The sharp whistle of the train announced the approach of the long-awaited destination. Orion, still silent, sensed a wave of excitement spreading among the students as the Hogwarts Express began to slow down. The golden light of dawn blended with the darkness of dusk, bathing the mountains and surrounding forests in an almost supernatural glow.
The train finally came to a screeching halt, and a clamor rose from the students as the doors opened. The night air was mild, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of the nearby forest. Orion followed the crowd of students pouring onto the platform, with Emma and Max still at his side. They exchanged discreet smiles, their gazes fixed on the distant castle, whose shimmering lights were visible in the distance.
A towering figure stood out from the rest of the students near the locomotive. Orion squinted and saw a gigantic man with a thick beard and unruly hair. The man's powerful voice echoed in the night:
"First years, over here! First years!"
There was no doubt, it was Hagrid, the famous gamekeeper of Hogwarts, whom Lyra had mentioned. The half-giant's impressive size contrasted with the crowd of students heading towards him.
The first-year students were quickly gathered around Hagrid. The older students made their way to another part of the station.
Hagrid raised his lantern to get a better look at the faces of the newcomers. "Right! You'll all be takin' the boats across the lake," he announced cheerfully. "Four per boat, no more! Come on, follow me!"
Orion walked in line, Emma and Max resolute in staying by his side. They advanced towards the black lake, where boats waited for them, lined up along the shore like silent shadows.
The scenery around the lake was breathtaking. The dark mountains stood like sentinels, and the water, as black as ink, shimmered under the starlight. In the distance, Hogwarts was illuminated by the lights of the castle. Its tall towers loomed over the landscape, and the flickering lights of the windows drew everyone's gaze.
Aquatic creatures, which some said were grindylows or even mermaids, were sometimes visible beneath the surface, creating almost imperceptible ripples. Silver flashes shone here and there under the water, as if glowing fish were swimming beneath the boats. The effect of the black water combined with the magical glimmers made the journey all the more fascinating.
For the first time, Orion allowed himself to be captivated by the beauty of the place. He no longer paid attention to the excited chatter of Emma and Max or the exclamations of wonder from the other students. The reflection of the castle on the calm surface of the lake created a perfect symmetry, as if the real world and its magical reflection were merging.
As their boat began to glide smoothly over the water, Orion felt a brief moment of weightlessness. The cool air swirled around them, and the sound of the water lapping against the wood of the boat created a serene and timeless atmosphere. The view of the castle, bathed in moonlight, was truly enchanting.
"Do you see that, Orion?" Max whispered, awestruck. "I never knew something could be so beautiful."
Orion nodded, silent. No words could truly capture the majesty of the moment. Emma, meanwhile, was watching and commenting on every detail, her eyes sparkling with fascination.
The boats glided slowly to the opposite shore, where Hagrid helped the students disembark. The stone path led them straight to the gigantic wooden doors that would soon open onto a new world. A world that each of the students, including Orion, eagerly awaited to discover.
The first-year students gathered in front of the massive entrance to Hogwarts, their eyes fixed on the impressive architecture of the castle. The carved wooden doors, adorned with intricate designs depicting magical creatures and ancient symbols, stood tall before them, imposing and mysterious.
The Transfiguration professor, Professor McGonagall, then appeared before them. Tall, slender, and dressed in a traditional green robe, she exuded a natural authority that immediately silenced the students. Her piercing eyes scanned each face as if evaluating the newcomers.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said in a calm yet firm voice. "I am Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration teacher. You are about to experience one of the most important moments of your time at Hogwarts: the Sorting into one of the four houses. Each house has a long and noble history. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin each have their own values and traditions. During your years here, you will share your successes and failures with your housemates, and they will become like a second family to you."
A murmur ran through the students, some excited, others visibly nervous. Orion remained impassive, though a slight curiosity began to stir within him. Emma and Max, standing beside him, exchanged worried yet hopeful looks.
McGonagall raised a hand to quiet the murmurs. "I advise you to stay focused. You will be called one by one into the Great Hall, where the Sorting Hat will place you in your house. Once your house is determined, you will join your new housemates at their respective table."
She motioned for them to follow her through a grand hall illuminated by floating torches. Their footsteps echoed on the stone floor as they moved forward, stopping before two enormous wooden doors, closed for the moment.
"Wait here, I will prepare your entrance," McGonagall said before disappearing behind the doors.
