Dumbledore didn't stop the Hufflepuffs from cheering. Instead, he turned to Ilona and said:
"Professor Ilona, I'm sorry to interrupt your welcoming feast. Shall we go back and continue? I'm very interested in the wizarding customs of India you mentioned earlier."
Ilona smiled and replied:
"Not at all, Headmaster Dumbledore. In fact, I've already fallen in love with this great school!"
After Dumbledore and the other professors left, the Hufflepuff students let loose even more, and the hot pot party went on until evening.
So when the students from the other three houses went to dinner in the Hogwarts Great Hall, they found the Hufflepuff table completely empty. They all exchanged bewildered looks, unused to seeing it that way.
After the party ended, Wentworth had just returned to his dormitory to rest when he heard Cedric knocking.
"Wentworth, you're going to Professor Snape's class tomorrow evening. You haven't had a single Potions lesson yet, so tonight I'll give you a head start. You won't learn much in one night, but at least you'll know what to expect."
Cedric came in with a book and said this to Wentworth. Wentworth was exhausted after preparing dozens of different sauces that day, and his hands were sore.
But when he saw Cedric holding the book, Wentworth just couldn't bring himself to turn down his kind offer.
To his surprise, Coke, the Hufflepuff Prefect, arrived not long afterward. He was carrying several books, which he handed to Wentworth.
"Wentworth, these are the notes I've taken in Professor Snape's classes over the years. They're all yours. I hope they'll help."
"You're the lucky star of Hufflepuff. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come to me!"
At first, Wentworth had chosen Hufflepuff because he was afraid that joining Gryffindor or Slytherin might cause him trouble in the future.
But after what had happened that day, he truly fell in love with Hufflepuff, the house that had appeared least in the original Harry Potter books. Its members were honest and upright, yet they lacked no courage. Hufflepuff had begun to hold a special place in Wentworth's heart.
So Wentworth spent his second evening at Hogwarts in a study session Cedric had arranged for him.
Fortunately, the next day was Monday, and Wentworth's first class at Hogwarts was History of Magic. Professor Binns, Hogwarts' only ghost teacher, displayed the quality students considered essential in a good teacher: he never woke anyone who was asleep.
So Wentworth made good use of the morning to catch up on his sleep.
That afternoon, the first-year Hufflepuffs would have Potions with Snape.
That afternoon, Wentworth, who had become the heart of the Hufflepuff first-years, headed for the Potions Classroom surrounded by all the new students in his house.
But in the corridor, they happened to run into the first-year Slytherins.
According to the timetable for the term, the first-year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs would have Potions together.
Much like the Hufflepuff first-years flocked around Wentworth, there was also a new student among the Slytherins who was the center of attention: Cassandra.
Cassandra wore a dark green robe, her golden curls loose around her shoulders. She walked elegantly at the head of the Slytherins and came face-to-face with Wentworth.
"You're in my way!"
Cassandra frowned at Wentworth as she spoke.
Looking at the wide corridor, Wentworth couldn't help scratching his head. If he'd been alone, he might not have argued with Cassandra. He would simply have let her pass, since ladies came first.
But he had all those Hufflepuff students behind him. If he stepped aside now, it would mean Hufflepuff was yielding the way to Slytherin. Wentworth, who now truly considered himself a Hufflepuff, couldn't accept that.
"Cassandra, this corridor's wide enough for both of us. Let's go together!"
Cassandra curled her lip in disdain and said:
"In your dreams!"
Just as the two sides were locked in a standoff, the sound of many footsteps came from farther down the corridor. Wentworth and Cassandra both turned to look. Before long, Cassandra's expression darkened.
"Prefect Coke, what brings you here?"
Wentworth looked delighted to see Coke approaching with a crowd of older Hufflepuff students, and asked curiously.
Coke first gave Wentworth a hug, then subtly blocked Cassandra and the other Slytherins from proceeding before saying:
"Of course, I'm here to cheer you on!"
"Cheer me on?"
Wentworth looked puzzled.
"That's right. Don't forget, Snape teaches Potions to us too. I've had five years of classes with him, so I know exactly what he's like."
"I came to remind you to be prepared. No matter how much he mocks you, just listen and don't take it to heart! And if he takes points from Hufflepuff, don't let it bother you. We're used to it, so don't feel pressured!"
As Coke continued listing things Wentworth should keep in mind, Wentworth felt a warm current flow through his heart.
Escorted by the older Hufflepuff students and surrounded by all the Hufflepuff first-years, Wentworth was the first to enter Snape's Potions Classroom.
Just as Wentworth was about to enter, he looked back at Coke and the others. They were all watching him, giving him the strange feeling that he was on his way to the executioner's block.
Only after Wentworth and the others had taken their seats did Coke and the others leave. Then the Slytherin first-years entered, led by Cassandra.
Cassandra looked furious. She went straight to the seat directly opposite Wentworth, on the other side of the room.
"Wentworth, it seems I underestimated you. You actually got so many older students to stand up for you! But I'll prove who the best first-year is—right here, right now!"
Hearing Cassandra, Wentworth realized she'd misunderstood him. He was about to explain that Coke and the others hadn't come at his request, but just then a low voice sounded from the classroom entrance.
"Looks like you're a little better than that bunch of fools from Gryffindor this morning. At least none of you were stupid enough to get lost looking for the classroom!"
"I hope your intelligence is better than theirs too. Don't waste my Potions!"
Wentworth turned around. Snape was standing in the doorway of the Potions Classroom, and he was looking straight at him!
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