The grand wooden doors of Hogwarts creaked open slowly, revealing the entrance hall bathed in a warm, golden glow. As Adam stepped through the doorway, a surge of warmth rushed through him, filling his chest with a mixture of awe, excitement, and disbelief. His heart pounded in rhythm with each step, the echoes of footsteps bouncing off the towering stone walls that lined the hall.
This was it. The moment he had dreamt of, fantasized about during his past life. The place he had only seen in movies, read about in books—now, in this life, Hogwarts stood tall and real before him. It was more beautiful and awe-inspiring than he could have ever imagined. The high, vaulted ceilings stretched far above him, supported by grand, ancient stone columns that seemed to hold centuries of magic within them.
Adam paused near the entrance, his eyes wide as he took in every detail. The flickering light from the torches on the walls cast long shadows, dancing across the stone floor that seemed to hum with the essence of magic itself. Everything about the place felt alive, from the soft crackle of the flames to the faint whispers of enchantments that seemed to weave through the very air.
He let out a slow breath, his chest tightening with emotion. This was it—his dream come true. Hogwarts. And he was here. Here.
Without missing a beat, Adam reached into his robe and quickly pulled out his camera, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. He needed to capture this moment, to preserve it forever. He snapped a few shots of the entrance hall, the students, their faces filled with the same awe that mirrored his own. Each click of the camera brought him a sense of satisfaction, like he was solidifying his memories in a way that could never fade.
"Hermione," he said, turning to his friend with a grin. "Take one of me, would you? I need a photo of this—of all of it."
Hermione smiled at his enthusiasm, taking the camera from him as he struck a casual pose in front of the grand doorway. She clicked the button, capturing the excitement and wonder in Adam's eyes.
"Perfect," Hermione said, handing the camera back just in time for Professor McGonagall to appear before the group of first-years. Her stern expression was softened by the flickering light, but she still carried an air of authority that demanded attention.
Adam noticed a small commotion nearby. Draco Malfoy was whispering something to Harry Potter, his sneering tone unmistakable. Adam rolled his eyes and glanced away, choosing to ignore Draco for now. Ever since their duel in Diagon Alley, Draco had been trying to avoid him, which was fine by Adam. There was no need to engage with the troublemaker.
Professor McGonagall addressed the first-year students, her voice cutting through the soft murmurs. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, her tone firm and clear. "In a moment, you will enter the Great Hall to be sorted into your houses. The Sorting Ceremony is an ancient tradition that determines which of the four houses—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin—you will belong to. Your house will be like your family during your time here, and it is through your actions and achievements that you will earn points for your house. Be mindful, as poor behavior will also lose your house points. The house with the most points at the end of the year will win the House Cup."
Adam felt a thrill run through him. This was it—he was about to be sorted. The house system was something he had known about in his previous life, but now it was real. He couldn't help but feel both excitement and a slight nervousness. What house would he be placed in?
McGonagall turned and began leading the group of first-years toward the Great Hall. Adam lingered behind the rest, taking his time as he continued snapping pictures of the corridors. The grand tapestries hung on the walls, the towering windows that let in the moonlight, the floating candles that seemed to guide them along their path—it was all so surreal, and he wanted to capture every single moment.
As they moved deeper into the castle, Adam noticed the way the halls were decorated with banners from all four houses, their colors vivid in the candlelight. The air was filled with a palpable sense of history, of tradition, as if the very stones of the castle had witnessed generations of wizards and witches walk these halls.
"Hermione," Adam whispered as they walked, "can you believe it? We're really here."
Hermione nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. "It's… it's incredible. I've read so much about this place, but seeing it… feeling it… it's beyond anything I could have imagined."
Adam smiled, feeling her excitement mirror his own. It was hard to believe that just months ago, they had been ordinary kids, living ordinary lives. And now, here they were, standing in the heart of one of the most magical places in the world.
As the group approached the entrance to the Great Hall, Adam's heart raced once more. His fingers tightened around his camera as he took a deep breath, ready for whatever came next.
The doors to the Great Hall loomed ahead of them, tall and imposing. This was the place where he had seen so many iconic scenes play out in books and films—where Harry, Hermione, Ron, and so many others had taken their first steps into the magical world.
And now, it was Adam's turn.
The grand doors to the Great Hall creaked open, revealing the stunning sight within. The new students stepped inside in awe, their eyes immediately drawn upward. What they saw wasn't the ceiling, but a vast, starry night sky that seemed to stretch endlessly above them. Stars twinkled brightly, as though they were standing outside under the open sky. The sight took everyone by surprise, causing whispers to spread quickly through the group.
"What… how is that possible?" a student murmured from behind Adam.
Another chimed in, "Are we outside?"
