Chapter 9

A few hours later, the train slowed down and finally came to a stop. The passengers jostled and rushed toward the doors, and Mowen also pulled Qiu Zhang's small hand and jumped onto a small, dark platform. In the crowd, a particularly tall figure held a lantern and waved it over the students' heads, shouting, "First-year students! First-year students, this way!"

The first-years followed this figure, slipping and stumbling down a steep, narrow path. Mowen held Qiu Zhang's small hand tightly the whole way. "Turn the corner, and you'll see Hogwarts for the first time," the tall figure called out, looking back.

Then, at the end of the path, a black lake suddenly spread out, and on the opposite shore, a majestic castle stood on a high hill. The castle was adorned with numerous towers, and the windows sparkled under the starry sky.

"No more than four people per boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing to a row of small boats moored at the shore. Mowen pulled Qiu Zhang into a boat, and another boy and a girl also climbed in. "Everyone in the boats?" Hagrid called out, boarding a boat by himself. "Alright, let's go!" The row of boats immediately glided across the calm lake.

"I'm Eddie Gamble, nice to meet you!" the boy introduced himself generously after boarding the boat.

"Maryetta Edgecombe," the girl with freckles on her face also introduced herself.

Mowen began to recall the original story. These two were minor characters with only names, but Maryetta seemed to be the one who betrayed the professor, leading to the breakup between Qiu Zhang and Harry. However, Mowen was not concerned; his methods were far superior to Harry's, and he was not afraid of Qiu Zhang slipping away from him.

"Qiu Zhang," "Mody Gullis," the two also introduced themselves.

Hearing Mowen's name, Maryetta's eyes lit up, clearly recognizing something. Just as she was about to say something, Hagrid shouted, "Duck!" They were approaching the cliff of the castle.

Everyone lowered their heads, and the boats carried them through a curtain of ivy covering the cliff face, leading to a hidden, open entrance. They followed a dark tunnel that seemed to lead to the castle's underground, finally arriving at a place that resembled an underground dock. They then climbed onto a ground covered with gravel and pebbles, reaching a huge oak door.

At this moment, a tall, black-haired witch in a dark green robe stood at the door. She said to Hagrid, "Hagrid, I'll take the first-years from here."

"Alright, Professor," Hagrid replied.

"This is Professor McGonagall, our Deputy Headmistress. She wrote our acceptance letters and is also the Head of Gryffindor House, teaching Transfiguration," Mowen whispered to Qiu Zhang, who nodded and listened attentively. After arriving at Hogwarts, Qiu Zhang was clearly more nervous and listened carefully to Mowen's introduction. However, to Mowen's disappointment, Qiu Zhang let go of her small hand when they reached a lit area.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was introducing the Sorting Ceremony. Qiu Zhang suddenly whispered, "Mody, which house do you think we'll be sorted into?"

Mody smiled confidently and said, "You and I will both be sorted into Ravenclaw."

"Why?" Qiu Zhang asked, puzzled.

"Because it's fate!"

Qiu Zhang pinched Mowen, a trick girls of all ages seemed to know. "I'm being serious, don't mess around."

Mowen suddenly became serious and looked at Qiu Zhang earnestly. "I'm serious. A smart and beautiful girl like you will definitely be sorted into Ravenclaw, and I'll be with you."

The door to the Great Hall was open, and the blazing torches highlighted Mowen's heterochromatic eyes, making him particularly charming.

Qiu Zhang was captivated by the scene and stood there in a daze.

At that moment, a voice came from behind Mowen, "Mr. Gullis, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin. I think your declaration should wait for another time."

It was Professor McGonagall, who had appeared behind them. The surrounding students burst into laughter, and Qiu Zhang's face turned red as she quickly lowered her head.

Mowen, however, remained unperturbed and smiled. "Alright, Professor, I'll remember that."

The first-years lined up and entered the Great Hall. The students from other years were already seated at four long tables, illuminated by thousands of floating candles. The tables were adorned with gleaming golden plates and goblets. At the head of the hall, a long table for the teachers was set up. Professor McGonagall led the first-years to the front, facing the older students. The ceiling above was clear, but the sky outside was overcast, obscuring the moonlight.

Professor McGonagall gently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-years and put a pointed wizard's hat on it. The hat was patched, worn, and very dirty.

Then, under everyone's gaze, the hat suddenly opened its mouth and began to sing. Mowen did not listen to the song but instead examined the hat closely.

