CHAPTER 31: HAT OFF
(Severus POV)
Five people were currently getting out of a seemingly horseless carriage, near the front gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Flashback
(Severus POV)
"I think you should stop there, Crouch," said the brown-haired Auror to the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, as he arrived at the scene, accompanied by a dark-purple-haired female, (who Severus guessed was probably also an Auror.) "This matter is under the jurisdiction of the Auror Office. You have no authority here."
It was fortunate that Rufus Scrimgeour appeared when he did, before anything else could happen.
"No authority?" asked the grey-haired man in his curt voice, but with a note of incredulity. "Need I remind you, Scrimgeour, that the Auror Office happen to be under my department, which means that you Aurors, as well as your head of office, are also under me. And as of right now, I am ordering you to hand over those three to my custody, unless you want to be hauled in for insubordination?"
"Richard's my boss, Crouch, not you," said Scrimgeour. "And before you start accusing me of anything else… here…" At this the brown-haired man approached the grey-haired man, handing him a piece of parchment."
Crouch was silent for a few minutes, before rolling up the parchment and handing it back to the brown-haired Auror whose face was impassive except for a triumphant look that flashed across his face for an instant, before returning to its emotionless state.
"We have a direct order, Crouch," began the brown-haired Auror. "Ms. Emiya and her companions are directly under my wing… They are not to be touched… Unless of course you want me to report you to the Minister and have him order to haul you in for insubordination?"
Silence reigned for while…
"Very well," replied the Magical Law Enforcer Head finally, his voice still civil, but with a badly hidden note of anger and irritation in it. "I will leave this matter to you then… Come, we're leaving."
Crouch left with his subordinates, but not without giving each one of them a piercing gaze, before turning on the spot and Apparating, leaving the three underage magicians with the two Aurors…
End of Flashback
"…still, I think the three of you should tread carefully," said Rufus, as he got back onto the carriage where his fellow Auror was waiting for him (The purple-haired female was silent the entire time, and Severus guessed that she was probably not as comfortable as her colleague was with their presence, though after everything that happened, it was not surprising.). "Crouch is bound to try other means to try and get information out of you… He's not one to back down easily…"
"I know," replied the white-haired girl, nodding in agreement. "I can see it in his eyes… we'll be ready for him though, so there's no need to worry… compared to Voldemort, he'll be a piece of cake…"
"I'm not so sure about that," replied the Dark Wizard Catcher, a reprimanding note in his voice. "Voldemort may be the most powerful wizard in Britain, but Crouch is no pushover either… and after what happened, they probably aren't the only ones after you now…and as you said yourself, it was just luck and coincidence that allowed you to pull that one off on the Dark Lord…"
"Point taken," said the white-haired seriously, as she, as well as Alice and Severus, waved their hands, as the thestral-pulled carriage started moving. "Underestimating the enemy can have dire consequences after all… we'll be sure to constantly keep our guard up then…"
-BREAK-
(Minerva McGonagall POV)
"DAVIES, RICARDO!" shouted a stern-faced woman, as a boy ran towards the stool, and placed his head under a tattered looking hat. After a few seconds…
"GRYFFINDOR" a hat shouted…
Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as Head of the Gryffindor House, and the Transfiguration teacher, could not help but sigh. In the many years she had been at Hogwarts, both as a student and as a teacher, this was one of the strangest Sorting Ceremonies she had attended.
Normally, the Sorting was a lively event. Before, whenever a student was Sorted, the table of the House would he was Sorted into would normally erupt into cheer, as they welcomed the new part of their family. Now, however…
Silence… No clapping, no cheer, no nothing, not even booes and negative mutterings could be heard when the Sorting Hat placed Charles Greengrass into Slytherin (which became a common occurrence from three out of four of the tables ever since Lord Voldemort started his campaigns). Instead, everyone was still and quiet. Even the Marauders, namely one James Potter and Sirius Black, who were usually stirring things up every year from beginning to end, were unusually well-behaved, and this puzzled their Head of House.
McGonagall knew about what happened at the train, although only in summary. According to the information the Head Master told her briefly, promising to tell her the rest of the details later, the Hogwarts Express was stopped by some Death Eaters (as well as the fact that You-Know-Who appeared personally, which made McGonagall gasp in horror), apparently recruiting new members, and sadly some of the older students were swayed and went with them, although only a very few, before they left and allowed the rest to go on their way. Still, as far as Minerva could tell, thankfully, nobody was harmed…
Yes, it was a traumatic experience, the Deputy Headmistress knew, and the silent and defensive mannerism of the students was to be expected, and she sympathized with them. McGonagall could only imagine how frightened they were.
