Five minutes was neither long nor short.
As Vincent and the others speculated about the Sorting Ceremony, they suddenly felt the air around them grow colder.
"Ah—"
The new students behind them screamed loudly, as if something terrible had happened.
Pearly white, translucent ghosts burst out through the walls of the little room, seemingly arguing over something.
A plump ghost dressed like a friar floated up behind Ron.
"We should give him another chance."
"My dear friar, haven't we given Peeves enough chances already?"
The ghost in a ruff and tights drifted after him. "He gave every one of us a terrible nickname,
you know. He isn't even a ghost."
He passed straight through Ron's chest and stared wide-eyed at Vincent.
"What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for Professor McGonagall."
The Fat Friar, who passed through Ron's chest a moment later, smiled. "It seems we've all come somewhere we shouldn't have been~"
Hermione, beside Vincent, boldly reached out a hand.
Other than a slight chill, she felt nothing at all.
"Sorry, I was just curious." She politely apologized to the ghost before her.
"Oh, little girl, you're definitely a Gryffindor!"
The Fat Friar glanced back at Ron, whose face had turned green. "I think we should be leaving."
He turned his gaze back to Vincent. "Thank you. I hope you're sorted into Hufflepuff. I was in that house myself."
He turned and floated higher after the others. "The same goes for you all! Hufflepuff is the best house!"
The ghosts all left through the ceiling.
The new students had barely relaxed for a few seconds before a shrill voice rang out.
"Form a single line. The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin—"
Professor McGonagall, having returned to the little room, seemed deeply displeased with the noisy new students.
Her face