The Sorting Hat was stunned.
It truly felt that this year's first-years were the biggest challenge of its entire career.
A boy threatened it.
Another tried to bribe it. Someone had two powerful wizards watching its every word.
And now, a girl who came in chanting what house she wanted before it even began sorting her.
Did these children think the Sorting Hat was just a decoration?
It had already made up its mind — if this girl was even slightly ordinary, it would send her straight to Hufflepuff just to reassert its authority.
But then it saw Hermione's memories.
The hat froze.
This girl was a true scholar .
She thought only of studying since she was small, and she had collected every kind of award the Muggle world could offer.
Before school even started, she had already begun self-studying wizarding subjects. She had memorized half of [A History of Magic] — a book even magical beasts would find unbearable.
The Sorting Hat wanted to punish her. But it couldn't deny the truth. She was a perfect Ravenclaw candidate.
If it ignored her preference, she might even fit Gryffindor — the hat naturally leaned toward Gryffindor since it was forged by Godric himself and wanted to gather talent there.
It wrestled with the decision.
Gryffindor or Ravenclaw?
After a moment of pondering, the hat declared:
"Ravenclaw!"
Hermione beamed as she lifted the hat off and nearly skipped to the Ravenclaw table.
Applause burst out all around her. She smiled so brightly it looked like she might never stop.
...
The ceremony continued with little surprise:
Draco Malfoy — Slytherin.
He was already sitting beside Harry, and the two were chatting nonstop, clearly delighted.
Ron Weasley — Gryffindor.
Every Weasley was Gryffindor, as if the house was stamped into their family name.
Karmit barely paid Ron any attention.
He was already thinking ahead — curious how Dumbledore would orchestrate the next part of the show.
It would definitely be entertaining.
.....
When the last student was sorted, Dumbledore rose to speak.
"Before the feast begins, a few important notices for the new year.
First: the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits.
Second: Mr. Filch has requested that anyone who does not wish to suffer a most painful fate should stay away from the corridor on the third floor, right-hand side."
His expression brightened.
"Well then… let the feast begin!"
With a clap, the tables instantly filled with food.
Plates overflowed with a banquet no hungry child could resist. Stomachs rumbled in unison as eyes widened.
The hall became lively with chatter and laughter as everyone ate.
....
You could clearly see each house's personality from their eating habits:
Gryffindor: Loudest and messiest.
Ron held a chicken leg in each hand, devouring food like a greedy bandit. Others were only slightly more refined, still shouting through full mouths.
Hufflepuff: Calm and ordinary.
No surprises, just peaceful meals.
Ravenclaw: Mostly girls, graceful and poised.
They discussed books they read over the summer and last year's exam questions. Hermione looked like she had arrived in paradise.
Slytherin: Silent. Elegant. Controlled.
Even the first-years ate like young nobles. Compared to Gryffindor's chaos, Slytherin felt like a royal dining hall.
...
Karmit cut his food into neat pieces with a knife and fork. He didn't really enjoy eating so slowly — but habit was habit.
At the staff table, professors conversed in low voices.
Harry whispered, "Draco, who's that professor?"
Draco wiped his mouth politely with a napkin.
"That is Professor Severus Snape.
Head of Slytherin House. Master of Potions — the youngest in the entire magical world.
Many pure-blood families have tried to recruit him. None succeeded."
Harry stared in awe. "He's really that amazing?"
"Of course," Draco replied proudly.
"My mother says my cousin plans to win his support now that he's here."
Harry glanced toward Karmit — then instinctively touched his scar.
Karmit noticed immediately. Snape's Dark Mark must be resonating with the fragment of Voldemort inside Harry.
Useful ability.
Harry could technically be used to identify Death Eaters.
....
Just when the first-years thought they had seen everything, ghosts drifted suddenly into the Great Hall — floating through walls, shimmering and transparent.
Many young witches and wizards jumped in fright.
Older students seized the chance to show off their knowledge, explaining ghost lore smugly.
Karmit, meanwhile, watched with intellectual curiosity.
Ghosts were one of Hogwarts's strangest mysteries — what exactly was the requirement for becoming one?
How did this phenomenon occur?
He was fascinated by anything he didn't yet understand.
If he hadn't gone to Slytherin, he would have fit Ravenclaw well — the pursuit of knowledge was a fire burning just as strongly in his heart.
...
After the feast, prefects lined up the students and led each house away.
At the doors of the hall, the group split into two paths:
Gryffindor and Ravenclaw headed to the towers above. Slytherin and Hufflepuff descended into the dungeons below.
The first-day wonders of Hogwarts were far from over.
__________
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