Harry Potter: Returns Back From Game of Thrones (ASOIAF) - 26

Chapter 26: Drawing the Sword

"Oh, you seem to be thinking about things that children shouldn't be considering."

More than the Sorting itself, Harry found himself fascinated by the Hat. "You can actually read my mind?"

"This isn't Legilimency. Gryffindor didn't grant me such invasive abilities—he valued privacy too highly. If we're discussing mind-reading, Dumbledore is already far more skilled than I am in that particular art, though when it comes to judging character, he's not quite my equal."

The Sorting Hat's voice carried a note of pride as it explained.

"I possess only the ability to analyse character traits and maintain basic thought communication. I can perceive your most surface-level consciousness—the thoughts you're actively projecting—but I won't pry into your secrets or memories."

"I see." Harry immediately began channelling divine power into his mind, creating a barrier.

"Ah—so when you don't wish to communicate with me, you don't even need Occlumency training. Just like that. Remarkable. Yes, you're genuinely a prodigy. I now believe you could absolutely thrive in Ravenclaw. I hadn't expected such natural talent in mental disciplines."

Harry nodded with satisfaction. The Hat truly possessed discerning judgement!— Worthy of being a thinking magical artefact.

He couldn't resist asking, somewhat playfully: "You mentioned being given abilities by Gryffindor himself. Did Gryffindor also know alchemy?"

"Of course. All four founders were comprehensive masters of magic—that's precisely why each student here receives complete magical education across all disciplines. I was created by Gryffindor and imbued with the founders' collective discernment for character traits... Ah, but that was nearly a thousand years ago now."

The Hat's voice grew somewhat wistful before brightening again. "By the way, we've been conversing quite a while now. Have you decided which house you prefer? I can no longer clearly perceive your character traits with that mental shield in place. Fortunately I'd already assessed you thoroughly earlier and still remember—you could succeed in any house except Hufflepuff."

"I'm genuinely indifferent. Aren't you being rather lazy? Why not choose yourself? Also, why specifically can't I go to Hufflepuff?"

"Please—when a student simultaneously meets requirements for multiple houses, naturally they choose for themselves. Just moments ago, young Neville Longbottom could have suited Hufflepuff admirably. He's remarkably loyal and honest—Lady Hufflepuff would have treasured him. But he desperately wanted Gryffindor, so there he went. I only assign students randomly when they truly have absolutely no preference whatsoever."

"As for Hufflepuff—whilst Hogwarts welcomes all young wizards with sufficient magical talent, and Hufflepuff will certainly accept students when no other house claims them, when there is choice involved, Hufflepuff specifically requires loyalty, perseverance, honesty, and willingness to embrace hard work without complaint..."

"Fine, fine." Harry felt somewhat speechless. He hadn't become a king to labour arduously—he'd seized power to wield authority and enjoy the privileges that came with it.

Hufflepuff seemed fundamentally unsuitable, so then...

"Wait. You are a hat, aren't you?"

Harry suddenly felt the divine power gathering intensely at his crown—specifically, the portion belonging to Lightbringer stirred with unprecedented eagerness.

If the proximity weren't already so intimate, he wouldn't have sensed it so clearly—the strongest potential vessel he'd ever encountered was literally resting on his head.

Not a purpose-forged blood sacrifice ritual product... but its essential nature was extraordinarily powerful, possessing characteristics that could accommodate various supernatural forces. Quite suitable indeed. This thing and I share destiny!

"I'm certainly a hat! What on earth are you suggesting?"

The Hat had just mentioned being Gryffindor's creation. Harry's mind raced, connections forming rapidly.

Before entering school, Hagrid had mentioned the legendary Gryffindor sword resided somewhere within these walls!

"Deceitful Sorting Hat, how dare you mislead me! You're clearly concealing a sword within yourself! Reveal your true form!"

Without waiting for the Hat's refutation, Harry yanked it off his head decisively.

"What are you doing? The Sorting isn't finished yet—wait—"

This time the Sorting Hat spoke aloud, its voice carrying through the Great Hall. The professors' expressions shifted to astonishment, leaning forward in their seats.

