Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Harry was still in a daze when he entered the hall, wondering how things had turned out this way.

Draco got angry after he simply greeted Thea (maybe a little loud?), and then Ron started mocking Draco, who retorted.

The situation took a turn for the worse. Thea didn't mention herself at all, but instead made Ron blush. In just a few minutes, the incident ended with them telling each other's parents.

Harry didn't understand how serious it was to insult the family, but seeing Ron's pale face, the slow-witted little lion realized that his friend might have gotten into trouble.

But Harry didn't worry about Ron for long, because the Sorting Ceremony began.

Thea had no time to pay attention to the savior's complicated feelings; she was busy comforting her friends who admired her.

"Thea, you were amazing just now! You shut that... rude guy up with just a few words!" Daphne praised excitedly, almost blurting out the word "traitor."

"I knew it! Thea would definitely avenge me!" This was the proud young master.

Even the usually silent Zabini said, "Thea, you're amazing."

Thea was flattered by the compliments, but she didn't get carried away and humbly replied, "It's mainly because Draco cooperated so well..."

Thea's modest words were interrupted by Professor McGonagall calling her name, and the Sorting Ceremony began:

Hannah Abbott, Hufflepuff!

Susan Burns, Hufflepuff!

Dorothea Black!

Thea had already guessed that she would be ahead, so she wasn't surprised. After giving the others a reassuring look, she slowly walked towards the hat.

Dumbledore sat up straight when he heard the name, and the other professors were not far behind, all staring intently at the girl.

The bustling hall fell silent because of the professors' actions, and everyone's eyes were focused on that figure from behind.

Thea naturally sensed that something was wrong in the atmosphere of the hall, but she remained calm and unhurried.

He walked over, turned around, and sat down—the whole sequence of movements was fluid and effortless.

Professor McGonagall looked at the child with a complicated expression and gently placed the hat on her head.

"Oh! Another Slytherin descendant!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed in surprise.

"Hello, Mr. Sorting Hat," Thea greeted politely.

"Wow, you're the most polite little wizard I've ever met! Let me see, which house should you go to?"

"Isn't it Slytherin?" Thea asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Not all Sorting results are based on bloodline,” the Sorting Hat explained.

Thea nodded knowingly.

But the Sorting Hat remained silent for a long time, and the silence made Thea call out somewhat uneasily, "...Mr. Sorting Hat?"

The Sorting Hat spoke in a low voice this time: "Little wizard, you are the most complex little wizard I have ever met. You possess all the qualities except for Hufflepuff's integrity, including shrewdness, thirst for knowledge, and Gryffindor's courage."

Thea: "..."

"What do you mean I have all the qualities except for integrity?" Thea said, dissatisfied.

The Sorting Hat wasn't angry when Thea questioned it, and said gently, "You can choose a house, except Hufflepuff."

Thea was strangely silent for a moment, then laughed self-deprecatingly, "Sir, I have no choice but to stay in Slytherin, do I?"

"Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat shrieked.

The tense atmosphere seemed to be completely shattered by this announcement. Amidst the applause of Slytherin, no one heard Dumbledore's soft sigh.

Thea stood up amidst applause, composed herself, gave a reserved and polite smile, and handed the Sorting Hat to Professor McGonagall, whose expression was inscrutable.

Then he walked down the steps and headed toward Slytherin's table.

Thea did not move to the back, but instead sat down in the front row seat that the Slytherin prefect had reserved for her.

Most of the senior students at the Slytherin table were people Thea had met and knew at various banquets, and they took the initiative to greet Thea, as no one wanted to offend an heir of the Black family.

Thea picked up on the topic posed by the prefect and quickly and naturally integrated herself into their group.

"Harry James Potter!"

Professor McGonagall's voice rang out again, and the people in the hall began to whisper among themselves.

"That was... the savior?"

"He looks...so thin, is someone abusing him?"

Where do you think he'll be assigned?

Amidst countless whispers, Harry walked forward somewhat awkwardly, clearly flustered by the curiosity of the crowd.

The Sorting Hat remained silent for a long time, its wide brim obscuring everyone's gaze towards the boy.

"Granfendo!" The shrill voice rang out, accompanied by deafening screams and applause from Granfendo!

Thea glanced at the professors' table. Apart from Professor Snape's cold face, Dumbledore and the other professors all wore expressions of undisguised joy.

After seeing the professors' expressions clearly, Thea lowered her head, her eyes becoming even more profound.

Before long, Draco, Daphne, Theodore, Zabini, and Pansy arrived.

After the Sorting Ceremony ended, the prefect turned his attention to Thea, who was cutting steak, and asked with some curiosity, "Thea, what did the Sorting Hat say? You stayed on it for four minutes!"

When Thea heard the question she expected, she calmly put down her knife and fork, her eyes sweeping over the little snakes around her, seemingly casually but actually listening intently.

He said in a flat tone, "The Sorting Hat didn't say anything, just that I have the shrewdness and competence of Slytherin, as well as the thirst for knowledge of Ravenclaw, and was a little hesitant about where to sort me."

The prefect, having met with a lukewarm response, wasn't angry. He simply nodded slightly and said, "I see. But you've clearly made the right choice!"

Thea raised her glass to clink with the prefect's, and said with a smile, "Of course, I have no doubt about that."

The two looked at each other and smiled, ending the test.

As the dinner was drawing to a close, Dumbledore began to announce the school's rules.

"Attention first-year students: Students are strictly prohibited from entering the wooded areas on campus. Our returning students should also take note of this."

Dumbledore's gaze swept over Gryffindor's direction.

"Furthermore, Mr. Filch, the administrator, also asked me to remind everyone not to cast spells in the hallways during breaks."

Dumbledore glanced at Glenfield again.

"Finally, I must tell everyone that anyone who does not wish to encounter an accident and die a painful death should not enter the corridor on the right side of the fourth floor."

Everyone burst into laughter, thinking that Dumbledore was joking.

"Now, before you all go to bed, let's sing the school song together!" Dumbledore shouted.

Thea was initially curious about the power of Hogwarts' school song, but she soon witnessed it firsthand.

The school song encompasses almost everything, from being tone-deaf to singing off-key. In addition, since everyone's pitch is different, the impact is amplified.

After the school song was sung, the prefect began organizing the freshmen to return to their dormitories: "All freshmen, follow me."