《Harry Potter: My Life as Hermione》Chapter 12: The Sorting

"These plans of ours aren't going to happen overnight. What we can do now is keep building our resources, so when opportunity knocks, we'll be ready to grab it with both hands!" Qin Yu told the twins as the train began to slow.

"Qin, you really do see further than we do," George said, sounding genuinely impressed.

"Yeah, our dreams are still stuck at opening a joke shop," Fred added, shaking his head with a grin.

"Your ideas are brilliant too—some of your inventions could really change this world," Qin Yu encouraged them.

Both brothers lit up, beaming with pride.

Though Qin Yu was a year younger, by journey's end the twins were utterly convinced of his knowledge and vision. Having their wildest ideas praised by him filled them with a deep sense of accomplishment.

As night fell, the Hogwarts Express rolled to a gentle stop at Hogsmeade Station.

The students had finally arrived at their magical destination.

Upperclassmen disembarked first. George and Fred bid Qin Yu a hearty farewell, both urging him to aim for Gryffindor.

"Of course, it's really up to the Sorting Hat," George said, a little helpless.

"But we really hope you'll join Gryffindor—then we can plot our fortunes together!" Fred added with a wink.

Qin Yu just laughed and said he hoped so too.

…

When Qin Yu stepped off the train with the rest of the Class of 1990's first-years, he caught sight of the upperclassmen's carriages departing.

In the distance, he could make out the skeletal, black-winged horses pulling those carriages—Thestrals, magical creatures only visible to those who had witnessed death.

Qin Yu wasn't surprised in the least that he could see them.

"I haven't just seen death—I've died once myself," he muttered inwardly.

"First years! Over here! Everyone to the boats—no more than four to a boat! And don't muck about, mind—the lake's got monsters that'll give you a real fright if you fall in!" Hagrid's booming voice called out.

The giant, towering over three meters, drew a chorus of gasps from the new students. Instinctive awe flashed across their faces—after all, he was two or three times their size. How could they not be a little scared?

Qin Yu was the exception. They were already old friends.

"Qin, we meet again!" Hagrid called, grinning.

Qin Yu greeted him back, feeling as if they'd known each other for ages, despite having only met the day before. Maybe it was his memories from another life, or maybe it was just Hagrid's warmth—either way, their friendship felt natural and easy.

Hagrid invited Qin Yu to share his boat.

"Fluffy made it safe and sound!" Hagrid whispered once they were aboard, his eyes crinkling with joy.

"That's great!" Qin Yu replied, though he was a little nervous. With Hagrid's massive frame, even a boat with just the two of them felt like it might sink at any moment. It put a bit of a damper on his first glimpse of Hogwarts Castle.

The other children, meanwhile, were awestruck. The towering castle loomed against the night sky, majestic and mysterious, like an ancient sage awaiting their arrival.

Would they, too, become part of the school's legend?

As the boats glided closer, excitement bubbled in every heart.

…

When the boats docked, Qin Yu hopped ashore.

One by one, the new students disembarked and followed Hagrid through the oak front doors, up three flights of stone steps, and into the vast entrance hall.

There, the stern Professor McGonagall greeted them and explained what would happen next—the Sorting.

When the time came, the doors to the Great Hall swung open, revealing a golden, glittering chamber as bright as midday.

No matter how much he'd prepared himself, actually stepping into the Great Hall took Qin Yu's breath away. Thousands of floating candles lit the air, and the enchanted ceiling shimmered with a tapestry of stars. It was a scene straight from a dream.

The new students filed in. At the head table, Professor Dumbledore stood and welcomed them, outlining the school rules—no wandering at night, stay away from the Forbidden Forest, and so on.

Qin Yu spotted Severus Snape for the first time. Snape seemed to sense his gaze and glanced over several times, but his expression never changed—cold, unreadable.

Then, under Professor McGonagall's direction, the Sorting began.

Qin Yu knew every step of this process, but standing here as a participant was an entirely new thrill.

There weren't many familiar faces among the new students this year. He recognized only Cho Chang and Katie Bell—they went before him, sorted into Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, respectively.

When it was his turn, Qin Yu took a deep breath and climbed the steps.

Professor McGonagall placed the ancient, much-worn Sorting Hat on his head.

"Well, well, an Eastern boy… Your origins are delightfully mysterious… The powerful force inside you and your great destiny would make you shine in Slytherin… But your composure and bravery would serve you well in Gryffindor… My, this is a tricky one…"

Unlike with other students, where the Sorting Hat made swift decisions, it now muttered and debated atop Qin Yu's head.

The sensation was oddly ticklish.

"I want to go to Gryffindor!" Qin Yu finally declared, unable to stand the hat's dithering.

His choice wasn't about George and Fred's business plans. He simply wanted to be close to Hermione—he'd promised to help her get settled, after all, and a promise was a promise.

Since the hat couldn't make up its mind, he'd just make it for both of them.

"Very well, your choice is indeed the right one! GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat bellowed.

The Gryffindor table erupted in applause, with George and Fred clapping loudest of all.

Qin Yu walked over to join his new housemates, finding an empty seat amid the cheers.

…

After a sumptuous feast, the prefects led everyone back to their dormitories.

Gryffindor's current prefect was Charlie Weasley, soon to graduate—a familiar face to Qin Yu.

Charlie led the group up to the eighth floor, stopped at the end of a corridor, and gave the password—"Dragon whiskers"—to the portrait of the Fat Lady.

The portrait swung open, and Charlie ushered them into the Gryffindor common room.

After a brief pause, Charlie announced, "Boys to the left, girls to the right—don't get it wrong!"

The children scattered, searching for their rooms.

Qin Yu climbed the left staircase and found the dormitory with his name on the door.

His first night at Hogwarts was destined to be one of restless excitement.

Lying in bed, Qin Yu found his thoughts drifting between his past and present lives. It was a long time before sleep finally claimed him.

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

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