(14) Now Dumbledore Will Get Paranoid!

"Interesting, interesting! Another Potter! Let me see which house suits you best," the Sorting Hat's voice whispered in Ian's ear.

"Hmm… remarkable intelligence. Ravenclaw would appreciate a child like you. Outstanding character—Hufflepuff would also welcome you with open arms..."

"If you wish to achieve greatness, then Slytherin is also an excellent choice. A difficult decision... even harder than with the last Potter boy."

"Uh... what about Gryffindor?" Ian asked cautiously.

The Sorting Hat immediately rejected the idea. "No, no, no! You're not suited for Gryffindor. While you are not cowardly, your courage isn't the reckless, all-out kind. Instead... hmm... how should I put it? You're like a hidden blade, sharp and precise, striving for a decisive strike."

Ian: "..."

"Ah.. But.. Why not just sort me into Gryffindor? I think it's a good fit—all my friends are there," Ian said, keeping a polite smile on his face.

Anywhere but Slytherin! If this blasted hat sorted him into the snake house, Dumbledore would start overthinking again. That overly suspicious old bee!

"Let me think, let me think... childhood sweetheart, Muggle-born Gryffindor witch, half-blood wizard," the Sorting Hat muttered to itself. "Then it shall be... it shall be..."

"Slytherin!"

The moment the Sorting Hat announced its decision, Harry and Hermione jumped out of their seats in shock. Even Ron's face was frozen in disbelief.

"How is this possible? Ian can't be sorted into Slytherin! The Sorting Hat must be broken!" Harry shouted, unable to accept the reality.

Hermione, while equally shocked, was more worried about how Ian was feeling at the moment compared to Harry's disbelief.

'What?! Me? Ian Potter? Slytherin?!'

Ian's eyes widened as he stared incredulously at the Sorting Hat. "Are you malfunctioning? Have you gone senile?"

What part of him fit the Slytherin "ambitious" archetype? This was slander! Defamation!

"No mistake, no mistake. Slytherin—it's definitely Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat replied, sounding rather smug. "Trust me, you are truly suited for Slytherin. You'll achieve great things there."

"Slytherin! Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat repeated loudly.

Hearing the result again, Professor McGonagall looked surprised, Dumbledore's expression turned serious, while a certain black-haired "bat" had a gleam in his eyes.

At the Gryffindor table, several students began protesting, demanding Ian be re-sorted. In their view, Ian, as Harry Potter's brother and also a Boy-who-lived, could not possibly belong in Slytherin.

"Silence!" Dumbledore had to raise his voice, finally restoring order to the room.

"The Sorting Hat does not make mistakes. If it has made this decision, it must have its reasons," Dumbledore said, looking at Ian with a meaningful gaze. "Mr. Potter, since you have been sorted into Slytherin, I hope you will become an excellent member of your house."

Ian's feelings were complicated at that moment, but he quickly put on a polite smile. "Understood, Professor Dumbledore."

The blue eyes behind Dumbledore's glasses glimmered faintly, but his voice remained gentle. "Go to your house, Ian."

Ian gave a slight nod and turned toward the Slytherin table. The table was still quiet, with many of the older students wearing expressions of surprise and hesitation.

Draco, noticing Ian standing motionless, seemed to have a realization. He was the first to clap his hands. "Slytherin has a Potter now, too!"

Professor Snape's lips curved into a faint smile as well.

His sharp gaze locked onto Ian, and he began to clap, slow and deliberate.

The applause spread, starting scattered but quickly becoming enthusiastic and orderly.

Ian took a deep breath and began walking toward the Slytherin table. Since this was the situation, he would settle in Slytherin and make the best of it. He could consider it an opportunity to infiltrate the "enemy" ranks.

As Ian passed the Gryffindor table, Harry and Hermione immediately stood up, their faces filled with concern.

"Ian..." Hermione's eyes were red.

For the first time, she had to admit that Ron might have a point—most Slytherin students weren't exactly the nicest people. What was she going to do? How could Ian survive in Slytherin?

Harry's thoughts mirrored Hermione's completely. To him, his little brother was like an innocent lamb wandering into a pack of wolves.

"Don't worry," Ian said, smiling reassuringly at the two. "I'll be fine. You take care of yourselves too."

Hermione sniffled. "Ian, make sure to take care of yourself."

