[Congratulations, Host. You've successfully shown the dark side of human nature to the Weasley twins and Hufflepuff's golden boy, Cedric Diggory.]
[As this is your first time demonstrating "talent" at Hogwarts, points are doubled. Points earned: 200]
The Great Hall was filled with chaos and laughter. Dumbledore conjured the lyrics to the school song with magic—without a melody—leaving the students to sing however they pleased.
Wayne mouthed along halfheartedly, but his mind was racing.
All he did was casually set up the twins and Cedric, and he earned 200 points.
Even without the "first-time double bonus," it would've still been 100 points.
It seemed like after the system upgrade, points were much easier to earn than before.
Back then, he had to punch half his class just to scrape together a hundred points.
Hogwarts truly was a goldmine.
If tricking the twins once was worth 100 points, then if he kept this up every three days, wouldn't he earn enough for a gold-tier reward in a year?
Wayne licked his lips.
Tempting, very tempting.
Still belting out the school anthem to the tune of the "Funeral March," Fred and George both shivered at the same time, as if some invisible predator had just locked onto them.
The song wrapped up in a messy but heartfelt fashion, and Dumbledore even dabbed at his eyes in mock emotion.
"Ah, the magic of music... Now then, it's bedtime! Off to your dormitories!"
By the time the Sorting Ceremony and the feast ended, it was already past eight. Another hour had passed during the banquet, so it made sense for Dumbledore to dismiss them straight to bed.
Everyone scattered. The prefects gathered the new students and began guiding them to their house dormitories.
Cedric slipped into the first-year group.
"Wayne, how do you plan to make this up to me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Wayne replied innocently. "Just get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we have to meet Filch, and that's going to be physically exhausting."
Cedric let out a bitter laugh. "Don't pretend. You definitely snitched to Professor McGonagall."
"That was my first time ever getting detention."
"Uh, should I say, 'Thanks for giving your first time to Fred and George?'"
Wayne shrugged. "I didn't tattle. Professor McGonagall figured it out on her own. If you don't believe me, ask Hannah or Susan."
The two girls weren't far off—they'd been eavesdropping the whole time. When they were mentioned, Susan instinctively nodded.
Cedric's heart sank. He turned to the girls for a full explanation. After hearing it, his face went pale.
"I'm doomed. Professor McGonagall must be furious with me. I wanted to join her Transfiguration Club..."
"Don't worry," Wayne reassured him. "With Fred and George around, you're just an accessory. She'll forget about it in a few days."
Cedric fell silent. He quietly made up his mind—he'd never mess with Wayne again.
This kid looked harmless, but he was full of devious tricks.
The Hufflepuff common room was located in the dungeons of the castle. The entrance sat to the right of the corridor that led to the kitchens—a stack of large wooden barrels.
To open the entrance, you had to tap the barrel in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff's name—specifically, the second barrel from the middle of the second row. Tap it correctly, and the lid would twist open, revealing the passage.
Unlike Gryffindor's password system, Slytherin's ever-changing phrases, or Ravenclaw's brain-teasing riddles, Hufflepuff's method was simple and practical—just like everything else about the House.
In fact, the entrance method hadn't changed since Hogwarts was founded.
Yet, despite the simplicity of the "password," the Hufflepuff common room had never been infiltrated by outsiders—because it came with an extra layer of protection: facial recognition.
Even if someone tapped out the rhythm correctly, if they weren't a Hufflepuff, the door wouldn't open. Worse, the barrels would spray vinegar of all sorts of foul flavors to drive them off.
Rumor had it that some students, desperate for cash, would deliberately trigger the trap to collect and sell the vinegar.
No one knew which shady shopkeepers were actually buying it—each batch had a different stench. Feeding it to a customer would be practically criminal.
The Hufflepuff prefects explained all this thoroughly to the new students, even demonstrating it three times before finally unlocking the common room door.
They ducked through the passage and emerged into a wide, circular room.
The ceiling was low, and the air inside was cozy and warm. The space was rustic but extremely comfortable. Plants were placed and hung all around the room, creating the feel of a woodland cottage.
Soft rugs lined the floor, and plush armchairs and sofas were arranged throughout the space.
Wayne was thoroughly satisfied with the environment that would serve as his entertainment space for the next seven years.
Though technically a basement, the Hufflepuff common room had windows, so it wasn't short on natural sunlight.
The female prefect walked over to the fireplace and pointed to a portrait hanging above it—depicting a cheerful witch holding a golden cup.
"This is Helga Hufflepuff," she said. "She was known for her kindness. She took in many house-elves, protecting them from mistreatment and abuse."
"That's why Hufflepuffs are always treated especially well in the kitchens. If you ever need anything, feel free to visit the kitchen next door. Don't be shy with the elves."
As she said this, her face brimmed with pride.
This was a privilege unique to Hufflepuff.
"If you act overly polite, the elves might think they haven't done their job properly—and that would make them feel guilty."
With the introductions done, the rest of the evening was left for free time.
True to the Hufflepuff spirit, many upper-year students enthusiastically welcomed the newcomers, pulling out all sorts of snacks to share.
They patiently answered the first-years' many questions, offering helpful advice and personal experience.
Wayne found himself chatting with Cedric about the infamous school staircases.
"Whatever you do, don't sleep in tomorrow," Cedric warned. "The staircases change constantly. Take a wrong step, and you'll probably be late."
"If it's for Professor Sprout or Professor Flitwick's class, it's not too bad," Cedric added.
"But if you're late for Transfiguration or Potions..." Cedric gave a shiver and shot Wayne a look that said you're on your own.
"You saying that doesn't help much," Wayne said helplessly. "It's not like I know how these blasted stairs work."
"How about this," Cedric offered after thinking for a moment. "You'll get your class schedule at breakfast tomorrow. Come out a bit early—I'll take you on a quick tour first."
Wayne gave him a thumbs-up.
That's Cedric for you—the model Hufflepuff.
For being this helpful, I swear I'll make sure you stay safe when the Triwizard Tournament starts.
As the evening carried on, a few prefects and upper-years even made a trip to the kitchens to bring back juice and hot water. Being pampered like this felt absolutely amazing.
Wayne couldn't help but feel proud of himself for choosing the perfect house.
Eventually, as drowsiness set in, the common room gradually emptied. Wayne passed through the round door and entered his new dormitory.