Chapter 13: Sorting Ceremony

'If I remember correctly, Hannah Abbott should be Neville's future wife.'

'If Neville gets sorted into Hufflepuff, I wonder if their relationship will develop faster.'

While Argus was thinking, Professor McGonagall called Neville's name.

"Neville Longbottom!"

Neville's steps were unsteady; he wasn't used to being the center of attention.

Unlike the previous students, the Sorting Hat seemed to be in deep thought, conversing with him about something.

"Are you sure about your choice?"

"I... I'm sure!"

"Alright then! Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers once again, only Dumbledore's brow furrowed slightly.

He seemed puzzled.

"If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Longbottom's parents graduated from Gryffindor, right? I didn't expect him to go to Hufflepuff."

Professor Sprout was a plump lady with a head of silver hair. She had a kind smile, and her eyes sparkled with delight as one student after another was sorted into her house.

"Next, Hermione Granger!"

Hearing her name, Hermione took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Hermione, don't be nervous! Believe in yourself!"

As she encouraged herself, she glanced back at Argus, then put on the Sorting Hat and sat on the stool.

"She's weird. Looks like she's got something wrong with her."

Ron clearly remembered the girl who had followed Argus around. As Hermione was being sorted, he whispered maliciously in Harry's ear.

He expected Harry to agree, but instead, Harry looked at him with slight disapproval.

Argus shot Ron a cold look.

Feeling the weight of Argus's gaze, Ron, already having a psychological shadow from earlier events, didn't dare to lift his head.

He shrank behind Harry, like a turtle retreating into its shell.

"Mr. Weasley, speaking ill of others behind their back is not a good habit."

Professor McGonagall stood not far from them. Being a woman of integrity, she couldn't tolerate such behavior.

She immediately issued a warning, drawing the attention of many.

At that moment, the voice of the Sorting Hat echoed, tinged with a hint of resignation.

"Well, I don't know why, but this year's new students all have their own ideas."

"So then…"

"Ravenclaw!"

Hermione cheered, giving Argus a triumphant look before bouncing over to the Ravenclaw table.

As soon as she sat down, she started chatting animatedly with the upperclassman next to her.

Several glances were cast toward Argus, filled with curiosity.

'Kekek! Two now. I just want to know how, without Hermione, Harry and Ron—two guys who together don't make half a brain—are supposed to fight Voldemort!'

So far, Argus was quite satisfied with the results of his efforts on the train.

He had begun to establish his authority at Hogwarts and left a perfect impression on the professors.

He had separated Hermione and Neville from Harry, creating more room to maneuver against Dumbledore in the future.

Now, the only thing left to see was whether Harry could be persuaded to join Slytherin.

If he succeeded, Dumbledore would have quite a predicament on his hands!

As Draco, Pansy, Ron, and others were sorted in turn, the climax of Argus's first confrontation with Dumbledore approached!

"Harry Potter!"

Professor McGonagall looked down at Harry, and the entire hall erupted into noise.

Even Dumbledore stood up, staring straight at him.

"Not easy, indeed a tough case."

"I can see you have courage, a good heart, and you're very talented, yes."

As Harry sat on the stool, the Sorting Hat's voice echoed in his mind.

"Hey, Harry, talk to me. Do you have a house you want to join?"

'According to Argus..' Harry started thinking.

"Oh! That boy again!"

The Sorting Hat sounded as if it had seen something astonishing.

"Again?" Harry picked up on the information in the Sorting Hat's words.

"Yes, that white blond, blue-eyed boy."

"Before you, many students have been influenced by his opinion. But he's right; there isn't a best house, only the one that fits you best."

"I'm a bit curious about where he'll be sorted."

"Have you decided? Which house do you want to join?"

"Slytherin? Or Gryffindor?"

"Let me think..." Harry found himself in a dilemma.

As the seconds ticked by, the students outside went from initial silence to growing restlessness.

The longest sorting before Harry had taken no more than two minutes.

But now, it had been a full five minutes!

Harry was still not sorted!

This made them wonder if the Sorting Hat had gone bonkers because it was too dirty.

Maybe it needed a thorough cleaning?

Dumbledore's brow furrowed into a deep line.

As the headmaster, he was well aware of the Sorting Hat's rules.

The only reason for such a long sorting time was that Harry was hesitating!

He had deliberately sent Hagrid to pick up Harry and timed it so that Harry met the Weasley family at the station.

All these arrangements were meant to subtly convey to Harry that Gryffindor was the best house.

Even with all this, Harry was still undecided...

He slowly turned his gaze to Argus in the center of the crowd.

'Is it because of you, Argus?'

Who else but Argus could have had such a profound impact on Harry in such a short amount of time, Dumbledore wondered.

"Still can't decide, Harry?"

"Alright, I'll decide for you!"

The Sorting Hat's final words echoed in Harry's mind before it announced to everyone:

"Harry Potter's house is... Gryffindor!"

In the next moment, Gryffindor erupted in cheers!

"We have Harry Potter!"

"Harry Potter is in Gryffindor!"

"..."

Dumbledore's tense posture finally relaxed, and he breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Tsk!

Argus shook his head in resignation.

Still one move short!

Fortunately, he noticed that Harry's behavior seemed somewhat unusual.

Sitting at the Gryffindor table, although he wore a smile, it was just a smile.

Far from the excitement described in the original story!

'Heh, Dumbledore, what does it matter if you forcibly place Harry in Gryffindor?'

'He doesn't have much of a sense of belonging to Gryffindor now.'

'This round, I've lost, but you haven't truly won either!'

The hall quieted down after a while.

Professor McGonagall, holding a parchment, was ready to call the next student forward. But when she saw the next name, her eyes showed a complex emotion.

She turned her head and looked at Dumbledore, her expression hesitant.

'Argus's family name is...?'

As everyone wondered why Professor McGonagall was hesitating, she finally spoke.

Her eyes fixed intently on Argus.

"Argus Grindelwald!"

The entire hall fell into a dead silence!

_______