The Great Hall was breathtaking. Every bit as magical as Alaric had imagined in the countless stories he’d heard about Hogwarts. The enchanted ceiling shimmered with a velvety night sky dotted with stars, and the rows of students at the house tables filled the hall with excited murmurs. But none of that compared to the pounding of his own heart as he waited for his name to be called.

“Ashcombe, Alaric!”

The words seemed to echo endlessly, and Alaric swallowed hard before starting walking. His legs felt like jelly as he walked toward the Sorting Hat, every eye in the room on him. He climbed the few steps to the stool, sat down, and felt the hat drop onto his head, just brushing his wavy blonde hair.

“Ah, a sharp mind,” the Sorting Hat mused in a low, thoughtful tone only he could hear. “Ambitious, resourceful… and quite cunning. Oh yes, there’s no question where you belong.”

Before Alaric could even respond, the hat boomed, “SLYTHERIN!”

His chest swelled with pride as cheers erupted from the Slytherin table. A wide grin broke across his face as he hopped off the stool and made his way toward his new housemates, who were clapping and calling his name.

This was exactly where he wanted to be. Ambition, drive, the determination to succeed... Slytherin was home. As he sat down among his housemates, Alaric touched the phoenix charm on his bracelet and smiled to himself.

This was only the beginning.