Harry Potter: From Muggle Cousin to Conceptual Archmage

The students of the four houses watched Dudley's every move with extreme nervousness.

A significant number of them didn't want to be sorted into the same house as a violent wizard they couldn't defeat.

The wild rumors about the violent incident at Platform 9 3/4, which had grown more and more outlandish, along with Dudley's arrogant demand to change the sorting order just now, had led the students of Hogwarts to develop a deep misunderstanding of Dudley.

In their eyes, Dudley, who had seemingly emerged out of nowhere, was even more terrifying and intimidating than Harry, who had fallen from his pedestal.

This fear and rejection stemmed from rumors and the unknown.

"Ooo~~~ Come on! Dudley Dursley! A unique being recognized by Hogwarts! Let me see which house you'll be sorted into!"

The Sorting Hat wriggled and danced merrily on the four - legged stool, expressing its excitement in a tone similar to an aria, half - singing and half - speaking.

It was a peculiar creation, infused with a part of the minds of each of the four founders of Hogwarts.

The very purpose of its existence was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Now, the general consciousness of Hogwarts had, for the first time in history, recognized a wizard who wasn't the headmaster and granted this wizard many privileges.

This was an unprecedented event in a thousand years. How could it not be excited?

Unfortunately, the Sorting Hat didn't yet know that the one who had it so excited was a tough customer who didn't play by the rules.

Scourgify!

As Dudley walked, he raised his hand to cast the spell. He deliberately unleashed a very powerful magic power to give the Sorting Hat a thorough cleaning.

"Ouch! Oh no! Stop that! It's so itchy!"

The Sorting Hat was enveloped by Dudley's magic power. It felt tingly all over and bounced up and down, both itchy and comfortable at the same time.

The years - old dirt that had taken root in the leather and patches was extremely reluctantly removed by the magic power.

After the magic power dissipated, the Sorting Hat looked brand new, sparkling and gleaming.

However, it also lost some of its energy. Its tip drooped, looking rather lazy.

"What on earth are you doing..."

The Sorting Hat mumbled helplessly.

"It's been a long time. It's time for a wash! Both for you and for Hogwarts!"

In the shocked gazes of Professor McGonagall and the other professors sitting at the teachers' table, Dudley said slowly and calmly.

Then, Dudley simply reached out and picked up the Sorting Hat.

The clean Sorting Hat perked up. Ignoring the incident of being forcefully bathed, it still looked forward to sorting Dudley.

After all, he was a person recognized by the general consciousness of Hogwarts. It was only natural for him to be special.

"Don't rush to give the result. You do the test first, and let's discuss it!"

In front of Professor McGonagall and the nearby faculty, Dudley made a request to the Sorting Hat without a care in the world.

"No problem. I always respect the personal wishes of wizards!"

Without waiting for Dudley to do anything, the Sorting Hat bent its brim, gathered strength in Dudley's palm, and then leaped high like a springbok.

In the presence of everyone in the Great Hall, it plopped itself onto Dudley's head.

"Oh! You know what? After that bath, I feel so much lighter!"

I couldn't jump this high normally!"

After sharing its thoughts on the high - jump, the Sorting Hat immersed itself in probing Dudley's characteristics. "Well... As expected! Truly special. It's a tough choice!

You have the courage to break all the rules, are extremely loyal to your family and friends, possess wisdom and strategies far beyond ordinary people, and Wow! Such a powerful ambition!

You possess the traits of all four houses, but I suggest you go to Slytherin! It should be the most suitable place for you!"

The Sorting Hat mumbled in a startled, low voice, and the result was pretty much what Dudley had expected.

Different from a wizard's Legilimency, the Sorting Hat can not only read minds but also detect deeper - seated personality traits.

"There's something wrong with your suggestion!" Dudley muttered back. "Since I have the traits of all four houses, why make a choice? I want them all!"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" The Sorting Hat was deeply shocked and couldn't understand.

"Wasn't my meaning clear enough? I want all four houses. Just sort me into Hogwarts!" Dudley explained.

"This doesn't comply with the rules! Sorting you into Hogwarts again without specifying a house is like not doing the Sorting at all. I'm the Sorting Hat. How can I not do the Sorting?"

The Sorting Hat was unhappy. It couldn't comprehend Dudley's way of thinking.

"Read my mind again!"

Dudley knew there would be resistance, but he wouldn't give up. While asking the Sorting Hat to continue reading his mind, he explained, "Originally, I didn't care which house I'd be sorted into. Going to Slytherin was also an option.

But after entering Hogwarts, I had to change my mind.

Sorting Hat, aren't you curious why Hogwarts chose me and gave me so much authority?

That's because Hogwarts needs an educational reform, and I'm the one who'll kick - start it!

So, I can't just join one house. Otherwise, I'll lack the stance to guide and change the other three houses, which will pose a great obstacle to my future actions."

The Sorting Hat didn't reply immediately. It was deeply captivated by the wonderful vision in Dudley's mind.

It actually always knew that although it sorted the wizards in the wizarding world into four houses, in the end, the students from these four houses would transform into two camps of white wizards and black wizards, opposing each other and engaging in an alumni war.

Sometimes, it also wondered if the Sorting was absolutely necessary. Planting the seeds of confrontation among wizards during their school days, was it harming them and the entire wizarding world?

But the Sorting Hat was born for the Sorting. It was a tradition at Hogwarts. It didn't have the courage to overturn this tradition and was afraid of losing its job.

Now, the general consciousness of Hogwarts had found someone who might change all this.

Through reading Dudley's mind, the Sorting Hat also learned about the prototype of the plan in Dudley's mind. The process was rough, but the ending was wonderful.

Moreover, this plan wouldn't make it lose its job.

So why not give Dudley a chance, and also give itself and Hogwarts a chance?

"Hogwarts!!!"

Having sorted things out, the Sorting Hat shouted out the most special Sorting result ever at the top of its voice.

After shouting, it added, with the entire school - staff and students alike - with their jaws dropped in shock:

"I hereby announce! Dudley Dursley will simultaneously join the four houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. His Sorting result is Hogwarts!"

"You'll be proud of this decision!"

Dudley smiled and took the Sorting Hat off his head.

He from the very beginning had full confidence in the Sorting Hat. This confidence was not only based on the permission given to him by the general consciousness of Hogwarts, but also because in the original story, the Sorting Hat itself had reflected on the issue of Sorting.

In the original story, in the year when Voldemort regained his physical form and took power again, the Sorting Hat wasn't very enthusiastic during the Sorting.

The song it sang before the Sorting was also different from usual. It mentioned the event a thousand years ago when Salazar Slytherin parted ways with his three companions and wondered if it had made a mistake in the Sorting.

Sure enough, the Sorting Hat, an excellent creation that inherited the thoughts of the four founders of Hogwarts, had better strategic vision than most wizards.

...

The Sorting Hat had completed its work for the year, but the Great Hall inevitably erupted in an uproar.

The professors whispered to each other, and the students chattered.

Among the four houses, those wizards who believed the rumors were really down in the dumps.

Well, now it's all fine. Don't even think about pushing the jinx out. Everyone will just have bad luck together!

What they didn't know was that the jinx's cousin was getting ready to team up with him and teach them another lesson!