That night, Professor McGonagall returned to Hogwarts.
Perhaps due to the fact that school had not yet started, Hogwarts felt somewhat deserted at night. McGonagall walked alone through the empty corridors, accompanied only by the sound of her own footsteps and the whispered conversations of the portraits.
Approaching a grotesque and enormous stone gargoyle, McGonagall halted. "Iced pear juice!"
Upon hearing these words, the gargoyle suddenly came to life, jumping aside as the wall behind it split in two, revealing a spiral staircase. McGonagall ascended the stairs, and as soon as she reached the top, the wall slammed shut with a resounding thud, the staircase rotating upwards like an escalator in a Muggle mall.
At the top of the stairs was a wooden door. McGonagall approached and knocked, and with a creak, the door swung open on its own.
Entering the room, McGonagall found herself in a spacious circular chamber adorned with numerous portraits of men and women, each going about their own activities but stealing glances at her. Behind a desk sat a tall, thin old man, his silver hair and beard long enough to tuck into his belt, his nose long but slightly crooked, as if it had been broken. Behind his half-moon glasses were a pair of blue eyes brimming with supreme wisdom.
"Professor McGonagall, care for some cockroach clusters?" the man asked, extending his long fingers to pick at the pile of treats.
"No, thank you, Albus. I took that child to Diagon Alley today," McGonagall said, glancing briefly at the pile referred to as cockroach clusters before waving it off decisively.
"How did it go?" Albus Dumbledore asked, his fingers sifting through the pile of treats. "What kind of child is Esmeralda Trist?"
McGonagall pondered for a moment before replying, "A good child, very talented, but also very unfortunate." She then proceeded to recount Eda's story to Dumbledore.
After listening to Eda's unfortunate childhood, Dumbledore fell silent for a moment before saying, "Happy people heal a lifetime with their childhood, but unfortunate people heal their childhood with a lifetime... We cannot choose our origins, but we can choose how to live. In this world, there are always people who can face the misfortunes of life head-on, unafraid of the thorns along the way, and bloom brightly in the storm..."
"Albus, I believe she is a strong child. You asked me to pay more attention to her, and I've been observing her these past few days as well. She manages her life very well, scheduling everything she needs to do at the right time... But today, when I officially met her, her behavior was consistent with that of a child her age, yet I could sense that she has been hiding herself, only showing her obedient and well-behaved side..." McGonagall reminisced about the events of the day while speaking.
"This shows that young Esmeralda is a clever child, she knows how to gain others' favor. In front of a teacher, showing oneself as obedient and sensible will naturally endear her to the teacher. Like a cunning young fox!" Dumbledore remarked, sometimes wondering if he was being too cautious. After all, she was just a student who hadn't formally enrolled yet, and he had plenty of time to observe and guide her.
"Yes, she knows exactly what she needs," McGonagall recalled the scene at the second-hand bookstore where Eda selected books with purpose, choosing those that suited her rather than picking randomly. Eda bought books that were suitable for her, which would help her increase her understanding of the magical world. She was aware of her shortcomings and would do whatever it takes to compensate for them.
"But, Albus, I still don't quite understand why you're interested in her? She's just... Trist is just like him, coming from an orphanage..." McGonagall always found it difficult to understand why Dumbledore paid so much attention to a child who had not yet enrolled. Was it because she had an unfortunate childhood like that person whose name could not be mentioned?
"I want to learn more about Miss Trist not because of him," Dumbledore recalled for a moment before saying to McGonagall, "It's because of 'The Book of Admission.'"
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"The Book of Admission?" Professor McGonagall was even more puzzled now.
"On this land, every time a child displays magical talent, a new name is added to the Book of Admission. Then, when the child reaches the appropriate age, we invite them to Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained.
The Book of Admission was kept in a inconspicuous, tightly locked tower at Hogwarts. If Dumbledore hadn't accidentally discovered this situation, it's likely no one would have noticed.
The Book of Admission and the Acceptance Quill, these two ancient magical items served the purpose of providing Hogwarts with a list of students. Whenever a child in the British Isles first showed their magical ability, the Acceptance Quill would write their name in the Book of Admission. Once a name appeared in the Book of Admission, the child would receive a letter of acceptance from Hogwarts at the age of eleven or twelve.
