The Thestral carriages stopped before the castle's oak doors. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan climbed out, raising their wands to conjure umbrellas against the rain as they watched with interest the students hurrying through the downpour toward the stone steps.
Albert casually helped up a Hufflepuff girl who had accidentally fallen, then entered the castle with Shanna, who had been waiting nearby.
"I read in the papers that something happened at the World Cup." Shanna frowned as she watched the students ahead shove one another and scream.
"Something bad did happen." Albert lightly tapped a water balloon Peeves had thrown with his wand, turning it into a deflated balloon. "All right, Peeves, stop making trouble here."
"You nosy brat!" Peeves gave Albert a rude gesture and cackled. Somehow, he produced two more water balloons and hurled them into the densest part of the crowd, then flew away with a shrieking laugh amid the screams.
"Peeves is as awful as ever." Watching him leave, Shanna called to the drenched students, "Get into the Great Hall. Don't crowd around here."
"How did you do that?" one boy could not help asking.
"Do what? Make Peeves behave?"
Albert tilted his head and looked at the boy with light brown hair and a thick Irish accent.
Everyone knew that Peeves listened to no one except Bloody Baron and Dumbledore.
"I can't make Peeves behave." Albert shook his head. "Go inside. The Sorting Ceremony should be starting soon."
The Great Hall looked much the same as before, though it had been specially decorated again for the new term's feast.
The house tables were already packed with chattering students. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan had saved Albert a seat. When Albert and Shanna joined them, the Weasley twins were talking with Angelina and Aaliyah about the