"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger! Just call me Hermione. Your comment just now was really great!"
A confident, almost arrogant voice reached Lin Mei's ears. The speaker had thick, curly hair and a pair of slightly prominent front teeth—instantly recognizable as a future member of the "Golden Trio."
Lin Mei extended a polite handshake in response.
"Damn it! Why didn't I unlock some kind of system? With all the important people I know here, any system rewards would be off the charts!" Lin Mei thought bitterly.
But on the surface, he remained composed. "Nice to meet you. You can call me 'Lin' or Lin Mei."
"Lin, that was amazing! What exactly did you say to Malfoy just now? He looked really scared!" Ron chimed in eagerly. He despised Malfoy's arrogance and was eager to learn Lin Mei's method of dealing with him.
Lin Mei shook his head. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to pull it off. If you really want to stand up to Malfoy, then focus on mastering magic."
"Oh..." Ron mumbled, disappointed.
Beside them, Hermione's curiosity was practically radiating off her. "Lin, just now—when you moved like that—did you use magic? I didn't hear you recite an incantation. Was that a silent spell?"
"Silent spell? You're joking, right?" Ron exclaimed, his voice carrying through the corridor. "That's something only advanced students can do!"
Several students turned their heads at Ron's outburst, and his excitement even caught the attention of Professor McGonagall at the front of the group.
"Mr. Weasley, maintain decorum and keep your voice down," she instructed sternly.
Ron immediately shrank back, his ears turning red.
Lin Mei, however, remained unfazed. He smiled slightly and responded, "It's actually more of a technique than a spell. Even if I wanted to use it repeatedly, I wouldn't be able to."
"Technique?" Hermione's eyes lit up with interest.
Lin Mei recognized that look—he and Hermione were both academic types, always eager to explore new knowledge. However, at this stage, Hermione was still in the phase of believing she could master everything through sheer learning, which made her come across as a little condescending. That would change after the troll incident.
Seeing her intense curiosity, Lin Mei sighed. "It's not that I don't want to teach you, but your body wouldn't be able to handle this kind of movement yet. If you're not careful, you could lose an arm or a leg."
Hermione frowned. "But you can do it, can't you?"
Lin Mei smirked. "I'm different from you. You'll understand why in the future."
"Hmph. Mysterious," Hermione muttered, clearly unsatisfied with his vague response.
Lin Mei didn't reply, as they had finally arrived at the entrance to the Great Hall.
As the line moved forward, Lin Mei, Hermione, Ron, and Harry followed closely behind, stepping through a narrow stone corridor before arriving at the magnificent entrance.
The doors stood tall and imposing, as if leading to another world. Ancient magical runes were carved into the wood, glowing faintly blue under the candlelight, evoking a sense of mystery and wonder.
The moment Lin Mei stepped inside, a wave of warmth enveloped him. Countless floating candles illuminated the vast space, their flickering flames casting a golden glow across the hall. The long dining tables stretched out in neat rows, set with polished silverware and an array of mouth-watering dishes—from steaming roast chicken to crystal-clear fruits glistening under the enchanted ceiling.
"Hey, little ones! Surprise!"
Peeves the Poltergeist suddenly shot out from under one of the tables, causing several first-years to shriek in fright.
But Lin Mei remained unimpressed.
Peeves hesitated before approaching him, remembering the incident from the previous night—when he had targeted Lin Mei for a prank, only to get blasted away in retaliation.
Intending to start trouble for Harry and the others, Peeves caught Lin Mei's eye and immediately changed his mind.
With a mischievous cackle, he zoomed off in another direction.
Professor McGonagall was quite accustomed to Peeves' antics. Without paying him much attention, she addressed the first-years.
"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will take place in front of the entire school. I suggest you compose yourselves while waiting—it's best to make a good first impression."
The young wizards nodded, straightening their postures, some nervously adjusting their robes.
Before long, the Sorting Ceremony began.
Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool at the front of the gathered first-years. Atop it sat an old, patched hat with a distinctive, jagged brim—the Sorting Hat.
Lin Mei eyed it curiously. He had never seen it in Dumbledore's office before, and now that it was right in front of him, he was fascinated. It was his first time encountering such a peculiar, sentient magical object.
"Hey, which house do you think we'll end up in?" Ron asked, shifting nervously. "All my brothers and my parents were in Gryffindor. What if I get sorted into Slytherin?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "I've heard the people there are—"
"Relax, Ron. I think you have a better chance of getting into Gryffindor than I do," Lin Mei interrupted, cutting off Ron's growing panic.
Ron blinked, momentarily distracted from his worries.
Harry, however, remained serious. "Slytherin wouldn't be a great choice. You saw what Malfoy and his lot are like..."
Lin Mei smirked. "It's fine. They just need to be put in their place. The real question is—can they handle it?"
Harry and the others looked at him in confusion, unsure what he meant.
As for his own Sorting, Lin Mei wasn't entirely sure where he'd end up. He was leaning toward Ravenclaw—the learning environment and academic focus suited his needs. But at the same time, Gryffindor's lively atmosphere was tempting.
The three troublemakers beside him weren't exactly the quiet, studious type, but perhaps watching their antics unfold would be entertaining in its own way.
As the Sorting Hat finished its opening song, Professor McGonagall unrolled a long parchment and began reading names.
"Hannah Abbott!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Terry Boot!"
"Ravenclaw!"
One by one, the students stepped forward, placed the hat on their heads, and awaited their fate.
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