However, not every child whose name appeared due to a magical outburst would receive a letter, as some children's abilities were not sufficient to become a wizard, or they were merely influenced by residual magical energy from their parents, rather than possessing their own abilities. In such cases, while the Acceptance Quill would still record the child's name, the Book of Admission would prevent it from being written, thus excluding the child from Hogwarts.
"Miss Trist's name is in the Book of Admission. What... what could be the problem?" McGonagall was left even more bewildered by Dumbledore's words; she couldn't fathom the connection between the Book of Admission and Eda.
"Yes, Eda's name is in the Book of Admission, and her acceptance is unquestionable," Dumbledore said, looking at McGonagall's puzzled expression. "Esmeralda Jessica Trist. I'm not sure when her name first appeared in the Book of Admission, but I do know that two years ago, her name disappeared from the book..."
"Disappeared?" McGonagall found it somewhat unbelievable. "Disappeared, and then reappeared? Has this ever happened before? Can you do that?"
McGonagall had been working at Hogwarts for a long time, and such a thing had never occurred before. The Book of Admission had almost never made a mistake, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was getting too old for this, if her mind wasn't sharp enough anymore.
"I cannot, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "In fact, names disappearing from the Book of Admission is not unprecedented. Usually, it's unfortunate news, such as the child losing their talent or meeting an untimely end."
"But neither of those scenarios applies to her!"
"Yes, the two most common scenarios don't apply to her. At the time, I didn't think much of it, and I only found it regrettable that her name had disappeared. But a few days later, I discovered that the name Esmeralda Jane Trist had reappeared in the Book of Admission," Dumbledore explained, wearing a similarly puzzled expression.
McGonagall fell into deep thought. It was normal for a name to appear in the Book of Admission. It was also normal for a name to disappear. But for a name to disappear and then reappear a few days later was highly abnormal.
"So, is this why you asked me to keep an eye on her?"
"That's the beginning of it, and other things have contributed to my decision. Minerva, do you remember the accident in London two years ago during the summer? Cornelius led the team from the Magical Accidents and Catastrophes Department to the scene," Dumbledore recalled.
McGonagall did recall the incident. The scene of the accident left strong traces of magical explosions, and an entire half of the street was destroyed. It caused quite a stir at the time. Although there were no Dark Marks left at the scene, most people still believed it was the work of Death Eater remnants.
The accident site only left behind a few collapsed houses and two unidentifiable bodies. Aside from that, the Ministry of Magic didn't find any useful information. In the end, the Ministry, having gained nothing, had to cover up the incident as a gas leak accident.
But the people, after years of peaceful days, didn't buy it at all. They were furious with the Ministry of Magic for their inaction, and Minister Millicent Bagnold and Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Cornelius Fudge, faced severe criticism. But were these two incidents related at all?
"These two incidents, on the surface, seem unrelated, even completely irrelevant. How could an underage witch-to-be be linked to such an accident?" McGonagall asked, waiting for Dumbledore to clarify.
"At that time, I was busy with preparations for the new students' admission, often visiting the Book of Admission... Unfortunately, I didn't witness how it worked. When the accident occurred, I was in the tower, checking the list of new students. After Cornelius informed me of the bad news, I immediately left for the Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore reminisced. "It was only when I returned from the Ministry that I discovered Eda's name had disappeared. A few days later, when her name reappeared, I was merely curious."
Dumbledore extended his slender fingers, rhythmically tapping his forehead as he continued, "It wasn't until later that I suddenly noticed the street where the accident happened was very close to the orphanage where she lived. Very close!"
"That's quite a stretch..." Professor McGonagall said.
"I know, hardly any underage wizard could blow up half a street at the age of ten. I've personally observed Eda; she does indeed have talent, but this is not something she could achieve now, nor does she seem like someone capable of such a deed," Dumbledore said.
Dumbledore had secretly observed Eda many times. She could beat up the children who bullied her in the orphanage and take care of the younger ones. Her talent was indeed impressive, but Dumbledore didn't believe Eda could blow up half a street at the age of ten!
"The scene of the accident left traces of dark magic, something Esmeralda couldn't have done. But she's the only witch in that neighborhood. For whatever reason, I must pay closer attention to her," Dumbledore concluded.
"Who have you discussed this with, Albus?" Professor McGonagall thought of some unpleasant things that could ruin this child.
Dumbledore pointed first at himself, then at McGonagall. "Only you and I. It's just my speculation, and it's even more absurd than speculation. I cannot destroy a child's future with baseless, even ridiculous, speculation, Minerva."