The group of first-year students remained silent, each trying to manage their apprehension in their own way. Emma shifted from foot to foot, nervously gripping her coat, while Max tried to calm his breathing. Orion, for his part, stared at the doors with apparent calm, though a certain impatience began to rise within him.
The heavy silence that had settled after McGonagall's departure was occasionally broken by quiet murmurs. The first-year students exchanged uncertain glances, some fidgeting nervously, while others whispered to each other in an attempt to soothe their growing anxiety. The excitement of discovering their future house mingled with the fear of the unknown.
Emma, unable to remain still any longer, turned to Max and Orion. "Do you think it hurts, being sorted by the Hat? I heard it reads your thoughts…" She shivered slightly, half-serious, half-amused.
Max, already looking nervous enough, widened his eyes. "What? You're joking, right…? No? Because if it's true, I'm not sure I'm ready. What's it going to see in my head? Will it know that I'm… completely rubbish at magic for now?"
Orion shrugged, still impassive. "It's just a hat. It won't hurt you."
Emma shot him a playful look. "Just a hat that decides where you'll spend the next seven years of your life. No pressure at all."
Another student, a red-haired boy with freckles, edged closer to the group upon hearing the conversation. "I hope I'm in Gryffindor. My brother told me it's the best house. They have the greatest wizards there. But… what if I'm not good enough?" he murmured, looking worried.
A girl with glasses, standing next to him, added in a whisper: "My family wants me to be in Ravenclaw. But I'm afraid they'll be disappointed if I end up somewhere else… Do you think the Hat can make mistakes?"
Orion remained silent, still staring at the enormous doors, seemingly uninterested in the nervous conversation around him. But Emma, always quick to lighten the mood, nudged Max and smiled mischievously. "Well, if the Hat has beauty standards, we already know where Orion's going." She burst into laughter, trying to dispel the tension.
Max, despite his anxiety, couldn't help but laugh too. "Yeah, for sure. Maybe it'll create a house just for him, the 'House of Handsome Guys'."
Orion, impassive as ever, barely allowed a faint smile to cross his lips before murmuring: "You should focus on the Sorting, not me."
The students around them chuckled softly, Emma's humor clearly having the desired effect.
A slight snort of disdain interrupted the lighthearted moment. Draco Malfoy, standing nearby, crossed his arms with a smug smile. "In any case, there's only one house worth mentioning, and that's Slytherin. The rest aren't even worth considering."
A few students around him nodded silently, apparently agreeing with the statement. Draco gave them an approving glance before locking eyes with Orion, who only gave him a brief impassive look before turning away.
Emma whispered to Max, still trying to keep the mood light: "Well, there's always someone ready to spoil the suspense, right?"
It was at that moment that the large wooden doors creaked open majestically. Professor McGonagall reappeared, imposing and serene, cutting through the murmurs. "It's time," she declared simply, before motioning for the students to follow her into the Great Hall.
The doors to the Great Hall opened fully, revealing a breathtaking sight. Orion entered, followed by the other first-year students, their awestruck gazes sweeping the room. Hundreds of candles floated in the air, illuminating the four long house tables, where the older students waited silently, watching the newcomers. The enchanted ceiling reflected a starry sky of mystical beauty, adding an almost unreal atmosphere to the event.
At the far end of the hall, a fifth table was set for the professors, where the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, sat in the center, his eyes twinkling with a wise kindness behind his half-moon glasses.
But what quickly caught the attention of the first-year students was the wooden stool placed in the center of the hall. Sitting atop it was the Sorting Hat, immobile, ready to carry out its age-old duty. The excitement grew as the first-years drew closer, feeling the importance of the moment intensify.
Professor McGonagall raised a scroll and, in a clear voice, began to call out the names.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
Hannah, a shy-looking girl with blonde hair, stepped forward hesitantly. She sat on the stool, and McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head. A few seconds passed before the Hat exclaimed: "HUFFLEPUFF!"
A roar of applause rose from the Hufflepuff table, and a relieved Hannah hurried over to join them. The first-year students watched, both excited and nervous.
The Sorting continued, each student stepping forward in turn, called by Professor McGonagall.
"Bones, Susan!" – Hufflepuff.
"Boot, Terry!" – Ravenclaw.
"Brown, Lavender!" – Gryffindor.
"Hermione Granger!" – Gryffindor.
"Ronald Weasley!" – Gryffindor.
"Harry Potter!" – Gryffindor.
Then came:
"Lawson, Emma!" – Hufflepuff.
Emma gave a beaming smile to Orion and Max before making her way to the Hufflepuff table amid cheers from her new housemates.