Hermione, ever the eager student, couldn't help but share what she had learned from her extensive reading. "It's not real," she whispered to the group, her voice brimming with excitement. "It's enchanted. The ceiling is bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
Her explanation caused more whispers of admiration to spread, and even Professor McGonagall, who stood nearby, allowed a small, proud smile to touch her lips.
As the students continued to marvel at the sight, Professor McGonagall stepped forward, her authoritative voice bringing everyone's attention back to the task at hand. "Welcome to the Great Hall," she began. "In just a few moments, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting Ceremony is a tradition at Hogwarts."
Excitement and nerves filled the group. Many of the students shifted anxiously, their faces a mix of anticipation and dread, wondering where they would be placed. Whispers of "Gryffindor" and "Ravenclaw" floated through the air as students imagined themselves in the house of their dreams.
But amidst the growing excitement, Adam stood motionless, his expression far from eager. His face was serious, almost unnervingly so. He wasn't marveling at the starry ceiling or paying attention to the excited chatter around him. Instead, Adam's eyes were fixed on the center of the hall, staring as if he saw something that no one else could see.
A cold chill crept down his spine. The warmth and light of the Great Hall faded from his senses, replaced by an eerie, bone-chilling atmosphere. The sounds of students whispering, the flicker of candlelight—all of it vanished, leaving Adam alone in a different, darker world.
In the middle of the Great Hall, a figure stood among a sea of lifeless bodies. Their faces, drained of color, stared blankly into nothingness, as if the life had been sucked out of them. Adam's breath hitched in his throat. The figure in the center was dressed in familiar Muggle clothes—clothes Adam recognized all too well.
His own clothes.
Adam's stomach turned as he realized the identity of the figure standing before him. It was him. Or at least… a version of him. The figure tilted its head, slowly turning to face Adam, and then… it smiled. It was a twisted, grotesque grin, one that sent ice coursing through Adam's veins. His heart pounded in his chest, and he instinctively tried to take a step back.
But before he could, the figure's eyes locked onto him. Then, in a voice that sent shivers down Adam's spine, it spoke. His own voice.
"Finally, you're here."
The words echoed in Adam's mind, reverberating like a sinister melody that wouldn't leave. His hands began to shake as he felt an overwhelming sense of dread. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead, and every instinct in him screamed to run.
Before he could react, the figure let out a chilling laugh, the sound growing louder and more menacing until it seemed to surround Adam completely. The world around him swirled, becoming a blur of dark shadows and haunting whispers.
And then… it was gone.
Adam blinked, gasping as he suddenly found himself back in the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the Great Hall. The starry ceiling was back above him, the light of the candles flickered softly, and the excited murmurs of his fellow students filled the air once again.
But Adam could still hear it—the fading echo of his own voice whispering, "Finally, you're here." And that terrifying laugh that followed. It echoed in his mind like a distant nightmare.
His skin was clammy, his heart still racing. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands trembled as he struggled to pull himself back into reality.
"Adam?"
The voice snapped him out of his trance. He turned to see Hermione staring at him with concern etched across her face. "Adam, are you okay? You look… pale. What happened?"
Adam didn't answer right away. His mind was still reeling from what he had just seen—what he had just felt. It wasn't real. It couldn't have been real.
But it felt so real.
Hermione gently shook his arm, trying to pull him out of his daze. "Adam?"
Finally, Adam took a deep breath, forcing a weak smile. "I'm… I'm fine," he said, his voice shaky. "Just… tired. I think the journey here wore me out more than I thought."
Hermione's eyes remained worried, but she didn't push further. "If you're sure," she said quietly, keeping an eye on him as Professor McGonagall prepared to begin the Sorting Ceremony.
Adam swallowed, trying to compose himself, but the image of the twisted version of himself, the dead bodies surrounding it, and that sinister laugh lingered in his mind, refusing to leave.
Whatever it was he had seen—it wasn't over yet.
As Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding the long roll of parchment in her hands, the excitement in the Great Hall grew palpable. She began reading names, one by one, in alphabetical order. Adam, standing towards the back of the crowd, knew that his surname would place him near the end of the list. So, he settled in to observe, watching as the first students were sorted into their houses.
The Sorting Hat sat on the small stool at the front of the room, looking tattered and worn, yet somehow full of life. One by one, students approached, their faces a mixture of excitement and fear as the ancient hat was placed upon their heads. It would sit there for a few moments before announcing, with a loud voice, which house the student would be placed in.
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted proudly after a few seconds for the first student, and the Gryffindor table erupted in cheers. The student, looking relieved, hurried over to join their new house. A few more names were called, and students were sorted into the different houses—Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw—each greeted with cheers from their respective tables.
