The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 381 Opening Ceremony
From time to time there were rumbling thunders in the sky and raindrops hitting the windows, but apart from the bad weather, nothing happened on the rest of the journey.

No one was blind and no Dementors came on the train, and the train arrived at the end of the journey safely. In the dark, the Hogwarts Express stopped at Hogsmeade Station.

The rain was falling fast and hard, like buckets of cold water pouring down from the sky. There was a huge figure at the other end of the platform. It was Hagrid, who was calling out to the first-year students in a gruff voice.

According to tradition, the first-year students were ferried across the lake by Hagrid and entered Hogwarts Castle. In such bad weather, Ida didn't know whether the freshmen could understand the feelings of the Big Four, but Ida knew that the freshmen must be very cold.

Walking through the dark platform, outside the station, a hundred carriages pulled by night horses were waiting for everyone. Ada and the twins quickly climbed onto an empty carriage, and after Angelina, Alia and Lee Jordan got on, the door slammed shut.

A moment later, with a violent jolt, the long convoy of carriages rumbled off along the path leading to Hogwarts Castle, splashing water all the way.

The wind was howling outside the carriage, causing it to sway. Ada was nervous all the way, fearing that the carriage would tip over.

Finally, the carriage creaked to the castle gate. Ada rushed out of the carriage like an arrow and rushed into the hall before being drenched again.

Warm torches were lit in the hallway, but the students' disaster was not over yet. Peeves was floating in the air, attacking passing students with water balloons.

Ada frowned and waved her wand, knocking back all the water balloons thrown by Peeves.

The short Peeves was chased by the water balloons and ran around everywhere. If he ran a little slower, the water balloons chasing him would burst. Peeves had no choice but to run away cursing and staying away from Ada.

"Miss Drizzt, come here!" Professor McGonagall waved to Ada at the door of the auditorium. The deputy headmaster of Hogwarts spoke calmly and did not lose her temper, but her address made Ada shiver uncontrollably.

"Professor, is there something wrong?" Ada asked cautiously.

Professor McGonagall looked at Ada and said, "I have to inform you, Miss Drizzt, that you will be detained for a week as punishment after the start of the school term."

"Wait a minute, professor, what did I do wrong again?" Ada asked doubtfully. Although we have a good relationship, I can't punish without teaching!
"You did something wrong. Miss Drizzt has a bad temper. You act recklessly and recklessly according to your own abilities and temperament." Professor McGonagall snorted coldly, "I believe you will understand where you are wrong after the detention. If you still don't understand, then continue to put you in detention."

Judging from the situation, if Ada can't figure out what she did wrong for the rest of her life, Professor McGonagall plans to give Ada a "life sentence".

Ada decided to change her mind and beg for mercy. Forcing her would not work. She pointed to the badge on her chest and said, "Professor, look here, look here!"

"Well, the badge is clean as can be," said Professor McGonagall.

She pretended to be ignorant even though she knew the truth. How could she not understand Ada's little thoughts? However, this time Professor McGonagall was determined to enforce Ada's rules, so these little thoughts were of no use at all.

Ada was a little anxious. She didn't want to be put in detention right after school started. A few hours ago, Ada was busy attending a meeting on the train. Now she was put in detention right after arriving at school. How embarrassing it would be if this got out!
"Professor, I'm the female student union president. Have you ever seen a female student union president being put in solitary confinement?" Ada said, "Can you please be merciful and let me go? There won't be a next time, I promise!"

Seeing Ada acting like a spoiled brat in front of her, Professor McGonagall was not only indifferent, but she wanted to laugh.

Professor McGonagall did not change her decision. She said, "I have never seen a female head girl being put in detention before. What a coincidence! Today has opened my eyes."

"Professor, professor, I already know I was wrong, and that was outside the school!" Ada said anxiously. She already knew why Professor McGonagall was angry.

Professor McGonagall ignored Ada and left. She had to pick up the new students from the lake and preside over the sorting. She was very busy. Before leaving, Professor McGonagall said, "So what if you are out of school? You should reflect on yourself!"

"We just heard it all." Fred suddenly appeared and said gloatingly.

"The head of the female student union was put in solitary confinement. Is this unprecedented?" George did not comfort Ada. Both brothers were unhappy that Ada became the head of the female student union.