"I'll keep a closer eye on her," Professor McGonagall said, her gaze shifting to a tattered, wrinkled wizard hat on another table.
"I cannot manipulate the Sorting Hat, Minerva. But thankfully, she'll be starting school soon..."
Eda was unaware of the conversation in the headmaster's office and McGonagall's cooperation in Dumbledore's investigation. Feeling pleased with herself for her performance, Eda lay comfortably in her bed, drifting into dreams where she punched the savior and stomped on Voldemort, feeling powerful and mighty!
The morning sun flooded the room, and Eda was already up, taking her toiletries to freshen up. She tidied her appearance, then changed into her clothes, opting for the same combination of a shirt and jeans. Eda walked briskly towards the dining room.
Breakfast at the orphanage wasn't lavish, just bread with jam, a simple meal.
Eda ate her breakfast slowly, chewing each bite. They said chewing more could increase satiety and even help with weight loss. Eda wasn't trying to lose weight; she simply didn't like it. She only ate to alleviate her hunger.
The other children at the table sat far away from Eda. They were afraid of her, afraid of being beaten, and afraid of her legendary abilities. The children here matured early and were more pragmatic. They knew what could be done, what couldn't be; who could be provoked, who couldn't. They were clear in their minds.
Eda finished her meal and went straight back to her room. Without hesitation, she locked the door, opened the window, and waited for her delivery. The items she bought in Diagon Alley yesterday would be delivered today by owls. Fortunately, the wait didn't last long, as diligent owls started delivering the items one by one. While Eda might have had her own feelings upon receiving the deliveries, the children in the yard were not in a good mood. The constant coming and going of owls frightened them. In their eyes, Eda truly seemed like a monster, playing with owls.
She first took out "Standard Spells" to read, then proceeded to look through her other textbooks.
"What a pity..." Eda sighed as she held her wand, lamenting its lack of use. A hero with no battlefield to fight on!
Professor McGonagall had told Eda that using magic outside of school was prohibited, a rule enforced by both the Ministry of Magic and the school. Eda hadn't received formal magical education, so attempting spells on her own was dangerous and could easily expose the wizarding world, causing unnecessary trouble.
To prevent underage wizards from using magic outside of school, the Ministry established the "Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery" law, followed by the "Trace" to monitor underage wizards' magic use outside school. Perhaps because the Trace was only designed for underage wizards, its functionality was limited. It could only monitor magical fluctuations within a certain range and couldn't discern the specific caster.
For wizards like Eda, born to non-magical families, the Trace's purpose was evident. Once magic was detected in such households, it was naturally assumed to be the fault of the underage wizard. However, for children from wizarding families, the Trace lost its intended function. Their lives were filled with various forms of magic, rendering the Trace's mere monitoring ability useless. Therefore, such young wizards were usually monitored by their parents.
The textbooks for the upcoming school year filled Eda's small desk. Until the start of term, she felt she had nothing else to do but study and practice. After all, her holiday funds were not only insufficient but also lacked a way to top them up, leaving her with little time.
Eda set herself a preliminary goal: to review all the first-year textbooks at least once and memorize the key points. This wasn't an easy task, but it didn't deter Eda, as she was not one to give up easily.
All her efforts were aimed at escaping poverty and living a better life; all her sacrifices were made to survive the dangerous future ahead.
In the moonlit room, Eda was packing her belongings. She neatly placed books and tools like her telescope into one box, but her clothes were still in disarray. She picked out clothes from the wardrobe, selecting a few to take to school.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Eda, still packing?" It was Mrs. Mary, the orphanage caretaker.
"Yes, ma'am," Eda replied, putting down the clothes in her hands. "I'm about to leave for school, I should've packed earlier."
Mrs. Mary was somewhat worried because the little girl before her was about to go to a boarding school for education and living. She looked at the clothes Eda had picked out on the bed and asked, "Are these the clothes you've chosen to take with you?"
"Yes, ma'am. Although we mostly wear uniforms at school, it doesn't hurt to have a few spare clothes," Eda said.
As Eda spoke, Mrs. Mary walked to the bed and began folding the clothes. As she folded, she said, "Eda, take care of yourself when you're away from home. When it gets cold, remember to wear warmer clothes and don't catch a cold. Your appetite has been poor these past two years, you don't want to eat, but even when there's no one to supervise you there, remember to eat properly..."
