"Well, because it is for the bravest of hearts, courageous and just, that you are," Sirius said.

Magnus shook his head. "You are wrong, Sirius. Just mere words and joining a house does not make a man brave, his actions do."

"I'm sure that when the Hogwarts was made, its founders didn't want to see a day when two houses would become each other's arch-nemesis. That's like the opposite of what Hogwarts stood for. It was a place for kids to learn magic. Kids who were persecuted by the church or something.

"I read some history books in my free time. I believe that Hogwarts was never meant to be what it is today. Let's take the example of your brother, Sirius.

"He's a good boy, right? Not anything like a Slytherin?" Magnus asked.

"That's right. He's not at all like a Slytherin." Sirius proudly acknowledged.

"Then when he comes to Hogwarts, what if he was put in Slytherin? Will that automatically make him bad? Because of something he has no control over.

"I believe that the reason why so many Slytherin have turned bad is because of the school itself. I mean, there are bad seeds on every tree. Each house has bad examples. But, what happens when you specifically target someone's inner feelings and put them in a house?

"They say, to be a Slytherin, one needs ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness. This is the biggest confusion for me. How does one understand the character traits of 11 years old?

"Sirius, we are just 11 years old. Kids of our age have brains like water. Whichever container you put it in, it'll adapt.

"The only reason why so many Slytherin go bad is because too many like-minded people gather there and out of them, that one bad seed easily influences them. Besides, if us students start hating each other just because of one single word, how does that make us any better than the bad folks?"

"He's certainly a Ravenclaws," Sirius spoke to James.

Magnus facepalmed himself. "Did you two not even listen to me? Well, anyway. It's time to eat."

Magnus took out his lunchbox. He heated it for a few seconds without anyone seeing him do it.

The second he opened it, a fresh aroma attacked their noses.

Everyone's stomach made noises there. Magnus laughed, "Haha, I know people can't resist this. So I brought extra. Here, eat with me."

"Cool," Sirius was unreserved and picked a pancake. James followed him.

In the other seat, facing him, Lily and Snape sat. The two did not talk much.

"Here, my mum made this for me. These are my favourites." He offered.

Lily shyly picked one. Then Magnus offered it to Snape. But he did not take it, instead folded his arms with a huff.

"Haha, you don't want it? It's all right, more for me then." Magnus laughed it off.

"MEOWWW..."

"Ah, I forgot about Chad," Magnus exclaimed and quickly gave the cat some food.

After that, they kept talking for a while. Lily and Snape stayed quiet mostly. Magnus learned that James was also from a rich family. But not as influential as Blacks.

"How many siblings do you have and how are they?" Magnus asked Sirius.

"Many. They are my cousins but we grew up in the same house so they were like sisters to me. 2 sisters have already graduated. The eldest I would say is pure evil now, Andromeda is very kind and is like me. Narcissa is still in her 6th year and she is a mystery but I guess she is nice and then there is my brother." Sirius revealed.

"Do you have the confidence that if they were to have been sorted in another house, they would have turned out different?" Magnus inquired.

Sirius shook his head, "No, my family would have never allowed that. They would have disowned them if they were to get sorted in another house. My family considers themselves very pure and are against anything not pure in their eyes, once one of my cousins even tried to make it legal to hunt muggles. To my family, blood isn't as important as their ideals."

Magnus rested his argument there with his arms wide open, "And you still blame Slytherin. Isn't the problem the families of all these kids, who are so extreme when it comes to blood matters? I mean, if any child was to live among them he'd also turn into them. The only solution is to make the choice of houses random instead of traits based."

James nodded, "Hmm, you are correct. But that is never going to happen. Many powerful people in the ministry are either blood supremacists or pawns of them. You are a muggle-born wizard, Magnus. You will not be sorted in that house anyway, so why bother?"

Magnus didn't say anything more. Everyone in the room was 11 years old, although his own brain capabilities were better, it didn't mean others would understand his words. He again went back to reading the potions book, trying to understand how to make this liquid luck.

On their way, Sirius and James often bickered with Snape. Snape was also not without blame, he would occasionally butt in the conversation between Sirius and James by saying something snarky. This would make the two to focus on Snape.

Magnus didn't bother with them again.

"Oh, we should change into our uniform," Magnus exclaimed.

But then he saw Lily, being a little uneasy when she heard him. "Lily, why don't you go out first, we will change first. Then we will go out."

She nodded silently and went out with a blush. She was regretting not finding a cabin with girls.

All the boys quickly changed their clothes. (A/N: In the books, there is no mention of a dress code except robes and hat. So, it is likely that in the books, they were allowed to wear anything under their robes. But, in the movies, it was made more formal. I am going with the movies because those clothes look classy. I can't imagine someone wearing shorts and a red T-shirt under their robes.]

Their dresses were simple, white button-up collared shirts, black pants, a sweater and robes over them. They also wore ties. All of these were simple black at the moment as they were not sorted yet.

The next was Lily's turn to change. Everyone stood outside of the sliding door. But Magnus noticed James slightly turning around.

*BAM*

"Aren't you from a big respected house? Then act like one." Magnus knocked his book on his head.

"Come on, man. You are no fun." James scowled.

"Well, if being a pervert is fun then I'd rather not have fun in my entire life," Magnus said.

"HAHA... James, he's right. She's too small to be peeked at. We should go to the older student's cabins." Sirius suggested with a smile, next, both were gone.

"Such degenerates," Snape commented when they were gone.

Magnus raised an eyebrow, "Are they? Because I'm sure I saw you trying to peek too."

