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Hi everyone!!
Did you miss me ? I know you did! In any case, I missed writing!
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that we're setting ourselves a little challenge to get into the Fanfiction top rankings, so for every 100 power stones, I'll publish a bonus chapter !
In the meantime, you can contribute to the release of a bonus chapter on P@tre0n.
(PS: A friend suggested I create a P@treon account. If you'd like to see advanced chapters posted on Webnovel, that's where you can find them! I'll also mention all the supporters at the end of each chapter!)
Search : StoryLabo on the website or click the link on my bio
Happy reading !
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The boats gently docked against a small wooden pier that seemed to date from the Middle Ages. Aiden stood up with the other first years, his legs still slightly shaky after this magical crossing.
Damn, I'm eleven years old and I just crossed a Scottish lake in a boat that steers itself, he thought, observing the other children descending with more or less elegance. My life has definitely become more interesting.
- "Come on, come on! First years, follow me!" Hagrid bellowed, waving his massive lantern. "Watch where you put your feet, the stones can be slippery!"
Aiden followed the flow of nervous children along a paved path that wound toward the imposing doors of the castle. With each step, he felt Hogwarts' magic intensify. It was like walking in a cloud of pure energy, both electrifying and soothing.
The elements here are really different, he observed, perceiving the benevolent whispers of the spirits of stone and ancient wood. More serene, more... civilized. A thousand years of magic have created a true elemental ecosystem.
They finally arrived before the main doors, two massive oak panels at least five meters high, adorned with complex ironwork and carved runes that seemed to glow faintly in the torchlight.
Hagrid raised his massive fist and struck three resounding blows against the wood.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The echo resonated in the night like a thunder roll, making several first years jump. A respectful silence immediately settled among the children, as if the solemnity of the moment had just hit them all at once.
The door opened with a creak, revealing a familiar silhouette.
Professor McGonagall stood in the doorway, imposing in her dark green robes, her gray hair pulled into a tight bun, her piercing eyes sweeping over the group of first years with her usual expression, a sort of mixture of benevolent authority and professional severity.
- "Thank you, Hagrid," she said in a clear voice that carried effortlessly. "I'll take over from here."
The half-giant nodded and moved away toward what must be his cabin, his heavy steps echoing on the cobblestones.
McGonagall turned her attention to the first years, and Aiden felt her gaze linger a fraction of a second on him. He greeted her with a nod and a small smile.
- "Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall began in a solemn tone. "In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall and join your classmates. But just before, you must be sorted into your houses."
She paused, letting her words take effect on the assembly of nervous children.
- "There are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each has its own history, its own traditions. During your stay at Hogwarts, your house will be your family, and your successes will earn it points, your failings will lose them."
Blah blah blah, house points that don't serve much purpose since Gryffindor has a favorite arriving this year, Aiden thought. Come on, let's speed things up a bit, I can't wait to see how the Sorting Hat will react to my little inner world.
- "Wait here," McGonagall concluded in a sharper tone. "Prepare yourselves. I'll come back to get you when we're ready for the Sorting Ceremony."
She turned on her heel and disappeared into the castle corridors, leaving the first years alone with their growing nervousness.
That's when Ron Weasley started rambling.
- "Fred told me we had to fight a troll," he whispered to Harry Potter, his freckles paling visibly. "George said we had to recite really complicated spells. And Percy said we had to solve a Sphinx riddle..."
Ah, the Weasley twins and their traditional jokes, Aiden sneered internally. Poor Ron, he's going to end up having a heart attack before even getting to the ceremony.
The effect was immediate. Several first years began to panic openly, whispering among themselves about their knowledge of spells and magical creatures.
- "A troll?" Neville Longbottom stammered, completely terrified. "But... but we haven't even had classes yet!"
Honestly, they're adorable, Aiden thought, observing the chaos spreading. If they knew you just have to put on a hat...
That's when a drawling and arrogant voice made itself heard.
