Your House Is...

Malfoy lay on the floor, clutching his nose and mouth as he burst into tears, his face covered in blood. When he realized he was already inside the Great Hall, he cried even harder.

Professor McGonagall looked at Malfoy, weeping miserably on the floor, then at Sean standing awkwardly at the entrance to the Great Hall, and finally at Harry and the other two behind Sean, rolling around and grappling on the ground. She was so furious that even her voice began to tremble.

"This is... this is unprecedented! I was only gone for a moment, and you started fighting! Mr. Malfoy has even been injured so badly. This is... this is... I'm going to deduct..." Before she could finish, Professor McGonagall suddenly remembered that these Young Wizards had only just arrived at Hogwarts and had not yet undergone the Sorting Ceremony. She froze on the spot.

Just then, Dumbledore and the other professors hurried over. Standing beside Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore said, "Minerva, I think the most urgent matter is to send the injured students to Poppy. As for everything else, we can discuss it later."

As Dumbledore spoke, Professor Snape, a friend of Draco's father, crouched down and used magic to stop Draco's bleeding. However, his two missing front teeth and crooked nose had not yet been restored. Snape half-dragged Draco toward the Hospital Wing. As he left the Great Hall, Snape glanced at Sean standing at the doorway, his cold gaze utterly empty and devoid of emotion.

Professor McGonagall had finally calmed down. She strode forward and stopped the three boys tangled up on the ground. Looking at their torn robes and the bruises on their faces, she asked Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff, to take Harry and the other two, along with the half-conscious Goyle, to the Hospital Wing. Then she turned to Sean.

"What happened just now does not mean this is over. Once the Sorting Ceremony is finished, your punishment will be reflected in your House's points."

Sean gave Professor McGonagall a slight bow. "I'm very sorry for disturbing the professors' good mood."

Professor McGonagall looked at Sean in silence for a moment, then said, "Once the House points have been deducted, this matter will be settled. You need not worry about anything else. Just study properly at Hogwarts."

The words were somewhat veiled, but Sean understood. He bowed to Professor McGonagall again and said no more.

It had to be said that as Hogwarts' only school nurse, Poppy Pomfrey was remarkably accomplished in healing magic. Draco's injuries, along with Harry's and the others', were completely healed in roughly five minutes. Draco in particular had had his nose knocked crooked and his front teeth knocked out, yet he was restored to normal in five minutes. Healing magic was truly astonishingly effective against non-magical injuries.

Draco returned to the front of the line with Goyle and Crabbe, following behind Snape. Harry and Ron also returned to the line under Professor Sprout's guidance. The two moved close to Sean and were just about to say something when they saw Professor McGonagall's disapproving look, immediately swallowing their words.

"Everyone, line up and follow me. The Sorting Ceremony begins now!"

"Wait!"

Professor McGonagall looked at Snape, confusion on her face.

Seeing her gaze, Snape wasted no time. "Professor McGonagall, I think we should clarify what happened before the Sorting. What do you think?"

On the way back, Professor Sprout had already told Professor McGonagall everything she had heard from Harry and Ron about the cause of the incident. Now, hearing Snape's words, Professor McGonagall said directly, "Although Mr. Malfoy was the most seriously injured, he was also the one who started this incident. Therefore, everyone involved in this fight, including Mr. Malfoy, will have twenty points deducted from whichever House they enter. What does Professor Snape think?"

"I have no objection regarding the others. However, Mr. Bulstrode was the first to strike. Even if Draco's words were somewhat impolite, resorting to violence was still a violation of school rules. Therefore, I suggest deducting fifty points from Mr. Bulstrode."

Every House only had five hundred base points per term. Deducting fifty points at once was an extremely severe punishment. Professor McGonagall had reservations about it, because based on Sean's actions just now, she believed there was a strong possibility that he would enter her Gryffindor. But when she saw the determination on Snape's face, she immediately knew that opposing him would be of no use.

"Fine! Twenty points from everyone else, and fifty points from Mr. Bulstrode, no matter which House they enter!"

After saying that, Professor McGonagall said nothing more. She turned and led the Young Wizards into the Great Hall.

The Young Wizards from all four Houses in the Great Hall had witnessed what had happened. Every Gryffindor was delighted that Malfoy had been beaten, and some even whistled as Sean and the others entered. One only had to look at the two red-haired heads bent over to know who had whistled.

Over on the Slytherin side, Malfoy joining Slytherin was practically a certainty. In other words, one of Slytherin's future members had been beaten and had put up a rather pathetic showing. It was all of Slytherin that had lost face.

The group stood before the Sorting Hat. Professor McGonagall took out the list and began the annual Sorting Ceremony.

Sean looked curiously toward the Sorting Hat, ready to witness a classic moment.

"Hannah Abbott!"

Sean looked at the girl who stepped out of the line. So this was the famous unshakable Hannah.

Starting with Hannah, the Young Wizards stepped forward one after another for the Sorting Ceremony.

Sean's surname was Bulstrode, so his turn came quickly.

"Sean Bulstrode!"

At the sound of his name, every professor turned to look at Sean, especially the Heads of the four Houses. Looking at this walking minus fifty points, they were terrified that he would be sorted into their House.

Of course, the four Heads of House were not equally concerned. Snape was the least worried. In his view, how could such a reckless and crude fellow possibly be sorted into Slytherin?

As Sean sat in the chair, Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

Then the Sorting Hat's muttering voice sounded in Sean's mind.

"Hmm, you crave power, yet you also yearn for knowledge. Your bloodline is pure, and you possess courage beyond that of ordinary people. Truly, this is a difficult decision."

Hearing the Sorting Hat's words, Sean immediately repeated in his mind, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin...

"Hmm? Not Slytherin? Are you sure?"

I'm sure. Not Slytherin!

"Hmm... then I understand. The House that belongs to you is..."

At that moment, the Sorting Hat atop Sean's head opened its mouth and announced his House.

"Slytherin!"

The smiles on Sean's and Snape's lips froze at the same time.

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