Back to School

The cold rain pattered against the windowpane, but Loren's heart was colder than the rain.

Recalling the scene when he picked out the dress, Loren's cheeks burned. He tried to bury his face in the shoulder next to him, but the shoulder had lost its usual warmth and softness, and was unbelievably cold and hard.

Hermione calmly turned a page of the newspaper, glancing at it briefly. It was an interview with Viktor Krum, focusing on Bulgaria and Durmstrang Institute. She was interested in the other magic schools, but compared to this, she found Loren's expression at that moment more amusing.

"Oh dear, why would someone go all the way back to buy a dress?" Hermione mimicked someone's annoying tone, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked directly at him. "Could it be that someone's birthday is coming up and you're thinking of using a dress as a gift?"

"..."

Damn it, I've been found out! I'm actually a little embarrassed!

"Didn't you also go to the Twilfitt and Tatting's, using buying books as an excuse? You wouldn't be thinking of... buying me... a formal gown, would you?"

As he spoke, Loren's eyes grew brighter and brighter, his gaze burning as he stared directly at Hermione.

Hermione felt a little guilty, hummed twice, unfolded the newspaper in her hand, and focused intently on the introduction about Durmstrang.

Loren immediately understood and grinned, "What kind of robe is it? Let me see it."

"Would you like me to see the dress?"

"Of course not!" Loren refused with conviction, his shyness long gone.

"Then I can't either..."

The girl's eyes crinkled with laughter, and anyone could tell she was in a good mood. Hermione dusted off her newspaper and looked up, saying, "Harry, Ron, did you know that Viktor Krum is currently a student at Durmstrang?"

Loren huffed and puffed as he leaned back on Hermione's shoulder, silently criticizing her for her abrupt change of topic.

"I think I've heard of it..." Ron shook his head vaguely, "Where is it, and which country?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "No one will know the exact location. We only know roughly that it's at the northernmost tip of Europe, according to the newspapers and the European Magical Education Assessment..."

Durmstrang, one of the three largest magic schools in Europe, dates back to the 13th century.

As the most secretive of all magic schools, it cannot be mapped and is shrouded in magic to prevent Apparition. It often uses Memory Charm to erase parts of visitors' memories, so no one can be sure of its exact location.

According to some Durmstrang students, it is located in the northern part of the Europe continent. The European Magical Education Assessment once mentioned that Durmstrang does not accept Muggle-born students and is notorious for its emphasis on Dark Arts in its curriculum.

This place has produced many truly great wizards, but it has also been governed twice in history by wizards of dubious or evil intentions, most recently gaining notoriety because of its famous alumnus, Gellert Grindelwald.

However, Durmstrang has experienced a certain degree of revival in recent years, producing international celebrities such as international Quidditch star Viktor Krum.

Amidst the discussions about Durmstrang, it quickly reached eleven o'clock, and as in previous years, they bought a large amount of snacks for lunch...

The train continued northward, and the rain grew heavier and heavier. The howling wind, carrying the rain, obscured the entire world, so the lanterns inside the carriages lit up, creaking and swaying incessantly.

When the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, the sky was already pitch black, accompanied by rumbling thunder.

They braved the heavy rain to walk across the platform, climb onto the Thestral carriage, splashing water Explosion Charm, and followed the slippery road through the gate of the winged wild boars. The storm seemed to suddenly subside.

The roads on campus became flat and wide, and the young wizards couldn't resist lifting the carriage curtain and sticking their heads out. They had been cooped up in the carriage the whole way, and the gentle breeze carrying moisture was very comfortable.

At seven o'clock sharp, they entered the Castle Entrance Hall on time.

The Great Hall was as magnificent as ever, and it was decorated again for the new semester banquet. Hundreds of candles floated above the tables, making the gold plates and goblets Winky.

The young wizards gradually filled the empty seats Head of House, but the High Table was not full for a long time, probably because Hagrid was leading the first-year students across the lake in the rain, and Professor McGonagall was having the Entrance Hall floor dried...

Loren spotted Professor Snape immediately; he was pale and gloomy, and his hair was still greasy.

The short Professor Flitwick somehow managed to get a bunch of cushions and sit on the same level as Professor Sprout. Their Herbology professor had probably just come out of the Greenhouse; her gardener's hat was still on, crookedly perched on her long gray hair.

A space between them stood Dumbledore, his flowing silver-white hair and beard Winky in the candlelight, his magnificent dark green robe embroidered with star and moon patterns. His long, slender fingers touched, his chin resting on his fingertips, as he stared blankly at the churning clouds above.

Yes, Dumbledore is still as eccentric as ever.

The flickering candlelight dispelled the chill from the young wizards, and the Great Hall gradually became lively. The excitement of a long-awaited reunion welled up in their hearts, and the young wizards happily shared their holiday experiences with each other.

"Merlin's beard! Did you notice how tenacious Lynch is?" Seamus, still wearing his Ireland badge, seemed to be losing some of its Magic Power, his screams growing weaker. "Troy! Mallet! Moran!"

Ron's eyes widened, and he pulled out the small Krum figurine he'd bought for Sickle and held it up to the surface. "Isn't Krum's Lansky feint more spectacular?"

"That's right, but the winner is Ireland!"

"Bulgaria lost, but Krum did not!"

"..."

The two sides quickly got into a heated argument.

At the Hufflepuff table, Rolf stared blankly at the flickering candlelight, occasionally letting out a soft sigh.

"Rolf, are you aware that Nargles have built a nest on your head?"

Luna, sitting at the Ravenclaw Table next door, turned her head, tilted her head, and stared straight at his ear. The little girl still had the Ireland four-leaf clover logo imprinted on her right cheek. It was unclear whether she had gotten it today or if it had been there during the game and hadn't been wiped off.

"I've been thinking about my grandfather," Rolf sighed. "He's been investigating that Basilisk lately, the one that appeared on the day of the Quidditch World Cup ... The Ministry of Magic still thinks he kept it, and nobody will listen to his explanation. He's furious, so he's dragged me all over the world to find the Basilisk."

Luna nodded as if she understood, and asked in a clear, ethereal voice, "So, did you find it?"

Rolf closed his eyes in pain and shook his head. "We've searched almost the entire Devon... Cockatrice, Green-striped Viper, petrified lizards... I can feel slippery scales rubbing against my skin every time I close my eyes."

"Have you seen ' The Quibbler '? My dad said that the monster that appeared on the day of the Quidditch World Cup wasn't Basilisk, it didn't have the Magic Power to kill people..." Luna shook her head, "But it was a kind basilisk, or maybe Basilisk egg hatched by Unicorn."

Rolf looked thoughtful. "It does seem to be white, the white of Unicorn..."