Over the next few days, the young witches and wizards discussed every scrap of news about the grand Common Room as though they had gone mad.
It was like a magical fairy-tale world. Whether they were pure-bloods or Muggle-borns, they could all find something they wanted there.
They talked about it in the corridors, in classrooms, and even in hushed voices during lessons.
"Big news! Tommy successfully entered the underwater merpeople village using a Bubble-Head Charm!"
"What's at the top of the Elf Tree? Ravenclaw seventh-years bring you the latest firsthand account-'The Climb'!"
"Fred and George tried to knock out an alchemical lion and got mobbed by the pride. Angelina swooped down from above-a beauty rescuing a pair of beasts!"
The professors were neither surprised nor concerned. They simply let the students discuss it with indulgent smiles.
The shock those young Muggle-borns had felt upon learning that they could attend Hogwarts had been far greater than anything the grand Common Room could offer.
The awe of entering Diagon Alley for the first time was no less overwhelming, either.
Before long, they would get used to it. Just like all the sensational news Hogwarts had seen over the years, no matter how big a stir it caused, everything would eventually settle down.
The first-years listened wistfully as the older students talked about the grand Common Room.
A small number of second- and third-years had failed to get inside on the first day, even by closing time. They begged older students to take them in and offered to pay in Galleons.
Some of the older students were tempted and cast the Disillusionment Charm while holding on to the younger ones.
This brought terrible consequences. The Stone Dragon seemed furious at such cheating.
It revealed its terrifying side, knocking both students unconscious before