Watching the increasingly thin Mrs. Mary, Eda felt a twinge of sadness. "Don't worry, ma'am, I've grown up, I'll take care of myself. It's you... you've lost a lot of weight compared to before." In Eda's memory, Mrs. Mary was somewhat chubby, but now she was terribly thin.
The two finished packing quickly. Before leaving, Mrs. Mary took out some money and placed it in Eda's hand, saying, "Take this money, keep it with you."
Eda handed the money back to Mrs. Mary. "No need, the school provides me with a scholarship. I won't need much money at Hogwarts, and I've exchanged some Galleons myself, which is more than enough."
Mrs. Mary hugged Eda, her voice trembling as she said, "Poor child, may God bless you!" With that, she left the room, her slightly trembling shoulders indicating that she had probably cried.
The door was left ajar, which was unusual as Mrs. Mary usually closed it. Eda looked at the empty corridor outside and whispered softly, "Hogwarts is under the protection of Merlin, not God... but... may... may God bless you, Mrs. Mary."
September 1st, King's Cross Station, a new journey, a new beginning.
Eda had planned to leave early today. She intended to leave quietly, as she disliked farewells—farewells were always cruel. However, Mrs. Mary had risen even earlier, thwarting Eda's plan to leave without saying goodbye.
The two had breakfast together. Mrs. Mary's mood this time was stable; she just kept reminding Eda of various things, repeating herself over and over again. While such chatter might have annoyed others, it warmed Eda's heart.
After breakfast, Eda didn't immediately leave the orphanage. Because Mrs. Mary had asked a friend—Mr. Cook—to take Eda to the station today, saving Eda the embarrassment of lugging around two heavy suitcases.
Eda arrived at the station around ten o'clock. Mr. Cook helped her load the suitcases onto a trolley and pushed them into the station before leaving. Eda pushed the trolley to a spot between platforms nine and ten, where there was no sign of platform nine and three-quarters as written on her ticket.
Eda naturally thought of this situation. How could one of the entrances to the wizarding world be so blatantly located in the midst of Muggles? Eda didn't foolishly go ask the Muggle guards about the platform. She could imagine being treated like an idiot if she inquired about platform nine and three-quarters.
Eda had seen how to enter Diagon Alley, which gave her a good hint for finding the platform entrance. Since it was called platform nine and three-quarters, it must be between platforms nine and ten! Leaning against the trolley, Eda kept her eyes on the wall between the two platforms, feeling torn. She wasn't sure which side of the wall she should choose. If she got it right the first time, that would be the best outcome. If not, Eda reckoned she would fall quite miserably.
Just then, amid the bustling crowd, a couple of sentences caught Eda's attention.
"Mom, these are all Muggles here..." It was a little girl speaking.
Eda looked for the source of the voice. It was a little girl with fiery red hair, clinging tightly to a short, chubby woman who was presumably her mother. Beside the plump woman were five boys with matching fiery red hair, carrying trunks similar to Eda's, and accompanied by owls.
This amount of information was too much. If she didn't know they were wizards, Eda might as well turn back to the orphanage. Eda quickly followed this family, pushing her trolley.
"Alright, here we are." The chubby woman stopped and pointed to the oldest-looking boy among the children. "Charlie, you go first."
The boy named Charlie, with a broad face and a sturdy build, resembling a gentleman, walked towards a wall between platforms nine and ten, then suddenly disappeared.
"Percy, you're next."
A well-dressed boy with glasses pushed his own trolley towards the wall.
The platform entrance, that must be the platform entrance. Eda thought to herself.
"What are you looking at?"
"Are you looking for the platform?"
Two red-haired boys suddenly appeared beside Eda, speaking to her. They were twins, looking so alike that even the freckles on their faces were in similar positions.
"Um, yes. But I just found it," Eda replied to the twins.
"So, you're a first-year?"
"We're first-years too."
The twins said. They seemed to enjoy this way of speaking, one sentence each.
"Mom, there's a new student here."
"And, she looks like the type you'd like, elegant and smart lookin."
If you only judged by Eda's appearance, what the twin brothers said was completely accurate.
Hearing the twins' conversation, the woman looked over. "Oh, dear, you're also a new student. Fred and George are new too, they can be a bit mischievous." She pointed to the twins and continued, "And this is my other son, Ron, and the girl who spoke earlier."
"Yes, ma'am, I just saw..." Eda started to say.
"Child, let Fred demonstrate again." The plump woman pointed to one of the twins. "Fred, it's your turn."
