MHA 2025!

The heavy oak doors of the Great Hall loomed, casting long shadows that danced with the flickering candlelight. My stomach churned, a messy cocktail of anxiety and a strange, buzzing excitement. This was it. Hogwarts. The place I'd only dreamt of, heard whispered stories about, and now, was actually about to enter.

I smoothed down the front of my slightly-too-big, hand-me-down robes. Theodore Nott wasn't exactly known for his overflowing coffers. My father, bless his soul, was more interested in ancient runes and forgotten rituals than accumulating galleons. Which meant my wand was second-hand, my cauldron slightly dented, and my nerves… well, they were entirely my own.

The Sorting Hat ceremony. I'd read about it a thousand times. All that talk about bravery, intelligence, ambition, and loyalty. What if I wasn't any of those things enough? What if the Hat saw right through me, saw the ordinary boy hidden beneath the slightly-too-serious facade I tried to cultivate?

The hall was deafening. Hundreds of first years, all wide-eyed and chattering, filled the space. I scanned the faces, a sea of unfamiliar features. Over by the far wall, a group of boys were already deep in conversation, their green and silver ties identifying them as Slytherins. Slytherin. A shiver ran down my spine. It was the house I'd always envisioned myself in, the house my father had been in. But the stories… they were enough to make even the most stoic wizard sweat.

As I walked hesitantly towards the Slytherin first years, I locked eyes with a boy with fiery ash-blond hair and eyes that burned like dragon fire. He stood with an arrogant tilt to his head, radiating an aura of raw power. This had to be Bakugo. Katsuki Bakugo. Even before Hogwarts, his name echoed through the wizarding world. Pure-blood, exceptionally powerful, and rumored to have a temper explosive enough to rival his namesake. He was everything I wasn't.

Beside Bakugo was a lanky boy with bright red hair, grinning widely. He clapped Bakugo on the shoulder, his laughter boisterous and surprisingly…genuine? Kirishima, wasn't it? Kirishima Eijiro. They seemed an unlikely pair, but there was an undeniable loyalty in Kirishima's eyes as he looked at Bakugo.

A smaller boy with spiky black hair and wide, nervously darting eyes stood a little behind Bakugo. That had to be Sero. Then there was a girl with bright pink skin and equally vibrant pink hair, chatting animatedly with a girl with long, dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. Mina and Jiro, I thought, remembering the names from the acceptance letters.

Hesitantly, I approached the group. They paused their conversation, their eyes turning to me with varying degrees of interest and… suspicion.

"Nott," Bakugo stated, the name a flat, almost dismissive pronouncement. My heart pounded.

"Denki Kaminari," I offered, my voice barely a whisper. "First year."

Kirishima grinned, offering a hand. "Kirishima Eijiro! Welcome, man! Don't mind Bakugo, he's just… Bakugo."

Bakugo just scoffed, turning his gaze back to the front as Professor McGonagall led the nervous-looking first years forward. Mina gave me a small, encouraging smile. Even Jiro offered a quick, almost imperceptible nod.

My name was called. "Kaminari Denki!"

I swallowed hard and walked, legs feeling like lead, towards the stool and the ancient, battered hat. As I sat, I could feel Bakugo's eyes boring into the back of my head.

The Hat settled on my head, its musty scent filling my nostrils. Then, a voice, ancient and low, filled my mind.

"Hmm… Interesting. A sharp mind, yes. But a hesitant heart. You crave knowledge, but fear ambition. Loyalty is there, but buried beneath a thirst for…acceptance. Where to put you? Where will you truly thrive?"

I held my breath. This was it. My entire future hung in the balance.

"You have the potential for greatness, young Kaminari. The cunning to survive, the intelligence to excel. But you need…confidence. You need…a challenge."

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. Then, the Hat bellowed, its voice echoing through the Great Hall:

"SLYTHERIN!"

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the Slytherin table. I felt a strange sense of…well, not exactly belonging, but maybe…acceptance. Maybe, just maybe, even I could find my place in Slytherin.

As I made my way to the table, I could feel Bakugo's gaze again. This time, though, it wasn't dismissive. It was…calculating. He was assessing me, measuring me. And I realised, with a sudden jolt, that surviving in Slytherin wasn't just about being ambitious or powerful. It was about proving yourself.

And I, Kaminari Denki, was about to find out if I could.