As the first-years entered the entrance hall, lively chatter echoed from the right—upper-year students had already taken their seats, eagerly awaiting the Start-of-Term Feast.
"I am Milawa Maige, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House," Professor Maige began, listing her titles to instill awe and discipline in the young witches and wizards.
She continued, "Before the feast, you'll undergo the Sorting Ceremony to determine whether you'll join Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. This is a vital moment—for the next seven years, you'll study and live with your housemates."
"Your actions will affect your house's standing. Breaking rules will result in point deductions."
Suddenly, Maige's expression sharpened: "Let me be clear—though I'm Head of Gryffindor, if I catch anyone breaking rules, I won't protect them. I'll punish them twice as harshly!"
The first-years froze, silent and wide-eyed. Some hoping for Gryffindor reconsidered.
"This Head of House… is terrifying!"
Many were distracted by fear of the Sorting Ceremony itself. Wizarding-family students had heard frightening tales, while Muggle-borns faced the unknown, stirring dread.
Some imagined the worst: What if no house accepts me? What if I fail? What if I'm sent home?
One nearly cried on the spot.
Tangmu noticed Dafuni muttering beside him, her voice too soft to hear.
Maige saw the anxious faces and softened slightly, a flicker of warmth in her eyes. Despite her stern demeanor, she was a fair, devoted professor who cared for her students.
"No need to worry," she said kindly. "From the moment you received your acceptance letter, you became part of Hogwarts. The Sorting Ceremony simply places you where you'll fit best. There's no pressure."
"Think of Hogwarts as your home. What home would abandon you?"
Her words eased the tension.
But there's always one kid…
A blond boy's eyes lit up. "Professor Maige, you said Hogwarts is our home?"
"Of course," she replied warmly.
His expression turned smug. "Then, since this is my home, can we eat first and sort later? I'm starving."
Maige's face darkened. "You think this is your house, and the rules revolve around you?" she snapped. "No exceptions! You'll be sorted first—and I'll deduct five points from your house!"
"Whoa! You lied, Professor!" the boy whined.
Tangmu: …You walked into that one.
The Sorting began.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A rosy-cheeked girl with blonde braids stepped nervously forward and sat under the Sorting Hat.
After a pause, the Hat shouted: "Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers. Students waved her over, and the Fat Friar ghost tipped his hat.
Tangmu smiled and nodded encouragement as she stumbled to her seat.
Perfect. A "hat-stall" like Hannah means the core plotline holds.
As long as key events stay consistent, my future knowledge is useful.
He sighed softly, "What a good girl…"
Dafuni overheard: "…???" Tangmu likes girls like that? She looks like a farm girl! What does he see in her?
She glanced from Hannah to Tangmu, who was focused on the Sorting, and felt uneasy.
In truth, Tangmu wasn't thinking of Hannah. He was pondering his own placement.
He ruled out Slytherin immediately. As a Muggle-born, he'd never be accepted.
Of the remaining three, he desperately hoped to avoid Gryffindor.
Being in Harry Potter's house would put him on Dengbuliduo's radar. With his infamous name, he'd face constant scrutiny.
Tangmu wasn't aiming to be a villain, but he didn't want the spotlight either.
As Dafuni said, Gryffindors were chaos magnets. He wanted a peaceful academic life, not drama.
Between the remaining houses, he preferred Ravenclaw—though Hufflepuff, with its kitchen proximity and house-elf cooking, wasn't bad either.
"Dafuni Gelingelasi!"
Dafuni, visibly nervous, jogged forward and placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
After a minute, the Hat announced: "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers—louder than for others, reflecting the Gelingelasi family's status in the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
A few more names followed.
Then, "Harry Potter!"
The hall held its breath as the Sorting Hat deliberated.
When it shouted "Gryffindor!", the Gryffindor table exploded with cheers. The Weasley twins nearly climbed onto the table.
The Slytherin table, however, was silent, some students staring at Harry with unreadable expressions, lips moving in whispered commentary.
Tension spiked—and then Maige, looking serious, called: "Tangmu Lideer!"
Most students didn't react. Only Hemin and Dafuni glanced at Tangmu, knowing who he was.
But among the professors, the name hit like a thunderclap, shattering the quiet.
[^1]: In the Wizarding World, the Sorting Ceremony assigns students to one of four houses—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin—based on their traits, using the enchanted Sorting Hat. The Sacred Twenty-Eight is a list of prominent pure-blood families.