Chapter 4: Sorting Hat's Decision

The Hogwarts Express rolled into Hogsmeade Station, and Dumbledore-Harry stepped onto the platform, his heart racing with anticipation. The majestic towers of Hogwarts Castle loomed in the distance, their stone walls rising proudly against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Following the stream of students, Dumbledore-Harry made his way across the lake in enchanted boats, the castle growing larger and more imposing with each stroke of the oars. As they reached the grand entrance, Dumbledore-Harry couldn't help but marvel at the sheer magnificence of his new home.

Inside the castle, Dumbledore-Harry joined the throng of first-year students in the Great Hall, where the Sorting Ceremony was about to begin. The anticipation in the air was palpable as Professor McGonagall stepped forward, a long scroll in her hand.

"One by one, you will be sorted into your respective houses," she announced, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "When your name is called, please step forward and place the Sorting Hat upon your head."

Dumbledore-Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he watched his classmates take their turns under the Sorting Hat. He couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation, knowing that the fate of his future lay in the hands of this ancient artifact.

Finally, Dumbledore-Harry's name was called, and he stepped forward with a mixture of nervousness and determination. Placing the tattered Sorting Hat upon his head, he braced himself for what was to come.

The Sorting Hat's voice echoed in his mind, probing his thoughts and memories with a depth that sent shivers down his spine. It seemed to linger on his past, on the trials and tribulations that had shaped him into the person he was today.

After what felt like an eternity, the Sorting Hat spoke, its voice resounding throughout the Great Hall for all to hear.

"Difficult decisions lie ahead for this one," the Sorting Hat murmured, its words carrying a weight that seemed to reverberate in Dumbledore-Harry's very soul. "But bravery and wisdom are intertwined in his heart. There is no doubt—Gryffindor!"

A roar of applause erupted from the Gryffindor table as Dumbledore-Harry removed the Sorting Hat, a sense of pride swelling within him. He had been placed in the house of courage and bravery, where he knew he would find allies and friends who would stand by him through thick and thin.

As Dumbledore-Harry took his seat among his new housemates, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the adventures that lay ahead. For he knew that his journey at Hogwarts was only just beginning, and that the choices he made would shape the course of his destiny for years to come.