Magical Player

by Void's Record

I was nothing special before I died the first time. When something offered the chance to live again, I took it. Reborn into a world of magic and deceit, I'll rise to the top. There's no way I'll die for the second time. For the path with unlimited possibilities is laid before me! [In Long Hiatus]

4. Potterverse — Hogwarts 1stYear (03)

The moment Professor McGonagall returned, one by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

We followed Professor McGonagall like sheep followed their shepherd and walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

The magnificent hall of Hogwarts was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that we came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at us looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.

"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in 'Hogwarts, A History'."

I heard the hushed whisper and my memory provided me with something similar from the movies. I immediately knew who it was — Hermione Granger.

When I watched the bewitched ceiling, it was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens. My attention then moved to the teachers in the elevated tables, separated from the students from the Four Houses. I immediately spammed my 'Observation' skill to them one by one.

Albus Dumbledore
- Race: Wizard (Half-Blood)
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a half-blood wizard and current headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardly, he is also the Supreme Mugwumps and Magical Britain's Representative in International Confederation of Wizard. Hailed as the Paragon of light because of his kindness and benevolence, but beware not to be alone in a same room as him, or you ass's chastity is in mortal peril! Just look at his twinkling eyes, he has interest for you in that way!

Filius Flitwick
- Race: Wizard/Goblin (Half-Blood)
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a part-wizard, part-goblin who is the alumnus of Ravenclaw House and its current head, he is Charms Professor with eccentric personality. Although he's short, don't take him lightly because his war mongering blood of goblins is very thick!

Severus Snape
- Race: Wizard (Half-Blood)
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a half-blood wizard and alumnus of Slytherin House, he is the Potion Professor as well as the Head of Slytherin House. Inactive Death Eater who hated noisy children with passion, and yet he worked as a Professor in a school full of children. Beware of him! He is very, very spiteful man.

Pomona Sprouts
- Race: Witch (Half-Blood)
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a half-blood witch and alumnus of Hufflepuff House, she is the Herbology Professor as well as the Head of Hufflepuff House. She is akin to second mother figure to her charges because her fairness, thoughtfulness and kindness as the head of her house. Be careful from being smothered by her! Don't forget to give her diet product as early Christmas present!

Bathsheda Babbling
- Race: Witch (Half-blood)
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a half-blood witch and alumnus of Ravenclaw House, she is the Study of Ancient Runes Professor. A single witch who loves Ancient Runes so much, let's show her the bliss of having man to accompany her!

Septima Vector
- Race: Witch
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: A pureblood witch and alumnus of Ravenclaw House, she is the Arithmancy Professor. She is a widower whose husband was killed in the previous war against Voldemort because his muggleborn status. Give her company, my boy! She has been alone for such a long time!

Aurora Sinistra
- Race: Witch
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: A Pure-blood witch and alumnus of Slytherin House, she is the Astronomy Professor of Hogwarts. Look at that lovely figure — don't forget to drag her into a broom closet once before you graduate! Make papa proud, son!

Rolanda Hooch
- Race: Witch
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a pureblood witch and alumnus of Gryffindor House, she is the Flying Instructor. She's a Quidditch fanatic and don't let her babbling about Quidditch before you.

Rubeus Hagrid
- Race: Wizard/Giant (Half-Blood)
- Level: ?
- HP: ?
- MP: ?
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: the gentle halfbreed of giant and wizard, his father was an insignificant wizard while his mother is the most vicious and dangerous giantess — Fridwulfa, he is the groundskeeper of Hogwarts after he was expulsed fifty years ago because someone had framed him. Speaking of which, how the heck his daddy did it with a freakin' female giant?

And finally, the main antagonist of this year:

Name: Quirinus Quirrell (Tom Riddle)
- Race: Wizard/Wraith
- Level: ?(?)
- HP: ?(?)
- MP: ?(?)
Your level is insufficient to continue!
- Details: a Half-blood wizard and the current Defense Against the Dark Art Professor, he is cowardly man who is afraid of his own shadow. The reason behind his paranoia seems coming from his travel into Albania, and from his smell which reeked garlic, his fears steam from Albanian Vampire or Ghoul or Inferi. There is more than what he appears to be! Beware of him because he has literal eyes on the back of his head!

Putting aside the crazy — and perverted — comment in the end of each one's information, nothing new could be found by me.