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," the boy pointed to said, "To be honest, ma'am, if you're our mother, why can't you tell I'm George?"
"Sorry, George, dear." The plump woman said apologetically.
"Kidding, I'm Fred." After flashing a mischievous smile at the plump woman, Fred walked towards the wall. George urged him to hurry up. The moment they touched the wall, Fred and his trolley disappeared.
"Don't worry, don't be afraid, just keep walking straight towards the wall between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop, don't be afraid, just keep going straight in, it's very important. If you feel nervous, just jog. Go ahead, you go first, George will follow you." The plump woman said.
"Thank you, ma'am." Eda expressed her gratitude to the plump woman, then nodded at George, who was making funny faces at her, before pushing her trolley and running straight towards the wall.
A deep red steam engine stood beside the crowded platform. The sign hanging on the train read: "Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock." Steam from the engine wafted over the buzzing crowd, while cats of various colours weaved in and out among people's feet. Amidst the hum of conversations and the noisy sound of dragging heavy luggage, owls screeched loudly, responding to their owners.
After passing through several compartments, Eda finally found an empty seat. She was about to lift her trunk onto the train when she realized it was quite heavy, struggling to move it. She silently thanked Mrs. Marley again for her arrangements today.
"Need some help?" It was one of the twin brothers who spoke, though it was unclear whether it was Fred or George.
"Thank you," Eda replied, feeling tired.
"Fred, come on, hurry!" Obviously, this boy was George.
The twins helped Eda lift her trunk onto the train, placing it in a corner of the compartment, and then they lifted their own trunks onto the train, placing them in the same compartment.
As Eda was a girl, they were worried it might be inconvenient for her, and the brothers had originally planned to find another compartment, but Eda didn't let them.
The Weasley brothers helped themselves and still had to drag their trunks to find seats. Eda couldn't do such a thing. So, the twin brothers stayed in the same compartment.
"I'm Fred Weasley." The three of them were now sitting in the compartment, one of the twin boys said.
"I'm George," said the other boy.
"I'm Esmeralda Trist, but you can call me Eda."
"Fred! George! Where are you?" Fred stuck his head out of the open window. "Here, Mom, we're here!"
Mrs. Weasley came over with her little boy and girl. "Have you seen Percy?"
"He went to find Charlie," Fred said.
"Following Charlie's footsteps," George added.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," Eda greeted the plump Mrs. Weasley.
"Dear, you're here too. If you need any help at school, you can go to my son Charlie, he's a prefect." Mrs. Weasley said, then she cautioned the twin brothers, "You two behave yourselves at school, and be well-behaved. If I receive a letter from an owl saying you're causing trouble at school, I'll have your father come and take you back!"
"We won't."
"Absolutely not."
Eda didn't believe the twins' words. She believed that their 'absolutely not' probably meant they wouldn't get caught.
"I'll have Charlie and Percy keep an eye on you two." Mrs. Weasley clearly didn't believe them either.
"Charlie has a lot of schoolwork, Mom."
"Percy is very busy too, studying and admiring Charlie."
"And he's been admiring for a long time..."
"Since Charlie first got his prefect badge..."
The twins spoke one sentence each, and they seemed to enjoy this way of speaking.
The clock was about to strike eleven, and the steam engine began to whistle. Some children who were still saying goodbye to their parents hurriedly jumped on the train, and the parents also retreated to the safe area, waving goodbye to their children.
At exactly eleven o'clock, the train slowly started moving.
Eda saw Mrs. Weasley waving, her younger brother behind her wiping away tears secretly, and their little sister crying and laughing, running along with the train until it accelerated, leaving her behind, still waving incessantly.
Truly enviable, having loving and caring family members was such a wonderful thing.
"That's our little brother Ron, he'll be coming to school in a couple of years."
"Our little sister Ginny is a year younger than Ron."
"A very enviable big family." Eda said sincerely.
"If you really had three brothers," Fred held up three fingers.
"Plus a little brother and a little sister," George held up two fingers.
"You probably wouldn't envy us then." The twins said in unison.
Chatting with the twins was a joy. They were witty and occasionally told jokes. The three of them talked a lot about the wizarding world. Fred was the joker, George was the straight man, and Eda was responsible for listening and laughing at their jokes.
"Tell us about yourself,"
"It's always us talking."
