"I'd throw it in your face that you're paying me for your niece," she said as he blacked out, "but you don't seem surprised.

"If you knew her like I did, and her father, you'd know she was Hufflepuff, or thank Merlin no, a Gryffindor."

"Rivalry never dies."

He just smiled at that.

His attention returned to the group when the hat screamed Slytherin, and his house erupted in applause as a girl made her way towards the table. In Regulus' early years as a Professor, and for the most part as a student, he didn't tend to see any level of celebration when someone was sorted into Slytherin, all the problems the house had with their peers, most of which stemmed from previous years. to their birth, pure resentment.

Today he is proud to see the students, especially the older ones, from the other three houses applauding their new children.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley!"

"Hufflepuff."

He clapped again, keeping his expression as light as possible even though he was losing on his bet, it wouldn't be very mature of him to scare the students just because he was losing a few Galleons because of a childish deal with his friend.

Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger: Gryffindor. Another two girls for Ravenclaw.

"Neville Longbottom."

Regulus' breath failed for a second, the boy walked towards the stool. Regulus didn't like to think about what landed his former best friend in prison, especially after he died in early 1983. What Barty did was already terrible and disgusting, knowing the poor baby who was practically orphaned by his cruel and heinous acts. of their friend and cousin, a baby who is now eleven years old but who had no chance of having a real family because of them. Then he once defended. Regulus' stomach lurched and he felt a lump forming in his throat.

But what happened to the Longbottoms wasn't his fault, there was nothing he could have done that could have stopped it. But guilt is an ugly friend who is always waiting to hug you.

"Gryffindor," the hat announced and he clapped along with the rest. Gryffindor like their parents.

The boy hurried to his seat still with the hat on his head, when he noticed him return, his face red as a tomato with embarrassment before he returned to the table.

There were two more girls before another name he knew was announced.

"Draco Malfoy."

Draco walked up the steps with a cheap imitation of his father's pomposity, head held high and an air of feeling better than everyone there.

The boy's ego was always an issue, with Narcissa and Lucius treating him like the next King of England, spoiled to the bone. Time at school would help the boy realize that he is just a normal person, at least Regulus hopes for that. For there is not the slightest chance of treating the nephew in any special way and accepting any rule-breaking that the boy - being Lucius's son - will make.

Draco sat down on the bench and McGonagall lowered her hat so that it barely touched the boy's head.

"Slytherin.

It is clear.

Regulus smiled and applauded his nephew as he did everyone before him. Draco turned to him before stepping down and walking over to the table, a half-happy, half-cocky smile as he walked past the as-yet-unsorted students.

Moon..., Nott and Parkinson " Slytherin obviously. Two Patil twins, one for Ravenclaw, one for Gryffindor, Perkes..., Sarah... and finally.

"Harry Potter!"

The hall erupted in exclamations and questions, the students murmured, or at least they thought they did. The sound of all the voices blended into a cacophony. It was to be expected that Potter would attract so much attention, after all the boy not only survived an Avada but is also the cause of the defeat of the Dark Lord.

But unlike Regulus waiting for the boy who lived, and James' son, the boy looked strangely shy and even a little uncomfortable in the spotlight as he walked to the bank.

McGonagall placed her hat on her head, unruly curls escaping to the side.

Everyone fell silent, spurred on to get some insight. Regulus noticed Dumbledore's interest in the way he leaned forward the tiniest bit, as did half the teachers. Regulus watched as after the first minute, the boy grabbed the edge of the bench.

As minutes passed, silence filled the air in anticipation.

A hat empath, who knew. Regulus would have bet on Gryffindor without batting an eye, but the selection was not how he would have bet. If he did, he would tell the hat to conclude as quickly as it did with Draco. But again he was wrong.

Nothing out of the ordinary, Persie's voice sounded in her mind, its tone mocking.

"Gryffindor!" the hat finally announced. The table of lions roared. And Dumbledore looked particularly pleased about it.

More long minutes passed while the other students were selected. He saw Harry sit down next to the youngest Weasley and talk to Percy Weasley, the new Gryffindor prefect. And then looking directly at Regulus, he smiled back, before focusing back on his other new students.

At the end of the selection, he owed Persie eleven Galleons and both ended in a tie. Who could have said ten years ago that your healthy friendship with someone your age would be with a Muggle-born? The turns the world takes.

Dumbledore descended from his seat to the front of the head table, his speech in progress.

"Welcome," said the old man. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" Before we begin our feast, I'd like to say a few words: Goofy! Cry! Featured! Pinch! Thanks.

Regulus forced himself not to roll his eyes, it wouldn't be a good example.

He focused on the feast as it emerged, glancing at the fraternizing students. After dessert, Dumbledore got up again.

"Hmm... just a few more words now that we've eaten and drunk. I have some start-of-the-year notices for you:

"First-year students should note that walking through the forest on the property is prohibited. And senior students benefited from remembering this prohibition.

Mr. Filch asked me to remind you that you can't do magic in the halls.

Quidditch tryouts will be in the second week of school. Anyone interested in joining your home team should look to Madame Hooch. And finally, it is necessary to warn that, this year, the corridor on the third floor on the right side is forbidden to anyone who does not want a very painful death."

Damn, Dumbledore Regulus swore, ignoring the voice much like Mrs. Jameson complaining about his language. At least he only did that in the presence of adults, or when he was alone.

Either way, Dumbledore's mind is a challenge for any sage to understand. What a stupid idea it is to put the third-floor hallway so prominently.

It's clear that Regulus knows what's stored there, and because the death of any meddling idiot would be painful, he even helps to ensure the safety of the place, even if he privately is against the idea of bringing the philosopher's stone to Hogwarts. As safe as the school might be, if Voldemort was trying to return or reach the stone it would only be putting the students at risk.

But now he's given all the nosy brats something to explore. And those two redheaded twin boys would be trouble. Now he would have to make more rounds on the third floor to keep the Weasley twins from being eaten by a three-headed dog.

Wonderful, truly incredible.

Regulus Black the Potions MasterDove le storie prendono vita. Scoprilo ora