The freshmen, led by Professor McGonagall, entered the Great Hall.
The high walls, decorated with tapestries, went upward, losing themselves in the semi-darkness of the vaulted ceiling, which was so high that it seemed endless. Thousands of candles floated in the air, illuminating the room with a soft, warm light and creating a sense of magic.
Along the walls were four long tables where students in robes of different colors sat, creating a bright palette against the stone walls. At the far end of the hall, on a dais, stood another table, the teacher's table.
Professor McGonagall led the freshmen to the very beginning of the hall, where there was a small wooden chair and an old, tattered hat next to it. The freshmen settled on the floor in front of them, and the silence in the hall was replaced by quiet whispers.
McGonagall looked at all the freshmen and raised her hand. Immediately there was complete silence.
"The distribution ceremony will now begin," she said in her clear voice
"But before we begin, the principal would like to say a few words."
With those words she stepped aside and a man with a long white beard and a good-natured look stepped onto a small platform next to the teachers' table. It was Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School.
His voice was calm, yet filled with power and wisdom.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said
" And a special welcome to you freshmen. I hope this year will be full of discovery and adventure for you."
Applause erupted in the hall, which quickly subsided when the principal continued.
"Before we begin the placement ceremony, I would like to remind you of a few important rules that you must abide by. First, as always, it is forbidden to go into the Forbidden Forest. Secondly, the corridor on the third floor that leads to the right is also off-limits to anyone who doesn't wish to die a painful death."
A quiet whisper drifted through the hall. Itachi listened intently to the headmaster's every word.
Dumbledore smiled, as if seeing the students' reactions.
"Now that everyone has been warned, I suggest we get down to the most enjoyable part of our evening - the assignments."
He nodded to Professor McGonagall and she stepped forward, holding a parchment in her hands.
"When I call your names, you will take turns coming up and sitting in this chair. A Distributing Hat will be placed on your head, which will determine which faculty you are most suited for" she said, and her voice echoed in the hall.
Professor McGonagall began to read the names from a long scroll. The freshmen, one by one, walked over to a chair, sat on it, and put on the old, tattered Distributing Hat. The hall would freeze in anticipation, and the hat, after a brief moment of deliberation, would call out the name of the faculty: "GRYFFINDOR!", 'SLYTHERIN!', 'CLAWTON!', 'PUFFENDUI!'. Every time a faculty name was called, his table exploded with applause and shouts of cheers.
Itachi watched, analyzing how the hat makes decisions.
It sees not only abilities, but also personalities and desires. He mentally prepared himself for what awaited him when his turn came.
Finally, it was his turn as well.
"Uchiha, Itachi," Professor McGonagall said, and there was silence in the hall. Itachi calmly walked over to a chair, sat down in it, and put on his hat.
For a moment, everything around him seemed to disappear. The voice of the hat sounded in his head: Hmm... Interesting...
You're not like the others, young Uchiha. You are strong, determined, and your courage knows no bounds. You could have made it in Gryffindor, there's no doubt about that.
Itachi remained silent, giving the hat a chance to analyze him.
But you have a mind and a hunger for knowledge, like the Clawmen. Your mind is sharp, and you can see things that others can't. And of course, you are not lacking in cunning and ambition. You have all the qualities of a Slytherin. You could accomplish a lot if you wanted to.
But let's not forget your loyalty and hard work, young Uchiha. Puffendui wouldn't be a bad choice either. All of these qualities can coexist harmoniously in you, but I feel... that there's more to it than that...
Itachi tensed involuntarily. The hat saw more than he realized. It sensed his past, his desire for power, his need to control the situation.
Yes... I see... You seek power, but not for the sake of power itself. You're willing to do whatever it takes to protect what you hold dear, and you're not afraid to make tough decisions. You realize that the world is far from perfect, and you're willing to do whatever it takes to get justice, even if it means going against the tide. You're not lacking in ambition and cunning. So where, where will you prove yourself best?