"I'm an orphan, grew up in an orphanage." Eda said, and the twins expressed their apologies when they heard, but Eda signaled them not to mind, "It's okay. Look at me, I'm doing fine, right? Growing up healthy, able to go to Hogwarts..."
A loud noise interrupted Eda's words, and a smiling, dimpled woman pushed open the compartment door and asked, "Darlings, would you like to buy some snacks on the train?"
"No, thanks." Fred and George said, then opened a paper box containing several sandwiches.
Eda also had sandwiches, which Mrs. Marley specifically packed for her when she left, but Eda still stood up and asked, "Do you have anything to drink?"
In the end, Eda bought three cups of fruity milk and some chocolate to share with the twin brothers. Since the brothers helped her, it was only right for her to treat them to a cup of fruity milk, and eating just sandwiches could be a bit dry.
The fields outside the window became increasingly desolate, with neat farmland disappearing. In their place were forests, winding rivers, and dark green hills.
Outside the window, the scenery kept changing, while inside the compartment, the three of them ate quietly. The twin brothers wanted to say something but didn't know how to start. For the first time, the brothers felt a little tongue-tied.
After they finished eating, Eda noticed a stain on the edge of George's coat. It was probably accidentally rubbed during the train's shaking.
"Let me clean it up." Eda took out her wand and cast a cleaning spell on George, and the stain disappeared. Eda had practiced this spell a lot during the holidays.
"Amazing!" George exclaimed in surprise.
"You reminded me of Mom just now," Fred said, and the brothers both gave Eda a thumbs up.
Do I really look so kind? Eda thought to herself, "I practiced during the holidays in the orphanage, you know, growing up in the Muggle world, it's better to be prepared, I hope not to fall too far behind."
"No, you're already great!"
George stood up, took out a deck of cards, and shook it in front of Fred and Eda, "Let's play cards!"
"You're like a worm in my belly." Fred and George high-fived each other, then continued, "Let's go!"
George took out a deck of cards, which Eda didn't expect. These brothers wouldn't be carrying a deck of cards in their pockets just to play with anyone they met, would they? Eda had never played cards with the children at the orphanage, let alone knew about wizarding card games.
"I don't know how to play." Eda said bluntly, her face not even blushing.
"We'll teach you."
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Then the two brothers began to explain the rules to Eda. The rules and scoring system were somewhat complicated, leaving Eda feeling puzzled. Eda also learned that the deck of cards they were playing with was called Exploding Snap, the kind that really explodes.
Is the wizarding world really this dangerous? Do you even risk getting blown up playing a card game? After explaining the rules for a while, the twins decided to play a few rounds with Eda to help her get the hang of it.
Fred started shuffling the cards, and after he finished, George was in charge of dealing. Eda dared to play cards with the twins, and she truly was quite bold. After dealing the cards, Eda picked them up and took a look. Her hand wasn't very good.
"How about it? Shall we begin?" Fred said, somewhat excitedly, judging by his hand, which seemed pretty good.
Eda smiled faintly. "Let's start, then."
However, what Eda didn't notice was that when she smiled, the faces of the twin brothers blushed slightly.
The joyous time was always short-lived. Amidst the laughter and excitement, the twin brothers played GG. Facing a novice like Eda, coupled with the twins' support, they still ended up losing more than winning. And the wins were mostly in the earlier rounds; it became increasingly difficult for them to win later on. After Eda won another round, the shock on the twins' faces couldn't be concealed any longer.
"Eda, you really didn't know before?" Fred looked incredulous.
"It's my first time playing today, really," Eda said seriously, even raising her hand as if to swear.
George quickly pulled Eda's hand down from the oath, then said, "You learn fast!"
"I've always been a quick learner," Eda said with a smile.
George promptly collected the Exploding Snap cards. He didn't want to be subjected to another beating by a novice.
While the three were chatting, there was a knock on the compartment door, and then a girl in robes pushed it open. She had a shiny Prefect badge pinned to her chest. She said to the three of them, "We're almost at the school. Change into your school robes."
"That 'P' badge indicates that she's a Prefect," George, sitting on the outer side, said. "Bill and Charlie have the same badges."
"When they received those badges, Mum was happy for ages, and she even bought them gifts," Fred added.
"So what she just said should be true. Let's change into our robes!" Eda said, seizing the twins' lines.
The twins let Eda change first, and then they took turns changing while guarding the door. After Eda had changed, she switched places with the twins to let them change.
