"Slytherin!"
As the Sorting Hat shouted the word—
Diana seemed to let out a breath of relief. Then, looking nervous, she hurried straight toward the Slytherin table—so flustered that she even forgot to take off the hat.
It wasn't until Professor Cuthbert Binns called her name from behind that she snapped out of it, quickly turning back to remove the hat and hand it to him—
Laughter rippled through half the Great Hall. Avoiding the gaze of the twenty-odd neatly lined-up first-years, Diana turned her head aside in embarrassment…
At the same time, the elderly man seated at the center of the staff table, wearing blue half-moon spectacles, studied her closely in surprise—and seemed to pause for several seconds.
But soon, the Albus Dumbledore of decades past turned back, resuming his quiet conversation with the still-young Professor Minerva McGonagall, as though nothing had happened.
When Diana, still a little flustered, approached the Slytherin table for the first time, the Slytherin students welcomed her with applause.
A tall, dark-haired girl stood up and shook her hand. She was faintly recognizable—Draco's mother, Narcissa Black.
"Welcome to Slytherin, dear," she said gracefully.
...
The scene shattered into fragments again, then slowly pieced itself back together.
This time, the world around them had turned into a vast expanse of white.
Winter had arrived. The snow on the road had mostly been cleared, but in the distance, everything was still blanketed in white.
Amid the snow, it was easier to make things out. Not far ahead, Greengrass Manor stood alone against the snowy landscape, looking almost isolated.
Diana trudged toward it, dragging a heavy suitcase behind her, leaving two faint tracks in the snow.
She didn't look much older than before—this was likely her first Christmas after entering Hogwarts.
"Welcome back, my dear young mistress!" the House-elf Emily greeted warmly, immediately hoisting the suitcase—nearly as big as she was.
"Long time no see, Emily!" Diana said with a cheerful smile.
She looked innocent and bright, her eyes livelier than they had been six months ago… in that moment, she bore a striking resemblance to Astoria.
"How is Alice? Is she doing well? I haven't seen her in half a year—has she been thinking about me every day?" Diana asked eagerly after handing over her luggage.
The House-elf froze, clearly confused. "I don't understand what you mean, my dear young mistress…"
"I'm asking about Alice—my sister Alice. How is she?"
"Diana!" Before the House-elf could answer, a somewhat cold female voice rang out from inside the manor. "You're back?"
"Yes, Mother!" Diana shivered slightly before quickly responding.
A few seconds later, the manor doors swung open, and a tall woman stepped out.
"What are you waiting for? Get inside," she said impatiently. "Emily, take her luggage to her room."
The sunlight reflecting off the snow in the garden was dazzling. Even at such close range, Jon and Astoria couldn't make out the woman's face clearly.
Diana followed behind her, looking small and subdued as she walked down the corridor.
Along the way, she seemed to struggle internally for quite some time before finally gathering the courage to ask, "How is Alice… could you tell me… Mother…"
"What are you talking about?" the woman replied sharply.
"Alice…" Diana said timidly.
"Who is Alice?" the woman demanded without hesitation.
"My sister… Alice… she…" Diana stammered.
Once again, she was cut off before she could finish.
"Sister? What nonsense are you talking about?" The woman's tone turned furious. "You've only been at Hogwarts for half a year—has Dumbledore scrambled your brain already?"
"I…" Diana looked utterly frightened.
"You don't have a sister. You never have had one," the woman said coldly. "I have only one daughter, Diana."
...
Jon could feel Astoria's small hand—it was ice-cold, gripping him tightly.
She was extremely tense.
The scene shattered once more into fragments—
But just as it was about to reform, the process was abruptly interrupted.
"Ow!" Astoria gasped softly, suddenly overwhelmed by dizziness, her balance faltering.
If Jon hadn't caught her in time, she might have collapsed.
"What's happening?" she asked, looking up at him in confusion.
"Nothing… it just means this memory has ended," Jon replied calmly. "That reaction is normal. Most people experience something like this the first time they use a Pensieve."
"Oh… I see." Astoria nodded, though she didn't fully understand.
She glanced back at the strange basin and murmured, "I really want to know what happens next…"
"You will," Jon said with a small smile, gently ruffling her hair. "Your mother just hasn't given us the rest of the memories yet—but I don't think we'll have to wait long."
As he spoke, he gave a flick of his wand.
The basin, still glowing with silver light, lifted into the air and flew back into the cabinet where it had been stored before—then the cabinet slammed shut with a bang.
He didn't even bother returning the strand of Diana's memory to the crystal vial.
"To be honest, I'd like to spend more time with you," Jon said gently. "But I'm afraid I have other matters to attend to… I need to go to the Hog's Head now—someone is waiting for me there."
"It's fine," Astoria said with a sweet smile. "I'll head back to the Slytherin common room as well… If Mother sends the rest of the memories, make sure to call me to watch them with you!"
"Of course," Jon replied, nodding calmly.
At the same time, his gaze flicked briefly toward the cabinet that had just been locked.
"Goodbye, Jon!"
"Goodbye!"