If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them

Kyle had always been curious about what made the boats carrying Hogwarts' new students move.

He had always assumed it was magic, but now he was starting to have his doubts.

He had watched them for a long time, yet he still hadn't found a trace of magic on any of the boats.

And then there was Hagrid, a half-giant nearly four meters tall. He had to weigh more than four first-year students put together, yet his boat sat in the water at exactly the same depth as the others. That clearly wasn't normal.

Of course, the boats might have been enchanted with more advanced, concealed magic, or they might simply have been some kind of alchemical object. But Kyle preferred to believe that something beneath the lake was holding them up.

"Is it the Giant Squid?"

He leaned over to peer beneath the surface, but the Black Lake was far too dark to see anything at night. All he could make out was his own reflection.

Soon, the boats emerged from the tunnel and stopped at what looked like an underground dock.

Everyone disembarked and followed Hagrid up a stretch of cobblestone, eventually reaching a flat, damp patch of grass beneath Hogwarts Castle.

Then they followed a stone staircase to a huge oak door.

"Welcome to Hogwarts."

After speaking, Hagrid turned and raised his enormous fist, knocking three times on the castle doors.

The doors swung open.

A mature cat... ahem, a black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood in the doorway.

Some people simply had a silencing aura about them whenever they appeared. It was like seeing your homeroom teacher in the classroom doorway—anyone who spotted them instinctively shut their mouth.

Professor McGonagall was just like that.

The moment she appeared, the noisy chatter around them came to an abrupt halt.

Even Hagrid became noticeably more reserved, saying solemnly, "The first-years are here, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here."

Professor McGonagall glanced over the group, then opened the doors and led them into the castle.

Torches blazed along the stone walls, and a wave of warmth washed over them, driving away the cold outside and reassuring the many little wizards who had been shivering.

To their right was a closed door, and Kyle could clearly hear the buzzing chatter on the other side.

But Professor McGonagall didn't stop there. Instead, she led them to an empty room at the far end of the hall.

"First of all, welcome to Hogwarts."

As everyone looked around, Professor McGonagall smoothly delivered her yearly opening speech.

"The start-of-term feast will begin soon. But before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be assigned to one of the four houses. The Sorting Ceremony is very important, because while you're here, your house will be like your family at Hogwarts..."

Even though he knew all about this already, Kyle listened very attentively.

He had no choice. He was standing in the front row, right under Professor McGonagall's nose. If he started daydreaming now, his days at Hogwarts would be miserable.

Besides, this was a famous scene, and he'd only get to experience it once. Naturally, Kyle didn't want to miss it.

By then, Professor McGonagall had finished explaining the House Cup and started introducing the four houses.

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.

Or, to put it more simply: the brawlers, the foodies, the swots, and the Pure-bloods.

At this, the little wizards listened intently, their eyes full of longing. Every so often, they glanced toward the Great Hall, as if they couldn't wait to rush inside.

Clearly, this was what they were looking forward to most.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in front of the entire school in a few minutes. While you wait, I suggest you tidy yourselves up and make sure you look presentable."

"I'll come and get you once they're ready." Professor McGonagall gave them one last look. "Please remain quiet while you wait."

Professor McGonagall's final request was a little unnecessary. As soon as she left the room, the silence instantly lifted.

A group of little wizards gathered together, excitedly discussing what might happen next.

"How will we be sorted? Do we get to choose?" a nervous-looking young witch asked.

That was what everyone was most concerned about.

"Maybe there'll be some kind of test, like at Smeltings Academy." A Muggle-born wizard turned to his companions and said loudly, "I'd already been accepted to Smeltings Academy when I got Hogwarts' letter, but I still chose to come here... I mean, Professor McGonagall convinced my mum. She'd insisted I go to Smeltings Academy."

He was trying to show off his academic record, but it didn't go over well.

After all, everyone was concerned about the Sorting Ceremony. Who cared about Smeltings Academy? Some of them had never even heard of it.

"I think the heads of house choose their own students," someone declared confidently. "That's how they do it at Ilvermorny, except they use statues. My dad's friends with the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation at the Ministry of Magic. He told me all about it."

This one was showing off his dad.

But unlike the theory about a test, his claim sounded much more convincing, and he immediately won himself a crowd of supporters.

He was so proud of himself that he held his head high and told everyone about all the amazing things his dad had done.

You'd think his dad was the Minister for Magic.

Just then, Kyle felt someone tug at his robe sleeve. He turned and saw Kanna staring at him nervously.

"Kyle, do you think the heads of house really choose us?" Kanna asked anxiously. "What if none of the houses wants me? Will I be expelled?"

"Don't worry. That definitely won't happen," Kyle said with a smile. "Think about it: Ilvermorny and Hogwarts are two different schools. How could they use the same sorting method? That would be so unimaginative."

"Oh..."

Kanna breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "So do you know how we'll be sorted?"

"Well... yeah."

Kyle thought it over, then decided to tell her the truth. He leaned close to Kanna's ear and whispered:

"It's nothing much. Each of us just gets hit with an Avada Kedavra from a professor. Whoever survives gets to enroll. Don't worry, you definitely won't be expelled."

As luck would have it, a ghost floated past them just then.

Kyle turned and waved as naturally as could be. "Hey, upperclassman! We're about to be sorted too. Wish us luck!"

The ghost couldn't understand what the little wizard was saying, but when someone greeted him, he instinctively nodded in response.

At the sight of this, the light in Kanna's eyes vanished. She stood there, stunned, looking utterly lost.