Hearing the Sorting Hat's decision, the Great Hall erupted in the most fervent applause. Hermione quickly waved Harry over.
As Harry sat down, Hermione was about to speak, but she was jostled aside by enthusiastic students.
"Hey there, handsome! I'm Angelina Johnson!"
Harry recognized the dark-skinned girl who had tried to kiss him forcefully.
"Ahem, I'm the Gryffindor Prefect..."
Fred and George forcibly pushed Percy back into his seat, then chimed in, speaking in unison:
"Don't mind that stuffy old prat," "We really admire your magnificent feat of hexing Malfoy," "You won't regret coming to Gryffindor! We've got the best blokes and witches in all of Hogwarts!"
"Including Angelina?"
Fred and George suddenly grappled with each other, sending everyone around them into fits of laughter.
"You're actually Harry Potter! I'm Ron Weasley! You had your hat on in the compartment, that's why I didn't recognize you!"
Ron excitedly rushed over, and Harry offered a perfunctory nod.
Just then, the Sorting Ceremony concluded, and Dumbledore rose to his feet. "Ahem!"
"Welcome! I know you're all terribly excited to have new students joining us, but don't forget to fill your bellies; there's a rather scrumptious feast awaiting you tonight. And finally, I must say: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
After Dumbledore's eccentric speech, the young lions finally settled down to eat.
"Harry, I've been recalling Hogwarts school rules," Hermione said urgently, "While there's no precedent for a young wizard having their wand snapped before classes even begin, what if there is a punishment?"
Harry picked up a roasted chicken leg, took a bite, then slowly said, "Don't fret, Hermione. My 'Boy Who Lived' title still carries a bit of weight, you know."
Seeing Harry's nonchalant expression, she unconsciously raised her voice.
"I asked a Prefect, and she said Malfoy won't let this go easily! She said old Malfoy is incredibly powerful!"
"No need to worry too much. As far as I know, Dumbledore hasn't expelled a single student since he became Headmaster."
A ghost dressed in medieval attire floated over and chimed in.
Noticing Hermione still frowning deeply, the ghost added, "In the wizarding world, as long as you don't use Dark Arts, broken bones and limbs can always be healed with potions. So, a few scratches on that boy's face are nothing to worry about."
Hermione looked at him suspiciously. "You're Nearly Headless Nick? Oh, no, I mean..."
"No matter, everyone at Hogwarts calls me that. You can trust me completely; Harry will be quite alright," Nick said, waving a transparent hand.
Hermione, exasperated, pulled a plate of salad towards her and began to eat.
"When you crossed the Black Lake, I was watching from the bottom. I must say, your Sectumsempra was exceptionally well-executed, better than most adult wizards, in fact."
Nick praised Harry.
"Of course," Harry's blunt reply caused a flicker of surprise to cross the ghost's translucent face.
"A common affliction of geniuses," Nick said, shaking his head as he floated away.
[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain: 101kan.com]
"May I call you Harry?"
Ron approached with two goblets of pumpkin juice, and Harry nodded.
"You absolutely have to try pumpkin juice; it's a wizarding specialty. I absolutely love it."
Ron said, extending a goblet of pumpkin juice to Harry, watching him expectantly.
Harry had a rather good impression of the Weasley twins, so he took Ron's pumpkin juice and took a sip.
"It's delicious, Hermione, you should try some too," Harry said with a smile.
Hermione, half-believing, half-doubting, picked up a goblet of pumpkin juice and took a sip. She agreed, "It truly is quite good."
Seeing Hermione drink the entire goblet in one go, Harry, against his better judgment, took another sip.
"Pfft!" This time, Harry spat the pumpkin juice out directly. Wiping his mouth, he casually remarked to Hermione, "If you don't want to stunt your growth, you'd best eat more meat."
Turning to notice Ron still standing there, Harry explained, "Don't misunderstand, I just don't care for the… natural pumpkin flavour." Ron sat down awkwardly.
During the school song, Harry noticed the wizard who had threatened to snap his wand earlier was watching him with a complex expression.
"Hermione, who's that professor?" Harry suddenly asked.
"Hogwarts… Hogwarts… teach us… what?"
Hermione was in the middle of singing the school song. Hearing Harry's question, she quickly glanced at the staff table and said, "That's Severus Snape, the Head of Slytherin."
"What's wrong, Harry?"
Harry recalled Snape's earlier look, saying thoughtfully, "Nothing."
After the school song concluded, everyone began leaving the Great Hall, led by their Prefects.
Professor McGonagall walked directly towards Harry. She spoke succinctly:
"Potter, follow me."
Hermione, worried, followed them. She noticed Malfoy and Parkinson glaring fiercely at Harry.
"Potter! You're definitely going to be expelled!" Malfoy suddenly hissed in a low voice as they passed the Slytherin table.
"Did my magic hurt your vocal cords?"
"Potter! Don't you dare get too cocky!"
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm, pleading, "Harry, you're going to the Headmaster's office. Don't start another fight with Malfoy now."
Their exchange drew the attention of students still leaving the Great Hall, forcing Professor McGonagall to pause and direct traffic.
"My father is a Hogwarts Governor; he won't let you get away with this!" Malfoy continued to crow.
"This matter is for Albus Dumbledore to decide, Lucius Malfoy does not have the final say!" Professor McGonagall snapped, her voice sharp.
"Malfoy, you spineless jellyfish who only relies on his daddy!"
Ron bellowed, and a chorus of jeers erupted from the Gryffindor ranks.
Snape suddenly appeared, casting a venomous glance at Harry before saying:
"Gryffindor, minus five points, for Potter threatening a fellow student. Gryffindor, another five points, for Potter failing to prevent Weasley from insulting a fellow student."
"Severus, you needn't trouble yourself; I'll handle this! Since you're here, I'll leave this to you."
Professor McGonagall finished speaking and continued to lead Harry away.
Professor McGonagall led Harry to the eighth floor, where she stood before a gargoyle and said, "Cockroach Cluster."
The gargoyle sprang aside, and the wall behind it split in two, revealing a spiral staircase that began to move slowly upward.
"Miss Granger, you cannot enter. Dumbledore only requested Harry. Come along, I'll escort you back to your dormitory," Professor McGonagall turned and said to Hermione.
Hermione cast a worried glance at Harry before following Professor McGonagall away.
Inside the Headmaster's office, Lucius Malfoy stood in the center of the room, while Dumbledore sat behind his desk.
"Ah, good!"
Hearing the door open, Lucius turned, his eyes cold as he looked at Harry. "Now that Potter's here, let's just expel him immediately!"
"Lucius, I've already told you, Harry will not be expelled."
Dumbledore gave Harry a warning look, silently telling him not to speak.
"Then why have you called me here? He nearly killed Draco!"
"The wound was not fatal, and it was young Malfoy who provoked him first, was it not?"
"Even if he is your precious 'Boy Who Lived,' he must still be punished!" Lucius insisted.
Dumbledore frowned and said, "I will assign Harry detention."
Lucius's face grew even paler than before. He looked at Dumbledore with uncontrollable fury, but Dumbledore merely smiled serenely.
Finally, Lucius abruptly shoved Harry and stormed out.