Snape's Soul is Touched

"Before we are students of our houses, we are students of Hogwarts."

"From Platform 9 ¾ to here, from day to night, we have made many friends."

"Some yearn for the brave Gryffindor; some anticipate studying in the wise Ravenclaw; some desire acceptance into the inclusive Hufflepuff; some wish to excel in Slytherin."

"Before declaring our house preferences, we chatted and laughed."

"But once everything became clear, we ended up fighting!" Basil said, sounding extremely distressed.

Hermione clasped her hands in front of her chest, deeply conflicted.

She wanted to stop what she saw as rebellious behavior, yet she also wanted to support Basil.

Ron, Harry, and Neville looked with odd expressions at the target of the fight, Draco Malfoy.

Not far away, Draco, still a bit dejected from falling into the water, flushed red with anger.

Professor McGonagall, unaware of the full situation, softened her gaze, no longer stern.

From mistakenly thinking the students were causing trouble, she realized they were good students expressing their true feelings.

Basil also noticed this.

"So, can we not be sorted into houses?"

Many students, who had thought sorting was like fighting a troll, taking exams, or escaping a dragon, nodded repeatedly.

"Or, perhaps, gather those who don't want to be separated from their friends, and treat them as a fifth house."

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "Child, your idea is very good."

"However, the sorting system is an intangible asset left by the four great founders of the school."

"Different houses do not affect your relationship with your friends."

Meanwhile, Dumbledore, seeing that Professor McGonagall had been gone for a long time, sent Snape, who happened to arrive at the door.

The moment he got closer, he heard an almost furious rebuttal.

He immediately recognized the voice.

The boy who dared to con him, possessing the tenacity of Hufflepuff, the bravery of Gryffindor, and the foundation of Slytherin—Basil (badger) Granger.

However, there was a strange persuasiveness in the boy's voice now.

"Don't affect?"

"No, it affects us greatly!"

"We are not blind or deaf."

"Ravenclaw thinks all other houses are idiots."

"Gryffindor believes they are the bravest."

"Slytherin prides itself on being the most noble."

"Hufflepuff sticks together, so much so that for over a thousand years, no student from another house has ever set foot in their common room."

Hearing this, Snape let out a cold laugh and decided to put an end to this farce.

However, the next words made him stop in his tracks.

"Professor, if I go to Slytherin, and Hermione is in Gryffindor."

"Can you honestly say that students from our respective houses won't consider us traitors and ostracize us?"

"Will we be able to study with peace of mind?"

"Can we truly still be friends?"

Another female voice chimed in, with a hint of tears, "Can we truly still be friends?"

These two rhetorical questions pierced Snape's heart, which hadn't seen sunlight in a long time, like sharp blades.

"Lily," he stumbled, his right hand reaching out to the wall.

In a daze, those two voices transformed into his and Lily's from when they were young.

Their first meeting at the amusement park, the little girl on the swings.

Her features matured, her expression shifting from familiarity and closeness to indifference.

It was the entrance to the Gryffindor tower, beside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

The girl's expression turned contemptuous, "You call me a Mudblood? But you call everyone of my kind a Mudblood, Severus. What makes me any different?"

In the real world, Snape's eyes, which had unconsciously become moist, instantly dried.

His previously fragmented gaze turned hollow once more.

He strode into the room and walked to Professor McGonagall's side.

He ignored the ghost that had appeared in the room at some unknown time, the astonished looks from Professor McGonagall and the students below.

He even overlooked the treasure composed of the eyes of the woman he loved most and the face of the man he hated most.

He looked directly at the boy and girl and said, "Believe me, if your houses are different, you will not be able to remain friends."

Then, he sidestepped and said, "Professor McGonagall, we've delayed too long. Please proceed with the Sorting."

He flicked his cloak and, just as he had arrived, strode out of the room.

"Alright, children, follow me. It's time for the Sorting," Professor McGonagall looked at Basil again. "Do you have any more questions?"

"No," Basil closed his mouth.

Hermione, with red-rimmed eyes, whispered beside him, "Did you really consider Slytherin?"

"Yes," Basil chose to tell the truth. "But now I'm in Gryffindor."

In his mind, within the Grimoire, the border of the Sorcery Doctor suddenly turned golden.

Echo: Sorcery Doctor

Quality: Gold

All spells will open doors for you, with an 8% reduction in learning difficulty.

Dark Magic will not affect your mind, nor will White Magic.

The more spells you learn, the stronger their effects will be.

For every 10 spells, a 1% increase.

Cap: 20%

At the far end of the Great Hall, against the wall on the raised platform above the dining area, was the long table.

It was the teachers' seating, facing the students.

In the center of the long table, Dumbledore, seated on a high-backed golden chair, occasionally glanced at Snape, who was also at the high table, at the very edge.

Snape wore a cold expression, paying no attention to Quirrell beside him.

Instead, his eyes were fixed on the first-year students awaiting the Sorting, who were facing away from them and towards the older students.

Dumbledore was a bit puzzled. The backside Snape was looking at wasn't Harry's.

So, he followed Snape's gaze.

Due to the earlier delay, the Sorting Hat had finished its song, and the Sorting began immediately with the list.

"Hannah Abbott!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Susan Bones!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Hermione Granger!"

"Gryffindor!"

Dumbledore noticed Snape's eyebrows twitch upwards by 0.5 inches.

"Basil Granger!"

Snape closed his eyes.

"Gryffindor!"

Snape's eyes opened, and Dumbledore saw undisguised excitement within them.

What puzzled Dumbledore even more was that Professor McGonagall beside him let out a long sigh, a mix of joy and sorrow.

Professor McGonagall noticed Dumbledore's attention and said softly, "Because of the rules, a child gave up the House he dreamed of."

She looked at the boy walking towards the Gryffindor table with that girl, looking somewhat dazed, her eyes filled with heartache.

??????????

Dumbledore, the riddle-master, never expected to be mystified himself today.

Basil Granger?

Why was he the center of attention today?

Where was Harry?

The cause of the incident, the source of all evil, Basil.

He was unaware that someone was seeing dazed confusion on his face, a face that held both cuteness and handsomeness, maturity and childishness.

As if his brain had crashed.

In reality, the reason for his state

was not that the events had unfolded beyond his expectations.

It was that he hadn't realized they would be facing away from the teachers during the Sorting.

Being looked at from behind, especially by Dumbledore, was something Basil could absolutely not accept.

Even more absurdly, as his gaze swept towards the Slytherin table, adorned with green and silver, he saw a scene that shattered his worldview.

Where was the noble elegance?

The little snakes who followed the "Slytherin Hundred Rules of Conduct" have all turned into giant pythons!

Pythons, a group of burly, strong men, and large, imposing women, mixed with a few small snakes: handsome, thin youths, beautiful, quiet maidens, nodded to the first-year students looking at them.

It is recommended to search for the Slytherin Rules of Conduct. This is a fanfiction of Harry Potter, "Born Noble," and after reading it, you will understand why Basil was so shocked.