After enjoying the main course and dessert, the bulging young wizards saw Dumbledore rise from the guest of honor seat. He picked up a spoon from the table and gently tapped it against the cup in front of him.
Ding!
The clear, resonant sound hushed the hall. "A pleasant dinner—it looks like everyone's had their fill." The headmaster announced. "Before we leave the hall and head to our dormitories, I think I need to remind everyone..." he said sternly. "The Forbidden Forest is a dangerous place. It's forbidden for all students to enter. The corridor on the right side of the third floor is also off-limits. Those who don't want to die tragically, please stay away..." The old wizard lowered his voice, like someone telling a ghost story late at night.
The timid young wizards like Neville Longbottom remained silent, while the bolder ones like the Weasley twins were eager to try. However, Ryan found the warning to be quite strange. Godric Gryffindor had once told him that something 'not allowed in principle' was actually a subtle reminder that it would be fun. Then again, if there really were some dangerous, restricted area, wouldn't they have just sealed it off? Why would they have to announce it at the opening ceremony?
To Ryan, Dumbledore's words seemed more like a warning to someone about entering that supposedly forbidden area. After explaining the precautions, Dumbledore's expression shifted back to a relaxed one.
"And now, let's sing the Hogwarts school song." With a gentle wave of his wand, Dumbledore conjured verses of the lyrics in the air with streamers.
A school song? Ryan was taken aback—did Hogwarts still have such a thing these days? But then he noticed the Weasley twins quietly plugging their ears with tissues. Some senior students, meanwhile, raised their wands and chanted, "Muffliato!"
Ryan was momentarily bewildered, but then he heard Dumbledore's cheerful voice.
"There's no tune for this song... sing it to your liking."
"Ready, sing!"
And with that, the demons began to dance. The ghosts within the Great Hall fled, and the flags draped across the four tables fluttered without a breeze. Ryan's ears were telling his brain about the violence being inflicted upon them. He could have sworn the twins next door were singing the unmistakable Funeral March.
Even more speechless, he saw Dumbledore wiping tears from his eyes at the end of the school song.
"Music is so magical that even an old man like me can't help but be moved..."
What was so moving about it?
"It's bedtime. The prefects will take the new students to their dormitories—oh, with the exception of Mr. Elias... there will be an elf to take you there." Dumbledore winked at Ryan again. "Then... sweet dreams to all of you."
Then, the prefects from each house led the young wizards to their dormitories. Ryan said goodbye to the twins, Hermione, and the others, and remained alone in the Great Hall. But he clearly didn't wait long.
"Mr. Elias," he heard a shrill voice soon after. He looked down and saw a house-elf appear not far from him. Its skin was a sickly pale, its large, long ears erect. It wore dark gray clothing that looked like it was made of rags and looked incredibly ill-fitting. The elf lowered its head and said, "The great Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, allow me to take you to your dormitory—please follow me."
Ryan readily obeyed. He followed the house-elf out of the Great Hall and began to wander the castle.
Hogwarts Castle was much the same as Ryan remembered it—the ever-changing staircases, the complex terrain, the portraits on the walls, and the hidden passages that could be glimpsed as one passed. Everything about it filled Ryan with a genuine sense of familiarity. He even felt like humming some old tune—and indeed, he did.
As they neared their dormitory, Ryan cheerfully asked the house-elf's name.
"My name is Needle, sir," he said, his head held high.
"Oh, what a nice name," Ryan said politely.
"Of course! My mother, my grandfather... our family has been called Needle for generations—it's a source of pride for us. Oh, sir, we've arrived at your dorm."
Just as Dumbledore had said, it was located in the fifth room on the south side of the sixth floor of the castle. According to Needle, this area used to be a utility room, used to store old items. "There's a stone pillar guarding the door. The password is 'open and aboveboard'—its hearing isn't very good, so you might need to repeat it a few times, sir," he explained, opening the door.
Inside, the floor and ceiling were cleaned to a gleaming shine, and the ceiling featured an intricate, hand-painted school crest. Atop the door hung a magical lock that constantly changed color and expression—currently, its expression was a smiling red. Inside the room was a full-length bed, draped with sky-blue curtains. To the side were lockers, a desk, chairs, and a bay window.
"Not bad," Ryan nodded with satisfaction, surveying the dorm that would soon be his. The house-elves' craftsmanship was truly impeccable; they had created such a beautiful dormitory in such a short time. "I'm very satisfied, thank you."
"It's our pleasure, Mr. Elias," Needle bowed, flattered, and stood. "Well, I'll be taking my leave now—your luggage and textbooks are in your lockers, and the owl is in the tower shed... If you need anything else, feel free to call us." With that, he snapped his fingers and vanished.
"House-elves' magic... is truly special," Ryan observed, his heart trembling with admiration.
Hogwarts had special magical restrictions, prohibiting normal wizards from Apparating within the school. But house-elves and some magical creatures were exempt. He still remembered what Salazar Slytherin had said in the past.
"Their magic comes from their instincts—a special way of operating magic—and it exists in their blood."
Slytherin had even studied the bloodlines of many magical beasts and races, and he was fascinated by it.
"I wonder what the teacher finally found out?" Ryan muttered softly, sitting on the bed and looking out the window at the moonlight. Before he knew it, it was already late at night. "The bed is very soft, and the pillows are of good quality," Ryan exclaimed, adjusting the bedding.
However, instead of going to sleep, the boy left his room silently, inwardly muttering, "Well... in that case, it's time to go on a night tour."
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Author's note
Shoutout to Gabriel Koiama who has become the new member of the Patreon community! Thank you for your support!
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