Hogsmeade, believed to have been founded in the 10th or 11th century around the same time as Hogwarts, is the only wizarding village in Britain where witches and wizards can freely use magic without worrying about Muggle interference. Its residents are said to be entirely of magical origin, making it a welcoming place for the wizarding community.
It is also a special place for the students and teachers of Hogwarts. Located close to the school, it serves as a retreat where young witches and wizards, under certain conditions, are allowed to visit on weekends.
It is also the final stop for the Hogwarts Express, where students disembark before making their way to the school's front gate. Of course, first years are an exception, as they have a different journey awaiting them.
"First-years... First-years please follow me! Come on, First-years, this way!"
Maverick heard a loud voice calling out as he approached the train's exit. Ahead of him, students were hurriedly disembarking one by one onto the Hogsmeade platform, and the train was quickly becoming empty.
The children soon began to separate. The senior students headed off toward another area, likely to meet another professor or staff member who would guide them through the main gates of Hogwarts, while the first-years stayed gathered near Hagrid.
Maverick saw the half-giant holding a lantern, greeting and counting the young first-years as he walked up and down the platform, ensuring everyone was accounted for before leading them to their next destination.
From what McGonagall had told him, Hagrid was in charge of the first-year students and would be taking them to the school using a different form of transportation. It was a traditional method meant to give them a feel for how students traveled to Hogwarts when it was first founded by the four founders.
Of course, Maverick already knew this from the story's memories. So far, everything seemed to be happening just as it had in the tale.
Glancing around, he saw many of the first-year students were staring at him. It was to be expected—after all, he was much older and not even wearing a school uniform. Some looked at him with curiosity and confusion, while a few showed blatant disdain, likely because of his attire. He sighed inwardly, suspecting those few to be noble, so-called pureblood fanatics.
Just then, Maverick heard a mocking voice cut through the hum of the crowd.
"Look who we have here... Are you a lost squib?"
Maverick turned to see a blonde boy walking toward him, a smirk on his face. Two others followed closely behind, almost like bodyguards. He didn't need anyone to tell him who the idiot and the two bigger idiots behind him were—it was obvious.
The three of them walked with a sense of superiority, looking Maverick up and down with obvious disdain. Maverick raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, slipping his hand into his pocket. He wasn't going to engage with them—this was just childish drama, and he had no interest in entertaining it.
As expected, when Maverick didn't react the way they had hoped—presumably showing timidity or some kind of response—they scoffed and shifted their attention elsewhere.
The blonde boy's gaze then happened to land on Daphne and Tracy, who stood behind Maverick.
"Greengrass, so you're here as well... and I see you're still with your—"
"Ah... if it isn't Daddy's little princess..."
The blonde boy, who Maverick assumed was Draco Malfoy, sneered at Daphne condescendingly. However, whatever insult he was about to finish was smoothly cut off by Tracy, who shot back with even better mockery.
"You! What did you just call me, you stupid mud—"
"Shut up, Malfoy," Daphne interrupted sharply, looking more like a little dragon than Draco himself. "Who I am with with is none of your business... Bugger off with your goons and find someone as idiotic as you to bother."
Maverick watched the brief exchange and compared the two young heirs. Daphne Greengrass carried herself with impressive maturity, embodying the demeanor of a true noble, while young Malfoy acted like a typical spoiled rich brat.
However, he understood that their behavior was a reflection of their early upbringing, and as their teacher, it was his responsibility to educate them, rather than judge or discriminate based on their current actions. That said, he wasn't going to show the extreme patience of Dumbledore, nor would he act like Snape.
"You!" Draco huffed, pointing a finger at them, but couldn't even come up with a counter.
The boy's behavior reminded Maverick of the arrogant young master characters from Chinese novels—only worse. At least those characters had the guts to exclaim "courting death," while little Malfoy couldn't even handle two sentences in a confrontation he had started. He stomped off, his followers trailing behind him.
While briefly distracted by the children's drama, Maverick failed to notice the giant man approaching his way.
"Professor Caesar!" Hagrid's booming voice called out, snapping his attention as he turned his head toward him.
"I see you took the Hogwarts Express with the little ones. Are you taking the boats as well?" Hagrid asked with a friendly smile.
Maverick sighed. He had planned to, but now that his identity as a professor had been laid out in front of everyone, he changed his mind.
"Wait, so you're not an assistant teacher?" Tracy asked, looking up at him. Maverick glanced over and saw that both she and Daphne seemed taken aback.
"I had a feeling that name sounded familiar. The master alchemist's surname is Caesar, but since your first name isn't usually mentioned in the newspapers or by the public, I didn't recognize it," Daphne said calmly, looking at him.
Maverick played innocent, offering them both a sheepish smile. "Sorry kids, I didn't mention it earlier..."
"Don't worry, Professor, and it's not like you lied..." Daphne responded politely, with no trace of childish reaction.
Maverick sighed inwardly at her response. Her behavior almost seemed programmed at times. The Greengrass family's method of education too seemed to have some flaws, but he believed a smart witch like Daphne would find a balance as she grew older.
He shrugged the thoughts aside and turned to Hagrid, who was now standing beside him. "Good to see you again, Mr. Hagrid."
"Professor, so will you take the boats with us as well?" Hagrid repeated his earlier question.
Maverick shook his head, offering a polite smile to the half-giant man.
"No, I'll go with the senior students. You should take the first years to the school quickly. I'm sure Professor McGonagall is waiting outside."
"I see..." Hagrid said, nodding his head. "Well, I'll see ya at school then, Professor."
