Harry didn't pay much attention to Snape's reaction. After all, in his view, Slytherins were all full of contrasts. For example, Orminus had a cold face but a kind heart — while Sebastian had a warm face but a cold heart.
And Snape, as the former Lord of the Slytherin Serpents, was the most contradictory of them all — which made perfect sense, right?
He lowered his head and looked at the food in front of him.
It was still noon, and he had only eaten a few snacks in the carriage, so he was quite hungry.
By the time he finished the steak on his plate, the table had already transformed into a feast of desserts.
The British can't live without afternoon tea and sweets, just as Zone 3D can't live without Tifa.
If he had to choose between the two, Harry would have chosen afternoon tea.
Eventually, the desserts on the table disappeared as well.
Professor Dumbledore stood up again, and the Great Hall fell silent.
"Now that everyone has eaten and drunk to their heart's content, I have a few words to say. At the start of the term, I would like to remind you of a few rules."
"First-year students, please note that the Forbidden Forest on campus is strictly off-limits — and some of our older students should remember this as well."
Dumbledore's bright eyes, behind his half-moon glasses, scanned the Weasley twins.
The meaning was clear: "older students" referred to no one other than you two, troublemakers!
The Gryffindor students, along with the headmaster, stared at the twins. After all, much of Gryffindor's lost points had been due to them.
"Additionally, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind everyone not to cast spells in the corridors during breaks."
Filch, holding his red-eyed cat, stood nearby, letting out a nasal "tsk" at Dumbledore's words.
"Furthermore, the process for selecting Quidditch players will take place in the second week of the term. Anyone wishing to join their House team should contact Professor Hooch, who teaches Flying."
"Finally, a warning to all: those who do not wish to suffer accidents or painful ends should avoid the right-hand corridor on the fourth floor."
Harry let out a quiet snicker. Honestly, there was no place in Hogwarts he hadn't been; he had even had the privilege of visiting the Slytherin office with Veratia.
However, the experience had not been exactly pleasant.
"He's not serious, is he?" Harry whispered to Percy.
"Impossible," Percy replied, frowning at Dumbledore. "The strange thing is that whenever he forbids us from going somewhere, he usually explains why. For example, there are many dangerous creatures in the forest — everyone knows that. I think he should at least explain this to the prefects."
"Clearly, Headmaster Dumbledore has his little secrets," Harry murmured to Percy. "Maybe things he doesn't want others to know."
"Makes sense," Percy nodded, as if he already knew everything.
"Now, before you all go to bed, let us sing the school anthem together!" Dumbledore shouted, but Harry noticed the professors' smiles seemed frozen.
Dumbledore waved his wand, and a long golden ribbon floated over the table, winding like a snake and forming lines of text.
"Choose your favorite melody," Dumbledore said. "Ready? Sing!"
And so, the entire school began to sing:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts..."
Since the song had no fixed melody, everyone sang in their own way, without worrying about being in sync.
The Great Hall was very different from Diagon Alley, and Harry quickly understood the professors' tense expressions.
He remembered the words of the Sorting Hat: Dumbledore had enrolled the year after his disappearance, which meant he had also suffered under Phineas Black.
Perhaps it was revenge for having to rehearse the choir with a different tune every year, thought Harry. But he swore he would rather rehearse the same melody with Phineas than endure such torment.
In the end, only the Weasley twins continued singing the slow and mournful melody of the Funeral March.
Dumbledore conducted the last bars with his wand, and when they finished, their applause was the loudest of all.
"Music," he said, wiping his eyes, "is far more captivating than anything else we do here! Now, off to bed, everyone. Head to your dormitories."
The prefects stepped forward, and the new students of each House followed Gabriel Truman (Hufflepuff), Penelope Crivart (Ravenclaw), Gemma Farley (Slytherin), and Percy Weasley (Gryffindor) to their common rooms.
As the Slytherin and Gryffindor groups crossed paths, Harry noticed a dejected Draco.
Probably because of the twenty points deducted from him; after all, the Malfoys were not exactly invincible, even with the Gaunt name.
Gemma Farley, a stunning Slytherin beauty, wore a severe expression, clearly annoyed that her headmaster had deducted points from Draco.
Losing points to a headmaster who always favors his own house showed the gravity of the mistake he must have made.
"Harry, did you see that?" Ron poked Harry's ribs. "Look at Malfoy's face — he looks like he just ate poop!"
"He deserves it," Harry said, equally triumphant.
They hadn't walked far when the people ahead suddenly stopped.
A cluster of floating wands hovered in the air, and Percy was just one step behind those in front.
Afraid of bumping into Percy, the others stopped too.
This chain reaction created a domino effect, everyone colliding with each other.
"It's the Prankster," Percy whispered to the first-years, "a mischievous ghost."
He raised his voice: "Prankster, appear!"
The response was a loud, high-pitched, popping sound, like a deflating balloon.
"You're telling me to go find the Bloody Tomb?" Percy threatened.
With a sudden "poof," a comically shaped little ghost appeared. Dressed in colorful clothes and wearing a top hat, his appearance suggested he was not to be trusted.
Contrary to Percy's expectations, Prankster did not cause trouble immediately. Instead, he looked at the new students as if discovering a new continent.
"Prankster! They're only first-years! If you play any more tricks, I'll summon the Bloody Barrow right now—"
Percy's threat had no effect. Prankster ran back and forth, landing on top of Harry's head.
"The great Prankster seems to have recognized a familiar face—"
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