The silence in the Great Hall lasted only a few seconds before the entire place erupted into chaos.
Godric Gryffindor!
For the witches and wizards of Hogwarts, that name was legendary. No one had expected to hear it echo once again through Hogwarts Castle, this time spoken as the name of a living person.
In their panic, countless people knocked over their goblets, and quite a few students from Gryffindor House even leapt to their feet.
As for the students from the other schools, the awkward name "Godric" meant little to them. They merely noticed that the man's surname was identical to that of Gryffindor House.
Perplexed by the reactions of the Hogwarts students, they quietly questioned those they had already become acquainted with and received a shocking answer:
Godric Gryffindor was one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Hogwarts had been founded a thousand years ago.
In other words, this red-haired man was claiming to be the legendary wizard Godric Gryffindor himself?!
"Lies!"
"Fraud!"
"Maybe it's just the same name."
After the initial shock wore off, the students voiced their opinions. Some believed the man to be a swindler seeking fame, while others thought he had merely happened to share the founder's name, whether intentionally or not. Very few actually believed he was Godric Gryffindor.
After all, even in the magical world, almost nobody fell for the old "I am so-and-so" trick.
He was supposedly an ancient wizard from a thousand years ago. How could he suddenly return to Hogwarts?
Of course, this also had something to do with Dumbledore's deliberate suppression of knowledge concerning Horcruxes. Otherwise, some people might have connected the matter to them.
Sitting at the House table, Rhys wore a blank expression, as though he had been completely stunned by the red-haired man's declaration.
His fingers pressed against the edge of the table so hard that his knuckles had turned white.
At the staff table, Professor White and Professor Aries both set down their golden goblets. Their eyes grew distant and profound, and no one knew what they were thinking.
Judging by appearances, the red-haired man bore a striking resemblance to the Godric Gryffindor described in Hogwarts legends.
And to those like Rhys who knew the truth, he didn't merely resemble him.
He looked exactly the same.
The face standing several dozen feet away gradually overlapped with the image preserved in Rhys's memories, causing his thoughts to drift, as though he had been transported back a thousand years.
But the magnificent decorations of the Great Hall and the unfamiliar faces around him constantly reminded him that this was the modern era.
Everything had changed.
With that thought, Rhys gradually regained his composure and adopted the same expression as the other students: curiosity, astonishment, and a trace of the characteristic disdain of Slytherins.
He regained control so quickly that even Daphne and Astoria, seated beside him, failed to notice anything unusual. They merely sensed that his emotions had fluctuated sharply for a moment, but that was perfectly understandable.
After all, what Hogwarts student wouldn't experience intense emotions upon witnessing such a scene?
At the Gryffindor table, several hot-headed students had already risen to their feet and begun shouting.
"Who the hell do you think you are?! How dare you use a name like that?!" Lee Jordan jumped to his feet and barked angrily.
In his opinion, there was no possibility of a coincidence. Godric wasn't some common name like Tom or John.
This was a provocation.
And many students nodded in agreement with Jordan's words.
The red-haired man standing before the staff table showed no anger at Jordan's accusations.
He had expected this reaction.
"I know it is difficult for you to believe me," the red-haired man, who claimed to be Godric, said confidently as he extended one hand toward the students. "But I will prove it."
The next moment, a dusty object flew into his hand.
The young witches and wizards focused their eyes and discovered that it was none other than the Sorting Hat.
Without a word, the red-haired man thrust his hand into the hat.
A moment later, he drew forth a gleaming silver sword.
Boom!
The instant the Sword of Gryffindor emerged from the hat, a clap of thunder echoed from the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, as though it were firing a salute to celebrate the return of its former master.
Listening to the thunder rolling overhead, the red-haired man's lips curled into a smile.
He raised his index finger and lightly flicked the blade.
At once, the sword emitted a clear and melodious ring.
"Only a true Gryffindor can earn the recognition of the Sword of Gryffindor and summon it when he has need of it."
Such words surfaced in the minds of many students.
The red-haired man before them had received the Sword of Gryffindor's recognition!
That made his identity seem much more credible. Could he really be Godric Gryffindor?
As for how someone from a thousand years ago had survived until the present, the young wizards were already coming up with explanations on their own.
After all, wasn't Professor White also an ancient wizard brought to the modern age through time magic?
At this moment, Rhys, like the other students, carefully studied the red-haired man. Judging from his appearance and the fluctuations of magic around him, there was not a single flaw to be found.
He noticed that Hufflepuff and Rowena, just like the other professors, were also scrutinizing the man claiming to be Godric.
The gazes of the three briefly met in midair before quietly shifting away.
"What do you think, Rhys?" Astoria asked softly beside him.
Her thoughts had been thrown into complete chaos by Gryffindor's sudden appearance. Only Rhys could answer her confusion and untangle the mess in her mind.
"A person who can draw the Sword of the Hero is not necessarily a hero," Rhys said meaningfully.
"So... you mean he isn't the real Gryffindor?" Astoria followed up.
"I never said that." Rhys shook his head.
The man on the stage had not revealed the slightest flaw.
"Just let him do as he pleases," Rhys whispered. "A performance this entertaining, and we get to watch it for free. We've already profited enough. Besides, he won't be participating in the tournament, so there's no need for you to think too much about it."
Rhys wanted to know what exactly this Gryffindor was trying to accomplish.
Astoria blinked in confusion.
Rhys's words left her puzzled. It seemed that even obtaining the Sword of Gryffindor could not prove a person's identity? Somehow, that sounded reasonable.
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12 Chaps ahead at Patreon.com/HornyFBI