Orochimaru travels to Hogwarts

Chapter 31 Hermione: It's not such a bad thing to look like a snake?

Which college do you want to attend?

Orochimaru could understand Harry and Hermione's worries about him, but he couldn't help but smile slightly after hearing Ron's words.

"Isn't this supposed to be based on our own personality tests? Does the Sorting Hat really listen to our own requests?"

Orochimaru asked softly, trying to keep his expression gentle.

Ron still felt like he was being stared at by a snake, and even though the snake didn't flick its tongue at him, he still felt uncomfortable.

He tried to dispel the uncomfortable feeling and instead confirmed Orochimaru's guess.

"Sometimes the Sorting Hat might think you're good enough for either house, so it will ask for your opinion."

Oh?

Can you do this?

Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

By his nature, he felt he should be sorted into Slytherin, since of the four houses, he liked Slytherin the most.

But if we consider future prospects...

To put it another way, the Hokage's younger brother is the Hokage, the Hokage's disciple is the Hokage, and the Hokage's son is also the Hokage.

Rights are passed down only through bloodlines and close relationships.

The so-called popularity and merits are nothing more than words used to appease the common people.

If the ninja world is like this, then the magic world probably won't change much either.

Then, referring to Dumbledore's house, which was as powerful as a wizarding god, Orochimaru didn't even need to think to figure out which house he should be assigned to.

"If I could, I would definitely go to Gryffindor."

As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, Harry immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Not only him, but even Hermione's face showed a hint of joy.

This made Ron very unhappy; he felt as if he had been subtly excluded from a small group.

only……

Ron glanced at Orochimaru, his gaze finally settling on the small white snake coiled around Orochimaru's neck.

Anyone who owns a pet like this must be a born Slytherin, there's absolutely no doubt about that!

Just as Harry was about to chat with Orochimaru about his new treatment at the Dursleys' house, the voices of the prefects from various houses rang out from outside the box.

"New students, students, put on your robes! We're almost at our stop!"

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru gave Hermione Granger a sinister smile.

"Please change your clothes in the private room. Harry and I can keep watch for you outside."

"Me too!" Ron quickly said. He didn't want to fall behind Orochimaru. There was no reason; he just didn't want to.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

The box was in chaos again. Initially, Harry and Ron's luggage was in another box, but then it was discovered that Hermione's suitcase hadn't been brought over either.

By the time they had all found their luggage and changed into their robes, the Hogwarts Express had already stopped.

Orochimaru, wearing a wizard's robe cut from Madam Malkin, was the first to get off the Hogwarts Express, followed closely by Harry, while Hermione, with a hint of anticipation and curiosity, was the third to disembark.

Ron was forgotten, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

He chased after Orochimaru and his group, running all the way to Hagrid. There stood the giant-like game field guard and key keeper, holding an excessively large lantern, shouting loudly at the chattering first-year students:

"First-year students, follow me!"

The new students followed behind Hagrid, moving slowly forward with his footsteps.

A moment later, Hogwarts Castle appeared before each of them like a slowly unfolding scroll.

It was a tall castle situated on the shore of a vast lake.

Countless spires and towers gleam under the starry sky, and from a distance, the windows interspersed among them seem to radiate light like stars themselves.

Starlight and reflections cast a shadow on the shimmering lake, accompanied by clouds drifting across the sky, making everything seem like a dreamlike scene.

Harry was stunned. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of spending seven years studying at this school.

Not only him, Hermione also slightly opened her mouth, gently biting her lower lip with her large, frightening front teeth.

She insisted on attending Hogwarts; this stubborn girl always had her own principles.

As for Orochimaru...

He unconsciously crossed his arms, stared at Hogwarts Castle in the distance, and subconsciously began to think about it from the perspective of war.

Like Konoha Village, Hogwarts Castle was designed with the threat of war in mind from the very beginning.

Lakes can serve as buffers and moats, slowing down the enemy's attack in the first moments of a war.

