"Azkaban!"
This high-pitched shriek echoed under the dome of the Hogwarts Great Hall, instantly freezing the atmosphere.
Dumbledore's expectant smile instantly stiffened, turning into disbelief.
Professor McGonagall's eyes showed terror.
Even in Quirrell's mind, Voldemort's voice paused for a moment, then burst into laughter as if he had heard the funniest thing.
"Azkaban?"
"Pfft ha ha ha ha, has this broken hat had its brain clogged with grease?"
After the laughter, Voldemort's voice gradually became more curious.
"Or rather, does this little wizard, Charle Evans, really have such potential?"
"Is he that evil, evil enough for the Sorting Hat to open its mouth and sort him into Azkaban?"
"Besides robbing Knockturn Alley, what else has he done?"
At this moment, the Hogwarts Great Hall was also in an uproar.
Eyes filled with curiosity, terror, or awe converged on Charle.
Charle, filled with righteous indignation, ripped off the Sorting Hat.
"Azkaban? How am I related to Azkaban?"
"Slander!"
"Blatant slander!"
Meanwhile, Charle was filled with confusion.
Is the Sorting Hat's Legilimency that powerful?
With his Occlumency skills, even if he only opened a small crack to let it read a few thoughts, it could only read his strongest current thoughts.
The Sorting Hat couldn't read his memories or see what he had done, so how did it sort him into Azkaban?
Should he destroy the Sorting Hat now to eliminate the evidence?
Fortunately, just before Charle was about to act, Dumbledore waved his wand.
"Silence!"
The noisy Great Hall immediately fell silent, all sounds muted by Dumbledore's spell.
Charle was startled.
He felt that the intensity of Dumbledore's Silencing Charm was so high that if he didn't have the Dragon Armor Spell as magical protection to counteract it, he would probably be unable to make a sound for a while.
That would mean being unable to cast spells, and his strength would drop sharply.
Just from this one spell, it was clear that Dumbledore, holding the Elder Wand, had probably maxed out the spell's intensity.
If Voldemort, who had split seven Horcruxes and had explosive magical power, were to confront him head-on, he wouldn't last long.
Deep Blue's prompt also sounded in Charle's mind.
Host has obtained high-grade material for Silencing Charm. The points required for subsequent deduction of Silencing Charm have significantly decreased.
Hearing this prompt, Charle's eyes immediately lit up.
Did the old man Dumbledore drop gold?
Does that mean he can find more opportunities for Dumbledore to make a move in the future?
How many high-grade materials and how many points could he save!
Meanwhile, Dumbledore came to the center of the Great Hall, picked up the Sorting Hat, and finally understood the reason behind the earlier events.
After figuring out why the Sorting Hat had sorted Charle into Azkaban, Dumbledore's expression changed, looking at Charle with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"When the Hogwarts sorting system was established, the creators placed countless restrictions on the Sorting Hat. In subsequent admissions, hundreds of loopholes were plugged to ensure the Sorting Hat sorted students in the most reasonable and fair manner."
"Therefore, for hundreds of years, the magic on the Sorting Hat has not needed any further adjustments."
"But perhaps starting today, a new restriction will have to be added to the Sorting Hat."
"A little wizard cannot be sorted into Azkaban just because they are thinking about how to cook the Sorting Hat."
"Charle Evans, I must say, you have created a piece of Hogwarts history."
"But I sincerely advise you, the Sorting Hat truly hasn't been washed in a thousand years, so perhaps even the strongest seasoning won't cover the smell of grease on it."
"Cooking the Sorting Hat, please, really don't. I don't want the entire Hogwarts castle to be filled with the smell of grease..."
When Dumbledore's voice spread through the Great Hall, the Silencing Charm was immediately lifted, but everyone in the hall was still in shock, unable to recover for a long time.
Their gazes fell on Charle, their eyes filled with admiration.
Especially the Hufflepuff wizards, who were almost prostrating themselves before Charle.
They had thought that Hufflepuff was the college most skilled in cooking, having tried all sorts of magical ingredients.
But they never expected such a talent?
The Sorting Hat even wanted to take a bite?
When it came to eating, Hufflepuff would declare Charle the strongest!
Immediately after, some young witches let out screams of terror.
Originally, when they put on the Sorting Hat, they hadn't reacted much due to nervousness.
Now that they had come to their senses and heard Dumbledore personally admit that the Sorting Hat had never been washed in a thousand years, the smell of head grease seemed to rush over them, making them restless and eager to find a place to wash their hair quickly.
After this farce, Dumbledore looked at the Sorting Hat.
"Alright, now it's time for the serious sorting, isn't it?"
But even with the patch, the Sorting Hat still didn't want to be worn by Charle.
"Dumbledore, I'm telling you, he's serious, this little devil is serious, he really wants to eat me."
"I could feel it just now, his saliva was secreting like crazy."
"Watch your things, you must watch them carefully, otherwise, if you're not careful, he might chew on your wand!"
