The procession of first-years was led into the vast Great Hall.
Harry's eyes immediately went to the impossibly high ceiling, which mirrored the stormy night sky outside, feeling the low hum of magic that permeated the space.
He kept the façade of wide-eyed awe firmly fixed, though his Gamer's Mind was solely focused on the task ahead.
He watched names called and Houses chosen:
"Weasley, Ronald!"
The Hat barely touched Ron's red hair before bellowing,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron practically stumbled toward the cheering table, grinning like an idiot.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione marched up, radiating nervous energy.
The Hat took a moment longer, muttering about her "massive intellect" before finally declaring,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
She sprinted to the table, already looking ready to compile a syllabus.
The list dwindled quickly. Then, Professor McGonagall called the name that silenced the entire Hall.
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry moved with quiet assurance and the absolute calm provided by Gamer's Mind.
He sat on the stool and waited. The hat was placed upon his head.
The instant the rough material covered his eyes, a sensation like cold oil flooding his skull invaded his thoughts.
System Alert: High-Level Mental Probe Detected! Deploying Gamer's Mind Defense.
The Hat's small, ancient voice was right in his ear, but the words were muffled, confused.
"Difficult… extremely difficult… What is this? I can sense the potential, the immense magical capacity, the sheer focus, but… where is the core ambition? Where are the memories? Why is the mind so… structured?"
The Hat was trying to read his soul, but all it found was the rigid, unshakeable firewall of Gamer's Mind (MAX) and the constant high-level internal processing of INT (195).
Harry's mind wasn't a tapestry of emotions; it was a complex system of objective data.
Harry let the Hat probe, focusing his Undetectable Focus only on his most neutral and calculated desire.
He projected the basic emotional needs the Hat expected—the need for belonging, the curiosity about magic—but hid the deeper truth of his power acquisition.
After nearly a full minute of strained silence, the Hat's voice, now laced with frustration, returned.
"I cannot place you. I can read your massive capacity for power—greater than nearly any I have sensed in centuries—but I cannot determine your purpose. Are you not ambitious? Not cunning? You could dominate Slytherin, yet you feel… neutral."
Harry seized the opportunity. If the Hat couldn't decide, he would provide the variable.
He projected a clear, pragmatic thought:
I need a balance. A place that provides access to knowledge and resources without high political risk. Not the hardest, not the easiest. Not too close to the Dark Arts, not too far from the action.
The Hat paused, finally finding a recognizable, if strange, motivation.
"Ah, a purely tactical choice... Strategy over inherent traits? An intriguing form of ambition indeed. So, what is your optimal tactical deployment zone?"
Harry's calculated thought: Gryffindor. Hermione is there. She is the best source of free, high-tier Knowledge Acquisition. The House is famous enough to provide political cover (Dumbledore) but not so notorious as to attract immediate enemies (Slytherin). It is the perfect grinding environment.
The Hat sounded resigned, yet strangely impressed by the cold logic.
"Very well. If it is a tactical necessity you require... then you shall be sorted into the place you deemed the most efficient tool."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The roar of cheers from the table on the far left was instant and deafening.
Harry calmly removed the Hat, placing it back on the stool with perfect precision.
[MAIN QUEST COMPLETE: The Sorting Ceremony]
Objective Cleared!
Reward: +1 Level!
Harry Potter has reached Level 11!
[House Bonus Skill Acquired: Gryffindor's Resolve (Passive)]
[Reputation Boost]
Harry walked to the Gryffindor table, already feeling the minor stat allocation from his level-up settling his body.
Ron was cheering maniacally, and Hermione was beaming, ready to discuss the curriculum.