There was a tense silence in the Great Hall. Usually the Allocating Hat didn't spend so much time choosing a faculty for a first-year student. The upperclassmen began to whisper and glance around, and even Dumbledore stopped smiling for a moment. Itachi realized that, against his wishes, he had attracted unwanted attention.
Itachi tried to remain calm, not giving off the slightest emotion. He realized that this delay would only make it harder for him to go unnoticed, but he couldn't influence his choice of hat.
Finally, after a seemingly endless pause, the hat loudly proclaimed: "SLIZERIN!"
Applause erupted at the Slytherin table, but there was still a sense of tension in the room. Itachi calmly removed his hat and headed towards his new faculty. He noticed that many of the students were looking at him with curiosity, and even a few of the teachers exchanged glances.
Itachi took a seat at the Slytherin table and looked at the other Slytherins.
He realized that he wouldn't be able to just get lost in the crowd now, and that he would have to be even more careful.
All the freshmen were now assigned, and there was an air of excitement and anticipation in the Great Hall. Itachi sat at his desk, listening intently to the speeches of the headmen and teachers, and planning his next actions, realizing that he needed to rethink his strategy of behavior.
After the Distributing Hat had finished its work, there was a stir in the Great Hall. Dumbledore rose from his seat and said with a broad smile
"Now that everyone has been distributed, let us enjoy our traditional feast!"
In the same instant, countless dishes appeared on the tables. The flavors wafted around the hall, making the stomachs of all the students rumble with hunger. Itachi was no exception, though his interest in food was driven more by necessity than hunger.
He watched as the other students piled on the food, laughing and talking. He, on the other hand, studied his tablemates quietly, trying to remember as much information about each of them as possible. It was noticeable that the Slytherins were more reserved in their emotions than students from other faculties.
Itachi ate leisurely, trying not to draw too much attention to himself. He tasted different dishes, marveling at the variety and flavor of magical cuisine.
The feast lasted for quite some time. During this time, Itachi was able to study his neighbors a bit. Among the Slytherins, he noticed several boys who, judging by their manners, were from noble families. There was also an older boy who was watching him with great curiosity - he was probably the head boy.
Finally, when everyone had had enough to eat, Dumbledore stood up and there was silence.
"Now the headmen will take you to your lounges where you can rest after a long day" he said and all the students started to get up from their seats.
Itachi followed the other Slytherins who were following their headman. They left the Great Hall and headed down the spiral staircase.
With each step, it was getting cooler and the atmosphere around them was changing. Muffled sounds, stone walls, and torches casting eerie shadows all created a sense of mystery.
They stopped in front of a painting, and the Headmaster spoke some sort of password, after which the wall slid open, revealing the entrance to the Slytherin sitting room.
Beyond the passageway, the Slytherin living room awaited them. It was a spacious room with shades of green and silver. Soft armchairs and sofas, a fireplace with a fire burning in it all created an atmosphere of coziness and tranquility. But the most impressive thing in this living room was the window. A large, full-wall window, it looked out directly into the lake at the bottom of which Slytherin was located.
Itachi walked over to the window and froze. Behind the glass there was life - flocks of fish swimming by, algae rippling in the water, and occasionally other aquatic life could be seen. The light from the fireplace created bizarre shadows in the water, making the view even more mesmerizing.
The headman spoke up: "Welcome to the Slytherin drawing room. Your belongings have already been laid out in your bedrooms. A new day awaits you tomorrow, so I suggest you all get a good night's rest."
Itachi, like the other freshmen, followed to the dormitory. It was spacious, with several beds, each with a chest of his belongings by it. He quickly changed into his pajamas, sorted out his things, and got ready for bed.
Taking out a small vial of pale green liquid from his chest, and a small vial with a couple capsules in it. He drank the liquid and swallowed the capsules, trying not to attract too much attention. They were potions and medicines that helped him deal with his tuberculosis.
He knew there were many challenges and discoveries ahead of him.