Actually, two people at the Slytherin table had been watching Klein the whole time. Even the famous Harry Potter hadn't managed to draw their attention away.
One was Pansy Parkinson.
The other was Draco Malfoy.
"I knew it!"
Hearing the Sorting Hat's decision, young Draco looked thrilled. He turned to the two burly boys beside him and shouted excitedly.
The Sorting Ceremony ended. Professor McGonagall left with the Sorting Hat and the list, and Klein made his way to the Slytherin table, where he received a warm welcome.
"Hey, over here."
Draco had been waiting impatiently. To Crabbe and Goyle's surprise, he stood up and held out his fair hand to Klein.
"Hello, Draco."
Klein was taken aback for a moment, then smiled in understanding. He exchanged a friendly high five with the boy with the delicate face, then took the empty seat beside him.
"I looked all over the train for you, but I couldn't find you. Still, I knew we'd meet again. I mean, exceptional people always belong in Slytherin."
"That was my fault. I was in the last carriage, which was a bit out of the way. By the way, did you find the wand you wanted?"
"Of course! You were right. Hawthorn Wood was my destiny. But Klein, how did you know?"
"Instinct. My instincts are always right."
As soon as Klein sat down, Draco launched into an animated conversation with him. Crabbe and Goyle were so astonished by his cheerful expression that their mouths fell open.
Was this really the Draco Malfoy they knew?
"Welcome to Hogwarts, children. Welcome."
On the dais, Albus Dumbledore stood and spread his arms wide to the students below.
"Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words. That is: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
With that, he gave a slight bow.
"Thank you."
"He really is a strange old man. Those words don't mean anything at all."
The feast began, and all sorts of food appeared on the tables out of nowhere. Draco picked out a tender, juicy lamb chop and placed it on his plate, muttering under his breath.
"I think so too."
Klein smiled, not denying it, as if he'd seen it all before.
Most powerful wizards were eccentric. In his previous life, one of his ministers had liked eating raw wolf meat, and another had married a doll and made her his wife.
Dumbledore was relatively normal.
"My father says Dumbledore is a capable man, but—ah!"
Draco had been about to share some secrets that circulated only among the Pure-blood families, but he turned to his side and jumped in fright. At some point, a terrifying-looking ghost had drifted between him and Klein!
"Is something the matter?"
The gaunt ghost spoke slowly, staring vacantly at Draco.
"No! Nothing at all!"
Draco wasn't the first Malfoy to attend Hogwarts. His parents had told him long ago about the terrifying Slytherin ghost called Bloody Baron, and that it was best not to provoke him.
"Don't be nervous, Draco. Slytherin's ghosts won't hurt us."
Draco's delicate face was already pale, and the ghost's sudden appearance had drained it of what little color remained. Klein's lips curled with amusement as he raised his glass to Bloody Baron.
"Of course."
Baron paused for a few seconds, then slowly nodded. A flicker of curiosity shone in his murky eyes.
It had been many years since a first-year student who wasn't afraid of him had come along.
"Hi, Klein!" "Hello, I'm Annie." "Hey, can I get to know you?"
Bloody Baron's appearance was just a small interruption. As the feast went on, the first-years gradually settled in and began chatting in small groups.
Klein had the most people gathered around him. The girls with stars in their eyes even crowded young Draco out of the circle.
"You're quite the popular fellow."
Draco straightened his robe, looking a little disheveled. He was somewhat jealous, but, unusually, he wasn't angry.
To be honest, he didn't know why.
Maybe it was because he and Klein just clicked?
"Draco, that pretty boy is way out of line." "Want us to teach him a lesson?"
Their "boss" had been slighted, and Crabbe and Goyle thought it was the perfect chance to prove their loyalty. They sidled up to Draco and spoke eagerly.
"Teach him a lesson?"
Draco suddenly grew agitated at the suggestion, his voice turning thin and shrill. But he quickly realized he'd lost his composure, so he cleared his throat and gave his followers a stern warning.
"Don't pick on Klein!"
"Why not? He's just a pretty boy."
Goyle didn't understand. That pale, skinny kid looked like someone he could take on two of with one punch!
"Because—because he's my friend. Yes, we're friends!"
Draco stumbled over his words at first, but then the memory of meeting Klein in Ollivanders Wand Shop flashed through his mind, and his confusion quickly gave way to certainty.
That was right.
Klein Grindelwald was so much better than Harry Potter, who was willing to hang around with the Weasley family. Only the best people could become friends with Draco Malfoy!
"Uh, all right."
Draco's answer disappointed Goyle and Crabbe. Out of jealousy, they'd both wanted to give that irritating-looking pretty boy a good beating, but the young master had spoken, so they had to let it go.
With girls fluttering around him, Klein kept a patient smile on his face as he skillfully handled the overly enthusiastic group of younger girls.
A scene like this was no challenge at all for the Black Emperor~
"You look quite popular. Heh, Professor Quirrell has already asked me three times about you. He suspects you've got some kind of charm spell on you."
The girls' "attack" was still underway when a voice filled with amusement suddenly sounded in Klein's mind. He looked toward the front of the hall and saw Albus Dumbledore raising his glass and giving him a slight nod.
"Come to my office after classes tomorrow. I have something to discuss with you."
After ending the Muffliato, the old man took a sip of wine and resumed his conversation with the turbaned wizard beside him.
Klein kept his expression composed and continued chatting and laughing with the girls around him.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, he felt another gaze on him. He turned slightly and saw a hook-nosed wizard on the dais watching him coldly, his face dark.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
Time seemed to stand still. Klein and the wizard silently stared at each other, neither moving.
The chattering girls seemed to sense that something was going on and turned to look toward the staff table as well.
"That's Professor Snape!"
Seeing his greasy hair, an older student who had somehow slipped into the first-year girls' group cried out. She quickly looked away and lowered her voice.
"Professor Snape is our Head of House and a Potions master. He's terrifying!"
"Ah!"
The other first-years heard her and quickly looked away too, afraid the "terrifying" professor would remember their faces.
But Klein didn't look away. Snape stared at him, and he stared right back.
"Klein, lower your head! Quickly!"
The second-year girl from earlier saw Klein still acting as if nothing was wrong and defying Professor Snape with his gaze. Her voice trembled with anxiety.
"Tell me, what do you think would happen if I blew him a kiss right now?"
As if asking no one in particular, Klein seemed to have come up with a brilliant idea.
With a mischievous grin, he really did kiss his fingers and blow Snape a kiss from the dais.
"Pfft!"
Severus Snape had never dreamed that a first-year would have the nerve to do that. He nearly choked on his own saliva and was the first to break.
"Looks like I win."
Amid countless incredulous, awestruck stares, Klein laughed from the bottom of his heart.
As expected, Hogwarts was an interesting place!
Before you continue