Ida shook off George's hand on her shoulder and said listlessly, "Go away. I don't want to talk to you two now."

The auditorium was still as magnificent as ever, and it was specially decorated for the new semester banquet. The four long college tables were gradually filled with chattering students, and the teacher seats at the top of the auditorium were also filled with professors. Soon the sorting ceremony began, and Professor McGonagall led a long line of first-year students to the top of the auditorium. The first-year students suffered a lot today, they were cold and nervous, and they were shivering all over.

Professor McGonagall placed a three-legged stool on the ground in front of the freshmen and placed the tattered, dirty, and patched Sorting Hat on the stool. There was silence in the hall, and the Sorting Hat slowly began to sing.

After the Sorting Hat finished singing, there was warm applause in the hall. Professor McGonagall also called the name of the first new student, Stuart Ackerley, and the boy was sorted into Ravenclaw.

The long line of first-year students gradually dwindled, and everyone's stomachs were growling with hunger. Finally, with Kevin Whitby being sorted into Hufflepuff, the sorting ceremony finally ended.

"It's time." Ron said as he easily grabbed the knife and fork. As expected of the Hogwarts glutton, His Majesty was ready for battle before the meal even came out.

Dumbledore was popular for a reason. He stood up with a smile and said only two words: "Eat!"

The battle started instantly, and the empty plate was suddenly magically filled with food. Ronald Weasley, the king of food, scooped a large spoonful of mashed potatoes and stuffed it into his mouth.

Ada on the side was stunned. Ron's mouth was not a mouth at all; it was simply a huge mouth of the abyss!

Ghost Nick, who couldn't enjoy the food, was not idle either. He told about the funny thing that happened in the kitchen this morning. Peeves ran into the kitchen and made trouble, preventing the school's house-elves from working normally.

Knowing that there were house-elves in Hogwarts, and that the food she ate and the cleaning of the castle were all done by the house-elves, Hermione felt very uncomfortable.

Hermione looked down at the food on her plate that she had barely touched. She immediately felt that the steak on the plate was no longer tasty. She put her knife and fork on the plate and pushed the plate away. This meal was inedible!
When all the desserts were cleared away, Dumbledore stood up again and mentioned the school's precautions in a clichéd way. No student would care about Filch's requirements, but Dumbledore's next words made everyone pay attention.

"I would also like to inform you with great regret that the Academy Cup Quidditch Tournament will not be held this year."

The hall was in an uproar in an instant. Even Dumbledore couldn't stop everyone's enthusiasm for Quidditch. But Dumbledore soon announced another piece of news, the Triwizard Tournament.

Just then there was a deafening roar of thunder and the door to the auditorium burst open. A man with a cane stood in the doorway, took off his hood, shook out his long gray hair, and began to walk towards the staff table.

The man's face looked like it was carved out of rotten wood. Every inch of his skin seemed to be scarred. His mouth was crooked and had a cut on it, and his nose was missing a piece.

The most terrifying thing was that the man had a bright blue magic eye, which kept moving as if looking for something.

"Allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore broke the silence happily, "Professor Moody."

If scars are a man's medal, then Alastor Moody is a walking medal. Everyone is stunned by his appearance.

No one in the hall applauded except Dumbledore and Hagrid. Moody ignored the indifference and pulled a curved flask from his cloak and took a long swig.

After introducing the new professor, Dumbledore reintroduced the Triwizard Tournament. The hall, which had been quiet because of Moody's appearance, was filled with students' discussions.

"I want to join!" Fred Weasley said in a low voice across the table. "I don't care if Ada signs up or not, I want to join anyway!"

There were many people who dreamed of becoming warriors like Fred, and at the desks of every college, there were people staring at Dumbledore fanatically. The highest honor, and a prize of 1,000 Galleons, who wouldn't want it?
"I know that you all aspire to win the Triwizard Tournament trophy for Hogwarts," Dumbledore said, "but the participating schools and the Ministry of Magic have agreed to set an age limit for this year's competitors. Only students who are seventeen years old... that is, seventeen years old or older, are allowed to register."

"Bullshit!" the twins shouted rudely, "Bullshit Ministry of Magic, bullshit rules!"

The students in the auditorium became furious. All students who were under the age of seventeen were venting their anger. Although they all knew that doing so would not help, they could not just keep it in their hearts and feel uncomfortable.

(End of this chapter)