Behind the Scenes at Hogwarts

Chapter 21 - Behind the Scenes at Hogwarts

Simon made his way to the Slytherin table under the gaze of all the students. Judging by his name, many realized that he didn't come from a wizarding family; thus, he was either a half-blood or a Muggle-born. In either case, they didn't want much to do with him.

He found this quite annoying, but he didn't mind too much. As long as they didn't bother him, he wouldn't bother them. Slytherin, Gryffindor, it didn't matter which house he was in, as long as he could advance his goals, nothing else mattered.

Finally, he reached the table, and although he wasn't warmly welcomed, he still got a seat at the table. Slytherins are funny; despite being described as cold, proud, and cunning, many of them are loyal if you earn their respect.

In fact, although most only think of their own interests, which pleases Simon, many are still willing to do the right thing sometimes.

Although they are amoral, Slytherins don't pretend to be good Samaritans like many others. They can be described as the most faithful to their ambitions and don't hide behind false hypocritical morality, whether for good or not.

While Simon doesn't expose his actions much, he never hid his ambition. What happens is that no one was there to see it. Well, at least until today.

After that, the children continued to be called, name after name, until it was the turn of the boy who survived.

- Harry Potter.

The entire hall fell silent as the boy sat on the stool and had the hat placed on his head. Everyone looked with some apprehension at the hat, wondering which house he would be sorted into.

Simon didn't even look in Harry's direction and, instead, glanced slightly at the teachers' table, specifically at Dumbledore. When it was his turn to be selected, he noticed Dumbledore looking at him.

He initially thought it was something normal, a bit of curiosity about a new student, just like with the previous ones. The problem was that until the time Harry was called, the old man's eyes occasionally stopped on him.

- "He knows something."

Simon began to think about what he could have done before that would have aroused the old wizard's interest.

- "Could it be curiosity about the first Muggle-born in Slytherin? No, even if I were the first, it wouldn't justify such looks."

They didn't talk, so he found it very difficult for his ambition to be exposed. Even if Snape said something about him, the most would be a slight assumption or something like that. Also, he doesn't remember doing anything that would lead Snape to consider him a threat or someone who might interrupt his goals.

After thinking about some possibilities, he came up with some hypotheses.

- "The transmutation of the Philosopher's Stone. But how? I destroyed the place and made everything look like an accident, right? No, I just blew up the place, although there were gallons of gasoline on the site, it wouldn't cause such an explosion. But even so, why the hell would he worry about that? It was a Muggle world problem."

Simon started tapping his finger on the table, attracting the attention of some people nearby who thought he, like the others, was thinking about which house Harry would go to.

- "Or maybe he noticed my God's Eye? It doesn't seem impossible. I think I need to be more careful regarding alchemy and the use of the eye, at least until I'm sure why Dumbledore seems interested in me."

Simon returned his eyes to Harry the next moment when the hat announced.

- Gryffindor.

Applause came from the four tables, with Gryffindor being the most enthusiastic, with the Weasley brothers being the most excited.

- We have Potter! We have Potter!

Simon applauded symbolically before waiting for dinner. He waited for the last students to be sorted into their houses, with Ron Weasley being assigned to Gryffindor and sitting near Harry and his brothers.

Seeing that everyone was settled, the old Albus Dumbledore stood up and looked at the children with a sincere smile. Simon also looked at him, and if it weren't for knowing the nature of the director, he would say he was just a kind old man.

But he knew, this kind old man can be described as the greatest manipulator in the wizarding world. In fact, compared to Snape and Draco, whom fans insisted on discussing whether they were villains or just antagonists due to their actions throughout the series, Dumbledore didn't have that privilege.

He was responsible for preparing Harry to be killed for the sake of the wizarding world's survival, but he was also willing to die to keep the world safe from Voldemort.

He didn't seek to sacrifice others for his own survival. His philosophy was somewhat extreme and confusing, leaving many unsure if he was a good person or not, but in the end, his actions could be summed up in a single phrase: "For a greater good."

- "In the end, I think he and Grindelwald are alike but different."

- Students, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Let the feast begin.

Suddenly, the table that was empty until then filled with various types of dishes, allowing the students to serve themselves. The new students sighed with excitement while the older ones laughed at their expressions.

At the Gryffindor table, the children ate eagerly and without much etiquette, contrasting directly with the refined way the Slytherins ate. Simon felt some eyes on them, but he ignored it and ate calmly. He might not have knowledge of etiquette, but he knew how to behave at a table.

After dinner, before serving desserts, the director tapped his glass lightly, attracting the students' attention.

- I would like to give some warnings before we conclude our banquet. First, new students, know that it is forbidden for any student to enter the forest around the school. Second, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, asks that you do not use spells in the corridors. And lastly, it must be warned that this year, the corridor on the third floor on the right is forbidden to all who do not want to have a very painful death.

Everyone heard the warnings, but undoubtedly, there would be those who would disobey orders, like the Weasley twins. Simon didn't care; he just finished his dessert and left after singing the Hogwarts anthem, along with the other students.

While the new students were guided by Gemma Farley, the current Slytherin prefect, Simon began to realize something he had overlooked. He realized that he didn't remember her, and, in fact, he knew almost nothing about the Hogwarts houses, other than Gryffindor.

He just noticed that this was the biggest problem with going to another world. He blinded himself in false confidence by knowing what would happen in the future, disregarding some things. Everything he knew was based on Harry and his friends' perspective.

In the movies, apart from the presence of some characters like Cedric from Hufflepuff and Luna and Cho Chang from Ravenclaw, he didn't remember anyone else.

- "Knowledge is power"; he always thought that knowing the future and having alchemy on his side would be enough, but it seems he was wrong.

- "I think I'll have to change my plans a bit."

Gemma led everyone through the stairs to the castle dungeons, and she stopped in front of a smooth wall. She then stopped and turned to the new students. She had a smile on her face that showed confidence and pride.

- Here is the entrance to our common room; the password is 'pure-blood.' Got it.

- Yes.

- Good. Who wants to try?

Draco quickly took a step forward and spoke the words; suddenly, a serpent materialized, forming an arch and revealing a large door. Without caring much, Draco quickly opened the doors and entered, followed by the other students.

Simon entered with the others, but instead of going out to explore, he went to find which room his belongings were in.

Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, contemplating some things, while thinking about one of the new students: Simon Morgan.