As Adam watched, his thoughts drifted back to the vision he had seen just moments ago, but the Sorting Ceremony's excitement soon pulled him out of his reverie. The hall was buzzing with energy, the magical atmosphere infectious. He began to wonder which house he would be sorted into and if it would change the course of his experience at Hogwarts. His curiosity took over, momentarily pushing aside the haunting memory of the vision.
He saw the proud faces of those sorted into Gryffindor, the quiet dignity of the Ravenclaw table, the eager smiles at Hufflepuff, and the calculating glances from Slytherin. It was fascinating to witness, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of anticipation build within him.
Then, after a few more students had been sorted, he heard Professor McGonagall call out a name he recognized all too well.
"Granger, Hermione."
Adam's eyes immediately turned to Hermione. She glanced back at him nervously before stepping forward. Adam smiled at her, trying to convey confidence through his expression. He felt sure that she would be placed in Ravenclaw. She was the most inquisitive and studious person he had met so far, and it seemed to align perfectly with Ravenclaw's values.
But then he paused. In the original world, Hermione had been sorted into Gryffindor. Perhaps the hat would see that side of her—the bravery and courage that she had yet to fully reveal. But here, in this world, she seemed so much more focused on knowledge, curiosity, and learning. Could that sway the hat?
As Hermione sat down on the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, the hall grew silent. The hat seemed to take its time, unlike with the others. Adam watched closely, and he noticed that a few students started whispering to each other, wondering why the hat was taking so long.
"Is she a Hatstall?" one student muttered to another.
"I've heard it sometimes takes a while when the hat has trouble deciding," another student responded.
Even some of the professors seemed intrigued. Professor Flitwick from Ravenclaw had a gleam in his eye, as though he were hoping Hermione would be chosen for his house. On the other hand, Professor McGonagall, herself a former Gryffindor, watched with a calm but expectant gaze.
Five minutes passed. Then six.
Hermione sat perfectly still, though Adam could see the tension building in her posture. She was nervously gripping the edge of the stool, her eyes darting around the hall as the whispers grew louder. Adam felt a strange mix of anticipation and empathy—he knew how much Hermione wanted to belong, to find her place.
Seven minutes. Eight.
The sorting process usually took less than a minute, but here it was, dragging on for what felt like an eternity. Adam couldn't help but be drawn into the moment, his earlier thoughts completely forgotten as he became invested in Hermione's sorting.
Nine minutes. The entire hall seemed to be watching now, even the other students who had already been sorted were whispering amongst themselves.
And then, finally, after ten long minutes, the Sorting Hat's voice boomed through the hall:
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into loud cheers and applause. Hermione looked momentarily stunned but quickly smiled as the hat was lifted from her head. She hurried over to the Gryffindor table, still looking a bit dazed but clearly relieved. As she passed Adam on her way, she gave him a small smile, as though saying, "I'll be okay."
Adam returned the smile, though he was surprised. He had been almost certain she would be placed in Ravenclaw, but the hat had seen something else. Perhaps, deep down, that courage and boldness were more central to Hermione than even she realized. 'Looks like fate is not something to be changed so easily' Adam thought amusingly to himself.
As the cheers died down and the ceremony continued, Adam couldn't help but feel a growing anticipation in his chest. His own turn would come soon, and now he was even more curious about where the hat would place him.
Professor McGonagall called out the next name, and Adam's attention was piqued. It was one of the few students whose Sorting he was genuinely curious about. After all, he had to work with her to clear the so called trials for blood magic book.
"Greengrass, Daphne."
A composed blonde girl walked confidently to the front and sat on the stool. The Sorting Hat was placed upon her head, and once again, the Hall fell into a brief silence. This time, it took nearly four minutes before the hat called out: "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table cheered, but Adam couldn't help but notice Daphne's gaze flicker toward him more than once as she made her way to the Slytherin table. He didn't dwell on it, though, as the Sorting Ceremony continued smoothly.
Eventually, Professor McGonagall called the name Harry Potter. The Hall buzzed with anticipation as Harry walked forward. It took a few moments longer than usual for the Sorting Hat to make its decision, but not as long as it had with Hermione or Daphne. After about a minute, the hat loudly declared, "Gryffindor!" A roar of applause erupted from the Gryffindor table, with excited whispers spreading across the other tables as well.
Soon, the ceremony continued, and as the number of students yet to be sorted dwindled, Adam realized it was finally his turn. Professor McGonagall called his name, and the moment she did, the entire Great Hall fell silent. Adam was no stranger to the stares of others, but he hadn't expected such an immediate reaction. Unknown to him, many students and even some professors had heard about him—rumors had been circulating about his family and the mysterious duel with Draco Malfoy in Diagon Alley. But Adam had paid no attention to gossip or rumors over the past month; he had been too focused on his practice and preparations.
