Harry Potter -Blood legacy

The castle was getting closer and closer.

When Hagrid shouted, "Bow your head," the fleet carrying the first-years had reached the range of Hogwarts Castle.

The boat carried them through a curtain of ivy draped over the cliff face that hid the population and along a dark waterway running directly below the castle.

After a long journey, they arrived at an underground port.

"How many underground floors does Hogwarts Castle even have?" Marcos asked.

Tony shrugged. "I have no idea. This waterway isn't mentioned in any of the legends."

Cho Chang and Katie laughed together.

All the first-years disembarked and climbed a rocky, cobblestoned path.

It wasn't much different from the path they had taken before boarding the boat.

Once again, Hagrid blocked the lights ahead.

Tony cast "Lumos" again.

Compared to before, only Marcos and Katie were now accompanying Tony and Cho Chang.

Guided by the light, the first-years continued up the path, which ran between the shore and jagged rocks, until they finally reached a damp, flat patch of grass in the shadow of the ancient castle.

They climbed a set of stone stairs and gathered in front of the castle's massive oak doors.

Hagrid raised his enormous fist and knocked three times.

The door swung open immediately, revealing a tall, stern-looking witch with black hair dressed in emerald-green robes.

From a distance, Tony saw Hagrid speaking to her before she opened the door fully and led the first-years upstairs.

Walking past a floor festooned with bunting, Tony could hear a cacophony of voices behind an entrance on the right. But the witch didn't take the first-years inside.

Instead, she led them to a vacant room further along.

"This castle is enormous," Marcos marveled. "My house is smaller than this room alone."

The witch introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. Everyone recognized the name—she had written their admission letters.

Especially the Muggle-born students, who had met her during their trip to Diagon Alley.

Professor McGonagall explained the four houses at Hogwarts and emphasized the importance of earning house points, as the House Cup would be awarded at the end of the school year.

The Sorting Ceremony was about to begin, so she suggested everyone tidy up their appearances.

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall noticed Tony's peculiar hat.

But Tony didn't care what others thought of it!

He asked Cho Chang to check if there was any dirt on him. After a thorough look, nothing was found.

Although the journey had been long, Tony walked steadily—unlike Marcos, who had stumbled earlier and was now being helped by Katie.

"Tony," Cho Chang asked, "which house do you want to join?"

Tony didn't answer right away. "What do you think?"

"I really want to be in Ravenclaw!" Cho Chang smiled. "My mother was in that house, and I'd love to see the places she told me about."

"Oh, I see."

"Then I'll choose Ravenclaw!" Tony declared decisively.

Marcos, overhearing, frowned. "Tony, isn't your last name Lestrange? That's a pure-blooded name. Shouldn't you be in Slytherin?"

"I'll decide where I go!" Tony replied, wagging a finger in disdain. "And I decided long ago that I wouldn't join Slytherin!"

"Huh? Why not?"

Everyone else looked puzzled.

"Because I picked my house a long time ago," Tony explained. "I even dyed my hat to match its color—I'm not about to wear a hat in Slytherin green!"

Tony's words were firm, but no one understood his reasoning.

Even Cho Chang, a fellow Chinese student, didn't get the reference.

Tony didn't bother to explain. In his mind, maybe he'd even join Gryffindor!

Soon, Professor McGonagall returned—eyeing Tony's hat once more—and led the first-years to the Great Hall.

The door opened, and the first-years marveled at the dazzling decorations. Most had never seen anything like it.

Four long tables stretched across the hall, with the older students seated at them. Thousands of floating candles illuminated the space, casting a warm glow over the gleaming gold plates and goblets on the tables.

At the head of the hall, on a raised platform, was another long table where the teachers sat.

Professor McGonagall guided the first-years to the front, arranging them in a line facing the older students, their backs to the teachers. Thousands of faces stared back, lit like pale lanterns in the candlelight.

Tony's stomach growled at the sight of the feast. But he had to suppress his Light of Another World.

No one had mentioned it, but there were ghosts among the older students in the Great Hall.

Tony was tempted to let his Light of Another World take them, but he knew it would cause trouble.

After all, Dumbledore was watching from the platform.

Keeping a low profile, Tony managed to suppress his power, and the Sorting Ceremony began.

The Sorting Hat—a relic carrying the thoughts of the school's founders—was placed on each student's head to decide their house.

As Tony tried to keep his power in check, the Sorting Hat suddenly began to sing.

According to Marcos, it was terribly off-key.

Tony thought himself lucky for not listening.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you'll sit on the stool and wear the Sorting Hat," she announced. "Marcos Belby!"

With no first-years whose names began with A, Marcos was the first.

Tony thought Marcos would go to Gryffindor, but after a moment's deliberation, the Sorting Hat called out:

"Ravenclaw!"

"Huh? Is the Sorting Hat broken?" Tony wondered.

Next was "Katie Bell."

"Gryffindor!"

"Cho Chang!"

"Ravenclaw!"

Cho Chang was ecstatic.

Finally, it was Tony's turn.

Professor McGonagall paused, eyeing his hat.

"Mr. Lestrange, please remove your hat. Or should I put the Sorting Hat on top of it?"

The Weasley twins in the Gryffindor section laughed at this.

"George, do you think he's hiding baldness under that hat?"

"Could be, Fred! Could be!"

The twins cackled as Tony reluctantly removed his hat, revealing long, flowing black hair that fell over his shoulders.

Far from being ill, Tony was strikingly handsome.

At least, that's what Tony thought.

Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Tony's head.

Before he could say a word, the Sorting Hat spoke:

"S…"

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