Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 32: The Sorting Hat Can't Decide Your Future

The sudden scream startled everyone in the Great Hall!

Professor McGonagall trembled all over, instinctively stepping back a few steps. The other professors wore horrified expressions, looking utterly incredulous.

Professor Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore both stood up in shock simultaneously.

Professor Quirrell, who was possessed by Voldemort, stared intently at Chu Yang.

In Hogwarts' nearly thousand-year history, nothing like this had ever happened before!

What was wrong with the Sorting Hat? Why was it screaming so miserably?

The Sorting Hat isn't all that, Chu Yang thought, now much calmer after his earlier tension. He took the hat off and grabbed the wrinkled mouth, silencing it instantly.

Not only that, but he also gave the intelligent hat a threatening look, making it quickly learn to keep quiet.

Talking recklessly could get you killed... or rather, could get the hat "killed"!

"I'm going to put you back on now. Behave yourself, understood?"

The Sorting Hat hurriedly nodded repeatedly. Chu Yang smiled with satisfaction and put the hat back on his head.

"Ahem, my sleep has been poor lately... I got a bit out of sorts just now..."

"Mm, very good. I can see the potential in you."

The Sorting Hat continued to spout nonsense while trembling slightly, "You have the courage to take risks, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and sufficient loyalty to your friends. More importantly, you're willing to... uh, I mean, you know how to protect yourself and weigh the circumstances."

"Slytherin!"

Though somewhat puzzled, the students from Slytherin House applauded. They didn't yet know that Chu Yang came from a Muggle family.

The other houses would have been fine... why did it have to be Slytherin?

I was planning to spend the rest of my school years quietly!

Chu Yang smacked his lips, dissatisfied, and said, "Did you make a mistake?"

The Sorting Hat's whole body trembled as it asked, "A mistake?"

Chu Yang nodded, "I think you got it wrong."

The Sorting Hat quivered and said nervously, "Then I must have gotten it wrong. Let me—"

Before it could finish speaking, Professor McGonagall lifted it off his head.

With a complicated expression, Professor McGonagall looked at Chu Yang and said, "The Sorting Hat doesn't determine your future. After the banquet, Headmaster Dumbledore intends to have a personal talk with you. You may step down for now."

The air in the Great Hall seemed to freeze at that moment. The students gaped in shock—even the upper-year students, about to graduate, had never seen such a spectacle!

What did she mean by "The Sorting Hat doesn't determine your future"?

Even the professors whispered among themselves, exchanging astonished glances. They had never witnessed anything so outrageous.

Chu Yang scratched his head and asked, "Where should I sit?"

Professor McGonagall, now exasperated, replied helplessly, "Sit wherever you like."

Chu Yang thought for a moment and then plopped down at Hufflepuff's table, startling the students there. Though surprised, they still warmly welcomed him.

Chu Yang chose to sit there mainly to repay Professor Sprout's kindness. He didn't know where he would ultimately be placed, but he figured he should show some appreciation.

After the brief chaos, the Sorting Ceremony continued. With Chu Yang out of the way, everything gradually returned to normal, and the Sorting Hat showed no more signs of being "half-awake."

Chu Yang had a hard time enjoying his meal, feeling as if all eyes were on him, creating the illusion that he was sitting under a spotlight.

Whether it was the teachers or students, their curiosity about Chu Yang seemed to surpass even that directed toward Harry Potter.

Fortunately, the appearance of the ghosts helped divert much of the attention from him.

Ghosts streamed in from the walls, statues, and tables all over the castle. Especially the ones emerging from the food gave Chu Yang a deep sense of discomfort.

The new students, having never seen such a spectacle, fell into chaos once again.

Some of the more timid girls began to scream one after another.

As part of the welcoming ceremony, the teachers and upper-year students watched the scene with amusement, even Dumbledore was smiling.

"Ghosts, there are really ghosts!" Ron tugged on Harry's robes, shouting, "Fred wasn't lying, there really are ghosts in the school!"

Harry, nervous, clutched his robes, afraid of both the ghosts and Ron pulling his clothes off.

Even Hermione, usually the most calm and collected of the trio, had turned pale, her fingers tightly gripping her robe as she helplessly glanced over at Chu Yang, sitting at the next table.

Chu Yang gestured to her to relax.

The semi-transparent ghosts were in stark contrast to the warm colors of the living. To Chu Yang, it was like seeing the boundary between life and death.

In the world of Harry Potter, ghosts were more like earthbound spirits.

Some of them had willingly chosen to become ghosts, and according to "Nearly Headless Nick," there was some kind of high price to pay to do so.

As for what that price was, only those who became ghosts knew.

Additionally, some ghosts were created after accidental deaths in the school, wandering about in confusion, like Moaning Myrtle, who was killed by the basilisk's petrifying magic and became an earthbound spirit in the second-floor bathroom.

Both were ghosts, but they were entirely different in nature, especially the latter.

Chu Yang speculated it might have something to do with Hogwarts itself.

This castle, which had existed for nearly a thousand years, held countless secrets. It might not even be considered a mere object.

It was possible that students' enrollment in the school involved some sort of contract with the castle. Under certain special circumstances, this contract could be triggered, causing deceased students to become ghosts.

Of course, this was just Chu Yang's speculation. However, he thought optimistically, "If I die and become a ghost, the first thing I'll do is tear Hogwarts apart. No way am I staying here forever!"

The Hogwarts feast was well-received by the new students, but Chu Yang found it underwhelming.

After all, Britain is infamous for its food.

Add in a prankster ghost who kept removing his head, and Chu Yang's already low appetite vanished completely.

After the feast, the new students, who were supposed to head straight to their dorms for rest, were instead led by Professor McGonagall to a lounge next to the Great Hall.

Professor McGonagall began checking whether the new students had brought wands, trying to determine if Malfoy's incident was caused by someone.

Fifteen minutes later, Professor McGonagall's findings were surprising.

None of the new students had brought a wand.

This meant that Malfoy's incident was almost certainly not human-made.

"This matter must be reported to Headmaster Dumbledore immediately!" A rare look of seriousness appeared on Professor McGonagall's usually stern face.