In the wizarding world, there exists a select group of individuals with rare and extraordinary abilities.
Most famously, Parselmouths, with the ability to communicate with snakes. It was an innate talent passed down through the Slytherin bloodline.
While it could theoretically be learned, it is overwhelmingly hereditary.
Such innate abilities are unparalleled magical gifts.
There are also Metamorphmagi, individuals who can alter their appearance at will without needing to learn spells. Merlin was a Metamorphmagus, as is Tonks, whom William knows personally.
Then there's the gift of prophecy. Some individuals, like Nicolas Flamel, possess the ability to glimpse the future without studying Divination.
And natural-born Legilimens. William had heard about them from Newt Scamander himself.
Newt's sister-in-law, Queenie Goldstein, was one such Legilimens, able to effortlessly enter others' minds and read their thoughts.
However, Queenie had no control over this ability and was constantly bombarded by others' thoughts, which brought her great suffering.
After all, the human mind is complex, filled with dark and unspeakable thoughts. Knowing too much is not always a blessing.
Luna, however, was different from Queenie. She couldn't use her ability for long periods and would only tap into it when something piqued her intense curiosity.
In other words, it was a passive skill that needed to be triggered.
"When do you usually get curious?" William asked.
"Right now, I'm very curious," Luna said dreamily.
"What do you see?"
"I see so many images… Cho is debating whether to drink milk or pumpkin juice at dinner. She's also considering mixing the two."
"Marietta is wondering about the nature of our relationship. She likes you and is thinking about asking you to meet her in the woods after dinner..."
"Alright! That's enough!" William quickly interrupted, speaking in a low voice, "Stop peeking into other people's thoughts. it's rude."
Luna tilted her head, fixing her large, curious eyes on William. "Are you sure? Your roommate, Marcus Belby, is planning to take advantage of—"
Luna abruptly stopped speaking.
William waited a full minute before asking in exasperation, "…Why did you stop halfway?!"
"You told me to stop. Reading others' thoughts is rude," Luna replied innocently.
"…"
William decided it might be safer to sleep in the Room of Requirement tonight.
During the first time loop, Marcus and Bradley had shared a bed hundreds of times.
The psychological trauma still lingered for William.
Luna shook her head as if trying to clear it. "But I still can't sense anything from you or see your thoughts."
"I've blocked them with Occlumency," William explained, explaining it's use.
"Oh, Maybe next time, you could try using it on Professor Snape," he suggested.
Luna shot him a suspicious look, clearly sensingsomething amiss.
Her intuition was frighteningly sharp. She could unravel people's thoughts even without Legilimency, making her the polar opposite of Hermione.
If Luna studied psychology, she would undoubtedly become an expert.
The two continued their conversation, exchanging insights on magical abilities.
William, still learning Legilimency, shared his experiences. During his time in the time loop, Dumbledore had only taught him Occlumency, leaving him to teach himself the complementary skill of Legilimency.
By now, the Sorting Ceremony was nearing its end.
"Ginny Weasley," Professor Flitwick called out.
Ginny walked up to the stool on trembling legs and sat down unsteadily.
Professor Flitwick placed the Sorting Hat on her head. The moment it touched her fiery red hair, the hat exclaimed, "Ah! Another redhead—of course… GRYFFINDOR!"
Blushing furiously, Ginny ran to the Gryffindor table, where Fred and George cheered loudly, banging on the table. Percy looked proud and shouted, "That's my sister! That's my sister!"
Even Oliver Wood stood on his chair, taking off his shoe to wave it in celebration. "Finally! A girl among the Gryffindor first-years! We've got a girl!"
Percy promptly kicked Wood off the chair, sending him flying.
The twins seized Wood's smelly shoe and began plotting some inhumane methods of torture using its pungent scent.
The scene devolved into chaos.
Anyone who married Ginny in the future would certainly struggle with her overprotective brothers.
Wait… who did Ginny fancy again?
The thought of Harry and Ron getting into a brawl over her someday was quite an amusing prospect.
Dumbledore tapped the table lightly, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
If McGonagall had been there, the Gryffindor students wouldn't have dared to act so rowdy. Ffter all, she would deduct points without hesitation.
"Annie Stark!" Professor Flitwick called next.
A buzz of murmurs spread through the Great Hall, like the crackling of embers.
"Stark? Which Stark?"
"Isn't she William's younger sister?"
"They look so much alike!"
Thanks to William's fame, all eyes were on Annie as she walked gracefully toward the stool.
Even Draco Malfoy craned his neck for a better look, only for Pansy Parkinson to pinch him sharply.
"Draco! What are you looking at?!"
"I was just looking at the door," Draco lied smoothly, squinting. "I wonder if Potter will be expelled for being gone so long."
Pansy, somewhat mollified, let it go. She figured Draco worrying about Potter was better than ogling another girl.
Still, something about his words didn't sit quite right with her.
Annie reached the stool, smiled sweetly at Professor Flitwick, and sat down lightly. With a flourish, she tossed the Sorting Hat into the air, flipped it mid-spin, and caught it neatly before placing it on her head.
The fluidity of her movements left the hall in awe.
This year's students were truly extraordinary.
As soon as the hat touched Annie's head, she heard its raspy voice whispering in her ear.
"You do realize I'm the Sorting Hat of Gryffindor, don't you? I'm over a thousand years old. What if you'd dropped me? Could you afford to pay for the damage?"
"Don't worry," Annie replied soothingly, "Luna's great at sewing. She even made me a little bear as a gift. You can ask her to fix you."
"What?! She's the one who brought that needle! Why didn't you stop her?"
"I gave her the needle," Annie said calmly, "I heard you were falling apart and thought she could help. Why didn't you let her fix you?"
"..." The Sorting Hat shivered, recalling the eerie girl with the needle.
"Wait—how do you know I'm falling apart? William would never tell a first-year about me!"
"William didn't tell me, but I can find things out on my own," Annie said, tilting her head. "Honestly, everyone's been lying to me about how Sorting works. Hermione even tried to convince me I'd have to duel a dragon. Bunch of liars"
"Then who told you the truth?"
"If I told you, would you tell Dumbledore?"
"Of course I would."
"Then forget it. I promised Luna I'd keep it a secret."
"…"
Sitting at the staff table, Dumbledore coughed, his expression puzzled.
What was the Sorting Hat up to now?
Why hadn't he already assigned Annie's house?
The hat was supposed to utter a few lines about "difficult decisions" before quickly sorting her into Gryffindor.
Why was it taking so long?
Merlin's beard—had the Sorting Hat betrayed them?