At first, the Minerva argued with Albus Dumbledore, telling him that due to the recent events, \ it would be better to forego the Sorting for the next day, but the old man told her that it was all the more reason to proceed with the festivities and entrance ceremony to help the students move on from the shaking experience and be able to relax with the fact that everything was still normal. At these words, she was convinced. Dumbledore may act a bit insane, but in truth he was actually full of wisdom, and truly concerned for his students. McGonagall finally agreed inwardly that it would be the better option…
Still, there was one more thing that was bothering McGonagall, and it wasn't about You-Know-Who…
No, it was the fact that the students did not even seem to be bothering about You-Know-Who that the Deputy Headmistress found really strange…
After the Hogwarts Express incident, McGonagall, (and she was sure it was the same with her other colleagues), thought that the students would definitely be talking and whispering about the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. Instead, however…
Flashback
"Those poor Death Eaters… even though they deserved it…"
"I almost feel sorry for You-Know-Who…"
"She's evil, I tell you… evil…"
End of Flashback
Minerva McGonagall was worried and confused by their whisperings. The Dark Lady? But wasn't You-Know-Who male? And why did they say they were sorry for You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters…
All throughout the Sorting, this particular thought went through the Deputy Headmistress mind, although her pondering was not easily visible on her face, as it remained stern and impassive, even though there were questions swirling through her head… The question as to who, however…
"SORRY WE'RE LATE!" shouted a cheerful female voice, which sounded a lot like one of her Gryffindors.
…was answered when as the door to the Great Hall burst open and three individuals entered…
Now McGonagall understood why. Before the students were allowed to enter the Great Hall, Dumbledore had instructed they were required to drink a chocolate energy drink to allow them to reenergize and recover their strengths, but in truth the supposed tonic were secretly laced with a Calming Draught, which were supposed to have the opposite effect…
Some students gasped loudly, while a few fainted. The rest just stared warily at three newcomers, fear evident in their eyes, breathing and reaction.
"D-Dark Trio…"
"It's them…"
"It's her…"
Minerva McGonagall did not need to think of what would have happened had the students not been made to drink the Calming potion, knowing full well the pandemonium that could have taken place, as she heard one of the students gasp in an almost-scream, pointing her finger at the silver-haired girl, who was walking in the middle, the other two beside her…
"It's the Dark Lady!"
-BREAK-
(Alice POV)
Their entrance to the Great Hall caused quite a bit of stir, though not as much as Alice expected, and the black-haired Gryffindor suspected that some enchantment may have been involved. Still, she was thankful for the fact that Professor McGonagall was her usual self, reprimanding, as she always did, students who entered late for the Sorting Ceremony, and immediately commanded Severus and Alice to sit with their respective Houses, while Ilya was told to wait in line, as the transferees were always sorted last. Giving her two friends a quick wave and mouthing the words "later," Alice went off and headed towards the Gryffindor table…
I should have expected this, sighed the black-haired Gryffindor to herself, as Murray, Nelson, was Sorted into Hufflepuff.
Alice could not help but feel slightly saddened at the fact that every member of Gryffindor House, (including the Marauders, Remus, Lily, Bridget and Rachelle) were staying away from her, though as for Lily's case…
In truth, Alice Sera Chaucer never actually cared about the House traditions, among these are the "Slytherins are everyone's enemy" and "Slytherins are evil" sort of thing. The black-haired girl actually thought it was stupid. Still, she had no choice but to keep up her act and conform, not wanting to be shunned and isolated by her fellow Gryffindors…
And this was the main reason why Alice gravitated towards Lily Evans. The fiery-haired girl was similar to her in this aspect, and the black-haired girl could not help but envy her a little, as she was not afraid of possible repercussions, being friends with Severus Snape who was Sorted into Slytherin. Well, at first, anyway…
As the years dragged on, Alice could not help but notice that the friendship between the two was becoming more and more strained (which finally ended during the M-word incident), both being influenced further by the beliefs of their respected Houses. It made the black-haired girl sad that Lily, the friend she used to admire for her strength in her own beliefs, was eventually swayed into abandoning them and becoming like everyone else. Slowly, they too, were drifting apart, the black-haired girl spending less and less time with the red-haired girl, and Alice was thankful that she could use having a boyfriend as an excuse for being distant to Lily. And speaking of Frank…
In truth, Frank Longbottom was someone who could be said to be the perfect gentleman. He was kind, well-mannered, has a good family background, as well as having good grades. Alice liked these aspects about him, as well as the fact that the guy wanted to take it slowly. They have been dating since the beginning of fourth year (Frank was the one who confessed, of course), and so far nothing has happened between them that was beyond kissing and holding hands. The black-haired girl, though still unsure of her own feelings, agreed to date Frank, though given more time, it could blossom (Alice had never yet told Frank the "I love you too.")...
