New Students' Sorting Ceremony

Selma Murphy feigned surprise and embarrassment with her melancholic appearance, which made her seem somewhat slow and a bit like a sloth. Of course, the strikingly beautiful kind of sloth—though that description is a little odd, but that was the first image that popped into Sean, Hermione, and Harry's minds.

"Oh, it's just that Professor Babbling really likes to encourage her students, that's all," she said slowly.

Sean was immediately filled with respect. In his opinion, anyone who could master Ancient Runes was a genius, and Professor Babbling was known for her strictness.

"Are Ancient Runes difficult?" he greeted them, then asked seriously.

Selma shook her head. "I don't think so—at least not to me."

Is this how top students talk? Sean, Runes Talent is only 2, is furious.

Selma saw his expression and smiled slightly, "This may be related to my parents' professions; they are both archaeologists."

"An archaeologist? Cool!" Harry exclaimed. "My friend's brother studies the pyramids in Egypt!"

"They are not wizards, they don't know magic," Selma explained. "Actually, I'm Sweden, but since Durmstrang doesn't accept wizards from the Muggle Family, I came to Hogwarts."

"What about Newmontgard?" Sean asked.

Selma said, "Due to family influence—I prefer Hogwarts because of its rich history."

The carriage started moving, and the Thestral that had nuzzled Sean with its head looked back once more, as if to tell Sean to sit tight.

"You can see the Thestral too, right?" Selma asked Sean.

Seeing Sean nod, she smiled, quite excited to have met a like-minded person.

"Thestral?" Hermione looked at the carriage shaft in confusion, but to her it was still empty.

"Only those who have seen death can see Thestral," Sean explained. "This gives them a bad reputation; in fact, Thestral are very docile creatures."

Selma nodded and added, "If you win the favor of Thestral, you can even ride one."

Have you seen death?

"Life is full of surprises, isn't it?" Sean shrugged.

A long line of carriages carrying students swayed and creaked as they made their way across the cobblestone path. Soon they passed the school gates and the winged boars perched on the stone pillars; Hogwarts Castle was getting closer and closer.

They could vaguely see towering buildings, some with fiery red light shining from their windows.

The carriage stopped beside the stone steps leading to the oak gate. They got out as usual, and Sean, under the strange gazes of Hermione and Harry, touched the Thestral's thin back—to others, Sean appeared to be earnestly stroking the air, with a warm smile on his face.

After saying goodbye to Thestral and Selma, they entered the brightly lit Great Hall. Along the way, Hermione kept muttering, "This really isn't a prank, Sean?"

"Of course not, you can ask Professor Scamander." He met Newt's gaze as Newt sat down at the teacher's desk and gave him a warm smile, even though Sean had already decided to go and 'demand an explanation' from Professor Scamander —at least to swindle some environmental decorations that could be put into his ring.

The senior students entered the Great Hall one by one, and the professors also came out from the side and took their seats. Sean noticed that Snape had already taken his seat early and was scanning everyone with a gloomy look.

Sean was even a little excited, so excited that he felt a little regretful. All the electronic devices in Hogwarts would malfunction, otherwise, how interesting it would have been to record Snape's facial expressions with a video camera!

Of course, the dangerous idea of recording Snape's expressions was just for his own amusement; he didn't want to collapse at the entrance ceremony table—the reason being food poisoning.

Shortly afterward, Dumbledore emerged in his magnificent robes, smiling and greeting the students amidst their cheers. Once he was seated in the main seat, Professor McGonagall led the new students in.

The new students, timid yet filled with anticipation and excitement, and a touch of apprehension, entered. They wore robes and pointed hats, and many of the nervous young wizards would occasionally adjust their hats.

"It's such a strange feeling. We were the same people there last year," Hermione whispered in his ear.

Sean smiled and nodded. This was probably a common understanding among students all over the world. When facing new students, senior students would always unconsciously carry a sense of superiority as seniors. It had nothing to do with ability, but was just a kind of ease that came from being familiar with the school.

Sean saw Daisy and Ginny standing together, the two pretty young girls attracting a lot of attention.

Perhaps because she had informed him in advance, Daisy, who was usually timid and soft-spoken in front of him, was not so nervous. She even comforted Ginny, who was clutching her robe tightly, from time to time.

Sean glanced at the teacher's desk and almost burst out laughing.

Snape was casually swirling a wine glass, but since the banquet hadn't started yet, the glass was empty...

The old bat's gloomy eyes would occasionally sweep in Daisy's direction, as if, as he often did before, he wanted his students to first show him respect.

However, that empty wine glass was rather funny.

When Sean saw Snape's gaze shift, he quickly lowered his head, afraid that he would laugh out loud and be cursed.

Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on a high stool.

After the Sorting Song ended, she picked up the parchment amidst the students' applause.

"The people I read about went forward to be sorted into colleges."

"Barris Burt".

A tall girl ran over quickly, almost knocking over the high stool.

A dozen seconds later, the Sorting Hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Amid cheers and applause, Paris Burt, her face flushed, walked toward the long table where the lion cubs were sitting.

"Somaya Berger".

"Ravenclaw!"

The short, thin boy became Ravenclaw's first freshman, and Sean and Hermione applauded enthusiastically.

There are slightly fewer new students this year than last year, only a little over eighty. I don't know if it's because there are fewer students or because some were taken away by Newmontgard.

The Sorting Ceremony proceeded smoothly, with two boys taking more than five minutes each, and both of them ended up in Gryffindor.

Daisy Potter.

The pure Little White Flower ran happily and nervously toward the high stool, and many boys secretly exclaimed in admiration.

Sean glanced at the teacher's desk. Snape craned his neck, gave Daisy a casual look, and then quickly looked away, focusing on the boys who were speaking louder.

There will be another chapter later.