A buzzing drone of voices drifted from a door to the right of the hall, but Professor McGonagall did not lead them inside.
Instead, she stopped and turned around, her stern gaze sweeping across the crowd.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” she said.
“In a moment, you will walk through these doors into the Great Hall to join your classmates.
The Sorting Ceremony is a very important start, for while you are here, your House will be something of your family within Hogwarts.
You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room.
I hope you will treat each other as family.”
“The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
Each House has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards.”
Professor McGonagall’s gaze lingered on Draco Malfoy for a moment.
Although the spell had already worn off by now, Mr.
Malfoy’s state could hardly be described as good.
His eyes were red and swollen, and his robes were in complete disarray, as though he had been thoroughly savaged by a troll.
Professor McGonagall paused, turning her stern glare toward Vaughn.
“I am aware that some incidents occurred on the train today—very unpleasant incidents…
but I hope that is the last of them!
Once you enter your Houses, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose points.
At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor.
I hope you will observe the rules and bring credit to your Houses!”
Vaughn met Professor McGonagall’s piercing stare with an innocent look, as if absolutely nothing had happened.
The corners of the hardworking Deputy Headmistress’s eyes twitched.
She turned back to the rest of the silent, petrified first-years and said, “The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily.
I suggest you smarten yourselves up.
The entire school will be watching you shortly.”
With that, she turned and left, walking into the Great Hall.
The quiet crowd instantly gasped in unison.
Draco Malfoy hurriedly smoothed his hair and tugged at his robes, trying to flatten the creases.
Harry and Ron also patted down their hair, while Hermione pursed her lips tightly and lightly tidied her now-silky long hair.
The others scrambled to tidy themselves up as well.
But before long, someone let out a shriek.
Vaughn looked up and saw a string of about twenty ghosts gliding out from the wall.
These pearly-white, translucent spirits were whispering to one another.
Some looked amiable, others seemed indignant, and a few tried to strike up a conversation with the first-years.
The first-years below held their breath again; no one dared to make a sound.
Vaughn, on the other hand, was rather interested in them.
Back when he read the books in his previous life, he had always wanted to understand the mechanics of ghost formation.
But now was clearly not the time.
The ghosts floated away when Professor McGonagall returned.
She swept another glance over the first-years and said, “Everything is ready.
Now, form a single file and follow me!”
The first-years quickly fell in behind her, passing through the open double doors into the Great Hall.
The four long tables flanking the aisle were already packed with older students, who watched them with looks of curiosity or scrutiny.
Vaughn spotted Percy Weasley, Fred, and George, who were waving at him and Ron.
Vaughn smiled back.
As for Ron, he was so nervous he didn’t even see them.
The ceiling of the Great Hall was just as Vaughn knew it—modeled after the starry sky, casting a soft, serene glow down upon them.
At the very front of the queue, a patched, frayed hat sat atop a four-legged stool.
It began to sing.
Vaughn was expressionless as he cast a silent spell to seal his ears.
He only removed it once the hat finally stopped twitching and Professor McGonagall stepped forward, unfurling a roll of parchment.
“Hannah Abbott!”
Ah, a familiar name…
One by one, the first-years stepped forward, placed the Sorting Hat on their heads, and waited for it to announce their House.
Of the people Vaughn knew, Hermione was the first to go up.
The girl scurried to the stool, and the Sorting Hat slipped down over her eyes.
After a brief moment of contemplation, it shouted, predictably, “Gryffindor!”
Next was Harry, who also went to Gryffindor.
The moment the Sorting Hat shouted the name, the entire Gryffindor table erupted, everyone banging on the table with all their might.
Vaughn squinted toward the staff table.
Professor Snape’s stony face grew even colder, while Albus Dumbledore, wearing his half-moon spectacles, had a sincere, joyful smile on his deeply wrinkled face.
So far, everything was going exactly as he had planned.
Vaughn smiled too.
The Savior’s story began at this very moment.
The greatest powers of the current wizarding world were about to engage in a battle of wits and strength revolving around him.
Vaughn was more than happy to observe and explore right by their side.
Before long, they finally reached the letter ‘W’.
Because of his surname’s initial, Ron was up first.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire hall, the boy looked utterly stiff, walking up to the stool with awkward, mismatched strides.
The moment the ragged hat touched Ron’s head, it bellowed, “Gryffindor!”
Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table.
Percy Weasley shouted loudly to those around him, “That’s my brother!”
Fred and George whistled and jumped up and down.
When Professor McGonagall called out “Vaughn Weasley,” they slammed the table even harder.
“Vaughn!
Vaughn!”
“Gryffindor!
Gryffindor!”
Caught up in the twins’ infectious enthusiasm, the other little Lions began chanting along, laughing and cheering.
Amidst the roar of cheers, Vaughn maintained his Occlumency as he walked toward the Sorting Hat, letting out a silent sigh.
*Sorry, Fred, George.*
Over the years, he had gained a clear understanding of himself.
His thirst for knowledge, his pursuit of power, his ambition…
there was no way he could ever be sorted into Gryffindor.
The moment the Sorting Hat was lowered gently onto his head, Vaughn heard a tiny voice whispering in his ear:
“My, my…
a highly, highly accomplished Occlumency barrier.
But you can’t hide from me—I embody the most advanced knowledge and wisdom of the Four Founders!
Hmm, those who master Occlumency usually have a hidden side and immense secrets.”
“Cunning child, it’s quite clear that two of the Houses do not suit you at all.
I shall place you in—”
“SLYTHERIN!”
The jovial atmosphere at the Gryffindor table ground to a screeching halt at the Sorting Hat’s shout.
Percy Weasley, who had half-risen from his seat, froze in place; Fred and George, who had been jumping up and down, practically tumbled back into their chairs; Hermione gasped, covering her mouth in shock; and Harry and Ron stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Even Professor McGonagall, who had heard of Vaughn’s name, couldn’t help but look back at Albus Dumbledore.
The greatest wizard of the century sat with a grave gaze, his eyes fixed on Vaughn’s back.
For a brief moment, the entire Great Hall fell into dead silence.
A moment later, Dumbledore cleared his throat softly, gesturing for Professor McGonagall to continue.
Slightly flustered, Professor McGonagall lifted the Sorting Hat off Vaughn’s head.
The other students gradually snapped out of their daze.
Looking at Vaughn’s iconic, unmistakably Weasley red hair, they began whispering to one another, their quiet murmurs soon swelling into a noisy buzz.
Vaughn ignored it all.
His attention was locked on the system panel popping up in front of his eyes:
[Main Quest 1: Join Hogwarts (Completed)] [Rewards: Talent Point × 1, Magic Power Scale × 50] [Claim rewards?]