A lavish dinner

The hall fell silent. The young witches and wizards were stunned.

The Muggle-born students fell quiet, their expressions conflicted.

How had their Crown Prince... ended up in Slytherin, where blood status reigned supreme?!

The pure-blood students were shocked too. A Muggle-born, in Slytherin?

The Slytherin students were even more shocked. How had this Muggle School Governor ended up in their house?!

Harry looked at Allen far away, wanting to say something, but merely pressed his lips together.

Ron's mouth fell open. "How could Allen have been sorted into Slytherin!"

He gently patted Harry's shoulder. Harry had been desperately hoping Allen would join Gryffindor. "Harry, my condolences!"

Probably the only two people who had expected this result and were pleased with it were Draco and Allen.

The hat was lifted from his head, and Allen rose with a perfect smile and walked toward the Slytherin table.

Draco immediately pushed Crabbe away from his side and patted the vacated seat.

Allen lifted his robes and sat beside Draco.

The Slytherins all glanced at Allen with deeply conflicted expressions.

Fine, this Mudblood being a School Governor was one thing, but he actually got along so well with Malfoy too...

Were they still dreaming...?

Dumbledore was the first to recover.

A Crown Prince would naturally be accustomed to hierarchy and value etiquette, privacy, and practicality. Seen in that light, Slytherin was indeed a good choice.

Besides, this Crown Prince had come with a mission. If he was to reconcile pure-bloods and Muggle-borns, being a Slytherin would certainly make things easier.

The old man's expression grew somewhat complicated. His blue eyes watched inquisitively as the golden-haired and platinum-haired heads leaned together.

Countless possibilities had already run through his mind, but his face betrayed nothing.

Once all the students had been sorted, Dumbledore stood up.

"Ah, welcome, welcome to Hogwarts! Before the delicious food clogs up your brains, I must say a few words.

"First-years, please take note: all students are strictly forbidden from entering the Forbidden Forest. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you-

"Anyone who does not wish to die an agonizing death should stay away from the corridor on the right-hand side of the fourth floor.

"Now, let the feast begin!"

As Dumbledore's words fell, the previously empty plates instantly filled with food.

Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, crisps, Yorkshire pudding, pea shoots, carrots, gravy, ketchup...

There were even peppermint humbugs.

The young witches and wizards let out delighted cries of "Ooh!" and began helping themselves to their favorite foods, occasionally glancing over at Allen.

The Slytherins were always quiet, and even their scrutiny was discreet. No one forgot their manners even when a mountain of food suddenly appeared before them.

Allen was very pleased. He nodded to Harry, who was watching him, and began eating elegantly.

Just then, numerous ghosts suddenly emerged from the walls. Some drifted through the hall cheering, others with reserve, while some sat at their respective house tables.

The Bloody Baron floated over to the Slytherin table and sat beside Allen, his gaze vacant. His robes were splattered with blood, making him a rather unpleasant sight.

Allen shivered from the chill. It felt as though a mobile freezer had sat down beside him.

"Mr. Baron?" he called softly.

The Bloody Baron turned to look at him, his eyes unfocused. His voice was chilling. "Yes?"

Draco craned his neck to watch Allen, admiring his nerve in daring to speak to the Bloody Baron.

The other young Slytherins also cast furtive glances their way.

Allen took a sip of hot tea, warming himself a little. "Do you come to dine with the students every day?"

"No." The Bloody Baron looked at him coldly.

Allen raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise. "Oh? Since you made a point of sitting beside us, I thought you were very fond of us."

The Bloody Baron gave a cold snort, rose, and floated away.

Having successfully annoyed the ghost into leaving, Allen sipped his hot tea and ate serenely under the admiring gazes of the young Slytherins.

He paid no mind to their overt and covert scrutiny, taking a sandwich and a lamb chop before turning his head to chat with Draco.

Once they had all eaten their fill, the table was suddenly cleared, and sugary desserts instantly filled the plates.

Draco rubbed his stomach and murmured, "Merlin! I'm already full!" Yet, looking at the little cakes on the plate, he still reached for one.

Allen did the same. No one could refuse dessert after dinner! Could they?

Allen wondered which cooks prepared the food at Hogwarts. He could pay them double to hire them!

After unwittingly eating two pieces of pudding, he finally put down his fork with great reluctance-it was truly difficult to find a dessert in the United Kingdom that wasn't excessively sweet!

Allen took out a handkerchief and elegantly wiped the corners of his mouth, then produced another and slowly wiped his fingers.

He looked up toward the staff table, his gaze settling on a professor wearing an enormous purple turban.

Even in the Wizarding World, this professor's attire was rather strange. Of course, the black-robed professor beside him was hardly any better.

He did, however, like the gentle witch at the far left. She wore a wizard's hat and bracelet woven from plants and radiated an air of acceptance.

He was about to look away when his eyes met Dumbledore's.

Allen smiled and inclined his head slightly, then turned to ask, "Draco, do you know which one is Professor Snape?"

Draco was busy battling a cream cake. At the question, he swallowed what was in his mouth and lifted his chin slightly. "The one dressed all in black!"

"He's very strict about potions. You'd better start worrying now!"

He pursed his lips and lowered his voice. "And he has a vicious tongue. The Snake King's venom isn't famous for nothing!"

Allen chuckled. Perhaps because of Dumbledore's words, his first impression of this professor was very favorable.

Even if his clothes were somber, his appearance unappealing, and the students thought of him as a venom-spitting Snake King.

Allen still felt that this professor was a brave man worthy of respect.

At that moment, Snape finally shifted his gaze away from Quirrell and Harry and glared coldly at the Muggle Crown Prince at the Slytherin table.

That golden head was extraordinarily conspicuous, gleaming beneath the lights and filling him with irritation.

-Another little brat Dumbledore has told me to look after.

He thought viciously that one Chosen One who looked like a replica of James Potter was already enough to leave him utterly exhausted.

That old bee really isn't afraid I'll drop dead. He's saddled me with another troublesome Muggle-born troll!

A Muggle-born!

A Muggle-born who got into Slytherin!

Merlin above!

The poor Potions Professor could already foresee how many extra problems he would have to deal with because of this Muggle Crown Prince! And how much of his precious research time they would consume!

Weariness welled up inside him. With a wooden expression, he looked away and resumed glaring at Harry at the Gryffindor table.