Slytherin

Gemini didn't know that Hermione, who had been wavering between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor in the original story due to his influence, had firmly chosen Gryffindor this time.

Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared, as it had nothing to do with him in his opinion.

Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, celebrating Hermione's placement in Gryffindor.

Soon, another name was called.

"Gemini Fox."

The cheers died down abruptly, and silence fell upon the Great Hall. Students at the long tables below exchanged bewildered glances, craning their necks to get a look at Gemini.

Gemini took two steps forward, appearing in full view.

Immediately after, Gemini looked at Snape and smiled. Snape's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a vague sense of foreboding.

He walked to the stool, picked up the Sorting Hat, and sat on the four-legged stool with his legs crossed, elegantly placing the Sorting Hat on his head.

No one knew that in the second before picking up the hat, Gemini's mind had gone completely blank, entering a state of Occlumency.

And beyond his true memories, Gemini had wrapped himself in three layers of false memories.

All three sets of memories were based on the template of an orphan, constructing three different false personalities. These personalities corresponded to Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff, respectively.

Gryffindor?

He wouldn't go to such a troublesome place.

To Gemini's surprise, none of the three layers of memories were triggered, nor were there any signs of his Occlumency being breached.

"Oh~ Surprised, are we?"

A faint voice sounded in his mind. It was the Sorting Hat.

"You don't need to be so guarded with me. I can see you're cautious about this world, treading on thin ice, wrapping yourself up layer by layer."

"But you really don't have to. When it's cold, a warm house is more comforting than adding two layers of clothes. Fire gives humans sensory warmth, and emotions give humans inner warmth. Which do you prefer?"

"I could recommend you to teach in the philosophy department of a Muggle university. If they don't mind you being a hat, I suspect you'd achieve great things."

Gemini said in his mind.

"Ho ho, actually, I think that's a good suggestion. After all, my only job each year is to compile next year's song, and I have so much free time that it makes me very bored."

"Now doesn't seem like the time to talk about this," Gemini continued to maintain his Occlumency. "I'm very curious, how exactly are you communicating with me?"

"Ha— Your cleverness has been misdirected from the start," the Sorting Hat chuckled proudly. "I don't read people's memories. My ability is to communicate with people's hearts, to see their most essential, most genuine talents and qualities. As you can see, I am indeed used to detecting talent."

"An amazing ability."

"Thank you for the compliment!" the Sorting Hat continued. "However, your sorting is indeed a great challenge. Resourceful and cunning, content with the ordinary yet unwilling to be mediocre. So, where should I sort you? Gryffindor? Slytherin? Ravenclaw? Or Hufflepuff?"

"Perhaps Azkaban?"

"Ha! That's a really good idea!" the Sorting Hat burst into laughter.

"I'd like to ask you a favor. Can you sort me into Slytherin?"

"Aha! Slytherin? You certainly have the aptitude to go there, but are you really sure? It's not that there's anything wrong with going there, but in my opinion, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are more suitable for you than Slytherin."

"Wait, aptitude? What aptitude? Aren't I Muggle-born?" Gemini's heart fluttered, almost causing him to lose his Occlumency.

"It seems you don't know..." the Sorting Hat shifted slightly.

"A kind reminder, child, you are at least a half-blood."

"There is a Blood Curse within you. Although it has no effect on you, if you have a daughter in the future, she will have a short lifespan because of this Blood Curse. This curse originates from the bloodline, targets only females, and is very malicious... And I'm afraid, child, this curse is very troublesome. Even Dumbledore cannot help you."

Gemini's good mood, which had arisen from the sorting, vanished instantly. However, he wasn't panicked. With the weapon shop, he didn't care about curses at all, let alone one that had no effect on him.

The Great Hall was silent at this moment. Gemini's sorting time was much longer than others, but no one was impatient. Everyone was quietly waiting for Gemini's sorting result.

Finally—

"SLYTHERIN!"

The Sorting Hat's loud cry echoed throughout the Great Hall.

At the Slytherin table, the expressions of a group of young wizards stiffened. Immediately after, deafening cheers erupted from the other three long tables.

Gemini stood up, removed the Sorting Hat, and turned to look in Snape's direction.

He clearly saw Snape's poker face twitch violently several times. Gemini watched him, a brilliant smile on his face.

Then, with a gentle smile, he walked towards the Slytherin table.

Whoosh—

As Gemini reached the Slytherin table, the students around him immediately shifted their positions, moving far away.

The reason was simple: a dozen Slytherin students had missed the feast tonight and were all lying in the hospital wing. Just before the sorting ceremony began, the students in the Great Hall were still discussing this matter.

The sorting ceremony continued. The sorting time for other students was not long. Soon, Gemini heard a familiar name.

"Harry Potter!"

The Great Hall fell silent again. After a brief pause—

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The cheers from the Gryffindor table almost shook the entire hall. Compared to the gloomy Slytherin table, the contrast was quite stark.

As the last few students were sorted, the white-bearded elder in the center seat of the teachers' table stood up.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

The most respected white wizard, the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

What would he say?

'Is ONE PIECE real?'

Gemini imagined.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore clapped his hands cheerfully. "Welcome everyone to Hogwarts to start the new academic year! Before the feast begins, I have a few words to say, which are: Morons! Crybabies! Scum! Twist!"

"Thank you, everyone!"

He sat back down, and the students cheered and applauded. Gemini decided to offer a polite smile to Dumbledore's speech.

As Dumbledore sat down, the empty plates in front of Gemini were instantly piled high with all sorts of food.

Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steaks, baked potatoes...

A typical Western dinner.

Gemini didn't intend to pursue the delicacies of his past life in Britain. Going to great lengths for a bit of food seemed a bit pretentious.

Of course, the main reason was geographical. He had already tried it; the differences in ingredients from different places would result in vastly different tastes. It would be better to go to China someday and stay in Chongqing for a while.

No one spoke to Gemini. Only a few Slytherin students closest to him occasionally glanced at him. Gemini would return their gaze with a gentle smile.

Amidst the clamor, the banquet finally ended.

When the pudding, served as dessert, also disappeared from the table, Dumbledore stood up.

Chapter Three! Please recommend, tip, and vote for monthly tickets, big bosses, sob sob sob~