Unfortunately, Frank Longbottom also held on to the traditional Gryffindorish customs, and given what had happened, Alice did not know how he would react to it. Will he choose Alice, or will he abandon her, choosing his beliefs over his feelings of love (if they were true)? Alice did not yet know the answer to these questions, but she will soon enough when her boyfriend got better.
Still, despite the things that happened, despite becoming isolated from the rest of the Gryffindors, being shunned and dreaded by those who once called themselves her friends…
I feel great, thought the black-haired female, as she stretched her arms and yawned (She could stretch as much as she wanted to since the chairs on either side of her were vacant, and the same could be said about Severus Snape, as Alice observed, on the Slytherin table.).
Yes, Alice Sera Chaucer could not help but feel glad, as a great weight seemed to have been lifted from her shoulders. She was free. No longer was she using an illusion, no longer was she wearing a face that was not her own, hiding behind a mask of indifference, and it was all thanks to her friends Ilya and Severus. Thanks to them, Alice was finally able…
to be herself…
-BREAK-
(Severus POV)
Severus Snape could not help but feel slightly nervous.
Ever since they entered the Great Hall, it had been bad enough that everyone had been staring at them, and when he finally sat down at the Slytherin table upon the Headmistress' command, the raven-haired boy found it even worse.
His fellow Slytherins, including those he was once in good terms with, were now giving him quick side glances, and the raven-haired young man could tell, from the surge of magical energy in the surroundings, that they felt a mixture of fear and enmity towards him. Well, he could tell that the same could be said about just about every student who were on board the Hogwarts Express, but the Slytherins were focusing the hatred on Severus, and the raven-haired young man guessed that it was because they now saw him as a traitor. The raven-haired young man was grateful that their fear greatly outweighed their hatred (as they vacated the seats immediately beside Severus'), otherwise, it could not have gone well.
Still, Severus nervousness was nothing compared to the great irritation and annoyance he felt with the fact that all of the students in there both feared and hated them, calling them the Dark Trio, although the raven-haired young man was specially sickened by the fact that most of it was directed toward Ilya, who they were now referring to as the Dark Lady.
After what she's done for them, when she could have chosen not to, thought Severus bitterly, as Zacharias. Bernard, was Sorted into Hufflepuff. Some of the Slytherins who were staring at him gasped and quickly looked away, apparently noticing the fury that appeared on the raven-haired young man's face…
"EMIYA, ILYASVEIL VON EINZBERN!"
Severus was suddenly awakened from his thoughts as he heard that the name of his girlfriend was called. It was finally her turn.
The Great Hall, which was already almost noiseless, save for the low whispers and the shouts of McGonagall and the Sorting Hat, was now completely tense and quiet, save for the humming of Ilya, who skipped in a child-like manner as she approached the stool meant for an eleven year old, took the hat, and put it over her head…
All eyes were on the white-haired girl, as she wore the oversized Hat, which covered her face. as the Hat's size would fit the head of a half giant perfectly…
The Sorting was taking a while. Minutes, which felt like hours, passed as the white-haired girl continued to sit on the stool. Then…
"GRYFFIN… WHA-WHAT DID YOU SAY, CHILD!?"
Severus could not help but be curious (Although much more relieved that the sentence was not finished, for he did not want to be separated from her), and as he noticed, even the other people in the Great Hall seemed to have forgotten their fear temporarily, as for the first time in history, the Sorting Hat, which was about to sort a student into a House, stopped midway in its sentence…
-BREAK-
(Ilya POV)
"EMIYA, ILYASVEIL VON EINZBERN!"
