Luke smiled as he made his way to the Slytherin table.
Harry and Ron watched him go, their feelings a bit complicated. Ron couldn't help but recall how his parents and brothers had always talked about Slytherins as sneaky and cunning.
They praised Gryffindors constantly, even insisting that the most mischievous young lions still had redeeming qualities.
Harry, on the other hand, remembered his first encounter with Malfoy at Madam Malkin's shop. Malfoy had insulted Hagrid right in front of him while openly expressing admiration for Slytherin. Later, Hagrid had made it clear that Slytherin had a bad reputation.
This had filled Harry with an initial dislike for the house. But now, his friend—his very talented friend—had been sorted into Slytherin, making Harry think that perhaps he needed to reassess his understanding of Slytherin House.
Hermione, watching Luke's back as he walked away, pressed her lips together. She remembered Luke's advice and what she had read about the houses. Both Luke's suggestions and the knowledge from the books had made it clear: Slytherin wasn't the right place for a witch like her. It wasn't prejudice, just a matter of not being a good fit.
Luke sat down next to the girl named Taylor and gave her a polite smile. However, she still kept her head lowered, making no effort to respond.
Luke didn't mind, frowning slightly but quickly relaxing. He knew not everyone would like him—he wasn't some golden hero who could win over everyone. Instead, he engaged with the older students who greeted him, while also waving to Hermione, who was watching him from the other side of the room.
Hermione noticed his wave and pursed her lips even tighter but finally nodded back at him.
Soon enough, it was Hermione's turn to sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat was silent for a moment before announcing, "Gryffindor!"
Luke clapped for her, acknowledging that Gryffindor was where she truly belonged.
While Hermione was undoubtedly brilliant and loved learning, her strong will and thirst for adventure made her a perfect fit for Gryffindor.
(T/N: In the books Hermione's a different breed)
Not long after Hermione, Ron was sorted into Gryffindor as well, which was no surprise. The Weasley children might all be unique, but deep down, they shared similar values.
A little while later, Malfoy sat on the stool, and as soon as the hat touched his head, it immediately shouted;
"Slytherin!"
Once again, applause erupted from the Slytherin table, though noticeably less enthusiastic than when Luke had been sorted. Malfoy's lips tightened at this, and he shot a dark look over at Luke. Luke, for his part, smiled warmly at him, looking perfectly friendly.
Malfoy said nothing, but with a scowl, he made his way over to sit beside Crabbe and Goyle. His sour expression didn't go unnoticed, and several students who had been about to greet him instead hesitated, frowning before quietly pulling back.
Luke had no intention of paying Malfoy any further attention. Instead, he frowned slightly, still finding it odd that the Sorting Hat had compared him to Gryffindor earlier. But before he could dwell on it, the sound of a familiar system notification rang in his ears.
[Ding Dong!]
[Side Quest 1: 'The Sorting Ceremony' is complete. You have acquired the spell: Disillusionment Charm.]
[A new series of side quests, "The Secrets of Hogwarts," has been unlocked.]
Luke carefully examined this series of quests. It was a collection with numerous missions, though most of them were titled simply as "???".
Only a handful had been revealed. Among those illuminated, he saw two missions: "The Chamber of Secrets" and "Gryffindor's Legacy."
He had some idea about the "Chamber of Secrets," or at least felt confident about being able to complete it. But "Gryffindor's Legacy"? What could that be? Could it really be that the giant squid in the Black Lake is somehow Gryffindor in disguise?
With a hint of amusement, Luke opened the details for this quest.
[Side Quest: Gryffindor's Legacy]
[Description: The legendary four founders left behind items unique to themselves at Hogwarts. You have gained a certain level of qualification/clue. Begin your search.]
[Quest Reward: Unknown]
[Hint: "Godric Gryffindor! Restrain yourself! Stop making me angry!" —Salazar Slytherin]
Luke kept his face under control, trying not to let his confusion show, but as a result, his expression seemed a bit stiff.
After a moment, when he had calmed down, he let out a quiet sigh and smiled wryly.
"A quest like this really comes out of nowhere," he muttered softly.
"Harry Potter!"
Amid the whispering and gazes of the crowd, Harry walked up to the stool. He had been a little startled of the attention Luke had received earlier, but now that he was called up, he suddenly realized he might attract even more attention than Luke had.
As he sat down and the hat was placed on his head, a voice spoke in his ear.
"Difficult, very difficult. I see courage, a good heart, talent—oh, my goodness, yes!—and a great desire to prove yourself. So, where shall I put you?"
The Sorting Hat's voice echoed in Harry's head. Instinctively, Harry wanted to refuse Slytherin, but found himself conflicted.
"I can feel your hesitation, child. Slytherin could help you achieve greatness, lead you to glory."
But then, in that moment, memories of Malfoy's arrogance, Hagrid's warnings, and Ron's disdain for Slytherin all rushed to the forefront of Harry's mind.
"No! Not Slytherin!"
Harry shouted internally.
"Not Slytherin? Well, if you're sure—better be… GRYFFINDOR!"
With that final word, cheers and applause erupted from the Gryffindor table, echoed by the rest of the Great Hall.
Even the Slytherins gave polite applause. The sight reassured Luke—so long as Slytherin hadn't become completely rotten, he still believed he could reshape it.
At the same time, Luke thought he saw Dumbledore release a subtle sigh of relief, though the headmaster's face remained perfectly neutral.
The last student, Blaise Zabini, was sorted into Slytherin, and with that, Professor McGonagall took the stool and Sorting Hat away.
Dumbledore stood and smiled warmly. "Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast, I'd like to say a few words. And they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Thank you!"