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    Chapter 14: George and Fred’s Reputation Suffers

    Professor McGonagall glanced back at Andy, who chuckled nervously and quickly shut his mouth. After all, George and Fred were the ones who said it. As for Harry and Ron and the rest, might as well trick them if they could. What if one of them was a cat lover? And quite a few young witches and wizards had heard Andy’s words; there were bound to be a few brave enough to try petting Professor McGonagall’s cat. At Hogwarts, someone always ends up unlucky, so why couldn’t it be someone else?

    Professor McGonagall led the first-years to the other side of the hall, into a small, empty room. Everyone crowded in, shoulder to shoulder, nervously eyeing their surroundings.

    “Welcome to Hogwarts,” Professor McGonagall said. “The opening feast is about to begin, but before you enter the Great Hall and take your seats, you must first determine which house you will join.”

    “The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because during your time at school, your house will be like your home. You will attend classes, live, and spend your free time with other students in your house.”

    All the young witches and wizards were silent, nervously watching Professor McGonagall.

    Professor McGonagall continued, “The names of the four houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.”

    “Each house has a glorious history and has nurtured many outstanding witches and wizards. I hope you will perform well during your time at school, bring honor to your house, and win the House Cup.”

    “However, violating school rules will result in punishment, and serious violations may even lead to expulsion from Hogwarts.”

    “In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will be held in front of all the students and staff. I suggest that while you wait, you tidy yourselves up and look presentable.”

    After speaking, Professor McGonagall’s gaze lingered on Harry, Ron, and Malfoy.

    Andy followed Professor McGonagall’s gaze to the three boys.

    “What happened to you two?” Andy asked.

    He hadn’t noticed it outside, but on closer inspection, Harry and Ron looked like they had just come back from a battlefield—their clothes were disheveled, and Ron even had a bruise on his face.

    “It’s all Malfoy’s fault!” Ron said angrily. “He was on the same boat as us… but we gave him a good beating.”

    Professor McGonagall’s gaze swept across them, and Andy and the others immediately fell silent. “Please remain quiet while you wait,” she said before leaving the room.

    Harry and Ron visibly relaxed. They quickly started to tidy their clothes, trying to look less disheveled.

    The Sorting was imminent, and the young witches and wizards were clearly nervous.

    Harry curiously asked, “How can they accurately sort us into the houses?”

    Ron mumbled, “I guess there must be some kind of test! George and Fred said it would be really painful. But I think they were just joking.”

    “They were indeed joking,” Andy chuckled lightly. “I exchanged some information with George and Fred—Ron, you should know this. After they were Sorted, they just spent a night in bed, and they were fine the next day.”

    “So I think the Sorting won’t actually hurt that much.”

    Gulping, Ron swallowed hard. Harry’s heart skipped a beat. Neville, his hands shaking uncontrollably, looked like he was having a nervous breakdown, standing there like a vacant-minded person.

    Whether it was taking a test in front of the entire school or spending a night in bed after being injured, were things they definitely didn’t want to experience.

    “Didn’t you say you didn’t know what the Sorting entailed?” Hermione looked at Andy suspiciously.

    “I really don’t,” Andy shrugged. “But George and Fred did spend a whole night in bed recovering after the Sorting.”

    Except it wasn’t a hospital bed, but their Gryffindor dormitory bed.

    All the young witches and wizards were anxious. Hermione started muttering incantations under her breath.

    “Andy, are there any spells we can learn quickly?” Ron turned to Andy, his voice trembling with nervousness.

    Andy patted Ron on the shoulder. The boy looked terrified. “Even if there were, it’s too late now.”

    “AAAAAH!!!”

    Suddenly, several people screamed.

    “That’s—”

    Hermione gripped Andy’s arm tightly, almost suffocating from fear.

    “Don’t worry, those are ghosts,” Andy said. Although he had always lived in the wizarding world, this was Andy’s first time seeing a ghost. He was extremely curious about the nature of a ghost’s existence. If conditions allowed, Andy really wanted to dissect a ghost and study it thoroughly.

    About twenty ghosts floated through the wall behind them. These translucent, pearly-white ghosts glided across the room, whispering to each other.

    The young witches and wizards were practically scared out of their wits.

    Fortunately, Professor McGonagall returned at that moment, and the ghosts drifted away, disappearing through the opposite wall.

    “Now, form a single file…”

    Professor McGonagall looked around, and the young witches and wizards fell silent. “Follow me!”

    After the group squeezed into a line, Professor McGonagall led them out of the room, through the entrance hall, and through a pair of double doors into a magnificent Great Hall.

    “Magnificent” was only relative to the times.

    Andy had stayed in countless five-star hotels in his past life. Having experienced the luxury of the 21st century, the Hogwarts Great Hall seemed rather ordinary.

    Even the twinkling starlight on the ceiling could be replicated with computer technology.

    The difference was that one used magic, and the other used technology.

    It was difficult to say which was superior; both were amazing. Technology, however, relied on external forces, while magic drew power from within. That was the fundamental difference.

    Andy scanned his surroundings.

    Thousands of candles floated in mid-air in the Great Hall, their flames flickering, casting an ethereal glow across the vast space. The other Hogwarts students were already seated on either side of four long tables, where gleaming golden plates and goblets were set out. A separate long table at the head of the hall was reserved for the teachers.

    Hogwarts had about a thousand students, but this year’s intake was slightly smaller. (One thousand students is Rowling’s official figure.)

    After all, the wizarding world is a miniature society; you can’t expect the same number of births every year.

    (End of Chapter)

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