I couldn't find Poppy Pomfrey the Mediwitch, Sybill Trelawney the Fraud Seer, Irma Pince the Librarian, Silvanus Kettleburn the Care of Magical Creature Professor, the new Muggle Study professor and Cuthbert Bins — the last was obviously the sole undead teacher in this school. Standing in the corner was Argus Flinch and his cat familiar — Mrs. Norris.

I quickly looked away as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing:

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

"It seems you're right — we've just got to try on the hat!" Su, who was standing before me, whispered back. I nodded my head at that while I kept my mouth shut. As a side note, I could feel Holly's alarmed and distressed look digging a hole on my back. But, I wouldn't start a conversation with her if she didn't begin it herself.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause — "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. I saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Brown, Lavender!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

And the girlish little girl became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers.

"Bulstrode, Millicent!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

The sorting continued. And now it was the muggleborn I knew from the trip to Diagon Alley.

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Finnigan, Seamus!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. And someone else — Ronald Weasley — in the line groaned. It seemed there was a small history between the two in Hogwarts Express.

"Li, Su!"

Su looked back at me and grinned. It was a nervous grin and quite palpable whatsoever. I gave a comforting nod to the Asian girl and she left after she took a deep breath.

"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat and Su scuttled to the blue and bronze themed house.

I caught the view of older Asian girl greeted the new Ravenclaw. "Cho Chang," my mind supplied with an answer. And yet, I still used my 'Observation' to get more detail.

Cho Chang
- Race: Witch (Half-blood)
- Level: 12
- HP: 120
- MP: 22.4
[Strength:10] [Agility: 1.2] [Mind: 1.4] [Magic: 1.6]
- Details: a half-blood witch with Asian ancestry, the daughter of Caucasian muggle father and Asian witch mother, she's the second year student of Ravenclaw House and aspiring to be a House's Quidditch's Seeker. Snatch her before the glittering vampire wannabe snatched her first!

"Is that a twilight reference?"

"What's it?" inquired Parvati from her position before me.

I shook my head dismissively and said: "Nothing."

"Jerk!" She pouted and threw her face away from my view.

The Sorting continued and at the moment was Neville Longbottom's turn. He fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter.

And finally, my turn came.

"Lustburg, Asmodias!"

When I stepped to the stool with a tattered hat lying innocently on top of it, I could feel my anxiety surged up and was smothered by the wave of calmness quickly thereafter. It had become the heated war of invading anxiety and defending calmness that was exclusively happening in my head. My face was hiding my internal turmoil as I walked closer. With a faint calming breathing, I took a resolute step into the chair of judgement.

I sat down on the stool after McGonagall took the hat away. Then, my view was covered by darkness and the stink smell invaded my nose, as Professor McGonagall dropped the millennia old artefact on my head. I waited patiently for a moment, waiting for the hat's voice in my head. But, much to my surprise, and everyone in the Great Hall, the hat cursed loudly.

"Bloody hell! What kind of Occlumency barrier is this? Child, can you put down your Occlumency so I can do my job quickly?"

I sat silently, rooted on my spot, as I digested the hat's words. Both relief and curiosity assaulted my mind before my 'Gamer's Mind' crushed them ruthlessly until only steady calmness remained in my head.

I could hear the painful silence in the Great Hall before the hushed whisper filled the Hallowed Hall. I contemplated my answer for a while then I replied the hat with soft tone.

"Sorry, I don't know. Actually, I don't know that there's something like that in my head."

"Is that so? Well, this is most interesting case I'd since I was created by the founder. With the magic from Leylines under the castle, I should have enough power to breach any kind of mental barrier. Oh well, at least, this is a welcome change for once."

The hat paused. I could feel the proverbial gear in its mind — if the hat has it — rotated. A moment later, the hat continued where it stopped earlier, "Right, since normal sorting is impossible for you then I'll give you a questionnaire to get you sorted into. Are you ready, lad?"

I nodded my head softly, and the Question and Answer session happened. The questionnaire was a bit nonsensical in my opinion, but I couldn't say it loudly. I didn't know if I could get the house I wanted with this seemingly random questionnaire from the hat.

"Dawn or Dusk, what's your choice?"

"Dawn?"

"Once every century, the Flutterby bush produces flowers that adapt their scent to attract the unwary. If it lured you, it would smell of: A crackling log fire, Fresh parchment, Home, or the sea."

After a bit of contemplation, I answered with "Fresh Parchment" because it sounded Ravenclaw-ish.

"One of your house mates has cheated in a Hogwarts exam by using a Self-Spelling Quill. Now he has come top of the class in Charms, beating you into second place. Charms Professor is suspicious of what happened. He draws you to one side after his lesson and asks you whether or not your classmate used a forbidden quill. What do you do?"

