Branching Out

"First-years, Professor McGonagall."

As the giant's booming voice echoed through the doorway, the great gates slowly swung open.

A tall witch wearing emerald-green robes, her black hair pulled back into a tight, severe bun, appeared before Breeze's eyes. Her meticulous, stern appearance made it clear to everyone present that she was not to be trifled with.

She stood at the threshold with a solemn expression and said to the giant, "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

With a flick of Professor McGonagall's wand, the doors opened fully.

"Follow me, children."

Professor McGonagall's voice was crisp and efficient, while the surrounding first-years had already descended into a chaotic scramble to keep up with her.

The air was filled with a low buzz of chatter as the students trailed closely behind her, crossing the entrance hall. The stone walls on either side were lined with bright, flickering torches, yet this was not the main hall. Breeze and the others followed her along the flagstone floor until they reached a small, empty chamber, where she stopped and turned to face them.

McGonagall paused, her gaze lingering for a moment as if she had spotted Harry.

Special attention for the Boy Who Lived, Breeze thought to himself.

"Before the feast begins, you must be sorted into your houses. This is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your home within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend your free time in your house common room, or perhaps the library."

"The four houses are named Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards

Beside him sat a very gloomy man; though handsome, his greasy long hair detracted significantly from his appearance. Brie understood that this was Severus Snape, his Potions professor and the Head of Slytherin House that Brie had mentioned earlier. Brie had seen him in several newspapers; he was also a Potions Master.

However, Snape was currently staring fixedly at someone, as if trying to see right through them.

Following his gaze, Brie saw—well, Harry Potter.

Such an intense stare made even Harry Potter feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps a grudge from the previous generation?

Brie could only think as much.

At this moment, the Sorting Hat twitched, as if impatient, though the movement was slight.

Brie muttered, "Perhaps there is something very special inside that hat."

While Brie was lost in thought, the hat actually began to move as if it were alive, humming a strange song. When the song ceased, it became perfectly still.

"Oh, so we just have to put on the hat? Fred made it sound like we had to wrestle a troll!" the red-haired boy complained.

McGonagall had already begun to speak, holding a piece of parchment: "When I call your name, you will come up and put on the hat."

"Hannah Abbott!"

The Sorting Hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!"

The table to the right erupted in cheers; it seemed they were the Hufflepuff students.

As one young wizard after another went up, cheers rang out from the long tables—a welcoming ritual for the new students of their respective houses. And now, it was time for...

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione trotted up, and it was only after a few minutes that the Sorting Hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

"Oh, honestly!" the red-haired young wizard was complaining again, but since the target was Hermione, could it be that they had a grudge too?

"Neville Longbottom!"

"Gryffindor!"

Hearing Neville's name, Brie couldn't help but marvel that this boy could also enter Gryffindor. Did he truly possess courage? He wasn't sure, but he might keep an eye on him in the future.

"Draco Malfoy!"

When it came to Malfoy, Brie heard some people snickering. He himself curled his lips into a knowing smile, looking with interest at Malfoy's flushed little face, and even more so at the mud spots on his platinum-blonde hair.

My apologies, Malfoy. Naughty children must always face some punishment; this will be a wonderful memory you'll never forget for the rest of your life.

The moment the Sorting Hat touched Malfoy's hair, it shouted, "Slytherin!"

Malfoy placed the hat on the stool, his expression sour; he didn't know why the people around him were laughing.

Damn it!

He immediately walked toward the Slytherin table. Few people at the Slytherin table showed any genuine amusement, and the black-haired girl who had been around Malfoy since the train, Pansy Parkinson, hurriedly pulled out a small mirror for Malfoy... This made Brie even happier.

Malfoy tidied his appearance, forcing himself to calm down, and several people gathered around to greet him. It seemed Malfoy's status in Slytherin was not low.

Brie had read the books; the Malfoy surname was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight in the British wizarding world, and it hadn't declined much. Even after some past incidents, it still held great prestige. In a Slytherin house defined by bloodline, this was indeed quite significant.

Of course, it would have been better if this fellow hadn't glared at Brie in anger. The boy wasn't stupid, at least.

"Breeze Storm Order"

Oh, his turn.

Brie walked up with ease and sat on the stool. The bright light from above spilled onto his head, revealing faint purple shimmers within his sleek, black, ear-length hair. This caused Dumbledore and the other professors, who had been paying partial attention, to focus their gaze.

Professor McGonagall also seemed to have just noticed, but none of them made a scene. They simply assumed the boy's father was a powerful wizard and that Brie had inherited exceptional magical talent.

However, some of the young witches below blushed. Brie's appearance was absolutely outstanding, but as someone who preferred to keep a low profile, he rarely stepped into the spotlight to be watched by everyone.

Some of the boys were also stunned, such as Harry Potter.

"I think I saw him in Diagon Alley."

Harry Potter blushed, while the red-haired boy beside him curled his lip and said nothing, though there was envy in his eyes. He desperately wanted to be the center of attention like that as well.

In a daze, McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Brie's head.

"Quite a dilemma..."