Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 628, Section 626: The New School Year

The Hogwarts Express came to a stop, and before them stood the familiar Hogsmeade Station.

Hermione was still lost in her hopes of Dumbledore's return, so Justin had no choice but to help her retrieve the bag she had forgotten.

After walking across the dark platform, outside the station, a hundred horse-drawn carriages, seemingly undrawn, were waiting for them.

A deafening clap of thunder boomed overhead, and the three quickly climbed onto one of the vehicles, finally feeling a sense of relief.

The door slammed shut, and a moment later, with a violent jolt, the long carriage caravan rumbled along the path to Hogwarts Castle, splashing water all the way.

"Where did Headmaster Dumbledore go? Was it because of the Quidditch World Cup?"

Hermione took the bag Justin handed her and looked at Sheehan with her big eyes.

"Yes."

Sheen said.

Headmaster Dumbledore corresponded with him frequently, and the old wizard would occasionally share magical techniques with him.

Sheehan only hoped that this wasn't the same realization Dumbledore had when he was beating Voldemort.

"Not long ago, my still-not-too-decrepit mind, when necessary, recalled these skills again, like a little pepper puff that, a few days later, suddenly made my tongue numb—"

When Dumbledore said this with a smile, Sheehan could hardly imagine that his sparring partner was Tom.

But the world can be so strange sometimes. Just like a long time ago, he couldn't have imagined that his dark magic teacher would be Grindelwald.

"Mr. Green!"

Young wizards kept greeting Sheen from both the front and back of the carriage.

"Good evening."

Sheen said.

"Mr. Green is smiling at me."

"It was clearly me."

"Mr. Green? The Mr. Green mentioned again in The Wizarding Weekly?"

"Sylar, are you really a student at Hogwarts?"

Three little heads popped out from the window of a carriage.

They were referring to content recently published by The Witcher Weekly.

An eye-catching announcement.

In the list of most popular young wizards, the name "Sheen Green" ranks second, even slightly behind Quidditch superstar "Viktor Krum".

Who can blame them when "Grimm's Notebooks" is the best-selling book in the wizarding world today, and a certain Mr. Grimm might even be the youngest headmaster in Hogwarts' history?

There is much skepticism about the authenticity of this news, but inevitably, most wizards in the UK are familiar with this name.

Incidentally, Hermes, who ranked first, led the field with more than ten times the number of votes as the second-place character.

"I can't believe I'm in the same college as Mr. Green, but I rarely see him in the Ravenclaw common room—"

As the wizards talked, the carriage traveled along the wide road, but occasionally it would shake violently due to the strong winds.

Sheen leaned against the car window and saw Hogwarts getting closer and closer, with many lit windows shimmering faintly behind the thick rain curtain.

A moment later, the carriage stopped at the stone steps in front of the two oak gates. Just then, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, and the people in the carriage in front hurriedly climbed the stone steps and ran into the castle.

Torches were lit in the foyer, and the marble staircase was magnificent.

Mischievous Pikachu, holding a water balloon as a prank prop, was lurking stealthily above the entrance hall.

Unfortunately, before it could even launch its water balloon, Professor McGonagall discovered it.

"Mischievous Ghost!"

Professor McGonagall shouted angrily, "Peeves, get down here right now!"

She rushed out of the auditorium.

Unfortunately, the ground was too wet, and she slipped, quickly grabbing Sheen's arm to avoid falling.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sheen, oh, you just arrived? Child—"

'

"It's alright, Professor."

Sheehan steadied Professor McGonagall with all his might, his body swaying.

Fortunately, with the power of transformation, Sheen summoned some vines to quietly support Professor McGonagall, preventing them from falling together.

"You little devil, get down here right now!"

Professor McGonagall roared, adjusting her top hat and glaring up through her square-framed glasses.

"I didn't do anything!"

Pee-Pee chuckled and threw a water bomb at a few fifth-grade girls—the girls screamed and rushed into the auditorium. "They're already soaking wet, aren't they? Hey, little brat! Take this!"

It picked up another water bomb and aimed it at the second-year students in the carriage behind Sheen.

"I'm going to call the principal!"

Professor McGonagall shouted, "I'm warning you, Peeves!"

Peeves stuck out its tongue, cackling wildly, and prepared to throw the last few water bombs into the air, but in the blink of an eye, it saw someone with familiar black hair and a handsome face looking at it.

"Oh! Mr. Green, what are you doing here—"

Pipi Ghost darted to Sheen's side and gently patted Sheen's shoulder.

The little wizard stared at it with clear eyes until it let out a horrifying scream: "I was wrong, Mr. Grimm—please have mercy and spare me this time—don't take me away, sir, I don't want to see you again!"

At this point, Professor McGonagall sternly told the still-shaken students, "Get into the auditorium, quickly!"

The auditorium was still as magnificent and grand as ever, and it had been specially decorated for the banquet at the start of the new semester.

Hundreds of candles floated above the table, illuminating the gold plates and goblets. The four long college tables were already filled with chattering students.

At the top of the auditorium was a fifth table, where faculty members sat one on each side, facing their students.

It's much warmer here.

It's much safer now.

The wizarding world may be experiencing an earthquake, but the students still stare expectantly at the old Sorting Hat.

The hall fell silent. Then a crack near the brim opened like a mouth, and the hat began to sing: "That was over a thousand years ago, when I had just been woven into shape, and there were four famous wizards, whose names have been passed down to this day:"

Brave Gryffindors, from the desolate swamp; beautiful Ravenclaws, from the tranquil riverbank; kind Hufflepuffs, from the open valley; shrewd Slytherin, from that muddy swamp.

They shared a dream, a wish, and a bold plan: to nurture young wizards into successful individuals. Thus, Hogwarts School was founded.

Its singing wasn't very loud, but it wasn't pleasant either.

"I guess it waits for this time every year; spending a year writing a song isn't too long, right?"

Justin gently shared his conjecture with Sheehan and Hermione, and the Sorting Ceremony began.

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