Level 0 Spell: Detect Magic

In Mowen's eyes, the magic aura of this old hat was astonishing, even surpassing his wand. It was indeed worthy of being Gryffindor's hat, having been passed down for so long. However, he was more concerned about whether the hat would detect his secrets, as it could read thoughts. At that moment, the original was rolling around in Mowen's mind, making a fuss, saying that Mowen looked down on her and that she would not be discovered by an old hat. Mowen thought it unlikely, as if everything could be detected, the pure-blooded nobles would not allow the school to use such a thing for sorting. He estimated that the hat's ability to detect thoughts was at the level of a Level 2 spell, perhaps able to discern a person's character but not their deepest secrets.

Soon, the hat finished its song, and the first-years began to step forward one by one, putting on the hat.

"Marka Belby." "Ravenclaw!" The first boy called out was sorted into Ravenclaw, and the table with the most girls erupted into enthusiastic applause.

"Michael Corner." "Gryffindor!"

"Miles Bletchley." "Slytherin!"

"Eddie Gamble." "Ravenclaw!"

...

One by one, the names were called, and the applause in the hall never ceased.

"Qiu Zhang." Mowen felt Qiu Zhang suddenly become nervous and turned to her, whispering, "Don't worry, I'll come to Ravenclaw to find you."

Seeing Mowen's serious expression, Qiu Zhang giggled and relaxed. "Alright, I'll wait for you in Ravenclaw."

Then came a loud "Ravenclaw!" Qiu Zhang ran lightly to the Ravenclaw table and chatted with a senior student. She playfully glanced at Mowen, who smiled in response. Seeing the disappointed expression of Diggory at the Hufflepuff table, Mowen's smile grew wider.

As the number of students decreased, it was finally "Mody Gullis's" turn.

The whispers around him grew louder, and a few people stood up from their tables, clearly having heard of the name of the Gullis family's prodigy.

Mowen, under everyone's gaze, walked up confidently, his heterochromatic eyes particularly deep and mysterious, complementing his noble demeanor, making him especially noticeable.

He cast an Identify spell on the Sorting Hat, and a message appeared in his mind: Sorting Hat, Near-Legendary Item, can simply discern a person's character and obtain surface thoughts.

Relieved, Mowen placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Hmm," he heard a faint voice say, "Difficult, very difficult. Exceptional intelligence, not lacking in courage, pure blood, and a disdain for all rules. You would fit well in any house except Hufflepuff."

Mowen firmly thought, "Ravenclaw!"

"Ravenclaw, is it?" the faint voice asked, "Are you sure? In Slytherin, you would have an easier path to success."

Mowen sneered inwardly. Was this Dumbledore's test? Afraid I would become another Voldemort? A broken hat responsible for sorting was actually trying to influence students' choices. He immediately cast a Level 3 Protection spell to avoid detection and used Occlumency.

"Hmm?" the Sorting Hat was surprised, "Impressive Occlumency, I'm increasingly inclined to put you in Slytherin."

Mowen grumbled, "Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw." What a joke. In the final battles of the books, the most deaths were in Slytherin and Gryffindor, while Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had almost no casualties. If he really went to Slytherin, he would be ostracized and suppressed by Dumbledore, and he couldn't go and lick Voldemort's toes. In that case, he would be in trouble on both sides, and the danger would be great. Besides, Ravenclaw was the house with the most beautiful girls in the original story. Qiu Zhang and Luna were there, and the older Pettigrew sister was also there. Only Gryffindor could rival Ravenclaw in terms of beauty, but that was only because the main character was in Gryffindor. If they were really compared, Ravenclaw had the most beautiful girls.

"Alright, alright, Ravenclaw it is," the Sorting Hat, unable to read Mowen's thoughts, had to follow his wishes and shouted the final name to the entire hall.

However, the students in the hall saw a different scene. After Mowen put on the Sorting Hat, it seemed to take a long time to decide. At that moment, a gap suddenly appeared in the clouds, and a beam of moonlight shone down, enveloping Mowen. His heterochromatic eyes glowed faintly, making him look particularly mysterious.

Then the Sorting Hat shouted, "Ravenclaw!"

The entire Ravenclaw house erupted in cheers, and several girls even jumped up. The other houses, especially the Slytherin girls, looked disappointed.

Mowen elegantly walked to his house's table, pulled out a chair next to Qiu Zhang, and sat down. "I told you I would come to Ravenclaw to find you."

Qiu Zhang glared at him and then giggled.

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