Getting to Know Each Other

The banquet began, and everyone took their seats, delighted beyond measure.

Harry Potter stared at the feast spread across the table, stunned and utterly thrilled.

He had never eaten such a lavish dinner at the Dursleys' house, let alone food he actually liked and wanted to eat.

They were so stingy. He had never been allowed to eat his fill, especially since Dudley Dursley always snatched away whatever he wanted.

Dudley Dursley was also brutish, domineering, and incredibly rude, without a trace of gentlemanly manners.

Roast beef, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, boiled potatoes, chips—there was far too much, a dazzling spread of food.

Harry eagerly piled a little of everything onto his plate and began devouring it.

"It's delicious!" Harry Potter could not help exclaiming.

"Harry, your table manners are terrible." Hearing Harry Potter's praise, Hermione Granger looked over and said disdainfully.

"I bet Harry has never eaten anything this delicious before," Ron Weasley teased with a laugh.

Harry Potter laughed. "Ron, you're really smart. Congratulations, you guessed right."

Ron found it unbelievable and said seriously, "Merlin, Harry, you really haven't?"

"Yes." Harry Potter smiled faintly, neither feeling pitiful nor thinking there was anything wrong with it.

Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley exchanged a glance, then sprang into action.

Moving swiftly, they gathered portions of all kinds of food and set them in front of Harry Potter.

Looking at the mountain of food, Harry Potter was somewhat stunned. Then he looked at Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley and smiled. "Thank you, but I can't eat that much by myself."

"Harry, you deserve it. Eat slowly. If you miss this chance, you may have to wait until next term, or even next year." Percy Weasley had appeared behind Harry Potter at some point. He patted Harry's shoulder and smiled.

Then Percy said to Ron Weasley, "Ron, you too. Eat more. You might not get a feast like this at home either."

Hearing Percy's words, Ron Weasley rolled his eyes at him. "Yes, brother!"

Hermione Granger and Harry Potter were both taken aback. Looking at Ron Weasley and Percy Weasley, they asked in unison, "You're brothers?"

Percy Weasley smiled faintly. "Yes, he's my younger brother. Didn't Ron tell you that he has several older brothers?"

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger both looked at Ron Weasley. Ron Weasley smiled awkwardly. "Perhaps I should introduce myself again."

"You should." Hermione Granger stared at Ron Weasley, wrinkling her nose.

Ron Weasley grew a little embarrassed under Hermione Granger's gaze, looking somewhat bashful.

Neville Longbottom sat to Ron Weasley's left. Seeing this, he said rather foolishly, "Perhaps we can start with me."

"I was raised by my grandmother. She's a witch."

"Interestingly, my family always treated me as a Muggle because I had never performed magic. Perhaps my talent was limited."

"My uncle was always trying to catch me off guard and make me use magic. He even threw me off the Black Lake dock and nearly drowned me—but I still didn't cast a single spell."

"But when I was eight, my uncle came over for tea. He hung me from the edge of a window, then lost his grip while eating cake, and I fell from the second floor. Do you know what happened then?"

Hearing Neville Longbottom's story, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Percy Weasley could not help growing curious.

"I guess Neville fell into a pool," Ron Weasley said excitedly with a laugh.

"Ron, does your house have a swimming pool downstairs?" Hermione Granger asked curiously.

"No, but there's a huge lake outside my house. We can play in the water there all year round," Ron Weasley said with a smile.

"So I guess Neville's uncle used magic to save him." Hermione Granger rolled her eyes at Ron Weasley.

Percy Weasley chuckled. "I think Neville definitely hit the ground, and it must have hurt terribly. So he must have cried miserably."

Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter all burst out laughing.

Hearing them, Neville Longbottom could not help laughing as well. Then he said, "You're all wrong. I floated on my own. I flew over the garden, and it felt wonderful."

"My uncle didn't help me, but his expression was priceless."

"My family was delighted. They had thought my magic was too weak for me to enter Hogwarts."

"But now, I'm here, chatting with all of you."

"My uncle even gave me a toad."

Harry and the others laughed and congratulated Neville, which gave him some confidence and kept him from feeling so inferior.

After that came Harry and the others' introductions, and they got to know one another.

Over at the professors' table.

Katelyle became the person every professor rushed to talk to.

Minerva McGonagall wanted to discuss Animagus transformations with Katelyle, but a crowd of ghosts kept interrupting her, so she simply gave up on the opportunity.

Sir Nicholas circled around Katelyle and smiled. "Professor Katelyle, can your Elemental Magic Studies give me a body?"

Bloody Baron said, "Mr. Katelyle, I think I can go to hell. Do you believe that? But I haven't gone. Can Elemental Magic Studies fulfill my wish?"

Moaning Myrtle asked, "Can ghosts learn Elemental Magic Studies?"

Peeves said, "Mr. Katelyle, can Elemental Magic Studies be used to prank students? That would be very fun."

Severus Snape and Professor Quirrell were also extremely curious about Katelyle, especially the abilities Katelyle had displayed, which had greatly shaken their approach to teaching.

Professor Quirrell was the first to approach Katelyle. Extending his hand, he smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Quirinus Quirrell."

"Professor Katelyle, it is an honor to see you again. What is truly astonishing is that you created an entirely new kind of magic. You are a genius. I think we need to have a proper exchange."

Katelyle gave Professor Quirrell a meaningful look, then said, "The honor is mine, Professor Quirrell!"

Professor Quirrell only said a few simple words before turning and leaving, knowing when to stop.

When Severus Snape saw Professor Quirrell leave, he also approached with a goblet in hand. Extending his hand to Katelyle, he smiled. "Severus Snape."

"Katelyle!" Katelyle shook Severus Snape's hand and smiled. "I have heard some things about you."

"You specialize in the Dark Arts and Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, and Occlumency. You are a master of Potions."

"You also wrote Advanced Potion-Making, where you improved many potion-brewing methods. I was fortunate enough to read it, and it gave me much inspiration and many insights. I have some ideas concerning the research and brewing of certain potions, and I hope we will have the chance to discuss them together."

"Of course, when it comes to magical contests, I think there is still much we can learn from each other."

Hearing Katelyle's words, Severus Snape's eyes lit up. Then he smiled. "It would be an honor!"

Watching Katelyle and Severus Snape from the side, Dumbledore chuckled. "Perhaps the two of you could become good friends!"

Hearing that, Severus Snape gave Dumbledore another look.

Dumbledore merely smiled.

Katelyle saw it all and smiled faintly.