From a doorway on the right side of the hall came the low hum of countless voices, 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 paused before continuing.
“In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall and take part in the Sorting Ceremony, which will determine which House you belong to.
This is extremely important.
During your seven years here, your House and this school will be your home.
You will attend classes together, live together, and share meals together.
I hope you will come to regard your fellow House members as family.” “There are four Houses at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
Each House has a proud history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards.” Professor McGonagall’s gaze lingered briefly on Malfoy.
By now, the spell’s effects had worn off, but Mr.
Malfoy could hardly be described as looking well.
His eyes were red and swollen, his robes wrinkled and disheveled, as though he had been mauled by a troll.
After a brief pause, McGonagall’s stern eyes shifted toward Vaughn.
“I am aware that certain…
unpleasant incidents occurred on the train today.
Very unpleasant incidents.” Her stare sharpened.
“But I hope this will be the last time.
Once you join your Houses, exceptional behavior will earn House points, while rule-breaking will cost them.
At the end of each school year, the House with the highest score will receive the House Cup.
It is a great honor.
I expect all of you to follow school rules and bring glory to your Houses.” Vaughn returned her stare with an innocent expression, as though nothing whatsoever had happened.
The hardworking Deputy Headmistress twitched slightly around the eyes before turning her attention to the rest of the silent first-years.
“The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly.
I suggest you tidy yourselves up.
The entire school will be watching.” With that, she turned and entered the Great Hall.
The moment she left, the crowd collectively exhaled.
Draco Malfoy hurriedly smoothed his hair and tugged at his robes, trying to flatten them.
Harry and Ron awkwardly fixed each other’s hair.
Hermione pressed her lips together and carefully adjusted her newly tamed locks.
Everyone else also began frantically tidying themselves.
Before long, however, someone let out a startled cry.
Vaughn looked up and saw over twenty ghosts emerging directly from the walls.
The translucent spirits floated together in groups, whispering among themselves.
Some wore kind expressions, some looked furious, and a few even attempted to speak with the first-years.
The students immediately held their breath again.
No one dared make a sound.
Vaughn, however, found them rather interesting.
Back when he had read the novels, he had always wanted to understand how ghosts came into existence.
Unfortunately, this was clearly not the time.
Once Professor McGonagall returned, the ghosts drifted away.
She scanned the first-years once more.
“Everything is ready.
Form a single line and follow me.” The students quickly obeyed.
Following behind her, they passed through the open doors of the Great Hall.
The four long House tables were already filled with older students, all watching the newcomers with varying degrees of curiosity and scrutiny.
Vaughn spotted Percy, Fred, and George.
They were waving enthusiastically at him and Ron.
Vaughn smiled back.
Ron, meanwhile, was so nervous that he hadn’t noticed them at all.
The enchanted ceiling looked exactly as Vaughn remembered.
A vast night sky stretched overhead, filled with stars that cast a soft, peaceful glow upon the hall below.
At the front of the room sat a battered old hat atop a stool.
The Sorting Hat began to sing.
Vaughn expressionlessly cast a spell to block his hearing and waited.
Only after the hat finally stopped wriggling and Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a parchment scroll did he remove the spell.
“Hannah Abbott!” Mm.
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.
Among the people Vaughn knew, Hermione was the first.
The girl practically ran to the stool.
The Sorting Hat covered her head, pondered briefly, and then shouted exactly what everyone expected.
“GRYFFINDOR!” Next came Harry.
Also Gryffindor.
The instant the Sorting Hat announced it, the entire Gryffindor table erupted.
Students pounded the table enthusiastically.
Vaughn narrowed his eyes toward the staff table.
Professor Snape’s already stern face had become even colder.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore, peering through his half-moon spectacles, wore a sincere and delighted smile on his deeply lined face.
Up to this point, everything remained under his control.
Vaughn smiled as well.
The story of the Boy Who Lived officially began at this moment.
The greatest forces in the wizarding world would soon begin maneuvering openly and secretly around Harry Potter.
And Vaughn was delighted to observe and explore it all from close range.
Eventually, after what felt like a long time, the Sorting reached the letter W.
Because of his surname, Ron went first.
Under everyone’s gaze, he looked so nervous that he barely knew where to put his hands and feet.
He practically marched in sync toward the stool.
The moment the hat touched his head, it shouted, “GRYFFINDOR!” Clap clap clap clap!
Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table.
Percy loudly informed everyone nearby, “That’s my brother!” Fred and George were whistling and bouncing around like lunatics.
When Professor McGonagall called, “Vaughn Weasley!” They slapped the table even harder.
“VAUGHN!
VAUGHN!” “GRYFFINDOR!
GRYFFINDOR!” The other young lions were infected by the twins’ enthusiasm and quickly joined in, laughing and shouting.
Amid the cheers, Vaughn walked toward the Sorting Hat while maintaining Occlumency.
Inside, he sighed.
Sorry, Fred.
Sorry, George.
Over the years, he had come to understand himself clearly.
His thirst for knowledge.
His pursuit of power.
His ambition.
There was no possible way he would be sorted into Gryffindor.
The moment the hat settled lightly onto his head, a tiny voice whispered into his ear.
“Hmm…
a very, very impressive Occlumency.
But you can’t hide from me.
I contain the greatest wisdom and knowledge of the Four Founders themselves.” “Hmm.
Those who master Occlumency usually possess hidden sides and tremendous secrets.” “A cunning child.
Clearly, two Houses are completely unsuitable for you.” “I’ll place you in—” “SLYTHERIN!” The Sorting Hat’s shout echoed through the hall.
The joyful atmosphere at the Gryffindor table froze instantly.
Percy, who had just begun rising from his seat, stopped halfway.
Fred and George, who had been jumping around excitedly, nearly fell off the bench.
Hermione covered her mouth in shock.
Harry and Ron stared with wide eyes.
Even Professor McGonagall, who had heard Vaughn’s name before, couldn’t help glancing back toward Dumbledore.
And the greatest wizard of the century sat silently, his gaze deep and thoughtful as he watched Vaughn’s back.
For a moment, the entire Great Hall fell silent.
After several seconds, Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly and signaled for the ceremony to continue.
Professor McGonagall hurriedly removed the Sorting Hat from Vaughn’s head.
The students gradually recovered from their shock.
Looking at Vaughn’s unmistakable Weasley red hair, they began whispering among themselves.
The murmurs quickly merged into a buzzing wave of noise.
Vaughn ignored all of it.
His attention was fixed solely on the system panel that appeared before his eyes.
[Main Quest ①: Join Hogwarts (Completed)] [Reward: 1 Talent Point, 50 Magic Power Units] [Claim Reward?]