Chatting with Cedric was actually a pretty boring thing, since right now all his thoughts were occupied by the just-concluded Quidditch World Cup.
And Cedric wasn't even a fan of either the Irish team or the Bulgarian team. He didn't even particularly like the hugely popular Seeker star Krum.
All along the way he kept complaining to Link that the reason Krum seemed so dazzling was entirely because the Irish team's Seeker was trash.
If he were the one playing, he was certain he could do everything Krum did just as well.
Of course, these were things he only said to Link. Outside, he would never say them, not even if you killed him.
It wasn't that he feared it would damage his perfect student reputation, but rather that he was embarrassed to let outsiders see his true thoughts.
So this was destined to be a topic only for the closest of friends.
Link wasn't interested in Quidditch at all. After listening to Cedric's bellyful of complaints, he learned that Cedric and his group hadn't really been given any trouble that night.
They had just been separately questioned in detail by Aurors, and afterwards, Link pulled out Arkam, hid away together in a private compartment, and spoke Parseltongue with him about Emily, Fleur, and even Hermione, cracking dirty jokes and laughing heartily.
This was something Link did every night before going to bed, and in principle it wasn't much different from Cedric's complaining.
The only difference was that Link trusted Arkam much more, because even leaving aside their sincere bond, Parseltongue wasn't a skill just anyone could master.
The sky darkened, and the train slowly pulled into the station.
After a whole afternoon of idle chatter with Arkam, Link was refreshed and in good spirits. He found Emily, and together they boarded a thestral-drawn carriage bound for Hogwarts Castle.
The carriages were meant to seat four, but thanks to the terrifying reputation of Link and Emily, nobody dared ride with them.
Others would rather squeeze into different carriages than join theirs. So these two carriages became private spaces just for the two of them.
In such a space, gazing at the night scenery would have been a total waste of time.
Instead, Link very considerately helped Emily adjust the position of her prefect badge on her chest again and again, for nearly twenty minutes.
He only withdrew his hand when the carriage landed and Hagrid's booming voice rang out outside. Blushing, he rubbed his slightly hot face, held Emily's hand, and got out of the carriage.
Fortunately, the lighting outside was dim. Peeves was hurling water balloons at the students trying to enter the castle, while Professor McGonagall scolded and drove him off.
The commotion had drawn everyone's attention, so no one noticed the blush on Link and Emily's faces.
Link was quite satisfied with this scene. He let the cool early-autumn breeze blow across his face, cooling him down, until his complexion returned to normal. By then the ruckus at the doors had died down.
The Great Hall was still as splendid as ever. Hundreds upon hundreds of candles floated above the tables, making the golden plates and glass goblets glitter.
The professors were already seated at the staff table at the far end of the hall.
Most of them were talking in low voices, only Dumbledore watched the noisy crowd of students with bright, eager interest.
This was what he loved most, so long as he saw his students lively and full of energy, his mood would grow cheerful.
Emily's sharp eyes quickly noticed that the seat beside Professor Snape was still empty.
Normally, that was where the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor sat.
It was one of Dumbledore's little malicious jokes, "Oh Snape, don't you want to be Defense professor? Well, I won't give it to you, but I'll make the Defense professor sit right next to you just to annoy you!"
"This year's new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor still hasn't shown up? Could it be Dumbledore couldn't find anyone willing to teach?" Emily said with some glee. Having been influenced by Snape for years, she didn't hold much fondness for Dumbledore.
"No way," Link shook his head. "This year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is a very troublesome fellow. Be careful not to provoke him."
Seeing Link speak so seriously, Emily's smile faded, and she nodded solemnly.
After that topic, the two split up, each going to their own house table.
There was no choice, Professor McGonagall had already been glaring daggers at them. Their lingering had been holding up the Sorting Ceremony.
The Sorting Ceremony wasn't much to watch anyway. The Sorting Hat would come out and sing the new song it had worked on all year, then the four houses would divvy up the new students according to its judgment.
This year's song was dull. It told the story of the four founders of Hogwarts, with many lines lifted straight from Hogwarts, a History.
Everyone had long since grown sick of that tale, so in the end they only clapped out of respect for Dumbledore.
The actual Sorting, though, was more interesting.
Unlike the quail-like frightened new students of previous years, this time there was one little fellow who feared neither heaven nor earth, chattering away with excitement as soon as he entered.
Rumor had it he had even fallen into the Black Lake while crossing by boat, and was saved by the giant squid.
He was especially proud of this experience, boasting about it to anyone who would listen, making Professor McGonagall so angry her face went white.
Link soon learned he was the younger brother of Colin Creevey, and instantly wasn't surprised anymore.
Colin was an oddball himself, carrying around a Muggle camera and tailing Harry like paparazzi from the day he entered. Naturally his little brother wouldn't be normal either.
Dumbledore was always understanding.
He knew everyone had been on the train all day and was already starving, so when the Sorting ended he said nothing more and immediately began the feast.
Dishes of every sort filled the plates in an instant, and everyone dove in with laughter and clamor.
Link never cared much for the greasy roasted meats and potatoes. The only dish he enjoyed at the feast was the treacle pumpkin pie.
This was a new variant he had specifically asked the Hogwarts house-elves to create, otherwise the filling would have been some other fruit.
