Nighttime Talk

For newly enrolled young wizards, Hogwarts' first day of classes was like making their way through a rushing stream.

Judging from the timetable alone, the schedule seemed rather relaxed. But every class was packed with content, requiring them to listen and practice with complete focus.

Not to mention the discomfort brought by Professor Snape's ever-present, chilling gaze in Potions class. (Of course, if the young wizards had attended History of Magic, they might have thought differently.)

As the setting sun painted the castle's spires a warm golden red, Ravenclaw's first-years finally dragged their tired yet fulfilled bodies back to their common room in the West Tower.

The raven on the door knocker posed another question.

"Listen carefully: a knight who always lies and a guard who always tells the truth jointly guard a city gate. One guards the door of life, while the other watches the door of death. The knight says, 'The guard will tell you that he guards the door of life.' Which door should I take to ensure my safety?"

It was a variation of a classic logic paradox, no challenge at all for the little eagles. This time, Padma Patil stepped forward. "I choose the door guarded by the knight."

The raven's eyes flickered. "Correct." Yet the door did not open.

"Very good, but that was merely the prelude. If I tell you that the knight and guard are still there, but you know nothing of their identities and may ask only one of them one question, what would you ask, and how would you ensure that you found the door of life?"

"This... let me think." Padma was suddenly a little stumped.

Yulian smiled. This was the classic "Gatekeepers of Hell" puzzle. He had done similar problems in his previous life, so he knew the answer. But he wanted to wait and see whether these eleven-year-old little eagles could solve it themselves.

The little eagles thought together for quite a while, and time was nearly up. Then Lisa Duplin, who had remained largely unnoticed among the first-years, walked over.

She was a thin, frail little girl with pale blond hair and black-rimmed glasses perched on her small face, looking somewhat underdeveloped.

"The answer is to ask either one of them: 'If I asked the other person which door is the door of life, which one would he point to?' Then choose the opposite door from the one he indicates. The logic is that whether you ask the truthful one or the liar, this compound question will ultimately point to the door of death."

"Correct!"

The great door opened at once. Everyone turned admiring gazes toward Lisa, and the little eagles applauded together. Lisa, however, blushed shyly.

It seemed Ravenclaw still had plenty of clever people, Yulian thought to himself. Right, Miss Duplin should also become a member of Dumbledore's Army in the future.

Inside the common room, the starry sky on the domed ceiling was even more brilliant and profound than it had been during the day, as though it were within reach. The fire crackled in the fireplace, driving away the evening chill of the Scottish Highlands.

The older students were either reclining on sofas and reading, or gathered in twos and threes to quietly discuss complex magical theories. The air was filled with a peaceful, focused atmosphere of learning.

The first-years gathered on a broad sky-blue carpet and eagerly began exchanging their experiences from the day.

"Professor McGonagall was so cool!" Edgar Finch adjusted his glasses, his eyes shining with admiration. "The moment she turned into a cat, I almost thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. When do you think we'll be able to learn such advanced Animagus Transfiguration?"

"Don't dream, Edgar," Kayson Moretti said lazily, leaning back in an armchair while fiddling with a model Golden Snitch. "I heard there are only seven registered Animagi in the entire United Kingdom. We'll be doing well if we can turn a match into a needle for now."

"Speaking of needles," Padma turned to Yulian, her tone full of curiosity. "Yulian, that... hairpin needle you made today was amazing! How did you think of it? Professor McGonagall even put it away!"

Yulian smiled and quietly explained the origin of the hairpin needle to Padma. "The end of the pin could even be shaped like a phoenix feather." He even drew a sketch.

"Wow! It's so pretty." Girls were always helpless against beautiful things. "I have to master this and make one for myself."

At that moment, a boy named Michael Corner beside them chimed in. "I think Professor Snape is absolutely terrifying. I saw him from a distance in the corridor, and it felt like the temperature around me dropped several degrees. I heard he deducted a full fifteen points from Gryffindor's Harry Potter today!"

"Exactly," another girl added softly. "Look, he deducted loads of points from us this afternoon too. I heard from Gryffindor students that he only doesn't deduct points from his own House, Slytherin."

"No wonder Slytherin has won the House Cup these past few years."

Everyone chatted at once—marveling at their classes, fearing their professors, and wondering about their classmates' special abilities.

Just then, light footsteps sounded from the spiral staircase. Cho Chang came over carrying a cup of hot chocolate, a gentle smile on her face.

"Worn out after your first day?" She set the hot chocolate in the middle of the carpet and sat down cross-legged. "I just came back from the library and saw you all having a meeting here."

The first-years immediately quieted down and greeted the friendly older girl one after another.

"Don't be nervous." Cho Chang smiled and waved a hand. "Everyone's first day is like this. I also thought Professor McGonagall was terrifyingly strict at first, and Professor Snape looked even more like someone who had stepped out of a horror story. But gradually, you'll discover that this is Hogwarts' charm—it has both challenges and surprises."

"By the way, I just heard you talking about a Hufflepuff student's nature magic."

"Yes, it was in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class. A Hufflepuff student named Lyria can use nature magic to alter the shape of objects. It's really incredible."

"No, she can't alter an object's properties, so it can't count as Transfiguration."

"But Professor McGonagall approved of it."

"Senior Cho," Yulian asked, "why do you think Professor McGonagall was so tolerant of Lyria's nonstandard Transfiguration?"

Cho Chang thought for a moment. "I don't know what Professor McGonagall thinks. But we Ravenclaws respect all forms of intelligence. Lyria's power comes from her bloodline and the land. It is a unique system of knowledge, worthy of study rather than rejection."

Her words plunged the first-years into thought. Yulian nodded, and his opinion of Ravenclaw rose another notch.

"Oh, right." Cho Chang suddenly lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Did you know? I heard the kitchens are preparing a special dessert tonight called Moonlight Pudding. It only appears on nights of the new moon. They say that after eating it, you can see what you desire most in your dreams."

"Really?" Several first-years were immediately captivated.

"Of course it's true." Cho Chang winked. "But getting to the kitchens isn't easy. You first have to find the still-life painting of fruit near the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room, then tickle that pear..."

She vividly described the route to the kitchens, and the first-years listened in fascination. Their earlier exhaustion seemed to vanish completely. Watching the scene before him, Yulian felt warmth rise in his heart.

There was none of Gryffindor's boisterous passion, none of Slytherin's undercurrents, nor Hufflepuff's excessive tolerance—only a pure curiosity and desire to explore the unknown world.

"Senior, Cedric from Hufflepuff told you that, didn't he?"

"You're asking for it!"