Chapter 03: Scattered Memories
A Cruciatus Curse upon meeting?
Or death by Fiendfyre?
Ivan shivered involuntarily as he contemplated the possible tragic outcomes, desperately trying to retrieve the original owner's memories.
Perhaps due to the transmigration, these memories seemed fragmented and hidden deep within. No matter how hard Ivan racked his brain, he couldn't recall anything.
"Damn, if only I could remember more," Ivan muttered, rubbing his temples. It seemed that before the end of the term, he must learn Legilimency and find a way to use the Pensieve in the Headmaster's office to sort through these memories. Otherwise, he was likely to be exposed.
Come to think of it, Ivan didn't even know where his own home was...
A transmigrator ending up in his situation was truly one of a kind.
"Harry Potter!"
Just as Ivan was pondering how to sneak into the Restricted Section to learn Legilimency, Professor McGonagall's loud voice pulled his attention back to the Sorting Ceremony.
Not only Ivan, but for a moment, all the young wizards and professors turned their gaze to the podium, much like when Ivan had gone up. However, Ivan's minor peculiarities were naturally incomparable to the prestige of the Boy Who Lived.
As a bespectacled, somewhat thin and nervous young wizard took the stage, warm applause erupted from below. The second-year Gryffindors next to Ivan even clapped their hands red, staring intently at the forehead hidden by strands of hair, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of the lightning-shaped scar.
"Harry Potter? Did she say *the* Harry Potter?"
"My mum said he defeated You-Know-Who when he was just a baby!"
"I really hope he gets sorted into Gryffindor!"
...
Ivan joined the others in applauding and welcoming him; it would be too conspicuous to sit there unmoving.
Of course, Ivan also felt this honor was well-deserved for Harry. After all, Harry's tragic childhood of bullying stemmed from his parents' deaths.
If it weren't for Lily Potter's sacrificial protection magic that caused the powerful Voldemort to lose his power back then, who knows how many more would have died in the wizarding world...
When the Sorting Hat announced Harry Potter's placement in Gryffindor, the young wizards at the table went wild with joy. The Weasley twins excitedly hugged each other, shouting, "Potter! We've got Potter!" Meanwhile, the applause from the Slytherin table was noticeably much lighter.
Especially the Slytherin prefect seated near the front, whose expression turned rather unpleasant upon hearing the Sorting Hat say Harry had refused Slytherin.
Ivan quietly observed everything, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He knew this was because Harry's "Boy Who Lived" halo was still strong. Once everyone realized that, aside from his title, Harry Potter was just an ordinary young wizard, they probably wouldn't pay him as much mind.
Ivan mused internally, but as his eyes swept over Dumbledore, who was looking at Harry with a smile, he suddenly thought the Slytherin prefect's worry was justified. With the Headmaster helping the Chosen One, if nothing else, Slytherin could forget about winning the House Cup for these next few terms at the very least.
As Harry walked down from the podium, Gryffindor prefect Percy Weasley practically pounced on him the second he stepped down, eagerly shaking his hand. Most people also cleared space beside them, seemingly hoping to have a good chat with the Boy Who Lived.
Even George and Fred went to join the commotion, leaving Ivan's side suddenly empty.
Ivan had no intention of joining the crowd. Mindful of his own business, he enjoyed the feast before him. They say British cuisine is authentic "black cuisine," but Hogwarts' food was surprisingly decent. Ivan figured it probably had to do with the fact that Hogwarts' meals were prepared by house-elves, not by British wizards themselves.
Faintly, Ivan sensed someone's gaze on him. Looking up, he saw Dumbledore's silvery-blue eyes fixed upon him.
Ivan didn't flinch. Putting on an act of being well-behaved and shy, he gave Dumbledore a smile before stuffing a large piece of cake into his mouth, swallowing it in two or three bites.
Perhaps because Ivan's "foodie" aura was too strong, or perhaps Dumbledore was just momentarily curious, after returning the smile, the greatest white wizard shifted his gaze elsewhere.
After the Sorting Ceremony ended, there was still ample time for the young wizards to eat. Ivan ate until he couldn't possibly fit another bite before Dumbledore finally waved his wand, clearing away the remnants of the feast.
The tables full of food vanished without a trace, just as they had appeared suddenly earlier.
Magic. Truly marvelous. For the older students who had seen it many times, it was nothing special, but for Ivan, who was witnessing real magic for the first time, it was still quite novel.
It was then that Dumbledore slowly rose to his feet, and the attention of the entire hall focused on the podium following his movement.
"Ah, now that we are all fed and watered, I must ask for your attention for a few more moments. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."
Dumbledore's voice echoed through the hall. His eyes swept over the new students standing below before turning towards the Weasley brothers.
"First-years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. I think a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
"Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes."
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week...."
After briefly emphasizing the rules that applied every term, Dumbledore paused briefly before raising his voice again.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Upon hearing this, Ivan couldn't help but mentally critique Dumbledore's rather bait-like statement.
He only spoke of the danger, but revealed no other information, not even explaining why one shouldn't go there, making it all seem incredibly mysterious. How could young wizards with overflowing curiosity possibly resist?
Indeed, Dumbledore's stern warning didn't seem to have its intended effect. A few first-years even chuckled dismissively. The older students, however, wore serious expressions.
Of course, "serious expressions" did not include the Weasley twins, who were whispering conspiratorially about something. Ivan suspected they might very well go take a look at that corridor that promised a painful death.
Though Ivan figured that before they could, Dumbledore would likely have a personal chat with them in advance, or perhaps have caretaker Filch keep a special eye on them.
To prevent them from causing any trouble...