The moment Draco finished speaking, both Hermione and Harry sucked in a cold breath.
"D-Death?" Harry stammered. "There's… a quota?"
Hermione frowned. "That can't be right. No one told me students actually die during the school year! If someone died, how would the school even explain that to parents?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't know. I only know what my mother and father told me."
Hermione bit her lip. "Or… maybe they were lying to you?"
Draco instantly bristled.
"My parents would never lie to me!"
But Hermione's confidence wavered. Draco sounded far too certain. Could the magical world truly be this dangerous?
Karmit lowered his book at some point, watching the three with mild amusement.
He finally understood why wizarding families were so united in hiding the truth about the Sorting Ceremony, refusing to reveal even the slightest detail.
Even Narcissa and Lucius — who spoiled Draco to the heavens — had lied to him.
But this lie wasn't meant to harm.
It was tradition — a test of will.
The magical world was no greenhouse.
From the very founding of Hogwarts, when the world outside was far more chaotic, the first test for every young witch and wizard was the courage to step into the unknown.
A steady heart was the first requirement of a true wizard.
Draco suddenly remembered something. He turned sharply toward Karmit. "Cousin! You must know how Sorting works, right? You have to know!"
Hermione and Harry stared at Karmit with equal desperation.
Karmit smiled faintly.
Poor children. He might as well put their anxious hearts at ease… or perhaps not entirely.
"I know a bit," he said calmly.
Their eyes lit up instantly.
"What is it? Tell us!" Draco blurted.
Karmit spoke slowly, deliberately—
"It's simple. Ten students form a group and then fight a mountain troll. Your performance determines which House you're placed into."
Draco froze. "...Troll?"
His voice cracked. His face was a perfect picture of disbelief.
Hermione visibly trembled. She had read enough to know exactly what a troll was — and none of it was comforting.
Harry scratched his head. "Um… what's a troll?"
Draco swallowed loudly.
"It's a magic creature. Brutal. If you're not strong enough, you die.
Hundreds of wizards have been killed by trolls."
Harry's eyes went wide. "D-Die?"
Draco nodded gravely.
Hermione's voice shook. "They're insane! We haven't even started learning magic — how can they expect us to fight a troll?!"
Karmit soothed them gently. "Don't worry. Professors will be watching you, and they'll intervene if you're in real danger."
His tone radiated utter reliability.
The three children believed every word without question.
Karmit added:
"When you arrive at Hogwarts, you'll have one chance to refuse the Sorting Ceremony and leave the school safely.
But if you choose to leave, you'll lose all rights to enter the wizarding world."
The three fell silent — deep in thought.
After a moment— Harry spoke first.
"I won't leave. I'm not afraid.
I don't want to go back. I want to be a wizard… I want to control my own life."
The conviction in his voice surprised even Karmit.
Draco and Hermione soon followed, each wearing the expression of a warrior marching toward certain doom.
Their young hearts were full of foolish, admirable determination.
What Karmit didn't notice… was that two passing first-years had overheard everything starting from the troll battle.
The two boys staggered away on wobbly legs, practically dragging each other.
Within minutes…
A terrifying rumor spread among every first-year:
"Sorting requires fighting a mountain troll. Ten to a group.
Already confirmed."
Some first-years were already forming teams in a panic. Upper-years stared at the chaos in disbelief.
"Which lunatic started this??"
"If that rumor existed when we were first-years, I'd have fainted on the spot!"
In another carriage, the Weasley twins were nearly rolling off their seats laughing.
"Fred, I can't — this is genius!" George gasped.
Fred wiped tears from his eyes. "I heard it came from Black's compartment! He's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. We must learn from him!"
"This might be the greatest prank Hogwarts has seen in years," George agreed.
"You should've seen the faces of the first-years — they're terrified!"
"Right now," he added, "every new student is frantically flipping through spellbooks, trying to master at least two spells before arrival."
Meanwhile, in a lonely corner compartment, Ron shook like a leaf. He had heard the rumor too.
A fight with a troll?
He wanted to go home. He didn't want Hogwarts anymore.
His bladder, unfortunately, agreed with him — again.
Back in Karmit's compartment, the trio who had already resolved themselves felt strangely calm, as if their fear had burned itself out.
Hermione turned to Karmit again.
"Mr. Black, you seem to know a lot about Hogwarts.
I read the school history — it says Hogwarts has four Houses. Could you tell me the differences between them? I think it might affect the path I choose."
Her eyes glowed with earnest curiosity.
Karmit smiled, amused.
Their fates were already unfolding.
__________
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