Children continued to be sorted, one after another, as the Sorting Hat called out names with its usual flourish. No one said anything, for there was nothing to say. They trusted the school, trusted the process, even trusted the hat to poke around in their heads and learn their deepest secrets. After all, this was Hogwarts.
"Harry Potter."
The entire hall tensed. A collective gasp echoed around the room as Harry's name rang out. Kouchi, too, felt the shift in the air. In his mind, Harry Potter had already become something of a legend—though whether that legend was more celebrity or criminal, Kouchi wasn't entirely sure.
It took longer for Harry to be sorted than for any other student, but it wasn't a long delay. Kouchi observed the room; the tension in the air broke when the hat finally cried out, "Gryffindor!" The whole hall seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Harry Potter was one of them now, and that was all that mattered.
That moment was the most dramatic of the sorting ceremony, but Kouchi knew his turn was approaching. He was the second-to-last student to be called. His name, like a dark whisper, sent ripples of anticipation through the crowd.
"Uchiha Kouchi."
The hushed murmurs grew louder as Kouchi made his way to the front. Every pair of eyes followed him as he walked toward the Sorting Hat, all too eager to see which house the mysterious boy would be placed in.
Kouchi sat down, his movements deliberate and quiet. The hat was placed on his head with a soft rustling of fabric, and almost instantly, Kouchi felt the intrusive voice inside his mind.
"Ah, what do we have here? A blank slate… but a sharp one. Hmm, a vast emptiness… not many secrets, it seems. You have great potential, and a dangerous mind. You could go anywhere… but where does your heart lie?"
The Sorting Hat seemed to deliberate for a moment, probing deeper into his thoughts. "Not much loyalty, I see. Not much bravery either. What a strange mix. How about… Hufflepuff?"
The Sorting Hat's decision rang out, and Kouchi stood and walked toward the table, the room settling into a stunned silence. He could hear the whispers beginning, but they were too far away to matter. The decision had been made.
Kouchi couldn't decide if he was disappointed or amused. He had intentionally misled the Sorting Hat, and it had fallen for it. The most dangerous child in the school had been placed in a house known for its gentleness and loyalty. It was almost laughable.
Blaise Zabini was the last student sorted, and after that, the ceremony wrapped up quickly. The headmaster stood to address them, laying out the rules of the school, the expectations for the students, and what would be tolerated.
Soon, dinner was served. The tables groaned with foreign dishes, but Kouchi's iron stomach absorbed it all without a second thought. He deliberately kept his aura muted, avoiding any attention from his housemates. He didn't need to engage with them right now; he had his own agenda, one that required him to stay as unnoticed as possible.
Once the meal was over, their prefect led them to the dormitories. The hallways were impressive, but Kouchi's eyes were immediately drawn to the moving stairs. His curiosity got the better of him as he observed how they shifted and slid, their motion almost fluid, like wind over water.
"Be careful," the prefect warned as a first-year lost his balance, barely caught by the prefect's outstretched arm. "These stairs can cause injuries if you're not careful."
Despite the warning, Kouchi felt fascinated. Hmm, I wonder what magic was used to make these stairs move... he thought, studying the swirling patterns of magic at play. It felt reminiscent of wind chakra. What else could this magic do?
His curiosity couldn't be held back. Kouchi gently tapped one of the stairs with his hand, infusing it with a subtle amount of Wind chakra. The reaction was instantaneous. The stairs lurched wildly to the side, throwing several students off balance.
"What's going on?!" the prefect shouted, grabbing the railing as the stairs began to spin out of control. "Everyone, hold on tight! I'll try to cushion the impact!"
He drew his wand, casting a spell to slow their fall, but the damage had already been done. Several students had been knocked over, and many were nursing minor injuries. Fortunately, they were still on the first level, so the injuries weren't severe.
Within moments, teachers appeared, running down the hallway to check on the situation. Kouchi watched from the sidelines, still unfazed. He knew it was his doing, but he didn't feel guilty. Sometimes, sacrifices were necessary to further one's understanding. Besides, it wasn't as if anyone had been seriously hurt.
"Hurry! We need to bring Mrs. Pomfrey! Do we need to take anyone to St. Mungo's? Quickly, check everyone!" the prefect barked as he sprang into action.
It took about two hours to settle the chaos. Many students were still on edge, and some refused to climb the stairs again. But eventually, the situation was under control. They were led down another corridor, and finally, they arrived at their dorms.
Professor Pomona Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff, greeted them with a warm but firm demeanor. "This is your dormitory," she said, gesturing toward a large portrait of a woman surrounded by barrels. "Anyone who wants to enter needs to give the correct password. Don't forget it."
The room inside was cozy, with soft lighting and comfortable beds. Kouchi was quickly led to his shared dorm, where five other first-years were already unpacking their things.
Kouchi didn't immediately start unpacking. His bag contained far too many things that might arouse suspicion. Instead, he closed the curtains around his bed and settled in, waiting for the others to settle before doing anything.
His disinterest in socializing made him an object of curiosity. He could feel eyes on him, the subtle pressure of his housemates wondering who he was and what he was about. They must have been confused by his quiet demeanor. Finally, one of them could no longer contain his curiosity and kicked at Kouchi's bedframe.
"Hey, uh, we were wondering if you wanted to join us for a game of exploding… never mind! I guess I shouldn't disturb you. You… just do your thing."
The curtain around Kouchi's bed slowly closed, shutting out the rest of the world. He glanced down at his hand, now holding a throwing knife, poised as though ready to throw it.
Huh? Maybe I should tone down my actions a bit. I'm scaring the other kids.
He sighed, slipping the kunai back into his bag. For now, he would stay hidden behind the curtain, waiting until the others fell asleep before he made his next move.