Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 563 Malfoy Reappears (3000-word long chapter)
Tonight's Hogwarts dinner will be the same as usual. Everyone will first gather in the Great Hall, facing a long, empty dining table. Only after the Sorting Ceremony will the empty table be filled with all sorts of exquisite delicacies.

But Harry, Hermione, and even Ron all felt that something seemed different about the Great Hall this year—

“Hmm, Tierra?” Hermione asked hesitantly. “I feel… I feel… the Great Hall seems much bigger this year.”

They hadn't noticed when they came for lunch, as there were only about twenty people from Dumbledore's army. But now that most of the young wizards from Hogwarts had arrived in the Great Hall, Hermione realized that the four long tables were sparsely populated, not as full as usual.

“Of course,” Tiera did not deny it. “I modified it with the Unseen Extension Charm because we are recruiting more students today.”

"More students?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

“Demstrong School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ivermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Gregson School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Isengard School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Sandy Ian School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have agreed to send their top 50 students from their fourth and fifth years to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for exchange studies,” Tierra explained. “In addition, the Swedish Ministry of Magic, the German Ministry of Magic, the Spanish Ministry of Magic, the Hungarian Ministry of Magic, the Austrian Ministry of Magic, the Icelandic Ministry of Magic, the Russian Ministry of Magic, the American Ministry of Magic, and the Brazilian Ministry of Magic have agreed to transfer the admission qualifications of Muggle-born wizards within their borders to Hogwarts.”

"What?" Hermione exclaimed in surprise, "So many people?"

"Is this hall big enough?" Hermione asked, then looked around again.

“Theoretically, it’s enough,” Tiera said. “And didn’t you notice when you were packing up today that the Gryffindor Tower had been extended upwards by more than ten rooms?”

“Hmm, I haven’t noticed anything,” Hermione asked. “How many new students were there this year?”

“One thousand seven hundred and thirty-four people,” Tiera replied immediately.

"So many?" Hermione exclaimed in surprise. "How can there be so many?"

“Because there aren’t just eleven-year-old little sprouts,” Tiera said, “there are also twelve, thirteen, and fourteen-year-old middle-aged sprouts who have never learned magic before.”

“Iceland, Russia, Belarus, Sweden, Spain, and Hungary are all within the enrollment scope of Durmstrang and Sandyon Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Durmstrang and Sandyon Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry do not actively recruit Muggle students,” Tierra said. “In other words, unless a Muggle-born child with magical talent has extremely strong magical talent and causes a certain degree of disturbance, these two schools will not actively recruit Muggle students.”

“This is why there are so-called ‘mediums’ and ‘spirituals’ in populous countries like Russia and Spain. Some mediums even pass down their knowledge through generations, developing a tribal-like apprenticeship system independent of the local Ministry of Magic,” Tierra said. “Of course, they hardly know any spells. Their abilities are mostly limited to guessing what’s inside a sealed, opaque box, or guessing the life experiences of the person standing opposite them through a curtain. Those among them with prophetic talent might be able to briefly foresee the future.”

"This is blatant discrimination!" Hermione exclaimed angrily, and Ron and Harry nodded in agreement.

“This is better for us,” Tierra said. “They didn’t hesitate at all when they gave up this power.”

“But what about the daily lives and studies of these students whose native language isn’t English?” Hermione asked hesitantly.

"Communication is not a problem; a simple little spell can solve that. As for learning," Tiera said with a smile, "I plan to start teaching mathematical calculations and magical constructs from this year's first-year students, so that they can use and cast spells using only common Arabic numerals. Of course, I will not cancel the traditional spell classes; I have already suggested to Professor Flitwick that we add some practical training."

While Tyra and Hermione were chatting, the teachers' seats at the head of the Great Hall were already full. At this moment, Dumbledore, who always sat in the center, slowly stood up, picked up the silver fork in front of him, and gently tapped it on the glass.

"Clang. Clang."

The noisy hall fell silent instantly at the sound of the three crisp knocks, and all eyes turned to Dumbledore.