Without a mind to the unpleasant stares she was receiving, Ilya walked cheerfully skipped towards the center of the Great Hall, then put the old Sorting Hat over her head.
The white-haired girl knew. She recognized it. The Hat, basically, was alive. It had a soul, a mind of its own. Ilya did not yet understand it completely, but there were things in this world of magic that she could not fully comprehend, among these are the portraits that could talk and communicate with people.
When they were at the entrance hall, Ilya saw a tough-looking man, who she assumed could either be one of the teachers or, based from the clothes, the school's utility worker, carrying a portrait.
Unlike the moving pictures she was used to seeing in the Daily Prophet, which were simply animated to move like videos by magical energy, the people in the portraits could actually talk, and even communicate with the real world, as the balding man in the portrait was asking the carrier if he could do so more gently and avoid hitting the walls.
It was as if the image of the person was alive. No, it was alive, and it had a soul. Ilya made a mental note to do more research on them later. For now, though…
Hmmm….interesting…you're an interesting one child… whispered a cheerful voice, which Ilya knew was the Sorting Hat's, whispering in her ear. But first, if you don't mind, please take down the shield you placed around your mind. I cannot Sort you properly if I don't know anything much about you, I'm afraid…
I see, mused the white-haired girl to herself. So, this Hat sorts children by invading into people's privacy…lousy Hat…
Thankfully, ever since they have entered the Hogwarts Grounds, Ilya had kept her Magic Circuits activated (as well as instructing her boyfriend to do the same) to prevent any outside prana from invading her body, specifically her mind. The white-haired girl had read a bit about Occlumency and Legilimency from Severus' old books, and noticed that the skill actually involve developing a form of mind-reading-related Mystic Eyes. Of course, direct eye contact was necessary to make a prana connection, allowing to the mind, but that did not mean there were other ways to make the connection, which was exactly what the Sorting Hat was trying to do to her. Fortunately for Ilya, and unfortunately for the Hat…
Too can play at that game, smirked the white-haired girl.
Further strengthening her mind shield by putting more od into her circuits, Ilya allowed the Hat to see some of her memories, all of which involving simple things, like cooking dinner, walking in a park, but never allowing it to see vital information, although she did allow the hat to see parts of their confrontation with the Death Eaters at Diagon Alley and the Evans Residence (though the parts where Ilya and Sev were using magic were removed, only the conversation was seen by the Hat).
Hmmm… you're still really careful, although you have nothing to worry about, since I was made to never reveal any of the information I got from those I Sorted… then again you still ended up letting a few things slip through despite your Occlumency Shield… fighting for what's right when the odds are against you… you are brave… very brave indeed…
The Hat stopped whispering, as it made its decision…
"GRYFFIN…" it began…but suddenly stopped dead on its tracks.
Gryffindor was gay wasn't he? thought Ilya, and she sent the mental message to the Hat.
"WHA-WHAT DID YOU SAY, CHILD!?"
I said… Gryffindor was gay, wasn't he? repeated Ilya mentally. Come now hat, stop whispering, and let us talk with our minds instead.
The Hat was silent for a few seconds before it clicked…
Y-you, said the Hat mentally, no longer whispering in Ilya's ear, an awed note in its tone. You were reading my mind?
Mmmm… thought Ilya.
But how… not even Albus or Tom…thought the Hat in wonder.
Oh…they would have been able to do so easily had they thought about doing it… though fortunately for you they did not seem to have even bothered….but enough about that… it's best that we get down to business…
Business? inquired the Sorting Hat. What business could I transact aside from Sorting students?
Well, for starters, thought Ilya cheerfully, knowing full well that the Hat cannot read her mind while she on the contrary, had a clear view of its memories. I want you to put me in Ravenclaw. After all, they do have the best dormitories.
Hmmm… I still think that you would be better in Gryffindor… though I suppose it wouldn't be a problem… replied the Hat, its thought tone cheerful. I have always granted the personal requests of students to be put in respective Houses whenever they asked. Albus' talents were best in Slytherin, but as he asked to be put in Gryffindor…
Oh, and I thought you were supposed to keep what you learn from those you Sort a secret? mused the white-haired girl. It appears that you weren't being honest…
Sorry about that child, replied the Hat in a sheepish thought tone. Couldn't believe I slipped…It's just that it's been a long time since someone aside from Albus actually bothered to strike up a conversation with me… I miss those days when you know, my creators were still alive…
No, it's fine, I understand, replied the white-haired girl cheerfully.
