"Hannah Abbott."
"Hufflepuff!"
"Susan Bones."
"Hufflepuff!"
***
"Harry Potter."
Professonagall called out the names one by one, and the students below erupted into surprised chatter.
"Harry Potter!"
"Oh, Merlin above, is that the Boy?"
"Yes, it's him."
"My mom said he's starting school this year too. I hought I'd see him."
"Whie is he?"
"Is it the one walking forward?"
"It should be. My mom said the Potters all have bck hair."
"Oh, my Merlin, that's Potter!"
Not only the seated students but even the udents standing together were excited, whispering about the story of the Boy Who Lived.
Hoare stood in the crowd, watg Harry walk step by step to the stage. His face was not looking good, as if he was holding his breath, turning a bit blue.
It seemed Harry still didn't believe in his charm, Hoare raised an eyebrow.
"Harry Potter?"
A voice echoed in Harry's mind.
"Well... let me see."
"You are brave, a good persoalented, oh, heavens, yes—you desire to prove your worth, how iing... so, where should I pce you?"
Harry gripped the edge of the stool tightly, feeliremely nervous, as the voice tinued, "You could bee a great wizard, you have talents others don't, Slytherin could help you succeed. Go to Slytherin!"
"No!!!" Harry shouted out in fear.
"Oh, oh, oh, don't shout, I hear you," the voice said in Harry's mind.
"Slytherin really suits you, won't you sider it?"
Harry was almost in tears, as if he saw tless Dudleys ughing and running towards him.
He clutched his clothes tightly, trying to hold onto something to ease his panic.
Suddenly, Harry felt a warm and f sensation under his hand.
It soothed his anxious heart.
Henry's charm!
Harry realized, quickly taking the charm from his pocket and holding it tightly in his hand.
Instantly, his mind cleared of all shadows, and he felt as if his soul had been sed, filled with endless ce.
He firmly said, "I want to be in Gryffindor."
"What, not Slytherin? Are you sure?"
"You could achieve success there, no doubt about it—are you sure you don't want it?"
The voice kept persuading Harry, but Harry had never felt so determined and ceous, shouting in his mind, "No! I want to be in Gryffindor."
"Alright, alright, if you're so insistent, be a Gryffindor then!" the voice sighed helplessly, plying with Harry's decision.
"Gryffindor!"
Harry heard the S Hat shout above his head.
Professonagall took the hat off, and he excitedly ran to the Gryffindor table, joining the students who were shouting that they had Harry Potter.
No one knew how close he had e to being sorted into Slytherin.
He turo look at Hoare, who was still in line, his hand still tightly clutg the charm.
Hoare noticed someone looking at him, turo see Harry Potter with a grateful expression, and immediately uood why when he saw Harry's ched fist.
He smiled at Harry and rubbed his thumb against his index and middle fingers.
Harry didn't uand.
Well, it seemed this gesture was uo a.
"Draalfoy."
"Slytherin!"
"Henry William."
Hoare straightened his clothes and stepped forward to sit down.
"You have mas, kid, are you sure?" the S Hat said in Hoare's mind, "Though you suit Slytherin, perhaps Gryffindor is more fitting for you."
"After all, the Weasleys are all Gryffindors."
"Don't you think that's what makes it iing?" Have a mischievous smile.
"Alright, alright, Hogwarts will be lively this year," the S Hat said helplessly. This year, Hogwarts might be very different.
A Gryffindor suited for Slytherin and a Slytherin suited fryffindor.
But that's Dumbledore's problem to worry about; it's just a poor, lonely hat.
"Slytherin!"
The hat was removed from Hoare's head, and he walked to the Slytherin table.
The Slytherin students cpped politely, which was their way of weling him.
"Ron Weasley."
"Gryffindor!"
Hoare sat towards the back.
His eyes sed each Slytherin member and the dark-cd headmaster at the main table, all future ts of his.
"Henry!" A familiar voice came from beside him, and he saw the person who had been sittio him move aside in panic.
It was Harry, to Hoare's surprise.
"Harry? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to thank you," Harry said excitedly, leaning in to whisper to Hoare, "Did you use magic to switch our houses?"
"You're so kind! How could you be sorted into..."
"No, I came here willingly."
Three drops of sweat fell from Hoare's forehead.
Harry's eyes were filled with gratitude, and Hoare felt his expnation was in vain. Just as well, he could collect the payment now and not have to find him ter.
"200 Galleons," Hoare extended his hand.
"Ah?" Harry was fused. What 200 Galleons? How did it bee 200 Galleons?
"With i, double," Hoare expined suctly.
Harry, used to being poor, trembled as he asked, "What if I didn't bring that much moo school?" All his money was in Gringotts.
"No worries, daily i rate of 0.05%, calcuted daily," Hoare smiled slyly.
Harry swallowed and sighe loan tract Hoare had jured from who knows where, firming that Hoare was a true Slytherin!
His gratitude was mispced!
As the st student took their seat, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up, raised his wand to his throat, and cast Sonorus:
"Wele!" he said loudly, "Wele to Hogwarts for a new school year. Before the feast, I want to say a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Thank you all!"
Headmaster Dumbledore sat back down, and everyone cpped and cheered.
Harry quickly returo the Gryffindor table.
In an instant, the previously empty tables were filled with food, and it was finally time to eat.
Hoare was so hungry he could eat a whole cow.
The Great Hall was filled only with the sound of chewing as everyone was starving, and only after eating their fill did versations begin to emerge.
"Do you know Potter?"
Hoare was eating a chi leg when he heard an arrogant voice beside him, a voice that was desding even when asking questions.
Hoare didn't o look up to know who it was.
Draalfoy.
Si was that little brat, there was o be polite. Hoare replied without lifting his head, "If you want to kno."
