The Hogwarts Express slowed to a halt, its scarlet engine steaming under the twilight sky. The platform is bustling with the chatter of students. Harry stepped off the train, his eyes alert and surveying his surroundings. As he moved through the crowd, Harry noticed other students pointing in his direction, and whispering something. He dismissed the attention, his focus on the path ahead, where Hagrid's massive figure loomed, calling for first-years.
Harry approached Hagrid, but his wariness of Hagrid's behaviour and intention persisted. He gave Hagrid a disinterested nod, acknowledging him without warmth, and joined the first-years behind Hagrid. Hagrid's beetle-black eyes sparkled, but Harry turned away, spotting Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger nearby. "Boat with me?" Neville asked, voice timid. Harry nodded, and the four climbed into a small boat, the lake's dark waters lapping against the wood.
As the boats glided on the lake toward Hogwarts, a castle of towering spires and glowing windows against the starry sky, Harry felt the magic in his surroundings. The air hummed with potent magic, richer than Diagon Alley, wrapping around him like a living force. It felt like he could almost taste it; the feeling rose as he moved towards the castle.
When the boats reached the rocky shore beneath the castle, Harry stepped onto the stone landing, and a sudden sensation bloomed in his mind, like something hugging his core inside him, a warm magical surge, as if it belonged to him. His Foreign Magic Detection remained dormant, detecting no foreign magical changes, but the feeling lingered, puzzling. He decided to check on it later after the evening ceremony was done.
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Hagrid led the first-years through a cavernous passage into the castle, the stone walls flickering with torchlight. At a grand staircase, he handed them to a stern witch in emerald robes, her hair in a tight bun. "Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, departing towards the hall. McGonagall's voice cut through the nervous chatter. "Welcome to Hogwarts. You will soon be sorted into one of four houses—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and your house will be your family. Wait here until we're ready." She led them to a small chamber off the Great Hall, the murmur of older students audible through the walls.
As McGonagall left, Draco Malfoy stepped forward, his blond hair gleaming, his voice steady and loud. "I'm Draco Malfoy, and I hear Harry Potter's among us." Then his eyes locked on Harry, a smirk forming. "You should join us in Slytherin, the best house for those who matter. You will find friends of better standing than in other houses." The crowd turned, whispers rising. Harry met Draco's gaze, his voice steady and smooth. "I'll see when it happens, Malfoy."
Ron, beside Harry, scoffed loudly. "Don't do it, Harry! Slytherin's full of dark wizards, everyone knows that!" Harry's tuned towards Ron sharply and spoke in a cold tone. "Speak to me like that again, Weasley, and I'll knock you out," he warned, the threat of physical punishment clear. Ron paled, stepping back while Hermione frowned but stayed silent, Neville was shocked to see the anger from Harry and decided to observe from the side.
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McGonagall returned, leading the first-years into the Great Hall, a vast chamber with enchanted ceilings swirling with stars, four long tables packed with students, and a staff table at the front. A tattered hat was placed on a stool, the Sorting Hat, then it began to sing, its voice raspy, detailing the houses' virtues. McGonagall called names alphabetically, and Harry watched as Susan Bones went to Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbott to Hufflepuff, and Draco Malfoy strode forward, the Hat barely touching his head before shouting, "Slytherin!" Draco smirked, joining the green-robed table. Hermione Granger, nervous but determined, was sorted into Gryffindor. Ron Weasley, fidgeting, also went to Gryffindor, the Hat lingering before deciding.
When "Potter, Harry!" was called, the hall fell silent, eyes on him. Harry approached towards the front and sat on the stool. The Hat settled on his head, its voice a whisper in his mind. "Hmm, difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see, and a sharp mind. Ambition, too, and cunning—oh my, yes. But something else… your mind's changed, hasn't it? Since those early years, after hunger shaped you." The Hat probed, but Harry's system, his previous life, and the Source of Magic remained hidden, shielded by their arcane nature. The Hat sensed only the shift post-starvation, when Harry's Shade identity emerged.
Harry thought back to his train encounters, his plans fluid but clear: learn magic, uncover the scar's secrets, navigate Hogwarts' politics without being a pawn. He'd considered Slytherin for power, Ravenclaw for knowledge, Gryffindor for boldness, but the sudden magical feeling softened his thoughts. "I want to grow, to understand magic and myself," he thought to the Hat. "Choose where I'll fit, where I can build something real." The Hat hummed, delving deeper. "You've got it all, cunning-bravery-wit, but there's a void, isn't there? No family's love, no true home. Your friends gave you strength, but not the care you craved. Hufflepuff, boy, that's where you'll find those who'll make you feel safe, included, even if just a bit. It's what you need to grow." Harry hesitated, but the magical sensation from the castle echoing in his mind, and trusting the Hat's insight, he agreed with it.
"Hufflepuff!" the Hat shouted, and the hall erupted, the Hufflepuff table cheering loudest. Harry joined them, noting the shocked expressions of Dumbledore, his blue eyes wide behind half-moon glasses, and Snape, his sallow face frozen, both expecting Gryffindor. Quirrell, at the staff table, stared intently, his turban askew, deep in thought.
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Harry sat at the Hufflepuff's table, and after the sorting ceremony was completed, Dumbledore rose, his voice warm but commanding. "Welcome to Hogwarts! Before we begin, a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" The feast appeared, tables groaning with roast beef, pies, and treacle tarts. Hufflepuff students—Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Justin Finch-Fletchley—welcomed him warmly, their auras steady, and Harry responded with reserved courtesy, his instincts balancing openness with caution.
The feast ended, and Dumbledore gave his start of the term speech. "Now that you are all watered and fed, there are a few announcements before the term starts. First, the Forbidden Forest is, as its name suggests, strictly off-limits to all students. Second, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, asks me to remind you that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes. Finally, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." His tone turned grave, then lightened, "Have a good rest and a Good night". The prefects led students to the dorms. Harry followed the Hufflepuff prefect through cozy, earth-toned corridors to a round-doored common room near the kitchens, where the surroundings provided a comfortable warmth that would help you relax.
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In the Hufflepuff common room, Harry stood with his peers while the prefects gave them the welcome speech and the house rules. Then the head of the house Professor Pomona Sprout came and gave them pep talk. She told them to be mindful of their house mates and enjoy their time during the 7 years they are going to spend at Hogwarts.
In the first-year dorm, a circular room with soft beds, Harry sat on his four-poster, and summoned his Core Insight:
Core Insight: Core Bindings cleared, Core expansion in progress.
Core size: 10 (Changing size metric due to rapid changes in core size)
Output: high, mild-unstable.
Note: Castle's magic is enhancing the magic in body and increasing the size of core. Please upgrade your core quality before the stability erodes due to expansion.
[Core size update - softball -> 3, Soccer ball -> 6, changing it to number because it might be less effective to always compare it some physical item as the core can expand infinitely in this world if you can achieve control over your current form]
Harry laid back on his bed, thinking about the changes in his magic core and experiencing the Hufflepuff dorm's warmth, his instincts were feeling weird due to the surroundings and living among the other students. After some chit-chat among themselves, everyone went to bed to get ready for the next day.
[Word Count: 1389]
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I apologise for not posting for few days but was stuck in the middle of the India-Pakistan situation for the last few days, had some trouble with electricity in my area due to the blackouts at night.
Now that the situation has been resolved, I will continue with the story.