"Davies, Max!" – Hufflepuff.
Max, looking a bit nervous, stepped forward uncertainly before joining Emma at the Hufflepuff table, where he was warmly welcomed with applause.
"Malfoy, Draco!" – Slytherin.
Draco walked with obvious confidence, and as soon as the Hat touched his head, it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" A satisfied grin spread across his face as he took his place at the Slytherin table to loud cheers from his house.
Finally, Professor McGonagall lifted the scroll once more and called out in a clear voice: "Maga, Orion!"
A hush fell over the Great Hall as Orion stepped forward towards the Sorting Hat, drawing everyone's attention. He calmly sat on the stool, his face impassive, as McGonagall placed the Hat on his head.
The Sorting Hat slipped down over Orion's head, covering part of his white hair and obscuring his heterochromatic eyes. A heavy silence filled the Great Hall, with all eyes fixed on him, waiting for the legendary hat's decision.
As soon as the Hat settled on his head, Orion heard a voice inside his mind, calm and wise, but tinged with curiosity:
"Ah... now here's a very special mind... very powerful, very determined... and with quite the mystery. Hmm... your magic is incredible! I sense much ambition and exemplary discipline."
Orion remained silent, listening carefully to the Hat's thoughts. His patience didn't waver, but he was prepared to speak if necessary.
The Hat continued, analyzing deeply. "Slytherin could give you the tools to accomplish this quest for mastery, this control of your magic. That's where ambition and greatness reside..."
Orion frowned slightly. "I dislike Slytherin. I don't want to be in a house where politics dominate. My sister will handle the family's ambition and choose its allies."
The Hat seemed to reflect for a moment before speaking again. "Ah... I see. Very well, you seek your own path. Independence, then? Gryffindor might appreciate your qualities, with your readiness to face challenges and your impulsiveness..."
Orion shook his head slightly, still calm. "Becoming a Gryffindor would place me in rivalry with my sister's house. I'd prefer a neutral house."
The Hat remained silent for a moment before a faint sense of satisfaction seemed to radiate from it. "I see... Yes, you have a strong sense of justice, loyalty, and a remarkable humility for someone of your power. Hmm... It's clear now."
"Yes... Hufflepuff. That's where you'll find what you're looking for... allies who will accept you for who you are, and a second family, reliable and loyal. You will learn to use your qualities for the benefit of others, not just yourself."
A subtle smile tugged at the corner of Orion's lips, barely perceptible to the spectators but present in his mind.
When the Hat finally shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!", a heavy silence fell across the Great Hall. Orion stood calmly, feeling the weight of the stares directed at him. Murmurs slowly spread among the students, traveling from table to table like a wave of disbelief.
The Slytherin students, in particular, remained frozen, as if they couldn't comprehend what had just happened. For generations, every member of the Maga family had been sorted into Slytherin without exception. Many of the Slytherin students' faces displayed expressions of shock and incomprehension at the idea of a Maga not joining their ranks.
At the Hufflepuff table, however, the atmosphere was completely different. A sudden exhilaration erupted from their ranks, like a silent victory cry. Their applause rang out, filling the hall with joyful and warm energy. The Hufflepuffs seemed almost surprised themselves to welcome such a prestigious student as Orion into their house, but they didn't hesitate for a second to celebrate this extraordinary occasion. Cheers, whistles, and encouragement echoed through the Great Hall.
Emma and Max, already seated at the Hufflepuff table, clapped even harder upon seeing their new friend join them. Emma raised her arms in triumph, beaming, while Max clapped enthusiastically.
Yet the disbelief lingered among the other houses. Several Ravenclaw students exchanged puzzled glances, trying to understand the logic behind this unexpected choice. The Gryffindors, for their part, observed Orion with newfound curiosity, pleased and surprised that another Maga hadn't ended up in Slytherin.
At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy watched Orion with a mixture of disdain and confusion, a sneer twisting his features. He couldn't believe that a member of the noble Maga family had been placed in Hufflepuff. The murmurs among his house betrayed a general dissatisfaction, with some Slytherins already whispering derogatory comments.
Orion, however, walked across the Great Hall unaffected by the commotion around him. His face remained impassive as he made his way to the Hufflepuff table, sitting down calmly among his new housemates.
The Hufflepuff students, despite their surprise, welcomed him with overwhelming warmth. They smiled, some whispered among themselves, but the sincere smiles they directed toward him showed they were ready to consider him one of their own, regardless of his family background or the expectations of others.
