Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 350, Page 349: The Transfer Student
What Sheen didn't know was that giving each other sweaters would become a unique tradition between them, lasting for a very long time.

When the snow completely covered the beech trees, Sheen could still see the broad leaves shaking off white flakes.

Hogwarts was about to depart in a flurry, so Sheen, Harry, and Ron came to see Justin and the others off.

They walked in a line across the lawn, leaving shallow furrows in the fine, powdery snow. Their socks and the hems of their cloaks were wet and frozen. The Forbidden Forest seemed enchanted; every tree shimmered with silver light, and Hagrid's hut looked like a cake sprinkled with icing sugar.

"The waters of the world will meet again; the Arctic Ocean and the Nile will merge in the damp clouds. This ancient and beautiful metaphor makes the moment of parting sacred..."

Justin was muttering something Harry and Ron couldn't understand. He waved his hand forcefully and disappeared into the distance with the rest of the group.

"goodbye--"

Hermione was much more straightforward. She seemed to want to say something profound and mysterious like Justin, but ultimately found that she was far less knowledgeable in this area than Justin.

So, in a huff, she said goodbye. But after taking a couple of steps, she regretted it—why had she shown her anger to her friends…

But before she could pause, Professor McGonagall led them toward Hogsmeade Station without further ado.

"Honestly, I'll only miss her after she's gone."

Ron's boots left deep imprints in the snow on the way back. His lips were downturned, and his hands were outstretched. Harry nodded knowingly.

Steam rose in the distance, while Hogwarts Castle nearby was covered in frosting.

Sheen didn't see it; his attention was completely drawn to the "European Magic Education Assessment" in his hands.

It provides detailed information about Durmstrang and Beauxbatons School of Magic, and also mentions Ilvermorny School of Magic and Wizardry in passing.

Although Sheen didn't know if he could go, he habitually wanted to know more.

……

The doorway to the alchemy office.

Sheen knocked on the door.

"Come in, my disciple. As you wish, we will depart after the banquet."

Inside the office, Professor Terra was tending to a box that looked like just an old-fashioned wooden crate, yet it had completely swallowed up the professor's workbench.

So Sheen stared at him without blinking.

"Want to learn?"

Professor Terra's lips curled into a smile.

"We have plenty of time to learn."

To Sheen's surprise, the professor actually managed to secure a place at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it seemed to be done very easily.

"I see, Professor."

Sheen nodded, picked up the "European Magic Education Assessment," and prepared to leave the office.

Just then, Professor Terra's voice drifted over.

“You’re already researching Ilvermoni’s materials, that’s good. Tell me, my disciple, what have you learned?”

Professor Terra casually snapped his fingers, and the wooden chair moved behind Sheen on its own.

"Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, like Hogwarts, is located in a castle."

Similarly, like Hogwarts, it was imbued with various powerful spells, making it invisible to those without magic, only revealing itself when shrouded in mist…” Sheen’s voice echoed.

"One of their founders was a Muggle (the term used in the American magical community to refer to someone who doesn't possess magic). As a result, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is widely recognized as one of the most democratic and inclusive great magic schools."

Similarly, due to the conflict over bloodlines, its founders endured a brutal battle to kill Gormley Gaunt, the perpetrator, thus preventing her from stopping them from founding the Institute based on pure-blood doctrine.

"In fact, the theory of bloodline is meaningless."

Professor Terra nodded in satisfaction. What she wouldn't tell Sheehan was that she too had once leaned towards the pure-blood theory...

As it turns out, breaking seventy years of prejudice only required a little wizard standing in front of her, looking at her seamless expansion box with some curiosity.

However, she is no longer a Muggle wizard. If one had to categorize her... she is a Grimmian.

“You know very well. The only thing I have to add is this.”

When a student enters the Ilvermony School of Magic, he is first led into the circular hall at the entrance of the castle.

There are four wooden sculptures representing the four colleges. These four magical statues will consider whether to admit a student to their college.

Their reactions varied: the crystal embedded in the forehead of the long-horned water snake would glow; the leopard cat would hiss; the thunderbird would flap its wings and take flight; and the Pukchi would raise its bow and arrow.

Professor Terra looked at Sheehan with great interest. Entering Ilvermony was a must.

She was quite curious about where her disciples would be assigned.

After Professor Terra finished speaking, Sheen also found the section on Ilvermony's school in the book in his hand.

The bells of Hogwarts rang, signaling that the dinner party was about to begin.

Sheehan followed Professor Terra downstairs to the Great Hall, where Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Professor Flitwick sat in the main hall, along with Mr. Filch, the caretaker.

Mr. Filch took off his usual brown coat and put on an old, moldy-looking tailcoat.

There were quite a few students, and they were all sitting together in a mixed group.

Sheehan held the book and carefully examined it—after all, Professor Terra had told him that he would be entering Ilvermorny School of Magic as a transfer student.

"Mr. Hermes, who returned with honor, once attended the Ilvermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Eugenia Herrera will be smiling tonight as she goes to sleep."

Professor Terra said so.

Sheen was slightly unsure how to respond.

He figured this principal, whom he'd never met, must be shrewd. He enrolled, of course, but as for how long…

The fact that he was a transfer student reminded Sheen of a certain legendary transfer student...

Sheen ate his third Christmas pudding, his attention focused on the description of the Sorting Houses:
The professors at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry generally believe that:

The long-horned water serpent represents the wisdom of the wizards, and it favors scholars; the cat-leopard represents their physical bodies, and it reveres warriors; the thunderbird represents their souls, and its students are mostly adventurous. The Pukki represents their inner selves, and its students are mostly kind-hearted healers.

In more unusual cases, statues from more than one college may represent a desire to recruit the same student.

At this point, students have the right to choose. An even rarer situation (occurring only about once every ten years) is when all four houses want to admit the same student. This happened to Seraphine Picqueli, president of the Magical Congress of the United States from 1920 to 1928.

The chairwoman ultimately chose the Longhorn Water Snake Academy.

As for the other cases, they all indicate that the young wizard must have been exceptionally talented when all four statues were used to attract him.

　Third update
　　
　
(End of this chapter)