- "So it's true what they're saying on the train? Harry Potter is really at Hogwarts?"
Draco Malfoy was advancing toward Harry, flanked by his two usual gorillas, Crabbe and Goyle. Even at eleven, the kid already radiated that arrogance typical of traditionalist pure-blood families.
Aiden observed him with curiosity. Draco Malfoy, crush of countless girls in my former world, future Death Eater, son of Lucius, little prince of Slytherin and master of the Elder Wand for a time without even knowing it. Interesting to see him at this age.
- "My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy," the blond boy introduced himself with a smugness that would have made a peacock pale. "You'll soon find that some wizarding families are worth more than others, Potter. You wouldn't want to hang around with just anyone."
He cast a contemptuous look toward Ron Weasley.
- "I can help you choose the right friends."
Aiden almost burst out laughing. Fuck, he really delivered the complete tirade! Word for word like in the book! This kid has absolutely no subtlety.
Harry, true to himself, refused politely but firmly.
- "Thanks, but I think I can recognize bad company on my own."
Malfoy flushed with anger, but before he could reply, something else caught everyone's attention.
A piercing cry rang out in the hall.
All the first years looked up at once, and that's when they saw them.
The ghosts.
Two translucent specters floated through the walls and ceiling, chatting cheerfully among themselves as if they hadn't noticed the presence of the children.
Nearly Headless Nick and the Fat Friar... Aiden automatically identified. All the resident ghosts of Hogwarts.
But what really struck him was what he perceived around them.
An immense aura of death.
Not violent or terrifying death. Rather a sort of... void. A space where natural elements couldn't exist. As if the very condition of being a ghost created an exclusion zone for elemental spirits.
Fascinating, Aiden thought, squinting behind his glasses. The little elemental beings are literally fleeing this zone. As if the residual death of ghosts was unnatural to them.
He held his chin, lost in his reflections.
That means that phantasmic existence and elemental essence are incompatible. Interesting. Very interesting indeed. That could explain why...
- "AAAAHHHHH!"
The two ghosts, Nearly Headless Nick and the Fat Friar had just spotted him and let out a shrill cry before fleeing at full speed through the walls.
All the first years turned toward Aiden, completely perplexed, and instinctively stepped back.
Shit, Aiden realized. My affinity with elements must create a sort of aura that freaks them out. I'm like their natural antithesis.
Ron Weasley, in his great usual spontaneity, was the first to comment.
- "It must be because of his weird look," he declared without the slightest embarrassment. "Even a dead person would be scared with hair like that!"
Aiden couldn't help but smile. At least Ron hasn't changed. Still the king of diplomatic finesse.
"Thanks for the comment, Weasley," he said calmly. "Very constructive."
Actually, it's logical, he reflected. If I'm so connected to natural elements, ghosts, who represent a form of "unnatural" existence, must perceive me as a threat. Or at least as something incompatible with their state.
Fortunately, before the situation became more embarrassing, McGonagall returned.
- "We're ready for you," she announced, opening the doors wide. "Follow me."
The Great Hall was... breathtaking.
Even prepared by his memories of the book and movies, Aiden was struck by the supernatural beauty of this place. The magical ceiling perfectly reproduced the starry sky outside, thousands of candles floated in the air without ever dripping, and the four long house tables extended the full length of the hall.
Fuck, he thought, momentarily captivated. It's even more impressive in real life.
- "It's not really the sky," Hermione Granger whispered to someone near her. "It's just a spell. I read it in Hogwarts: A History."
Aiden heard her and couldn't help thinking: Once I have the level, I'd really like to develop similar magic. Creating illusions of this quality must require incredible mastery.
McGonagall guided them to the center of the hall, near the staff table. Aiden noted in passing Dumbledore with his immaculate white beard, his twinkling eyes, an aura of wisdom and power, sitting in the center, observing the first years with benevolence.