So you want to go to Ravenclaw? thought the Sorting Hat. Very well…
Yes, but that's not all, there's something else, thought the white-haired girl, frowning at the Hat's apparent hurry.
What is it, child? asked the Hat, curiosity in its thought tone. I doubt there is anything more I could do for you…
Yes there is, thought Ilya. I want you to resort Severus Snape and Alice Chaucer into Ravenclaw as well…
-BREAK-
(Minerva McGonagall POV)
"WHAT?!" shouted a surprised voice, which could only belong to the Sorting Hat.
It has been almost a quarter of an hour since the hat's first sudden outburst, which means that the white-haired girl had been on the stool for almost twenty minutes.
Remembering that the Hat had most certainly shouted "Gryffindor," before it halted the sentence, the Deputy Head Mistress, who was getting impatient (and hungry as well), thought it best to end the Sorting, believing that the outburst was unlikely to be reversed. She moved towards the center of the Great Hall. Just as she was about to take the Sorting Hat off the girl, however…
"NO! WAIT! WE'RE NOT DONE YET!" screamed the Sorting Hat, a note of panic in its voice.
McGonagall was shocked, and she knows she wasn't the only one, as curious gasps echoed throughout the entire hall.
For in all the History of Hogwarts, it was the very first time that the Hat said anything at all, aside from the names of Houses students were sorted into and the Song it sang before the Sorting began…
The Deputy Headmistress decided to give the Hat and the girl more time, seeing as it was one of the few times, if not the first time, that it asked for anything…
-BREAK-
(Sorting Hat POV)
The Sorting Hat was a nervous wreck.
At first it had been the happiest it had been in a very long time. Someone had actually taken the time to try and converse with it, and for an old Hat who had only been used as a tool, listening and reading students' mind to put them into suited Houses, but never considered as anything else, it couldn't have been any happier. Now, however…
Those are my demands, thought the white-haired girl that was wearing it(since the Sorting Hat did not actually have a gender). If you don't I will reveal the Founders' darkest secrets to the world, and you wouldn't want that now, would you?
The Hat is in one of its worst dilemmas, the worst ones happening centuries before, first when Salazar Slytherin left the school, then when the Founders died, one by one, until they were all gone, for none of the succeeding Headmasters, except for Albus Dumbledore, ever bothered to talk to it. Now however…
The white-haired girl who was wearing it was actually trying to strike a bargain, with blackmail as her weapon.
The Hat was silent, both in voice and thought. It did not know what to do. The Sorting Hat, learning its lesson, used all of its capabilities to kick the white-haired girl out of its mind. The Sorting Hat had been created and given knowledge by the four great founders of Hogwarts, after all, so it could do something like that, but it wished it had done so earlier. The girl had undoubtedly gotten a lot of information out of it, and whatever it was, the Sorting Hat knew it couldn't be good.
The Sorting Hat did not want such secrets, whatever they were, known, especially since the girl was serious when she said that. The problem was, while not bound by an unbreakable enchantment, that Hat had promised its creators (unknown to everyone even Dumbledore, since the succeeding generations merely followed tradition) that he will not resort any student once they were placed into a House. But then…
Suddenly, the girl took the Sorting Hat off, and placed it on the stool. Then, to its horror, it saw (the rip on the Sorting Hat serves both as its eyes and mouth), that the silver-haired girl started taking a deep breath…
"RAVENCLAW!" the Sorting Hat screamed, stopping the girl from talking.
"And?" inquired the white-haired girl.
Knowing there was nothing else for it, the Sorting Hat did the only logical thing it could think of…
"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! SEVERUS PRINCE SNAPE AND ALICE SERA CHAUCER! I MADE A MISTAKE IN YOUR SORTING FIVE YEARS AGO! TO RECTIFY THAT MISTAKE, YOU ARE HEREBY RESORTED INTO RAVENCLAW!"
-BREAK-
(Multi-person POV)
The Great Hall was quiet. All that transpired at the Hogwarts Express was momentarily forgotten, as they could not help but be bewildered by the more recent incident.
