Professor McGonagall held the parchment, and when she called Damon's name, an almost imperceptible softness flickered across her face.
But the commotion that erupted at the name left her rather puzzled.
She looked at Damon, who was smiling at her, somewhat confused. Seeing her expression, Damon's smile became even brighter.
"Gry-ffin-dor! Gry-ffin-dor!"
Suddenly, some students began chanting.
Soon afterward, a large number of Gryffindor students joined in, their chant gradually becoming neat, unified, and thunderous.
The little snakes of Slytherin watched this scene with dark expressions, their smiles sinister—Damon was a born Slytherin. Did they seriously think he would go to Gryffindor?
Under Professor McGonagall's stern gaze, the chanting gradually died down. Damon sat on the four-legged stool and placed the impossibly greasy Sorting Hat on his head.
For a moment, the hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Then, the Sorting Hat atop Damon's head suddenly began singing loudly: "
Oh, you may think I am merely an ordinary hat,
But hidden upon my head is the key to wisdom;
I can see through his heart,
And find where he truly belongs."
At the same time, Damon heard a faint voice by his ear:
'Difficult, very difficult—full of courage, brimming with ambition, exceptionally talented. Oh my, where should I place you?'
'Anywhere but Slytherin. Anywhere is fine except Slytherin.'
'Not Slytherin, is that right?' the faint voice asked. 'Have you made up your mind? You could achieve great things, you know. Slytherin could help lead you to glory—it is beyond doubt. Not willing? Very well, since you have made up your mind—then Gryffindor would be best!'
The Sorting Hat suddenly began singing loudly again: "
You possess Slytherin's ambition,
Its calm, reason, and calculating cleverness;
But you also hold Gryffindor's flame,
Brave, fearless, unafraid of future challenges."
The rhythm of the song gradually quickened. Everyone's eyes were fixed tightly on Damon, waiting to see how this interesting contest would end.
You are one born for glory,
No matter which path you choose, I shall guide you;
But within your heart lies a powerful resolve—
You have already made your choice."
As the final line fell, the Sorting Hat paused. The hall once again sank into deathly silence, and everyone held their breath, waiting for its final decision.
Then the Sorting Hat suddenly shouted, "Gry—ffin—dor!"
"Woo!"
The entire dining hall erupted into deafening applause. The Gryffindor students surged toward Damon like a tide, all rising to welcome him, while the Slytherin students remained silent, unable to hide the dissatisfaction and confusion in their eyes.
"We have Damon and Potter at the same time! We have Damon and Potter at the same time!"
The Weasley twins shouted loudly from within the crowd.
Damon rose with a smile and headed toward the Gryffindor table, ignoring the resentful looks the little snakes behind him were sending his way.
"Damon White... is he the child Minerva mentioned? He does seem rather unique."
At the head table, Dumbledore watched Damon, who was surrounded like the center of attention alongside Harry, his eyes gleaming.
As though sensing the old man's gaze, Damon turned around and gave him a brilliant smile and a wave.
"...He seems like a good child."
With Damon's Sorting over, only the final student remained: Blaise Zabini, who was placed in Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment, picked up the Sorting Hat, and left.
Albus Dumbledore stood up. Smiling broadly, he looked at the students and spread his arms, as though nothing delighted him more than seeing them gathered together.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts for a new school year! Before the feast begins, I would like to say a few words. They are: 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!' Thank you all!"
The moment he finished, Damon applauded enthusiastically, leaving Harry and Hermione beside him a little stunned.
"Did you understand what was interesting about that?"
"No idea. Just clap."
The two, who had originally thought Dumbledore was somewhat strange, now found Damon a little perplexing as well.
But when the empty plates before them suddenly filled with food, they had no time to think about it and began eating heartily.
"It looks quite nice." The ghost in the ruff gazed sadly as Damon cut into his steak.
"You're Nearly Headless Nick?"
Damon swallowed a piece of steak and looked up at the ghost with interest.
"I think I prefer it when you call me Sir Nicholas." His eyes were fixed on Damon as he cleared his throat and said:
"Gryffindor hasn't won the House Cup in a long time. Slytherin has taken it six years in a row! But I believe you will lead Gryffindor to victory in the next House Cup!"
"Oh? I'll do my best."
Damon picked up a roasted chicken leg and gave the ghost a perfunctory reply.
In truth, he was not particularly interested in the House Cup—a childish little honor game where points were awarded and deducted entirely at the teachers' discretion was, to him, as childish as fighting for little red flowers in kindergarten.
Besides, with Harry Potter around, Gryffindor could have no points all year and still somehow win the House Cup at the end of term.
"Do your best? How can 'do your best' be enough? I don't want to lose to Bloody Baron again! He's Slytherin's ghost!"
Nick angrily shouted at Damon twice, then went off to speak to the other Gryffindor first-years.
After everyone was nearly full, the main course vanished, and numerous desserts appeared on the long tables. The first-years ate sweets while beginning to chat.
Hermione and Harry sat on Damon's left and right. Neville sat to Hermione's left, while a freckled red-haired boy sat to Harry's right, secretly watching their group.
"My parents are both Muggles. My father is a dentist. I already know about Harry and Damon's situations. What about you, Neville?"
"Oh, I was raised by my grandmother. She's a witch."
Called on by Hermione, Neville became a little nervous and told them about his rocky magical awakening—his Uncle Algie had always tried to catch him off guard and force him to show some magic. When he was eight, Algie grabbed him by the ankle and dangled him upside down from an upstairs window.
Later, Algie lost his grip. Neville fell, bounced back up, and awakened his magic.
Listening to this from Neville, Damon suppressed his laughter and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Man, you're a Boy Who Lived too."
Neville did not catch the hidden meaning. Thinking Damon was acknowledging him, he was so flattered that his whole face turned red.
Hermione shot Damon a reproachful look. Though she did not know exactly what he meant, she knew he was making fun of Neville.
Meanwhile, Harry and the red-haired Ron Weasley began whispering to each other, mainly discussing Damon's earlier performance. Through that, the two quickly became familiar.
When the meal ended, Professor Dumbledore stood again, and the dining hall fell silent once more.
"Now that we are all fed and watered, I must say a few more words. At the start of term, I would like to give you all a few notices.
"First-years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all students. Some of our older students would do well to remember that too."
Dumbledore's bright eyes swept toward the Weasley twins.
"Also, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind everyone that magic is not to be used in the corridors between classes.
"Quidditch tryouts will be held during the second week of this term. Those interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"Finally, I must tell you that anyone who does not wish to meet with an accident and die a painful death should avoid the corridor on the right-hand side of the Third Floor Corridor."
The Third Floor Corridor, huh? Damon's lips curled slightly—if they truly did not want anyone going there, why announce it so publicly? It was pure entrapment.
Dumbledore had already begun laying the groundwork.
'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Ravenclaw: Those three are all nitwits.
Gryffindor: Those three are all crybaby cowards.
Slytherin: Those three are all rubbish.
Hufflepuff: Aren't you three being a little twisted?'
Before you continue