Hogwarts: I will not become the Dark Lord

"Alright, everyone, quickly into the Great Hall, and make it snappy!" Professor McGonagall urged the group of students, who were soaked and disheveled from the rain.

The students carefully traversed the slippery entrance hall, each step accompanied by a slight stagger, finally pushing open the imposing double doors on the right.

Ron, looking disgruntled, grumbled to Harry and Neville, repeatedly pushing the wet hair off his face.

The Great Hall remained magnificent and grand, with a touch of elegant arrangement added to welcome the new semester's feast.

Hundreds upon thousands of candles floated like stars above the dining tables, their soft, bright light illuminating the golden cutlery and goblets.

The ceiling was enchanted with a magical spell, echoing the sky outside; beneath the dark curtain, grey-black clouds churned and roiled, resembling the ever-changing weather.

Just then, a deafening thunderclap boomed outside once more, followed by a dazzling, forked lightning bolt that ripped across the ceiling, tracing a breathtaking path.

Four house tables stretched along the sides of the hall, already filled with students chatting excitedly, their cheerful laughter rising and falling.

At the front of the hall stood a fifth long table, the staff's seating, where they sat one by one, their gazes both gentle and stern as they watched the students below.

Compared to the frigid entrance hall, this was undoubtedly a warmer and more comfortable place.

Hermione followed closely behind Harry, Ron, and Neville, heading towards the Gryffindor table, with Jerry trailing behind, but Snape stopped him as he passed the Slytherin table.

"Professor Snape, long time no see!" Jerry said with an awkward smile, "Your hair... is as greasy as ever!"

"Jerry Green!" Snape cast a sinister gaze at Jerry, then tilted his head slightly, nostrils flaring, and said in a low voice, "I think that on the first day of the new semester's Sorting Ceremony, you should return to your seat at the Slytherin table. No matter how much you try to disguise yourself as a lion, you can't change the fact that you are a snake!"

The students at the Slytherin table exchanged glances, smiles playing on their lips but not daring to unleash them, their faces tense as they struggled to suppress their laughter.

Jerry glared at the people at the table, and the Slytherin table immediately fell silent.

Helpless, Jerry could only wave goodbye to Hermione and return to the Slytherin table, joining the vermin.

As soon as he sat down, the students beside Jerry reacted like startled birds, their faces showing horror as they moved away, deliberately keeping their distance from him.

"Professor, look!" Jerry immediately complained to Snape, "It's not my fault, they're bullying me, isolating me, giving me the silent treatment!"

"Hmph!" Snape glared at Jerry, sneered, and returned to the professors' dining area to sit down.

Looking around, Jerry felt both confused and speechless at the students who were avoiding him like the plague.

He considered himself friendly and harmonious... well, maybe!

He could understand the older students, after all, he had indeed 'reasoned' with some of them, but even these younger Slytherin students were afraid of him, which made him wonder if the older 'seniors' were spreading rumors behind his back, damaging his reputation?

The students in Jerry's house didn't want to get close to him, and they all kept a cautious distance from him.

The Slytherin boys' thoughts were simple: they were just afraid of offending Jerry; getting beaten up by him was one thing, but losing to Jerry Green wasn't shameful, but getting beaten up and then having their clothes stripped off and thrown into the Great Hall for others to gawk at... it was simply killing and humiliating.

The Slytherin girls' gazes towards Jerry were much more complicated; after all, now in the entire Hogwarts, even in the entire European wizarding world, there was no boy more outstanding than Jerry!

Professor McGonagall, as usual, placed the Sorting Hat on the three-legged stool in front, ready to begin the Sorting.

The Sorting Hat sang a new song every year, but they all had one thing in common: they were unlistenable and extremely unpleasant, but the students in the hall were very considerate, and no matter how bad the Sorting Hat sang, everyone gave warm applause.

Jerry seriously suspected that it was the students' applause that made the Sorting Hat mistakenly believe that his singing was good, which led him to sing a song before each Sorting!

The applause gradually subsided, and Professor McGonagall unrolled a roll of parchment and announced the list of students who were about to be sorted: "I will read out your names one by one, and those who hear their names should come forward, put the hat on their heads, and sit on the stool.

After the Sorting Hat announces your house, please proceed to the table of your respective house and take your seats."

The Sorting Ceremony didn't take much time, and all four houses welcomed many new students.

As the Sorting Ceremony came to an end, Dumbledore slowly stood up, his half-moon spectacles flashing with wise light, his deep green robe embroidered with stars and moon patterns.

"I have only one word," Dumbledore's voice was deep and magnetic, echoing in the hall, "Welcome, new students, let the feast begin!"

As Dumbledore's voice fell, the originally empty long tables were instantly filled with all kinds of delicacies, the aroma overflowing.

Jerry, who had only eaten two pieces of cake at noon, was already starving, and at this moment, he couldn't wait to pick up a large steak and place it on his plate.

Just then, Malfoy, amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, came to Jerry's side alone.

"Looks like you have something you want to say to me in private?" Jerry gently wiped the corner of his mouth, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, "You didn't even bring Goyle and Crabbe with you."

"My father asked me to remind you," Malfoy's voice was deliberately lowered, revealing a hint of seriousness, "He heard some news from those people! They are gathering..."

"Stop, Malfoy, help me thank your father for the reminder," Jerry interrupted Malfoy's words, all the Death Eaters' actions were being closely monitored by the Apostles and the Wizengamot, and Jerry received separate intelligence from both the Apostles and the Wizengamot every day, "But... I know no less than your father!"

"You..." Malfoy looked at Jerry in disbelief, it seemed that what his father said was right, Jerry Green was Jerry Green, Dumbledore was Dumbledore.

"I didn't expect your father to still be in contact with them!" Jerry glanced at Malfoy jokingly, but when Malfoy heard that his family was still in contact with the Death Eaters, his eyes clearly showed resistance.

"You don't seem so willing to be with them?" Jerry smiled, his voice like a devil from hell, "Have you thought about your future? Joining them like your father?"

Malfoy's face became even more unsightly, and every word of Jerry's was like a heavy hammer, hitting the struggle and contradiction in his heart.

He pursed his lips tightly, without answering, but his flickering eyes had already said everything.

"Do you think I have a choice?" Malfoy said mockingly, "Heaven and hell don't have the right for me to choose, only the fate of being chosen!"