Muggle world.

The magical world resembled a stubborn old man, resistant to change and steeped in outdated traditions, while the Muggle world had boarded the fast-moving train of progress.

Chu Yang was well aware of the tremendous changes technology would bring to the world in the next twenty years. If the current generation of young witches and wizards didn't embrace change, the power dynamics between Muggles and wizards might shift completely.

Lost in his thoughts, Chu Yang suddenly felt someone's gaze on him. Following the direction of the stare, he found himself locking eyes with none other than Dumbledore, seated at the center of the teachers' table.

The famed, wise, and powerful headmaster of Hogwarts, known throughout the magical world, was looking at Chu Yang with a curious expression.

Not far from him, Herbology Professor Sprout was also waving at Chu Yang, gesturing towards herself repeatedly.

What does that mean?

Does she want me to choose Hufflepuff?

Chu Yang blinked in confusion.

Professor Sprout, growing anxious, almost stood up to shout, but Dumbledore quickly intervened with a light cough.

He subtly gestured for Sprout to calm down, and she reluctantly sat back down.

This small episode, however, caught the attention of Professor Snape, seated next to Dumbledore, who had previously been focused on Harry Potter.

In addition to Snape, Quirinus Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort, was also watching Chu Yang closely.

To be precise, it was Voldemort, lying dormant within Quirrell, who was stirring at the sight of Chu Yang.

In front of the teachers' table stood a small four-legged stool, upon which sat an old, tattered, and patched pointed hat.

It was hard to believe that this was the legendary Sorting Hat, imbued with the wisdom of Hogwarts' four founders.

As Professor McGonagall led the new students to stand before the Sorting Hat, the Great Hall fell into an expectant silence. Everyone knew what was about to happen.

"Before we begin the Sorting Ceremony, Headmaster Dumbledore has a few words for you," Professor McGonagall announced.

Dumbledore rose to his feet, addressing the hall with a brief reminder. His main points were to warn the new students not to enter the Forbidden Forest and to avoid the third-floor corridor on the right.

The third-floor corridor held little interest for Chu Yang. Even without Dumbledore's warning, he had no intention of going there.

But the Forbidden Forest...

That was a different story. It was a treasure trove, a place to make money. Not even Dumbledore himself, or anyone else for that matter, could stop Chu Yang from exploring it.

"Now, when I call your name, please step forward. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will decide which House you belong to," Professor McGonagall said, holding the hat in one hand as she prepared to read from her list.

"Is it really that simple?"

"What about the exam, Hermione?"

"Thank goodness, as long as there's no exam, I don't care how we're sorted."

While the new students whispered among themselves, McGonagall began calling names. The first to be sorted was Hannah Abbott, the future owner of the Leaky Cauldron.

As the saying goes, "Protagonists come and go, but Hannah is a constant." Chu Yang recalled this old phrase when he heard her name.

"Hufflepuff!"

Chu Yang was still musing over the expression when Professor McGonagall's voice reached his ears again.

"Chu Yang!"

Chu Yang took a deep breath and stepped forward.

As a transmigrator from another world, Chu Yang couldn't help feeling the pressure as he approached the Sorting Hat.

He wasn't sure just how powerful the Sorting Hat's Legilimency might be.

Could it only read surface-level personality traits?

Or could it delve deeper and access memories?

Chu Yang had considered ways to avoid being sorted by the hat, but after noticing Dumbledore's watchful gaze, he quickly abandoned the idea.

Playing tricks in front of the greatest wizard of the age wasn't a smart choice.

The weight on his head brought him back to reality, as the Sorting Hat had already been placed atop him. Now, all he could do was hope that the hat wasn't as powerful as he feared.

On the other hand, as soon as the Sorting Hat touched Chu Yang's head, it found itself unable to sense anything. It was as if it had been placed on a rock.

The Sorting Hat was perplexed. In all its centuries of use, this was the first time it had encountered such a situation. Could it be that it had deteriorated over the years? But that was impossible. It had a contract with Hogwarts itself. The Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance, those two silent sentinels, were still functioning perfectly. How could it break down before them?

Just as the Sorting Hat prepared to increase its efforts...

It sensed a vast, ethereal palace.

A palace far grander and more majestic than Hogwarts itself!

Suddenly, faint images began to emerge…

Thrones!

Countless thrones!

As the hat tried to make sense of what it was seeing, all of a sudden, each and every throne, whether dilapidated or pristine, erupted with overwhelming power!

From nearly a hundred thrones, shadowy figures coalesced!

These figures snapped open their eyes, coldly glaring at the Sorting Hat.

In the real world, the Sorting Hat let out a terrified scream!