It paused for a moment before said the long choices "First, lie and say you don't know — but hope that somebody else tells Charms Professor the truth. Second, tell Charms Professor that he ought to ask your classmate — and resolve to tell your classmate that if he doesn't tell the truth, you will. Third, tell Charms Professor the truth. If your classmate is prepared to win by cheating, he deserves to be found out. Also, as you are both in the same house, any points he loses will be regained by you, for coming first in his place. And the fourth, you would not wait to be asked to tell Charms Professor the truth. If you knew that somebody was using a forbidden quill, you would tell the teacher before the exam started."

After a longer than my first contemplation, I answered with "Second — Tell Charms Professor the truth" in a level tone.

"You enter an enchanted garden. What would you be most curious to examine first? First — the silver leafed tree bearing golden apples. Second — the fat red toadstools that appear to be talking to each other. Third — the bubbling pool, in the depths of which something luminous is swirling. Fourth — the statue of an old wizard with a strangely twinkling eye."

"The silver leafed tree! I mean, a golden apple sounds suspiciously like the Apple of Immortality in Greek myth, right?"

"An interesting answer, Mister Lustburg. . . with the next quiz! What kind of instrument most pleases your ear? The violin; the trumpet; the piano; the drum."

"The piano!"

"After you have died, what would you most like people to do when they hear your name? Ask for more stories about your adventures. Think with admiration of your achievements. Miss you, but smile. I don't care what people think of me after I'm dead."

My answer was stalled for a moment. Both second and fourth answers sounded correct to me. But, my answer was "Think with admiration of your achievements" after I remembered I was nothing in my previous life.

"A Muggle confronts you and says that they are sure you are a witch or wizard. Do you: Agree, and walk away, leaving them to wonder whether you are bluffing? Ask what makes them think so. Tell them that you are worried about their mental health. Agree, and ask whether they'd like a free sample of a jinx?"

"Tell them that you are worried about their mental health."

"Alright — the last quiz! Which pet would you choose to take with you into Hogwarts? Tabby cat, Siamese cat, Ginger cat, Black cat, Whitecat, Tawny owl, Screech owl, Brown owl, Snowy owl, Barn owl, Common toad, Natterjack toad, Dragon Toad, Harlequin toad and finally — Three toed tree toad. Choose one!"

"Black cat sounds good, but owl seems more useful. Unfortunately Snowy Owl is too eye catching and Screech Owl is too noisy. Either Tawny or Barn owl, I think."

In the end, the hat only questioned me with eight quizzes. Then, it declared "RAVENCLAW!" to my delight. The blue and bronze themed house gave a boisterous applause because the arrival of unique individual such as me. It wasn't like I'm being narcissistic, but like the hat had stated, I was peculiar because my 'Gamer's Mind' blocked its attempt to invade my mind.

There.

She was standing on the further back behind the Patil twin and currently watching me. Our eyes met and she moved her views away thereafter. I smiled dryly at that and continued to stride to the Ravenclaw's table. Arriving, I sat down next to Su Li.

"That . . . was interesting Mister Lustburg. You're quite a mysterious first year, are you not?" said Cho Chang the moment I sat down next to Su, while leaving a space for Padma because she would join us later.

"Excuse me? May you grace me with your name?" I said politely to Cho.

"Charmed!" She smiled slightly, flattered, before she introduced herself "My surname is Chang, Cho is my given name. You may call me Cho, gentlewizard."

"Asmodias Lustburg — but you may call me Dias."

Then, Su butted in, whispering, "Your guess about our dorm was slightly amiss. We don't get our own personal room but there was two people in a room" to me. On the side, Cho Chang only tittered merrily at that.

"Better than four-in-one, yes?" I whispered controversially.

"True enough, I suppose."

Su nodded and pulled back her head. Afterwards, we focused on the sorting as it continued. It was Malfoy's turn. I couldn't help but to smile dryly when my eyes locked on haughty girl with pale blond hair adorned with emerald green hairband and cold grey eyes that were looking down on everyone else.

Lyra Malfoy
- Race: Witch
- Level: 11
- HP: 110
- Mpr: 19.6
[Strength: 0.9] [Agility: 1.0] [Mind: 1.4] [Magic: 1.4]
- Details: a pureblood witch, the daughter of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, she's haughty, proud and a snobbish girl who born with silver spoon on her mouth. Although she is kind of a bitchy, she will grow up into a real looker! Don't let her slip away, my manly user!