"As for sorting, let him choose whatever he wants, but please keep me away from Charle Evans, and absolutely do not let him know where I'm stored. I don't want to be broken into and boiled one day."
Dumbledore's face was full of helplessness.
"How can it be that exaggerated?"
"It's normal for a young wizard to be a bit greedy, Sorting Hat, you're thinking too much."
"How could Mr. Charle break in and boil you? A young wizard wouldn't do something so brutal..."
After some persuasion, the Sorting Hat reluctantly and grumpily resumed the sorting process.
It was placed back on Charle's head and whispered in Charle's mind.
"Charle Evans, where should I sort you?"
"You have courage, I'm sure of that, you should have the courage to do some incredible things."
"Of course, you also have a passion for knowledge. I feel you have a rather strong appetite for those ancient magic books."
"Ambition is not lacking either."
"As for the pursuit of delicious food, you are even more intensely passionate."
"All four houses are very suitable for you, what do you think?"
In response, Charle asked a question.
"Which house can I eat more magical food? And have access to the most magical ingredients?"
The Sorting Hat immediately said.
"That would naturally be Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuff himself was very keen on food, and many of the magical world's delicacies that have been passed down to this day came from Hufflepuff's hands. The students in this house are also very enthusiastic about eating, they have their own small kitchen, open twenty-four hours a day!"
"At the same time, Hufflepuff has always produced many masters of magical herbs, who can access various rare herbs, and they are also very good at raising magical creatures..."
Before the words were finished, Charle made his choice without hesitation.
"Hufflepuff!"
When this loud shout rang out, the Hufflepuff long table also echoed with warm applause.
Countless Hufflepuff wizards looked at Charle with the gaze of welcoming a divine being.
They were sure that when Charle, the first young wizard in a thousand years to think of making food with the Sorting Hat, joined, the Hufflepuff house's recipes would definitely have many interesting additions.
At this moment, Charle slowly stood up, his hand slowly reaching towards the Sorting Hat on his head, while sincerely saying to the Sorting Hat in his heart.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa Sorting Hat, I was just a little greedy, I didn't expect to give you such a big scare."
"I just thought you were an ordinary magic hat, but who knew you were actually a unique Sorting Hat with life, thoughts, and a thousand years of history?"
"If I had known this earlier, how could I have had designs on you?"
"Can you accept my apology?"
The Sorting Hat's fright slowly subsided, and at the same time, it felt a bit guilty.
Although it was scared, how could it shout out Azkaban's sorting in public?
This had too bad an impact on this young wizard.
It was rare that this child actually apologized to it. Yes, he was just a little greedy, and ignorance is no sin.
So the Sorting Hat kindly said.
"It's alright, child, I should also apologize to you, what I did just now was too inappropriate..."
Before the Sorting Hat could finish speaking, Charle eagerly said in his mind.
"Then can I come and talk to you, Grandpa Sorting Hat, when I have time?"
"I feel you speak very nicely, you're knowledgeable, and very humorous. Alas, I don't have many friends, I'm not sociable, and I don't get along with other children..."
The Sorting Hat immediately said happily.
"Of course, child. To be honest, being taken out only once a year makes me quite lonely. I really want to find someone to talk to."
"I'm kept in the cabinet in the Headmaster's office, on the third shelf, second compartment from the left as you enter. If you want to talk to me, you can come to the Headmaster's office to find me."
"The password to the Headmaster's office is some strange sweet, like Cockroach Clusters or something. You can just try them one by one from Honeydukes' candy list..."
Just as the Sorting Hat was rambling on, Charle slowly grinned and took it off his head.
"Headmaster's office, third shelf from the left, second compartment as you enter, right? I've got it."
In that instant, the Sorting Hat was dumbfounded.
"???"
"Holy cow, he was tricking me?"
"#￥%￥!"
"Dumbledore, Dumbledore, I want to move, Dumbledore!"
But before the Sorting Hat could even shout, Charle waved his wand and tapped it lightly.
A Silencing Charm plunged the Sorting Hat's voice into silence.
The Sorting Hat's eyes were wide with fury, babbling something unintelligible.
It stared at Dumbledore, hoping Dumbledore would stand up for it.
"Dumbledore, do something, Dumbledore!"
"Say something! In broad daylight, under the clear sky, Charle Evans won't let me speak!"
Then, under the Sorting Hat's hopeful gaze, Dumbledore made a move.
He cast another Silencing Charm on the Sorting Hat.
Merlin's beard, this hat was indeed very noisy. Tonight was already chaotic enough, and Dumbledore didn't want to cause any more drama.
At the same time, Dumbledore gave Charle a look of praise.
"Beautiful Silencing Charm, Charle. Ten points to Hufflepuff!"
Instantly, the Sorting Hat was dumbstruck.
"Damn it."
"This world... just end."
An extra three thousand words added today. Thank you all for your support.
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