The door creaked open, and standing there in her emerald-green robe was a tall, black-haired witch with a piercing gaze—Professor McGonagall. The new students immediately quieted, sensing her authority.
Professor McGonagall surveyed the young faces before her, her gaze settling briefly on Ivan and Hermione before moving to Harry Potter. She managed to keep her expression stern, but inside, she felt a deep sympathy for Harry, aware of the hardships he had already faced. Seeing him here at Hogwarts brought her a small sense of relief.
"First-year students, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, introducing her to the group.
"Thank you, Hagrid," McGonagall replied with a nod. "I'll take it from here." She gestured for the students to follow her, then opened the door wider, leading them into Hogwarts' vast entrance hall.
The hall was grand, with stone walls lit by blazing torches and a ceiling that seemed to stretch endlessly upwards. Directly ahead, a majestic marble staircase curved up toward the upper floors. As McGonagall walked, the young wizards followed, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the hall. Ivan, one of the new students, could hear the muffled buzz of voices from a door on their right, where it seemed the older students were already gathered.
But McGonagall steered the group toward a small, empty chamber on the opposite side of the hall. The first-years crowded into the room, nervously glancing around, jostling for space, and whispering among themselves.
Professor McGonagall faced them, looking serious. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she began. "The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you join the rest of the school in the Great Hall, you'll each be sorted into your House."
She explained the significance of this ceremony. "Sorting is very important," she continued. "Your House will be like your family here at Hogwarts. You'll attend classes, share dormitories, and spend time in your common room with your Housemates."
Her gaze flicked to Ivan briefly, who returned the look with a slight nod, understanding that this wasn't just about magic but about finding a place of belonging in this vast, unknown world. Professor McGonagall seemed particularly interested in him, as though already recognizing potential in him that others might not yet see.
"The four Houses," she explained, "are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." She described each House's unique history and explained that each had produced famous witches and wizards.
"There is also the House Cup," she went on. "Throughout the year, you will have opportunities to earn points for your House through your academic performance, behavior, and achievements. Conversely, breaking rules or poor conduct will result in points being taken from your House. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup—a significant honor."
McGonagall's serious tone quieted the room, and the first-years felt the weight of her words settle over them. "I hope each of you will strive to bring honor to whichever House you're sorted into," she added.
The students remained silent, listening intently as she continued, "The Sorting Ceremony will take place in front of the entire school. I suggest you take a moment to straighten up and make a good impression."
Her sharp gaze drifted over Neville's slightly askew cloak and the smudge of dirt on Ron's nose, and a few students began tugging on their robes, straightening collars, and smoothing out wrinkles. Hermione was visibly nervous, whispering to Ivan about what might come next, while Harry anxiously tried to flatten his hair.
"I'll come back to collect you when everything is ready," McGonagall said. "Please keep quiet while you wait."
As she left, Harry whispered to Ron, "Do you know how they'll sort us?"
Ron's face showed equal parts curiosity and nervousness. "Fred said it's some kind of test," he replied, sounding unsure. "He told me it would hurt a lot, but he was probably joking."
"A test? In front of the whole school?" Harry asked, clearly alarmed at the idea. His reaction sparked a flurry of whispers and worried glances among the new students. Most of them hadn't even cast a spell yet, let alone taken any kind of magical test.
Hermione, who looked slightly less worried, began muttering spells to herself, as if rehearsing for a challenge. Ivan noticed her intense concentration and wondered if there really would be a test, as Ron suggested, and if so, what it might entail.
Suddenly, there was a collective gasp from the group as more than twenty pearly-white ghosts drifted through the wall. The spectral figures floated gracefully around the room, chatting softly with one another, their voices a low murmur. They seemed to pay little attention to the living, moving with an eerie elegance as they drifted by.
While most students shrank back or stared in awe, Ivan's curiosity was piqued. He focused on the ghost closest to him, activating his psychic vision to observe the spirit in detail. To his surprise, he noticed a faint magical aura enveloping the ghost, almost as if it were bound by some mystical force.
Intrigued, Ivan tried to zoom in, using his ability to magnify his vision to observe the ghost on a microscopic level. But something peculiar happened. Unlike physical objects, which could be broken down into smaller and smaller components, the ghost had no physical structure. There were no particles or atoms—nothing at all beyond the faint magical glow that outlined its shape. It was as if the ghost was composed of pure magic, with no physical substance whatsoever.
The realization struck Ivan with fascination. Is this the nature of a soul? he wondered. He began to understand that souls, or at least these ghostly forms, didn't obey the same laws as objects in the material world. They were something else entirely, something beyond ordinary understanding.
Just then, Professor McGonagall returned, bringing everyone back to the present moment. "Now, it's time to proceed. The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin."
As she spoke, the ghosts floated away, passing through the walls and vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. The first-year students shuffled back into line, a mix of excitement and anxiety etched on their faces, ready to finally enter the Great Hall and see what awaited them.
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