He wore semi-circular spectacles, and his beard and hair, several feet long, were tied up with thin gold chains. "Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts, new and old students!" Professor Dumbledore said, standing on the podium, the candlelight making the gold chains on his beard gleam. "Before we get too carried away by our delicious dinner, I have a few words to say to you all."

"First of all, you all probably already know what's been happening in the wizarding world lately. Even if some of you Muggle-born students didn't get the firsthand news, you must have heard some things from your classmates on the train here," Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "The entire wizarding world has just undergone a major reshuffle—"

As Dumbledore finished speaking, he glanced silently at Tyella, who was sitting in the teachers' seat.

"Due to the actions of a certain individual, the British wizarding community has achieved a certain degree of victory. As a result, several official wizarding organizations, including the British Magic Federation, have decided to take the lead and jointly reform and update the relatively backward education system in the wizarding world, which is in line with the current level of magical development. The aim is to cultivate more talents for the wizarding world and consolidate the foundation of the world's magical development."

"Therefore, starting this semester, Hogwarts will not only be your home, but also the shared home of the top fifty students from the seven great magic schools: Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Salem, Ivermony, Gregson, Isengard, and Sandy Ian, as well as first-year students from Sweden, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Austria, Iceland, Russia, the United States, and Brazil who have not yet awakened or studied magic," Dumbledore said. "I hope everyone will love and help each other, so that these children far from home can quickly find a sense of belonging."

After Dumbledore finished speaking, the audience began whispering again, and the entire Great Hall became noisy once more.

“In addition, what’s even more exciting is that—” Dumbledore continued loudly after the noisy conversations below the stage had gradually subsided, “This year, I am delighted to welcome two new teachers to our team, and there have been some subtle adjustments to some courses.”

"First, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class has been cancelled and split into two classes: Dark Arts and Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore turned slightly to the side, pointing to Tierra and Snape, who were seated in the teachers' section. "The Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be taught by our Head of Slytherin House, Severus Snape, while the Dark Arts class will be taught by our new teacher, Tierra, who is also the Magic Union's investigator at Hogwarts. Please welcome our two professors."

A few scattered, sporadic, and not very enthusiastic rounds of applause rang out.

It mainly came from Dumbledore's army and their friends, but was quickly drowned out by the cacophony of whispers.

Ignoring the reactions of everyone in the audience, Tierra slowly stood up, bowed to the audience, and then politely sat back down.

"Alright, everyone, quiet down!" When he felt it was enough, Dumbledore shouted again, temporarily suppressing the murmurs of the many young wizards below the stage. "Dark Magic and Defense Against the Sun are general elective courses, starting from the first year. Each semester, you must choose at least one of them. You can take both, but once the class time exceeds half the course, you will no longer be allowed to drop the course."

"And the newly joined Professor Horace Slughorn has very generously agreed to fill the vacancy in Potions," Dumbledore continued, then waved his hand, pointing to the other end of the faculty seating area—

Horace Larchhorn, slightly balding, with a bulbous nose and a kind-hearted appearance, stood up and waved enthusiastically to the young wizards below the stage.

This time the applause was quite polite.

"Alright, now that our two teachers have finished their introductions, please welcome our outstanding exchange students from the seven prestigious magic academies: Durmstrang School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ivermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Gregson School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Isengard School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Sandy Ian School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as our gifted young wizards from all over the world—"

As Dumbledore finished speaking, the previously closed Great Hall slowly opened—

Leading the group was a Tiera, followed by a large, dark crowd.

"Harry! Harry! Look! That's...that's Malfoy?" Ron, who had been nonchalantly waiting for the Sorting Ceremony to end and the banquet to begin, spotted a familiar figure in the Durmstrang School of Witchcraft and Wizardry procession—

It's Draco Malfoy!
Following the direction Ron was pointing, Harry and Ron also saw Draco Malfoy, looking pale and sickly, mingling in Durmstrang's group.

"What's going on?" Harry asked in shock. "Wasn't he expelled? How come he's here?"

(End of this chapter)