HP: The Son of Tom

The train whistled loudly one last time before coming to a complete stop at Hogsmeade station. Excitement and nervousness vibrated in the air as the students hurriedly got off, dragging their trunks and holding their pets, bundled up against the cold Scottish air.

Aurelian stepped off the train with steady strides, his gaze sweeping the surroundings with calculated calm. Distant mountains, a sky covered with thick clouds, and the smell of damp earth that heralded the approach of autumn. At his side, Cedric Diggory smiled with infectious enthusiasm, observing everything as if he were in a dream.

"First years, this way!" boomed a deep, powerful voice belonging to a gigantic man with a thick beard and small but warm eyes. "All first years, follow me!"

It was Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper. Aurelian recognized him from the reports he had read, although in this timeline he seemed even more burly than in his memories of another life.

Without a word, Aurelian joined the group of children following Hagrid down a path lit by magical lanterns. Soon, the view opened up to the immense, dark lake, its waters still and deep as a mirror.

"Four to a boat!" ordered Hagrid, pointing to the enchanted boats floating without anchors.

Aurelian elegantly climbed into one of them. Cedric joined him immediately, and soon two other children silently followed suit. The boat rocked gently as they boarded, and in an instant, it began to move forward on its own, gliding across the surface of the lake as if floating in the air.

The night was silent. Only the whisper of the water and the murmurs of the students accompanied the journey.

Then the castle appeared.

Majestic, immense, unshakable. The illuminated towers of Hogwarts rose against the sky like a magical beacon dominating the landscape, their reflection trembling in the black waters of the lake.

Aurelian, for a moment, stopped thinking. He didn't analyze, he didn't calculate. He just gazed. And for the first time in a long time, he felt a hint of what might have been wonder.

"Impressive, isn't it?" whispered Cedric.

Aurelian didn't answer. He just nodded very slightly.

The boats continued on their way to the base of a large stone staircase, where the students descended in single file, guided by Hagrid's imposing silhouette.

"Come on. The ceremony is about to start," he said.

Aurelian clenched his fingers around the enchanted trunk he carried beside him. His face, almost always inscrutable, now wore an expression that was impossible to define. It wasn't fear. It wasn't excitement. It was a strange mixture of determination and... longing.

Because Hogwarts wasn't just a school.

The group of first-year students, still drenched in excitement from the boat ride, was led by Hagrid to the grand staircase that led to the castle entrance. The ancient stones of the threshold glistened with moisture, and magical torches danced in their holders with a warm and welcoming flame.

There, waiting for them at the foot of a majestic oak door, stood a tall witch with a stern but serene face and an immaculate emerald robe that contrasted with her brown hair pulled back into a tight bun.

"Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid, with a smile and a respectful gesture. "Here are the new ones."

The witch nodded gravely.

"Thank you, Hagrid. You may leave," she replied in a firm voice.

Aurelian fixed his eyes on her.

She wasn't the McGonagall he remembered from the books. This woman had youthful features, a sharp gaze, and a presence that radiated effortless authority. She looked closer to forty than seventy, and although her voice had the same energy he knew, her appearance was another story.

"They're all different..." Aurelian thought as he hid a slow exhalation. "Younger, more powerful... more difficult to predict."

A chill ran down his spine. Not from fear, but from caution. With every step he took in the magical world, he had to reevaluate what he thought he knew.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall, her gaze scanning the students scrutinizingly. "In a few minutes, you will enter the Great Hall, where it will be determined which house you will belong to. During your time here, your house will be like your family: you will attend classes together, sleep in the same dormitories, and share points and responsibilities."

Cedric, at his side, seemed to be holding his breath.

"Wait here for a moment. When everything is ready, I will let you in," McGonagall said in a firm voice, before turning and disappearing behind large double doors.

"Did you notice? She seems like someone... very strict."

Aurelian barely turned his face to look at him, with a slight smile.

