At that moment, the ghosts of Hogwarts suddenly floated through the walls.
Their pale, translucent bodies drifted directly into the waiting chamber, instantly startling many first-year students into screaming.
One ghost dressed like a fat monk smiled kindly while floating past the crowd.
Lucas curiously reached out and pushed his hand through the monk's body.
An icy sensation immediately spread across his skin.
Like plunging his hand into freezing water.
Interesting.
Lucas had always found Hogwarts ghosts fascinating.
After all, they technically represented a strange form of spiritual existence.
Something between life and death.
He fully intended to study them later.
"The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin," Professor McGonagall announced sharply.
"Please line up and follow me."
As the students began moving forwards nervously, Lucas suddenly felt a cold little hand grab his own.
He looked sideways immediately.
Kassandra.
Her face looked slightly pale.
Even her fingers felt icy.
Lucas originally assumed she felt nervous about the Sorting Ceremony itself.
So he squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"It's fine," he said softly. "The Sorting process isn't scary at all."
Kassandra looked up at him quietly.
Then after several seconds—
She silently released his hand.
Without another word, she simply followed behind him towards the Great Hall.
The magnificent hall exploded into view instantly.
Thousands of floating candles illuminated the ceiling while enchanted stars shimmered overhead like a living night sky.
Students from all four Houses already sat gathered around the long tables.
At the very front stood the teachers' table.
Lucas immediately spotted Quirrell.
Still wearing that ridiculous oversized turban.
Though now—
His face looked frighteningly pale.
Quirrell noticed Lucas too.
Their eyes met briefly.
Then Quirrell calmly looked away as though nothing happened.
Lucas smiled faintly.
Apparently Fiendfyre burns still hurt quite badly.
Soon Professor McGonagall led all the first years forwards.
A small four-legged stool stood before the students.
Upon it rested an ancient patched wizard hat.
The hat looked filthy enough to qualify as a biological weapon.
Then suddenly—
The hat twisted open like a mouth and began singing loudly.
"You may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on looks alone…"
The Sorting Hat's song echoed throughout the hall.
When it finally finished, Harry looked visibly disappointed.
"So that's it?" he whispered.
Lucas blinked.
Harry frowned.
"There's no troll duel?"
Ron immediately looked offended.
"My brothers lied to me?!"
Harry regretfully released the wand hidden inside his sleeve.
Honestly, after Lucas's summer training, Harry secretly looked forward to fighting something.
Professor McGonagall stepped forwards holding a long parchment scroll.
"When I call your name," she announced, "you will place the Sorting Hat upon your head and sit upon the stool."
Then the ceremony began.
"Hannah Abbott!"
The blonde girl stumbled forwards nervously.
After several seconds—
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Applause erupted.
"Susan Bones!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Terry Boot!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The Sorting continued steadily.
Meanwhile, Lucas noticed Kassandra trembling slightly beside him again.
He glanced sideways.
Her expression looked unusually tense now.
Without speaking, Lucas quietly reached out once more and gently squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Kassandra turned towards him.
Then she saw Lucas smiling warmly at her.
At that exact moment—
Something inside her finally settled completely.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Only determination remained.
The Sorting Ceremony continued.
Just like canon, Hermione Granger eventually became a Gryffindor.
The lion table erupted into cheers immediately.
Then came Harry's turn.
"HARRY POTTER!"
The entire hall exploded into whispers instantly.
Harry nervously placed the Sorting Hat onto his head.
Then—
Silence.
One minute passed.
The Sorting Hat clearly held a lengthy conversation with him internally.
Lucas felt mildly curious.
Interestingly, despite Ron never insulting Slytherin this timeline, Harry still ultimately chose Gryffindor anyway.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The red-and-gold table erupted immediately.
"We've got Potter!"
The Weasley twins jumped up shouting excitedly.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore openly applauded from the teachers' table while smiling happily.
Lucas immediately noticed the favouritism.
The old man didn't clap for anyone else.
After Harry, Ron naturally joined Gryffindor too.
The relief on Ron's face became so obvious it nearly glowed.
Apparently, he genuinely feared being sorted elsewhere.
Then finally—
"Kassandra Worley!"
The hall quieted noticeably.
The Worley family remained famous throughout magical Britain.
Lucas released Kassandra's hand slowly.
She stepped forwards gracefully.
Then unexpectedly—
Kassandra turned around and smiled sweetly at him.
Something about that smile made Lucas suddenly uneasy.
Still, she calmly placed the Sorting Hat onto her head.
Lucas remained completely certain about the outcome.
According to the original game background, Kassandra belonged in Slytherin so strongly that the Sorting Hat supposedly made its decision instantly.
But then—
One minute passed.
Two minutes.
Three.
The Great Hall gradually filled with whispers.
Even Professor McGonagall looked surprised now.
Lucas slowly frowned.
Something felt wrong.
Five entire minutes passed.
Then finally—
The Sorting Hat shouted loudly:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lucas almost fell off his chair.
"…What?"
The entire hall briefly froze too.
Kassandra Worley?
Gryffindor?!
The absurdity nearly broke Lucas's brain.
This felt like Harry Potter joining Slytherin.
Or Draco Malfoy becoming a Hufflepuff.
Completely impossible.
Yet there it was.
Kassandra removed the hat calmly.
Then before running towards the cheering Gryffindor table—
She looked back at Lucas once more and smiled softly again.
At that moment—
Lucas finally understood everything.
The polite Kassandra aboard the train.
The Kassandra willing to sneak out of the manor alone just to find him.
The Kassandra trying to suppress her poisonous tongue.
The Kassandra trying desperately to change herself.
All of it suddenly connected together.
For your sake—
I became a lion.
Lucas silently looked towards the Gryffindor table.
Kassandra now sat beside Hermione.
Then she turned slightly towards him again.
Her lips moved softly.
Though no sound reached him—
Lucas still read the words clearly.
"Wherever you go… I'll go too."
Lucas quietly sighed inside.
Silly girl.
Then suddenly—
"Lucas Summers!"
Professor McGonagall's voice echoed sharply through the hall.
Lucas snapped back to reality immediately.
Professor McGonagall stood beside the stool watching him with a meaningful smile.
"Mr Summers," she said calmly, "it's your turn."
Lucas blinked briefly.
Then he stood up.
"Sorry, Professor."
As he slowly walked towards the stool, Lucas felt something unusual inside himself.
Kassandra's decision just now—
Actually disturbed even his max-level Occlumency slightly.
....
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