Orion, for his part, simply nodded slightly in response to their applause, his heterochromatic eyes glowing with an intense light, though he remained calm and composed.
The silence in the Great Hall was already palpable, but it was abruptly broken by an unexpected outburst. Arcana Maga, still seated at the Slytherin table, stood up suddenly, her normally calm and composed face distorted by cold anger.
"I demand an explanation!" she declared, her voice resonating through the hall, cutting off the whispered discussions that had followed Orion's sorting. Her heterochromatic eyes, similar to her brother's, blazed with fury.
The entire hall was taken aback by the sight of such a well-regarded and famous student like Arcana Maga losing her composure so completely. Even the Slytherin students stared at her in shock. Arcana was not only famous for her talent and beauty but also for her control and impeccable demeanor. Seeing her explode in anger was a first.
The head of Slytherin House, a stern and impassive man, turned his icy gaze to Dumbledore, as did several other students from his house. A silent yet meaningful question hung in the air. How could a member of the prestigious Maga lineage, who had always been sorted into Slytherin for generations, be placed elsewhere?
Dumbledore, always calm despite the growing tension, raised his hand slightly. His soft, composed voice echoed through the hall, capturing everyone's attention.
"Miss Maga," he said in a soothing tone, "I understand your surprise. However, the decision of the Sorting Hat is final and must be respected."
Arcana, her fists clenched, seemed ready to respond, unwilling to accept such a vague explanation. The murmurs resumed among the students, fueled by general astonishment.
Sensing the rising tension, Dumbledore turned towards the Sorting Hat. All eyes followed, as if the old, worn hat would provide the answer to the burning question on everyone's lips.
The Sorting Hat, seeming to anticipate the attention focused on it, speaking in a light voice that contrasted with the hall's heavy atmosphere: "The conversations between the Sorting Hat and students are confidential."
It was as if an electric shock ran through the hall. Silence fell once more. Arcana, still standing, looked ready to explode. The fury in her eyes grew more intense, and her aura seemed to vibrate with frustration. She was not the type to tolerate mysteries, especially when they involved her own brother.
Seeing his sister's growing anger, Orion, who had remained quietly seated at the Hufflepuff table, finally stood. He had shown no sign of agitation up to this point, but sensing that the situation was escalating, he spoke up.
"I give you permission to share our conversation," Orion said calmly, his cold gaze resting on the Sorting Hat.
All eyes immediately returned to the Hat, and after a moment of silence, it spoke again in a jovial tone, as though pleased to have been granted permission.
"Very well... As I told him, Orion Maga could have very well gone to Slytherin. He possesses qualities that Salazar Slytherin would have greatly admired: ambition, talent, and a noble lineage."
The silent hall hung on the Sorting Hat's every word. Arcana, though still furious, listened attentively.
"But," the Hat continued, "during our conversation, Orion made it clear that he wasn't interested in joining Slytherin. He believed that one Maga—his sister—was enough. He expressed full confidence in her ability to lead their family and choose its allies."
A soft murmur rippled through the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables, surprised by the explanation. Orion, for his part, remained stoic, his heterochromatic eyes still fixed on the Hat.
"Orion is just as well suited for Hufflepuff. He possesses a strong sense of loyalty, a rare humility for someone of his talent, and a fierce will to follow his own path. He asked for a neutral house, a place where he could focus on his own goals without having to deal with constant political pressure and where he could act without regard for his family status."
The Hat paused for a moment, letting its words sink into the students' minds.
"So, I decided to place him in Hufflepuff. Not because he lacked the qualities for Slytherin, but because this is the house that best aligns with his needs, and where he possesses all the necessary qualities to belong."
Another heavy silence settled over the hall following this revelation. Arcana stood still, her emotions wavering between indignation and understanding. She had never imagined that Orion would voluntarily choose to turn away from Slytherin. She had been eager to enjoy having her younger brother by her side, but after the events on the Hogwarts Express, she couldn't deny that perhaps it was for the best that he wasn't sorted into Slytherin.
Dumbledore, with a satisfied smile, broke the silence. "I believe that makes everything clear. The Sorting Hat is never wrong, and I am certain that Mr. Maga will shine just as brightly in his new house."
Arcana, though still visibly troubled, finally nodded slowly. She sat back down with her usual grace, though the shadow of confusion lingered on her face.
Orion, meanwhile, sat back down at the Hufflepuff table, showing no outward sign of emotion, while his new housemates greeted him with smiles and encouraging gestures.