Chapter 222 Gryffindor Seminar

Hogwarts, the auditorium hall of the castle.

Over time, the young wizards gradually woke up and emerged from their dormitories one after another. The four long school tables in the auditorium quickly filled up with people. Through the high window, the clear sky outside could be seen, resembling the magical backdrop on the ceiling – it seemed like today would be a good day.

If one reads "Hogwarts, a Piece of School History" carefully, they would know that breakfast for the teachers and students of Hogwarts is not just a time to fill the stomach, but it serves many important functions:

For instance, at this moment, the protective magic surrounding Hogwarts will open a gap, allowing the owls that fly outside to enter the school and deliver packages or letters to the teachers and students.

Additionally, whenever there are significant temporary adjustments in school matters, the teachers will choose to release corresponding information to all students at this time. Of course, the semester schedule will be distributed to each student on the first morning of classes.

Another example is that the refreshing morning is always the best time for students to exchange gossip from various schools. Young wizards from different grades in different schools take this opportunity to discuss some interesting rumors of the campus.

...

Therefore, even if there are no morning classes, most young wizards would not choose to skip breakfast.

Indeed, it is not so easy to skip breakfast. After all, at Hogwarts, it is difficult to be a lone traveler without friends. When you stay in bed, there will always be hungry friends who will forcibly wake you up.

"Hey, Harry, Ron, over here."

Harry and Ron had just entered through the door of the hall when they heard someone calling their names from the Gryffindor table not far away. They looked up and saw Hermione waving at them, and beside her, unusually, a small circle of Gryffindor young wizards had gathered, all seemed to be discussing something.

Noticing Hermione's gestures and calls, a pair of ginger-haired twins temporarily stopped talking, turned their heads, and waved to their younger brother, signaling them to hurry.

As more Gryffindor students gathered around the long table, they simply glanced at the two and then returned to discussing the unfinished topic. The expression on each person's face was somewhat angry and dissatisfied.

As Harry and Ron approached the long table in the Gryffindor House, some fragmented discussions became clear and traveled through the bustling hallway to their ears.

"...Surely, Elena still knows very little about Professor Snape."

"This kind of punishment is terrible. The old mummy must have conceived a punishment for the entire holiday."

"Anyway, Elena is at least half Gryffindor. I think we should tell Professor McGonagall."

Elena?

Has the elder sister returned?!

Upon hearing the discussion ahead, Harry and Ron looked at each other, seeing the same expression of disbelief and surprise in their eyes, and subconsciously took a step forward.

"Hermione, has Elena returned?"

"What's happening? I just heard the name of the elder sister."

Although strictly speaking, Elena did not participate much in the Hogwarts training this time, with her absence in these days, Elena's prestige among the first-year children did not diminish. Most children's minds are simple and pure – whoever takes them to eat and have fun, that is the most convincing child king.

Among them, Malfoy, Harry, and other young wizards known privately as the "Moon Octopus," are undoubtedly the most eager to see Elena's return to Hogwarts.

Since Elena, who is the heart of the first-year students, left, almost all expectations and pressures have shifted to them, making them feel almost breathless, due to the responsibility of being a true role model and center of attention. They will understand how terrible it is for a silver-haired dance to lead all the new students to break the rules.

"Elena returned shortly after the lights went out yesterday, and she slept in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory for one night, as many of the older Gryffindor girls knew."

Hermione sighed involuntarily and explained again. She had already answered the same question at least three times.

"Really?"

"Great!"

Upon hearing Hermione's words, the two boys opened their eyes, turned in unison, and quickly looked at the long table next to the Hufflepuff House, hoping to find the silver-haired witch they hadn't seen in a long time.

"Unfortunately, you're late."

Hermione looked at the two boys she was expecting, furrowing her brow slightly, and looked towards the entrance of the auditorium with some concern.

"Strange... It's been almost half an hour, why hasn't Elena returned yet?"