But at this intimate distance, what Harry intended to accomplish, even Dumbledore couldn't prevent in time. Harry's certainty was absolute.

Gripping the ancient fabric, he channelled divine power directly into the Hat's essence, flooding it with overwhelming supernatural force, washing it into compliance with his will.

The Sorting Hat could no longer protest, its consciousness momentarily overwhelmed.

Harry immediately discovered the truth—it wasn't simple Transfiguration disguising a sword as a hat. Hidden within the Hat's interior was a concealed passage, a pocket dimension—more spatial magic, elegantly applied.

Would other students feel appropriately terrified knowing a legendary sword constantly hung suspended above their heads during Sorting? Worthy of the dragon's den and tiger's lair reputation Hogwarts possessed.

This dimensional passage resembled a membrane, clearly possessing specific activation conditions and requirements.

No matter—Harry didn't take conventional paths. Simultaneously employing his overwhelming Charisma, he forced the Hat's magical defences to yield, distorting the established rules and forcibly reopening the sealed gateway.

Reaching inside the newly opened passage, his fingers closed around something solid and magnificent. He withdrew a nearly one-metre silver sword, rubies glittering crimson in the hilt, radiating extraordinarily potent magical power that made the air itself seem to hum.

Running his hand along the perfectly balanced sword—he could see Gryffindor's flowing script and precise goblin runes etched into the steel.

Harry tested the sword's weight with a few experimental flourishes. With his current diminutive height, he could only wield it temporarily as an oversized greatsword, but that posed no obstacle—Harry had mastered numerous weapon forms across his past lives.

Lightbringer's essence practically sang with eagerness to merge with this magnificent vessel.

Exceptional blade! Perfect!

With Harry's kingly power as the binding force, he could make Lightbringer's divine essence flow in and out of the sword at will, creating the ultimate weapon.

After Harry finally withdrew his vast divine power and suppressed his overwhelming Charisma, the Sorting Hat recovered its voice at last, sputtering indignantly:

"Wait—you absolutely cannot keep that sword! It's Hogwarts property, held in trust for all worthy Gryffindors. Only a true Gryffindor facing mortal danger can legitimately draw the blade. Your power proved so immense I couldn't physically resist, but the process was completely improper. Please, return it immediately."

Its voice dropped lower toward the end—apparently this ancient Hat valued its dignity, not wanting others to overhear its embarrassing defeat.

Then its voice suddenly rang out loudly again, decisive:

"Also, you have no choice remaining now. As everyone knows, only a true Gryffindor can successfully draw this legendary sword from its hiding place... Harry Potter—GRYFFINDOR!"

The sword was ultimately surrendered to Dumbledore for temporary safekeeping after considerable discussion. Harry agreed not to bring it to dormitories or classrooms during regular school hours, but secured permission to borrow it for combat practice after providing advance notice.

If future dimensional crossings could somehow be predicted in advance, he could potentially carry this sword across realities with him.

Each crossing apparently only permitted carrying items physically on his person at the moment of transition. Could spatial storage equipment circumvent that limitation? Like the storage rings prevalent in certain mystical traditions, the magical world surely possessed equivalent technology worth investigating.

Additionally, Dumbledore had seemed remarkably reasonable during their brief conversation. Before this meeting, Harry had carefully considered contingency plans if the Headmaster proved to be a true enemy requiring elimination.

After actually meeting him face-to-face, that seemed increasingly unlikely. The man had simply grown old, his legendary power perhaps diminished by time and burden.

This wasn't some mastermind plot twist waiting to unfold—Harry's only genuine enemy should remain Voldemort alone.

At the Gryffindor table, animated discussion continued unabated, voices rising and falling in excited speculation.

Harry had certainly made a spectacular entrance this time. Before even officially joining Gryffindor house, he'd caused continuous extraordinary incidents—first petrifying multiple ghosts, which everyone had thought shocking enough, but then he'd drawn forth Gryffindor's legendary sword through sheer force of will and power.

As Harry walked confidently toward the Gryffindor table, the assembled students first felt profound awe ripple through their ranks, then collectively breathed sighs of relief when he sat amongst them rather than facing them as an opponent.