Hagrid stepped forward and leaned down toward Professor McGonagall.
"Professor," he whispered, "there was a duel before the students arrived."
McGonagall frowned.
"A duel?"
"Yes."
Hagrid scratched his beard awkwardly.
"A third-year had his trousers burned off."
McGonagall's expression froze.
"A third-year?"
Her eyes immediately sharpened.
"Who was injured?"
"That's the strange part."
Hagrid glanced toward Cassandra and Liam.
"The third-year seems to have suffered the most."
McGonagall followed his gaze.
A first-year.
And an even younger child beside her.
Neither looked remotely troubled.
"How unusual."
For a moment, genuine curiosity appeared in her eyes.
Normally, if a third-year became involved in a conflict with first-years, the younger students would be the victims.
The opposite outcome was considerably rarer.
"There are two sides to the dispute," Hagrid continued.
"Both claim they were justified."
McGonagall considered the matter briefly.
"Complete the Sorting first."
She closed the discussion immediately.
"The professors and students are already waiting."
"We'll deal with discipline afterward."
"Understood."
Hagrid nodded and stepped aside.
McGonagall turned toward the gathered first-years.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
Her voice carried effortlessly through the crowd.
"For the next seven years, your House will become your family."
The nervous whispering immediately ceased.
"In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall and join the rest of the school."
"But first, you must be Sorted."
She paced slowly before them.
"The four Houses of Hogwarts are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"Achievements earn House points."
"Rule-breaking loses them."
"At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup."
A brief smile appeared.
"Now."
She turned.
"Follow me."
The massive doors of the Great Hall swung open.
The first-years entered.
...
The sight that greeted them stole the breath from many students.
Thousands of candles floated in the air.
Four long House tables stretched across the hall.
And above them—
A magnificent night sky glittered with stars.
Liam immediately looked upward.
His silver eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"It's enchanted."
A voice spoke beside him.
Hermione Granger had somehow appeared nearby.
"The ceiling isn't actually open."
She sounded pleased to know something useful.
"It was mentioned in Hogwarts: A History."
Liam nodded politely.
"Interesting."
Hermione smiled.
She assumed he was impressed by the illusion.
In reality, Liam's attention was focused elsewhere.
Specifically, on the magical construction itself.
The illusion covering the ceiling was extraordinarily sophisticated.
If simplified and modified...
It could potentially become a battlefield illusion.
Or perhaps a large-scale trap.
The possibilities were intriguing.
"First-years."
McGonagall's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Stand here."
A wooden stool sat before the staff table.
Upon it rested a battered old hat.
The Sorting Hat.
McGonagall unfolded a list.
"When I call your name, sit on the stool."
"The Sorting Hat will determine your House."
The hall fell silent.
"Kassandra Greengrass."
Cassandra strode forward.
Her confidence drew attention immediately.
She sat.
The Sorting Hat barely touched her head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The announcement came almost instantly.
Thunderous applause erupted from the Slytherin table.
Cassandra rose gracefully.
Before leaving, she flashed Liam a dazzling smile.
Then she joined her House.
"Ronald Weasley."
A red-haired boy hurried forward.
The hat barely paused.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table cheered loudly.
Ron hurried toward them.
"Hermione Granger."
Hermione nervously approached the stool.
The hat settled onto her head.
Seconds passed.
Then more seconds.
Then an entire minute.
The Great Hall grew quieter.
Two minutes.
Three.
Even McGonagall looked surprised.
The Sorting Hat rarely hesitated this long.
Inside Hermione's mind, a fierce debate was clearly underway.
"Interesting," the Hat muttered.
"Very interesting."
"You'd thrive in Ravenclaw."
"Perhaps Slytherin."
"Hufflepuff would welcome you."
"And Gryffindor certainly has a claim."
The Hat continued muttering.
Students began whispering.
Five minutes passed.
Even the professors were watching now.
The founders' enchantments within the Sorting Hat rarely disagreed so strongly.
Such hesitation indicated exceptional potential.
Finally, the Hat spoke quietly.
"Well?"
"What do you want?"
Hermione swallowed.
"Gryffindor."
The answer came instantly.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted.
Hermione hurried over.
Meanwhile, several Slytherins looked displeased.
A student capable of making the Hat hesitate that long was undoubtedly talented.
Losing her to Gryffindor wasn't ideal.
"Liam Hale."
McGonagall called the next name.
The hall immediately stirred.
The reason was obvious.
Liam looked far younger than everyone else.
Most first-years were eleven.
He looked barely ten.
Whispers spread through the room.
"How old is he?"
"Is he really a first-year?"
"Was there some mistake?"
Even several professors exchanged puzzled looks.
Only a few knew the truth.
At the staff table, Albus Dumbledore watched quietly.
Unlike the others, he knew exactly who Liam was.
The boy from Azkaban.
The child raised by a Death Eater.
The ten-year-old who had killed two Muggles with the Killing Curse.
Most wizards considered Liam irredeemable.
A dangerous criminal who belonged behind bars.
Dumbledore disagreed.
Children weren't born monsters.
They were shaped by their circumstances.
Liam had never been given a proper chance.
Never received guidance.
Never known kindness.
That was why Dumbledore had accepted the transfer when Ludmis proposed it.
Perhaps Hogwarts could offer what Azkaban never would.
A future.
Now, as Liam calmly approached the stool and sat down without the slightest sign of nervousness, Dumbledore found himself genuinely curious.
Which House would claim a child like Liam Hale?
Professor McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat onto his head.
The entire Great Hall waited.
....
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