"Alright, you take care too," Ian nodded before continuing his walk toward the Slytherin table.

All the Slytherin students were staring at him, their gazes scrutinizing and assessing.

Ian wasn't surprised by these looks. He guessed that these pure-blood families, skilled at playing both sides, were already pondering whether they should approach this "Slytherin Savior."

Draco tilted his chin up and gestured for Ian to take the empty seat next to him.

Ian's lips twitched. This brat...

Well, considering Draco had taken the lead in clapping earlier and helped ease the situation, Ian decided to let it slide.

He walked over and sat down next to Draco.

"I didn't think you'd actually end up in Slytherin," Draco said awkwardly, glancing at Ian. "It's strange. I thought you'd go to Gryffindor like your brother."

Ian shrugged. "I didn't expect it either."

"Hmph, doesn't matter. You'll grow to like Slytherin," Draco snorted, his tone proud. "We are, after all, the best house."

Ian smiled faintly but didn't respond.

After the minor commotion caused by the Potter brothers' Sorting, the ceremony continued.

Ron, as expected of a Weasley, was sorted into Gryffindor without any surprises.

Slytherin gained a few more students, including Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott.

"Cassandra Vole!"

Cassandra didn't say a word as she walked toward the Sorting Hat, but her gaze briefly landed on Draco. She raised an eyebrow at him, her meaning unmistakable.

Just like with Draco, the Sorting Hat barely touched Cassandra's head before shouting her result.

"Slytherin!"

Cassandra rose gracefully, her expression proud as she strode toward the Slytherin table.

As she passed Ian, she paused briefly, glanced at him, and nodded with a slight smirk, "Potter."

Remembering how he had unintentionally upset her earlier, Ian immediately responded politely, "Hello, Miss Vole."

To Ian's surprise, Draco, who had been seated beside him, suddenly stood and vacated Ian's right side. He then forcibly removed the student sitting on Ian's left and took their spot.

Only then did Cassandra smile in satisfaction and elegantly sit down to Ian's right.

Ian's lips twitched in disbelief.

Pulling Draco aside, he whispered, "Are you serious? One look, and you caved? Aren't you supposed to be from one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families? Where's your pride? Where's your arrogance?"

Draco cast a furtive glance at Cassandra to ensure she wasn't paying attention before whispering back, "Potter, you have no idea how terrifying she is!"

"How terrifying?" Ian asked, recalling Cassandra's stunning face and impeccable lineage. He couldn't help but scoff, "She's just a pretty girl. How bad could it be?"

Draco stared at Ian in sheer horror, as if looking at an idiot. "Merlin's beard, Potter! Don't tell me you actually think she's some delicate, harmless little girl!"

Ian frowned. "She's not?"

"Hah, that girl is a complete maniac!" Draco whispered urgently, leaning closer to Ian as he began recounting his first encounter with Cassandra.

"You probably know this, but pure-blood families' children all meet each other when they're very young in birthday balls."

"Although the Vole family isn't part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, they are still one of the top wizarding families. We all grew up playing together," Draco recalled. "The first time I met Vole was at her family's birthday party. We were only five years old."

"But guess what?" Draco's face was filled with horror. "She knocked out every boy who tried to talk to her!"

"Since Vole is an only child and was already adorable at that age, almost everyone wanted to be her friend."

"But despite being so little, she was shockingly strong—and fought like a wild animal." Draco patted his chest as if reliving a trauma.

"I was going to talk to her too, but when I saw her punch a boy older than me and make him cry, I decided I didn't want to be her friend anymore."

Draco's expression grew awkward as he finished his story.

Ian looked surprised. "That bad?"

"Not even exaggerating! She's insufferably arrogant!" Draco continued. "Vole never makes friends with anyone, always keeps to herself, and looks down on all pure-blood families."

"Have you ever considered that you're also pretty arrogant?" Ian asked, raising an eyebrow at Draco.

Draco froze for a moment before becoming irritated. "Potter! If you can't even handle me, then you'd better not even think about messing with Vole."

Ian didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I didn't mean to provoke her, she came over on her own."

He didn't even understand how the young lady could turn from a game character into the original plot's witch, so how could he think to provoke her?

I was relaxed because I knew the plot, but her appearance could change the story.

Don't tell me the plot of the first movie is fucked now...

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