The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

The orientation ceremony for the new students has concluded.

Unlike previous years, the senior students from various colleges in the auditorium only gave a perfunctory clapping when the new students arrived.

Almost everyone's attention was drawn to the figure swaggering towards the teachers' table.

Almost all the students recognized the person immediately.

The extensive coverage in the Daily Prophet during the summer holidays, along with the legendary nature of his own experiences, has made this wizard, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 12 years, a household name in the British magical world.

Sirius Black.

Scott, who was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, also turned his head to look at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Blake wore a brand-new robe, the black fabric reflecting shimmering silver light under the bright lights of the auditorium.

He had medium-length black hair, which looked like he had taken special care of styling it, and even his mustache was neatly trimmed.

Compared to his disheveled appearance in the newspaper photos two months ago, he now looks to be in great shape, full of energy, and his smile exudes a confident arrogance.

If it weren't for his gaunt and sunken cheeks, it would be hard to tell that this was a man who had suffered 12 years of torment in Azkaban.

Under the watchful eyes of all the students, Black calmly walked to the teachers' table, gracefully bowed to Headmaster Dumbledore and the other professors, and then sat down next to Professor McGonagall.

"That's Blake!"

The students immediately began to whisper among themselves in discussion.

"I never expected to see him at Hogwarts!"

"Will he become our new professor? I wonder what subject he will be in."

"Is there even a question? It must be Defense Against the Dark Arts class!"

"Do you think... he can break the curse on that course?"

"Maybe... After all, everyone says he's a hero."

It seems everyone is very interested in this new professor with his unusual background.

Just then, Snape, who had arrived late, strode over from the other side of the Great Hall.

His wide black robe billowed as he walked, drifting over like a dark cloud.

Many students noticed that Black's expression changed after Snape appeared.

He looked at Snape with a look of disgust and disdain.

Snape subtly nodded to the professors with his raised chin, deliberately ignoring Black, and sat down next to Professor Flitwick.

Blake grinned and then turned to Hagrid, who was sitting on his other side, and said something to him.

Scott guessed he was loudly badmouthing Snape, because not only Hagrid, but even Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore looked somewhat embarrassed.

“Look at Snape,” Eddie whispered to Scott.

Snape's expression was terrifyingly grim at that moment.

Despite being separated from Black by Professor Flitwick, Headmaster Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall, he still moved his chair closer to Professor Sprout.

It was as if they were fleeing from some kind of plague.

Eddie exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, I bet Snape and Black are enemies, maybe the kind who wish the other dead right now."

“I think we can all see that,” Roger said irritably.

Milton sighed, "Gryffindor and Slytherin..."

"Please be quiet."

Just then, Professor McGonagall tapped the cup with her wand.

Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome, welcome back to Hogwarts."

He said it all with a cheerful smile.

"First of all, welcome to another batch of new students joining us."

Seemingly to compensate the freshmen who hadn't received proper treatment this year, he led the applause.

Everyone joined in the enthusiastic applause, and Scott noticed that the freshmen's cheeks were flushed with excitement.

Dumbledore pressed his hands down, and the applause stopped.

He then smiled and said to the students, "Next, I would like to formally introduce two new professors..."

He looked at Hagrid.

"Professor Hagrid, our game ranger has agreed to let me take on the role of professor for the Conservation of Magical Creatures class starting this school year!"

Applause erupted again, and some Gryffindor students even cheered.

Of course, the Slytherin table was very quiet.

Hagrid, who was sitting in the teachers' seat, stood up unsteadily and gave an awkward bow.

But he was so big that when he bowed, his belly almost knocked over the table in front of him.

Just as the wine glass on the table was about to tip over, Professor McGonagall quickly waved her wand and saved everything.

Hagrid sat down sullenly, the laughter emanating from the Slytherin table making him lower his head in frustration.

Ignoring the mishap Hagrid had caused, Dumbledore calmly began introducing the next new professor, "And here's another one, let's welcome the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Black."

This time, all the students applauded to show their respect.

"That's my godfather!"

Scott also heard Harry's excited shouts coming from the Gryffindor table.

But this is only the beginning.

Soon, the Slytherins' applause grew softer and softer, and then abruptly disappeared.

Of course, all of this was because their dean was acting out of character when the other professors applauded and welcomed Blake.

Amidst the applause from the entire audience, only Snape remained unmoved.

Professors Flitwick and Sprout, who were sitting next to him, couldn't help but glance at him several times, but he ignored them.

The potions professor ignored the applause, holding a glass in his hand, looking down intently at the wine in it, as if he were studying a rare potion.

The lively atmosphere in the auditorium suddenly turned somewhat awkward.

For a moment, even the students outside of Slytherin House stopped clapping, puzzled.

From the teachers' table, Black leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over the three professors in the middle, and glared fiercely at Snape.

Snape took a small sip of his wine, a victorious smile spreading across his face.

Dumbledore coughed a few times before Black's anger erupted.

He waved his wand with a kind smile on his face.

"Now, let's enjoy our delicious food!"

As he moved, piles of tempting food appeared on the long table, and the students immediately cheered.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the food, and no one noticed the undercurrent between Snape and Black.

Scott also looked away and began to eat.

“Hogwarts is going to be really lively this year, isn’t it?” he told his roommates.

Eddie grinned, revealing his greasy lips. "Oh, I'm already looking forward to it."

Milton said, "Hogwarts might have a professor who specializes in deducting points from Slytherin's house."

"Let Black and Snape do their best to deduct points from Slytherin and Gryffindor!" Roger gloated. "Then Ravenclaw can win the House Cup again."

Chapter 276 Scott's Orientation Work

After the dinner, it was time for the school song, as is customary.

Dumbledore used his wand as a conductor's baton, passionately leading the students in a chorus.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts."

Hogwarts, Hogwarts.

Please teach us knowledge.

Regardless of whether we are balding old people.

"Or a child who fell and hurt their knee..."

Scott listened painfully to the chaotic tunes around him, and symbolically opened his mouth.

“Dumbledore already knows the real melody of the school song, so why doesn’t he let all the students learn it?” Milton complained, frowning.

Scott casually replied, "Perhaps it's because the principal prefers to see students with more freedom?"

As the music ended, the students eagerly turned around and began to leave the auditorium.

Scott's roommates patted him on the shoulder and decided to leave first.

A piece of parchment floated over from the teachers' table and stopped in front of Scott.

Scott reached out and picked up the parchment, which contained the list of first-year Ravenclaw students.

He turned and smiled at Professor Frivi on the faculty table, then waved to Kayla, stood up and clapped, attracting the attention of the still bewildered freshmen.

"First-year students!" he shouted. "Look here!"

“First-year student!” Kayla walked up to Scott. “Please follow us!”

The two walked to the end of the long table, and the first-grade children followed obediently behind them.

Scott glanced quickly at the number of people and led them out of the auditorium, introducing them as they walked, "My name is Scott Trollope, and this is Kayla White."

“We are the prefects for fifth year in Ravenclaw,” Kayla continued. “According to tradition, the two of us will lead you back to the Ravenclaw common room.”

Several of the bolder freshmen quickly began to introduce themselves.

But neither Scott nor Kayla listened.