He could never get enough of it. After finishing his own, he naturally reached over and snatched Cedric's and John's as well, justifying it with, "You sporty types shouldn't be eating such sugar-heavy stuff."
Cedric and John's foreheads twitched with veins, but in the end they obediently handed over their pies. Others who didn't like pie followed suit and pushed theirs to Link too.
So by the end of the feast, both Link and Arkam's bellies were stuffed full of treacle and pumpkin. The sugar overload made him drowsy, and he slumped crookedly in his seat.
"All right!" Dumbledore stood up just then, smiling as he announced, "Now that we are all well fed and watered, I must once again ask for your attention. I have a few notices to give."
"First, Mr. Filch the caretaker wishes me to tell you that several items have been added to the list of forbidden objects this year."
"They are Screaming Yoyos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list is now over four hundred and thirty items long, and is pinned up on Mr. Filch's office door, should anyone care to check."
The hall burst into laughter.
In truth, Filch's list of forbidden objects was itself a running joke. No one ever took it seriously except for a few first-years.
Filch's face purpled with rage amidst the laughter.
Perhaps fearing the man would keel over in fury, Dumbledore quickly went on, "As always, I must remind you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits to all students. And as for Hogsmeade village, only third-years and above may go!
In addition, I regret to inform you all that there will be no Inter-House Quidditch Cup this year."
"What! Why!?"
Cedric leapt to his feet at once, demanding an explanation in agitation.
On the train he had already told Link that he planned to work hard this year, to prove to everyone that as a Seeker he was absolutely no worse than Krum.
But before he could even display his grand ambition, Dumbledore's words had struck it down.
How could he not be upset?
And Cedric wasn't the only one. Quidditch enthusiasts from nearly every house stood up, voices rising as they demanded to know why.
Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed tightly together, her face showing extreme anger.
But Dumbledore wasn't flustered at all. On the contrary, he waved cheerfully,
"This is because Hogwarts will host another major event this year, one lasting the entire school year. It will take up much of the staff's time and energy, but I believe you will all gain great enjoyment from it. I am therefore very pleased to announce that this year Hogwarts will…"
Just as he reached the key point, a thunderous crash rang out at the entrance. The doors were flung open with a bang.
Everyone jumped, turning as one to see a man already standing there.
He leaned on a long staff, wrapped in a black traveling cloak. Lightning cracked behind him, throwing his figure into a terrifying silhouette.
Pulling off the cloak, he limped heavily through the crowd toward Dumbledore.
Every gaze followed him, and now all saw his face, covered in countless scars, a great split running from the corner of his mouth to his cheek, giving him a permanent crooked sneer that set people on edge.
His nose was even worse, no longer something you could call a nose at all, just an ugly lump of flesh with two slits writhing with his breath.
But most frightening were his eyes. One was mostly white with little iris, while the other was a huge magical prosthetic eye, glowing bright blue, spinning ceaselessly, as if secretly watching every person present.
The man reached Dumbledore, extended a scarred hand to shake his, said a few words, then sat down beside Snape. He picked up a small knife and began slicing the sausages left on his plate.
He ate extremely slowly, extremely carefully. Each slice he cut had to be tested with a spell for poison before he dared put it in his mouth.
And all the while, his magical eye did not rest, its focus shifting from the students in the hall to Snape and the other professors beside him.
Interrupting the Headmaster's speech was a grave matter, but Dumbledore showed no displeasure. Instead, he joyfully declared, "Allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Alastor Moody!"
Dumbledore led the applause himself, clearly hoping the students would join in.
Normally, whenever a new professor was appointed, such prompting wasn't needed. Even poor shabby Lupin had received polite claps.
But this year was different. The hall was silent, only faint whispers audible among the students.
"Moody," Cedric whispered nervously to Link, "you think he's the Moody I'm thinking of?"
"Definitely. No doubt about it."
Link spoke with certainty, and Cedric's face immediately went pale.
"What are you two talking about? What about Moody?" John leaned in curiously.
Seeing his clueless look, Link explained,
"Mad-Eye Moody. He was once the greatest Auror. Back when the Death Eaters were at their height, he alone dared lead his men against them, and took down countless foes."
"For that he lost an eye, a leg, and his nose, and gained a body full of scars, all badges of his past honors. But after Voldemort fell, he retired. Everyone respected him, though it was said he became paranoid."
"Paranoid?"
John's eyes lit up. Becoming an Auror was his second dream after professional Quidditch, so upon hearing of Moody's glorious past, he naturally began seeing him as an idol. Now, learning Moody had paranoia, he quickly pressed for more.
Link drew a deep breath and continued, "Yes. Paranoia, or perhaps it's better called post-war trauma. In short, he grew suspicious of everything, always thinking someone was out to harm him. Even if his best friend handed him food, he would test it for poison before eating, just like right now."
Unknowingly, a crowd of Hufflepuffs had gathered around Link, all listening intently.
Link jerked his chin toward Moody, and sure enough, they all noticed the odd way he ate.
"Also, girls, you'd best stay away from Mad-Eye Moody," Link warned very seriously. "That blue magical eye of his has the power of x-ray vision! You wouldn't want him to see you bare, would you?"
At this, the surrounding girls gasped and covered their chests at once, some even ducking behind the boys to avoid Moody's gaze.
Amid the noisy commotion, Link's expression alone remained dark and heavy.
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