Snape turned his head down and didn't say anything.

...

It was a long journey and they reached their destination in the evening. It was called the Hogsmead Station. Magnus liked it a lot, it seemed to be straight out of a fairy tale. A small village-like place with beautiful plants on the buildings.

Just as they all got out of their carriages, a huge bearded man was waiting for them. "All right then, first years. This way."

"This way, please. Don't be shy. This way to the boats." The big man repeated the announcement a few times until all 1st-year students were there.

"I am Rubeus Hagrid, the Gatekeeper of Hogwarts. Okay, let me count. Hmm... 1...2... BLIMEY... we're missing one." Hagrid exclaimed.

"HERE... COMING..." A thin short boy came running from the carriage. He was panting and his clothes looked dishevelled. It was obvious he just wore them.

Magnus looked at the thin, shorter than average, blonde boy. He could already ascertain from the way the boy was acting, that he had some confidence issues.

"I-I was..."

"It's fine. Let's go now." Hagrid didn't make a scene and led them to the boats.

"Get on them in groups of four. Be careful not to fall, it's night time and some creatures might be hungry in there." Hagrid warned, scaring most of the kids there.

But soon, everyone's mouth was left hanging open. Magnus too, he was admiring the railway station earlier, now he looked at the Hogwarts and he felt like he really was in a fairy tale. The humongous, old looking castle, with countless candles eliminating its windows. It stood on a cliff, giving it an amazing defence too. Under the bright moonlight, it was a sight to behold.

Magnus felt tickles in his stomach when he thought that he'd be living here for the next 7 years.

When you enjoy the view, even long rides seem short. So, before they even knew it, they had reached the castle. Magnus and Sirius were rowing the boat while James and the earlier thin blonde boy tagged along with them.

Magnus and Sirius wanted to race the other boats and they were rowing like crazy but Hagrid scolded them a bit as they came very close to hitting his boat. After that, they slowed down.

They got off the boats and climbed the stairs on the cliffside. After a tiring climb, they finally came inside the building. But they were stopped by Mrs McGonagall, who stood in front of them, on the top of the stairs, looking at them with judging eyes.

Her eyes fell on Magnus, which made her a little attentive. She instinctively nodded at him. Magnus did the same by instinct.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, now before you can join the feast and take your seats, you will be sorted into one of the 4 houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like family. Your triumphs will earn you points, and any rule-breaking you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. The sorting ceremony will begin monetarily." She then turned around and led them in.

The big doors opened and they were led inside the great hall, where rows of dining tables were already placed with senior students sitting on both sides of the tables. All of them were wearing pointy hats that Magnus hoped not to wear in his life.

Magnus awed at the beauty of the hall. The ceiling looked particularly beautiful, with its enchantment to look like a night sky.

But then he looked around him, and at the main table. There were many teachers and in the middle was Dumbledore, sitting on the biggest chair like some king.

"Now, please gather around here." McGonagall stopped them in front of a stool on which a dirty hat was placed.

Then suddenly the hat started moving and it sang a tone-deaf song.

"Now, when I call your name. You will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head... and you will be sorted in your houses." She said as she lifted the hat by its pointy tip.

She announced the first name. "Sirius Black."

The students on the Slytherin table cheered just by hearing that name. A girl, tall, slim, very pale, with blue eyes and long blonde hair didn't smile though. As she knew her brother.

The sorting hat started making noises. "Aha... another Black. Good good, defiance, bravery and courage, a very strange Black. I know just the place to put you in... GRYFFINDOR."

The students at the Gryffindor table cheered hearing that. While the Slytherins were displeased.

"Next, Ragnar Ulrik Oroborus." McGonagall voiced.

It was the thin, short, pale blonde boy. He meekly went forward and sat down on the stool.

"SLYTHERIN" The hat announced even before it touched the head. The boy, however, looked crestfallen.

"James Potter..."

"GRYFFINDOR,"

"Lily Evans..."

"GRYFFINDOR..."

"Henry Wint..."

"HUFFLEPUFF..."

"Severus Snape..."

"SLYTHERIN..." the hat announced. But Snape looked saddened that his friend went to Gryffindor.

One by one, all of the students were sorted. Now, only Magnus was left standing there alone. He felt awkward, as if he was left out when the teams were being chosen for a football match in his school.

McGonagall took a long breath. She knew what she was going to say would create a huge storm in the magical world. So much headache was going to come their way. But it needs to be done today or tomorrow.

~I hope you are right in doing this, Albus.~ She thought to herself.

Everyone wondered why there was such a delay in calling his name. The tall blonde boy on Slytherin's table looked at Magnus with angry eyes.

Then McGonagall spoke.

"The last student... MAGNUS GRANT... EMRYS PENDRAGON." This time, it sounded less like she was calling him and more like she was announcing his name to all.

*BOOM*

The hall erupted in chatter. Most students below 5th year didn't know about these surnames. But those seniors or from knowledgable ancient families knew these surnames and what this meant. All of the teachers had the same reaction. An old man, sitting beside Dumbledore looked as if his eyes were going to fall out.

"Albus, is this true? Is he really...?" He questioned hastily.

"Everything is true, Horace," Dumbledore replied calmly.

Magnus, meanwhile, was looking around to see who she was calling for. But when McGonagall nodded towards him, Magnus was sure she was talking about him.

~When did dad change his surname?~ He wondered while scratching his head.

[You can see the train, Great hall, the talking hat and sorting ceremony on my Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]

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Special thanks to *Douglas Flower* *Umar Latif* *Julian Rocamora* *Darrien Steely*

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