Chapter 353: The Call of the Serpent
"The four statues... they represent the mind, the body, the soul, and the heart... you mean to say this transfer student was recognized by all of them at once?"
"The last time that happened was sixteen years ago, if I remember correctly..."
"Where did this boy even come from?"
A chorus of astonished whispers erupted from the students on the balconies. Despite their shock, a thunderous round of applause soon followed.
Sean, however, had no time to listen to the crowd. A series of faint, echoing whispers was beginning to resonate in his mind.
"Choose me, the Horned Serpent," a voice of profound wisdom murmured. "I shall grant you the ability to soar through the heavens of intellect and the power to remain unseen amidst the clamor of the world."
"I have seen your resolve," a firm, unyielding voice spoke next. "I know you will fight with the spirit of a true warrior. A wizard who struggles until the very end belongs in Wampus."
"Since you began your journey, you have had no room for fear, young wizard," an exalted, high-pitched voice declared. "I spread my wings for you. Join the Thunderbird."
"Those who carry kindness in their souls find their home in Pukwudgie," a gentle, melodic voice whispered.
Sean suspected these statues possessed a sentience similar to the Sorting Hat, though perhaps their individual powers were more specialized, which was why they couldn't reach a collective consensus.
"It has been a very long time since I've witnessed a 'Four-Way Choice,' Mr. Green," the young Professor Fontaine noted, her eyes wide with wonder. "When all four statues petition for a student, the decision rests entirely with the student himself."
How should he choose? Sean hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Far beyond the rolling peaks of the Berkshire Mountains, the night over Ilvermorny had turned a stark silver-white. The rowdy atmosphere of the Great Hall suddenly dipped into a breathless hush as every eye fixed on the young wizard standing upon the Gordian Knot.
"Horned Serpent," Sean said clearly.
He had come to Ilvermorny in the pursuit of knowledge; wisdom was his primary path.
"Excellent!" Professor Terra was the first to break the silence, her applause ringing out from the balcony.
"He heard them..." Headmistress Herrera murmured, her expression unreadable.
Very few people could actually hear the statues speak. Even being petitioned by all four houses didn't guarantee that a wizard would hear their voices. In all her years as Headmistress, Herrera had never encountered a student who received such a direct, auditory summons.
"Welcome to Horned Serpent!" the house Prefect shouted, her voice barely carrying over the renewed cheers of her housemates.
In the center of the hall, Sean offered a small, respectful bow. He felt a series of sighs echoing in his mind as the other three connections severed.
"The warrior retreats in defeat—" the firm voice noted.
"Retreats again," the high-pitched voice added with a touch of melancholy.
"The spirit of the Pukwudgie exists beyond the badge," the gentle voice reminded him.
"A wise wizard always makes the correct choice," the intellectual voice noted with a hint of smug satisfaction.
The statues returned to their dormant states. Under a gesture from Professor Fontaine, Sean made his way to the Horned Serpent platform. The students there clapped until their palms were red, and more than a few young witches watched him with shy, curious smiles.
"Silence, please!" Professor Fontaine called out.
The hall settled once more.
"Now, before we conclude the ceremony, let us raise our voices in the school song!" Headmistress Herrera announced. She gave her wand a graceful flick, and lines of glowing text began to writhe and coil in the air above the tables like golden snakes. Simultaneously, four massive banners depicting the house mascots unfurled from the ceiling.
A Horned Serpent Prefect stepped up beside Sean, beaming as she handed him a piece of parchment containing the lyrics.
The students began to sing, swaying as they went:
"We stand as one, united,
Against the Puritan's might.
We draw our inspiration,
From Morrigan's steady light.
For she fled across the ocean,
From a land that feared the wise,
To build this home of magic,
Beneath the western skies.
Oh, Ilvermorny of Massachusetts!
We chose you for our own!
A sanctuary of learning,
The greatest we have known.
Your walls provide our shelter,
Through days just like a dream.
You teach us all the secrets,
Of magic's ancient stream.
Now one thing stands in clarity:
No matter where we roam,
Our heart stays here in Greylock,
In our one and only home,
In Ilvermorny!"
Standing there, Sean couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. Even here, at the start of his American journey, Hogwarts remained in his heart—a distant, quiet symbol of everything he had achieved.
As the song wound down, the Wampus students were the last to stop, their voices lingering on the final notes. Headmistress Herrera conducted the last few bars with her wand and offered them the loudest applause.
"It is time for bed. Please return to your dormitories," she commanded. She caught Sean's eye and gave him a subtle beckoning gesture.
"Our House is located in one of the high towers," the Prefect told Sean with a smile as they prepared to leave. "A little secret for you: they say our founder, Isolt Sayre, could actually understand the speech of water snakes."
"Is that the origin of the Horned Serpent House, then?" Sean asked, showing genuine interest.
He recalled the history—Isolt was a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, and her aunt and greatest enemy had been the fanatical Gormlaith Gaunt. So, did her Parseltongue mutate into a specific dialect for water-dwellers? he wondered. Magic really is extraordinary.
The Prefect noticed the Headmistress watching them and didn't reply, simply giving Sean a warm, lingering look as she bid him goodnight. Aside from his glittering reputation, he was a remarkably polite and handsome young wizard.
Headmistress Herrera approached them, smiling broadly. "There is a hidden path that leads directly from the castle to the Stone Cottage. You have been granted a private residence there for the duration of your stay, my dear Mr. Hermes."
Professor Terra wore a look of "I told you so."
"Go on, my apprentice. It is the very birthplace of Ilvermorny..."
Sean didn't ask why Terra wasn't coming with him. He remembered the look of quiet longing she had worn when they first saw the cottage. It seemed she had negotiated for the cottage to be open only to him. He took it as a mark of high favor.
He followed the winding mountain path toward the cottage. The snow was soft underfoot, and the woods were a silent, pristine white. The trees looked as though they had been draped in thick layers of cotton wool. Snowflakes spiraled slowly through the air, melting the moment they touched Sean's cheek.
He felt a sharp disconnect—he was no longer at Hogwarts.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door of the Stone Cottage. The interior had been transformed into a luxurious suite: a warm fire blazed in a central hearth, a large, plush bed sat against one wall, and frosted stained-glass windows overlooked the peaks. There was even an expansive alchemical workstation.
On the dining table, a lavish feast was laid out.
Sean gave his head a small shake, intending to start his search for the "secrets" Terra had mentioned. Suddenly, the flames in the fireplace flared with a brilliant, pulsing green, and a familiar voice echoed through the room:
"Come to me, child..."
[End of Chapter 353]
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