The Black Spiders Crawled Away

"Ron, besides the notorious Dark Lord, how many Dark Wizards who graduated from Slytherin can you name?"

Ron wanted to say Lucius, Draco, or Black, but... those people were merely unpleasant. There was no evidence they were evil Dark Wizards.

"I take back what I used to think. When I first arrived at Hogwarts, I thought every Slytherin student was bad. Now I know how absurd that was. Houses are like magic: neither is good or bad in itself. It's what's inside a wizard that matters."

Hermione spoke firmly.

"Right. I think the same way Hermione does. The first thing I saw when I entered the Great Hall was a green banner with a snake on it. So when the Sorting Hat asked for my opinion, I chose Slytherin without hesitation. As far as I'm concerned, we all buy the same textbooks and learn from the same teachers. It doesn't matter which house you're sorted into!"

"That's right! Luo Bin, thank you. Without you, I'd still be tying myself in knots!"

Harry hugged Luo Bin tightly in gratitude.

"You... were tying yourself in knots?"

Ron looked puzzled.

Luo Bin and Hermione's words had cleared Harry's mind in an instant. He took a deep breath and described what had happened during his Sorting.

"...Filch's suspicions, Justin being afraid of me, Draco's jokes, all those rumors, and that strange voice... I was worried... that I was the 'heir'!"

"Harry, you should've said something sooner! The Sorting Hat doesn't decide where to put every young wizard the instant they sit on the stool and put it on!"

Ron sounded shocked.

"What? You mean it didn't just happen to me?"

"Of course not. Take Bill, for example..."

Ron put an arm around Harry's shoulders and, as they walked, launched into the twists and turns