You're Making This Difficult for Me
Even young wizards who had just entered the wizarding world knew what the surname Grindelwald meant!
The first Dark Lord!
The man who had swept across Europe and nearly conquered the entire wizarding world!
More importantly, he was still alive!
Apart from Draco, Pansy, and the few others who already knew, everyone looked curiously at the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy.
They could not believe that the boy who had been so polite on the train and at the station was the Dark Lord's son!
Argus paid no attention to the strange looks around him and walked elegantly onto the platform.
Dumbledore sank deep into his memories, his eyes gradually losing focus.
It was as though he had returned to that valley, to those two months of intoxicating infatuation.
His lips uttered that name as though beyond his control.
"Gellert..."
Professor Minerva McGonagall looked regretful.
When Argus had first entered the castle, he had left her with an absolutely perfect impression.
Modest, powerful, polite!
She had guessed that he came from some pure-blood family, and that his parents might be senior Ministry of Magic officials.
Perhaps his family even included members of the Wizengamot or the International Confederation of Wizards!
She had only forgotten that she had also sent an acceptance letter to that man's adopted son!
"Put on the Sorting Hat, Mr. Grindelwald."
Professor McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat and handed it to Argus.
"Just call me Argus, Professor McGonagall."
Argus bowed in thanks and sat on the stool under everyone's gaze.
"At last, we meet, little blond wizard."
"Could we perhaps discuss switching off your Occlumency for a moment?"
"You're making this very difficult for me!"
The Sorting Hat's humble voice sounded in Argus's mind.
Argus laughed inwardly.
It seemed level-seven Occlumency worked quite well.
At the very least, protecting himself was no problem.
With it in place, even Dumbledore could not possibly discover his thoughts!
Argus simply narrowed the scope of his Occlumency, protecting only his most essential memories and thoughts.
A needle-like force slowly pierced his mind.
The Sorting Hat was visibly relieved.
"This is the first time anyone has called me sir, you polite young wizard."
"I must say, your talent and manners are both truly first-rate. Even Salazar and Godric fell some way short at your age."
"Let me see which house truly suits you."
After examining quite a few of Argus's experiences, the Sorting Hat expressed its admiration again.
"Brave, fearless, daring to challenge anything-you have much of Godric's old spirit."
"Upright, honest, undaunted by any hardship-you possess all of Helga's virtues."
"Learned, wise, devoted to research, far-sighted-you share Rowena's qualities."
"And so, your house is..."
"Slytherin!"
By the time the Sorting Hat had said its first few lines, Draco and the others had already lost all hope. They had never expected such a turn!
Unprecedented applause erupted from the Slytherin table.
Draco, Pansy, and the others' eyes shone with excitement!
The corner of Argus's mouth twitched.
He had almost genuinely believed that the Sorting Hat was going to shove him into another house.
Revenge! Blatant revenge!
The Sorting Hat was taking revenge because he had previously filled Hermione and the others' heads with all sorts of views, causing them not to choose according to its plans!
You think you're the only one who can get revenge?
Playing these little tricks on me!
Argus was not about to indulge it. He stood and bowed to everyone in thanks, then immediately drew his wand and pointed it at the Sorting Hat on the chair.
"Scourgify!"
Everyone was dumbfounded!
"Mr. Sorting Hat, no need to thank me. It's only what I ought to do."
Argus would never swallow such an insult. If he did not act this time, who knew when he would next encounter it!
Rather than wear myself down mentally, I might as well go mad and wear someone else down!
If it had not spoken up, there was no telling which house Harry might have gone to!
[Congratulations to the host on completing the Sorting Ceremony and earning the achievement: Slytherin] [Achievement point reward: 50]
I've saved up enough for five draws. I'll do them once I'm back in my room!
When he reached the Slytherin table, several boys and girls immediately gathered around him.
"Vince Rowle. Pleased to meet you, Argus!"
"Marcus Flint! From the Flint family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight!" A burly boy built like a chimpanzee approached and extended his hand to Argus.
Before he could finish, several girls shoved him aside with their hips.
Their eyes kept sparkling as they looked at Argus!
Gellert Grindelwald had been an exceptionally handsome heartthrob in his youth, and Argus looked almost as though he had been cast from the same mold.
What young girl could resist!
Even a casual remark was enough to keep them excited for ages.
After an unknown length of time, the last student was sorted, and the entire ceremony finally ended.
"Your attention, please!"
Professor McGonagall gently tapped the glass in front of her with a gold spoon.
Dumbledore stood.
"As the new school year begins, I have a few final words I would like to say to you."
"They are... Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Let the feast begin!"
The moment he finished speaking, all kinds of delicious food appeared on the dining tables.
Rich aromas rushed straight into their noses!
Argus had to admit that the food at Hogwarts really was good!
At the very least, it was far better than Vinda Rosier's cooking!
"Ho, ho, ho, ho!"
A large crowd of ghosts emerged through the walls and flew all around the dining hall, drawing startled cries from countless young wizards.
After a bout of commotion, the feast in the dining hall drew to a close.
Dumbledore waved his hand, and the food on the tables vanished without a trace, just as suddenly as it had appeared.
For Argus, who had studied magic for years, this magical scene was nothing unusual, but it was still rather novel to the many first-years seeing magic for the first time.
"Dinner is over. Now, please sing our school song loudly, to whatever tune you do best!"
Argus saw that Dumbledore's words had successfully changed the expressions of several professors on the platform.
Especially Snape!
His already gloomy face darkened further!
Dumbledore, however, was in high spirits. He began waving his wand, and musical notes danced and circled in the air like leaping sprites.
His wand was like a conductor's baton, remotely directing everyone to begin the chorus!
A jumble of voices filled the air, and the Weasley twins did their utmost to cause trouble by singing in mournful tones!
Argus carefully picked through the voices, wanting to hear what tune Professor Snape would use.
He discovered that Snape was merely moving his mouth without making a sound!
Professor Flitwick beside him, on the other hand, was astonishingly loud.
The feast ended.
Led by their respective house prefects, the students returned to their common rooms in turn.
They arrived at the entrance to the Slytherin common room.
A Slytherin boy addressed them.
"I'm your prefect, Amiri Carrow. Remember the password to our entrance."
"I'll only say it once."
Amiri Carrow stood arrogantly before a damp wall covered in snake patterns.
"Pure-blood glory!"
The wall slowly opened, revealing a luxurious hall of green mingled with silver-white.
A banner bearing the green snake of Slytherin hung high above.
Snake patterns were everywhere in the common room, and its dark green base color lent the entire room a particularly mysterious air.
Through the windows, they could faintly see creatures roaming through the Black Lake.
Just as Argus was about to go inside and rest, Snape appeared behind them.
His sardonic voice reached Argus's ears.
"Mr. Grindelwald, Professor Dumbledore would like you to come to the Headmaster's Office."