First Day at Hogwarts

First Day at Hogwarts

"Like this: if you can answer the door knocker's question, the common room door will open. Of course, there's no need to feel embarrassed if you can't answer it. In fact, that's quite common. There are often several, or even a dozen, Ravenclaw students locked outside the common room, discussing the door knocker's question together. By the way, over nearly a thousand years, no one besides Ravenclaw students has ever managed to pass through this door."

After entering the common room, the prefect introduced the first-years to Ravenclaw's Head of House—Professor Filius Flitwick—Ravenclaw's ghost—the Grey Lady—and Ravenclaw's relationship with the other three Houses. After that, everyone was dismissed.

Sure enough, Bell was assigned to a dormitory with four other boys.

Overall, the living conditions at Hogwarts were quite good. After all, magic really was convenient.

Besides the five beds, the spacious bedroom held several wardrobes, desks, chairs, and other furniture. Even so, there was still plenty of empty space, and it did not feel crowded in the slightest.

As he listened to the Little Wizards in the dorm excitedly discussing that evening's Sorting Ceremony and Harry Potter, Bell had no intention of joining in. After casually responding a few times, he went to the bathroom for a shower, then lay quietly on his bed alone.

Finally, I can have some peace and quiet by myself.

Bell let out a long breath.

Bell's thoughts were a tangled mess. There were his experiences on the train today, his memories with Shanna, and all kinds of magical knowledge. He could not be bothered to sort through them, so he simply let his mind wander. He lay there blankly, and before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, Bell woke up promptly at six as usual. After getting up and washing up, he quietly left the dormitory.

Ravenclaw's common room was located in a tower on the west side of the castle. Its main colours were sky blue and bronze, giving it a sense of freedom and comfort. Bookshelves stood around the common room, filled with books, symbolising Ravenclaws' thirst—and greed—for knowledge.

Looking out through the common room windows, one could take in the Black Lake, the Forbidden Forest, and the distant mountains all at once. The scenery was truly beautiful.

Yet the same scenery could evoke entirely different feelings depending on one's state of mind. To Bell at that moment, the empty lawn, the pitch-black lake and Forbidden Forest, and the distant mountains shrouded in mist all seemed so lonely, so desolate.

For the first time in many years, Bell did not train in the morning. He merely stood alone before the common room window, quietly gazing into the distance with unfocused eyes. He thought of nothing and did not want to think of anything.

He did not know whether one hour or two had passed. Gradually, the other Little Wizards began to get up as well, and the common room started to feel more lively.

Bell was jolted awake by the sounds of the others. After coming back to himself, he left the common room and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Breakfast was plentiful as well, but Bell was not used to breakfasts of bread, milk, and the like. He had always believed sweet food did not count as a proper meal and could only be considered dessert. So, he merely picked out some grilled sausages and ate a little, finishing breakfast before most people arrived.

This year's first-years were rather unlucky. On their very first day at Hogwarts, they had to start classes immediately, with not much time left for them to get used to their new lives.

After looking over his timetable, Bell found that Hogwarts' requirements for first-years were quite relaxed. They only had an average of four hours of classes per day, and could freely arrange the rest of their time. By the way, many of Ravenclaw's classes were held together with Gryffindor House, including Transfiguration, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and A History of Magic.

Today's first lesson was Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class. Though it was still early, Bell had nothing to do, so he decided to head to the Transfiguration classroom and sit there.

On the way to the classroom, Bell observed everything within the castle—the paintings on the walls, the suits of armour and stone statues moving back and forth, the constantly shifting staircases—while also thinking about... life.

Bell felt that he could not go on like this. Moping around would not solve anything. Rather than continuing to wallow in despair, he might as well cast everything aside and run home to find his little sister.

Of course, he would not do that. He had already made that decision long ago. So, he had to pull himself together, study magical knowledge hard, and work hard to become stronger. This brief separation now was only for a better reunion later!

Bell took several deep breaths and slapped his face hard.

I've decided. From now on, I'll pull myself together and stop moping around!

Bell straightened his back and tried to make himself look more energetic. He stopped thinking about all that messy nonsense and strode forward.

Since there was still more than an hour before class began, the Transfiguration classroom was completely empty. Bell found a seat in the corner, took out a copy of Ultimate Transfiguration, and began reading it seriously.

Before he realised it, Bell looked up and discovered that the classroom was already full. His dorm mates were sitting in pairs and chatting, while Hermione sat in the front row, reviewing the material for who knew how many times. A grey tabby cat lay on the teacher's desk, quietly observing the Little Wizards in the classroom.

Bell vaguely remembered that their Transfiguration professor—Professor McGonagall—was a tabby cat Animagus.

Bell stared carefully at the tabby cat for a while, but he could not detect the slightest trace of spellcasting. As expected of an Animagus; it did have its merits.

Soon, the class bell rang. Harry Potter and his good friend Ron Weasley rushed into the classroom together only after it had rung.

"Luckily, Professor McGonagall isn't here yet, or we'd be done for. That old woman looks like the very strict type," Ron said breathlessly to Harry.

As long as they were not caught, it did not count as being late, so the two of them were not late! Nothing wrong with that.

However, before his words had even faded, the grey tabby cat on the teacher's desk transformed into Professor McGonagall.

(Д`)

Ron, who had badmouthed a professor behind her back only to be exposed right in front of her, felt absolutely terrible.

Is that how you're supposed to use magic? Does the Magical World have no privacy at all?!

However, Professor McGonagall clearly did not think there was anything wrong with what she had done. She first swept her gaze around the classroom, lingering for several extra seconds on the Little Wizards who had just spoken ill of her. Their little faces went pale, and their lips trembled. Only then did Professor McGonagall shift her gaze back to Harry and Ron, who stood frozen in place.