A low buzz of voices drifted from a door to the right of the entrance hall, but Professor McGonagall did not lead them inside.
Instead, she stopped abruptly, turning sharply, her stern gaze slicing across the trembling first-years.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said.
"In a moment, you will enter the Great Hall and undergo the Sorting Ceremony, which will determine the house you join. This is extremely important. For the next seven years, your house—and this school—will be your home. You will study together, sleep together, eat together. I expect you to treat one another as family."
"The school has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each has its own noble history and has produced exceptional witches and wizards."
Her gaze paused briefly on Draco Malfoy.
The spells had already worn off, but Draco still looked as if he had been trampled by a mountain troll—red-rimmed eyes, wrinkled robes, and visible misery.
Professor McGonagall hesitated… then abruptly shifted her gaze to Vaughn.
"And I am aware some… unfortunate incidents occurred on the train today. I sincerely hope that will be the last of them."
Her voice turned crisp, icy.
"Once sorted, your conduct will earn or lose points for your house. At the end of the year, the house with the highest total receives the House Cup—an honour you should strive for. Obey the rules and bring glory to your house."
Vaughn stared back with an expression of perfect innocence.
McGonagall's eye twitched—barely—before she continued addressing the silent group.
"The Sorting Ceremony is moments away. I suggest you make yourselves tidy. The entire school will be watching."
With a final stern nod, she turned and swept into the Great Hall.
A collective exhale rippled through the first-years.
Draco frantically tried to fix his hair and straighten his robes.
Harry and Ron fussed with their own hair.
Hermione hastily tucked her newly softened curls behind her ears.
Everyone else tugged at cloaks and collars.
Then—
A scream.
Vaughn looked up just in time to see more than twenty ghosts glide straight through the wall—pale, translucent figures chattering cheerfully among themselves. Some looked kind, others argumentative, a few floated close to the terrified students to greet them.
The first-years froze.
Vaughn, however, watched with genuine interest.
He had always wanted to study ghost formation—but now was hardly the time.
When McGonagall returned, the ghosts drifted aside respectfully.
"Everything is ready," she said. "Form a line. Follow me."
Through the great doors they entered the Great Hall, lined with four long tables bursting with upper-year students watching curiously or critically.
Vaughn spotted Percy, Fred, and George waving wildly.
He smiled back.
Ron, quivering too hard to notice anything, did not.
Above them, the enchanted ceiling shimmered with a tranquil starlit sky. Warm torchlight reflected off golden plates and goblets.
At the front stood a small stool, atop which rested a patched, fraying hat—the Sorting Hat.
It began to sing.
Vaughn casually cast a charm to block the sound.
Only when McGonagall stepped forward with her scroll did he lift the spell.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A familiar name.
One by one, the first-years stepped up, placed the Hat on their heads, and were sorted.
Among the ones Vaughn knew, Hermione went first—practically sprinting to the stool.
After a short pause, the Hat shouted:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Then Harry.
Also Gryffindor.
The table erupted with cheers so loud they shook the rafters.
Vaughn's gaze drifted to the staff table.
Professor Snape looked even more sour than usual.
Headmaster Dumbledore, behind his half-moon spectacles, wore a warm, knowing smile.
Everything was unfolding exactly as he intended.
Vaughn's lips curled faintly.
The story of the Boy Who Lived officially begins here. The greatest forces of this age are about to clash—and I intend to watch it all from up close.
Time passed.
Finally—the W's.
Ron, nerves stretched so tight they were nearly visible, tripped on his way to the stool.
The Hat barely touched him before shouting:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Cheers again.
Percy puffed out his chest.
"That's my brother!"
Fred and George whooped, nearly tipping over the table.
Then—
"Vaughn Weasley!"
The twins nearly climbed onto their table in excitement.
"Vaughn! Vaughn!"
"Gryffindor! Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindors joined in, chanting loudly.
But Vaughn only sighed inwardly.
Sorry, Fred… George.
For years, he had known this moment would come.
With his hunger for knowledge, his pursuit of power, his ambition—there was no universe where the Hat would put him in Gryffindor.
The Hat settled onto his head and hissed immediately in his ear:
"Oh? A very fine Occlumency barrier. Impressive for one so young. But you can't fool me, dear boy. I contain the combined knowledge of the Four Founders."
"Such minds always hide enormous secrets…"
"A cunning child… Two houses are clearly not for you.
I shall place you in—"
"SLYTHERIN!"
The word exploded across the hall.
The Gryffindor table fell dead silent.
Percy froze mid-rise.
Fred and George toppled backwards off the bench.
Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth.
Harry and Ron stared in utter shock.
Even Professor McGonagall whipped her head toward Dumbledore.
And the greatest wizard of the century watched Vaughn with narrowed, thoughtful eyes.
For a long, heavy moment—
Silence.
Only when Dumbledore cleared his throat did the ceremony resume.
McGonagall hurriedly removed the Hat.
Whispers erupted instantly.
Students stared at Vaughn's unmistakable bright red hair, hissing questions.
A Weasley in Slytherin?
Vaughn ignored all of them.
Because a translucent panel shimmered before his eyes:
[Main Quest ①: Enroll at Hogwarts — COMPLETED]
[Reward: +1 Talent Point, +50 Mana Units]
[Claim reward now?]
(End of Chapter 14)
PS :
Slytherin – One of Hogwarts' four houses, known for ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness.