The Hogwarts Express finally reached its destination, Sol along with Katie and Cormac got off the train with their luggage. Sol looked around to see the same scene as last year, students running on the station and Hagrid beckoning the first years. But this time, Sol was a second year and wouldn’t have to reach Hogwarts using boats. As he was making his way towards the carriages, he caught sight of Harry and Ron talking to Hagrid with Hermione behind them. Soon, Hagrid lead the first years away. Sol silently watched before heading to the carriages.

He came in front of one of the carriages only to see it being pulled by some black horse-like creatures. They looked like they were starving and had no meat on their bones. They also had bony, bat wings. Sol looked at the eerie creatures and silently laughed shaking his head.

Thestrals. So I can see them, huh? So this means I really have been reincarnated...

...So who was I? No, it doesn’t matter. I am who I need to be.

He came close to one of the Thestrals and started stroking its wings. The thestral let out a low pitch neigh as it felt Sol's rough hands on its wings.

“What're you doing?”, Katie poked Sol from behind.

“Nothing, just thinking a bit.”

“Ooh, tell me.”

“Why?”

“Come on, tell me~”, Katie insisted.

At this Sol turned around and started to stare intensely at Katie.

Under Sol's burning gaze, Katie couldn’t meet his eyes and hurriedly looked down, “W-What is it?”

Sol lifted his hands to Katie's face and kept staring at her. As Katie was feeling bewildered and was about to ask Sol what he was doing, he flicked her forehead at a lightning-fast speed. This left her no time to react. After receiving that flick head-on, she pressed her forehead with her hands before crouching down.

“OW!! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?”, she screamed in pain, though she wasn’t hurt that bad. It was enough to make her feel annoyed.

“Just thinking of how to tease our Kate this year,” Sol started walking away with a mischievous grin.

Rooted at her spot, she rubbed her forehead before saying, “You're such a bully.”

“Hey, you asked me what I was thinking and I honestly replied.”

Hearing this, Katie ran up to him and landed a jab on Sol's arm. But Sol just laughed it off.

“Oi, you two, stop chattering and get in,” already inside the carriage, the impatient Cormac beckoned.

“Coming!”, the two replied before entering the carriage.

As Sol, Katie and Cormac were inside a carriage, the first years were riding a boat across to reach the castle. Sol looked outside around to see nothing but trees. Trees covered both the left and the right. Sol let out a sigh, feeling content at his mundane life.

Soon the carriage passed through a gate, presumably the front gate of the castle. The three were chatting as the carriage came to a stop in front of the castle. They disembarked and headed straight to the great hall as it was already dinner time. Their luggage was safely transported to their rooms so they did not need to worry about it. At this, Sol felt extremely grateful towards the house-elves.

These guys are convenient as hell. No wonder people keep them as slaves.

Soon, the great hall was packed with second years and above. Only the first years were remaining. Sol was seated alongside Katie and Cormac, opposite the Weasley twins and Lee. Soon after the first years led by Professor McGonagall arrived. Harry, Ron, and Hermio-

Hey, is that Neville?! Look, that chubby kid from last year is at the front of the group with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Though he seems a bit different now? Look at him go! He’s got some pep in his step now. Just where did that chubby kid who used to be so nervous go? Sol was a bit puzzled, he knew awakening his parents would bring about some changes. But this is just a 180° change.

As Sol kept analysing the first years, he found a boy with silver-blonde hair. His eyes seem to have an arrogance deep within though it is now covered with awe and intrigue. His face has sharp features and his aura seems to be a bit posh.

Damn, he looks like a Slytherin!

As Sol was wondering what if there was another prerequisite to getting sorted to Slytherin other than being cunning and power-hungry, Professor McGonagall started to speak, “Before we begin, our headmaster here would like to have a few words.”

At this, Dumbledore stands up and starts to speak, “Yes, I have a few start-of-term notices I’d wish to announce. Firstly, let me introduce Professor Quirell, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher,” he points to a man with pale skin and a turban on his head, “Please give him a warm welcome!” As requested, all the students start applauding with smiles on their faces. Sol looks at the new professor who is nervously looking around and smiling.

Doesn’t he look a bit weak? No, maybe he’s a master of disguise. Let me see what kind of capabilities he ha- OH MY GOD!

As Sol activated Mana Eyes, he instantly became shocked. The new professor's aura was evil and I mean evil. Sol's expression instantly pales. Torture, murder, racism, the dude did everything just shy of rape. However, the next thing shocked him even more.

The dude's possessed? Look at that! He has another mana signature and it’s surrounding the original one. Both the possessor and the possessed are bad. Dumbledore, what the fuck? Do you not do background checks on the people you hire? Why would you hire someone like him?

As Sol kept looking at him, he got an even worse shock. If Sol didn’t have a good heart, he might've passed away here. He was as pale as paper by now.

The possessor's mana signature has the same frequency as the soul within Harry. They’re the same person. What the hell?! Does this person do around keeping bits of himself in everyone? Is he also possessing me?

Sol shook his head to get rid of all unnecessary thoughts. As he was thinking all this, the other students were intently listening to Dumbledore's notices. So, the others did not notice the changes within Sol. Dumbledore continued, “ Secondly, the first years please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also our caretaker, Mr. Filch here has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone that does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you.” Dumbledore finishes his speech and sits down.

The first-half of Dumbledore's speech didn’t reach Sol's ears however the second half piqued Sol's interest.

Huh? Why is that out of bounds? There was nothing like that last year. If it’s out of bounds, then I’m definitely checking it out. Though, not right now. I’m pretty sure others have the same idea as me and Dumbledore knows this too. So there will be guards. I’ll sneak in when no one's looking.

At this point, Sol's thoughts were racing at a million miles an hour. Most of his brain was trying hard to register the series of shocks he received this night and the remaining parts were trying to make a contingency plan.

As Sol is spacing out, all of a sudden he was startled by a sudden yell, “GRYFFINDOR!!”

Huh, what happened?

After the sudden yell, the Gryffindor students started applauding and cheering. Sol looked around to see Hermione making her way to the Gryffindor's table.

Ohh, she got sorted to Gryffindor. I don’t think I’ll get peace and quiet here so I’ll make my plans after dinner.

With this Sol left his thoughts and gave his attention to the sorting ceremony.

Next was that posh, blonde boy, Draco Malfoy's sorting, and wow! The hat just put him in Slytherin without even sitting on him.

D-Did the hat just assume he was Slytherin from his face? Or was it his aura? Is it really evil? Let me che- what the hell?!

Malfoy's aura was white with some black spots here and there.

The dude's not even evil. You can call him good. Hell, even the most righteous heroes might not have an aura as pure as him. And oh my God! Harry is even purer than him. Buddha is that you? Have you come to grace us with your presence?

If Sol wasn’t looking at him, he really would think Harry was Buddha. To be honest, Sol felt extremely suspicious. Harry had a white aura with black spots you could count on one hand. Unless you were a baby, no one would believe that you had an aura this white. Hell, even bed sheets aren’t this white. People would more likely believe a person with an aura riddled with black than someone with a white aura. Holy magic can remove these spots from your aura. Popes and other religious beings had auras like Harry here. And that was exactly why the common people got tricked by the Church. After the Church's downfall, people were more trusting of someone evil than someone good. Though this was for the better. The atrocities the Church committed...

Shudders

As Sol was recounting his knowledge and recuperating from his shock. Susan Bones and Ronald Weasley were already sorted into Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively. Now, it was Harry's turn. Sol turned to look at Harry's ceremony and found him to be mumbling something. From his lips, Sol could make out the words ‘not Slytherin' being chanted repeatedly. Sol's lips curled up.

He really must hate Slytherin, huh.

After several chants, the sorting hat sorted him in Gryffindor with its trademark shout. The Gryffindor students started applauding like there was no tomorrow as Harry made his way to our table. Soon, all the other students got sorted and the feast started. The food as always, teleported in front of us. As soon as the feast started, the great hall was filled with the chattering of students and the sounds of eating utensils. Sol thought it to be an opportune time to engage in conversation as he turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione, “Congratulation to the three of you for getting into Gryffindor. Hopefully, you guys will go from acquaintances to friends.”

“Thanks, Sol.” The three seemed a bit amazed at the amount of food in front of them.

Sol chuckles before saying, “It's noth-“

“YOU'RE-“, but suddenly a shout was heard.

Everyone at our table turns their head at the owner of the voice, only to see a chubby kid with wide-eyes. Sol sees that it’s Neville. Sol couldn’t help but think.

Did he really have to shout? I am a wizard. He would’ve met me sooner or later.

“Hello there,” Sol said awkwardly.

“General Kenobi Sol, you're here too?!”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m a wizard too.”

At this point, Hermione asked, “You know Neville?”

“Yeah, I do. We met St. Mungo's.”

“St. Mungo's?”, Harry asked. He must not know what that is.

“It's the place where wizards and witches go to treat themselves.”, Ron explains.

“You mean like a hospital for wizards?”

“Hospital? You mean those places where a bunch of loonies cut you up saying they’re healing you? No! St. Mungo's has healers which use magic to cure you.”

“Ohh,” it seems like Harry understood.

Sol turned to Neville, “Neville, anything you want to say, say it in the common room. Don’t yell here, it’s basic manners.”

“Yes!”, Neville readily agreed. If one were to closely look at Neville, they could see gratitude pouring out of his eyes.

Sol then grinned towards Harry, “You must really hate Slytherin.”

“H-Huh?”, Harry was caught off guard at that sudden accusation.

“Yeah, I saw you fervently asking the sorting hat to put you anywhere but Slytherin. It seemed like you were praying, you know?”

“You could tell?! Well, I just don’t like Slytherin.”

“I don’t think houses are really a problem.”

“Why would you say that?! There wasn’t a single bad guy who wasn’t from Slytherin!”, exclaimed Ron in disbelief.

“If Harry over here got sorted in Slytherin, would you say he's evil?”

“T-That's...”

“You’ve just been lawyered Point proven. Though I’m quite surprised that Hermione here got into Gryffindor.”

“And why is that?”, Hermione asked.

“Well, with how you are, I was sure you’d get into Ravenclaw.”

“Excuse me?!”, Hermione raised her eyebrow.

“Well, I mean, you seemed quite knowledgeable and intelligent when we first met. Since those are the requirements for Ravenclaw, it’s not that farfetched to say that.”

“Thank you.”, Hermione lowered her eyebrows, quite satisfied with the praise.

Sol inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

Hooh~ that was close. I was walking on thin ice right there. You never know what a woman with a grudge would do.

“Hey, how come you never praise me like that?!”, Katie exclaimed in protest.

Sol looked at her for a bit, then his lips curved up mischievously, “Oh, sorry. How could I forget about you? Our Kate here is the epitome of manliness. Her demeanor makes all the other girls swoon.”

When Katie heard the first half she stuck her chest out, donning a proud expression as if saying, “Yes, yes, I am just that great.” As she was eagerly waiting for Sol's praise, his next words felt like getting doused in cold water. Her proud expression changed into one of shock before twisting into one of anger. She landed a heavy jab on Sol's arm before turning her head away.

“Hmph! I’m not talking to you anymore, you bully!”, she pouted.

Looking at her like this, Sol started to shake. He had to bite his lips to stop himself from laughing. He knew that if he laughed the result would make the Wizarding War look like a tea party.

He quickly calmed down and put on an apologetic expression, “I'm sorry, Kate. You know I’m just joking. Fine, fine, I’ll do it properly now.”

Sol quickly donned a serious expression and looked at the others, “Yes, our Kate here is the Goddess of Beauty. Her beauty makes men swoon. There have been countless who want her but there shall be none who can get her,” as Sol is showering praises, he gets into the zone. Nothing will stop him from showering praises. After all, the art of bootlicking is profound. One might even find the meaning of life by bootlicking. Even Sol feels that bootlicking is a necessary skill in one’s daily life and hopes to master it one day, so he continues, “The moon pales in comparison to her. The gods accidentally destroyed the mold with which they created her and even today it’s their biggest regret,” Sol keeps going on and on while Katie becomes redder and redder. The others who were watching this had a smile that said they were enjoying the show. “Ah, it is written in the legends that her body was created wit- OW! What was that for?” Katie couldn’t bear it anymore and pinched him.

“How could you even say these corny words?”

“Weren't you the one who wanted me to praise you?”

“That’s...”

Seeing her slightly embarrassed face, he switched to an aggrieved expression, “Ahh, see guys even though I was praising her with all my heart, she still hits me. My heart can't take this anymore.”

“What are you-“, Katie is at a loss on what to do.

Fred and George follow up Sol, “How could you Katie?”

“Couldn't you feel the sincerity pouring out of him?”

Sol mentally gave both of them a thumbs up. And now Sol prepares for his final act.

“Boohoo!”, Sol cried out and buried his head in his hands.

Looking at Sol's state, Katie felt a bit guilty. “I-I'm sorry. I liked what you said. They weren’t corny at all. Thank you.”

Hearing those words, Sol jolted back up and when Katie saw that mischievous grin on his face, she knew she got bamboozled.

“The goddess of beauty has accepted my heartfelt words! Cheers!”, Sol broke out into a laugh and raised his cup.

“Cheers!”, Fred and George laughed as they dinked his cup and our side of the table broke into laughter.

Katie became even more embarrassed and started wailing on Sol's arm. But Sol waved it off, “Haha! Okay, jokes and all we should eat. After all, a feast like this only happens four times a year.”

With that, everyone on Sol's side started eating and merrily charting the night away. Everything was normal except for one thing. Sol left the great hall early saying he needed to go to the washroom. However, as soon as he was out of everyone's sight, his smiling expression turned solemn. He kept walking, his pace unchanging. As he walked, any and all paintings trying to get his attention were ignored. If one were to closely look at him, they would understand that he was navigating the castle solely based on his subconscious as his we’re glued to the floor. It seemed he was in deep thought. When he entered the common room, he slumped down on the sofa without a word. He covered his eyes with his right arm.

It seems there’s really no way for me to fix this. Can't accuse the professor of being evil since there's no proof. Since no one knows how to use Mana Eyes other than me, they wouldn’t know from his aura either. I can’t say that I can see his aura as it’s directly linked with Mana Eyes. And if the existence of Mana Eyes comes to light, it’ll create a hell of a lot of ruckus. The creation of new magic is a big deal in any world, especially one as convenient as this. Most people would ask me how I created this. Even if I hide the fact that I was reincarnated, the greedy ones will try to nab me if there was even the slightest suspicion of me knowing something more. This is also related to the next problem, I can't kill him either. I don’t know if they have magic that can search souls or memories. I can’t avoid either of those. I can avoid a memory search if it was done illegally to get my knowledge of magic but I can’t do that if I was a suspect of a homicide. A memory search may be mandatory and going against the law right now is almost impossible for me. Haah~ all I can do is try to catch him in the act or get some evidence in him. But each of those is hard to do. A twelve-year-olds body is somewhat inconvenient.

What a pain in the ass...