NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Sorting Ceremony
At the front of the stage was a four-legged stool, atop which rested an ancient, patched, pointed wizard's hat. The hat was currently singing a song to itself, only stopping when Professor McGonagall stepped forward.
"I will now call your name. When you hear it, come forward, put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your sorting."
Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment:
"Colin Creevey!"
Colin stiffened, then hurriedly ran up, nervously sitting down and putting on the hat.
It barely paused before declaring:
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, welcoming their new addition.
"Astoria Greengrass!"
"Slytherin!"
"Luna Lovegood!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Ginny Weasley!"
"Gryffindor!"
As one student after another was sorted, it was soon George's turn.
"George!"
The moment George placed the Sorting Hat on his head, just like the others, he did not hear any hesitation or questions from the hat. Instead, the answer came immediately:
"Slytherin!"
"Slytherin?"
George showed a surprised expression but quickly composed himself, removing the hat and calmly walking over to the Slytherin table to take his seat.
To be honest, he had thought he would most likely end up in Gryffindor, with a smaller chance of being sorted into Ravenclaw, but Slytherin? That was unexpected.
After some reflection, however, it made sense. He preferred to act with careful planning and clear goals, and his practical, sometimes ruthless nature aligned with Slytherin's traits.
Perhaps, deep down, he truly was more of a Slytherin at heart.
Slytherin did not inherently mean "evil." None of the four houses represented pure good or evil. Gryffindor had produced the likes of Peter Pettigrew, while Slytherin had individuals like Regulus Black, who sacrificed himself to oppose Voldemort.
The defining traits of the houses were, in fact, largely positive.
Gryffindor emphasized courage. Ravenclaw prized wisdom. Hufflepuff valued fairness. Slytherin cherished ambition and purpose.
"Slytherin isn't bad. Snape is protective of his students and is a master of the Dark Arts. Winning honors for Slytherin could bring significant rewards."
George had prepared contingency plans for any house he might be sorted into, analyzing the personalities of each Head of House in advance.
Thus, ending up in Slytherin was not a problem.
After the Sorting Ceremony concluded, Dumbledore gave a brief speech, introducing the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, before announcing the start of the feast.
The moment he finished speaking, the four house tables were suddenly laden with an array of delicacies prepared by the house-elves. Hungry first-years wasted no time digging in.
George also began to eat but kept part of his focus on the staff table.
Sure enough, not long after, a gaunt figure with sallow skin, a hooked nose, and shoulder-length greasy black hair, cloaked in a black robe and cape, entered the hall.
Moving like a great bat, this wizard strode to 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, a master potioneer, and a wizard of extraordinary skill, second only to the likes of Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Grindelwald.
Snape exchanged a few words with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, after which McGonagall's expression darkened. The three of them then left the hall together.
At the Slytherin table, the first-years began boasting about their families and wealth.
"My father just got another promotion in the Ministry!"
"My mother bought me a twenty-Galleon wand when I was seven!"
"Hmph, that's nothing. My—"
Most Slytherin first-years came from pure-blood families, with a few exceptions for half-bloods, and almost no Muggle-borns. Many of them were already acquainted.
George didn't join their conversation. His background was likely that of a half-blood—born to a Muggle mother and wizard father. It was plausible his mother, unable to find the father, had given him up for adoption to avoid burdening herself.
In Slytherin, family status mattered greatly, and George, with no known lineage, would rank at the bottom. There was no point in inviting ridicule.
As a half-blood, he only needed to prove himself, like Snape or Voldemort, to gain status and admiration. Slytherin valued bloodlines but respected power more—so long as you weren't a Muggle-born.
"Oh, Merlin's beard! It's the Bloody Baron—he's terrifying!"
The first-years froze as the Bloody Baron, Slytherin's ghost, appeared, his spectral form gaunt and hollow-eyed, drenched in blood.
The Baron sat directly beside George.
George glanced up, meeting the ghost's gaze. He smiled faintly, nodded gracefully, and returned to his meal, unfazed.
Blood was nothing to him; he had seen far worse in his experiments. He'd killed dozens of people—why would a little blood scare him?
The Baron, surprised by George's composure, nodded back, evidently impressed.
"Who is he? How dare he greet the Bloody Baron?"
"No idea. Must be a half-blood."
"A half-blood? He doesn't look it. He has the air of someone from one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families."
George's calm demeanor didn't go unnoticed. His boldness intrigued the Slytherins, though they quickly deduced he wasn't pure-blood. Yet, some students found themselves drawn to his poise and confidence.