"And it probably is," he replied calmly, "although that's not necessarily a bad thing."

Cedric nodded, somewhat calmer.

Aurelian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the closed doors. Every step he took in this world reaffirmed what he already sensed: he was not living a familiar story. Everything was familiar and strange at the same time.

_______

The large doors of the dining hall opened with a slight creak of magic and stone, revealing a monumental room lit by hundreds of floating candles. The ceiling, enchanted to reflect the night sky, displayed a starry firmament that seemed to pulsate with promise.

Aurelian held his breath for a moment.

The Great Hall.

It was just like in the books. And yet, at the same time, it was different. The tables of the four houses were as long as he remembered, filled with students in black robes and shiny shields. Their faces laughed, whispered, and watched the newcomers with curiosity.

But there were more students.

Many more than were seen in movies or suggested in books. Without reaching impossible numbers, the number was significantly higher. Aurelian made a quick calculation as they advanced in single file toward the front of the dining hall.

"This makes more sense... If wizards live longer, more people, more countries collaborating, then of course there must be more children. But there aren't as many as I expected."

He glanced discreetly at the teachers at the high table. Dumbledore was already seated in the center, talking to McGonagall, who had just arrived. On either side, other teachers flanked him: some familiar from books, others completely new. But what was most intriguing was that they all had a more intense, more steadfast aura, as if magical standards had been raised in this reality.

Cedric, walking beside him, murmured:

"Wow... this is huge."

"Yes," Aurelian nodded, still observing, "Hogwarts... in all its glory."

When they reached the front, they found an old stool with a worn hat. Aurelian could feel the slight tingle of ancient magic.

The Sorting Hat awaited. The ceremony was about to begin.

In front of the Sorting Hat, the first-year students lined up in a single row, nervously watching the bench and the patched hat resting on it. Suddenly, the hat shook, with a magical yawn, and began to sing.

The song spoke of the four houses, their virtues, their values... the challenges of the new year. Aurelian listened quietly, analyzing every word. That magic had a higher pitch than expected, as if it knew more than it was saying.

When the hat finished its song, McGonagall reappeared with a long scroll and began to call out:

"Stimpson, Patricia!"

A nervous blonde girl walked up to the hat and was quickly sent to Hufflepuff.

"Carrow, Flora!"

One of the next to step forward was a girl with jet-black hair and intense eyes. She climbed onto the stool with contained confidence, put on the hat... and after a few seconds, it shouted:

"Slytherin!"

The teacher continued:

"Carrow, Hestia!"

Another girl, identical to the previous one, stepped forward right after her. She was also sent to Slytherin.

Aurelian frowned slightly. They were twins, although he couldn't be sure, there was something about their faces that seemed eerily familiar.

"It can't be... Could they be the same girls I saved in Diagon Alley?" he thought, suppressing a shiver. "They look older in their uniforms... but the expression in their eyes..."

The list continued:

"Diggory, Cedric!"

Cedric rose with a determined stride. Aurelian watched him closely. The hat took a little longer this time, muttering unintelligible things... and then shouted:

"Hufflepuff!"

Cedric turned, smiling broadly, and was greeted with warm applause at his table.

"Fred Weasley!"

A red-haired boy ran up with a mischievous smile. The hat barely touched his head when it shouted:

"Gryffindor!"

"George Weasley!" called the teacher.

The next to go up was his identical brother. The hat took barely more than a second.

"Gryffindor!"

McGonagall continued with several other names as Aurelian watched the houses fill up. Ravenclaw seemed particularly selective, and Slytherin welcomed its new members with controlled smiles and measured applause.

Finally, after a few more, the voice rang out:

"Gaunt, Aurelian!"

There was a brief silence in the dining hall. The name Gaunt did not go unnoticed. Some teachers exchanged glances. At the Slytherin table, one of the prefects frowned with interest.

Aurelian stepped forward calmly, controlling every emotion on his face. He knew everyone was watching him. He knew the hat could read more than he was showing.

