Inside the Gryffindor dormitory at Hogwarts Castle.
It was nearly midnight.
But the Common Room was still brightly lit.
Harry, Ron, and the other students were all crowded around the windows, gazing anxiously and excitedly toward the selection trial.
At first, it was pitch-black over there, without a hint of movement.
Just as they were getting bored, yawning, and thinking about heading to bed—
Everything changed in an instant.
First came a deep, rumbling roar.
The sound had traveled a long way, so by the time it reached the Common Room, it was faint.
But right after that came a rumble, as if there had been an earthquake. Pinpricks of red light flickered in the distance.
"The toad swarm's gone berserk!"
Hermione declared, her little face nearly pressed against the glass.
She bit her lower lip and said anxiously:
"How could this happen? A toad swarm going berserk is extremely dangerous! The professors should have taken precautions in advance to prevent this!"
As if in response to her words,
the previously dim cliffside suddenly lit up with the glow of spells in every color.
Red, yellow, purple... All kinds of colors clashed in a dazzling frenzy, and indistinct shouts rang out now and then.
Anyone could tell that something was wrong.
"Merlin! Nobody said the selection trial would be life-threatening from the start!"
Ron clicked his tongue, muttering with a mix of excitement and worry:
"Ethan's okay, right? He's only a first-year, just like us!"
"Hey, mate!" The Weasley Twins slung their arms around him from either side, grinning. "You're both first-years, but he's already a high-level player! You've got to work harder, little brother!"
"Or—make sure you get in good with someone powerful!"
"Get lost!"
Ron angrily shook off his brothers, muttering something about how "a little wizard's business