Chapter 33 - Back to Hogwarts (1/2)

After finding Malfoy, both of them went to search the other two. Meanwhile, Mervin and Eve were shocked to hear that the person they have been talking to is none other than Neal who is not only the heir of Slytherin but also legal Heir to House of Avery, a powerful pureblood family of sacred 28.

Despite being a lot of direct family members in Azkaban, The House of Avery is still a very powerful family as they have a lot of connections and influence around the world.

Eve was shaken to the core as she found that playmate she once had, now have a powerful background and not to mention she's worried he might have gone bad since even a fellow Slytherin classmate seems to be afraid of him.

As Tracey and Daphne were busy with their girls' gang, They both returned to his cabin to find Mervin suddenly turned silent upon seeing him. Malfoy called him, ”hey, Mervin. I forgot that you were going to be attending Hogwarts today”.

As Mervin greeted back, Neal introduced Eve to him as his childhood friend which made him give attention to her a bit. Later, as Mervin was chatting, Neal continued to read his book. Eve curiously asked, ”what are you reading?”.

Malfoy replied, ”Ah, don't pay attention to it. Neal is obsessed with magical creatures. He keeps reading those kinds of books. Once you ask about it, he will start a long lecture about them. It won't be finished even after we reached Hogwarts”.

As Malfoy was explaining to them how great Slytherin is, Neal said, ”you shouldn't talk about the school stuff yet, Draco. They haven't been sorted yet”. Mervin then said, ”I will get sorted into Slytherin for sure”. While Eve hasn't said anything, Malfoy said, ”well, as long as you don't end up at Gryffindor”.

After that, he went silent for a while and returned to his cabin later. Eve asked, ”can't I, really choose my own house?”. Neal thought for a while and replied, ”hmm, the sorting hat is a sentient hat that performs legilimency to feel your thoughts and traits. So, in theory, you can request it before it announces.

As for whether it would listen to you or not, that is another thing. At least it's worth a try. What house did you want to end up in, anyway?”. She replied, ”well, my dad said that Ravenclaw has a lot of books and the Librarian is also friendlier with them. So... don't think bad of me, I don't dislike Slytherin or anything. It's just....”.

Neal interrupted her, ”whatever. We'll talk after you get sorted. I, really hope that you don't end up in Gryffindor though. They hate me to death”.

After their destination arrived, Neal parted his ways with them while the first years gathered and traveled through boats just like how Neal traveled last year. While Neal and others sat at their tables, Ron and Harry came late to the Great Hall.

Seeing them, Draco commented loudly, ”I thought you both were expelled considering you weren't on the Train Potter, Weasley”. They looked at him in anger but sat down without replying. A while later, the first years entered the Great Hall and formed a line while looking around curiously.

While one after another getting sorted, soon, Eve's turn came.

Upon her turn, all students and teachers stopped talking and looked at her in silence as she was sitting there for more than 4 minutes.

After the fifth minute passed, students began murmuring while Tracey said, ”she's a Hatstall”. Draco asked, ”a what?”. Daphne explained to him, ”A Hatstall is an archaic term for a student who took more than 5 minutes during the sorting. It means that the sorting hat is being troubled as it found she was suited to be equally suited for two houses”.

Meanwhile, the hat is talking to her, ”are you sure about that? Once you were sorted, there's no going back”. She whispered, ”yes, please. Don't sort me into Gryffindor”. The hat replied, ”well, if that's your wish then...” It announced, ”Ravenclaw”.