Albus Dumbledore, he thought. The most powerful man in the magical world. The one who defeated Grindelwald and who is the only person Voldemort truly fears. I'll have to be very careful with him.
- "Now," McGonagall announced in a voice that carried throughout the hall, "before taking your places, you will be sorted into your houses."
She headed toward a three-legged stool on which rested a wizard's hat that was frayed, patched, and particularly unsavory.
The Sorting Hat, Aiden realized, his stomach knotting slightly. The moment of truth.
Suddenly, a tear near the brim of the hat opened like a mouth, and the Sorting Hat began to sing its traditional song introducing the houses.
Aiden listened distractedly, too busy mentally preparing his strategy. I'll have to let just enough through so it can do its job, but not to the point where it discovers my true secrets. Delicate balance.
The song ended to applause from the students.
- "When I call your name," McGonagall declared, unrolling a long parchment, "you will come put on the hat and sit on the stool."
She began the alphabetical list.
- "Abbott, Hannah!"
Hannah stepped forward trembling, put on the hat which fell over her eyes, and after a few seconds:
- "HUFFLEPUFF!"
She ran to the yellow and black table under applause from her new house.
The list continued. Susan Bones to Hufflepuff, Terry Boot to Ravenclaw, Mandy Brocklehurst to Ravenclaw...
- "Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione almost ran to the stool, put the hat on her head and... after a deliberation that seemed to last an eternity:
- "GRYFFINDOR!"
She joined the red and gold table, beaming with joy.
As expected, Aiden thought.
- "Mortensen, Aiden!"
Silence immediately fell throughout the Great Hall. Hundreds of pairs of eyes turned toward him, and Aiden distinctly heard murmurs rising from the different tables.
His hair...
His weird glasses...
His look...
He looks like an emo elf...
Who is that one?
Aiden calmly walked toward the stool, supremely ignoring the general attention. He was used to being observed since his physical transformation.
He sat on the stool and McGonagall gently placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
The effect was immediate.
Several seconds of absolute silence settled. Then, instead of the Hat's usual mental voice, it was an audible exclamation that the entire hall heard:
- "GREAT MERLIN!"
In the Great Hall, some professors exchanged surprised looks. Dumbledore frowned very slightly, but remained silent.
Inside Aiden's head, however, it was a completely different spectacle.
Lower your defenses, you foolish child! the Sorting Hat grumbled mentally. How do you expect me to do my job if you're blocking me access?
Ah, sorry, Aiden replied with innocent politeness. It's automatic. Let me fix that.
He lowered his mental barriers slightly, just enough to allow the Sorting Hat to enter his mental space.
And that's when things became... interesting.
The Sorting Hat suddenly found itself projected into the immensity of Aiden's mental archipelago, this infinite space of floating platforms, golden clouds, mysterious islands.
WHAT IS...
It was the first time in a thousand years of existence that the Sorting Hat encountered such a vast and complex mind.
Aiden, sensing the Hat's bewildered presence in his inner world, extended one of his golden threads of consciousness and gently attracted it toward his main platform that was navigating through this vast space.
This way, he said with kindness. I'll make the job easier for you.
The Sorting Hat found itself placed on the head of Aiden's mental version—who had the appearance of a mixture between his former adult self and his current child's body, in a setting of clouds and stars that defied all logic.
The Sorting Hat made no comment about this appearance.
The Sorting Hat, completely destabilized but professional despite everything, began its work. And then...
SWEET SALAZAR!
Another audible exclamation rang out in the Great Hall, making half the students jump.
What the Sorting Hat had just discovered shocked it to the highest degree. What it was analyzing was an eleven-year-old child with sharpened surgical intelligence, an affinity with elemental spirits of nature, mental powers that surpassed those of most adult wizards, and with potential that exceeded everything it had seen, and above all...
An ambition, a thirst for knowledge and power that was matched only by that of... Which had cost the lives of hundreds of animal and insectoid life forms...
AZKABAN! the Sorting Hat cried mentally in Aiden's head.