The Great Hall was breathless as Elias Blake stepped forward to the Sorting Hat.
His name had traveled ahead of him—Blake, son of Cassian Blake, one of the youngest wizards in the Department of Mysteries and International Magical Affairs. But Elias carried none of the weight of expectations. He moved like someone used to observing from shadows, not performing in spotlights.
He sat. The Sorting Hat dropped over his head.
"Hmm…" the voice echoed in his mind, low and curious. "Another interesting one. Very interesting. A sharp mind. Exceptionally disciplined. You've been preparing, haven't you?"
Elias held his mental silence. The Hat mustn't learn anything about the System or his past life. He'd rehearsed mental neutrality since Diagon Alley.
"Courage, ambition, intelligence… you're a blend of houses. But you're not seeking safety. You're seeking freedom."
Not Slytherin, Elias thought, calm and unflinching.
"No fear of it. But no desire, either. Very well… better be… GRYFFINDOR!"
The Hat was lifted, and the applause came. Elias walked over to the Gryffindor table, slipping beside an open seat. Hermione Granger returned a moment later and raised an eyebrow as she sat down.
"Gryffindor?" she said under her breath. "You don't seem like the reckless type."
Elias gave her a small smile. "Maybe I'm just good at hiding it."
🔺 Fate Divergence Point Summary
As food appeared on golden platters, Elias let his mind drift—not to the feast, but to his growing edge.
Fate Divergence Points: 44 FP
🧠 [Breakdown: Acquired Points]
+5 FP — Resisting Diagon Alley interaction with Draco Malfoy
+3 FP — Choosing a different wand than canon's parallel
+7 FP — Observing and deducing Malfoy & Lucius's behavior
+4 FP — First direct divergence: declining Ravenclaw
+5 FP — Unexpected interaction with Hermione before Hogwarts
+6 FP — Strategic mental control during Sorting
+8 FP — Choosing Gryffindor for long-term impact
+6 FP — No canon friendship established on the train
"System," he thought, as he picked at his food.
> Open Shop.
The menu unfolded behind his eyes like parchment unfurling.
[FATE DIVERGENCE SHOP – CATEGORY: MENTAL DISCIPLINE]
[Occlumency Primer – Entry Level] — 40 FP
"Begin constructing mental defenses. Increases mental clarity, memory sorting, and minor resistance to Legilimency."
[Emotional Dampening (Minor)] — 20 FP
[Dreamscape Awareness] — 25 FP
Elias didn't hesitate.
> Purchase: Occlumency Primer (Entry Level)
> Confirm? Y/N
Yes.
A pulse of cold spread through his skull. It wasn't painful, just… deep. Like someone had turned the lights off and let him see the walls of his own mind.
Thoughts began gently reordering. Clutter slipped into quiet drawers. Loose emotion softened.
And best of all?
A subtle silence formed—a sense of separation between his core thoughts and his surface ones.
The perfect mask, he thought, pleased. Even if someone tries to read me… they'll get the version I want them to see.
🦁 Back at the Table
"…so I read all the coursebooks already," Hermione was saying to Neville, who looked overwhelmed but grateful.
Elias spoke softly beside her, "Light reading for a light meal?"
Hermione blinked, then smiled—tight-lipped but amused. "Knowledge is light. Some of us don't like stumbling around in the dark."
"Well said," he murmured. "Though darkness has its uses too."
She glanced at him sideways. "You're difficult to read, you know that?"
Elias smiled.
"Good."
💤 The Dorms and the Mindscape
By the time they reached Gryffindor Tower, most were too tired to talk. Neville snored almost immediately. Ron and Seamus argued over chocolate frogs. Dean flipped through a Quidditch magazine.
Elias sat upright in bed long after lights dimmed.
He closed his eyes, breathing slow and shallow.
Then—he slipped inward.
The Occlumency Primer had carved the basic outline of a mental sanctuary. A dark space, like a library without shelves. Only a smooth, black floor, and a mirror-like sky.
No thoughts buzzed here unless he allowed them. No memories unless summoned.
Not true mastery—not yet—but it was a beginning.
And best of all?
No one would ever see the real Elias Blake unless he wanted them to.
🧩 A Single Divergent Thought
As he floated in the quiet of his mind, a single idea echoed in the emptiness:
Let them play their roles.
I'll rewrite the script.