Chapter 125: Sorting
【Remus Lupin: Wizards aren’t allowed to use magic in front of Muggles. And honestly, I have no idea how most Muggle jobs work—like bookkeeping, or fixing cars.】
【Remus Lupin: Plus, I have to take a few days off every month. My employer always gets annoyed, and as soon as someone else can take my place, I’m let go.】
【Remus Lupin: All things considered, things are finally getting better. The past doesn’t matter anymore.】
【Wade: You live in Hogsmeade Village, so once term starts, Harry could just walk straight to the school, right?】
【Remus Lupin: He could. But Ron invited him to stay with the Weasley family for a few days. So they’re still taking the train.】
【Remus Lupin: Riding the Hogwarts Express across the British Isles is a special experience for students.】
Seeing Remus Lupin’s reply, Wade couldn’t help but wonder: Could it be that Harry will be blocked by the wall again this time, and have to fly to school?
...
September 1st arrived swiftly.
Wade arrived at King’s Cross Station thirty minutes early, no need for his parents to accompany him—he carried his own suitcase and boarded the train alone.
After all, Christmas holidays would bring the children home, and the Gray family had long since grown used to the farewells, no longer clinging to each other with the same heartbreak they’d felt the first year.
Wade found a compartment and settled in. Not long after, Michael, Theo, and Liam arrived.
As they chatted, Wade kept glancing out the window.
From their compartment, they had a perfect view of students emerging from the barrier.
Just before eleven, the Weasley family began to appear one by one: Percy, Mr. Weasley, the twins, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley…
The smooth rhythm suddenly stuttered.
“WooOOooOoOoOoo—” The train let out a long, mournful whistle, steam billowing from its engine as it began to inch forward.
Seconds later, Remus Lupin stepped through the barrier, one arm around Harry’s shoulder, Ron right beside him.
“Hurry up!” Remus called out. “I’ll bring your trunks to school!”
Harry and Ron didn’t hesitate. They bolted forward, sprinting after the speeding train.
Students still saying goodbye to their parents on the platform stared in astonishment.
The Weasley twins stood at the doorway of a carriage, arms outstretched, and with one powerful pull, yanked the two boys aboard. The four of them tumbled together into the interior.
Liam exhaled in relief. “They should’ve left earlier. That was too close.”
Michael leaned against Wade’s shoulder, peering out. “They couldn’t have fallen. The whole platform’s full of wizards. Who’d let them miss the train?”
On the platform, Remus Lupin exhaled deeply, then smiled and waved at Wade.
It seemed that even though Harry was leaving with the Weasley family, Remus had still made it to the station—just like every other parent—seeing him off.
That was how he’d accidentally avoided Dobby’s trap.
In the original timeline, Malfoy’s little house-elf Dobby would have sealed the barrier, trying to prevent Harry from attending Hogwarts, hoping to get him expelled.
But Dobby, simple-minded as he was, didn’t understand. Harry, the so-called Savior of the British magical world, couldn’t be expelled—even if he missed an entire semester. Hogwarts would never risk losing him.
Dobby’s attempt only succeeded in getting the person he wanted to protect unfairly punished and ostracized.
...
The train clattered onward, arriving at Hogwarts only after nightfall, followed by the Sorting.
Wade spotted a few familiar names among the new students—Colin Creevey, who burst into joy when sorted into Gryffindor, then ran all the way around the Great Hall to shake Harry’s hand.
The boy’s enthusiasm was tinged with nervousness. “Harry Potter… I… I really admire you… can we take a photo together later? I’ve got a camera!”
“Uh…” Harry glanced helplessly at his friends, only to find them all grinning like they were watching a show. He sighed. “Alright…”
Last term, Wade had taken several group photos with everyone, some of which were now proudly displayed on Harry’s table.
Back when Dudley Dursley had a whole album of photos, Harry had none.
Now, he had plenty—yet something about this boy’s intense gaze made him want to look away.
The last time he’d felt this awkward was with Gilderoy Lockhart.
Harry glanced toward the staff table.
Dressed in shimmering aquamarine robes, Gilderoy Lockhart—his hair gleaming under the candlelight—suddenly turned, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. Harry quickly looked down.
“Awesome!” Colin nearly jumped. “I’ve read about you in so many books—I know everything about you!”
Harry watched the boy’s mouth move, frantic and eager. He quickly pushed him into the seat beside him.
“Shh! We’re still sorting! Professor McGonagall’s looking this way!”
Colin turned, locking eyes with the stern gaze of Gryffindor’s Head of House. His neck snapped back instantly, and he fell silent.
“Luna Lovegood!” Professor McGonagall called.
“Ravenclaw!”
A girl with a wand tucked behind her ear stepped forward, her expression distant, dreamy. She walked slowly to the Ravenclaw table, and the applause grew, then faded.
Everyone stared at her. Her appearance felt oddly ancient, strange—almost like Dumbledore, with a touch of wildness in her eyes.
Yet she seemed completely unaware of the attention.
With a soft, drifting voice, she said, “I’m glad to meet you all… Have you read The Quibbler?”
The Ravenclaw prefect, still shaking her hand, looked slightly uneasy. “The Quibbler?”
“Yes,” Luna said. “It’s a magazine my dad publishes.”
“Oh… uh… I’ll be sure to read it when I get the chance,” the prefect said, trying to sound polite. “What kind of things does it cover?”
“Well… mostly Bendy-Necked Snorebeasts.”
“Bendy-Necked Snorebeasts?” The prefect frowned. “I’ve never seen anything like that in any textbook.”
“They live in Sweden,” Luna said calmly. “When I grow up, I’m going to Sweden to find them.”
“Oh…” The prefect forced a smile, desperately trying to recall if she’d missed something in her studies.
“Don’t bother,” whispered another prefect beside her. “It’s made up.”
“It’s not made up,” Luna’s ears twitched, sharp and alert. “My father says they exist.”
The two prefects exchanged a look—neither could quite laugh anymore.
Then came Rolf Scamander.
He was sorted into Hufflepuff—but instead of heading to his new house table, he sprinted straight to Ravenclaw’s long table.
“Wade! We’re in the same school now! I’ll come find you tomorrow!”
He hadn’t even finished speaking when a Hufflepuff prefect, face dark with disapproval, grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away.
“New students this year are quite something, aren’t they?” Michael chuckled at Wade.
“Yeah,” Wade nodded, watching the last student being sorted.
Ginny Weasley.
She looked radiant—healthy, happy, and full of life.
(End of Chapter)
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