Malfoy gilded forward when her name was called and the hat had barely touched her head when it screamed "SLYTHERIN!"

She went to join her already sorted friends Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bullstrode, looking pleased with herself. There weren't many people left now.

"Moon" . . . , "Nott" . . . , "Parkinson" . . . , then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil" who surprisingly sorted into Ravenclaw. . . , then "Perks, Sally-Anne" . . . , and then, at last—

"Potter, Holly!"

As Holly stepped forward, while sending a conflicted look to my direction, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.

I gave her a small nod and faint smile, trying to comfort and give the reclusive girl courage she needed. However, she threw her face away and walked to the stool hurriedly. I could only smile helplessly at that. That girl sure had a problem with her opposite sex but I wouldn't breach the subject if she wanted to keep it private.

The moment Holly Potter sat on the stool, the hat dropped over her eyes. The Great Hall lulled into tense silence as everyone waited for the sorting to come out. With my sharp eyesight, I could read Holly's body language perfectly. She was nervous, anxious and a bit fearful.

A moment later, "RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.

Everyone froze as the sorting came out unexpected. I was also in the same boat as the others.

"Why? She should've been in Gryffindor?" my curious part roared in my mind, but my rational part smothered it with "Well, this is not the canon! Look at her — she is a girl, she's Girl-Who-Lived, NOT Boy-Who-Lived. This kind of outcome is in due, y'know!"

I watched the Girl-Who-Lived took off the hat and walked shakily toward the Ravenclaw table. And at that moment, the Ravenclaw's table broke into massive applause and loud cheers. Even the usually subdued bookworms was relishing in the glory of being in same house as the Girl Who Loved. Holly seems like she hardly noticed that she was getting the loudest cheer yet. Penelope Clearwater the Prefect got up and shook her hand vigorously, while some more energetic of the bookworms shouted, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

Holly stopped behind Su and Padma and softly said "May I sit between you two?" to them. The studious one of the Patil twin and the Asian witch looked to each other's eyes silently before they agreed. "Sure!" they said and scuttled to the sides, and Padma forced my still body to move. I frowned slightly before schooled my face immediately afterward.

The sorting process continued but my attention was elsewhere, namely Holly Potter. The poor girl was bombarded by her curious, new housemates. The questions didn't come from only the first years, bar Padma, Su and I, but also from the upper years that were sitting closely to her.

The less observant boys and girls kept disturbing her and asking her their questions, but those who were observant know Holly's patience was at the limit. However, they didn't dissuade the curious questioners because they were also curious to the Girl Who Lived. It was a surprise that the Girl Who Lived was sorted into Ravenclaw. I wasn't spared by this surprise either way.

Many had expected her to join the house of Lions, but the outcome was different than their expectations. I had closely watched other people's reaction to this sorting; the upper years in Gryffindor were showing disbelieving expression — they had expected Holly to be one of them because her parents were alumni of the Lion House; the Slytherin displayed reaction that showed their controversial speculations and how they could benefit from this information; the Slytherin House's Head — Severus Snape — surprisingly showed a deep thoughtful look when his dark eyes locked on Holly; and Albus Dumbledore looked at Holly — twinkles in his eyes behind his half-moon spectacles go on full throttle.

Everyone else's reaction was basically a curiosity to the one who was oblivious to the attention gathered on her.

Shortly thereafter, the noisy children were being stubborn in interrogating the reclusive girl. Padma and Su seemed aware of Holly's state, but they were maintaining their silence because of the peer pressure. Asking them to stop the noisy children from bothering Holly was too much for them, as I expected.

A sigh which was unsuited for a youth escaped my lips. I summoned my wand from my Inventory and waved my arms widely in front of me. Inwardly, I focused my intent to shut up these noisy children. My MP decreased by 100MP, it was one-tenth from how it should have been and it's because the effect of my wand.

When I had observed my wand in the past, the information I got was like this:

Name: 10¼" Cherrywood and Dragon Heartstring wand
Rarity: Unique
Durability: 100/100
Crafted by Garrick Ollivander, a wand with 10 ¼" length, made from cherry wood and with core from Dragon Heartstring, it is very temperamental that is very dangerous to use. Only wizard or witch with perfect control of one's emotion can get this wand allegiance. This wand will reduce MP consumption by 90% and increase experience gain for Charm by 250%

The Ravenclaw's table turned silence in blink of the eyes. The noisy children were still moving their mouth until they realized they couldn't listen to their own voice.

What happened in there took the whole Great Hall's attention. All eyes were now on me. Even the boy who walked to the stool — Blaise Zabini — stopped to find what happened.

