great-warnovel Chapter 39 New Classmates
Chapter 39 New Classmates
Life seemed to gradually settle into a routine.
The students' enthusiasm for the spirit fire gradually faded, and they began to talk about the upcoming Christmas.
The professors, on the other hand, remained nonchalant, making no mention of the lurking Green Flame Party members or the upcoming child-saving plan, as if they had completely forgotten about it.
During this time, Professor McGonagall also returned for a few days. She was in good spirits and showed no signs of having gone deep behind enemy lines to fight the dark wizard. She even took the time to teach two classes to the first and second graders.
Upon learning of the two perfumes Hermione had developed, the usually serious old woman didn't say much, but simply pursed her lips and put the perfume bottle into her bosom.
"I will make good use of them."
As for Hermione, she finally completed her paper on the magic of the brilliance stone and, at Professor Flitwick's modesty, signed her name as the first author. Originally, she wanted to be a co-first author with the professor, but the half-elf dueling champion smiled and said, "I don't need these honors anymore." Hermione had no choice but to give up.
As for Harry and Ron, they have recently really quieted down and are trying to be good children in their mother's eyes. They actively answer questions in class and spend their free time in the library researching and doing homework. This surprised Professor Potter, who thought his son had changed his personality.
But in reality, Harry was just having an overwhelming survival instinct and hoped he could survive Christmas.
Because of the harsh environment and the fact that Hogwarts is a mobile place, most students are unable to go home during this long holiday. Some, like Hermione, have no parents, while others live in remote areas where the Floo Network is not very well-developed.
Only children like Malfoy, from wealthy families who could afford to live in Malfoy Castle and have both parents alive, would fill out the questionnaire before Christmas and go home for the holidays.
As for the others, they stayed at the school with the professors and students who also chose to stay.
Of course, Christmas at Hogwarts has its own unique charm. During the holidays, the food is much better than usual, the professors won't nag you about your studies, and there are special Christmas fireworks to watch.
Of the trio, Ron chose to go home. Their large family gathered together every year, an unbreakable tradition. Even the mischievous George and Fred brothers dared not upset their mother in such matters.
Harry, on the other hand, chose to stay at school. Professor Potter forcefully ordered Mr. James Potter to come to the school for the holidays instead of sending the two vulnerable widows and orphans on a long journey to find their husband.
Just when Hermione thought life would continue peacefully until Christmas, on an ordinary evening when the students were having dinner in the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall suddenly pushed open the door and walked in.
She looked unusually tired, and her body even bore some marks from the battle.
She walked solemnly to the front of the classroom and announced loudly, "Now, I have an announcement to make: thanks to the efforts of Dumbledore and the professors, we have successfully rescued some of the children who were previously kidnapped from the Green Flame Party's dungeon!"
In an instant, the auditorium erupted in chaos.
"What happened!?"
"Rescue the children? So Professor McGonagall has been away lately on this important mission!"
"What about the other professors? When did they go?"
"In the afternoon? Weren't they teaching us this morning?"
Amidst a buzz of discussion, the other professors also entered the auditorium one after another.
Lily, Flitwick, and even Lucius all bore the marks of battle, not just from spells, but also from the smell of gunpowder among Muggles. Clearly, Voldemort would not refuse cheap and effective weapons of mass destruction.
Last to enter was Professor Sprout, who, with a loving and kind expression, led the children into the hall.
These children were generally very thin, and even wrapped in warm blankets, they were still shivering. Their bodies were covered with signs of abuse, and their eyes were filled with longing as they looked at the dazzling array of food on the long table.
Hermione counted the heads; there were seven people, all around the same age, who should all be children who were supposed to enroll at Hogwarts this year.
At that moment, as flames erupted on the platform, the phoenix representing Dumbledore appeared before McGonagall. Its feathers were still speckled with green light, revealing the lingering influence of the Death Curse. Clearly, Dumbledore was facing the most dangerous opponent in this battle.
In his aged and weary voice, he said, "This is a great victory. We have rescued many more unbloomed flowers from Voldemort's grasp. These children will, like you, study at Hogwarts and become part of the wizarding world."
"Today's dinner will be served twice as much, and later we will hold a small Sorting Ceremony to decide the colleges for the new students."
After saying this, the phoenix disappeared again in a burst of fire.
Professor McGonagall then continued, "Give the children something to eat first, I'll go prepare for the Sorting Ceremony."
With Professor McGonagall's departure, the entire Great Hall instantly descended into chaos once more. Everyone was amazed that the professors had accomplished such a significant feat without making a sound.
"I guarantee this will be the front page headline in the Malfoy Fortress Diary tomorrow!"
"This is shocking! The professors actually snatched someone away from Voldemort!"
"Wait, look out the window!"
A student suddenly shouted, and the others looked up as well.
Above the castle, a huge Dark Mark was angrily flicking its tongue, with eerie green flames shooting from the skull's empty eye sockets as it stared at Hogwarts.
However, it is clear that the Dark Mark is slowly shrinking, which is a sign that Hogwarts is moving away.
"Clearly, Hogwarts has sped up. Don't worry, we are evacuating quickly."
"We have the most advanced secrecy spells; they can't catch up with us."
Hermione listened to the discussion around her, her eyes curiously scanning the new children.
They were equally interested in the castle, and despite their fear and hunger, they wolfed down their pies while looking around.
A short while later, Professor McGonagall returned in a hurry, carrying her dirty, tattered hat.
Since it wasn't a formal opening ceremony, the sorting was much simpler. After she patiently listened to the Sorting Hat finish singing, she immediately said, "Those whose names are called, come to the front!"
In the end, four out of the seven freshmen were assigned to Hufflepuff, while one was assigned to each of the other three houses.
They are Daphne Greengrass of Slytherin, Seamus Finnegan of Ravenclaw, and Neville Longbottom of Gryffindor.
Greengrass and Longbottom are both well-known pure-blood families and were the noble forces that strongly advocated for this rescue operation in Malfoyburg.
However, unlike others, the Longbottom family has always been close to Dumbledore, and the Longbottoms are also important members of the Order of the Phoenix. This can be seen from Harry and Ron's acquaintance with Neville, and when Neville was sorted into Gryffindor, the three of them hugged tightly.
Greengrass, on the other hand, was clearly on Malfoy's side. She was also an old acquaintance of Draco, but the smelly little girl made Draco frown and he didn't want to get close to her at all.
As for Seamus Finnigan of Eagle School, he was a bright and energetic young man with darting eyes. As soon as he arrived at the long table at Eagle School, he couldn't wait to ask if the school taught chemistry. He was very interested in the science of explosions among Muggles.
The four people from Badgerhouse were too far from Hermione to remember clearly, but Badgerhouse always had the most people, even in the apocalypse.