Hogwarts: Third Dark Lord

While Wentworth and Cedric whispered to each other, the Sorting Ceremony finally came to an end. Professor McGonagall, who had been standing next to the Sorting Hat, let out a long sigh of relief.

Fortunately, there was only one Wentworth.

Next, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts and widely regarded as the greatest wizard of the age, stood up. With a gentle tap of his spoon on the glass before him, the entire Great Hall fell silent in an instant. Every pair of eyes turned toward him, and Wentworth couldn't help but marvel at the sheer weight of Dumbledore's presence.

It wasn't because he was the headmaster. It was simply because he was Dumbledore.

The great wizard smiled kindly and addressed the students below:

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Before the new term begins, I have a few words to say. And they are: Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak! Thank you! Let's eat!"

The older students seemed entirely unfazed, while the new ones—Wentworth included—stared in stunned disbelief. No one had expected that Dumbledore's "few words" would literally be just that.

Wentworth, who had read countless online analyses in his past life about Dumbledore's peculiar choice of words, still couldn't pinpoint their exact meaning. He resolved to find a chance to ask the man himself.

As the feast began, an array of delicious food suddenly appeared on the long tables of the four houses. The dishes materialized out of thin air, prompting gasps of surprise from the first-years.

"The kitchens are located right beneath the Great Hall," Cedric explained to Wentworth. "The house-elves prepare the food and arrange it below, waiting for the signal to serve. Then the food is magically sent up."

Although Wentworth already knew this, he feigned amazement.

"Wow, what an incredible school! I love it here! Honestly, choosing Hufflepuff was the smartest decision I've ever made. Cedric, you really know a lot—I'll definitely need your guidance from now on!"

Not to mention, I'll be counting on you to help me with my homework! Wentworth swallowed back the words he most wanted to say.

"No problem, Wentworth! We're friends, aren't we?"

The two exchanged smiles before turning their attention back to the feast.

But in the brief time they had been talking, Wentworth noticed that half of the food on their table had already vanished!

As the two chatted, the other Hufflepuffs had wasted no time digging in. Nearly everyone's head was bent toward their plates, with one hand bringing food to their mouths while their eyes eagerly scanned the table for the next dish.

Hufflepuff, Wentworth realized, truly embodied the down-to-earth, humble spirit its founder had envisioned. Even the Hufflepuff prefects, identifiable by their badges, were focused entirely on their plates.

Not far away, the Slytherins, in stark contrast, had begun formal introductions, led by their prefect in a style reminiscent of ancient Greek traditions.

Wentworth overheard Cassandra at the Slytherin table say, "I'm Cassandra, daughter of the Head of the Auror Office at the British Ministry of Magic!"

This was followed by a round of applause from the Slytherins.

As Wentworth reflected on the disparity between the houses, a ghostly head suddenly emerged from their table, eliciting startled screams from the first-years throughout the hall.

"Hello, good sir!" Wentworth greeted the ghost politely.

"Oh my, it's rare for a Hufflepuff first-year not to be scared of us. Usually, it's only the Gryffindors who instinctively throw their chicken legs at us. Hufflepuff first-years usually just scream!"

The head belonged to a short, plump, monk-like ghost who gradually floated up from the table.

"This is our house ghost, the Fat Friar," Cedric introduced. "And this is Wentworth, a new Hufflepuff."

"What a fine young lad!" the Fat Friar remarked, beaming at Wentworth. "Cedric, do look after him. Hufflepuff is the most united house, after all."

After Cedric promised to take care of Wentworth, the Fat Friar floated off to greet other students.

Finally, Wentworth thought, I can eat in peace.

But when he turned back to the table, he found it in a state of utter disarray. Although a few dishes remained—like the drumsticks in front of him—the mysterious sauce drizzled over them put him off entirely.

"Not to your taste?" Cedric asked, noticing Wentworth's hesitation. "I haven't touched this steak yet. I ate too much on the train and can't finish it. If you don't mind..."

Before Cedric could finish his sentence, Wentworth threw his arms around him.

"Cedric, you're the best! Don't mind if I do!"

As Wentworth dug into the steak, he thought about how he might repay Cedric's kindness. Suddenly, an idea for a dish from his past life—something every Chinese person loved—popped into his head, bringing a smile to his face.

At that moment, Dumbledore rose once more.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce a new professor!"

He gestured toward Ilona, who stood up to address the students.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Professor Ilona, and I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this term. I'm delighted to be at Hogwarts and look forward to seeing you all in my classes."

As Ilona sat back down, the hall erupted in applause and whispers.

"Let's hope nothing happens to her," Cedric murmured beside Wentworth.

After scanning the hall with a smile, Dumbledore spoke again: "I believe everyone's had their fill. Now, for the next course!"

With a snap of his fingers, the table's remains vanished, replaced by an endless array of desserts.

"Truthfully," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "this is the moment I look forward to most during the Start-of-Term Feast."

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