After Kael sat down, Professor McGonagall just arrived beside the triangular stool.
The cheering in the auditorium gradually subsided.
Professor McGonagall picked up the hat.
"When I call your name, you'll put on the hat, sit on the stool, and wait to be sorted."
"Hannah Abbott!"
A rosy-cheeked little girl with two golden braids staggered out of the line and put on the hat.
After a slight pause—
"Hufflepuff!"
The people at the table to the right clapped to welcome Hannah into Hufflepuff.
Susan Bones was the second to be sorted, and she too was placed in Hufflepuff. Amid the applause, she quickly ran over to sit next to Hannah.
The sorting continued smoothly; Hermione, Neville all went to Gryffindor.
Malfoy also went to Slytherin as he wished.
And Harry and Ron, unsurprisingly, they were also Gryffindor.
Kael noticed that at the main table, Dumbledore looked particularly delighted; he clapped his hands and even openly gestured at Harry with the House Cup.
"That old bee."
Kael pouted; he knew Dumbledore would give Harry a boost, but being so blatant was a bit much, right?
Compared to Dumbledore, Professor Snape was not so pleased.
However, he wasn't looking at Harry but squinting intensely at the Sorting Hat, seemingly ready to pour a bottle of magic potion on that old hat at any moment.
Once the last freshman was sorted into Slytherin, Snape immediately stood up, wanting to help Professor McGonagall bring back the Sorting Hat.
But he was rejected.
"Thank you, Severus, but the freshman list needs to be placed in a designated spot, you might not find it." Professor McGonagall gave him a puzzled look, then rolled up the parchment and left with the Sorting Hat.
Dumbledore stood up, beaming as he looked at everyone, spreading his arms wide.
"Welcome!"
He said with a smile: "Welcome to Hogwarts for the start of a new school year! Before the feast begins, I'd like to say a few words."
"And they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Thank you all!"
As Dumbledore sat back down, the once-empty plates instantly filled with an abundance of 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, munching on a corn cob, shrugged indifferently and got up to swap places with Mikel.
He wasn't picky; he ate everything.
"Kael, do you know what the Principal just meant?" Cedric asked in confusion.
For some reason, he felt that Dumbledore seemed a bit erratic earlier, like an old wizard who wasn't quite clear-headed.
The words he spoke were also obscure.
"I'm not really sure." Kael thought for a bit and said: "I guess he was referring to our views on the other three houses. Like the clever Ravenclaws, don't they always think the people from other houses are idiots?"
"Is that so..."
With Kael's reminder, Cedric quickly deduced the meanings of the other three words, nodding thoughtfully: "Makes sense."
Many speculated about what Dumbledore said, but no matter how reasonable, they were just guesses.
No one knew his true intentions.
The only person who might know was still locked up in Nimongard.
…
Everyone ate joyfully until the last few slices of pumpkin pie on the golden plates disappeared.
After a delicious feast, Dumbledore stood up again.
"Now that everyone's eaten, I'd like to say a few more words."
"First, it's our familiar Professor Quirrell, who volunteered to fill the vacancy in Defence Against the Dark Arts.
We also have Professor Charity Burbage, who will be our new Muggle Studies Class professor."
At the main table stood a male and female wizard, one timid and the other vibrant.
The auditorium erupted in rather enthusiastic applause.
But almost all the applause was for Professor Charity Burbage.
As for Professor Quirrell, he merely benefitted from her spotlight… Just an annual professor, what's there to welcome?
A senior student not far from Kael clicked his tongue: "To actually volunteer to be a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor… I've never realized Professor Quirrell was so brave."
After the applause, the two sat back down.
Dumbledore continued: "First-year students, note that the wooded area in the school grounds is off-limits to all students.
Keep in mind, if anyone invites you to go there, even your most trusted professor, do not agree; this is important."
As he said this, Kael felt countless eyes suddenly on him.
This left him speechless.
Goodness, is this public execution?
Thankfully, Dumbledore didn't dwell on it for long and went on: "Additionally, Mr. Filch the caretaker wants me to remind everyone not to perform magic in the corridors between classes.
Also, don't bring the magical plants from the greenhouse back into the castle, especially those dangerous ones."
Dumbledore's bright eyes cast a glance at Kael.
Kael's lips twitched for a bit but quickly calmed down.
Though he didn't know how Dumbledore found out, it didn't matter; he'd give the Principal face and not touch the plants from the greenhouse this semester.
"Quidditch player evaluations will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in joining a student representative team, please contact Ms. Hooch."
"Finally, I must tell you, anyone unwilling to face unexpected, painful deaths must not go to the corridor on the right-hand side of the fourth floor."
Kael couldn't help but chuckle; the baiting in this remark was very blatant, and it was a direct hook, but Voldemort still bought it.
He didn't even consider that if Dumbledore had no backup plan, would he directly disclose the location to everyone?
No, Voldemort is just a wandering spirit now, using Professor Quirrell's shared brain, occasional downtime is quite normal.
"He can't be serious." Mikel's face paled.
"Not likely." Cedric shook his head: "At least not as severe as he says. If Hogwarts really had such a dangerous place, it would've been sealed off entirely by now."
Later, after everyone sang the school anthem, Dumbledore announced that they could go back to rest.
Kael didn't move, he turned towards the Gryffindor table.
Someone had to fulfill a bet.
"Oh… damn it!"
"I thought he forgot."
Fred and George sighed, and under Harry and Ron's puzzled gaze, they reluctantly tossed a toffee into their mouths.
"Wow…"
"Oh~~"
Amidst shock and laughter, Fred and George began tap dancing beside the table with two tongues three feet long.
This wasn't part of the bet; they added it themselves.
Because they had to constantly be careful not to step on their tongues, Fred and George's tap dance was jerky, looking very peculiar.
"Oh~~"
Again, laughter and cheers erupted around.
Even Dumbledore was intrigued by their odd shapes and unique dance moves, watching them with interest.
Only Professor McGonagall stood with a face turning blue, her mouth almost pinched into a line.
Last year wasn't enough, they're at it again this year?