"Are you Harry Potter?" "It seems the rumors were true."
"I think we should introduce ourselves. I'm Draco Malfoy, and these two are Crabbe and Goyle."
After disembarking from the boat, Malfoy, accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle, approached Harry Potter, a smug smile on his face as he spoke.
Harry Potter looked at Malfoy, offering a slight smile, and replied, "Harry Potter."
Malfoy's response seemed to please him, so he glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were standing next to Harry, and laughed, "Harry, you must understand that our wizarding families are superior to some other wizards, and not just by a little."
"Though you're a beautiful young lady, a Muggle is still a Muggle. No matter how pretty, you're just a vase. Even though you've become a witch, you're still a witch with no real power."
"Look at him, with his red hair and old robes passed down in his family. He's a Weasley. People like that are worlds apart from us. I hope you'll stay away from them—they tarnish our reputation."
"Now, we are the true elites. We are the ones you should consider friends."
Having said this, Malfoy extended his hand to Harry, signaling him to shake.
Hermione and Ron were not pleased by Malfoy's words, but they were both aware of the advantages and pride that came with Malfoy's pure-blood family.
Throughout their journey, Ron and Hermione had been kind to Harry.
At Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Ron's family had been very friendly, showing Harry how to access the platform.
Hermione had repaired his glasses, and was very cute, very knowledgeable, though a bit talkative.
"They are my friends. On the contrary, your words make me very uncomfortable."
"You should apologize to them!"
Malfoy burst out laughing, flinging his arms open, wearing an exaggerated, disdainful smile. He shook his body, looking toward Crabbe and Goyle and saying, "Did you hear that? What a funny joke! He wants me to apologize to them!"
At that moment, Malfoy turned suddenly, facing Harry with a serious expression. "Harry, I can tell you this very seriously: it is absolutely impossible."
"How could a gentleman from a pure-blood family apologize to a Muggle, or to a Weasley?"
Harry faced Malfoy, his expression serious. "Right now, you don't seem like much of a gentleman."
Harry wasn't sure exactly what the differences and status of pure-bloods and Muggles were, but when it came to gentlemen, he believed that Callister was a true noble gentleman.
Malfoy sneered, then glanced at Ron and Hermione before turning with Crabbe and Goyle to walk away.
They did not want to provoke Hagrid, who was heading their way.
Though Hagrid was just the gamekeeper, he was far too big for them to confront. It was a children's game, not something for adults to interfere with.
Outside the Great Hall.
Professor McGonagall, wearing a green robe with her black hair styled exquisitely, walked slowly down the stairs. Her expression was somewhat stern.
Seeing her, the first-year students coming around the corner instinctively stopped in their tracks and fell silent.
Professor McGonagall's demeanor was stern enough to give them the sense that she was difficult to approach.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron stood together, watching Professor McGonagall, and they all closed their mouths, not daring to speak.
However, Ron, looking at Harry, made a few teasing glances. "This woman is so fierce. We're going to be in trouble."
Harry, noticing Ron's look, reached up to adjust his glasses to shield himself from Professor McGonagall's gaze, and winked at Ron. "Yes, she's fierce. If we fall into her hands, we might be in serious trouble."
Hermione looked at Ron and Harry, her delicate face full of disbelief. "I can't believe you two are like this."
Hagrid, still wearing his usual broad smile, saw Professor McGonagall and said, "First-year students, this is Professor McGonagall, a great Transfiguration master, and she will be teaching you Transfiguration."
The first-year students, upon hearing this, immediately began to applaud.
Facing such a stern teacher, they hoped that applause would warm her up a bit, making the situation easier.
It seemed to have worked to some extent.
Professor McGonagall's expression softened slightly, showing a hint of warmth, but still remained somewhat stern, as her smile lasted only a second before fading away.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take over from here." Professor McGonagall had a good impression of Hagrid, and he had made a very positive start.
"No problem, Professor McGonagall!" Hagrid said with a smile, gesturing for her to take over.
McGonagall nodded and turned, opening the large door behind her.
The door was enormous, tall, and heavy, but with ease, the slender Professor McGonagall managed to push it open.
The students, especially those who had never truly encountered magic before, were astounded.
Of course, the Muggle-born students, like Draco Malfoy, whose parents were wizards from pure-blood families, were unfazed by this sight, while the Muggle-borns were filled with awe.
The interior of the Great Hall was truly magical and resplendent.
Other students from upper years were already sitting at long tables, and above the tables floated thousands of candles, lighting up the entire hall.
What amazed Harry even more was the ceiling, which sparkled with stars, making it appear as though there was no ceiling at all.
The whole hall had an almost sacred atmosphere, especially with everyone's gaze focused on the new students, making it feel rather serious.
Hermione, seeing Harry staring at the ceiling with a look of amazement, whispered, "It's been enchanted to look like the sky outside. That's why it looks so beautiful."
Harry nodded, understanding.
It was hard to believe there was actually a ceiling above them, and even harder to believe the hall was not open to the sky.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, first-year students," Professor McGonagall said, standing on the stage. Beside her was a black hat, placed on a high stool.
It was an old, patched, tattered wizard's hat, looking somewhat dirty, yet placed there prominently, standing out against the grandeur of the hall.
"Before the feast begins, we need to sort you into your respective houses."
"This is a very important ceremony, and everyone must take part."
"During your time here, your house will be your home at Hogwarts."
"You will attend classes with your housemates, stay in the house dormitory, and spend your free time in the house library, gardens, and Quidditch pitch."
"Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has a proud history and has produced many powerful witches and wizards."
"I hope you will be just as outstanding as they were, and perhaps even surpass them."
...
"Now, the Sorting Ceremony officially begins. I hope you will be calm as you are sorted. It might just determine which house you belong to."
...
Professor McGonagall spoke for a while, and the first-year students listened attentively, not daring to interrupt her.
Of course, it helped that there were other professors and the headmaster observing them.
Once Professor McGonagall finished speaking, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Harry's mood had already improved when he saw Callister standing next to Dumbledore in the hall.
Callister was really here—he hadn't lied to me.
Callister also noticed Harry and, smiling back at him, gave him a friendly nod.
Harry, clenching his small hands, felt excited, wondering which house he would be placed in and whether he would become Callister's student.
"Wow!"
A sudden exclamation broke the calm, making the hall erupt into chaos, as the students screamed in surprise.
They had been frightened.
Over twenty ghosts had suddenly appeared from the walls, ceiling, and even the floor, floating through their bodies.
These poor children had never encountered ghosts before. They might have seen them on TV, but that was just acting.
But the ghostly figures in front of them, translucent and pearl-white, were real, and it seemed they were in the middle of an argument, though some were not.
The students were certain these ghosts were real.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
"I hope you will be sorted into Hufflepuff—that was my house."
"I think my head should be separated from my body, but it hasn't, so I lost again."
...
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow at the ghosts, who had caused quite a stir. "This is a serious ceremony. You should remain quiet."
The ghosts, hearing her words, drifted to the sides, silently watching the students, though they still wore amused expressions, seemingly pleased with their work.
Professor McGonagall, seeing the pale faces of some of the students, sternly said, "You must learn to accept the strange and unbelievable things, like those ghosts you just saw."
After a brief pause, her eyes swept over Harry and the others before she said, "Now, I will call your names. Come up and be sorted."
---
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