"Severus Snape, Alice Chaucer," said the Head Master Albus Dumbledore from the staff table in a loud voice, as he looked down at the Sorting Hat, who nodded back at him by flipping its top. "You are hereby transferred to Ravenclaw. Please join your table."
Dumbledore was confused by the event, but conformed with it. The Sorting Hat's decisions when it comes to students after all, had always been followed. Also, since he did owe the old Hat a favor when it agreed to his request of being put into Gryffindor, he decided to go by its whim. In truth, though the Headmaster disliked the fact that the white-haired girl refused to go to Gryffindor (Dumbledore knew that the girl had been talking to the Hat, as he had done the same before, not to mention suspecting that something else went on.), she did not want to go to Slytherin either, and he was relieved by it. However, for two students who were already living in their Houses for five years… well, there was a first time for everything.
"Yes, Professor," replied the two students in question, who walked towards the Ravenclaw table.
Miraculously, there was no snide whisperings about them this time, the shock of the recent events washing over them, and they managed to find seats without much issue.
Severus had no complaints with the issue, who wanted to be in the same House as Ilya, regardless of which one it was, even if it had to be Hufflepuff or even Gryffindor (If it had been Gryffindor, he would have more chances to apologize to Lily, but would have to face their prejudice, as well as the Marauders, so Ravenclaw was indeed a good option.).
Alice did not have any qualms with it either, knowing that the House of intellectuals was indeed less prejudiced when it comes to judging people (Never judge a book by its cover was one of the statements Alice heard some of her Ravenclaw acquaintances say), and as for Frank, well, if he really loved her, then it wouldn't matter.
Professor McGonagall now moved to take the Sorting Hat, but before she could get her hands on it it screamed at the retreating back of the white-haired girl, Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya, who was now walking toward her friends…
"WAIT!" shouted the Sorting Hat, to everybody's surprise.
"What is it?" replied the white-haired girl in a calm voice.
"PROMISE ME!" said the Sorting Hat.
"Promise you what?" inquired the white-haired girl.
"SWEAR THAT YOU WILL NEVER TELL ANYONE WHAT YOU FOUND OUT!"
"Oh, okay then," replied the white-haired cheerfully.
The Sorting Ceremony was over, and the Sorting Hat allowed itself to be taken by Professor McGonagall, feeling relieved…
"WAIT!"
"Yes, Ms. Emiya?" inquired the Head Mistress, as the white-haired girl approached her.
"On the honor of my family name, I am going to declare an oath, and everyone in this room will be witnesses," said the white-haired girl seriously.
"Oh, there's no need for that," replied the Sorting Hat. "Your statement wa…"
But the white-haired girl was not listening to it, as she spoke at the top of her voice.
"I, ILYASVEIL VON EINZBERN-EMIYA, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF EMIYA, HEREBY SWEAR, FROM THIS POINT ON, NEVER TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT CERTAIN DISCOVERIES I MADE…"
"HEY, I TOLD YOU THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT!" the Sorting Hat shouted, panicking, but its voice was drowned by the much louder and clearer voice of Ilya.
"DISCOVERIES WHICH INCLUDE THE FACT THAT GODRIC GRYFFINDOR WAS GAY AND A PEDOPHILE…"
"HEY!" shouted the Sorting Hat at the top of its voice, but to no avail, as the girl continued…
"…THAT SALAZAR SLYTHERIN WAS NEVER A PUREBLOOD FANATIC…"
"HEEEEEEEEEY! STOOOOPPP!"shouted the old Hat desperately...
"…AND THAT THE REASON HE LEFT HOGWARTS WAS BECAUSE UNKNOWN TO THE OTHER TWO FOUNDERS, GODRIC GRYFFINDOR HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSING HIS STUDENTS, AND HAD AMOROUS FEELINGS TOWARDS SALAZAR SLYTHERIN. THESE PIECES OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION I SWEAR NEVER TO REVEAL TO ANYBODY FROM THIS DAY HENCE."
If possible, an even eerier silence could be felt in the Great Hall.
Even the Sorting Hat was speechless, as every single person in the room was in shock, unable to believe that they heard what they just heard, and to make matters worse, it was very convincing.
A few more moments of precious silence passed…
Before all hell broke loose in the Great Hall, the Calming Draught taken rendered useless…
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Another chapter out. Again, I hope you enjoy it...
Later then, people...