The prefects' arrival put an end to the commotion. To maintain order, they had no time to fully investigate what had happened and sent all the students back to their own compartments, forbidding them from wandering out again.
Yet the atmosphere inside the compartments had not settled down at all. Instead, it grew even more fervent.
Almost everyone was quietly discussing what had just happened.
"That first-year could use Expelliarmus? And it was unbelievably powerful! That's incredible!"
"Yeah! And he didn't look scared at all. He didn't seem like a new student whatsoever. That presence of his was practically born Slytherin—he's too powerful! It'll be even harder for us to win the House Cup from now on!"
"To hell with Slytherin! Didn't you see his smile? So warm and confident! He's a natural leader. He belongs in Gryffindor!"
"I think Ravenclaw is possible too. After all, that's where all the exceptional people come from."
"He's so handsome! Why aren't I in the same compartment as him?"
Arguments over which House Damon would enter, along with the lovestruck screams of smitten girls, gradually rose from several compartments.
Meanwhile, inside Damon's compartment—
The petrified Malfoy trio had already been taken away. Damon calmly returned to his seat, while the other three children wore different expressions, though all their faces were flushed red as if they were about to burst from holding themselves back.
Neville stared at Damon excitedly, his hands constantly waving up and down as though he wanted to say something. Yet whenever the thought formed in his mind, his face turned even redder, and his voice caught in his throat, unable to emerge.
Harry felt his throat itch as well—he nearly wanted to cheer and scream!
Before they had even officially enrolled, he had witnessed such a spectacular wizarding duel! Damon! It was simply unimaginable that he was a first-year the same age as him!
Why could he be so strong? Wasn't he an orphan like me? No one should have taught him magic, right?
He exchanged a glance with Hermione, and both saw curiosity and the desire to investigate in the other's eyes.
In the end, Hermione spoke first.
"Damon, I have to say, I never thought first-years like us could do something like that."
There was undisguised admiration in her voice, along with a trace of confusion. "How did you do it? What exactly did you study before Hogwarts?"
Harry leaned closer too, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"Yeah, Damon, you don't look like someone who has only just started learning magic. You're obviously the same age as us, so why is your magic so powerful?"
Damon had just popped a Chocolate Frog into his mouth and was chewing it. Looking at the worshipful gazes on the faces of the three "children," he shook his head.
"I taught myself. I suppose I have some talent for Charms Mastery."
"Just some?" Hermione interrupted. After her shock faded, a competitive streak gradually surfaced in her heart. "Your talent for Charms Mastery is terrifyingly good!"
"You know, Damon?" Harry said. "I really never expected you to be so powerful. Before this, you never made me feel any pressure at all, but when you cast that spell, you didn't look like a student who had just started school!"
Unable to contain himself, he asked excitedly,
"Can everyone learn those advanced spells? If I want to be as powerful as you, where should I start?"
Can everyone learn them? Expelliarmus is your signature trump card.
Damon smiled and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"You'll learn it bit by bit after you start school."
"Okay!"
Harry's eyes lit up as he excitedly sat back down, while Neville's face was still the color of liver, and he still could not manage to say a single word.
Harry failed to notice Neville's condition. Recalling the scene of Damon casting his spell and defeating an older student, he could not help continuing,
"I heard them saying you might go to Slytherin just now. What does that mean? Hermione, do you know?"
"Oh, of course I do. Wait a moment." Hermione turned and pulled a copy of A Guide to Hogwarts Enrollment from her bag, opening it to a page.
"Actually, I read some introductions to the Houses in this book. Slytherin is one of the four Houses, mainly known for its powerful magical bloodlines. Students in that House value intelligence, resources, and magical ability, especially those with great ambitions."
She paused before continuing.
"But I also read that Slytherin students can sometimes seem a bit too arrogant. Legend says they do not always get along with students from the other Houses."
"Exactly. Draco Malfoy from earlier is a perfect example of a Slytherin."
Harry frowned at that. "So... you're saying Damon would be a good fit if he went to Slytherin? That's strange. We haven't even been Sorted yet."
Deep down, Harry did not want Damon to enter a House whose representative was Malfoy.
Hermione continued at this point.
"Although Slytherin students can indeed be somewhat arrogant and cold, not all of them are like Malfoy.
"In fact, Slytherin has many highly intelligent and ambitious students. Some have even achieved tremendous things in the wizarding world."
She looked at Damon, her tone softening slightly.
"I think Damon might adapt better to the environment there if he went to Slytherin, especially since they value strategy and cunning."
Harry's frown deepened after hearing that.
"You mean Damon would get along with the students there if he went to Slytherin?"
"Maybe," Hermione said, sounding uncertain herself.
"Don't worry. I won't go to Slytherin. Absolutely not."
Seeing the three children looking grief-stricken, as though him going to Slytherin was the best but unavoidable choice, Damon could not help laughing.
Their eyes brightened again, and Neville finally gathered the courage to say his first words of the day.
"Damon, if it were you, which House would you want to go to?"
Harry quietly pricked up his ears. He had a feeling—he and Damon would become good friends at school. And if that feeling was wrong, he would still make an effort to befriend him. He was just too cool, wasn't he?
And if they were in the same House, that would make things much easier.
Hermione also rattled off the characteristics of the remaining three Houses in one breath, then looked at Damon.
Damon smiled softly.
"Actually, I don't care that much about which House I end up being Sorted into."
He looked at the fading crimson beyond the window and spoke calmly.
"I only know that no matter which House I enter, that House will become great because of me."
Even Neville felt that Damon was being a little arrogant at that moment.
Yet for some reason, all three of them felt a hazy yet unwavering certainty rise within their hearts—he was right.
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