C19 Malfoy Steam!

"New students!"

The plump monk greeted them with a smile, saying,

"I think you're probably here to take the test, right?"

Some of the students nodded silently in agreement.

"I hope you all get sorted into Hufflepuff!"

The monk continued,

"I was a member of that house myself."

"Now, move forward,"

A sharp voice commanded.

"The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin."

Prof. Mcgonagall had returned.

The ghosts, with their ethereal bodies, fled through the opposite wall and quickly vanished from sight.

"Now, form two lines,"

Prof. Mcgonagall, holding a scroll of parchment, instructed the first-year students,

"Follow me."

Harry felt as though his legs were weighed down with lead, yet curiously, he managed to take his place in line, standing behind a boy with light brown hair, with Ron behind him. They left the room, crossed the hall, and entered the grand hall through a set of double doors.

It was like something out of a fairy tale; he had never imagined such a magical, magnificent place could exist.

Students from the other years were already seated around four long tables, illuminated by thousands of candles floating midair.

The tables were adorned with shimmering golden plates and goblets. At the head of the hall, there was another long table where the teachers sat.

Prof. Mcgonagall led the first-year students in front of the teachers' table, arranging them in two rows down the center aisle.

The flickering candlelight cast a glow on them as hundreds of eyes watched with curiosity and excitement.

Ghosts shimmered among the students, their silvery forms glowing faintly.

Looking up at the star-studded, pitch-black ceiling, Hermione whispered to Dougherty beside her, "They've enchanted the ceiling to look like the night sky outside. I read about it in 'Hogwarts: A History'."

Prof. Mcgonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-year students, drawing the gaze of every Little Wizard, including Liang Mu.

She then set an old, patched, and very dirty wizard's hat on top of the stool.

Clearly, this was the Sorting Hat, though it remained a mystery whether the voice emanating from it was the result of a cleverly crafted magical program or a sentient being akin to a spirit.

The upperclassmen, aware that the sorting ceremony was about to commence, ceased their chatter. The Little Wizards, hearts fluttering with nervous anticipation, held their breath, and the hall gradually fell into a hushed silence.

Suddenly, the hat twitched as if awakening from a slumber, and a wide slit formed, resembling a mouth – and the hat began to sing.

Though the voice wasn't unpleasant, Liang Mu couldn't help but furrow his brow.

The song involuntarily stirred memories within Liang Mu, alerting him that something was amiss, prompting him to snap back to reality.

He glanced at the panel below:

Status: Full Spirit, Spirit Barrier, Mermaid Protection (from the Mermaid Tear Necklace)

Alert: You are currently under the influence of the Sorting Hat's song. Your brain will temporarily suspend resistance, and judgment is underway.

Judgment successful, you are no longer influenced by the song.

Clearly, this safeguard was designed to better access the thoughts of the Little Wizards, akin to the Heart Demon Illusion Formation used by some sects during disciple initiation.

Liang Mu cast a sidelong glance at the other Players, noting their faces betrayed little emotion.

Were they unaware, or had they anticipated this?

After the hat concluded its song, the hall erupted into thunderous applause. The hat graciously bowed to each of the four tables in turn.

Liang Mu steadied his momentarily unsettled emotions, having long prepared himself for the Sorting Hat's ritual.

At that moment, Prof. Mcgonagall stepped forward, a scroll of parchment in hand.

"When I call your name, you will don the hat and sit upon the stool to await your sorting," she announced.

"Hanna Ebb!"

A little girl with rosy cheeks and golden braids tumbled out from the line, placed the hat upon her head, which conveniently obscured her eyes, and took a seat.

After a brief pause—

"Hufflepuff!"

The Sorting Hat's piercing voice resonated throughout the hall.

The table to the right burst into applause, welcoming Hanna with cheers as she made her way to join them. The jovial ghost of a portly friar also waved to her in greeting.

Then came Hermione's turn, and as if it were her destiny, she was sorted into Gryffindor.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the Sorting Hat as it sorted the Little Wizards into their respective houses, but three individuals were looking elsewhere.

Snape's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, were locked onto Harry Potter. He saw the eyes that haunted his dreams and then dismissively turned to face his colleague, Lodge.

The second person was, of course, Lodge, or rather, Lord Voldemort, who was concealed at the back of his head.

Harry Potter, catching Snape's intense gaze, felt disconcerted. A sudden pain shot through the scar on his forehead.

The third person was Liang Mu, who was observing the old man seated behind the Sorting Hat, the one with the long beard and slightly crooked nose – Dumbledore.

Dumbledore clapped in his unique way, his left hand gently patting the back of his right, silent as a whisper. His deep blue eyes peered over his half-moon glasses at each Little Wizard being sorted, though his attention often drifted to the desserts laid out before him.

Noticing Liang Mu's gaze, Dumbledore looked back at him, their eyes meeting. Liang Mu instinctively clutched the necklace at his chest.

Feeling no abnormalities with the necklace, Liang Mu smiled and nodded at Dumbledore in a gesture of respect.

Dumbledore, realizing Liang Mu had caught his subtle hint of hunger, responded with a playful smile and a nod of his own.

"Harry Potter," Prof. Mcgonagall called out, holding the parchment in her right hand and the Sorting Hat in her left.

Dumbledore's focus returned, and he sat up straighter, regaining the headmaster's authoritative air, though his forward lean betrayed his particular interest in Harry Potter.

"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat declared loudly, prompting a roar of cheers from the Gryffindor students. Even the Praepostor stood to applaud, and the Weasley twins leaped onto their chairs, celebrating as if greeting a triumphant hero.

One by one, the Little Wizards approached the Sorting Hat, and soon it was Liang Mu's turn.

Though Liang Mu was tempted to intimidate the Sorting Hat as he had read in a novel, he chose not to draw undue attention and dutifully donned the tattered hat.

Note: You are under the influence of the Sorting Hat's Legilimency.

Note: The park has sealed your memories and replaced them with a one-time virtual memory.

This means that if Legilimency were to be used, it would normally extract the true memory. Does that imply an immediate erasure for violating the confidentiality of the park's information?

Liang Mu tapped his index finger lightly on the armrest.

Note: Legilimency judgment has commenced.

Judgment failed; the Sorting Hat is unable to access your memories.

"Hmm?"