As he walked up to the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, he felt a slight sense of apprehension. What house would the hat choose for him?
"Difficult. Quite difficult," the Sorting Hat whispered into Adam's ear. "Your heart is full of courage, longing for adventure. You would do well in Gryffindor, no doubt. But you also have an unusual thirst for knowledge, one that surpasses many of your age. You would thrive in Ravenclaw, too. And yet, you possess ambition—perhaps not Slytherin-level ambition, but you still desire fame and recognition. That could lead you down a very interesting path."
Adam listened quietly, surprised at how accurate the hat's observations were. He hadn't realized until now just how much he wanted to leave a mark on the world. The thought of gaining fame and recognition through his adventures intrigued him, though he also desired peace and quiet with his parents. Still, the idea of going on grand adventures—of exploring magical mysteries and writing about them—filled him with excitement.
"You're quite the mix," the hat continued. "Your heart leans towards Gryffindor, your mind towards Ravenclaw, and your ambition flirts with Slytherin. But Hufflepuff? You struggle with acceptance, only willing to help others if they're useful or have earned your trust. You lack the unconditional kindness often seen in Hufflepuff, but you have potential if you choose to grow."
As Adam pondered this, the Sorting Hat continued. "There's something strange about you, though. Your memories… they're incomplete, obscured. I can only see fragments of your recent months, and even those are veiled at times."
Adam froze at this revelation, feeling a chill down his spine. He had been worried about whether the Sorting Hat could read his thoughts about the system, and now his suspicions were confirmed. But hearing the hat mention his memories being blocked out made him even more anxious.
"Can you see everything?" Adam asked in a low, nervous voice.
The hat seemed almost amused. "No. There are gaps, large ones, as if something is intentionally keeping me from seeing everything. But it's not just your memories—your future, too, is obscured. Quite bizarre. I usually see glimpses of a student's future, but with you, it's a blank slate."
Adam's worry deepened. "You can see the future?"
"Not in the way you think," the Sorting Hat explained. "I see possible futures, nothing definite. It's like a path with many forks, and I can only glimpse a few steps ahead. But with you, the path is shrouded in mystery."
The hat's words weighed heavily on Adam. His secret seemed safe for now, but what about Dumbledore? Would the hat reveal these strange findings to the headmaster?
"I'm supposed to inform the headmaster if a student possesses unusual talent or could pose a threat to the school. But you… you're different. I won't say anything about you," the hat reassured him.
Adam felt a wave of relief wash over him. He didn't know why the hat was keeping this secret, but he wasn't going to question it too much. Just as he was about to ask another question, a voice interrupted from the high table.
"Sorting Hat?" It was Dumbledore.
Before Adam could even process Dumbledore's words, the hat shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The entire hall erupted into applause, though it felt muted compared to the earlier cheers. Adam's surprise was evident, but he quickly regained his composure. As he prepared to stand, he whispered to the Sorting Hat, "Why Gryffindor?"
The hat's reply came swiftly, but with a hint of amusement. "You've been here for ten minutes—Dumbledore was concerned. Plus, that little girl over there," the hat gestured towards Hermione in Adam's mind, "was so eager for you to join Gryffindor. You'd fit in well enough. But if you'd rather not…"
Adam glanced towards Hermione, who was beaming with excitement. He couldn't help but smile. He knew that being in Gryffindor would make things easier and, perhaps, more fun. During this conversation, the Sorting Hat's mention of Dumbledore's bias towards Gryffindor wasn't lost on him either. It was practical, after all, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"I'll stay in Gryffindor," Adam decided.
With that, the Sorting Hat was removed, and Adam stood up from the stool. He walked over to the Gryffindor table, where Hermione welcomed him with a bright smile.
The Sorting Ceremony finished soon after, and once everyone was seated, Dumbledore stood up to address the students.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
The hall erupted in laughter, and Adam couldn't help but smile, recognizing Dumbledore's eccentric humor. He leaned over to Hermione and whispered the deeper meaning behind Dumbledore's seemingly nonsensical words, something he had seen discussed a lot in his past life, even he didn't know if what he said was actually true or not.
As the plates on the tables magically filled with food, Adam's attention was quickly diverted. The dishes looked more appetizing than anything he had ever seen. He eagerly dug in, much to Hermione's dismay as she tried to remind him of table manners.
But Adam was too absorbed in the feast to care. "First we eat, then we do everything else," he thought, enjoying the delicious food while Hermione asked Percy about their upcoming lessons.
And so, the Sorting Ceremony concluded, and the new students of Hogwarts settled into their respective houses. For Adam, his adventures had only just begun.