Before the staff table stood a three-legged stool, upon which rested an ancient, patched pointed hat that clearly had seen many years of use. The Sorting Hat was currently singing to itself until Professor McGonagall stepped forward, causing it to fall silent.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," Professor McGonagall announced, unrolling a parchment scroll. "Colin Creevey!"
Colin started, then hurried forward nervously to sit on the stool and place the hat on his head. Almost immediately, the hat shouted its decision: "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers and applause, welcoming their new housemate.
"Astoria Greengrass!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Luna Lovegood!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Ginny Weasley!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
As name after name was called, it soon came to George's turn.
"George!"
The moment George placed the Sorting Hat on his head, just like the other students, he heard no hesitation or questions from the hat before it immediately announced: "SLYTHERIN!"
"Slytherin?" George couldn't help showing surprise on his face, but quickly composed himself. He removed the hat and walked calmly to the Slytherin table to take his seat.
Truth be told, he had thought Gryffindor was most likely, with Ravenclaw as a distant possibility. Slytherin had never crossed his mind. But upon reflection, his preference for careful planning, clear goals, and sometimes pragmatic approach did align with some Slytherin traits.
Perhaps at his core, he truly leaned more toward Slytherin characteristics. Being in Slytherin didn't automatically mean being bad - none of the four houses represented absolute good or evil. Gryffindor had produced wizards like Pettigrew, while Slytherin had members like Regulus Black who sacrificed himself to oppose Voldemort, refusing to let a house-elf die in his place.
The defining traits of all four houses were largely positive in nature: Gryffindor's bravery, Ravenclaw's wisdom, Hufflepuff's loyalty, and Slytherin's ambition and determination.
"Slytherin will do," George thought. "Snape favors his own house and is a master of Dark Arts. If I can bring honor to Slytherin, it should prove quite beneficial."
By the time he collected his thoughts, the sorting ceremony had concluded. Dumbledore said a few words, introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart, and declared the start of the feast.
Instantly, the four house tables were laden with sumptuous dishes prepared by house-elves, and the hungry students immediately began digging in. George joined in the meal while keeping some attention on the staff table.
Sure enough, before long a gaunt, sallow-skinned wizard with a hooked nose and greasy black hair hanging to his shoulders appeared at the entrance. Dressed in black robes and cloak, he exuded an aura of cold severity as he swept bat-like toward the staff table. Every student he passed, regardless of house or year, instinctively held their breath.
This was none other than Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House, master Potioneer, and one of the most powerful wizards after Dumbledore, Voldemort and Grindelwald. After exchanging a few words with Dumbledore and McGonagall that made the Transfiguration professor's expression darken, the three professors left the Great Hall together.
"My father got promoted at the Ministry again—"
"My mother bought me a twenty-Galleon broom when I was seven—"
"Pfft, that's nothing. I—"
At the Slytherin table, first-years were already boasting about their family backgrounds and wealth between bites. Most sorted into Slytherin came from pure-blood families, with very few half-bloods and almost no Muggle-borns. Some had known each other since childhood, and even those who hadn't were quick to establish their social standing through displays of family prestige.
George stayed out of these conversations. His body in this world was likely that of a half-blood - the product of a witch and Muggle's brief encounter, abandoned by a mother unwilling to raise a magical child alone. This put him at the bottom of Slytherin's social hierarchy, and he saw no point in inviting trouble.
But as a half-blood, if he could demonstrate exceptional ability like Snape or Voldemort had, status and followers would come naturally. Slytherin valued blood purity, but valued power more - as long as one wasn't a complete Muggle-born.
"Merlin's beard, it's the Bloody Baron! He looks terrifying!"
The first-years shuddered as a gaunt, hollow-eyed ghost covered in bloodstains suddenly appeared and took a seat at the Slytherin table - right next to George.
George looked up at the spectral figure, then offered a faint smile and polite nod before calmly returning to his meal. A little blood meant nothing to someone who had conducted dozens of dissections and killed scores of people in laboratories. The Bloody Baron seemed surprised that a first-year could remain so composed during their first encounter, but as Slytherin's house ghost, he appeared pleased by this display of nerve and nodded back in acknowledgment.
"Which family is he from, to greet the Bloody Baron like that?"
"Never heard of him. Probably a half-blood."
"Half-blood? He doesn't look it. I'd say he's from one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight - look at that bearing."
George's composed reaction to the ghost hadn't gone unnoticed by the rest of Slytherin house, sparking curiosity about this poised and daring newcomer. They quickly concluded he must be a half-blood, since no pure-blood family would be completely unknown, and his name was unusual besides. Still, several students found themselves favorably impressed despite his blood status.
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