Sure enough, not long after the three had changed into their robes, a voice echoed through the train, "We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school for you."
Five minutes later, the train slowed down and came to a halt. Passengers pushed and shoved their way towards the doors, and Eda was amazed at how the twins managed to shield her and George as they squeezed towards the exit.
Finally, the three disembarked at a dark and small station. There was a chill in the night air, and Eda took out the chocolate she had bought on the train and shared it with Fred and George.
A lantern suddenly appeared above the students' heads, held by a tall and sturdy man. The light flickered as the man moved, and he shouted loudly, "First-year students! First-year students, over here!"
Upon hearing this rough and loud voice, the bewildered first-year students seemed to find their bearings all at once and rushed towards the direction of the voice.
"I'm Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts," Hagrid announced. "First-year students, follow me. Anyone else?"
After waiting for a moment and seeing no one else coming, Hagrid continued, "First-years, follow me and watch your step!"
A group of first-year students followed Hagrid cautiously, stumbling along a steep and narrow path downhill. The Weasley brothers still guarded Eda, with Fred leading the way and occasionally reminding Eda and George to watch their step.
"After turning this corner, you'll get your first glimpse of Hogwarts!" Hagrid exclaimed to the first-year students.
"Wow!" Various exclamations of amazement rang out from the crowd.
At the end of the narrow path suddenly opened up a vast black lake. On the steep slope on the other side of the lake stood a magnificent castle, with spires towering high, and windows twinkling under the starry sky.
Eda looked at the castle from afar, and the flickering lights through the windows seemed to illuminate the way home for distant travelers.
Hagrid led everyone to the shore, where a fleet of small boats was moored. Hagrid instructed that each boat couldn't carry more than four people, then led the way onto one of the boats. The first-years began to board their own boats, chatting and laughing.
Eda found an empty boat first and let the twins board before calling out to another person to join them. This person was someone she had met while looking for a boat—Angelina Johnson, a small girl with braided hair and dark skin.
After ensuring that everyone was on board, Hagrid began to move forward with everyone. The fleet of small boats sailed across the quiet lake towards the twinkling lights of the majestic castle, like lighthouses in the sea of darkness.
The boat carrying Eda and the others passed by cliffs covered with ivy and faced with curtains of waterfalls. They also went through a dark tunnel before finally stopping at what seemed to be an underground dock.
After waiting for a while, while Hagrid checked the boats, he led everyone forward again. Passing through a tunnel in the rocks, they finally arrived at a flat, damp grassy area beneath the shadow of the castle. Climbing a flight of stone steps, everyone gathered in front of a massive oak door.
Hagrid raised a truly giant fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The oak door swung open, revealing Professor McGonagall dressed in a black robe. With a stern face and a very serious demeanor, her gaze swept across the crowd, naturally noticing Eda standing between the two flame-haired teenagers.
"She looks too serious!" George whispered.
"And not very easy to deal with!" Fred frowned as he looked at Professor McGonagall.
"She does seem a bit scary," Angelina chimed in softly.
"She's actually very nice, Professor McGonagall, as long as you don't get on her bad side," Eda whispered. To Eda, Professor McGonagall, though strict, was also a gentle person.
"New students, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid gestured to the students behind him.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here," Professor McGonagall said to Hagrid. "New students, follow me quietly."
Professor McGonagall signaled for everyone to follow her, then led the way along the stone floor. Eda and the others followed along with the crowd, and from the door on the right came the buzz of hundreds of people talking.
Finally, under Professor McGonagall's guidance, the first-year students arrived at a small room at the other end of the hall. With the influx of people, the small room suddenly seemed cramped. The Weasley brothers continued their role as protectors, but this time they were guarding not only Eda but also Angelina Johnson.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, her voice echoing through the room. "The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, each of you must be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will attend classes together, reside together in your house dormitories, and spend leisure time together in your house common rooms.
"The names of the four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each has its own storied history..."
While Professor McGonagall addressed the assembly, the more audacious students whispered amongst themselves.
"Do you guys know how the Sorting works?" Angelina asked, her voice filled with worry. She was anxious about the Sorting ceremony and feared she might not make the cut.
Eda couldn't quite recall, but she felt it couldn't be too difficult. After all, Hogwarts admitted students from Muggle families too. If the Sorting was too rigorous, those students might as well pack up and go home during the Sorting.
"We don't really know, but it shouldn't be too hard, considering we're all first years," the twins remarked.
