For the Greater Good

Under Professor McGonagall's guidance, the young wizards lined up and walked through the entrance hall into a magnificent hall.

Four long tables were set up in the hall, and thousands of candles floating in the air above the tables illuminated the hall brightly. Plates and goblets were placed on the four tables, and older students sat around them.

Another long table was set up at the very front of the hall, where the Hogwarts professors sat in order.

Horatio saw Dumbledore, who was sitting in the center, point at the old man with his finger, then flip his hands over, look into his eyes, and then slide his thumb across his neck, waiting for death.

Dumbledore saw Horatio's gesture, ignored him, and turned his attention to Harry Potter.

Seeing that the old man ignored him, Horatio felt a bit embarrassed and thought about how to make a big scene.

Professor McGonagall led the first-year newcomers to the professors' table, where they lined up facing all the older students, with the teachers behind them.

Then, a four-legged stool was gently placed in front of the newcomers, and on the stool sat a patched, worn, and dirty pointed wizard hat.

Then, the hat opened its mouth and began to sing: "You may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge me by my looks. If you find a hat prettier than me, I'll eat myself. Any thought hidden in your minds will not escape the Sorting Hat's golden eyes..."

When it finished singing, thunderous applause erupted from the entire audience. Then Professor McGonagall took out a roll of parchment and said, "I will now call out your names. Whoever is called will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await their sorting."

"Wait a moment," Horatio raised his hand and interrupted Professor McGonagall, saying, "I think there's one more important part."

"Every school has a freshman representative speech at the beginning of the term. I don't think Hogwarts is an exception." Horatio took a step forward, walked to the front of the newcomers, and said, "I am not talented, but I am willing to speak as the freshman representative."

Before Professor McGonagall could stop him, Horatio had already begun his performance.

"Dear classmates and seniors, I enter this academy with a fervent heart, but I am disappointed because all along, the first thing I saw you do when greeting each other was not to ask what magic you were good at, but which family you belonged to. If you weren't pure-blood, you would act very arrogantly.

Shouldn't coming to Hogwarts Academy be about mastering more magic and making more friends? Why hold onto the concept of bloodline and discriminate against students born to Muggles? You should know that in the distant East, only dogs value bloodlines."

The students at the Slytherin table glared at Horatio. Dumbledore also stopped Professor McGonagall, who was about to interrupt Horatio's speech, and signaled her to let him continue.

"To the students of pure-blood families, have you ever thought that hundreds of years ago, your ancestors were just Muggles who gained magic? It was through their continuous efforts that you have achieved your current status. Instead of basking in the glory of your family's past, you should be making your family proud of you."

A pair of beautiful eyes among the newcomers looked at Horatio thoughtfully.

"Students of pure-blood families should defeat students born to Muggles with their knowledge and strength, not with illusory bloodlines. Students born to Muggles should not belittle themselves. There is an ancient saying in Longguo: 'Are kings and nobles born, or made?' If you are not born as well as them, use your sweat and tears to surpass them."

After he finished, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. Even Professor McGonagall, who was a little displeased with Horatio, applauded him. Dumbledore's eyes were even filled with tears; this kid had finally grown up.

Horatio glanced at Dumbledore and gave the old man a smug, dragon-king-like smile. The stage was set, and it was time to cause trouble.

Dumbledore looked at Horatio's mocking, sinister smile and his heart skipped a beat.

"Dear compatriots, whether pure-blood, half-blood, or Muggle-born, we all share one identity: we are wizards. We create miracles, we heal diseases, we prevent death.

But over three hundred years ago, with the signing of a decree, we hid in the shadows, thinking that silence would bring peace. But look at us now! Muggle wars, plagues, weapons, which of them are not destructive? And we, we stand by and watch.

As Muggle technology develops, they will eventually discover our existence. What will we face then? I don't know.

Perhaps they have known about our existence for a long time. They write novels, make movies, and turn the magic we are proud of into entertainment!"

"Protego Diabolica"

A wall of golden flames surrounded Horatio. Amidst the gasps of his classmates, Horatio continued, "We use magic in front of Muggles, and we are arrested by Ministry of Magic officials and thrown into Azkaban. We want to use magic freely. What did we do wrong?

Our savior, Harry Potter, is a hero in our eyes, yet he has to live a life worse than a house-elf at his Muggle uncle's house.

When Muggle firearms are pointed at us, do you choose to surrender or to pick up your wand and protect yourself?"

Horatio snapped his fingers, and the golden flames gradually rose to form a giant fire dragon, letting out a deafening roar at the sky.

"It's time to tear apart the hypocritical veil of the Wizarding Secrecy Law! We have the right to decide our own destiny, the right to let the world know the power of magic, for the greater good."

Dumbledore, seated at the head table, could not stand it any longer: "Confringo Maxima!"

The roaring fire dragon was gradually squeezed by the powerful magic. With a roar of unwillingness, it disappeared into the air.

Dumbledore apparated next to Horatio, punched him twice on the head, then grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and said to Professor McGonagall, "Continue the sorting ceremony."

Then he apparated away from the hall.

"Ahem, what I just said was a joke. We still have to abide by the Wizarding Secrecy Law," Professor McGonagall picked up the parchment and said, "Next, I will call out the names in order."

"Hannah Abbott."

Just as the sorting ceremony was about to end, Dumbledore returned to the hall, carrying Horatio, who was under a Silencing Charm and wearing handcuffs that suppressed his magic.

He threw him onto the stool, signaled Professor McGonagall to put the Sorting Hat on him, and returned to the head table.

"What a troublesome little wizard. Where should I put you?" a faint voice came to Horatio's ears.

"Wherever," Horatio thought.

"Slytherin?"

Horatio thought about conquering those worms in Slytherin with his strength and leading them to greatness and glory.

"No, no," the Sorting Hat quickly thought, sensing Horatio's thoughts. "Ravenclaw?"

There are many beautiful girls. When he conquers Ravenclaw, he will definitely form a Victorian Women's Army.

"No, no."

"Hufflepuff?"

Loyal and united Hufflepuffs, isn't this a handy tool? You can easily trick them into forming a suicide squad.

"No, no."

"You might as well go to Azkaban."

It wasn't impossible. Given his current understanding of souls, dealing with Dementors would be a piece of cake. He could even stage a legend of rising from Azkaban to become the Minister for Magic.

The Sorting Hat fell silent. If this wouldn't work and that wouldn't work, it could only trouble Professor McGonagall. Since he caused trouble everywhere anyway, it was better to just put him in Gryffindor. Throwing the unmanageable ones into Gryffindor was always the right choice.

The Sorting Hat loudly announced: "GRYFFINDOR!!!"

The other three heads of house breathed a sigh of relief, looking with schadenfreude at a despairing Professor McGonagall.

Horatio on the stool also looked at Professor McGonagall with a comical yellow face, as if to say:

"Professor, you've lost him. I suggest you change your name to Gryffindor-Chao-Duo."

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