章 73: An ancient story part3

"So, now you understand why there are no Muggle-borns in Slytherin."

I waited to see if anyone would raise a critical point despite my explanation.

"But I have a question. Normally, there should occasionally be Muggle-borns in Slytherin, but we never see them. How is that possible?"

Hermione asked directly instead of raising her hand.

"The purpose of the Sorting Hat is to place students in the house where they would learn and thrive in the best conditions. However, because there aren't many Muggle-born students in Slytherin and due to the house's prevailing characteristics, Muggle-borns would have never had an easy life there. The Sorting Hat knows this. If more Muggle-borns met Salazar's criteria, then the Slytherin house as we know it would be entirely different."

It's incredible how just a few variables in the past could completely change the world.

Katie raised her hand to ask me something.

"You've explained why the Slytherins and Gryffindors are like cats and dogs, but what about the Slytherins' feelings toward the other two houses?"

"Interesting question, Katie. First, regarding Ravenclaw, the Slytherins respect them because most Ravenclaws are clever and understand that having intelligent people as allies can be a significant advantage. However, what frustrates Slytherins about Ravenclaws is that they often prefer to focus on learning for the sake of knowledge rather than using their intelligence to achieve greatness."

After saying that, I turned toward the two Hufflepuff sixth-years in the room before addressing their house.

"And as for Hufflepuff, the Slytherins see them as naive. While the Hufflepuffs are loyal and wouldn't typically harm anyone, the Slytherins perceive those close to them as pawns to be used in their pursuit of greatness. This clash of philosophies naturally strains their relationship. However, I must stress that what I've said reflects the majority view; there will always be exceptions to prove otherwise."

A good example could be Daphne, who, even though she feels a slight natural aversion towards Muggle-borns, is quite easygoing and doesn't go out of her way to cause trouble for students in other houses.

I've spoken with her several times, and our discussions were rather interesting. She's asked me for advice on potions multiple times. Of course, I told her that she could always consult Professor Snape, who undoubtedly knows the subject far better than I do. However, I also reassured her that if she ever felt too intimidated by him, she could come to me instead.

Through our conversations, I've learned quite a bit about her. Her family runs a magical plant trading business, so while they aren't high aristocracy like the Malfoys, they're still a respected family in the wizarding world.

I recently placed an order for mandrakes with her family's business, but it seems a richly dressed woman bought out their entire stock, paying well above the market price. I plan to do the same— paying well above the market price —not only to secure what I need but also to arrange a visit to their facilities. I'm sure Neville would be thrilled to join me, as he'd greatly enjoy exploring such a place.

You might ask why she is in Slytherin when she has more of a Ravenclaw profile. It's because she is very cunning.

She does not really adhere to the mindset of the girls in her house, but to avoid intimidation, she stays in the group so they can act as a shield against themselves.

If you ask how I feel about her, I find her curious and somewhat charming, even though I know she is motivated by her desire to cure a disease that her little sister Astoria has, which could kill her within a decade.

I promised to help her, of course, because I could also learn more about bloodline curses and how to cure them, even if I believe modern magic might be effective against such curses.

The Greengrass family is very old, so the malediction could date back to a divine era.

I would ask researchers to look for places reputed for healing or where miraculous cures might occur.