I cleared my throat calmly before I said: "Sorry for going heavy-wanded on all of you but it seems you dunderheads can't understand that your incessant questionings almost drive our dear Miss Potter, over there" I jerked my chin to Holly's direction, "to commit something that I believe she'll regret later. Do I only the one who realizes she has almost snapped? And yes Miss Potter, I know about that and stop looking at me like I'm an unidentified magical animal."

I returned back my attention from Holly who stared at me blankly to my unwilling housemates who glared murderously at me. I gave them the look that I used to control the unruly children in orphanage and it wasn't a simple 'be silent, listen well, or I'll spank you buttocks until they swell' kind of look but a 'be silent, be obedient or I'll grind your body into a mincemeat before I use them as fertilizer' kind of look.

The effect was spectacular since this look was backed with effect of my 'Intimidation'skill which had reached level 78.

Speaking of 'Intimidation' skill, the details were like this:

[Intimidation (Active) Level: 78 (31.9%)]: Release your domineering presence to restrain other's will.
Effect(s):
- 78% successfully overpower the user's target's will.
- 39% rate in overpowering user's target will if the target's level is above the user.

I continued where I stopped earlier.

"I don't have problem if you wish to get your curiosity sated. I'm not someone who's usually butting my head into other's business, but what are you doing is disturbing other, and I don't have problem to voice out my complaints, even being heavy-wanded. Being curious is good for children. But, don't be insensitive. Won't you feel angry if you're being forced to do something you don't want to? Respect other first if you want to be respected by other."

I watched the chastised boys and girls around me — they were bowing their head and their ears were red. Those who weren't the target of my ire seemed to be enjoying the show very much.

"If you want to interview Miss Potter, do it later. Now, I have already wasted these wizards' and witches' time already and this won't happen if you show a bit more restrain and use your wits that're traits of our noble house." I turned my attention to others and apologized formally. "Please forgive me for wasting your precious time. Professor McGonagall, you may continue where you're interrupted."

I sat down and took out the copy of 'Magical Theory' from my robe. Of course, I took it from my inventory and my action was to cover it. I began reading from my latest mark with calm face like still water.

Inwardly, I was writhing in agony because I had done something like that. My habit from reining the troublesome children in orphanage returned back with vengeance and it happened before I could stop it. If not for my trustworthy 'Gamer's Mind', I was one hundred percent sure that my face had become red like boiled crab now. There was also other element mixed in, such as how I had accidentally offended the pureblood scion because my recklessness. But, I didn't fear them whatsoever.

Then, I heard a clapping sound. When I turned to the sound origin, I saw it was Headmaster Dumbledore. His twinkling eyes were watching me deeply, as if he was looking into my soul. The second clapping came from Professor Flitwick and soon the applause spread. Even the uppity pureblood in Slytherin house seemed to be impressed by what happened.

"Bloody hell! My dear less handsome twin brother! Do you see that?!"

"Of course, my uglier twin brother! It seems that there is a lion in raven's feather!"

"Or maybe a lion with wings!"

"Or wings on a lion's back!"

I could hear the Weasley twin's loud jests from Gryffindor's table. The agony I felt inside turned worse. I wanted to create a hole magically and buried myself as soon as possible, but my 'Gamer's Mind' crushed my embarrassment and desire to do it. In the middle of the loud applause, I heard Padma whispered to me with awed voice.

"Holly said thanks."

My face contorted into a bemused expression but I returned it back to my poker-face shortly thereafter and nodded wordlessly. After that, the sorting finished.

I slipped my book into my robe to keep it inside my 'Inventory'. The whole Great Hall's attention was now on the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. When his eyes swept the student, he lingered on me and Holly for a bit longer. I understood about Holly, but his look at me was another thing.

As I thought, my reckless action from before was going the source of my headache.

"Welcome!" said Headmaster Dumbledore. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He then sat back down.

Everybody clapped and cheered. Some muggleborn who never knew anything about Albus Dumbledore looked at him as if he was barmy old man.

I took everything in stride and decided to fill my stomach with the meal presented on the table. After the sorting feast, we were herded to the Ravenclaw's tower by Penelope Clearwater and a male perfect called Anderson Raincrust. Surprisingly, Padma, Su and Holly followed me closely.

I didn't think deeply about it and enjoyed the sightseeing as we walked to our destination. Soon, we arrived in the entrance of our new place for next seven years, which I knew wouldn't be easy.

---

Footnote:
Chapter was fixed at August 18th, 2018