Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
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After Kyle was seated, Professor McGonagall walked over to the triangular stool.
The cheers in the Great Hall gradually subsided.
Professor McGonagall picked up the Sorting hat.
"Whoever's name I call, put on the hat and sit down to await your Sorting."
"Hannah Abbott!"
A rosy-cheeked little girl with two golden braids stumbled out of the line and put on the hat.
After a moment's pause—
"Hufflepuff!"
The people at the table to the right applauded Hannah, welcoming her to Hufflepuff.
The second person to be sorted, Susan Bornes, was also sorted into Hufflepuff. Amidst the applause, she quickly ran to Hannah's side and sat down.
The Sorting proceeded smoothly afterward. Hermione and Neville both went to Gryffindor.
Malfoy also went to Slytherin as he wished.
And Harry and Ron, unsurprisingly, also went to Gryffindor.
Kyle noticed that Dumbledore, seated at the head of the table, seemed exceptionally pleased. He clapped his hands and even openly gestured with the House Cup towards Harry.
"That old man," Kyle muttered, knowing Dumbledore would give Harry a boost, but this blatant display was a bit much.
Professor Snape, however, wasn't as happy.
He didn't look at Harry, but instead squinted, staring intently at the Sorting Hat, as if he were about to pull out a potion and pour it on the tattered hat.
After the last new student was sorted into Slytherin, Snape immediately stood up, wanting to help Professor McGonagall return the Sorting Hat.
But he was refused.
"Thank you, Severus, but the new student list needs to be placed in a designated location; you might not be able to find it." Professor McGonagall gave him a slightly puzzled look, then rolled up the parchment, took the Sorting Hat, and left.
Dumbledore stood up, smiling broadly at everyone, and opened his arms to them.
"Welcome!" he said with a smile. "Welcome everyone to Hogwarts for the start of a new school year! Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words."
"That is: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Thank you, everyone!"
As Dumbledore sat down again, his previously empty plate was now overflowing with food.
"Oh, I hate carrots..."
Mikel looked at the vegetable soup in front of him and said to Ryan beside him, "Can we switch seats?"
Ryan, who was munching on a corncob, shrugged indifferently and got up to switch seats with Mikel.
He wasn't picky about food; he ate everything.
"Kyle, do you know what the headmaster meant just now?" Cedric asked with a confused look on his face.
For some reason, he felt that Dumbledore had seemed a bit crazy just now, like one of those old wizards who wasn't quite right in the head.
His words were also difficult to understand.
"I'm not entirely sure either," Kyle thought for a moment, then said, "Probably referring to our opinion of the other three houses. Like the clever Ravenclaws, don't they always think the people from the other houses are idiots?"
"Is that so…"
Kyle's reminder quickly connected the dots, and Cedric nodded thoughtfully, "That makes sense."
There were many interpretations of Dumbledore's words, but no matter how reasonable they seemed, they were still just speculation.
No one knew his true thoughts.
The only person who might know was still imprisoned in Nurmengard.
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Everyone ate very happily until the last few pumpkin pie pieces disappeared from the golden plate.
After the delicious feast, Dumbledore stood up again.
"Now that everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, I'd like to say a few more words."
"First, we have our familiar Professor Quirrell, who has volunteered to fill the vacancy for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
And then there's Professor Charity Burbage, who will be our new Muggle Studies professor."
Two wizards, a man and a woman, stood up from their seats, one timid and hesitant, the other beaming.
A fairly enthusiastic round of applause filled the hall.
However, almost all the applause was for Professor Charity Burbage.
As for Professor Quirrell, he was simply benefiting from her fame… a professor whose job is only temporary, what's so special about welcoming her?
Not far from Kyle, an older student clicked his tongue in astonishment: "He actually volunteered to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor… I never realized Professor Quirrell was so brave."
After the applause subsided, the two sat back down.
Dumbledore continued, "First-year students, please note that the Forbidden Forest is off-limits to all students.
Remember this: if anyone invites you there, even your most familiar professor, please do not accept. This is very important."
As he said this, Kyle felt countless gazes suddenly fall upon him.
He was speechless.
Good heavens, was this some kind of public execution?
Fortunately, Dumbledore didn't waste too much time on this, continuing, "Furthermore, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, also asked me to remind everyone not to cast spells in the corridors during breaks.
And do not bring any magical plants from the greenhouse back to the castle, especially the dangerous ones."
Dumbledore's bright eyes swept over Kyle.
Kyle's lips twitched, but he quickly calmed down.
Although he didn't know how Dumbledore knew, it didn't matter; he would give the headmaster face and not touch the plants brought from the greenhouse this semester.
"The Quidditch player selection will be held in the second week of this term. Those interested in joining the student representative team, please contact Ms. Hooch."
"Finally, I must tell everyone that anyone who doesn't want to encounter an accident and die a painful death should not enter the right-hand corridor on the third floor."
Kyle couldn't help but chuckle. The bait in his words was blatantly obvious, and he used a direct hook, yet Voldemort actually believed it.
He didn't even bother to think: if Dumbledore didn't have a backup plan, would he have directly told everyone the location?
No, Voldemort was currently just a wandering spirit, using Professor Quirrell's shared brain; occasional malfunctions were normal.
"He's not serious, is he?" Mikel's face paled slightly.
"Unlikely," Cedric shook his head. "At least it wouldn't be as serious as he described. If Hogwarts really had such a dangerous place, it would probably have been completely sealed off long ago."
After everyone finished singing the school song, Dumbledore announced that everyone could go back to rest.
Kyle didn't move, turning to look at the Gryffindor table.
Someone had to fulfill their bet.
"Oh…damn it!"
"I thought he forgot."
Fred and George sighed, and under Harry and Ron's puzzled gazes, they reluctantly popped a toffee into their mouths.
"Wow…"
"Ohhhhhh!"
Amidst shock and laughter, Fred and George, their tongues practically three feet long, began tap dancing around the table.
This wasn't in the bet; they added it themselves.
Because they had to constantly watch out for stepping on their tongues, Fred and George's tap dancing was always twitching, looking quite mesmerizing.
"Ohhhhhhh!"
Another burst of laughter and cheers erupted around them.
Even Dumbledore was drawn to their unique style and distinctive dance moves, watching them with interest.
Only Professor McGonagall stood there, her face ashen, her lips almost pressed into a thin line.
Wasn't one time last year enough? And now again this year?
[End of the chapter]