The castle sits atop the highest point, allowing for easy counterattacks from all directions even under siege. Furthermore, a seemingly endless forest stretches out nearby. If a secret passage leads to that forest, it could certainly catch the enemy completely off guard.

If I were to attack this castle myself, I would need at least thirty squads led by Jonin.

It's not easy to attack, but I should be able to handle it?

Orochimaru, as was his habit, assessed the situation as the crowd surged toward the lake. He could clearly see that the students arriving at Hogwarts for the first time had to take a boat to reach the castle.

The older students, however, rode in carriages pulled by two horses. The horses were strange; I must dissect one sometime.

Orochimaru thought to himself, but when he looked up, he saw Harry waving at him from afar.

Sometime during the night, Harry somehow managed to steal a boat. Hermione and Ron were already on board.

"Slack! Here! Here!"

Harry shouted excitedly.

The new students instinctively turned their heads to look at Orochimaru, who was being greeted by Harry. They couldn't understand why Harry Potter, who was so famous, would value a new student so much.

Perhaps they are very close friends?

Some people speculated, while others were dissatisfied.

Draco Malfoy, who was sitting on a boat with Crabbe and Goyle, watched Orochimaru walk toward Potter with great displeasure.

He had actually been appeased by Yena Yaxley, mainly because of that sentence—

"The future head of the Malfoy family is naturally tolerant. That Slack will become a better follower than Crabbe and Goyle."

Malfoy was quite pleased; he even decided to extend some goodwill to the Slacks. So, while everyone was observing Orochimaru, he stood up and, with a touch of arrogance, called out to Orochimaru:

"Slack, I'll allow you to ride on my boat."

The newborns, born into a wizarding family, were naturally aware of the Malfoys's long-standing arrogance and rudeness.

Upon hearing Malfoy shout that, they all turned their heads and looked at Orochimaru with curiosity.

This young wizard hadn't even entered Hogwarts yet, nor had he been assigned to a house, yet he had already attracted the attention of both Harry and Malfoy.

What is his background, and which college will he be assigned to?

Everyone was filled with questions, but Orochimaru had no intention of answering them. He simply walked calmly to Harry's ship and slowly sat down.

"The boat is setting sail, so hold on tight!"

Hagrid shouted at the crowd.

The ship sailed without wind, carrying those who were visiting the magical world for the first time to the castle where they would spend the next seven years.

Orochimaru looked relaxed, occasionally reaching out and gently gliding his hand across the lake's surface, enjoying the cool night breeze.

"We'll definitely be assigned to the same college, right, Slack?"

Even while sitting on the boat, Harry kept asking this question.

It's best not to; I don't want to be in the same college as this snake.

Ron Weasley thought sullenly.

As for Hermione, she simply stared at Orochimaru's profile. Reflected by the starlight and the shimmering light on the lake's surface, Orochimaru's profile resembled a small white snake covered in scales.

It's strange, she clearly doesn't like snakes.

But at this moment, she suddenly felt that it wasn't strange to feel like a snake.

Time flowed by gently, and when the new students reached the shore, Professor McGonagall was already waiting there.

She first organized the new students into a line, then led them to a small room next to the hall and explained to them what was about to happen.

Each student is sorted into one of four houses. Orochimaru already knew the specific house names, so Harry and his group weren't too nervous.

After everyone expressed that they understood, Professor McGonagall pushed open the door and led the students inside.

She held a long roll of parchment in her hand, and while having the freshmen line up, she read out the names of the freshmen who were about to be assigned to their respective colleges.

"Now, freshmen whose names I am calling, please come forward and put on your sorting caps."

"Professor McGonagall said sternly. Her harsh tone made several young wizards turn pale with fright."

But she didn't care.

After glancing through the list of new students, and pausing particularly long over the name Slack Anguis, she loudly proclaimed the first name.

"Hannah Abbott, come forward!"