Upon hearing the twins' words, Angelina found reassurance. It did make sense; a bunch of first-year kids couldn't possibly be faced with anything too daunting!
"Gryffindor is the best house, Eda," George whispered to Eda, his gaze fixed on Professor McGonagall, who was still addressing the students.
"Dumbledore was in Gryffindor," Fred added. "And whatever you do, don't end up in Slytherin!"
"That's where the troublemakers and the most Dark wizards come from," George added before a few unfriendly glances were cast their way. The twins weren't intimidated; instead, they returned the stares defiantly.
It seemed Slytherin's bad reputation started from an early age. Eda understood they were just trying to explain to themselves. Angelina, being from a wizarding family, was aware of the four houses. But weren't there five things every Hogwarts student knew? Shouldn't the place you absolutely shouldn't go be Azkaban?
"We'll see. But choosing a house isn't like shopping in Diagon Alley. Can't I just pick whichever one I want? It would be more interesting if each of us ended up in a different house," Eda remarked, shooting a glare back at those who dared to stare. If they kept it up, she'd pluck their eyelashes out one by one!
"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will take place in front of the entire school. I suggest you make yourselves presentable while you wait," Professor McGonagall instructed. "When they're ready for you, I'll come to fetch you. Remember to keep quiet!"
With that, Professor McGonagall exited the room.
"I'm still nervous about the Sorting Ceremony. Is it a test or some other kind of trial?" Angelina asked once Professor McGonagall had left.
"Don't worry so much, Angelina. We'll find out soon enough," Eda comforted her, patting Angelina's shoulder. "We're here now; they wouldn't send us packing back home, would they?"
Suddenly, screams erupted as over twenty ghosts materialized on the wall behind them. Angelina, already on edge, jumped up in shock. The first-year students stared in terror at the ethereal beings, who seemed unconcerned about frightening the students, or perhaps they hadn't expected to startle the Hogwarts students at all...
The ghosts murmured quietly amongst themselves before gliding through the room and passing through the opposite wall, disappearing from sight.
At that moment, Professor McGonagall returned and addressed the first-year students. "Now, form a single file line and follow me."
Following McGonagall, the students entered the Great Hall, where tens of thousands of floating candles illuminated the hall, casting a bright glow. The velvety black ceiling twinkled with starlight.
At the front of the hall was a long table, where the teachers sat, while four tables below corresponded to the four houses.
The new students faced the students below, with hundreds of faces looking up at them, including the faint, silvery glow of the ghosts.
McGonagall placed a stool in front of the new students and placed a worn, patched-up wizard's hat on it. The hat, with its patches stacked upon patches, looked ancient and filthy. For the first time, Eda thought that compared to the Sorting Hat, the clothes from the orphanage seemed surprisingly clean!
Silence filled the Great Hall as the Sorting Hat began to move, splitting open along its brim like a mouth. It sang:
"You may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
...
...
In my hat, you're safe as can be,
For I'm a thinking cap, you see!"
As the Sorting Hat finished its song and bowed, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.
"Now you don't need to worry, Angelina," Eda said, smiling at Angelina. Angelina finally felt the weight lifted off her shoulders.
McGonagall then approached with a roll of parchment in hand. "As I call your name, come and sit on the stool and put on the hat, ready to be sorted," she said. "Joel Angie!"
A slightly chubby boy stepped forward from the queue, looking a bit awkward. He put on the hat and sat down, waiting.
"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat announced loudly.
The table on the right erupted in applause and cheers as Joel Angie made his way to join them.
"Cody Avery!"
Avery stepped forward, looking rather smug, one of the ones Eda had exchanged stares with earlier. The Sorting Hat barely touched his head before declaring, "Slytherin!"
Avery removed the hat, his mouth curving into what he probably thought was a cool smile, and confidently strode towards the Slytherin table.
McGonagall called out a few more names, and the Sorting Hat sorted them into their respective houses.
"Cedric Diggory!"
A tall, handsome boy took his place on the stool and donned the Sorting Hat. It took a moment longer this time, but then the Sorting Hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
...
The Sorting continued, but there were fewer students left now. Angelina, who had been nervously fidgeting before, had been sorted into Gryffindor, evident from the excitement pulsating through her ponytail.
"Alicia Spinnet!"
"Gryffindor!"
McGonagall glanced at the parchment before looking up, her gaze landing on Eda, who had been somewhat distracted. She then announced, "Esmeralda Trist!"