After the unexpected incident, the Sorting Hat regained its pace and was able to sort the students into their houses as soon as it touched their heads. With this newfound efficiency, only two new students remained.
"Connor Prince!"
Hearing the familiar name, Kyle and Cedric both looked up.
"Is she the girl from the train?" Cedric asked, curious. "Do you think she'll be sorted into Slytherin?"
"Probably," Kyle replied, scratching his head. "With her fancy clothes, she's likely a pureblood—probably a Slytherin... wait, what?"
Kyle suddenly froze. He couldn't tell if he was imagining it, but after Professor McGonagall called Connor's name, Snape, who had been indifferent during the sorting process, leaned forward, showing interest for the first time.
"They must know each other," Kyle thought.
Snape was one of Hogwarts' four heads of house and a renowned Potions Master, so it was unlikely he didn't have connections in the wizarding world. Perhaps Connor's family was among them.
A chill ran down Kyle's back as he considered the possibility. If Snape had a relationship with Connor's family, he might take revenge on Kyle for deceiving her.
"It can't be that much of a coincidence," Kyle thought, his nerves on edge.
Just as he was reflecting on his situation, the Sorting Hat took much longer than usual with Connor. It was over a minute before it finally announced:
"Hufflepuff!"
A cheer erupted from the Hufflepuff table, and the prefects stood to welcome Connor. But Kyle was left bewildered, watching Connor walk past him with a confused expression.
"What's going on? A pureblood in Hufflepuff?" he thought. "It's rare, though not unheard of. Most purebloods are just less likely to end up here."
He dismissed the idea that Connor chose Hufflepuff to follow him. Sorting wasn't a game; it could shape a wizard's future. Even if Connor was too young to understand that, the Sorting Hat wouldn't allow her to choose carelessly. Her family likely wouldn't tolerate such a choice, either.
Kyle remembered a story Chris once told him about how Mrs. Black caused a scene when Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor. Dumbledore himself had to step in, and the Sorting Hat nearly met its end in Fiendfyre. The incident had led to serious discussions at the Ministry of Magic about potentially replacing the Sorting Hat with other sorting methods. Although the proposal had significant support from pureblood families, it was ultimately shut down by Dumbledore's opposition.
Since then, pureblood families who had backed the proposal rarely interacted with other houses at Hogwarts.
Kyle glanced at the staff table, looking for confirmation of his suspicions. If Connor's family had ties to Snape, he wouldn't remain calm after she was sorted into Hufflepuff...
Well, Kyle was mistaken.
Snape's face was as dark as a storm cloud, and he kept conversing with Dumbledore while occasionally glaring at the Hufflepuff table.
Kyle quickly ducked his head, hoping to go unnoticed.
"Could the Sorting Hat really be that bold?" Kyle thought, feeling a bit nervous.
Meanwhile, the final new student was sorted into Gryffindor.
Dumbledore rose from his seat, smiling warmly as he addressed the students: "Welcome to Hogwarts! A new school year is here, and there's nothing better than seeing all of you gathered here. Now, let's eat!"
With that, the previously empty tables filled with delicious, steaming food.
Mountains of beef, roast chicken, pork chops, sausages, and steaks tempted everyone's appetite. For those who preferred lighter options, boiled potatoes, pea shoots, and chips were also available.
The Great Hall was soon filled with the delicious aroma of food.
Kyle tried to clear his mind of worries. "What's the use in overthinking?" he thought. "What's done is done. I'll deal with things as they come."
After all, he wouldn't be the first in trouble—there was still the Sorting Hat ahead of him.
And if Snape did decide to make things difficult for him, it wouldn't last forever. Once Harry Potter joined the school next year, Snape would have bigger concerns.
Reassuring himself, Kyle grabbed a fried chicken drumstick and took a bite. He had barely eaten on the train, so he was starving.
The house-elves' cooking was excellent—the fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and each bite filled his mouth with flavor.
The baked potatoes were equally satisfying, cooked perfectly and full of rich potato flavor. For those who liked a bit more taste, there were ketchup and black pepper on the side.
Kyle found the combination surprisingly delicious and reached for another potato. Just as he was adding black pepper, Cedric leaned in and whispered, "Have you noticed that she's been staring at you?"
"Staring at me? Who?" Kyle asked without looking up.
"Connor Prince, the new girl from the train," Cedric replied, raising an eyebrow and glancing toward the Hufflepuff table. "Look, she's watching you again."
(End of Chapter)
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