Professor Snape, Are You All Right?

That evening, beneath the clear radiance of the full moon, Mu En could faintly hear the young wizards' cries of amazement from the Black Lake below, even from the fifth-floor window.

At the moment, he was in his own office. Spatially speaking, the office had not changed much, nor had it gained many decorations.

The desk and chair had been replaced with a tea table and a red single-seater sofa.

Leather.

It was new and very soft to sit in, but without that perfectly fitted indentation, Mu En still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

In front of the sofa stood a square footstool.

Other than that, there was a side door leading directly to the library, as well as a phonograph and a cabinet for storing records.

When those house-elves heard Mu En's request, they saw that the office was too empty and asked whether he wanted some basic decorations.

Seeing the anticipation in their eyes, Mu En could not bear to refuse and agreed. Of course, he declined any paintings or photographs.

In theory, every painting or photograph in the castle could serve as a means of surveillance and might be working for Dumbledore.

Thinking of this, Mu En could not help looking at a piano, his expression helpless.

As he stepped out the door, Cendrillon, directly across from him, greeted him warmly. "Good evening, Mr. Cat. Why are you sighing?"

"My name is Mu En Jones." Mu En waved at her. "I sighed... only because I didn't know the house-elves would cram a piano into my office."

"Is it too crowded?" she asked.

Mu En shook his head. "Not really. It just... feels rather useless."

Cendrillon said, "They must have gotten the idea from a painting. But even if it only serves as decoration, that would be nice. They have been piled away in storage for years, never seeing daylight.

"If the piano is like us paintings, I think it would be happy to be placed in your office."

Hearing that, Mu En could not help smiling. "I think you're right. All right, I'm going down to attend the start-of-term feast. We can chat another time."

"Okay, Jones... Mr. Cat!" Cendrillon waved. "You don't mind, do you?"

"I don't." Mu En waved over his shoulder and headed downstairs.

The first-floor Great Hall was abuzz with voices. Thousands of candles floated overhead, illuminating the vast hall, while gleaming golden plates and goblets sat upon the four long tables.

At the head of the hall stood another long table, the staff table.

Mu En's appearance was not nearly as uneventful as he had imagined. On the contrary, his distinctive appearance drew plenty of whispered discussion from the students.

But aside from a small number of children, most of the talk was not malicious.

At the staff table, the teachers took their seats one after another, while Dumbledore was already seated in the central Headmaster's chair.

Among Hogwarts' staff, aside from Filch and one or two professors who did not like attending such occasions, most sat at the staff table. There was no particularly strict division.

At the same time, this was Mu En's first time meeting Hogwarts' other professors besides Sprout. Of course, the one he had encountered on the moving staircase did not count—Mu En still did not know his name.

After creating the "door" in the Shrieking Shack, he had only met Hagrid, Filch, and Professor Sprout, who taught Herbology.

"Mu En, welcome. I was wondering what sort of introduction I should give you later!" Dumbledore said, shaking Mu En's hand.

"An unconventional pioneer among Animagi!" Mu En said with a smile.

"That's a fine suggestion." Dumbledore nodded, then pointed to his left. "Your seat is there. Take your place quickly. Minerva has already gone to collect the young wizards. The Sorting is about to begin."

Mu En nodded, went to his seat, and glanced around.

To his right, on the outer side, was Rubeus Hagrid's place. Because he was so enormous, it could only be set off to one side.

To his left, toward the inside, sat the somewhat greasy middle-aged man in black robes whom Mu En had encountered on the moving staircase. From the nameplate, Mu En saw that he was called Severus Snape.

Further down sat a man whose head was wrapped up like a tumor, his expression somewhat dazed—Quirinus Quirrell.

Not long after Mu En sat down, Hagrid entered. The two exchanged greetings, and then a woman in green robes strode out through the enormous wooden doors of the Great Hall.

The moment Professor McGonagall appeared, the noise below quieted considerably. She walked to Dumbledore's side, and the two spoke in low voices. During this time, Professor McGonagall kept studying Mu En.

"Is that Professor McGonagall?" Mu En asked in confusion. "Why is she looking at me like that?"

"Isn't that normal?" Hagrid laughed heartily. "Look at the children below. Half of them are staring at you."

Mu En could only smile wryly. "All right."

Before long, Professor McGonagall pushed open the doors again and led a group of children inside. She told them not to make noise, set down a four-legged stool, and placed a hat atop it.

"It's about to begin. Which house do you hope Harry will be sorted into?"

"I don't know. That depends on the child's own choice. No matter where he is sorted, what he learns will be the same. That is enough." Mu En spoke indifferently.

Then he added, "But that hat really is quite dirty... Oh, it can sing! It never showed off that trick when it was in the Headmaster's Office."

The hat split into a grin and began to sing loudly. "You may think I'm not pretty, but never judge by appearances... Slytherin... perhaps Hufflepuff... for I am a thinking magic hat!!"

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your Sorting," Professor McGonagall said. "Hannah Abbott!"

A girl with a golden ponytail stumbled forward and put on the hat. Not long afterward, it shouted, "Hufflepuff!"

Seeing this, Mu En finally understood the entire Sorting process. Before long, he heard a familiar name.

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione hurried forward, put on the hat, and nervously gripped the hem of her clothes. Fortunately, the Sorting Hat did not deliberate for long before shouting, "Gryffindor!"

After quite some time, it was finally Harry's turn. When his name was called, cheers erupted throughout the hall, accompanied by endless chatter. Mu En even sensed that the professor beside him had straightened and leaned forward slightly, as though he wanted to see Harry clearly.

This made Harry nervous. He looked up at Mu En, then stepped forward, sat on the stool, and put on the hat.

"Hmm," he heard a tiny voice beside his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. You have plenty of courage, I see, and talent too, with a strong thirst for knowledge.

"You also seek power... No, not power. Protection—a desire to protect. And... oh, my goodness, yes—you are very eager to prove yourself!!

"Now then, very interesting... where should I put you?"

"Slytherin!!"

Sparse applause rose from the Slytherin table. Harry did not mind and walked over to find an empty seat.

He was only a little disappointed that he had not been placed in the same house as Hermione.

At the staff table, Mu En sharply noticed that the professor beside him had gone rigid for quite a while when Harry was sorted into Slytherin.

Hagrid also wore a regretful expression. "Blimey, I thought it'd be Gryffindor. What a pity. Hermione's there too."

Mu En waved a hand. "Indeed. Who would have thought that two good friends who knew each other before school started would end up with one in Gryffindor and one in Slytherin?"

Crack—

Mu En turned and looked at the glass that had burst in Snape's hand. Confused, he asked, "Professor Snape, are you all right?"

A book recommendation, for anyone interested:

"What Bad Intentions Could Batman Have"

Chen Tao never imagined that merely transmigrating was not enough—he had actually transmigrated into Batman himself.

As everyone knew, Batman was brilliantly intelligent, extraordinarily wise, and a master fighter beyond compare, but—what did any of that have to do with a transmigrator like me?

Oh! It's fine, I can inherit Batman's strength and memories...?!? Wait, why are they all versions from parallel universes?