After everyone entered the Great Hall, the large doors were closed. Students sat at their respective House tables, continuing conversations that hadn't finished on the train.
It wasn't until Professor McGonagall pushed open the doors again, leading a group of uneasy first-years inside from outside. It was clear they were very interested in everything around them. The candlelight flickered in their wide eyes, transforming into gasps of wonder.
Last year, Robert was among the first-years. This year, he had become a spectator, watching the first-years walk towards the front of the Great Hall.
The Sorting Hat's song was as unpleasant as ever. Robert sat down, watching its brim open and close like a mouth, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
So lively, isn't it? I really hope it's still this energetic after it becomes a wand.
For some reason, the Sorting Hat, which was singing, felt a chill down its back.
How strange, how could a hat feel cold? And it doesn't even have a back.
The Sorting Hat didn't pay it any mind and finished singing the last few syllables.
Amidst a round of applause, the sorting ceremony officially began.
Professor McGonagall looked at the parchment in her hand.
"Tix Oll."
It was the young wizard who took the Knight Bus to the station with Robert. He was indeed a first-year.
"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat shouted.
...
First-years went up one by one, and the applause in the Great Hall never stopped.
That young witch wearing radish earrings, Luna Lovegood, was sorted into Ravenclaw.
There was a first-year in Gryffindor named Colin Creevey, who seemed to be a fanatical fan of Harry, his eyes fixed on him since the sorting.
And Ginny, she goes without saying.
When the Sorting Hat loudly shouted "Gryffindor," Fred and George immediately stood on their stools and cheered.
"I knew there wouldn't be any problem..."
"Ginny is definitely a Gryffindor!"
Percy and Ron were a little more restrained, but they were also clapping hard, their hands turning red.
Afterward, Professor McGonagall read out three more names, and the sorting ceremony ended. She took the stool and the Sorting Hat and left the Great Hall.
Robert was slightly disappointed; it would have been great if Professor McGonagall had forgotten to take the Sorting Hat away.
Most people were already starving by now, but it wasn't time to eat yet. Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts. Before the feast begins, allow me to take a moment of your time to announce a few important matters."
"Firstly, we have found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." Dumbledore's gaze swept to the side, but he didn't look at the teachers' table. "Allow me to introduce - Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Great Hall erupted in deafening applause. Although the Daily Prophet had already reported the news, having Dumbledore announce it personally still caused Lockhart's admirers to be uncontrollably excited.
Amidst the applause, a side door at the teachers' table suddenly opened, and Gilderoy Lockhart strode in. He was wearing a flamboyant violet robe, and his golden curly hair was dazzling.
He smiled as he walked towards the teachers' table, his white teeth gleaming in the candlelight, and didn't forget to nod to students from each House along the way.
The applause grew even more enthusiastic, overwhelming like a tidal wave. The witches were practically crazy. Robert noticed Hermione suddenly sitting up straight, a blush of excitement on her face, and several older witches were so thrilled they almost fainted.
"Tch..." Ron seemed to want to say something, but seeing the witches around him, he wisely chose to keep quiet.
Gilderoy Lockhart took about five minutes to walk this distance. It wasn't until the applause gradually died down and most people were too hoarse to shout anymore that he unhurriedly came to Dumbledore's side.
"Thank you, thank you everyone," Gilderoy Lockhart said in his magnetic voice (How pretentious, Ron wore an expression as if he was about to throw up).
"I must say, returning to Hogwarts feels like coming home. Although I was one of Ravenclaw's most outstanding graduates back then, I never thought I would return as a Professor one day."
A burst of cheers erupted from the Ravenclaw table. Those outstanding young wizards had never been so excited; they were the ones cheering the loudest just now.
"It is also my honor..." Lockhart winked at the Ravenclaws (Ugh...) (It was Ron again; he'd rather be on the Knight Bus right now).
"I am honored to have been personally invited by Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of our time, to take on this position," Lockhart continued, nodding slightly to Dumbledore, who gave a polite smile.
"Some people think this position is dangerous, but is that really the case?"
"I," he pointed to himself, "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Defense Against the Dark Arts League, five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming Smile Award..."
"Of course, I'm not saying this to show off, but to tell you that I have seen many real dangers and have been walking hand in hand with them. If anyone is interested, just open your textbooks; the content inside will tell you the answer."
"So I accepted the Headmaster's invitation to collect material for my next new book..."
Lockhart's inaugural speech was even longer than the sorting ceremony before. At first, most people were quite excited, but then the cheers grew smaller and smaller.
Everyone had been on the train all day and was already exhausted. Even Hermione couldn't maintain her straight posture anymore, forcing herself to sit there, her eyes blurry with hunger.
Bang!
A puff of purple smoke suddenly appeared, startling everyone. Robert then noticed that Lockhart had actually brought a photographer from the Daily Prophet, the short male wizard who was at Flourish and Blotts. He had been hiding behind the door just now.
Besides the students, the Professors were also startled by this sudden scene. Snape's face was gloomy, staring at the plate at Lockhart's seat, his eyes itching.
During this time, only Dumbledore had been standing beside him, smiling, nodding, and looking thoughtful from time to time...
"A photo? Of course, no problem."
After taking another group photo, Dumbledore seized the opportunity and spoke before Lockhart: "Let's welcome Professor Lockhart again. Now the feast begins, eat."
"Finally saved," Ron said, looking at the small mountain of boiled potatoes and roasted chicken legs piled up in front of him. He grabbed them and stuffed them into his mouth, saying indistinctly, "Harry, Robert, I bet he's a narcissist, don't you think?"
Robert shrugged, noncommittal.
"Don't say that," Hermione retorted. "He's done so many amazing things; it's normal for the introduction to be a bit long."
"Ha..." Ron was in no mood to argue with her at this moment. After gulping down some pumpkin juice, he continued to wrestle with the roasted chicken on his plate.
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