Inside the Hogwarts Great Hall,
Countless candles floated overhead, casting their faint light over four long tables surrounded by people.
Golden plates and crystal goblets gleamed in the candlelight like scattered stars.
The enchanted ceiling reflected the night sky outside. Whether the night was clear or rainy, it showed either a vast expanse of stars or a sky thick with clouds.
"Slytherin!"
During the new school year's Sorting Ceremony, Jerry sat at the Slytherin table and glanced toward the professors' table. Sure enough, Professor Snape was absent.
That stubborn old softie. He must have noticed Harry was missing and gone looking for him!
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall left the Great Hall with grave expressions.
"Jerry, what happened?"
Malfoy had appeared beside his seat at some point. He asked the question after noticing the change at the professors' table.
"Didn't you notice Harry and Ron aren't here?" Jerry pointed toward Gryffindor.
"Of course I did! You mean the professors have gone looking for Potter? He's not going to be expelled, is he?"
Jerry gave the suddenly agitated Malfoy a strange look, then shifted farther away from him.
"What, do you want Harry Potter expelled that badly?"
"Of course I don't want Potter expelled!"
"Huh?" Jerry wasn't the only one taken aback. Goyle and Clark, sitting across from them, stared at Malfoy with wide eyes.
"What's so strange about that?" Malfoy said when he noticed their surprised looks. "I'm joining the Slytherin Quidditch Team this year, and I haven't beaten Potter on the pitch yet!"
Heh. Just like Snape!
"Hello! Jerry Green, hello!"
While they were talking, Professor Lockhart came over from nowhere and greeted them all with a beaming smile.
He stopped between Jerry and Malfoy and said to Malfoy, "Young man, could you move