Maverick nodded in return, gave a quick wave to Daphne and Tracy, and then headed toward the older students, who were now a little farther away.
But after covering a little distance, he turned and walked in another direction, coming to a stop near a quiet corner. He then retrieved a black long coat from his storage space and draped it over his shoulders, presenting himself in a more wizarding fashion.
Then, casting an invisibility spell on himself, he flew toward the castle, aiming to arrive before anyone else.
A short while later, he entered the Hogwarts Great Hall and found most of the professors already gathered and seated at the long teacher's table. McGonagall and Rolanda Hooch were absent, likely because one had gone to greet the first-years while the other guided the seniors.
Walking steadily, he climbed up the elevated stage, giving a polite nod to his colleagues. The only one among them he hadn't met and wasn't familiar with was Quirrell, the new hire, just like himself.
"Ah, Professor Caesar! Welcome," Dumbledore greeted him warmly, "I thought you said you would be arriving with the freshmen," he added with a curious smile.
"Thank you, Headmaster... well, I changed my mind and decided to welcome the students like everyone else," Maverick said with a shrug.
"I see..." Dumbledore replied, pausing briefly before turning his head to the right. "Please, allow me to introduce you to Professor Quirrell," Dumbledore said, gesturing toward a timid-looking man wearing a turban who was seated next to Professor Snape. "Our new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Maverick turned his head, meeting the man's eyes, and gave a polite nod. "It's a pleasure, Professor," he said, keeping the greeting short.
Quirrell offered a nervous smile, stumbling over his words as they exchanged brief pleasantries. Maverick didn't bother to comment on the man's attempts to appear humble. He pretended not to know anything, and after the brief exchange with the man, he walked behind the table and settled into a seat between the Headmaster and Professor Flitwick.
However, something felt off to him. His sharp magical senses didn't pick up anything unusual from Quirrell, as if the man were completely ordinary. For a moment, he wondered if the plot had changed, but then quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn't hard for someone skilled and knowledgeable to hide their presence, and if Voldemort was anything, he was certainly both.
Nonetheless, Maverick was certain Voldemort had some connection to the man. His eyes flicked briefly to the large turban on Quirrell's head, noting the faint smell of garlic lingering in the air. It wasn't as strong or exaggerated as described in the films, but it was unmistakably there.
Shaking off the thoughts, Maverick settled comfortably into his seat. He engaged in light conversation with both Flitwick and Dumbledore, who inquired about his experience on the train and how he found the journey overall.
Time passed slowly, and about ten minutes later, Madam Hooch entered the hall, followed by students from second to seventh year. The quiet atmosphere of the hall changed instantly from that point as their chatter filled the room while they took their seats at their respective house tables.
Many students cast curious glances toward the staff table, particularly at Maverick and Quirrell—two new faces among the familiar ones.
The news of Hogwarts starting alchemy course had spread across the English wizarding community, and the hiring of a master alchemist had generated even more buzz. It was clear that the students' curious gazes were mostly because of that.
Maverick didn't mind the attention and continued the light conversation with the two professors on his left and right. Meanwhile, Madam Hooch made her way to the stage, giving him and everyone else a nod before taking her place at the staff table.
Another fifteen minutes or so passed, and Hagrid entered the hall, making his way to the staff table and taking his seat as well. Moments later, the large oak doors swung open once again, and Professor McGonagall came in, leading the first-year students.
She walked all the way to the elevated stage, climbed the few stairs, then stopped and turned to face the group. "Please wait here," she instructed, signaling for the first-years to remain still.
Next to her on a stool was the famous Sorting Hat. Maverick had encountered it before and even checked its extraordinary characteristics. It wasn't anything special, with a basic-grade storage ability and a basic-grade mind-reading characteristic. He had no intention of replicating any of that.
As he looked down at the group of first-years, Maverick noticed Daphne and Tracy glancing up at him. He gave them both a smile and a polite nod in return before focusing on McGonagall.
He saw her take a parchment, hold it vertically, and address the students. "Now, when I call your name, you shall come forth. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses."
She gave the young ones a brief moment to register her words, then glanced at the parchment again and read out a name.
"Hannah Abbot!"
Maverick watched as a familiar young witch walked timidly up the stage and sat on the stool beside McGonagall.
The deputy headmistress then placed the Sorting Hat on the girl's head. After a brief moment, the hat called out loudly, "Hufflepuff!"
Glancing at Dumbledore beside him, Maverick murmured, "Headmaster, is there any chance I could study the Sorting Hat? I just had a very interesting idea."
Dumbledore, his eyes fixed on the students, responded after a brief pause, "That, I'm afraid, you will have to ask the Hat itself, my boy."
He sighed and refocused on the ceremony. He understood that the old wizard had politely declined his proposal, but he planned to do exactly as the Headmaster had suggested, and would ask the Hat itself. Perhaps he could convince the thing, he thought.
Moreover, it wasn't a lie that he had a very interesting idea for a new invention after seeing the Hat again today, something that could become very useful and practical fir him in the future.
The names were called one by one, and slowly the first-years were sorted into their houses. The only noticeable moment came when Harry Potter's name was called. The hall fell into silence, with only hushed whispers filling the air, creating an atmosphere of anticipation as if the lottery numbers were being drawn.
After the Hat's decision, the hall erupted in cheers, especially from the Gryffindor table, with the scene unfolding almost exactly like in the books. Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, and so was Ronald, while Tracy and Daphne were placed into Slytherin. With everything following the script, the entire sorting ceremony felt a bit bland to him.
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Author's Note:
Just a quick update — up to Chapter 105 is already available on P AT r30n!
PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic