Evan had no worries about whether he would be expelled.
This was the advantage of knowing the story, unless Voldemort had entered Hogwarts disguised as Dumbledore. Otherwise, they would not have anything at all, and even points would not be deducted.
However, seeing Snape standing on the side with a dark face, Evan knew that his hatred to Harry in his heart must be 100%, and this was indeed a pity.
In fact, he was very interested in both Professor Snape himself and Potions. However, as things stood, as long as he continued to mix with Harry, Snape would be drawn into a hostile camp.
Just as Evan was thinking about how to get along with Snape, Professor Dumbledore came in.
Evan immediately looked curiously at the greatest white wizard of his time, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, an old man with flowing silvery white hair and a beard. He had to admit that Dumbledore’s temperament was very outstanding.
However, he was looking unusually grave this time. He stared down his very crooked nose at them, his sharp and bright blue eyes filled with silent reproaches.
“Please explain why you did this?”
In the face of Dumbledore’s gaze, Harry and Ron looked pale as if they were still being beaten by the Whomping Willow.
Harry looked down at his knees and recounted everything in details, except that Mr. Weasley owned the bewitched car, making it sound as though the three of them had happened to find a flying car parked on the dirty streets of London.
Evan was sure that Dumbledore would see through this at once.
He watched Dumbledore’s expression attentively, and then he saw that he suddenly winked at him. Evan hurriedly bowed his head, only to find that his performance was too relaxed and not at all like that of someone who had just made a mistake.
“Professor, you can’t expel Evan. He had advised us to use Hedwig to send a letter to the school.” Harry concluded wretchedly. “It’s all my fault, I pulled him into the car.”
“And me, I started the car.” Ron said desperately. “This matter has nothing to do with Evan. We’ll go and get our stuff.”
“What are you talking about, Weasley?” barked Professor McGonagall.
“Well, you’re expelling us, aren’t you?” said Ron.
“Not today, Mr. Weasley,” said Dumbledore. “But I must impress upon you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to your families tonight. I must also warn you that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you.”
Snape looked as though Christmas had been cancelled. He cleared his throat and said, “Professor Dumbledore, these three students have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree … surely acts of this nature…”
“Not exactly, Severus, I think you just heard Harry’s narrative. This matter has nothing to do with Mr. Mason!” Dumbledore said calmly. “As for the two of them, it will be for Professor McGonagall to decide on their punishments. They are in her House and are therefore her responsibility.” He turned to Professor McGonagall. “I have to go back to the feast, Minerva. Mr. Mason is going to be sorted and I’ve got to give a few notices.”
“But, Professor!” Snape continued unwillingly.
“Come, Severus, there’s a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample.”
Evan followed them both to the Great Hall. Dumbledore went up and said a few words. The originally noisy Great Hall suddenly became very quiet.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes to Evan standing next to the teachers’ table, looking sideways, hoping to see what he looked like.
Evan swallowed. Sweat was all over his tight palms. This feeling of being watched by all people was very bad, as if he had become a treasured animal and was surrounded by people watching in the zoo; and he could hear a pent-up discussion coming from around him.
“Look, it’s the boy who just disappeared!”
“God, he’s covered with blood, was he just fighting a troll?”
“How is that possible? Didn’t you read today’s Daily Prophet. He came to school in a flying car with Harry Potter.”
“A flying car, that’s really cool!”
“And, I overheard the ghosts talking just now. They bumped into the Whomping Willow.”
The argument continued, but Evan didn’t have the heart to listen to what they were saying. He saw Professor Snape take out the Sorting Hat and walk to the four-legged stool.
“Mason, Evan!” Snape had a gloomy face.
Since Professor McGonagall had not yet returned, he had to take her place and preside over the Sorting Ceremony, and he pressed the Sorting Hat hard on Evan’s head.
The next second, all the voices around disappeared.
“Aha!” Evan heard a subtle, sharp voice. “A late new student, I see. Very smart, very talented, and the heart is not bad. You should go to Ravenclaw, where the smartest minds are often the most promising.”
Evan nodded. Ravenclaw, this is a good choice.
He heard that their House had its own library, which contained many books that were not published to the public, which can help him learn quickly. Besides, Evan knew that Madam Rowena Ravenclaw had in-depth research on Horcruxes, and there was a need to have her notes, which would be very helpful in fighting Voldemort.
“But I just heard about you.” The Sorting Hat continued to twist around on Evan’s head. “I haven’t seen any new student enter school in such an impressive way for many years. Plenty of courage, I think Gryffindor may be more suitable for you.”
Before Evan could express his opinion, the Sorting Hat on his head screamed loudly, “GRYFFINDOR!”
Taking off the Sorting Hat, Evan saw Snape staring at him severely.
He couldn’t remember how he walked to the Gryffindor long table, only to hear the loud cheers like thunder, as if he had become a hero returning home in triumph.
“Brilliant!” A dark-skinned boy stood up and shook hands with him. Evan recognized him as the twins’ friend, Lee Jordan. “Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people will be talking about that one for years!”
“Good for you!” Gryffindor’s long table entered a festive atmosphere, and a senior student whom Evan had never seen before came over and shook hands with him.
A few seconds later, Fred and George rushed to the front and asked, “Why didn’t you call us back?”
Evan didn’t know what to answer, but fortunately they were pushed aside by others. He saw a very small, mousy-haired boy clutching a Muggle camera to himself.
“Hello, E, Evan, I’m, I’m Colin Creevey, and I’m a first year like you.” said Colin breathlessly, “I heard that you and Harry Potter came to school by car. It’s so cool. Can I have a picture of you?” He raised his camera and looked at Evan hopefully.
“No problem!”
But before Evan posed, Hermione was in front of him, and she looked as unhappy as Percy in the distance.
“This is ridiculous, why didn’t you take the Hogwarts Express.” Hermione’s tone was almost as severe as Professor McGonagall’s. “Still, did you really fly in?”
“Yes, Hermione!” Evan nodded carefully.
“Oh my God, how dare you…” Hermione began to criticize.
Fortunately, it didn’t last long, and the person in front of Evan changed to Ginny, which made him feel relieved.
“Ginny, you won’t talk to me like Hermione, will you?”
“Don’t blame Hermione, she didn’t see you in the train, she was worried!” Ginny asked with a worried face. “Where are Ron and Harry? How are they?”
“They’re fine.” Evan took a pudding from the front plate. “I’ll talk to you later, let me eat something first. You know, tI haven’t eaten anything since noon.”
However, before he put the pudding into his mouth, the food on the plate in front of him disappeared completely as if it had never appeared before, and the ceremony was over.
“Oh, no!” Evan collapsed weakly in his chair.
