Chapter 1814: Sorting
Chapter 1814: Sorting
In the train corridor, students jostled and pushed their way toward the nearest door as the announcement echoed. As soon as they stepped off the platform, a torrential downpour greeted them, and the chill in the air made everyone shiver.
"I hate the rain."
Alice placed her pointed witch's hat on her head, suddenly understanding why Hogwarts Memoirs had specifically mentioned rainy days.
"I should have brought an umbrella."
Daphne, telling a British joke, copied Alice and put her pointed hat on to avoid the rain.
"Waterfire Ward."
As Alice cast the spell on her hat, a familiar voice called out from nearby.
Hagrid lifted his lantern above the crowd, using the light to draw attention while shouting to the new students on the platform, "First-year students! First-year students, over here! Alice, where are you? Come over here."
"An acquaintance of yours?"
Daphne was taken aback, surprised that the man knew Alice and seemed quite familiar with her.
"A friend of Dad's. Let's go!"
Alice tapped Daphne with her magic wand and started walking toward the light.
"You said you can't do magic."
Daphne, feeling her body warm up, looked at Alice with a mix of emotions. Alice's casual use of magic clearly showed that she was far ahead of her.
Just how big is the gap?
"It's all just little tricks from Albert's Life Tips. Once you start learning magic, you can pick them up with a bit of practice", Alice said, as if reading Daphne's thoughts.
Daphne didn't believe the "little bit of practice" nonsense, but she was soon distracted by Hagrid's towering height.
Not just Daphne, but all the other first-years were amazed by Hagrid's abnormal height.
He's definitely not a normal person!
"Good evening, Hagrid."
"Albert wrote to me recently, saying you'd be starting at Hogwarts this year!" Hagrid counted the first-years while pulling a folding umbrella from his coat pocket and handing it to Alice with a gentle smile, his beard framing his kind face. "Here, this is for you!"
"Oh, thank you, Hagrid. This is really helpful!"
Alice was pleasantly surprised, never expecting Hagrid to have prepared an umbrella for her. The special treatment made many of the other first-years glance at Alice with curious eyes, and even Daphne opened her mouth in surprise before watching Alice open the umbrella and share it.
"Alright, first-year students, follow me!" After counting everyone, Hagrid led the group, lantern in hand, at the front. "Watch your step, don't slip. I'm taking you to the boat ride!"
In such terrible weather, heading to the lake seemed far from wise, but there was no other option, as the giant leading them insisted that the boat ride was a Hogwarts tradition.
A boy who had just squeezed into Alice's boat grumbled, "What if we drown?"
"We won't drown. If people kept drowning, this tradition would have been canceled long ago", Daphne thought the boy was foolish and preferred talking to someone as smart as Alice.
Alice didn't comment, silently putting away her umbrella and lowering her head to avoid the stone walls as they passed through the dark tunnel. Emerging from the tunnel, they saw a majestic castle standing tall in the storm.
After crossing the lake, they climbed the stone steps and gathered at a massive oak door, where a "short" man was already waiting for them.
The stark contrast left everyone momentarily speechless.
"First-year students, Professor Flitwick", Hagrid said, bowing his head to hand over the group.
"Thank you, Hagrid."
After leading the first-years to the Sorting waiting room, Professor Flitwick had them line up and clean the rain and mud off their clothes and bodies.
When it was Alice's turn, Professor Flitwick paused for a moment, as if remembering something. He smiled and nodded at Alice.
"I bet all the professors at Hogwarts know you!"
Daphne's words weren't far off, but she still underestimated how popular Alice was.
Especially when Professor Flitwick called out Alice Anderson's name first, whispers rippled through the seats below, and even the professors watching the Sorting from the faculty table turned their gazes toward her. The attention only shifted when the Sorting Hat announced Ravenclaw, and the eaglets erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
To be honest, Alice didn't enjoy such attention; it made her feel like a monkey in a zoo.
The mysterious Avalon and the legendary Albert always sparked a lot of curiosity.
So, during the opening feast, Alice kept to herself, eating quietly to avoid constant questions from those around her.
Daphne noticed Alice's discomfort and skillfully steered the conversation toward the professors.
Both Hagrid and Professor Flitwick had left a strong impression on the new students.
"That's Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts Keeper of Keys and Grounds, and the current Care of Magical Creatures professor", Alice said, taking the initiative to introduce him.
"You seem quite familiar with him. Do you spend time at Avalon every summer?"
"Yes, he's a friend of my father's."
"He's so tall. I bet no ordinary person is that tall", a student muttered, looking at Hagrid at the faculty table. "Maybe he has giant blood."
"Yes, he has some giant blood."
Alice noticed the uneasy expressions on everyone's faces and softly added, "Hagrid is a very gentle person. I remember when I was little, he often let us stand on his shoulders to pick fruit."
"What about Professor Flitwick?"
"Professor Flitwick is our Head of House and teaches spellcasting", a senior girl observed Alice and explained to the group. "He seems to have some sprite blood. However, he's a respected and beloved professor, and you'll like him."
"Oh, right, I'm your prefect, Daphne. Remember to follow me after the feast, and I'll lead you to the Ravenclaw common room."
With Daphne successfully diverting the topic, the conversation during the meal shifted away from Alice, and they began discussing the professors.
Albert's name often came up, as many of the books used by Hogwarts students were written by him.
When they talked about Professor Trelawney, the old fraud always brought up the lack of second sight among the students, using it as an excuse that was hard to argue against, especially since Albert, the greatest Seer of the last century, was one of her students.
"The old fraud seems to be looking forward to you joining Hogwarts", Daphne observed Alice. "She seems convinced you have a talent for divination."
"She's going to be disappointed. I don't think I have any second sight", Alice replied, undeterred. Inheriting her parents' powerful bloodline, sharp minds, and good looks was enough to make her content.
Ian and Sophia hadn't inherited the talents for divination or legilimency and were far less gifted in magic than she was.
(End of Chapter)
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