Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat onto Liam's head.
Immediately, a voice echoed inside his mind.
"Hm."
Several seconds passed.
Then a full minute.
Nothing happened.
The Great Hall gradually became quieter.
The Sorting Hat remained motionless.
"Hm?"
Another minute passed.
Then another.
Five minutes later, the hat was still silent.
Even the wrinkles around its brim appeared to be frowning.
Professor McGonagall looked genuinely surprised.
Another Hatstall?
After Hermione?
Students throughout the hall began whispering.
The second Hatstall of the year.
It was practically unheard of.
At the Slytherin table, Cassandra remained completely unconcerned.
Liam would end up in Slytherin.
She had never doubted it for a second.
Finally, the Sorting Hat's voice returned.
"Interesting."
Its tone was far different from before.
"Very interesting."
Liam remained silent.
"You've done something remarkable to your Occlumency."
The Hat sounded almost impressed.
"If you don't lower it, I can't properly examine your thoughts."
"Then don't."
Liam replied calmly.
"Put me in Slytherin."
The Sorting Hat was quiet for a moment.
Then it chuckled.
"Well."
"That certainly sounds like a Slytherin answer."
The voice grew thoughtful.
"At your age, possessing Occlumency strong enough to interfere with me is extraordinary."
"Honestly, you're one of the most gifted children I've ever encountered."
Liam didn't react.
Praise wasn't particularly meaningful.
After another brief pause, the Sorting Hat made its decision.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The announcement exploded through the Great Hall.
The Slytherin table erupted into cheers.
Even louder than before.
Hermione had taken several minutes.
Liam had taken even longer.
In everyone's eyes, that meant something.
Many students immediately assumed he possessed even greater talent.
Only the Sorting Hat knew the truth.
Its Legilimency had failed completely.
The magical consciousness left behind by the four founders had been unable to read a single useful thought.
Naturally, the Hat had no intention of admitting such an embarrassing fact.
Being outwitted by a ten-year-old would permanently ruin its reputation.
Far better to pretend everything had gone exactly as intended.
Professor McGonagall removed the hat.
Liam stood.
As he walked toward the Slytherin table, Dumbledore watched him carefully.
The Headmaster's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
...
"Sit here."
The moment Liam reached the Slytherin table, Cassandra pointed toward the seat beside her.
Her tone left no room for negotiation.
A fourth-year student occupying the chair immediately moved aside.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, refusing felt dangerous.
"Thanks."
Liam sat down.
The moment he did, several older Slytherin girls immediately leaned forward.
"Hello."
"You're Liam, right?"
"You're adorable."
"Nice to meet you."
One after another, they offered handshakes.
Some even reached over to ruffle his hair.
Liam endured the attention with visible confusion.
Meanwhile—
Cassandra's smile gradually disappeared.
Her emerald eyes narrowed.
The table suddenly felt several degrees colder.
One by one, she memorized every face.
Senior students.
Third-years.
Fourth-years.
Fifth-years.
Excellent.
She'd remember all of them.
Every single one.
How dare they touch Liam's hands first?
She had met him first.
She had brought him to Hogwarts.
She had recruited him into Slytherin.
What right did they have?
Under the table, Cassandra's foot lightly kicked Liam's leg.
Liam blinked.
Then immediately misunderstood.
"Sorry."
"Hm?"
"I couldn't control how long the Sorting took."
His expression actually looked somewhat apologetic.
"The Hat refused to hurry."
For a second, Cassandra stared.
Then she burst out laughing.
The irritation vanished instantly.
So he hadn't even noticed the older girls.
Good.
Very good.
"No."
She smiled sweetly.
"I'm not angry."
"It was an accident."
"Oh."
Liam relaxed slightly.
Then Cassandra tilted her head.
"Do you want me to rub it better?"
Liam nearly choked.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"Absolutely not."
Cassandra laughed again.
She was suddenly in a wonderful mood.
...
The remainder of the Sorting passed quickly.
Most students had stopped paying attention after the appearance of two Hatstalls.
Then came the name everyone had been waiting for.
Harry Potter.
As expected, the famous Boy Who Lived was sorted into Gryffindor.
The Gryffindor table erupted with applause.
Afterward, dinner finally appeared.
Mountains of food covered the tables.
Students immediately attacked the feast.
Even Liam, who normally paid little attention to food, found himself eating enthusiastically.
The train journey had been long.
The feast was excellent.
By the time dessert vanished, most students looked thoroughly satisfied.
Then a familiar voice appeared behind the Slytherin table.
"Miss Greengrass."
"Mr. Hale."
Liam looked up.
A pale man with greasy black hair stood nearby.
His expression suggested that happiness had personally offended him.
"I am Professor Severus Snape."
"The Head of Slytherin House."
His black eyes examined both students.
"Come with me."
Then he turned and walked away.
No explanation.
No discussion.
Simply an order.
...
The Slytherin prefect glanced toward them.
Seeing Snape personally involved, he wisely chose not to interfere.
The remaining first-years were led away toward the dormitories.
Liam and Cassandra followed Snape through a series of dim corridors.
Eventually they arrived at an empty classroom.
Several people were already waiting.
Albus Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall.
Hermione Granger.
Panessa.
And the unfortunate third-year responsible for the sneak attack.
His replacement robes looked pristine.
His bruised face did not.
The moment he saw Liam and Cassandra enter, hatred flashed across his expression.
Panessa looked similarly hostile.
Cassandra responded with complete indifference.
Liam simply ignored them.
Dumbledore folded his hands together.
The room became quiet.
"Now then."
His calm voice filled the classroom.
"I would like to understand exactly what happened at King's Cross Station."
Blue eyes moved toward Cassandra and Liam.
"Miss Greengrass."
"Mr. Hale."
"Panessa and Mr. Curat claim that the two of you attacked them."
He paused.
"However, judging by the injuries involved, the situation appears somewhat more complicated than that."
The old wizard smiled gently.
"Why don't we start from the beginning?"
....
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