Since they had come straight to Hogsmeade by Apparition, Lin Yue and the others reached the Great Hall before the other students, even though they walked back to Hogwarts with Headmaster Dumbledore and the others.
Sitting in the empty Great Hall, Qiuzhang and Marietta, beside Lin Yue, looked around with curiosity at the hall they had already seen for two years.
It was as if they had never seen the Great Hall at Hogwarts before.
Or rather, they truly hadn't—not when it was this empty.
Seated between the two older students, Lin Yue quickly reviewed in her mind the textbooks she had memorized for the coming school year, paying no attention at all to the excited glances the two girls cast around them.
Hermione, Harry, and the others were seated at the Gryffindor dining table, discussing something among themselves.
As for Penelope, Professor Flitwick had taken her away to help. The professors also had preparations to make before the school year officially began.
Since students from his own House had returned early, Professor Flitwick had naturally asked her to help without hesitation.
It wasn't until after lunch that Penelope finally walked into the Great Hall, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Including her, there were only seven people in the hall. The professors were all still in their respective offices.
So the House-elves had brought only a small amount of food to the tables, just enough for them.
Penelope sat beside Qiuzhang and took a big bite of a pasty, still wiping the sweat from her forehead with her handkerchief.
Seeing her older schoolmate looking "disheveled" for once, Qiuzhang pulled out her own handkerchief in surprise and helped wipe the sweat from Penelope's brow so she could focus on eating.
"Penelope Elder Sister, what were you doing? Why are you