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Chapter 23: A Chaos of Beasts
Chapter 23: A Chaos of Beasts
Half an hour later, the feast was drawing to a close, and the main course on the table had been replaced with an assortment of desserts.
Kyle chose a portion of maple pudding, a delicacy highly recommended by Bill and Charlie, who claimed that aside from Hogwarts, few places served an authentic version of this treat.
Kyle took a bite and found it delightful—a perfect balance of sweetness and a hint of tangy sourness, making it an excellent choice for an after-meal dessert.
Once everyone had finished eating, the remnants of the desserts were cleared away, and the tables were restored to their pristine, spotless state.
Dumbledore stood up, and the Great Hall immediately fell silent.
"I assume everyone is well-fed now, but before you return to your dormitories, I have a few announcements to make."
"First, a reminder to our new first-year students that the forested area within the school grounds is strictly off-limits to all students."
"And..." Dumbledore paused before continuing, "...Professor McGonagall has asked me to remind you all that the use of magical prank items in classrooms or any public areas is strictly prohibited and will result in severe punishment."
As soon as he finished speaking, nearly half the students in the Great Hall instinctively turned their eyes towards Fred and George Weasley of Gryffindor.
The twins didn't shrink from the attention; they stood up and bowed repeatedly to those around them, looking proud, as if Dumbledore had been praising them just now.
Not too far away, Professor McGonagall's expression turned even more sour, and her lips tightened.
It was clear from her demeanor that the twins would likely be facing detention, and it probably wouldn't be a short one.
Dumbledore, however, remained unperturbed and continued, "The Quidditch trials for team selection will be held during the second week of this term. Students in their second year and above who wish to join their House teams should contact Madam Hooch."
As expected, only second-year students and above were eligible...
Since Kyle had already known this would be the case, he didn't feel disappointed.
Moreover, just because Dumbledore said so didn't mean that first-year students absolutely couldn't participate in Quidditch tryouts.
The reason for excluding first-years was to give Muggle-born wizards a chance to get accustomed to the wizarding world, as they had never been exposed to Quidditch before. It wouldn't be fair to hold selections right away for them.
After a year of familiarizing themselves with the magical community, they would be ready for tryouts.
Of course, if there were truly exceptional individuals, the Heads of Houses wouldn't mind bending the rules a little, just as they had done for Harry Potter a year later.
So, Kyle planned to visit Professor Sprout in a couple of days to see if she could arrange for him to participate in the selections along with the second-year students.
Being grounded from flying for an entire year would be pure torture.
"Quiet, please..."
Dumbledore had to raise his voice to calm down the excited young witches and wizards who were buzzing with enthusiasm at the mention of Quidditch.
"Lastly, it is my honor to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Dumbledore sidestepped and extended his hand towards the staff table.
"Professor Aurene, please greet our students."
Next to Snape, a nondescript middle-aged wizard stood up and smiled as he waved to the students.
A few lukewarm claps echoed through the Great Hall, with only the first-year students clapping enthusiastically. The older students showed little interest, as they knew this professor would likely be replaced next year, just like the previous ones.
"Ouch!"
Snape sucked in a breath, his hands clutching the arms of his chair as he forcibly refrained from crying out.
"I apologize, Severus. Are you alright? Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?" Professor Aurene asked with concern.
"I believe we are not on such familiar terms yet, Professor Aurene.
Additionally, I am not so fragile that a mere tap sends me rushing to the hospital wing. Your concern is unnecessary," Snape replied, his voice dripping with disdain.
Snape shifted his chair slightly, his eyes flashing with disgust as if he were looking at a Flobberworm that had been squeezed dry of all its slime and was now devoid of any medicinal value.
Professor Aurene looked slightly embarrassed. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but at that moment, Dumbledore had finished speaking about Hogsmeade Village and was now leading the young witches and wizards in singing the school song.
A long, golden ribbon floated in the air, and soon the Great Hall was filled with a variety of different tunes.
Professor Aurene had no choice but to swallow the words he had intended to say and join in the singing, his voice blending with the rest in a bard-like manner.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Teach us things worth knowing,
Be we old and bald or young with scabby knees,
Teach us, teach us,
That's what we're here to do..."
The school song, which should have been harmonious, turned into a chaotic medley of different tunes. Some students sang to the tune of "The Majestic Hippogriff" while others chose "Symphony of Fate," with most first-year students favoring these two melodies.
As for Kyle, he sang to the tune of "The Broad and Spacious Road to the Heavens."
The choices were diverse, but if there were anyone who seemed to be enjoying themselves the most, it was the Weasley twins, Fred and George.
They linked arms and sang the school song to the tune of "Flight of the Bumblebee," their voices lively and their feet moving to a cheerful dance.
Their antics drew the attention of the room, and the cheerful Gryffindors soon joined in, turning the solemn school song into a rambunctious dance.
However, one had to admit that they looked genuinely happy, and even Dumbledore on the stage couldn't resist joining in for a brief moment.
When the song finally came to an end, Fred and George received the loudest applause of the night.
"Marvelous, this is what the school song is meant for," Dumbledore said, straightening his slightly askew wizard hat with a smile. "Now, off to bed, everyone. Back to your dormitories."
...
As the feast came to an end, everyone rushed towards the Great Hall doors.
The prefects sprang into action, herding the first-year students of their respective houses together.
"First-year students, over here!"
"Don't push, let the new students through! Make way for the first-years!"
"Hurry along, freshmen! We're running out of time!"
"Is everyone here? Remember to stick with me later, don't fall behind."
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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