But he also knew he was ready.

He sat down. The hat covered his eyes. Then, the ancient voice spoke to him in his mind...

As soon as the hat touched his head, a deep, gravelly voice echoed directly inside him.

"Interesting... very interesting. It's not every day you meet someone with such a sharp mind."

Aurelian didn't respond. He just remained calm, allowing the hat to rummage through his most superficial thoughts.

"A disciplined mind... reinforced... Occlumency at this age! I see... there are secrets here. Many. More than anyone your age should have." A pause. "And magic... original magic. Theory built from scratch. What a peculiar young man you are."

Aurelian thought coldly. Don't show too much. But show enough so as not to appear suspicious.

"Ambitious, no doubt. But it's not just ambition here. You have purpose. An iron will. You want to build, master, understand... even the roots of magic. But there is also compassion, albeit buried. Genuine curiosity. Protection. You care more than you admit."

"And that confuses you?" Aurelian thought calmly.

The hat let out a mental laugh.

"Oh, not at all. It just makes my job more complicated. You have the ingenuity of a Ravenclaw, the willpower of a Gryffindor, the fortitude of a Hufflepuff, and... the lineage, of course... Gaunt. Ancient blood. Dark. Yet... you are not like them."

Aurelian did not respond, but a silent pang pierced his thoughts. The figure of his father, shrouded in shadows, crossed his mind... then dissipated.

"You are not your father... but there are fragments of something deeper, older within you. Something that makes you unique."

"You could become great in any house, you know that. But there is a place where you will grow up among those who understand power, strategy, history."

"In Slytherin, you will be able to act from the shadows when necessary... build without attracting attention... protect what matters to you, and if you want to change this world, it will be easier to start from there."

Aurelian exhaled slowly in his mind. He said nothing. But his decision was made even before he stepped up to the bench.

The hat knew it.

In a firm, resonant voice, it shouted to the dining hall:

"Slytherin!"

The Great Hall rumbled with murmurs and whispers as Aurelian stepped down from the bench. He walked calmly, without haste, without seeking eye contact with anyone. Even so, he felt every gaze fixed on the back of his neck.

From the teachers' table, Snape watched him with the same intensity with which one studies a potion. McGonagall kept her face neutral, but her slightly furrowed brow betrayed a mixture of recognition and doubt. Dumbledore, for his part, had that calm smile... although his blue eyes shone with a calculating light.

Aurelian made his way to the Slytherin table, where the students greeted him with an almost ceremonial silence. Some looked at him with curiosity, others with respect. A couple of older students exchanged a brief glance, but no one said anything as Aurelian took his seat.

He took a deep breath. Everything was going according to plan. If he kept a low profile, his first year would be useful for understanding the terrain.

That was when he noticed a couple of... different looks.

He glanced up briefly. Further down the table, two girls his age were talking quietly. Hestia and Flora Carrow, he had heard. Both had dark hair pulled back neatly, perfectly arranged uniforms, and a composure unusual for someone their age.

They seemed focused on their conversation, but... for a moment, he thought he noticed one of them glance briefly in his direction. It was just a blink of an eye. A gesture that might have gone unnoticed if it weren't for the slight blush that appeared on one of their cheeks. The other maintained her composure, although there was a slight break in her tone, as if her mind had suddenly been drawn to another memory.

Aurelian narrowed his eyes.

"Curious..." he thought, but dismissed the thought. "I'm sure they're watching me just like everyone else."

He turned his gaze back to his plate, feigning interest in the pumpkin bread.

This was no time to think about strange girls.

The Great Hall erupted in applause when another student was sent to Hufflepuff, and the selection continued without further interruption. Aurelian ate in silence, attentive to everything and everyone.

Meanwhile, a few rows ahead, the twins continued talking to each other as if nothing had happened... although, deep in their eyes, something had changed since they saw him.