Chapter 299 — Dragon Breath, Dark Magic, Ravenclaw

First impressions are woven from a most intricate fabric, of which appearance, build, temperament, and manner of speech are but a few of the threads.

Professor Merlin was rather fond of Wang Xu.

Not for Wang Xu's own sake, but on account of the quartet of Harry, Ma Xiuyuan, Hermione, and Neville.

As a woman of formidable insight, Professor Merlin had noticed that these four unruly little ones had trailed obediently behind Wang Xu the whole way, without a single breach of propriety.

Whether he had managed it through magical skill or sheer force of personality, it proved at the very least that he was no fool.

Wang Xu inclined his head slightly and said softly, "It is an honor to serve alongside you."

He had always been one to read the heart rather than the deed.

No falsehood or pretense could escape Wang Huai'an's observation.

Minerva McGonagall was a witch worthy of respect.

She was a fair mentor who treated all four Houses alike; even when a Gryffindor student erred, she would punish without mercy, even at the cost of losing the House Cup.

The principle of fairness and justice had permeated every drop of Professor Merlin's blood.

She had carried that conviction through her entire life.

Whether lawful good or chaotic evil, so long as a person achieved the unity of knowledge and action, Wang Xu would treat them with courtesy.

"The start-of-term feast is about to begin."

Professor Merlin said, "Before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first determine which House each of you will enter."

"The Sorting is a very important ceremony. During your time at school, your House will be like your family here at Hogwarts."

"You will attend classes with the other students of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room."

"The names of the four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin..."

Professor Merlin was a patient soul, and she rattled on at length about house points, the House Cup, and the rules of the school.

Wang Xu simply listened quietly, without interjecting.

There was a small interlude along the way.

Ma Xiuyuan, who was explaining the Sorting Hat to Harry, was startled by some twenty ghosts that suddenly burst out of the wall behind him.

Instinctively, he gave the ghosts a blast of frost dragon breath.

The poor souls were frozen by the frost; their insubstantial forms were given solid shape, becoming statues one and all.

Had it ended there, it would have been well enough.

Unfortunately...

Neville, to Ma Xiuyuan's left, never bothered to think things through on his own.

Whomever his companion attacked, he attacked too.

It was as simple as that.

Neville, long since trained into battle habits, casually hurled a Fiendfyre Curse after them.

Those pearl-white, semi-transparent ghosts...

The wretched remnants, believing they were merely teasing harmless little wizards, had never expected to provoke a few little monsters born for killing.

They were reduced to a small heap of soul dregs, suspended between void and substance.

"Wow... The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 mentions these things — they are the key ingredient for making a Horcrux!"

Hermione's eyes sparkled with stars; without a care for anything else, she rushed over and scooped the soul dregs into a little pouch she had sewn herself.

The commotion was hardly a small one.

Many professors had noticed what was happening here.

Ma Xiuyuan's dragon breath, Neville's Fiendfyre Curse, Hermione's muttering...

"This year's new students are interesting."

"My goodness, did that little one just use a Fiendfyre Curse?"

"That is high-level dark magic! Who taught him that?"

"Blast it! Every underage wizard's wand is connected to the magical network — this dark spell will be recorded..."

"Everyone, prepare your contingency plans in advance... the Ministry of Magic will be stepping in on this matter very soon."

The heads of the Houses looked at Neville and Ma Xiuyuan with complicated expressions.

They all wished the troublemaker Neville would stay far from their own House, while at the same time hoping Draco Ma Xiuyuan would join their side.

One represented a headache for the Ministry of Magic and a future dark wizard; the other represented a rising star whose bloodline had mutated into a legendary dragon breed, a ready-made super Animagus.

It was not a question that lent itself to easy agonizing.

Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, stepped forward.

This old wizard with white hair and white beard possessed absolute authority.

With a single sentence, he silenced the scene.

"Everyone, keep quiet!"

"First, we shall conduct the Sorting Ceremony."

Twenty resident spirits had perished!

A new student had skillfully cast a high-level dark curse!

In the face of such a grave matter, Dumbledore had actually chosen to let it slide?

No one could fathom the old headmaster's line of thought.

But he was the representative of Hogwarts' highest authority.

No one questioned the matter.

The Sorting Hat was brought out.

It began to sing its same old interminable song.

"You can keep your bowler hats black and polished, your top silk hats smooth and stiff..."

"But the enchanted hat used for Hogwarts' test is naturally far superior to all your hats."

"Any thought hidden in your heads cannot escape the magic hat's golden eye..."

"You may belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindor apart; you may belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal..."

"Enough! Shut up!"

Harry leaped up onto the table.

He wiped the cold sweat from his cheek and pointed his wand at the Sorting Hat, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes: "One more word of nonsense, and I will burn you!"

People in the throes of withdrawal are easily set off, their way of thinking plainly unlike that of ordinary folk.

They ignore matters that ordinary people fret over and fixate all the more on certain "trifling" details.

"Ahem..."

The Sorting Hat cleared its throat twice, seeming somewhat embarrassed: "It seems Gryffindor has gained another fierce warrior, hasn't it?"

The Sorting Hat was a sentient magical artifact, and it had naturally witnessed the earlier performances of Ma Xiuyuan, Neville, and Hermione.

As the companion of those three frenzied, would-be supreme dark wizards, Harry Potter's threat carried considerable weight.

An uproar broke out among the students.

The professors exchanged glances.

Hearing the Sorting Hat's words, Professor Merlin covered her face.

She had already begun to worry about her own House.

Heaven knew how the Dursleys had raised Harry Potter into such a state!

Had she known it would turn out this way, she should have persuaded Albus Dumbledore to send Harry to China to be fostered.

She had heard that Dumbledore was on rather good terms with the Elf King of northern China; the folk there were honest and simple, and the Eastern wizards were warm and hospitable, and well-mannered besides...

Thinking thus, Professor Merlin glanced at Dumbledore out of the corner of her eye.

On the headmaster's face, she saw regret.

Fostering Harry with the Dursleys had indeed been a misstep.

It seemed Dumbledore acknowledged as much.

Though there had been rather a few small interludes, the Sorting Ceremony proceeded as scheduled.

Professor Merlin stepped forward, a roll of parchment in her hand.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await your Sorting."

"Neville Longbottom!"

The chubby boy seemed not quite accustomed to his present, slightly rounder build.

He stumbled his way to Professor Merlin and put on the Sorting Hat.

The instant the Sorting Hat brushed the tips of his hair, it shrieked, "Ravenclaw!"

Ravenclaw was one of the four great houses of Hogwarts, the emblem of wind among the four elements.