**Chapter 13: How Dare a Little Wizard Like You Covet the Legacy?**

"This is very important. It represents how you will spend your time at school. You will be sorted into different houses and make different friends."

"The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Once the Sorting Hat places you into a house, you must remember one thing..."

Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze swept across the young wizards in the room.

"You will represent the honor of your house. Your words and actions will determine whether your house wins the House Cup at the end of the school year."

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall's eyes met Dylan's.

Dylan immediately flashed an innocent, harmless smile.

A faint smile appeared in Professor McGonagall's eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly.

"The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly, and it will take place in front of the entire school. So, take this time to tidy yourselves up."

Professor McGonagall turned and left.

Shortly after she left, as the young wizards began chattering among themselves, a sudden scream came from the crowd.

"Ah! Ghosts!"

The crowd fell silent.

Dylan looked up and saw a dozen ghosts emerging from the walls.

The ghosts were curious about the new students.

A few of them floated down and began chatting with the students standing closest to the edge.

However, the students they spoke to were trembling with fear.

"I wonder if the *Morsmordre* spell would scare these ghosts," Dylan thought to himself.

Just as he was pondering this, a ghost suddenly descended from above and landed right beside him.

"Oh~ I sense something strange!"

The ghost leaned in close to Dylan's face, but upon meeting his gaze, its eyes widened in shock. It let out a scream and quickly flew away.

The other ghosts were startled and, after glancing at Dylan, hurriedly chased after the fleeing ghost.

Neville, who was standing next to Dylan, was startled by the ghost's scream.

He clutched his toad tightly.

Dylan glanced over and noticed that Trevor's eyes were rolling back, and its legs were flailing wildly.

"...Neville, the ghosts are gone."

"Are they? I... I don't dare look."

Neville kept his eyes tightly shut, too afraid to open them.

Dylan shook his head.

At that moment, Professor McGonagall returned.

"Alright, young wizards, the ceremony is about to begin. Form a single line and follow me."

Only when Professor McGonagall's authoritative voice rang out did Neville cautiously open his eyes a slit.

By then, Dylan had already moved to the front of the line.

Neville quickly joined the line as well.

Under Professor McGonagall's lead, the first-year students entered the Great Hall.

All the teachers and students who were already seated turned to look at them with various expressions.

Dylan paid no attention to them. Instead, he tilted his head back slightly, eagerly gazing at the ceiling above.

"It really is a sky full of stars... Magic is truly fascinating."

The stars on the ceiling slowly shifted, unlike the artificial projections of modern technology. It felt as if they were truly looking at the night sky.

At that moment, Dumbledoor stood up and began explaining the rules of Hogwarts to the new students.

For example, students were forbidden from entering the Forbidden Forest, and there were certain restricted areas within the school grounds that were off-limits.

After Dumbledoor finished his speech, Professor McGonagall unrolled a piece of parchment.

"When I call your name, step forward. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will determine your house."

The first name called was Hermione's.

Dylan immediately looked over, his eyes lighting up slightly.

There was no denying it—Hermione was really pretty.

However, he didn't feel much else.

Coming to school, he had only three goals:

First, to understand magic.

Second, to learn magic.

Third, to use magic to make a fortune!

Everything else could wait.

Even if Voldemort himself showed up, he'd hit him with an *Imperius Curse* and send him flying!

Otherwise, if Voldemort ruined the market, how could he make money?

The Death Eaters would all be busy following Voldemort around, wasting their time on useless nonsense.

"I'm even planning to recruit some Death Eaters to work for me in the future," Dylan thought to himself.

As he was lost in thought, Professor McGonagall suddenly called his name.

"Dylan Hawkwood!"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Dylan stepped forward.

He sat down on the stool, and Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Oh! My, what a clever little wizard! You seem to know quite a lot of spells!"

"Let me think... Should you go to Ravenclaw?"

The Sorting Hat's voice echoed in Dylan's mind.

Dylan raised an eyebrow and responded mentally, "If I go to Gryffindor, can you lend me the Sword of Gryffindor that's hidden inside you? I've been researching how to use magic to control weapons."

"What?" the Sorting Hat exclaimed in surprise. "Oh! How are you already studying such advanced magic?"

"No, I mean, how do you know about the sword? This isn't something a young wizard like you should know!"

"Maybe I tried learning *Legilimency*."

"My goodness... I must say, I've never met a young wizard as peculiar as you. Are you from a pure-blood family?"

"No, no, you seem to be just an ordinary Muggle-born wizard."

"Sorry, young wizard, no matter how you found out about the Sword of Gryffindor, I can't give it to you. Unless a true Gryffindor pulls it out of me."

"But I hate that feeling—it's like having a stick shoved down my throat. Do you know how that feels?"

"I don't," Dylan said with a smirk. "But I do know you're being quite chatty."

"My, my! You have quite the Slytherin mouth! Do you want to go to Slytherin?"

The Sorting Hat continued to chatter.

"You have a lot of magical knowledge. Their elite education might suit you."

"I hate elite education."

"Oh, then Ravenclaw?" the Sorting Hat suggested.

"Of course, I can also sense a great deal of courage within you. You must have a lofty ambition. Perhaps you could also be a Gryffindor?"

"Do all four houses have their own legacies?"

"You know about that too!"

"In that case, I think I'll go to Ravenclaw."

Ravenclaw's legacy would likely provide him with more magical knowledge.

"Alright, then..."

The Sorting Hat suddenly raised its voice and shouted—

"Gryffindor!"

What?

"How can you just decide my house like that!"

"My, my! A first-year wizard daring to covet the legacies of all four houses? You're far too bold. You can only go to Gryffindor!"

(End of Chapter)