The students in the Great Hall all heard the tapping and, as one, looked toward the Teachers' Table. Their gazes gathered on Dumbledore.
"Another fine morning..." There was a touch of cheer in Dumbledore's tone, and his voice carried clearly to every corner of the Great Hall, as if he were murmuring right beside the students' ears.
"Although so much time has already passed, I think last year's summer vacation was, for many of you here, a rather unforgettable summer."
His gaze slowly swept over the students' faces, and quite a few students began whispering among themselves.
The students who had personally experienced the "Paris Region Incident" all nodded with emotion at the same time.
"Especially everything that happened in Paris, France..." Dumbledore's voice gained a little solemnity. "It allowed us to witness the miracle of magic, as well as the harm brought by Dark Wizards."
"Although the 'Paris Region Incident' was resolved perfectly, the emergence of this incident still inevitably changed our lives..."
"This matter was of great importance, so at the Start-of-Term Feast, I did not mention too much about it. I only hoped that everyone could slowly digest it through various channels."
"And now, I think everyone should have realized... we have no choice but to step into a brand-new era!"
He raised his voice slightly. "This is an era that may no longer need the Statute of Secrecy, an era where magic is no longer a secret!"
Compared with the students who had only just begun learning magic, Dumbledore's words clearly had a greater impact on the professors, who had observed the Statute of Secrecy for many years.
Even Sybill Trelawney, the Professor of Divination, had a fairly "normal" reaction at this moment—she was just a bit too intense—
She clutched her forehead and kept gasping,