Before the First Class

"Ahem..." Xiwen feigned two coughs. "Doesn't my family have a collection of rough maps of Hogwarts? I looked them over beforehand at home, so I have a basic understanding of the castle's layout."

Miranda did not know what resources these pure-blood families possessed, and Xiwen's explanation was perfectly reasonable, so she did not question him further.

She led Xiwen beneath the Astronomy Tower, through a corridor, and to a small door in the northwest corner. Beyond it lay a vast expanse of grass, stretching across flat ground and distant hills.

"This is probably the only place that meets your requirements. The Owl Tower is over there, and farther north is the Quidditch Pitch. People generally don't come this way early in the morning," Miranda said. "It's just a bit far from the Slytherin Common Room. Depends on whether you can accept that."

More than a bit far—it's practically the longest possible distance across the entire castle, from southeast to northwest! Xiwen complained inwardly.

Still, having a suitable place was good enough. Mornings were plentiful, so Xiwen nodded.

Seeing him agree, Miranda said, "Go do your morning training, then. Finding you a place has already cost me an entire morning of practice!"

Xiwen grinned shamelessly. "Helping new students is a prefect's responsibility!"

"See you next time!" Miranda had already impatiently turned away. She waved at Xiwen over her shoulder while racing against time to pull out her spellbook and wand.

Xiwen's mouth twitched as he watched her.

So it was fortunate he had not been sorted into Ravenclaw...

After completing his morning training according to Kamar-Taj's body-forging methods, it was nearly eight o'clock. Xiwen draped his robe over his left arm and prepared to head to the Great Hall for breakfast.

As he passed through the arcade in the teaching area, he saw Miranda sitting on the lawn, duplicating the stone in front of her into many copies before casting spells to make them vanish one by one.

Knowing full well that Miranda would not want to see him right now, Xiwen quietly crossed the Astronomy Tower, the stone bridge, and the Main Tower before arriving at the Great Hall to eat.

Every visit to the Great Hall brought a fresh sense of awe. It seemed to have no ceiling. The countless bright candles that had burned the night before had vanished, leaving only patches of clouds drifting across the sky-blue canopy overhead.

Glittering golden plates and goblets sat on the four tables. A tap on a plate would cause all kinds of dishes to appear.

Xiwen placed two slices of bread on his plate. He picked up one slice, spread a thick layer of raspberry jam over one half and blueberry jam over the other, then placed the second slice on top. He ate with great satisfaction, taking an occasional sip of milk.

"Flap, flap—" A rush of wings sounded as a huge flock of owls flew in through the windows, so numerous that the entire Great Hall noticeably darkened.

Xiwen looked at Jabi, the owl that had landed in front of him, then at the gray-black feather floating in his cup of milk, and fell into deep thought...

The letter was from Sandrine. It was filled with concerned inquiries, as though she feared Xiwen might be uncomfortable at school or getting along poorly with his roommates.

Xiwen shook his head with a bitter smile. He borrowed a quill from an older Slytherin girl beside him and began writing his reply—

"Dear Sandrine: Everything is well at school. Hogwarts has a wonderful environment, and the older students are all very helpful (of course, that referred to Ignatius and Miranda; he excluded Cedrella Black, Slytherin's female prefect). Abraxas is now my roommate, and there are also..."

After patiently finishing his reply, Xiwen returned the quill to the Slytherin witch, who had finished eating and was watching him curiously.

"Thank you," he said.

"Your handwriting is really beautiful. And just so you know, I only glanced from afar—I didn't peek at what you wrote!" she said. "I'm Nicky Parris, a second-year."

Xiwen smiled. "Xiwen Rozier, first-year student."

Nicky Parris was about to say more when a voice interrupted her.

"Parris, bring our books and homework. We're going to class."

"Okay!" Parris quickly answered. She hurriedly said goodbye to Xiwen, then hugged a large stack of books and parchment to her chest as she rushed toward the Main Tower.

Xiwen frowned and looked toward the source of the voice. He saw a somewhat familiar face—it seemed to be the Black girl who had sat with Walburga yesterday.

At that moment, Xiwen felt a pain in his shoulder. He discovered that Jabi had finished freeloading food and drink from the dining table, grown impatient from waiting, and pecked him to remind him to send the letter already.

Only then did Xiwen react. He rolled the letter into a tube and tied it to Jabi's leg. Jabi then spread his gray-black wings and flew out of the Great Hall.

After that, Xiwen had no mood to keep eating. Seeing that there was little time left, he jogged back to the Slytherin Common Room, inwardly remarking that at least Slytherin's common room was the closest to the Great Hall.

When he returned to the dormitory, he was shocked to discover that none of his three roommates had woken up!

The corners of Xiwen's mouth lifted slightly as he raised his wand. "Lumos Solem!"

Centered on Xiwen's wand, the entire dormitory erupted with light.

"Damn it! Who did that?" Abraxas and Mobley sat up cursing, frowning as they saw Xiwen in the middle of the dormitory, radiating light and heat...

"Xiwen, what the hell is wrong with you?" Abu shouted.

"Nox." Xiwen extinguished the intense light, then cast a normal Lumos and took out his pocket watch to show them. "I have to remind you that it's already half past eight. Do you want to be late for the head of Gryffindor's class on your first day at Hogwarts?"

"Oh! Merlin's beard! It's half past eight!" Mobley shouted. "And it's Dumbledore's class? We're doomed, doomed! We have no idea how to get around the castle, and there are so many annoying staircases with the attention span of a hyperactive child. We're definitely going to be late!"

Abu grew nervous as well. "Damn it! It's all because this place is so dark—I thought it wasn't even daylight yet! How could someone who can stand against the Dark Lord possibly be easy to deal with? We're dead..."

Gomez said little beside them, but his face had gone pale. He dressed as quickly as he could and prepared to rush out.

Xiwen looked at the three of them with an exhausted expression and said helplessly, "Hey, no need to be so nervous. I've already figured out the castle's routes. Just follow me."

The three of them seemed to find their backbone at once. They looked ready to follow Xiwen's lead in everything as they waited for him to guide them.

"Wait a moment." Xiwen took a towel from the cabinet, dampened it with the Water-Making Charm, and wiped his face and neck.

After a morning of exercise, he should have returned to take a shower. But thinking about life and searching for a suitable location had taken up quite a bit of time today, so he could only make do.

Under the impatient gazes of his three roommates, Xiwen unhurriedly took two quills from the pen holder and pulled A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration from the pile of books beneath his bed, storing them in his pocket watch's space. Only then did he lead them out of the dormitory, while considering whether he should pack everything needed for class before going to morning training tomorrow.

Led by Xiwen, the four quickly crossed the Main Tower and stone bridge toward the teaching area. They then descended the Astronomy Tower stairs to the second floor and walked along the eastern corridor to the second classroom door. There were only two minutes left before the nine o'clock bell.

They entered the classroom. Directly opposite the door was the lectern at the front, where a desk and two lavishly decorated chairs stood. On either side were two blackboards for writing.

Numerous animal cages hung throughout the classroom, and all kinds of animals inside them watched the even more lively students below.

Three rows of desks were neatly arranged in the classroom. Nearly all the students had arrived, sitting in pairs at their desks and chattering about why the professor had not come yet.

The four of them let out sighs of relief. As long as they arrived before the professor, there would be no problem!

Yet little did they know that reality was never as beautiful as imagination...

If you enjoy this book, please add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.