"It's normal. Anyone forced to wear an ugly silver-green tone outfit will be a little uncomely," commented one of the Weasley twins, shrugging with a sympathetic expression.

"Yes, it's a wicked spell. If I were replaced by Snape as a Slytherin student and thrown at the snake group's table, I would definitely pack my bags and go home without hesitation," nodded the other Weasley redhead brother, shuddering.

Just with a small change, they turned a Gryffindor into a Slytherin. Even if only the color of the uniform was changed, it was still terrible: shrimp and pig's heart, comparable to the terrible magic that turned Professor McGonagall into a toad.

"But why did Professor Snape do this?" asked Harry with a certain confusion, as Elena had once told him that the Potions Professor at Hogwarts might know about her mother, so he had always been worried about Professor Snape's situation.

Over the years, the Dursleys have rarely told Harry any stories about his parents. Except for the unidentified Hagrid, Elena's guidance is the only lead he can explore at the moment. As long as Professor Snape really knows the story about his mother, even if it is ten times colder and more terrible than the legend, Harry will not give up on the idea of continuing to ask.

"It is said that Head Girl Elena shamelessly bumped into Professor Snape, almost knocking him to the ground, to protect Hannah and Hermione..."

A strained voice sounded beside Harry. He turned his head and saw Neville Longbottom with a round, chubby face standing on the edge of the crowd. The expression on his face was extremely tense, not making it clear if it was more fear or envy.

"That seems like Elena's style..."

Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain sitting next to him, nodded with admiration in his eyes. "Don't forget, last week she stood up to the Slytherin boys to protect the first-year students. If she has a good flying lesson this week, I was thinking of recruiting her for the Gryffindor team."

"Wake up, Wood."

A tall and charming girl with long black braids angrily thwacked Wood with the breadstick in her hand, "Not to mention her talent in flying—if she really flies well, you should first consider how to **** this Hufflepuff boy... Professor Sprout might not be very good at this."

"Don't worry, Angelina. I just need to take a look to know that she probably flies well."

Wood waved his hand dismissively, "As for important people, Professor McGonagall will definitely be willing to help. After all, according to your account, Elena is actually a member of our Gryffindor house."

"Cough, we are digressing, boys."

Seeing that the topic seemed to be shifting towards selecting Quidditch reserve players, Percy Weasley, who had been quietly listening to everyone's discussion by his side, cleared his throat, and the emblem on his chest looked very bright.

"The issue now is that Professor Snape used magic to change a Gryffindor student's uniform. I believe we should better communicate with Professor McGonagall about this punishment that has never happened before. It's up to the teachers to coordinate and handle the follow-up. As for comforting Caslana's emotions, please bother Granger a bit. From what I understand, their relationship is the closest."

"Maybe... just one of the closest."

Hermione murmured, still feeling a little resentful over a white-haired bun who left without saying goodbye, the friendship stayed up all night was not worth a grain in Hannah's hands. This made the little upset feeling a little unhappy, although she could guess that Hannah only existed as a navigation tool.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Percy Weasley furrowed his brow and leaned forward politely.

"Calm down, Elena is much stronger than you think. In fact, I believe her reason for leaving the auditorium doesn't necessarily lie in not being able to accept the clothing that turned her into a Slytherin student."

Hermione turned her head and remembered the expression on the white-haired bun's face when Elena fled, dragging Hannah with her, if she had interpreted it correctly, she seemed more excited rather than resentful in the public argument.

"Oh, Granger, about this..." Ron shook his head, preparing to counter Hermione's words.

Ding Ding Ding—

Suddenly, a sharp clink of glass resonated from the direction of the professor's seat.

Amidst everyone's doubts, Dumbledore, who was seated on the golden chair in the center, slowly stood up, gazed at the students in the auditorium with a smile, and softly applauded, indicating to everyone to direct their attention towards him.

"Alright, as we are digesting a very full breakfast, I ask everyone to quiet down for a moment. Before the start of this year's classes, there are some precautions and changes in the faculty that I need to explain to you," he said.

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