Professor McGonagall sighed and conjured a quill out of thin air.
"Since you're unwilling to use a Time-Turner, aside from the basic courses, you're free to attend any of the electives you choose. You can decide which ones to take now."
She handed the quill to William, who quickly made his selections on the parchment.
Taking the parchment back, McGonagall glanced at it and raised an eyebrow. "William, I wouldn't recommend choosing Professor Trelawney's Divination class. That subject can be self-taught."
"Why not?" William asked with a smile.
This was unusual, as McGonagall rarely intervened in students' decisions.
Calmly, she explained, "Divination is one of the least precise branches of magic. To be frank, I have little patience for it. Genuine seers are exceedingly rare, and as for Professor Trelawney…"
McGonagall hesitated, refraining from saying the word fraud.
"Let me put it this way: Sybill Trelawney dropped out after her first year and continued her studies at home," McGonagall said.
"Wait—you can study from home?" William asked, surprised.
He had always assumed Hogwarts enforced seven years of mandatory on-campus education.
"It's not common anymore, but it used to happen often, especially during the times when wizards faced persecution. Some wizarding families chose to educate their children at home, typically those who couldn't attend school or were particularly gifted," McGonagall explained.
"Couldn't attend?"
"Yes… that could mean being a Squib or an Obscurial."
"And Professor Trelawney…?"
"Her family considered her exceptionally gifted in Divination. You might not know this, but she's the great-great-granddaughter of the renowned Seer Cassandra Trelawney. But I can assure you, she did not inherit that gift…"
"Professor, you don't seem to like Professor Trelawney," William remarked with a grin.
"Not particularly," McGonagall admitted with a slight grimace. "And I have my reasons."
After a brief pause, she seemed to deliberate whether to continue.
"When Sybill entered Ravenclaw, I was already in my seventh year. At that time, she made a prediction… about me."
"What kind of prediction?" William asked, intrigued.
McGonagall took a deep breath. "She predicted I would die during my seventh year."
"…" No wonder McGonagall wasn't fond of her.
"I was her first prediction. Needless to say, I didn't die—I'm still here, alive and well," McGonagall said with a faint smile.
"Alright, I'll still attend one class to see for myself. If it's as you say, I'll switch to Professor Septima Vector's Arithmancy," William decided.
"Fine. Head to the Great Hall now. You don't want to miss your sister's Sorting Ceremony, do you? I need to deal with Potter and Weasley. Those two troublemakers!"
McGonagall quickly departed, and William headed to the Great Hall.
Despite her usual stern demeanor, Professor McGonagall could be surprisingly personable in private, even cracking jokes. Though thankfully not the cold ones Dumbledore was fond of.
At the moment, Professor Flitwick was conducting the Sorting Ceremony in McGonagall's absence.
The Great Hall was filled with a sea of pointed black hats, every long table packed with students. Hundreds of floating candles illuminated their eager faces, hovering above the tables and casting a warm glow.
William had missed the Sorting Hat's new song, which he regretted, but he quietly made his way toward the Ravenclaw table.
As he passed through the hall, heads turned to look at him. Even though he hadn't made any headlines over the summer, his popularity continued to rise.
William sat down beside Cho just as another first-year was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"Luna Lovegood," Professor Flitwick called.
Luna skipped up to the stool, grabbed the Sorting Hat, and instead of placing it on her head, began inspecting it curiously.
She even pulled out a needle from her pocket and seemed intent on stitching up the Sorting Hat.
"Someone, anyone, save me. Dumbledore!" the hat wailed in distress.
William couldn't help but laugh out loud. That was so Luna.
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat loudly, prompting Luna to finally place the hat on her head.
The moment it touched her, the Sorting Hat practically shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw students applauded, though not too enthusiastically. Luna's odd behavior had unsettled them.
William, however, took the lead in clapping, and only then did the applause grow more spirited.
"Luna's a bit odd, isn't she?" Cho whispered.
She had noticed Luna's eccentricity during the train ride and found it a bit off-putting.
"Aren't all Ravenclaws a little odd?" William replied, puzzled, "Professor McGonagall just called us a bunch of 'weirdos.'"
Cho smiled, and the other Ravenclaws, overhearing William's comment, nodded in agreement. They rather enjoyed labeling themselves as 'unique.'
Luna joined the Ravenclaw table and took the seat next to William.
"William, what were you doing off the train? Why did you end up near the Whomping Willow?" Cho asked curiously.
"We were helping Cedric with something," William replied, "He needed—"
"He needed branches from the Whomping Willow for a wand," Luna interjected suddenly.
"Uh… what?" William turned to Luna, surprised. "How did you know that?"
"I saw it with my eyes," Luna said matter-of-factly, her large grey eyes blinking.
William froze for a moment, and suddenly, his gaze became unfocused.
"Ah! I can't see anymore," Luna exclaimed, startled.
William was even more shocked. "Luna… you're a Legilimens?"
"What's Legilimency?" Luna asked, tilting her head.
"Simply put, it's the ability to know what others are thinking," William explained.
"Oh, is that what it's called? I always thought it was just mind-reading. My dad says wise people can do it naturally," Luna said casually.
"…" William felt like he'd just been insulted. So, he wasn't wise?
The blanket statement was a bit much.
"Luna, who taught you?" William asked.
"No one taught me," Luna replied, shaking her head.
"Natural-born?" William felt as if he'd discovered a new continent.
He had always sensed Luna had a knack for understanding others, but he hadn't realized she was a natural Legilimens.
This was his first time meeting someone like her.
Ravenclaw had truly gained a treasure.