Sorting

The young witches and wizards grew even more nervous.

Next, she explained the upcoming sorting, along with matters concerning accommodation and the House Cup. These were the usual things new students needed to know.

Once everything was ready, she had the new students line up, then led them all into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall at Hogwarts was even larger than it had appeared in the films. Four long tables stood inside, and numerous candles floated over their heads. Above them stretched a vast, brilliant starry sky.

The candles lit the hall brightly. Anna spotted Headmaster Dumbledore sitting at the High Table at the front at once. She took one look, then silently hid behind Snape and Lily.

A surprise was most interesting when it came at the end.

James Potter, standing at the front, looked around but saw no papers resembling exam sheets, so he curiously asked Professor McGonagall a question.

"Professor, where are our entrance exam papers?"

"Exam papers?"

"Yes, the papers with fifty single-choice questions, forty multiple-choice questions, and ten long-answer questions. They'll ask about our ideals, and that will determine which house we go to."

"No, child, there are no exam papers."

A puzzled expression appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. Seeing the little children all turn to look at her at once, she immediately understood that this had to be a prank played on the new students by someone in an older year.

Seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Professor McGonagall felt somewhat amused.

Who had come up with the joke about an entrance exam for sorting this year? It sounded quite believable, so no wonder they had all fallen for it.

The hall had grown quiet when the new students arrived, so nearly every older student had heard James Potter's question. They laughed good-naturedly, and even a few people at the High Table were amused.

"What? There isn't one?"

James Potter came to his senses. He didn't know whether to be angry or relieved, and for a moment, his mind couldn't keep up.

"Yes, our sorting is decided by the Sorting Hat. Now, sir, please be quiet."

Next, the Sorting Hat began its annual live concert. Snape had cast a noise-reducing charm on Lily and Anna beforehand, sparing them the ordeal.

James Potter, who stood directly in front of the Sorting Hat, had a much harder time. First he had gone through a series of emotional highs and lows, and then he had been treated to the Sorting Hat's "wonderful" singing voice at close range. He only finally recovered when his name was called and he sat down on the chair and put on the hat.

"Gryffindor!"

Just as in his previous life, he was sorted into Gryffindor.

Next, Anna saw other familiar figures, including Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. When Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, quite a bit of discussion broke out at the Slytherin table, but that changed nothing.

The line of new students gradually dwindled, and Anna and her two companions moved closer and closer to the front.

"Severus Snape."

Of the three, Snape's name was called first. He glanced at Lily and Anna, then walked up to the front.

"Slytherin!"

Just as expected.

Snape walked over to the Slytherin table with a calm expression. Lily was next.

"Gryffindor!"

Enthusiastic applause erupted at the Gryffindor table, with James Potter clapping most enthusiastically of all.

As Lily stepped down from the chair, she gave Anna a worried glance, then walked toward her own house.

Of the new students, only Anna remained.

North's Notice-Me-Not Charm was excellent, but it could not withstand the gaze of Albus Dumbledore, the greatest white wizard in a century.

Although eleven-year-old Anna had not yet fully grown, her face already bore traces of the young Grindelwald.

The elderly headmaster in the middle of the High Table sat up straight and even leaned forward slightly. He blinked hard, seemingly trying to get a clearer look at her.

Professor McGonagall looked at the last name on her list and froze for two seconds before finally speaking it slowly.

"Anna Grindelwald."

Her voice carried throughout the hall, clearly conveying the name to every student and teacher present, as well as to the elderly headmaster in the center.

After all these years, Dumbledore had never imagined that he would hear that surname again at a Hogwarts opening feast.

The wheel of fate had finally come before them. Grindelwald and Dumbledore, those two inextricably entwined names, were reunited here after a long separation, in a special way that no one could have anticipated.

Headmaster Dumbledore, did you hear my name clearly?

And do you understand what it means?

The hall fell utterly silent. The silver-haired, blue-eyed girl first glanced at the headmaster directly opposite her, then walked forward at ease under everyone's gaze. A faint smile remained on her face as she sat lightly down on the chair.

The Sorting Hat was placed on her head.

"Oh, welcome, Miss Grindelwald.

"You know, Albus hasn't slept well for over a month. I hope he can sleep more soundly today."

Hmm, the headmaster might still have trouble sleeping tonight. After all, her face looked exactly like Grindelwald's!

Though it was a smaller version.

"Haha, now, let me see which house the daughter of the famous Grindelwald will be sorted into."

Anna was sure that apart from the Acolytes and the Prince family, no one else knew she was actually Grindelwald's daughter. The Sorting Hat had probably seen images of her memories in her mind.

"Hmm, plenty of courage, and the determination to press ever forward.

"A pursuit of knowledge, and remarkable ingenuity.

"Oh, you treat others sincerely and regard wizards and Muggles as equals. You have a generous heart.

"I see your ambition. Merlin's beard, world peace? All right, all right, I hope you can achieve your ideal.

"You really are the most difficult young witch I've ever had to sort. Every house would suit you.

"Wait, what do I see?"

A black robe flashed through her mind. The contract on Anna's right palm grew slightly warm, then settled down.

"Merlin's pants, oh, I mean, er, welcome.

"Respected Miss Grindelwald, which house would you like to join?"

The Sorting Hat remained on Anna's head longer than it had on any other student's. At last, everyone saw the shabby old hat tremble several times, as though its whole body were shaking. On its barely discernible features, they could just make out a mixture of respect, fear, excitement, and many other expressions.

"Slytherin!"

That was what it finally said.

Its high-pitched shout seemed ready to burst through the ceiling, and it sounded excited enough to break into song again.

Anna walked from the front of the hall toward the Slytherin table, giving Lily a reassuring smile along the way.

As a Slytherin Prefect, Lucius Malfoy should have given the new student an encouraging gesture or said a few words, but the name "Grindelwald" had suppressed all of that.

"Clink, clink, clink-"

Dumbledore withdrew his gaze from the Slytherin table. He tapped his goblet several times with his cutlery and stood up. After giving his usual few words of welcome to the new students, he announced the official start of the feast.