A Certain Magical Hogwarts

Chapter 18 The Essence of Wizards

Some people bring their own laughs when they appear, some bring their own background music, and some people think the background music isn't enough, so they simply bring their own speakers.

But the tall, black-haired witch in front of me, dressed in a bright green robe, made no fancy noises; she walked in with a gust of cold wind.

The surroundings were completely silent; even the young wizards who had just been complaining dared not utter a word.

Professor McGonagall—one of the Weasley brothers’ most feared people—sat with a serious expression and pursed lips.

"First-year student, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said quickly, avoiding the witch's gaze.

"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave this place to me."

Hagrid gave William a "good luck" look, then quickly turned and went inside from the other side.

He seemed quite intimidated as well.

How could I not be scared?!

Hagrid has repeatedly violated magical rules during the summer vacation and even secretly bought a three-headed dog that is banned by the Ministry of Magic... Now is the time for him to feel guilty.

Even though McGonagall was his junior from elementary school!

Professor McGonagall opened the door wide, revealing a luxurious marble staircase leading upstairs. The stone walls were adorned with blazing torches, and the ceiling was so high that the top was almost invisible.

The first-year students followed Professor McGonagall along the stone-paved path, and from the door on the right came the buzzing voices of hundreds of people.

However, Professor McGonagall did not lead them directly into the hall. Instead, she turned a corner and walked to the other end of the hall, to a small, empty room.

Everyone rushed in, jostling each other and nervously scrutinizing everything around them.

"First of all, welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began. "The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you all take your seats in the dining room, you should first decide which house you will be attending."

"Classification is a very important ritual because during your time at the school, the house is like your home at Hogwarts."

You will attend classes with other students in the college, live in the college dormitories together, and spend your free time together in the college's common rooms.

"The names of the four houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own glorious history and has produced outstanding wizards and witches."

Your excellent performance during your time at Hogwarts will earn you points for your house, while any violation will deduct points from your house.

At the end of the year, the college with the highest score will receive the College Cup, which is a very high honor.

I hope that no matter which college you are assigned to, you will bring honor to your college, instead of causing trouble all day long!

Professor McGonagall drew out the last few words and glanced at William.

Through those stern eyes, William sensed that the other man seemed to know what had happened on the train.

His intuition is always very accurate!

However, he can only be considered the most insignificant among the many accomplices.

Compared to the Weasley brothers, the main culprits who were guilty of heinous crimes, and that Niffler, William was nothing!

He comforted his young and fragile heart in this way.

Fortunately, McGonagall only glanced at William and did not drag him out to criticize him in public.

William wiped the sweat from his forehead. He thought that someone with a weaker mentality would probably be scared to tears.

As expected of Professor McGonagall!

"In a few minutes, the college selection ceremony will be held in front of the entire school. I suggest you take a good rest and relax."

"I'll come to pick you up once they're ready over there." Professor McGonagall turned and walked into the hall. She then turned back and said, "Please keep quiet while you wait."

But as soon as Professor McGonagall left the room, everyone started buzzing.

"How can they be so sure which college we'll be assigned to?" one of the girls asked William.

The woman's name was Marietta Eckmore. She had just been crammed into a small boat with William, practically clinging to his hand and trembling as she tried to get close to him.

William remained silent; as was customary, he also didn't know how to sort houses.

A boy named McCormick McClargan, standing nearby, boasted smugly, "Forget about tests, I'm definitely going to get in, my uncle..."

His uncle Tiberius knew Rufus Scrimgeour of the Ministry of Magic, who was the head of the Auror office.

In the short time it took, McClargan had already repeated it four or five times.

Humans are essentially repeaters, and wizards are no exception.

McClargan also boasted about his flying talent, saying he wanted to join the Quidditch team in his freshman year and become the youngest player ever.

As the boy spoke, he gave William a defiant look.

This attitude probably started when he learned that William was only Muggle-born.

William touched his wand, wanting to quietly cast a silencing spell on him to shut him up, but Professor McGonagall just happened to walk by.

William immediately put on an honest and simple demeanor.

So McClagan was in trouble. Professor McGonagall stood behind him like a ghost, while the boy continued to chatter on about his uncle's friend.

"Never mind your uncle, if you keep babbling on like this, I'll definitely take you home!" Professor McGonagall said sternly.

McLagan was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he nearly knocked Marietta Eckmore over.

The girl gave him a death stare, then moved closer to William, as if she wanted to hide in his arms for a sense of security.

Behind Professor McGonagall, Cho winked and gestured to William to seize the opportunity.

"What opportunity?!" William declared that he was there to learn, not to date!

Of course, if a witch is beautiful, he wouldn't mind becoming her soulmate!

But Marietta Eckmore, that little brat, definitely won't have a chance.

"Ah!"—a scream suddenly rang out.

McClargan let out a howl as several ghosts appeared behind him.

He was so frightened he could hardly breathe, as were the people around him, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.

These pearly white, translucent ghosts glided across the room, whispering amongst themselves, paying little attention to the first-year students, who seemed to be arguing about something.

"Hurry up and find Blood Man Barrow. Only he can control Peeves." A ghost wearing a tight-fitting bodysuit with a ruffled collar said this.

"Bloodbrook went to see Lady Grey. You know, there's been some trouble in the Ravenclaw common room lately," said a chubby little monk-like ghost.

"So let's give Mischief another chance, as long as he attends the banquet—"

"Absolutely impossible! My good monk, haven't we given Pimpie enough chances? Yet he keeps smearing us—hey, I say, what are you doing here?"

The ghost wearing a tight-fitting bodysuit with a ruffled collar suddenly spotted the first-year students.

Startled, McClagan quickly hid behind William, which made Professor McGonagall's lips tighten even more.

"New students!" the chubby monk said with a smile. "I suppose they're preparing for a test?"

William nodded in a friendly manner.

"I hope you'll be assigned to Hufflepuff!" said the monk. "That's where I used to study."

The ghosts walked toward the hall, drifting through the opposite wall and disappearing from sight. Professor McGonagall's voice rang out again.

"Now move forward, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin," Professor McGonagall said to the first-year students.

Everyone obediently walked towards the hall.

——————I am the separator for the repeater————

In order to earn everyone's votes, McClargan will repeat the text one hundred times during the Sorting Ceremony.

(End of this chapter)